RR: Snake on a Trail (Not your Fully Loop...)

[allison]

Last night Justin and I headed out after work to hit up an early lap around Vail Lake to dial in the Dos.

Considering I hadn't ridden it since Feb 2, it had been awhile and was time to get re-acquainted.

I noticed really for the first time ever with the new wheelset on the Canzo that a wheelset really makes a bike. The Canzo wheelset was built up and new for Keyesville, and I definitely noticed a difference in how the bike rolled vs. having the light-weight wheelset on there.

So, needless to say, I was looking forward to rolling on clouds once again.

I also had Justin bump up the Reba from 80mm to 100mm. He had tried it on the Niner and rode VQ with a 100mm fork, so I figured it couldn't be all bad.

Off we took down the fire road skirting the lake shore and headed toward That Dam climb. I knew the climb would be a good show of how I was doing, as well as the bike.

Well, the Dos is not a FS 29er. Duh, right? I haven't ridden the Python rear tire probably since VQ, so it was a little different not having as much traction, but mostly I noticed that the rear end of the bike doesn't handle the same as a FS over rocks. Instead of rolling it shoots itself to the side making it kinda sketchy. No worry, I'm used to having the work the bike a little and not focus on lack of traction.

Now, I have only ever ridden the Dos as a 1x9. My first ride or so was 32T and 11/34. Shortly after it was 28T with 11/34. But, the Canzo has been a 2x9 with 22/32T.

The 32T middle ring felt good on the climb. I knew I'd use the small ring later on on the steep sections, but for the early part of the climb I held on in the middle ring. It felt easier than I remembered it, and this bike just likes to climb.

It was soo pretty out, though. I had to stop for photos.





Then we took off for the first big part of the climb.

I actually beat Justin! woohoo!



I guess a lot less travel and 8lbs will do that for me

I've never seen it so green out here



From the top



Justin took a few videos as we roller coastered and climbed around the hills... eventually we rode down the ridge (see the video) and then we climbed back up a bit. Luke caught up to us (he'd been playing chaser for the whole loop). I got this photo of Justin going along Tunnel of Love, which is actually becoming tunnel-ish again!



As we headed back to the general parking area we saw the new r/c track they are building up out there



Freaking first class looking facility!!



JoJo, Justin and I headed out for the second lap and Luke waited back for Kevin





JoJo did really well up the climb!



Shadows were getting long...



Gratiutious bike shot



Can you spot Luke and Kevin catching up?



How about now?



Justin and I only saw one singletrack off the normal fire road, but didn't take it. This time around we took two new singletrack's. They are sooo fun.

On "Rattlesnake" pre snake sighting









Luke was stopped, and Justin was stopped. I pulled up short and heard the rattle. Naturally Justin walked right up to it (keeping his poor bike between him and the snake) and snapped a few shots. Crazy bastard.

Kevin and I sprinted wide around both of them. I'll admit, though, that snake easily could've turned on its heels and quickly slithered our way. We were just running through the grass. I was fairly nervous. I did turn to Kevin as Justin inched closer and said, "This is why they have zoom!"



And from the other side



Off we went leaving the rattler to his last bit of sunning.

We went down Tunnel of Love again as we were running out of time.

Great ride! I definitely want to do this again.

[strobelite]

pretty!

thanks for the snake pics!!!!!

[Permagrin]

Holy crap, that thing's huge!
I've never seen one that color, he's a beauty.

[JoeTruth]

Nice RR and photos...thank you. That rattler doesn't look too happy with you guys intruding on his RR time. He's coiled-up and is looking to strike anyone or anything that invades his space. If not coiled-up, they can't strike. If coiled, they can strike the distance of their body length. if he's 3 feet long, so long as you keep that distance plus a few more feet for good measure, you're okay. Very cool!

Originally Posted by allison

Luke was stopped, and Justin was stopped. I pulled up short and heard the rattle. Naturally Justin walked right up to it (keeping his poor bike between him and the snake) and snapped a few shots. Crazy bastard.

Kevin and I sprinted wide around both of them. I'll admit, though, that snake easily could've turned on its heels and quickly slithered our way. We were just running through the grass. I was fairly nervous. I did turn to Kevin as Justin inched closer and said, "This is why they have zoom!"



And from the other side



Off we went leaving the rattler to his last bit of sunning.

[foofighter]

kind of like snakes on a plane beautiful pics as always.

[mtbgurl26]

great pics! i've never seen such a huge rattlesnake on the trails!! awesome! thanks for sharing

[allison]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Nice RR and photos...thank you. That rattler doesn't look too happy with you guys intruding on his RR time. He's coiled-up and is looking to strike anyone or anything that invades his space. If not coiled-up, they can't strike. If coiled, they can strike the distance of their body length. if he's 3 feet long, so long as you keep that distance plus a few more feet for good measure, you're okay. Very cool!

We think that Luke inadvertently ran him over. He was coiled and rattling like crazy when we all rounded the corner. Justin likes to get up close to them (it's not a new thing for him ) so he got a few pictures. He did try to move him off the trail with his front tire, but no luck. So we all ran around the guy and left him to his business. He didn't strike.

It was probably about 3-4 minutes total that we were there (from the time Luke stopped to when started rolling again). We didn't irritate him for too long!

Originally Posted by mtbgurl26

great pics! i've never seen such a huge rattlesnake on the trails!! awesome! thanks for sharing

Definitely a well-fed sucker right there Nice to see, though. I honestly don't think I saw one snake at all last year.

