A message to the "Professional Trail Racers"

[xcsp]

For some reason these "professional trail racers" feel it a right to ride as they wish, with no consideration for others, probably the same type of people who buy a sport bike that has more power than they could handle, heck a new 600cc sport bike has more power than most people could handle, and for some reason feel to ride fast whenever and wherever. Sooner or later they'll find out the hard way, I just don't want to be involved with their "incident".

They probably never even think about the consequences, if something happens out sledding, usually in remote areas, help usually doesn't arrive in a minute-I dread the day I or my riding partners would need medical assistance out on the trail, especially when in unfamiliar areas.

Unfortunately, so far this season the good snow cover is limited to a smaller area, which means more sleds in a concentrated area, and some people may feel they need to hit it hard and get some major miles on in a hurry-what's the rush?

For some, riding during the week isn't possbible, why should we need to put up with the "boy racers"?

I highly doubt any education or higher fees of any sort will help the guys who ride reckless.

Ride smart & defensively, stay alert and be ready for the unexpected at any time!!

 

[snopro1]

I agree that it can be scary when someone passes you at 85 without notice, but how about looking behind you from time to time and seeing if someone is coming up on you? I never ride the trails for the same reason everyone stated, but also realize that I need to keep my head on a swivel and not just settle in for the long ride without looking around a bit for hazards.

 

[olsmann]

This is amazing! I just sat down to write almost the exact same thread! Only my expierence was from the twin lakes area this sat but almost a mirror images of stories. Told my wife at krupps while getting gas that i didnt even want to ride any more.

Oh and to the 3 seperate groups the got the middle finger from a guy on a blue summit on sat afternoon in the twin lakes/mass city area, Please feel free to PM me. I would LOVE to chat with you.

 

[olsmann]

Oh and us stand up riders with the back pack and shovel are carring that stuff so we can get OFF the trail and away from the ricky racers.

 

[dekx]

And people wonder why I only ride during the week , this is why

I second this, i stay away from the "weekend warriors" that go up Fri-Sun...and go Mon-Fri

 

[Firecatguy]

lol....where the guy who is chasing people down and giving a beating???

darn stand up riders what are they thinking????do you guys think the trail racers are racing from Bar to Bar???I wounder what they run for oil??

 

[zr580]

weekday riding is best by far

 

[wolfriver]

Not much you can do when oncoming traffic going too fast for conditions just hug the right below the picker brush. I caught 2 guys coming hard behind me in the twistys at the end of 107 picked up their shadows on a high berm before they could get into my mirrors so I just raised my arm ducked into the the deep stuff stopped then turned to look & they were already by me. I just pulled back out kept them out front & hauled *** behind them to Sidnaw. We both went into the Sidnaw Gas Station to fill up. I think they thought I was going to give them a hard time but instead kicked back & shot the **** with them about trail conditions where we both had been & where we both were going. We were both were going to ride 8w so I told them stay in front of me not behind me & all will be AOk. All & all they were decent guys just like to ride fast & hard on AC F1000s. I don't get passed often but when I do I try to make it as safe as possible for everyone. Oncoming racers just do what you can to give them room & avoid contact.

did you not just complain about a slow rider about a week or so ago in your post, I think you said he would not pull over so you just pinned it and passed him. kind of ironic isn't it.

 

[ranlam]

Trail riders should have mirrors, back country riders should have a back pack and a shovel, those of us in between.....should carry clubs.LOL. The funny thing is I do have a club on my sled but it is for reinforcing the back bumper cause it was broke in half. Yes I yooperized it. If I used it to chase "PTR" down and club em, Id either be in jail or beat up.LOL. What do you expect when you mix testoterone , 150HP, no brains, and or alcohol. Be careful out there, your family loves you. Oh and stay off the trail next Saturday cause I plan to ride to the hill climb.

 

[toddspolaris]

Snow dust kills and trees are hard. Slow down people.

 

[rsvectordude]

That does not seperate anything. Whats a backpack with a shovel have to do with any of this topic? 60mph plus on a 6-7' wide trail lined with trees spells eventual disaster no matter who is running down it. Been there done that.

The back pack and shovel comes in because they are usually the same idiots going on and off the trail on powerlines and gaslines where technically they aren't supposed to be riding anyway..Ask any power company their thoughts on allowing snowmobiles on their easements. I'm sure we'll see a bad t-bone at one of these crossings in the future and it's going to be ugly.And I don't know of too many 6' to 7' wide trails out there. A groomer wouldn't even fit down that.

