Tranquil and beautiful though it is, cycling in the countryside can be pretty hairy with all the unpredictable drivers and animals

When you're ploughing through the city streets, avoiding van drivers and yells from motorists, countryside cycling seems pretty idyllic by comparison. There's plenty of space for you and your wheels, no traffic jams or one-way systems to get in your way. Beautiful views spread out before you and fresh country air fills your lungs.

I live in the heart of the Irish countryside, and I adore taking to the rural roads and hillsides on my bike. However, there are just as many risks to a cyclist on these seemingly empty lanes than in the city.

When I first started cycling here, motorists were my biggest concern. The problem with windy country roads is that drivers know them so well, they think nothing of taking them at 80mph. They'll fly around bends, overtake at any time and generally make like the roadrunner.

Recently I was taking a downhill bend leaving a small village, knowing that a narrow bridge was coming up ahead. The Range Rover behind me must have known this too, but didn't think it worth slowing down. He overtook me and narrowly avoided the car that we met as we took the corner.

A valuable lesson I've learnt (both in cycling and general life) is to assume that everyone else around you is stupid. Presume that the driver behind you wouldn't think of oncoming traffic round a bend, and either signal to him or pull out, not giving him the space to overtake.

Never is assertiveness more important than on country roads. When I first began, my temptation was to stick as close to the verge as possible to allow the cars all the space on the narrow lanes. But I soon learnt that I had to fight my corner and take my rightful place on the road. If nothing else, soft verges can carry you off the road pretty quickly once your tyre clips the edge. Be wary going around tight corners too – lack of lane markings and narrow roads mean that people often stray from their side.

It was pretty early on in my cycling days that I met my arch nemesis. Rural dog owners seem to have an aversion to keeping their pets behind closed gates, or containing them in any way. The biggest troublemakers seem to be the smaller, ninja-style mutts, who hide behind their hedgerow waiting for the perfect moment to attack. My first meeting with one of these demons almost resulted in a crash, as I had to both recover from the shock of a screaming bark and manoeuvre my way past the snapping jaws chasing me up the road. Cyclists have been killed after a fall brought on by a dog leaping out – the danger is very real.

I've learnt a few tricks to deal with these pests. Brendan, a local cyclist and friend of mine, has a unique method of coping with animals on the road. If he meets a dog he lets out a colossal and thunderous roar. His bellowing hasn't failed him yet.

If you can't quite brave the guttural shouting, my cycling partner Sorcha swears by a squirt of water from her bottle, which seems to do the trick. Personally, I always enjoy an expletive filled rant shouted at the owners as I pass their house. Alternatively a letter to the local police will do the trick.

Dogs aren't the only danger in the country. Sheep, whilst posing no real threat of aggression, are skittish creatures, prone to running in random directions. One local cyclist met one of Mary's little lambs while reaching for his water bottle, couldn't navigate the swerve and took a pretty nasty tumble. Brendan's trick for sheep? A good loud "Baaaa!" seems to serve him well.

But it isn't all rabid dogs, flighty sheep and ignorant drivers. The real benefit of the roads near me is the stunning routes that they take me on. Any path that I take leads me to breathtaking mountains, lakes and forests. Cycling through these scenes reminds you how beautiful the country can be, and how lucky you are to be riding through it.

As always though, there is a lesson to be learnt. One man was so taken with his view of Loch Gill on the stillest of days, the lake isle of Innisfree perfectly reflected in the lake, that he missed the pothole in his path. Which, rather quickly, brought him down to earth with a bump.

The golden rules of countryside cycling

1. Hold your own, and take your rightful place in the road. If it's not safe for the car behind you to overtake, let them know.

2. Watch out for potholes on roads you're not used to.

3. Be assertive with any animals you meet.

4. Prepare for a longer spin – bring enough water and food with you, as you never know where you'll next find a shop.

5. Kit your bike out with lights and wear a high vis. When darkness falls in the country, it means business.

• Nicola Brady is a film-maker and writer based in Leitrim, Ireland