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Caught on Camera: Free-Range Cow Rams Woman on Bike!

Mar. 14, 2012 12:24am Liz Klimas

These days there’s often a lot of talk of the benefits of free-range farm animals. But for one Fresno, Calif., woman, the more animal-friendly rearing technique could have turned deadly. A free-range cow charged her while she was cycling, causing her to fly 30 feet down a hill off her bike.

The local ABC affiliate (KFSN) reports that Melanie Spigelmyre was left “battered and bruised, but okay” after the bovine slammed into her over the weekend. Spigelmyre was training for a cross-country bike race and the team photographer happened to catch the action.

Calif. Cyclist Hit by a Cow While Riding Bike | Melanie Spigelmyre

Cow approaching Spigelmyre. (Photo via KFSN)

KFSN has more:

A 10 person cycling team was riding in the foothills near Trimmer Springs Road in Eastern Fresno County Saturday. Just 10 minutes into the ride, they came upon this herd of free-range cattle.

“As soon as I come around the corner, he just barrels and t-bones me. Sends me about 30 feet down the hill.”

Watch the local report:

Spigelmyre was airlifted to the hospital with no serious injuries identified, except a severe bruise that has her arm in a sling. Her bike — called Orbea Princess — and her helmet got the rougher end of the deal. The bike’s frame splintered and the helmet cracked.

Calif. Cyclist Hit by a Cow While Riding Bike | Melanie Spigelmyre

Spiegelmyre told KFSN that she is moving on and it was for a good cause. She and her teammates are riding to raise awareness about organ donation after Crystel Stanford, a 29-year-old cyclist from Calif., died in a bike crash last May but left a legacy, donating eight of her organs.

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Comments (160)

Hrothgar
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:40am
It is a scientific fact that cows hate hipsters.

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- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:04am
  .
  She must have smelled like a burger………….
  
  Report this comment
- caveman74
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:11am
  that cow is all “hear is a little red meat in your diet yuppy”….I lmao’d n then showed it to my son n he lheo.
  
  Report this comment
- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:39am
  She needs to attend defensive driving classes.
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:44am
  .
  “he just barrels and t-bones me.”
  Um, if was a cow, shouldn’t it be
  “SHE just barrels and t-bones me”?
  Maybe time for some remedial biology in Fresno schools.
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:49am
  This is why, when I bicycle, I open carry. Not specifically because of cows, but animals in general, especially the two footed kind.
  
  That said:
  
  1). This is California – no 2nd Amendment rights allowed there
  2). This is California and the biker is in neon spandex, so there’s a 99.99% chance that the biker is an arrogant loon to begin with.
  
  Report this comment
- Ruler4You
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:58am
  Actually, this was the bikers fault. I was raised on a ranch in the upper Rockies, we had many cows. And when you see them postured to cross a road (potentially, the choice “IS” always theirs) you stop and wait a respectable distance from them. Even today, driving through the dirt roads around here in open range country in my TRUCK, I’ll always defer to any cow (or other critter) near the road.
  
  But, given the choice between a cow and a mountain lion (which also have a history of ‘going after’ people motivating by them) I’d take my chances with the cow.
  
  Report this comment
- OklahomaBound
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:10am
  I’m going to create a new online game called ‘Angry Cows.’
  
  Good thing they got this on camera, now a lawyer can sue the cow and it’s owner and make a name for himself….is Johnny Cochran available?
  
  Report this comment
- AmazingGrace8
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:40am
  @ruler4you ..Agree! I was going to post the same thing..but you beat me to it. Have a good day!
  
  Report this comment
- rs9
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:04pm
  Did you catch that “T boned me” how ironic. I live about five miles down the road from this area we see these biker liberals every week end Im glad the cow got one of them.
  
  Report this comment
- P8riot
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:33pm
  I think anyone who wears nothing but tights in public should be head butted by a charging cow.
  
  Report this comment
- deeberj
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:34pm
  Ruler4you-I was not raised anywhere near free range cattle. Even I figured after looking at that cow ready to cross the road that the woman ought to have put on her brakes and let the cow go first.
  
  Report this comment
- MYHEROISRON
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:41pm
  What an offensive cow! Lousy bovine buthead, how dare that walking pile of hamburger attack this defensless bicycle riding, Kalifornia citizen! Dead, I want them all DEAD! Dam cows …
  
  Report this comment
- Evantoo
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:05pm
  Gee, it appears from the photos that the COW (not the one on the bike, that is) had the right of way since it was in the process of crossing the road before she rounded the curve on her bike.
  My judgement is for the cow. (not the one on the bike)
  I do hope the lady will fully recover. And remember you don’t win contests where you run into something that is significantly larger than you are.
  Hope organ donations are positively impacted as well. I plan on keeping mine for a while longer, thank you.
  
