BrianMTB Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 A couple of weekends ago I participated in the Route 69 MTB Experience. Day two ran through the Cradle of Humankind and towards the end of the stage I looked up to see a 7-8ft Black Mamba crossing the trail just ahead of me. I swerved as hard as I could to avoid running it over and skimmed past its tail with no more than 10cm to spare. The snake must have had as big a fright as me because it reared up behind me, mouth gaping and with its hood spread. Luckily I was going fast enough that I escaped further danger but had I run it over I am certain it would have bitten me. Has anyone else had any close shaves with snakes like this?
BrianMTB Posted March 7, 2012 Author Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 10:42 AM, CAAD4 said: Did you have to throw away your pant?haha, yes the skidmarks weren't only on the trail
dirtrider Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 Not really but when they do stand up it can appears as if they got one ! Especially the Rapper species .
Pappa Bear Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 Not as close as you but had the pleasure of sharing some single track with a cape cobra, and once a mother off a puffader, it was the size of my arm! Also once had to swerve for a tortoise the size of a football in the middle of the track!
Kranswurm Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 10:41 AM, BrianMTB said: A couple of weekends ago I participated in the Route 69 MTB Experience. Day two ran through the Cradle of Humankind and towards the end of the stage I looked up to see a 7-8ft Black Mamba crossing the trail just ahead of me. I swerved as hard as I could to avoid running it over and skimmed past its tail with no more than 10cm to spare. The snake must have had as big a fright as me because it reared up behind me, mouth gaping and with its hood spread. Luckily I was going fast enough that I escaped further danger but had I run it over I am certain it would have bitten me. Has anyone else had any close shaves with snakes like this? This is an incident last week in Gaborone on the Kalchal route.The snake has been seen before at the same spot and is resident.Confirmed mambaHi Marius Last night’s incident probably merits sharing with other users of the Kgale saddle track. You may like to circulate this. I was on the saddle track around 6pm, riding northwest to southeast, ie from the pylon road towards A1 Lobatse road, at a reasonably fast pace. James Walsh was close behind my back wheel. Some metres in front of me, I saw what initially might have been a long stick across the road, but when I was just 2/3 metres from it, it became clear it was a snake, head and tail hidden in long grass either side. It was too late to attempt to stop, so I rode on over it shouting out to James. He followed over and saw its tail rise 2/3 feet into the air and noticed its light/pale underbelly. As neither of us saw its head we could not 100% positively ID the black mamba classic head shape, black mouth interior, etc. But as soon as we were home we paged through loads of mamba images and info, and saw/read nothing about its looks, location and behaviour to suggest it was not a mamba. And I am quite certain it was not one of the snakes we 'normally see' in the bush, ie cobra, puff adder, or python. It was fortunate I decided not to stop or slow down, for had I done so, James would have crashed into me and we both may have landed right on top of the creature! The location of the incident was very roughly half way up the NW slope, shortly before the commonly used 'sand bypass' tracks commence. Afterwards, we continued our ride over the top and down to the stile at the bottom, returning the same way, and of course, seeing nothing on the return. What next? Well of course snakes are rarely seen and I’m not suggesting we stop riding the saddle. But if this creature survived (and I would guess it may well have done), it’s not going to be particularly well disposed towards MTB’s, especially 29ers! We need to be reminded that these fellows are out there and it might be worth just considering: What if the worst happened? What course of action would I take? In what order would I do things? Etc, etc. On On Mark Lane-Jones
BLACKvoodoo Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 10:44 AM, StevieL said: Mambas have hoods? ?? they do??
