Yeah, the first thing that came to mind before I even opened the pic was a copperhead about that size I came up on around a blind corner a few weeks ago. I had just started out on an early ride, and that definitely woke me up. Woke him up too, I think, when I picked him up with a branch...
This guy held me up yesterday... someone had been putting a few cheater rocks on this section, and at first I thought he was one... good job I slowed up...
Could maybe get away with leather chaps here in TX. But, it might be taken the wrong way; "not that there is anything wring with that." ;-)
Location was Barton creek main trail about mile 5.
Actually, San Francisco seems like one of the few places left on the planet where you can get away with wearing leather chaps. Just ask any of the Mission Cycling club members, they live up there.
one by nine works just fine but single speed is all ya need
That would definitely stop me. I also tend to stop to look at interesting rocks, which annoys the piss out of my riding partners because there are a lot of rocks in PA and most of them are interesting.