OK...so the "Last Fall" thread reminded me that I needed to tell you guys a quick story...

Last Sunday was a nice day, but I simply did not have time to get out to the Greenway for my normal 16-20 mile ride. So...I decided to go into my shop and ride the trainer for 30 minutes or so...just to turn the pedals over! I am sure y'all do that sometimes...

So...I get on my beautiful purple Bianchi Veloce that I keep on my trainer...and the pedals do not want to turn! Hmmmmm...so...I look down at the cranks...and there appears to be a snake on my cranks! Well, my heads comes back up thinking that I am imagining things...then my eyes go back down and...

YEOW!!!!!! There is a small snake there!!!!!! So...being deathly afraid of snakes, I jump off the bike...and...now what to do??? I try and turn the cranks on the non-drive side...but the snake does not get caught by the chain/ring interface...hoping to kill the snake with a bike! Next step...grab the dog and take her inside...before she and the snake decide to "talk." BTW...have noticed that the snake has a triangular head at this point, so assuming it was poisonous. After getting the dog into the house...and SECURELY closing the door...I go back to the bike...and...using a rim that I had handy, I get the snake off the cranks and onto the rim...NOW WHAT?

So...I take the varmint outside...but...there is no where safe to put a poisonous snake...so...I do something I somewhat regret now...but...I was quick and merciful...using the edge of the Schwinn Varsity Steel rim...then I take the body and put it in the trash...I wish I could have found another solution...but was afraid that the snake would end up with one of the neighborhood kids, dogs or cats...

But...talk about heart rate! Oh...and when I went back into the shop to ride...I kept looking down at the cranks...just to make sure! And, frankly, riding the trainer yesterday again...I was STILL looking down a lot!

Ha! I knew those old steel rims were good for something.

I'm surprised it did not try to get away. I guess it was still trying to warm up.

daf1009, I share your concern about snakes. I'm in the Smokerise neighborhood near Stone Mountain and, we've got Copperhead snakes all over the place around here. Matter of fact, last time I was on the Greenway I saw a nice 30" long or so copperhead laying out right there on the pavement. They're definitely poisionous but, not very aggressive or dangerous. Be careful out there.

I just unlaced a Schwinn varsity's wheelset for the hubs and man, those rims got some heft to them. Good choice for a killing weapon!

I remember weighing one of the bare rims from a mid-1960's Varsity, I believe it was over 1100g!

Remembering that Schwinn also spec'd these very rims on certain of their tandem bikes like the Twinn Sport, which also justified their famously tight fit with wire-beaded tires, so that higher pressures were possible.

Man, I really hate dealing with tire replacements on the Schwinn "tubular" steel rims! Getting the tire to seat can be quite difficult.

It did prove to be!

Head shape of a snake does not indicate whether it is poisonous or not. Check out this video of an Eastern Hognose - they appear very aggressive when threatened, but are ***** cats. Coral snakes have thin heads and... well, you know. It looks you can't say p*ssy on the forum.

https://youtu.be/BhMqMRUZYIQ

I generally like snakes but this snake touched his bike. Once they lose fear of the bike, they all become dangerous !

It had to die...

Great story. Yeah, that definitely must have been a shock to see a snake on your bike! Good thing you didn't start spinning away, your fast-moving ankles would have made a tempting target.

Interesting story, OP - thanks for sharing. While I generally like snakes, too, I can understand this situation. Plus, in GA I'm sure you're used to seeing more poisonous snakes that we normally see up here in the PNW. I don't suppose you got any pics post-mortem? Were you able to make a positive ID?

DD

No, that is the one thing...I really wish I had the picture of him sitting on top of the chain ring!!! And in my shop!!!! Jeez!!!