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Ran over a snake

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Australia and New Zealand
Published
25 November 2003
Last activity
24 February 2004
Original author
John Henderson
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40
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  1. Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre
    long) on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).

    It was moving quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike
    just as I went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals
    (was wearing sandals), although I think it was too small to have
    posed any danger to me. But it could have been a much bigger
    specimen...

    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.

    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters
    before when cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I
    should wear shoes 🙂

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    John

  2. "John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre
    long) on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    hehe yeah :-) Riding around Studley Park, Yarra
    river kinda trails just east of Melbourne...

    Three of us riding the singletrack around there. I
    was up front and it was a nice fast bit so I was
    moving.. well.. fast!
    I saw the snake and hit the brakes, then I realised
    I was going too fast to stop in time and decided to
    hop over it. Only managed to get the front wheel
    over and ran over the top of it with my back wheel.
    I yelled "SNAKE!" but the guys thought I yelled
    "BRAKE!" and didn't know why.. but they
    stopped in time - I think because it had sat up and
    was going to have a go at anyone that came near it.
    We watched it for a bit until it calmed down
    and continued down, across the path. It was a
    tiger snake, maybe 1m long, perhaps more.

    hippy

  3. "John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre
    long) on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).

    It was moving quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike
    just as I went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals
    (was wearing sandals), although I think it was too small to have
    posed any danger to me. But it could have been a much bigger
    specimen...

    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.

    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters
    before when cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I
    should wear shoes 🙂

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    John

    I was in the RNP doing some x country training. I was running up the trail
    from Audley to Engadine (a rather steep climb) when I nearly trod on a brown
    snake. It took off one way and I ran the other! LOL....From then on every
    stick or branch laying on the trail was a brown snake as far as I was
    concerned!

  4. Don't for a minute think that you'd be safe if a small brown snake bit you -
    keep getting your feet out of the way - they are very poisonous.
    --
    Bob Chambers
    "John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre
    long) on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).

    It was moving quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike
    just as I went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals
    (was wearing sandals), although I think it was too small to have
    posed any danger to me. But it could have been a much bigger
    specimen...

    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.

    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters
    before when cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I
    should wear shoes 🙂

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    John

  5. In article <[email hidden]>,
    [email hidden] says...

    Quoted message said:


    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.

    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters
    before when cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I
    should wear shoes 🙂

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    Spied one about 2 weeks ago at the north end of the Merri Trail near
    Pipeworks.

    First decent hot day and the reptiles were out 🙂

    Was about 1m long black snake.

    Certainly makes you think about watching the track a bit closer.

    Cheers Ray

  6. Quoted message said:


    I was in the RNP doing some x country training. I was running up the trail
    from Audley to Engadine (a rather steep climb) when I nearly trod on a brown
    snake. It took off one way and I ran the other! LOL....From then on every
    stick or branch laying on the trail was a brown snake as far as I was
    concerned!

    I've done the same thing. Everything in the bush suddenly comes alive,
    and your heart races in a big adrenaline rush.

    Marty

  7. First time I ever found a brown snake outside of a zoo was the day I rode
    over it - I did NOT stop!!! I might be a Pom but I'm not that stupid....

    Boz

    "Ray" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    In article <[email hidden]>,
    [email hidden] says...

    Quoted message said:


    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.

    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters
    before when cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I
    should wear shoes 🙂

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    Spied one about 2 weeks ago at the north end of the Merri Trail near
    Pipeworks.

    First decent hot day and the reptiles were out 🙂

    Was about 1m long black snake.

    Certainly makes you think about watching the track a bit closer.

    Cheers Ray

  8. John Henderson said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre long)
    on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).
    It was moving quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike just as I
    went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals (was wearing
    sandals), although I think it was too small to have posed any
    danger to me. But it could have been a much bigger specimen...
    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.
    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters before when
    cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I should wear shoes 🙂
    Anyone else had a similar experience?
    John

    I tried to run over my ex- wife a couple of times but she moved into the
    bushes too quickly.I probably should not do the comparison. It is
    demeaning to the entire snake population.

    --

    Quoted message said:

    --------------------------<


    Posted via cyclingforums.com
    http://www.cyclingforums.com

  9. John Henderson said:

    I think it was too small to have posed any danger to me. But it could
    have been a much bigger specimen...
    John

    Specimen? Isn't a specimen an Italian astronaut?

    --

    Quoted message said:

    --------------------------<


    Posted via cyclingforums.com
    http://www.cyclingforums.com

  10. When you run over a snake and crush it's inside, they die very, very
    slowly if they get away. It's the same as if they have a big feed and
    take along time to digest their prey. They digest themselves from the
    inside out ver, very slowly.

    I used to see black snakes, tigers and adders on my way home from work
    on the Gold Coast. Coombabah Environmental Reserve on the Gold Coast was
    full of them. I'd just get of the bike and chase them off the road so
    they wouldn't get run over. The adders are the worst cause they're small
    and harder to see, but they're really slow to react.

    --

    Quoted message said:

    --------------------------<


    Posted via cyclingforums.com
    http://www.cyclingforums.com

  11. jhuskey said:
    John Henderson said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre long)
    on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).
    It was moving quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike just as I
    went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals (was wearing
    sandals), although I think it was too small to have posed any
    danger to me. But it could have been a much bigger specimen...
    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.
    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters before when
    cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I should wear shoes 🙂
    Anyone else had a similar experience?
    John

    I tried to run over my ex- wife a couple of times but she moved into the
    bushes too quickly.I probably should not do the comparison. It is
    demeaning to the entire snake population.

