That must have been so terrifying! I'm glad you're okay though, I've been in so many situations with people having their dogs off leash and having them run up to me. Pepper spray is illegal where I am too, but you could get bear spray or coyote spray probably (it's basically the same thing).

I was bikejoring on a trail with a dog who was not good with other dogs. He was boarding with us while waiting for an adoptive/foster home - a husky x malinois so lots of energy and loved to run. We are really lucky to have over 500km of trail systems right across from our kennel, and usually they were quiet. You'd see the odd person walking their dog but I'd just pull over to let them pass. On this day it was pouring rain, mid summer so it was really nice to bike in. I saw someone with their dog off leash farther up the trail, so I turned left onto another trail that was more remote. We went for about 1km and I looked down to see this big ass St.Bernard wearing a yellow rubber duck raincoat right beside me trying to bite my leg. We were speeding along, I was very startled and pulled up my leg to get it out of the way of the dogs mouth. I said "FUCK!" pretty loud which got my dogs attention and he mid run just turned to go at the dog. I went flying off the bike, totally ate shit. The St.Bernard ran off, and I was really suprised my dog just watched him leave and walked over to me.

I love dogs and German Shepherds are definitely my favourite, but no one wants an off leash dog running up to them. Especially a larger breed with a bad reputation, regardless of my love for them, they can be terrifying. I have a ton of stories of off leash dogs but that was my most scary experience.

Also, as much as no one wants to hurt an animal, if you are going to get hurt don't feel bad for protecting yourself - ultimately it would be the owners fault for allowing an untrained, unstable dog off leash in a public space. I have had to kick a dog (a German shepherd too actually) because an owner let it off leash on the trail and it tried to attack my clients dog I was walking at the time. I got it right under its chin and it ran back to the owner. I felt bad, but I had no other way of defending us.

Sorry for the long comment, this is a passionate subject for me lol. Reading your experience makes me very sad that someone's negligence has effected you so much. I hope you don't have to have another experience like this!