Blimey, this is a new one. A rider was bitten by an Adder at the Milton Keynes round of the FNSS XC race!
It wouldn't be the first time I've seen a snakebite on a bike ride.... 😆
Thats rare, did it inject any venom? Hope the rider is okay.
at least it's only a little poisonous.
druidh - Member
It wouldn't be the first time I've seen a snakebite on a bike ride....
someone get him a medal 
Think the riders fine.
How about the snake? MTB riders can be a bit ripe after a good ride.
I have some Alex rims that have "Anti-snakebite" on them, so I feel safe.
Was it a racing snake?
Although Adders are only a little bit poisonous they can certainly ruin your month! Making your leg go black and stopping it working for a while!
at least it's only a little venomous.
FTFY
[pedant]a poison is generally something that you breathe in or eat. snakes, spiders, scorpions etc are all venomous though they not necessarily poisonous[/pedant]
hope the rider is ok
I have seen several adders over the years at Swinley.
Some have been killed by MTBs and others sliding across the trail to avoid sudden death.
Last live one was mid April 2012....so they are still waiting to get you.
PaulD
I thought the only wild life to be found in Milton Keynes little men wearing suits in silver BMW's.......
do you know which part of the course ? I was going to have a bit of cheeky practice for the next race...
How did it bite a rider? Unless he was off the bike. They are tiny little things not king cobras
Sounds crazy but as I was going round the off camber section (after the steps) on Friday i thought i heard a pretty loud hissing sound and immediately thought of a snake in my head but then just rationalized it as someone had a flat!
It would be interesting to know if that's where the rider got bitten?
All the best to the rider though..... 😯
do you know which part of the course ? I was going to have a bit of cheeky practice for the next race...
Not sure, my guess is outside of the Bowl in the long grassy section, just after the 'mud shore'
They wont kill you, it's possible too lose a limb though 😯
They can kill you but you would have to be extremely unlucky.
taka - Memberdruidh - Member
It wouldn't be the first time I've seen a snakebite on a bike ride....someone get him a medal
Is "get him a medal" code for "euthanise him"?
My advice for dealing with adders - once you've inadvertently ran one over and it's laying "dead" in the track don't go back and give it a bit of a poke out of curiosity. It won't be dead, it'll be angry and it will try to bite you.
You might think this is self-evident but when your mind's saying "oooh a snake!" it isn't.
It was me that was bitten. It wasn't that bad I finished the race thinking I had got unusualy bad nettle stings after falling off on the mud mounds at the back of the course. My ankle was a bit swollen the next day and then on the Sunday I had big blisters over the fang holes.
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
😯
That is cool...the snake was even kind enough to mark his bite with a black marker...an unusual tagging technique for something with no arms...
(joking aside) How is the bite now?
I wouldnt take a bite from a adder lightly.
Even if it doesnt inject venom, you can get an infection from the wound.
And you most certainly can be killed by them.
Its not like a bee sting like some people seem to think.
Crikey you're unlucky mate. I've worked with more dangerous snakes than anyone in the world and I've never been bitten.
except by a stingray of course
steveirwin - Member
Crikey you're unlucky mate. I've worked with more dangerous snakes than anyone in the world and I've never been bitten.
Thanks for joining STW from beyond the grave to tell us that.....
I accidently killed an adder in winterfold wood once. Ran it over on my bike. Didn't even see it, mate behind told me about it. Split it in two. 🙁
Died from a pinch puncture...shame...
[img] .JPG)
[/img]
Not that small, saw this one in february on Ingleby Incline in North Yorkshire, note the blades of grass for scale.
I was bitten by one about 15 years ago, leg went an interesting shade of purple around the bite and an egg sized lump appeared but otherwise no ill effects.
I ran over a black snake in Australia as a kid, coming down a hill I saw it and put my legs up and ran over it. I came back later and it was dead....lots of slipped discs I guess...
i remember seeing one up in weardale when i was a kid, it freaked me out, looked massive. my mum says i came running back down the path, white as a sheet. its true they can kill, tho not if you're grown up and fit
I see lots of them here in Italy...I used to be terrified of snakes, now I am curious and dont run a mile...
Our local swimming lake had a huge snake swimming in it once...freaked out all the kids and parents...wasnt venemous tho!!!
Nice pic Terra. Only ever seen one in the flesh in Rendlesham Forest many years ago. It was enjoying the sun where we had stopped for a chat. Glad the riders ok.
We have family in Cape Town, glad we dont get there local snakes. Anyone for a Cape Cobra in the lounge?
No? Me neither.
Bitten by any snake can't be pleasant ;-/ riding at Swinley Forest came across an adder
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Pitch hill a couple of years ago.
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Snakes are ace! Kept a few harmless ones as a kid. Brother was bitten, not venomous but we couldn't get it to let go of his finger!
Also saw 3 rattlers and a few gila monsters (venomous lizard) while riding the Arizona Trail 750 race a few years back... First two rattlers were just off the track in the shadow of a tree, that, oh the irony, I stopped next to fix a snakebite puncture. Head down unscrewing valve cap, really loud rattle from about 2 metres away, jumped straight up then fell over back onto the track scrabbling to move away... Stood with bike between it and me once I'd spotted it, only to hear another rattle from one side - they're stalking me 😯
3rd one was coasting down a hill at speed, GPS said turn right in 1/4 mile, then noticed sign for the trail i was following at bottom of hill, hauled on brakes and came to a stop. Started to get map out when, again, loud rattle, this time 4 or 5 metres away, fat rattle snake lying across the path, warming in the morning sun, would have ridden straight where it was if I hadn't spotted the trail sign...
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7359469914_a9613bc2b2_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= 
[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73043393@N00/ ]ssproflex[/url], on Flickr
And then nearly ran a Gila monster over, out of the saddle up a v steep hill, didn't see until very last second and almost fell off swerving it. Also didn't realise it was venomous until afterwards, stupid really as the orange and black markings were a pretty big give away! Saw at least 2 of these.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/7359489536_9465a5a2c4_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= 
[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73043393@N00/ ]ssproflex[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7174263227_9351ed52e2_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= 
[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73043393@N00/ ]ssproflex[/url], on Flickr
Oh, and seen a few adders, and handled one in Dalby years ago - was on the road first thing in the am after an early frost, hardly moving, picked it up and put it down at the side of the road...
Wow! Great pictures and kudos for just casually having fang marks in your leg!
I'm surprised though that any adders were around this weekend - I thought thay liked warm, sunny weather and not torrential monsoons.....
Top thread. Thanks.
Nice pictures.
I used to keep snakes as well, and I was never bitten in that time. I guess the adder didn't like having 12 stone of sweaty rider falling on it.