    The most important thing is that you're not bitter about it.
    ---
    DFM

  12. Deep Freud Moor said:
    jhuskey said:
    John Henderson said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre
    long) on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen). It was moving
    quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike just
    as I went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals
    (was wearing sandals), although I think it was too small to
    have posed any danger to me. But it could have been a much
    bigger specimen... Looking back saw it disappearing off the
    path behind me. I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at
    close quarters before when cycling (bushwalking is another
    matter). Maybe I should wear shoes 🙂 Anyone else had a
    similar experience? John

    I tried to run over my ex- wife a couple of times but she moved into
    the bushes too quickly.I probably should not do the comparison. It is
    demeaning to the entire snake population.


    The most important thing is that you're not bitter about it.
    ---
    DFM

    Used to do a lot of riding around Canberra as a boy and had a friend who
    was cycling in front of me up Caswell Drive in Aranda and Brown snake
    went between his wheels. Quite freaked him out! Was the only time I have
    come as close on a bike.

    --

    Quoted message said:

    --------------------------<


    Posted via cyclingforums.com
    http://www.cyclingforums.com

  13. John Henderson said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre
    long) on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    I nearly t-boned a kangaroo while test riding a recumbent around the southern
    side of the canberra lake yesterday.

    It was doing the bolt across the path, I hadn't seen it at first, just heard
    it jumping through the scrub. Didn't think anything of it till it cleared the
    shorter scrub at the edge of the path.

    By the time I could react, it was long gone.
    --
    Linux Registered User # 302622 <http://counter.li.org>

  14. In western NSW at this time of year, there seem to be as many Brown's
    as there are birds. Big ones are not so bad 'cause they're a bit easier
    to see. Unfortunately, a 30cm model is just as poisonous as a 180cm
    model. Personally though, i'm more paranoid of spiders. A couple of
    years ago I fell victim to a big female redback whilst cleaning out the
    back shed to put kids-stuff in. I have never been so messed up and hope
    to never be again.

    Incy-wincy can drown for all I care.

    ~j~

    --

  15. unfortuanelty if they can become entagled in your spokes they can come
    stright at you in a mess of snake arms, toes and heads. you panic in a mess
    of arms and legs.

  16. "John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre
    long) on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).

    It was moving quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike
    just as I went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals
    (was wearing sandals), although I think it was too small to have
    posed any danger to me. But it could have been a much bigger
    specimen...

    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.

    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters
    before when cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I
    should wear shoes 🙂

    Anyone else had a similar experience?

    After reading this, I nearly ran over an 80cm tiger snake riding home last
    night. The first snake I have ever see riding! (although it was pretty warm
    riding at about 4:30pm yesterday).

    I had just riden through about 8km of single track along the yarra as well,
    without seeing anything.

    Tim

  17. John Henderson said:

    Yesterday afternoon I ran over a brown snake (a bit under a metre long)
    on a bike path in suburban Canberra (Kaleen).
    It was moving quite fast across the path, and I couldn't avoid
    it. I saw that it stopped and raised its head as if to strike just as I
    went over it. I had just taken my feet off the pedals (was wearing
    sandals), although I think it was too small to have posed any
    danger to me. But it could have been a much bigger specimen...
    Looking back saw it disappearing off the path behind me.
    I don't remember ever even seeing a snake at close quarters before when
    cycling (bushwalking is another matter). Maybe I should wear shoes 🙂
    Anyone else had a similar experience?
    John

    ive just moved to country victoria and in the last week i have nearly
    ran over a turtle and a blue tounge lizard and it got me thinking about
    snakes because i often drive past them in the car. would a snake have
    time to strike you if you ran over it?

    --

  18. cin <[email hidden]> wrote in
    news:[email hidden]:

    Quoted message said:


    ive just moved to country victoria and in the last week i have nearly
    ran over a turtle and a blue tounge lizard and it got me thinking
    about snakes because i often drive past them in the car. would a snake
    have time to strike you if you ran over it?

    Hmmmmm, have you ever heard the saying 'madder than a cut snake' 😉

  19. cin said:

    ive just moved to country victoria and in the last week i have
    nearly ran over a turtle and a blue tounge lizard and it got me
    thinking about snakes because i often drive past them in the
    car. would a snake have time to strike you if you ran over it?

    More than enough time - have you ever seen how quick their
    reflexes are?

    I was watching the one I ran over until the front wheel hit it.
    I was doing about 24 km/h. About a metre before I hit it, it
    stopped and raised its head to strike (could give a new meaning
    to the term "snakebite puncture"😉.

    I believe they've got to be a certain size to be able give you a
    bite that'll get the venom in, unless you're unlucky enough to be
    bitten on a finger or toe.

    John

  20. I can bunny hop about 3/4 ft high. I never see anyone else doing it round
    the city but its such a convenient technique to navigate the
    pedestrian/automobile nuinces.

    "John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    cin said:

    ive just moved to country victoria and in the last week i have
    nearly ran over a turtle and a blue tounge lizard and it got me
    thinking about snakes because i often drive past them in the
    car. would a snake have time to strike you if you ran over it?

    More than enough time - have you ever seen how quick their
    reflexes are?

    I was watching the one I ran over until the front wheel hit it.
    I was doing about 24 km/h. About a metre before I hit it, it
    stopped and raised its head to strike (could give a new meaning
    to the term "snakebite puncture"😉.

    I believe they've got to be a certain size to be able give you a
    bite that'll get the venom in, unless you're unlucky enough to be
    bitten on a finger or toe.

    John

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