 

[snobuilder]

i catch up to slower riders 90% of the time and try to pass respectfully ..... the other 10% of the time I pull over when someone wants to play though.
I ride this way because I try to imagine I am standing face to face with the other person, and think about how I would be treating them in that situation........that makes the choice to be civil an easy one.

BUT PPL,....please don't be a trail cop.....either get some mirrors or learn to turn you head and look back once in a while.......and if you have mirrors don't look back at me and move left so I cannot pass you,....at that point you become the problem,.....not because you are a slower rider,.....but because you seem to be wanting to control MY riding style.

 

[mride460]

I'm not condoning that type of riding but if you're holding people up let them go by. Stay to right and everything should be fine. Side by side into a corner is the dumbest thing you can do with the number of sleds on the trails and I see it all the time too. It's just not going to be me doing it. And I refrain to talk to about the use of hand signals but most people shouldn't take their hands off the bars to even attempt it.

X2!! I'll ride as fast as I darn well please.. I keep my hands on the bars and I am respectful of all other riders on the trail and off.

To each their own on the on / off trail thing and the backpacks and shovels...

 

[mride460]

"Ride real. Ride hard. Ride real hard." -Meisha Johnson

Good one!! or "Ride your ride, I'll ride mine, and let everyone else ride thiers!!" - Me

 

[trailblazer]

Just a last thought from me, if someday you go by a black Skidoo and you do not slow down and be respectful on the trail or in the corners, don't be suprised when you wake up off your sled on the side of the trail. It was just Trailblazer taking his club and knocking you out for awhile. Maybe this will fix the problem?

 

[srt20]

Gotta love all the "internet tough guys" that talk all big and tell everyone what their gonna do with their clubs.......haha

 

[G]

So tell me then - is it safer to ride 3 seconds behind the leader? You are then 'in the dust'. The only one in your group that can see anything is the leader. If you ride close to each other you can all see what is happening. If you are a group of 10 strung out over 1 mile you have 10 potential crashes. You have 10 leaders. If you have a group of 10 strung out over a mile the people in front have no idea have no idea that some faster sleds are behind. And if you do try to pass a slow group of 10 one by one it gets frustrating for both sides. I have always ridden fast. I have ridden fast alone and in groups. When I meet people coming at me I always expect the worst. Slow riders, fast riders it doesn't matter. You always have to ride defensively, period. When I pass people on the trail I try to always be respectful and safe. I have never wrecked anyone. The last sled I trashed was an '86 Indy and I managed that all by myself with no other sleds involved. We all have to share the same trail. Fast, slow, young, old, Trail Racers, Families on a cruise. You can get killed every time you go out. It has always been this way. Stay alert, drive defensively and have some respect for others. If you do those 3 things you can ride as fast or slow as you want.

 

[yooper_man]

I turn and look behind at every stop sign! If I am by my self, I let the people comming from both directions pass. I have bad side vision. So that's why I do this. When I am in a group, I usually ride close to the back. I know I am not the fastest ridder. Then again the sled I have probably won't even do 80. I wouldn't want to go that fast even if I could.

 

[gogebic_sledder]

Unfortunately I ride on the weekends due to work. I don't mind so much if someone passes me at a high rate of speed, my biggest concern is never knowing what to expect coming around a turn. It seems to me everyday I ride I have a close call with some #$%hole, driving on MY side of the trail and way to fast. Like most of you I've had some close ones. I never let my wife lead. When I'm w/my buddies we usually are riding pretty quick, I don't know if were racers, but we ride agressively at NIGHT. Its much safer we see oncoming lights and slow down. Riding too fast during daylight is asking for trouble.

 

[kamikaze_bros]

The back pack and shovel comes in because they are usually the same idiots going on and off the trail on powerlines and gaslines where technically they aren't supposed to be riding anyway..Ask any power company their thoughts on allowing snowmobiles on their easements. I'm sure we'll see a bad t-bone at one of these crossings in the future and it's going to be ugly.And I don't know of too many 6' to 7' wide trails out there. A groomer wouldn't even fit down that.

rsvectordude,

What specific technicality are you aware of that prohibits snowmobilers or anybody for that matter from accessing and using a public utility easement? The easements used by the public utilities for the delivery of their product (Gas, Electric, Phone, Cable, ect..) are on property owned by others. If these utilities owned the property, they wouldn't need an easement for access. The residing jurisdiction of an easement identifies the use and access within in it's boundaries, not the people utilizing.