  Report this comment
- pavepaws
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:59pm
  Free range cattle?
  
  Report this comment
- Onowicit
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 7:01pm
  Cow Bullies………..Does anyone else see a Farside here.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil-Dot
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:12pm
  So let me guess-they want to kill the cow now. You know, because it is a dangerous menace to society and we must protect the children right? Liberal prog idiots.
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on March 15, 2012 at 3:05am
  .
  “…he just barrels and t-bones me.”
  No, actually it was more of a Porterhouse than a T-Bone.
  
  Report this comment
- yiska8
  Posted on March 15, 2012 at 9:35pm
  I bet the cyclist was a vegan. Being California, I’m sure the cow will have a civil lawsuit filed on its behalf. I can hear it now,”The cow’s rights and private free range space was infringed upon by this encroaching human female.” In Texas, when a cow gets too ornery, unless its a new mama, we just make room in the freezer.
  
  Report this comment
TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:15am
Mad cow!

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- Daniel
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:24pm
  which one? The four-legged one, or the one on the bike?
  
  Report this comment
- smcdaniel
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:34pm
  It’s a simple case of Moooove over.
  
  Report this comment
tajloc
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:04am
Eat more kows
signed
the chiken

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BigFoot
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:56am
Some days it’s good to be a cow.

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- Jase
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:28pm
  That cow was just doing what many humans want to do.
  
  Report this comment
hempstead1944
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:47am
I love it when the cow wins………

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- Onowicit
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 7:05pm
  really, Im so happy for these cows….people tipping.
  
  Report this comment
9111315
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:47am
An argument for concealed carry — but not for those .22 cal pocket guns. Just not going to happen.

LOL, unless you are good enough to do an eye shot over your shoulder while peddling away on a bike.

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Zipit
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:05am
Bad cow! Bad cow! Time for burgers!!!!

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- rangerp
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:22am
  would be hilarious if she was one of those liberal, green peace vegetarian types
  
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- The Jewish Avenger
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:22am
  “Ramming Speed!”
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 8:48am
  Cows are dangerous!!! We should exterminate them from the face of the planet for our own safety and survival!………..end sarcasm. That is exactly how some idiot spoke about mountain lions last week.
  
  Report this comment
- OniKaze
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:47am
  I love mountain lions… Anyone who thinks they should be eradicated is a fool… Cats are great (all kinds)….
  
  That person was an idiot.
  
  Report this comment
USAqh
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 6:55am
Here is what happens when 2 free range bulls meet for the first time … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g01Q-HXDImI Big Red vs Bullrack Obullma
She is lucky she didn’t ride her bike through their free range area …

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- USAqh
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 7:00am
  whoops … meant to put in this link … this one describes what is going on … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk3QxlUMP5c
  
  Report this comment
grannyrecipe
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:35am
OK, that does it! No salt-lick for three days!

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- 4xeverything
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 6:03am
  I know what I’m having for dinner.
  
  Report this comment
Tandem2011
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:06am
Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz knows how to stare down a cow.

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- RightUnite
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:33am
  Cows usually know how to stare down cows… ;-)
  
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- 9111315
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:04am
  Cows usually know how to stare down cows… ;-)
  
  Report this comment
Bare Rock
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:44am
Call the cops from up in Canada. They know how to deal with crazy cows blocking the road.

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spfx
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:50am
Here in North Carolina if one of my cows gets out of the pasture and gets hit by a car…i have to pay for the damages to the car. What the heck happens when one of these “Free Range” cows gets hit? They cannot say the fence was not maintained properly because there was none!!!

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- wboehmer
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:17am
  First thing a Californian thinks of . . .
  
  Who can she sue?
  
  Tell me how I’m wrong about this.
  
  Report this comment
- 2theADDLED
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 10:40am
  Liberal laws always come back to bite them.
  Just go give that cuddly polar bear a hug and see if he hugs you back.
  
  Report this comment
blackyb
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 3:28am
They about had two memorials to fund.

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valleyfever
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:53am
City girl! Animals are unpredictable. Cattle might look placid but they can move fast and if you get between them and a hard spot you will get hurt. She should have dismounted and waited for the cow to cross the road. Judging from the camera angle, the photographer came between the attacker and the other three cattle first. Probably not a good idea. Glad the cyclist is moving on. Cows don’t carry collision insurance anyway.

