Nearly ran over a rattlesnake!

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

On the bicycle, today!

Yikes!

bivenator · 03-16-2009, 06:01 PM

I was waiting for the punchline, but none came so here is mine.

But the banker made it to the curb before I could.

Were you offroad in the Addicks Res. I imagine there are more than a few bodies in there somewhere/

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

On the road, and technically, yes in the Addicks res, but was in Bear Creek Park. We were riding on the road going past the golf course, that leads to Patterson. The snake was near the creek, mouth wide open.

On the way back, we found it quite squished, in about the same place.

My "quick 20" route goes through Bear Creek Park, then over the Bike trail from TX 6 to Cullen park. We did well today. 1 hour, 5 minutes. The last 4 we cranked! 21-22 mph.

Laneco · 03-16-2009, 07:47 PM

A few years back I did a race down in Yreka, CA (Humbug Hurry-up). Great race, 7,000 feet of climbing, trails, fire roads and a fast finish in Greenhorn park.

Anyway, I grinding up a steep climb and I hear the snake. Well being as how I'm so dang slow, a whole lot of people had riden near or maybe even over him before I got there. The snake was right on the edge of the trail, probably 22 inches long and very pissed off!

Fastest acceleration I've ever done on a climb! Shot right around him! Snake bites on tires suck. Snake bites on your own hide suck even worse, especially when you're a long way from help!

Sure gets your heart going, doesn't it?
angela

slakjaw · 03-16-2009, 07:50 PM

awesome!

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Uphill is tough, downhill you just get your feet up high enough not to get bit...

Ain't a lot of downhill within a hundred miles of Houston though. That flat stuff drove me crazy when I lived down there. First time I ever lived anywhere you could not see mountains.

You catch a rattlesnake bite out in the sticks on a bicycle, you pretty much are gonna die, I would imagine.

Cory M · 03-16-2009, 08:29 PM

I have had a few rattlesnake encounters while mountain biking.

I crested a hill and rolled over the middle of a BIG one, I knew I hit something because I saw it moving underneath me, I stopped about 10 yards after and saw it in the middle of the trail pissed off and ready to strike, I yelled back to my brother who luckily heard me and stopped in time.

One time I was about to take a leak in the bushes and one was right in front of me headed my direction - good thing I hadn't started yet! Another time I stopped to get a good look at the ocean off a cliff and almost stepped on a little on bathing in the sun. I've seen a few others but no real close calls.

Needless to say, I keep an eye out for them now!

gchappel · 03-17-2009, 02:17 AM

We see them all the time when we are out riding in the swamps. There was one area in the Green Swamp we used to ride- they were so common we rode with snake leggings. They would lay in the Palmetto branches- about 2 feet off the ground. Scary, but I never heard of anyone getting hurt. One old guy that rode there a lot said if you knew you were going to run over one, ride over the head end as they can't hurt you with their tail.
Snake bite flats take on a whole new meaning.
gary

slakjaw · 03-17-2009, 06:10 AM

I want to run over a rattle snake!

creaturecat · 03-17-2009, 07:54 AM

Happened to me. Outside Osoyoos B.C. At a signed rattlesnake crossing.
5 footer, talk about adrenalin, did I pedal fast after that encounter!

s_morrison57 · 03-17-2009, 08:31 AM

YOU PUSSIES , I run over snakes all the time ok I'm on a quad, but I work in the jungle and these are some serious snakes here, if he wants to pretend he's a stick then I make'em do the chicken, doesn't kill them least not right away , my hope is that they suffer a slow painful death, must have run over 100 at least , been here for a while and have taken the cutlas to 16 of them, I keep count of the hand kills, been bit once, Fare de Lance THAT HURT, thing you have to remeber is that any snake can only strike 1/3 of its body length, 3 footer has a 1 foot range, bad thing is they can move pretty fast , I'm old and fat but if I have to I can out run one

Heel n Toe · 09:11 AM

Wear snakeboots or take antivenin with you.

slakjaw · 03-17-2009, 01:53 PM

What does it feel like to get bit by a rattler?

KarlCarrera · 03-17-2009, 04:58 PM

4" sections, 12" cast iron skillet, white meat, butter and garlic, onions if you want. Bury the head, keep the rattles and skin if you can figure out how to stretch and preserve it. Really pretty good. Tough to keep cold on the bike though.

Karl
88 Targa

kimlangley7 · 03-17-2009, 05:25 PM

When I was a kid in Lopburi Thailand 64-66 [my Dad was a Army SF advisor to the Royal Thai Army SF and Abn] I was out in the boonies with our driver "Prang".. I ran over a King Cobra in the Jeep along a dirt trail... .. I wanted to go back and get it.. Prang said in no uncertain terms > ain't no way kid... snake body was pretty big...

livi · 03-17-2009, 05:29 PM

Excuse my ignorance, but did it upset you because:

1. That species is a rare sight in those parts, particularly on the road.

2. You were afraid to hurt the snake.

3. Specifically the Rattlesnake will get furious when run over and hunt you all the way home.

Please elaborate.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by livi

Excuse my ignorance, but did it upset you because:

1. That species is a rare sight in those parts, particularly on the road.

Not really

Quote:

Originally Posted by livi

2. You were afraid to hurt the snake.

A bit, I hate hurting other things

Quote:

Originally Posted by livi

3. Specifically the Rattlesnake will get furious when run over and hunt you all the way home.

Snort. Nah. They are that fast or smart.

A Rattlesnake generally won't kill you, but the necrosis will damage your leg. The Venom is used to help digest food.

I just don't need a snake bite right now. We just had a lot of rain, so his normal area is most likely flooded.

livi · 03-17-2009, 06:39 PM

Thanks! Just wondered as I have not experience with such creatures.

Like I have said before, depending where you live, it would seem that you will have either a friendly climate and a bunch of "unfriendly" insects, spiders and reptiles OR neither.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

When we were south of Mexico City, near Tepozlan, the big problem was scorpions. There were little ones, everywhere. How poisonous? Not sure.

When I lived in Pakistan, we had to watch out for Black Adders. Very poisonous.

livi · 03-17-2009, 06:58 PM

The only poisonous creatures here are women.