A snake in the middle of the road....

[tached1000rr]

Well we usually ride in the country/mountains so we are pretty used to seeing cows, pigs, snakes, etc in the road. Any of you ever ran over a snake in the road? We had a rider in our group today that saw a snake in the middle of the road and "instictively" crossed the yellow line to avoid it. No cars were coming but I honesty don't think she took the time to look. When we all stopped we spent some time talking to her about the incident and that snakes in the road will be an occasional occurrence and that she would somehow need to prepare herself for that. While not new to riding it was her first outing in the country as she lives/rides in the city normally.

[Smittie61984]

I hit a fat cottonmouth once.

And there is video of a superbike (or some sort of motorcycle race) of a guy hitting a king cobra. I can't ever find it though.

[tached1000rr]

Originally Posted by Smittie61984

I hit a fat cottonmouth once.

And there is video of a superbike (or some sort of motorcycle race) of a guy hitting a king cobra. I can't ever find it though.

I've seen that one on youtube somewhere too...

[Ninjakel]

we just got back from the Gap tonight. Leon and Jgalt ran over one yesterday up there

There's all kinds of shit in the road up there.

[azoomm]

I hit a 5 foot rat snake at the track last Sunday.... HUGE snake....

Rules of riding - the preservation of my own life is more important than that of a critter scrambling on the pavement. If there is opportunity to make evasive actions to save a life, I won't do it unless I know that makes sense. It's a split second decision... when in doubt, hold your line.

[Smittie61984]

Originally Posted by azoomm

I hit a 5 foot rat snake at the track last Sunday.... HUGE snake....

Rules of riding - the preservation of my own life is more important than that of a critter scrambling on the pavement. If there is opportunity to make evasive actions to save a life, I won't do it unless I know that makes sense. It's a split second decision... when in doubt, hold your line.

I mentioned my hit on beginnertriathlete when someone in the Georgia section showed a picture of a fat copperhead they saw on the Silver Comet Trail. They flipped out on me thinking I tried to nail it on purpose. I did apologize for not swerving into a tree though to save a snake.

[fasternyou929]

I've hit a few. Some of those bastards have lightning quick reflexes though! The last one turned and lunged to bite me after the front wheel got him. I *thought* I saw his head coming right for my ankle but figured it was just my mind messing with me, until at the next stop sign my friend riding behind me pulled up next to me and said the same thing.

[jgalt]

Originally Posted by Ninjakel

we just got back from the Gap tonight. Leon and Jgalt ran over one yesterday up there

There's all kinds of shit in the road up there.

Yeah, I hit that snake twice! It was already dead, and I kicked it the first time trying to get it off the road. Didn't see it the second time and almost tucked the front. Payback I guess!

[neebelung]

Originally Posted by tached1000rr

Well we usually ride in the country/mountains so we are pretty used to seeing cows, pigs, snakes, etc in the road. Any of you ever ran over a snake in the road? We had a rider in our group today that saw a snake in the middle of the road and "instictively" crossed the yellow line to avoid it. No cars were coming but I honesty don't think she took the time to look. When we all stopped we spent some time talking to her about the incident and that snakes in the road will be an occasional occurrence and that she would somehow need to prepare herself for that. While not new to riding it was her first outing in the country as she lives/rides in the city normally.

I've very rarely seen snakes in the road (alive or dead) until we went to Deal's Gap. I'm telling ya, I saw more snakes (slithering and smushed) up in that neck of the woods than I could've imagined! Road kill up there was frequent and varied! Snakes, turtles, groundhogs... not to mention the groundhogs that PLAY dead and then try to take you out at the last minute!

[jgalt]

Originally Posted by neebelung

I've very rarely seen snakes in the road (alive or dead) until we went to Deal's Gap. I'm telling ya, I saw more snakes (slithering and smushed) up in that neck of the woods than I could've imagined! Road kill up there was frequent and varied! Snakes, turtles, groundhogs... not to mention the groundhogs that PLAY dead and then try to take you out at the last minute!

Ditto! I scared one squirrel out of a tree. Leon was following me, and said he thought it was trying an ariel attack on him! lol I never saw it! Did see a bunch dancing in the road though.