When out on my bicycle a couple of days ago, I couldn't avoid running over a snake and have been wondering since if I did it any serious damage.

I was on a busy downhill stretch going fairly quickly and suddenly there it was, wriggling across the road in front of me. I couldn't have braked in time to avoid it and there were vehicles overtaking me from behind so I couldn't swerve. So I just had to go bump, bump, over it.

It seemed pretty large - maybe just under 2 metres - and I think about as thick as my wrist - though it all happened so quickly, I couldn't be sure.

The bike and I would have weighed about 175 pounds (80 kilos) mostly over the rear wheel.

When I got a chance to look back it was disappearing off the road into the undergrowth.

I'm not a snake lover but I wouldn't have wanted to harm it. Any experts there who could put my mind at ease?

I seen a few snakes hit by cars.

In death causing impacts the snakes remains at the scene, maybe writhing for a while but never gets far.

If your snake left the scene I imagine just his pride was hurt.

I had a similar experience a few years ago riding my mountain bike alone a canal path. Big thing wriggled out in front of me and I hit it before I could do anything. He didn't seem too concerned.

Thanks for that, Apetley.

I frequently see snakes on the road that have been flattened but none as big as the one I mentioned. Maybe the bigger casualties get picked up and delivered to the cook!