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Black snake performance enhancer
Just about ran over a large (like, python size !!) red belly black snake at the top of the Dam last sunday overlooking the golf course. As it reared up ready to wrap around my wheel, leap off and bite my face off, an amazing burst of energy drove my bike forward.
I was buzzing for minutes. Watch for them snakes this weekend !!!
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That would have to be one of the worst places to find a snake. A great spot for them with the large rock and plenty of sun but not so great for evasive measures for us coming up the A-line where you have no where to go but forwards.
I haven't come across any this season but half a dozen were bunny-hopped on the downhill fire trail section last season.
Probably another good time to mention to always carry a phone with you while riding by yourself. You can't ride after being bitten as you have to stay still so it's a bit rough being on your own. Put the rangers number in your phone (only weekdays?) as they would be the best to contact to give directions to emergency.
And so far i have seen three up close since August , how many people do you know who has actually been bitten by one of the buggers ?. The closest i have come is a couple of years ago a black bugger reared up about 450mm from my shoulder and scared the shit out of me , since then have run over a brown at speed ( didnt hang aroung to do a mood survey ) and probably seen around ten or twelve up very close and each time they , and i , buggered of very quick after a curious glance . From then on EVERY stick thats not dead straight seems like a snake .....
... I'm going home. We don't have snakes in Cornwall.
From http://www.intocornwall.com/features/wildlife.asp -
"Reptiles and amphibians can be seen around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly but can be rather shy. Snakes such as Adders and the Grass Snakes can sometimes be seen basking in the sun around the coastal path."
I have yet to come across any snakes while riding and with a bit of luck will keep it that way!
Come on an Appin Ride on a hot day and we will sort your fear of snakes out
http://youtu.be/Uqg3Pg2M9WU
Nothing wrong with my fear of snakes geeza.. I have seen enough to know that they don't like me any more than I like them.
Someone needs to invent a snake deterant siren for australian mountain bikes... in fact.. what a good idea
Does someone really know someone bitten while riding? I mean know the person and not heard of, and bitten while riding, not when stopped or walking.
Just curious, the snake would attack the wheel? Would i get a flat tire and the sanke attack me from the back while changing the tube?
Not, really, are they fast enough to catch you or the wheel while running on top of them?
Yes - I was fanged on the shin by a brown on Great North Rd about 3yrs ago. Never saw it till after the bite, was riding slowly. Lucky for me it didn't invenimate and later found only 1/3 of brown snake bites have venom and defensive bites usually don't. I tend to train alone most of the time and have come across many. The scariest was a very long & skinny brown that I nearly ran over in Lane Cove NP. It reared up so it's head was nearly as high as my bum and made all sorts of hissing and spitting gestures as I rode past. Have had a number of snakes caught in my cranks as they try to get out of the way as I ride over them. I no longer ride in Lane Cove by myself due to the number of near misses. Tend to stick to Manly Dam where I know help won't be far off and I always carry a bandage and phone. Unfortunately both get used a lot after crashes....
... sounds like a good excuse to lash out on a good set of knee/shin guards.