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paperpushermj
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:43am
It was said she was airlifted out and the next day she has a bruised arm….Did I pay for that helicopter trip

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- 9111315
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 9:08am
  The bruised arm was not from the cow. It was from some rough use of basic health care that evening. You paid for that and the chopper ride.
  
  Report this comment
- rockstone
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:07am
  Exactly. Bumps and bruises require an airlift?
  
  Report this comment
tubboohlard
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:01am
i have a question …, where is the cows shadow ?

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- nzkiwi
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:19am
  The cow’s shadow is combined with that of the cyclist’s (in the photo at the moment of collision). The shadow is too long to be just that of the cyclist’s. The angle of the camera makes it look a bit thin.
  
  Report this comment
- Captain Crunch
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:33am
  NO..I can’t stand it..We never went to the moon as proven by incorrect shadows in the photographs, and this cyclist never got hit by that cow. Poor cow lost it’s shadow. lol
  
  Report this comment
- paperpushermj
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:37am
  Good Question!
  
  Report this comment
- Smokey_Bojangles
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 2:38am
  Free range cows do not have shadows.
  
  Report this comment
- RedDawn2012
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:30am
  That’s easy … the cow is jumping, and the sunlight bounced UNDER it – thus no shadow!
  
  Report this comment
- brickmoon
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 5:24am
  I smell a cowspiracy. Or maybe it’s an occu-pie.
  
  Next thing you know, it’ll be cows with guns.
  Here’s a link, just in case you’ve never “herd” it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMbXvn2RNI
  
  Report this comment
- Toxic Pirate
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 6:58am
  The Shadow Knows!
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:03pm
  It was the bicycle rider that was being shadowed.
  
  Report this comment
Detroit paperboy
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:16am
Free range cows ? Wait til a free range 18 wheeler takes the whole herd out… Or a family of four in a mini van……

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- Homeschoolmama
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:53am
  That road is too curvey for an 18-wheeler and a mini van would be going slow enough it is unlikely the cow would be injured. This is near where we go camping.
  
  Report this comment
- USAqh
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 6:58am
  I think you need to get out of Detroit and see the rest of the world buddy … free range is how cattle have been raised in this country since the beginning … It’s what they do before they go to the feed lots and then your plate …
  
  Report this comment
- Snidely
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 6:43pm
  The cattle get the right-of-way in an open range pasture. Anyone driving (or riding a bicycle) in open range knows that. There aren’t any fences to keep the cattle off of the road. Roads though open range are generally not heavily traveled. That may be why they chose this road to ride their bike on. You still need to use caution around a 1200 lb animal if you are invading its space, though.
  
  By the way, Blaze editors, free range usually means that the animals aren’t confined to a building, but still have fences to keep them off of the road. This is open range, which basically means you’re driving through a pasture.
  
  Report this comment
Pontiac
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:12am
[he just barrels and t-bones me.]
Eye for an eye, T-bones for a T-bone.

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banjarmon
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:04am
That cow was not a HE.

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- ashestoashes
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:11am
  Maybe the cow thought the cyclist was a rodeo clown..lol would much rather be chased by a cow than a mountain lion..
  
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Lambo
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:03am
She was picked up by a helicopter over a bruised arm?? wow

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- Pontiac
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:14am
  Kalifornians…
  
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- Homeschoolmama
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:58am
  I would have just gotten in the truck. She should stop being suck a sissy!
  
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RepubliCorp
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:00am
Sounds like BS to me……..

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Mad Macedonian
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:58am
Cow should get its own damn Bike, if it wants to exercise so badly!

Barring that, it needs to learn to share the freakin’ road!

Hasn’t it heard of the 3 Feet Please Campaign, for Cryin’ Out Loud? :-D

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texanpatriot
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:57am
Surely PETA will have a good spin on this, E.G. REVENGE…

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AxelPhantom
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:38am
Hook ‘em Horns!

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- Anamah
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:57am
  The cow was in charge keeping safe the rest of the group. Maybe she was the mother of one of them. She is the Alfa 1 of this group, that’s for sure…and the bike was passing between her and the rest of the herd so she felt in danger.. This cow have no horns…
  
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- AxelPhantom
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:36pm
  It was a UT Texas joke. “Hook ‘em horns” is the motto of the Texas longhorns PS I have a steer so kind of know how they work.
  
  Report this comment
Psychosis
Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:37am
wait, what ???

a liberal wacko suffering from the repercussions of another liberal wackos decisions ???

priceless

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- Homeschoolmama
  Posted on March 14, 2012 at 4:56am
  Cows have been free-range there since before there were liberals. And why is someone who enjoys cycling automatically a liberal?
  
  Report this comment

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