Big H* Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 10:41 AM, BrianMTB said: A couple of weekends ago I participated in the Route 69 MTB Experience. Day two ran through the Cradle of Humankind and towards the end of the stage I looked up to see a 7-8ft Black Mamba crossing the trail just ahead of me. I swerved as hard as I could to avoid running it over and skimmed past its tail with no more than 10cm to spare. The snake must have had as big a fright as me because it reared up behind me, mouth gaping and with its hood spread. Luckily I was going fast enough that I escaped further danger but had I run it over I am certain it would have bitten me. Has anyone else had any close shaves with snakes like this? Was it a hood or a Balaclava?????/ Could have been a bikejacker
BLACKvoodoo Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 10:47 AM, Kranswurm said: This is an incident last week in Gaborone on the Kalchal route.The snake has been seen before at the same spot and is resident.Confirmed mambaHi Marius Last night’s incident probably merits sharing with other users of the Kgale saddle track. You may like to circulate this. I was on the saddle track around 6pm, riding northwest to southeast, ie from the pylon road towards A1 Lobatse road, at a reasonably fast pace. James Walsh was close behind my back wheel. Some metres in front of me, I saw what initially might have been a long stick across the road, but when I was just 2/3 metres from it, it became clear it was a snake, head and tail hidden in long grass either side. It was too late to attempt to stop, so I rode on over it shouting out to James. He followed over and saw its tail rise 2/3 feet into the air and noticed its light/pale underbelly. As neither of us saw its head we could not 100% positively ID the black mamba classic head shape, black mouth interior, etc. But as soon as we were home we paged through loads of mamba images and info, and saw/read nothing about its looks, location and behaviour to suggest it was not a mamba. And I am quite certain it was not one of the snakes we 'normally see' in the bush, ie cobra, puff adder, or python. It was fortunate I decided not to stop or slow down, for had I done so, James would have crashed into me and we both may have landed right on top of the creature! The location of the incident was very roughly half way up the NW slope, shortly before the commonly used 'sand bypass' tracks commence. Afterwards, we continued our ride over the top and down to the stile at the bottom, returning the same way, and of course, seeing nothing on the return. What next? Well of course snakes are rarely seen and I’m not suggesting we stop riding the saddle. But if this creature survived (and I would guess it may well have done), it’s not going to be particularly well disposed towards MTB’s, especially 29ers! We need to be reminded that these fellows are out there and it might be worth just considering: What if the worst happened? What course of action would I take? In what order would I do things? Etc, etc. On On Mark Lane-Jones "The snake has been seen before at the same spot" So same spot hey? Then it must be without a doubt the same snake.It MUST be!!
BLACKvoodoo Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 Because the same snakes sit on the same spots at the same time...All the time, time and time again.
BrianMTB Posted March 7, 2012 Author Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 10:47 AM, Kranswurm said: This is an incident last week in Gaborone on the Kalchal route.The snake has been seen before at the same spot and is resident.Confirmed mambaHi Marius Last night’s incident probably merits sharing with other users of the Kgale saddle track. You may like to circulate this. I was on the saddle track around 6pm, riding northwest to southeast, ie from the pylon road towards A1 Lobatse road, at a reasonably fast pace. James Walsh was close behind my back wheel. Some metres in front of me, I saw what initially might have been a long stick across the road, but when I was just 2/3 metres from it, it became clear it was a snake, head and tail hidden in long grass either side. It was too late to attempt to stop, so I rode on over it shouting out to James. He followed over and saw its tail rise 2/3 feet into the air and noticed its light/pale underbelly. As neither of us saw its head we could not 100% positively ID the black mamba classic head shape, black mouth interior, etc. But as soon as we were home we paged through loads of mamba images and info, and saw/read nothing about its looks, location and behaviour to suggest it was not a mamba. And I am quite certain it was not one of the snakes we 'normally see' in the bush, ie cobra, puff adder, or python. It was fortunate I decided not to stop or slow down, for had I done so, James would have crashed into me and we both may have landed right on top of the creature! The location of the incident was very roughly half way up the NW slope, shortly before the commonly used 'sand bypass' tracks commence. Afterwards, we continued our ride over the top and down to the stile at the bottom, returning the same way, and of course, seeing nothing on the return. What next? Well of course snakes are rarely seen and I’m not suggesting we stop riding the saddle. But if this creature survived (and I would guess it may well have done), it’s not going to be particularly well disposed towards MTB’s, especially 29ers! We need to be reminded that these fellows are out there and it might be worth just considering: What if the worst happened? What course of action would I take? In what order would I do things? Etc, etc. On On Mark Lane-Jones So this guy actually went over it and wasn't bitten? There is, I suppose, some minor comfort knowing that. The adrenalin shot I received as a result probaly took 20 minutes off my time
Hairy Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 We very narrowly missed running over a nice big Puffy on our Wednesday Morning Table Mountain rides .... very narrowly!
Kranswurm Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 11:02 AM, BrianMTB said: So this guy actually went over it and wasn't bitten? There is, I suppose, some minor comfort knowing that. The adrenalin shot I received as a result probaly took 20 minutes off my time Yeah they were running 2bliss.......so no chance of a snake bite
Kranswurm Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 On 3/7/2012 at 11:00 AM, BLACKvoodoo said: Because the same snakes sit on the same spots at the same time...All the time, time and time again. Hey Argus gate crasher.......this one just sits
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