Common courtesy and common sense!

[journeyman]

Yeah I don't let this get under my skin anymore you can swat them, 1 finger salute & won't matter on grades. I can haul grades faster than most but when passing on coming sleds I slow way down just the right thing to do imo. Thursday night some knuklehead centers up to come across bridge on 2 while I'm in the middle crossing nothing I can do now but lock it up hold right as far as I can then let off roll by hope for the best for last 10 feet of bridge. No idea if he/she was inexperinced or plain stupid but passed 2 breast without incident. It was pitch black so maybe that had something to do with it ...just don't know?

Yeh don't get me wrong. I am a fast trail runner myself. I can keep up with the best of them but when I approach oncoming traffic I back off and move over. It only takes a few seconds and you are back rolling again. I hate to say it but more times than not when I have encountered really bad etiquette they seem to be from areas not as usual to the snow belt if you get my drift. Without stereotyping people it does seem that the Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan riders are more seasoned being they live in the snow belt areas. Last year we were riding north on #3 just north of Twin Lakes and just south of Painsdale and it was a total whiteout blizzard. You couldn't see 20' in front of your machine. Here this guy on a turbo Cat blows by us all into the snow blind dust. A few minutes later another of the same machine blows by us. I am thinking "this is creepy, somebody is gonna get killed." Sure as heck about 2 miles up the trail the two had collided. One had turned back and they hit head on. Split one of the machines darn near in half, motor oil all over the trail. Both guys were alive but busted up real bad. We called 911 and got a rescue team to our gps coordinates. Here they were father and son from southern Indiana. It was their last day and they were supposed to leave within hours. Talk about foolish. I was just glad no one got killed and no innocent riders got into that wreck.

 

[sweeperguy]

That's a heck of a idea. I'm going to start carrying a fly swatter from now on. This could also help with the Deer on the trail. Give them a smack on the butt as I go by. I'm going to start carrying a ruler as well. Those that don't give me hand signals will get a smack across their fingers. We need more Nuns on the trail to keep order.

There are some instances that hand signals sre more dangerous than not giving them. My daughter is a novice rider I tell her to keep both hands on the bars. Safer for her to have complete control, than to possibly dart to left using one hand.

 

[russholio]

I think you are misunderstanding the situation. These people are getting too close to me. If I slow down, have my sled hugged as tight as I can go to my right rubbing the side of my sled on the snow and they crowd me to the point of almost hitting my left side they are the ones getting to close. They are over on my side and traveling at a high rate of speed. I didn't punch them, it was a tap on their helmet, nothing too physical as you describe but a warning to slow down and move over. A tap...........maybe wrong words on my part.

To each his own, I guess. If it were me and someone were that close, I'd want both my hands on the bar to be able to be in full control of my sled. Tap or punch, in the eyes of the law it could be construed as battery. Are they really going to know what your intent is by doing that? At the very least, you risk escalating the situation into a physical confrontation. Again, I agree with your frustration, I just don't think yours is a suitable way of dealing with it. But hey, if it works for you, go for it.

 

[POLARISDAN]

There are some instances that hand signals sre more dangerous than not giving them. My daughter is a novice rider I tell her to keep both hands on the bars. Safer for her to have complete control, than to possibly dart to left using one hand.

steve..he's joking bro

 

[whitedust]

To each his own, I guess. If it were me and someone were that close, I'd want both my hands on the bar to be able to be in full control of my sled. Tap or punch, in the eyes of the law it could be construed as battery. Are they really going to know what your intent is by doing that? At the very least, you risk escalating the situation into a physical confrontation. Again, I agree with your frustration, I just don't think yours is a suitable way of dealing with it. But hey, if it works for you, go for it.

I agree things can escalate quickly been there done that not worth it. All I wanted to do was pass after being blocked for over 10 miles with an a- hole weaving back & forth in front of me and ingnoring me at every stop sign. I finally squeezed in front left of him at 8/3 south tried to explain let me by & I'm gone in 30 seconds. This guy went nuts yelling & screaming jumping up & down charged me then his group took off 3 south while he was losing his mind so he jumps back on sled behind them. lol I'm standing on my sled alone thinking this guy is off his rocker....lol... no way I'm getting behind him again. So I speed down 8e to 107s & haul balls south come to the 150 junction & here is this guy weaving left and right again I'm thinking no way so fake him left & hammer right & pass then the guy in front of him starts weaving same move hammer down pass him right. Now catch up with other 2 riders see my headlight & they set an acceptable pace so I sweep for them. Looked like teenagers so were prolly looking for an excuse to ride faster & I was it....lol... They pulled to the right at 107/2 junction stopped gave me a friendly nod waved me by & I'm gone in 30 seconds never see them again.

I after that I just lay back don't try to school anyone they won't change anyway. Then a thread comes on JD bout peeps packing heat on the trail & with all the nuts on trails & streets it is just not worth it to get upset or even say anything. I'm riding to have fun no one going to spoil my day.LOL

 

[sweeperguy]

steve..he's joking bro

Yea I know he's joking about ruler on fingers bit just wanted to point out that if no hand signals may be more to it than nose in the air. Other posts about no hand signals nothing said about control issues and novice riders. Hoping other Dads tell kids to keep hands on bars. Daughters ex boyfriend had her giving hand signals, took me a while to break her of it.
It's in that snowmobile safety certificate too, and I believe it should not be or in the context of when you are a more experienced rider only to start doing it.

 

[journeyman]

To each his own, I guess. If it were me and someone were that close, I'd want both my hands on the bar to be able to be in full control of my sled. Tap or punch, in the eyes of the law it could be construed as battery. Are they really going to know what your intent is by doing that? At the very least, you risk escalating the situation into a physical confrontation. Again, I agree with your frustration, I just don't think yours is a suitable way of dealing with it. But hey, if it works for you, go for it.

I only did this to about 2 people on my last ride of the week after dealing with tons of riders doing this to us. I put on over 700 miles this week so needless to say we were frustrated. When I tapped their helmets I was also ready to dive off my sled to the right, they were that close to hitting me. I agree though as WD said, there are plenty of nutz packing heat today. That's getting too insane IMHO. Normally though I just shake my fist at them or flip the bird. You know it's one thing when you are in a corner and the guy's coming the other way are riding aggressive into the curve. That I just shake my head. But when they see you a mile away coming down a railroad bed trail like trail #3 is there is no excuse to crowd anyone. They knew darn well there was traffic coming at them. It only takes a few seconds to let off the gas to let people by and then you can have fun and pinch it again.

- - - Updated - - -

btw, I am sure people heard there was a death on trail #13 near the Victoria Dam just south of Rockland? Happened Wed. night around 10:30 pm. A 36 yr. old rider from Iowa hit a tree. It wasn't far from where we were staying. Very sad deal......very sorry for his family.

http://www.schluterbalikfuneralhome...id=10216&lud=21787D58F988BF61AAD89D81483D9D65

 

[jmvette427]

dmsrx: we had pulled over 100yds from intersection stop sign off the side of trail , sorry my post made thought like we were blocking. ride safe