Mountain Biking - Saw five rattlesnakes on the trail today

They were babies just sitting in the middle of the fireroad. Nearly ran over two of them but dodged them just in time. Stupid little suckers didn't even move when I nearly smothered them with my tires. Seriously, I didn't expect snakes to just lay around in the middle of a well traveled fireroad. After traveling 2 miles and seeing five of those critters, I decided to call it a day and head back to my car. Also warned the many parents with their kids hiking to watch out. It makes me nervous when little kids run around on those trails during snake season. So yeah, just watch out everyone and be safe when riding. :D

That really sucks. Where are you at that it's snake season already? I can deal with just about anything, heck, I used to jump outta perfectly good airplanes. But snakes? I run like a little girl who had her Barbie Doll's head popped off..

Where are you at that it's snake season already?
California. Yeah, snakes freak me out too. I hate the fact that they are hard to spot on the trail and it's even harder on a bike since you are going 10-15 mph. It's hard to ride in peace when you have to constantly fix your eyes 5-10 feet ahead on the trail trying to spot those little suckers. Well, at least for me it is.

I saw this timber rattler near Linville NC a couple of summers ago:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/Jake1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/pinit/Jake2.jpg

He was just chilling. We got the dogs safely past and kept going.

Ooooh boy, that timber rattler looks real healthy. The Shenandoah Valley area where I bike, would be prone to the copperhead, with some timber rattlers in the higher elevations. Of course with my bunny hop and hill climb practice, most snakes would be too busy laughing to take a bite at me. Road some yesterday, and hit the ground 3 times. Dang clipless pedals are tough on these mountain bikes. Road bike, no problema.

Once I was riding and I saw like a rope across the trail so I was about to ride right over it when it slithered away. Scared the pants off me. P.S. Rope was a snake

I do a lot of my riding in Umstead park in Cary, NC. Early last summer it got to the point I was seeing a snake almost everytime I was out. Sadly, I actually slowed my riding schedule as it was simply not worth it. I agree with above.. It's not much fun riding when instead of taking in the scenery and pushing yourself your eyes are glued to the trail in front of and beside you..

Wow, I'm glad I live up north. I haven't seen any kind of snake here for years.

I was lucky enough not to come across any snakes around my trails. They do warn you that snakes are about and to watch out. Not to worry anymore, snakes season (summer) is pretty much over now!

Wow, I'm glad I live up north. I haven't seen any kind of snake here for years.
I live in Canada and that's the 3rd snake I've seen in my entire life :D

(zoos excluded)

A few years ago, I ran over a full grown copperhead. It was streched across the trail, and twitched a bit as my front tire rolled over it. Not a fun moment for me, and probably not for the snake either.

Rattle snakes should be eliminated from the planet. They're jerks. ;)

I like snakes, I wish I saw more up here. The reason they're usually loath to move when laying in the open like that is because they're sunning themselves attempting to bring their body temperature up. Once they're nice and warm, they can be quite speedy.

Last summer I got struck by an Eastern Diamondback. Did you know about half their strikes are what are called "dry bites." I rolled lucky on that one. Wasn't envenomated, just a bite with a bit of swelling and tenderness. My tetanus shot was current.

Scary, when you think about how bad it could've been.

Ron

I wonder if anyone has ever gotten a real snakebite flat... that is a snake has bitten their tyre and caused a flat.

I like snakes, I wish I saw more up here. The reason they're usually loath to move when laying in the open like that is because they're sunning themselves attempting to bring their body temperature up. Once they're nice and warm, they can be quite speedy.
I wouldn't want to see any snakes were I ride. Australia has some pretty deadly snakes. Top 10 Deadliest Snakes (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214503/Top%2010.html)

Last summer I got struck by an Eastern Diamondback. Did you know about half their strikes are what are called "dry bites." I rolled lucky on that one. Wasn't envenomated, just a bite with a bit of swelling and tenderness. My tetanus shot was current.

Scary, when you think about how bad it could've been.

Ron
Were you riding when you got bit? SCARY. :eek:

A couple years back in Camp Pendleton, I was out running in the mountains and was struck by a rattler which hit the heel of my shoe. I walked to the nearest road.

I wouldn't want to see any snakes were I ride. Australia has some pretty deadly snakes. Top 10 Most Deadliest Snakes (http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214503/Top%2010.html)
most deadliest is bad grammar!

most deadliest is bad grammar!
Sure is. Just noticed that and will be edited :)

Were you riding when you got bit? SCARY. :eek:


Yeah, just rolling along overgrown double track along the power lines on my way to the next stretch of single track. It was summer and had been raining a lot. A lot of trails were closed, and I'm thinking some snake habitat was flooded. Out of the corner of my eye, I see what looks like a stick getting rolled over by my front tire and getting thrown back into my right leg. Except that "stick" came back faster than I was going and hit behind my calf, and oh, wasn't there by the time I looked back.

No pain at all beyond the usual trailriding shin scrapes and such so I went on. Got back to the trailhead and found a the teeth marks and puffiness. Damn lucky.

Ron

Usually in the spring and fall here in KS, it's chilly over night and in the morning. Snakes come out to sun themselves on the trail so they can warm up. The trail is the only place the sun can break through the trees.

It sucks, really. It really helps the quick-decision bunny hopping skills though.