It’s one thing to wipe out on your bike. It’s another to eat dirt, bruise your pride, and then lock eyes with a snake in full-on “I see you” mode—coiled, calm, and totally invading your personal space. That’s exactly what happened to one unlucky mountain biker.
It appears to be a kingsnake. Not venomous, but unless you’re a herpetologist, that fun fact probably won’t stop your heart from breakdancing. Kingsnakes come dressed to impress (or distress), with stripes, rings, and colors that mimic venomous coral snakes so well, people literally made up rhymes to survive:
“Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack.”
Hope you remember that song when you are lying in the dirt, trying not to blink.
Stay sharp, ride smart, and keep your eyes peeled…because sometimes the trail throws more than just rocks your way!