[sdyeti]

Joy and I went on a ride on Tuesday at Mission Trails...there was a lot of tall grass obscuring the trails. At the crest of a climb (I was behind her), I heard her scream. I thought "That sounds like a snake-scream!"

Sure enough, it was a snake, but a gopher snake I think.

[mechmann]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Nice RR and photos...thank you. That rattler doesn't look too happy with you guys intruding on his RR time. He's coiled-up and is looking to strike anyone or anything that invades his space. If not coiled-up, they can't strike. If coiled, they can strike the distance of their body length. if he's 3 feet long, so long as you keep that distance plus a few more feet for good measure, you're okay. Very cool!

from what i know, they actually can only strike about 2/3 of their body length. when they are really young, they don't know their strike distance, they will strike at things much farther away than their reach, i have seen some really pissed off little buggers that just strike strike strike.... very cool little creatures!

[xwhoopax]

Originally Posted by Permagrin

Holy crap, that thing's huge!

my thoughts exactly

[1080P]

Red Diamondbacks, Crotalus ruber are pretty mild mannered compared to Southern Pacific or Western Diamondbacks. Pretty exclusive to the Riverside /San Diesgo County areas. A well fed viper will have a bulge in his belly, from his last meal, usually a medium sized mammal. Almost all viper family snakes in the Western Hemisphere are short and heavy bodied. Most non venomous snakes in N America are longer and leaner than the pit vipers.

You must have had a hot one there or agitated him to get him to curl up and get defensive.

Back in the 70's , with VW bugs and 49c a gallon regular gasoline days, I used to catch them and take them to USC medical center to Dr Findlay Russel, Chief of the Poison center there... He paid $25 per snake to milk them for their venom to make anti venom out of it. Rode a lot of bike catching snakes back then. The Reds were easy to catch, didn't get to riled up, and were pretty non aggressive the times I was down by Banning Pass collecting them.

[JoeTruth]

You might be right but I've been under the impression that they can (at most) strike only the length of their body. Not sure about baby rattlers. I encountered one once at trailside and at first, I thought it was a harmless little garden snake (as I didn't see any rattlers and the head wasn't quite distinct yet). I went to go pick it up and admire it and that little bugger turned his head around with it's mouth wide open going after my hands. His mouth just missed my index finger as he brushed against my gloves. I couldn't believe I had forgotten that baby rattlers don't have rattlers yet. Plus, if they do bite, they don't let go and release a shiat load of venom into your bloodstream...lovely!

I once rolled-up on a two headed snake on the Mt. Wilson Trail. Well, I thought it was a 2 headed rattler until I stopped and moved in to have a closer look only to realize that it was 2 snakes mating like mad. They'd do their business and roll, then do more business and roll...such a cool site! I felt like a peeping Tom!
Once they were done, the male slithered along while the female feeling abandoned was very agitated took her frustrations out on me and wouldn't let me pass. I finally had to get a stick and move her to the side and encourage her to slither along. I heard her hissing long after leaving the seen of the crime. She was not a happy camper!

I think I have an old pic of it somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it up and post it. Not great quality but you'll get the gist.

Originally Posted by mechmann

from what i know, they actually can only strike about 2/3 of their body length. when they are really young, they don't know their strike distance, they will strike at things much farther away than their reach, i have seen some really pissed off little buggers that just strike strike strike.... very cool little creatures!

[sdyeti]

Hmmm...snake catcher...that will be on my list of jobs to never, ever consider taking!

Originally Posted by 1080P

Red Diamondbacks, Crotalus ruber are pretty mild mannered compared to Southern Pacific or Western Diamondbacks. Pretty exclusive to the Riverside /San Diesgo County areas. A well fed viper will have a bulge in his belly, from his last meal, usually a medium sized mammal. Almost all viper family snakes in the Western Hemisphere are short and heavy bodied. Most non venomous snakes in N America are longer and leaner than the pit vipers.

You must have had a hot one there or agitated him to get him to curl up and get defensive.

Back in the 70's , with VW bugs and 49c a gallon regular gasoline days, I used to catch them and take them to USC medical center to Dr Findlay Russel, Chief of the Poison center there... He paid $25 per snake to milk them for their venom to make anti venom out of it. Rode a lot of bike catching snakes back then. The Reds were easy to catch, didn't get to riled up, and were pretty non aggressive the times I was down by Banning Pass collecting them.

[guero]

great photos and RR allison! that lighting was killer, very nice photos of the snake and i love the one of the bike.

[Dial Tone]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

I once rolled-up on a two headed snake on the Mt. Wilson Trail. Well, I thought it was a 2 headed rattler until I stopped and moved in to have a closer look only to realize that it was 2 snakes mating like mad. They'd do their business and roll, then do more business and roll...such a cool site! I felt like a peeping Tom!
Once they were done, the male slithered along while the female feeling abandoned was very agitated took her frustrations out on me and wouldn't let me pass. I finally had to get a stick and move her to the side and encourage her to slither along. I heard her hissing long after leaving the seen of the crime. She was not a happy camper!

Probably because of the coiltus interuptus...

[JoeTruth]

Okay, I found and uploaded them.


First sight of the 2-headed snake, right after a switch back on The Mt. Wilson Trail. Circa 09/2001...





They were getting down!





He was done and bailed...





I heard her say "you want some too, bitch?"