Leaders and sweepers!!!

[snow_monkey]

In the spirit of a new season it is time to review what we do best. Post things you do to keep your group safe as leaders and sweepers. My favorite and most basic rule is inform the group we do not block the trail. When we stop are group knows we do not block the trail!! I see this all the time and it is not safe and drives me nuts!!!

 

[fatdaddy]

I always try to pick up the sticks and stones that might hurt some bones. Please pick up your trash people

 

[whitedust]

#1 define what the leader & sweepers does. Too many leaders have no idea that are responsible for safe passing of faster traffic from behind. Drives me nuts when leader does not even look back at stop signs & has no idea he has 5-10 additional sleds backed up behind his group of 5. This causes intermingling of packs on the fly until sorted out again. Just look back pull over in safe place & allow faster paced sleds to pass.

 

[srt20]

I agree %100 with posts 1 and 3. Actually when I choose to stop, I find a place way off the trail, because not only do I not want any of our sleds in harms way, I dont wanna deal with being to close to the guy with the stupidly loud pipes as he hammers on it to show me how fast his POS is.

 

[rp7x]

why not

i like #2

 

[trailshredder]

I agree with 4 and 5

 

[indy_500]

All leaders should let indy pass you or he will get mad

Of course i'm kidding!

As a leader, the biggest thing imo is to not come to quick sudden stops in the middle of the trail, especially when riding in powder on fire lanes!!! And, the leader most importantly needs to stay to the right (although we all should).

 

[misty_pines]

Good stuff. Also as the leader, you should set a pace that is comfortable for all members in your group especially the least experienced or slower riders. Tell everyone in the group to keep track of the person behind them. If they lose track of the person behind them, they should pull over in a safe spot off the trail and wait for them. If everyone in the group does this, the group won't get split up so much. Can't tell you how many times the guy behind me pulls up and I ask where the person is that was behind him and he has no clue. Then it's usually up to me to head back looking for him or her sometimes way back on the trail stuck, mechanical probs, etc.

 

[russholio]

I ride with the philosophy that my #1 job is to get me, my crew, and our sleds back safe and sound.

 

[windingtrailgal]

Sorry - took me so long to post that due to interruptions! (can't these kids seem I'm BUSY here on JD??) I ended up stating what others stated...sorry!
The leader is responsponsible for everyone in their group reaching their destination!
Leader is responsible that everyone know the route/trails for the day. Have your map handy.
Leader is responsible for the pace of the group. Know the experience and comfort levels of the folks behind you. Within reason the pace should be that of the slowest rider. If you have a newbie, don't rabbit it on out.
Sweeper? Always make contact with the leader to make sure he knows how the tail end is doing at stops. thumbs ups's work for gloves and mittens - and get where the leader can see you so he doesn't have to see a chiropractor for his neck!? If there's an issue, have your signal for the leader that it's conference time - INDEED NOT in the TRAIL!! That makes me nuts too! Nothing like coming over a blind hill to find some Beavis's in the middle of the trail just hanging out. Nothing like coming up to a stop and, EEEkkkkk....there are sleds and people just standing there!
We give hand signals when it's safe...if we know we have a newbie in the group, keep both hands on the bars!
Good topic.
I'll say one more thing...cuz I always seem to... a lot of the Northwoods of WI is not rideable right now. Trails are windier, twistier, turnier in the NW...not as much opportunity to just open it up for long stretches at a time so speed isn't as great of a factor (generally speaking) (I know lakes are spots where you can open er up but you have a ton more ROOM and line of sight) The UP has those nice long stretches where you can really get some speed going...be careful of traffic and remember that everyone who can't ride in the NW has to go somewhere and the UP is the closest bet for most.
windingtrailgal

 

[ezra]

if I am leading I try to stick to 1 side or the other of the logging rd so the guys behind me can also have a fresh pow line to run.if in the back of the pack I can be found off in the trees picking fresh lines in the trees.

 

[fcat700]

Sorry - took me so long to post that due to interruptions! (can't these kids seem I'm BUSY here on JD??) I ended up stating what others stated...sorry!
The leader is responsponsible for everyone in their group reaching their destination!
Leader is responsible that everyone know the route/trails for the day. Have your map handy.
Leader is responsible for the pace of the group. Know the experience and comfort levels of the folks behind you. Within reason the pace should be that of the slowest rider. If you have a newbie, don't rabbit it on out.
Sweeper? Always make contact with the leader to make sure he knows how the tail end is doing at stops. thumbs ups's work for gloves and mittens - and get where the leader can see you so he doesn't have to see a chiropractor for his neck!? If there's an issue, have your signal for the leader that it's conference time - INDEED NOT in the TRAIL!! That makes me nuts too! Nothing like coming over a blind hill to find some Beavis's in the middle of the trail just hanging out. Nothing like coming up to a stop and, EEEkkkkk....there are sleds and people just standing there!
We give hand signals when it's safe...if we know we have a newbie in the group, keep both hands on the bars!
Good topic.
I'll say one more thing...cuz I always seem to... a lot of the Northwoods of WI is not rideable right now. Trails are windier, twistier, turnier in the NW...not as much opportunity to just open it up for long stretches at a time so speed isn't as great of a factor (generally speaking) (I know lakes are spots where you can open er up but you have a ton more ROOM and line of sight) The UP has those nice long stretches where you can really get some speed going...be careful of traffic and remember that everyone who can't ride in the NW has to go somewhere and the UP is the closest bet for most.
windingtrailgal

Well said windingtrailal, put the kids to bed. That's how we ride.

 

[windingtrailgal]

fcat

I'm 'packing' for the trip - as you can tell by me posting in here?!? packing the ADD way?!?! lol the threat of not taking the kids snowmobiling is as good as Santa around here. I already told them they WILL behave cuz I already found a few babysitters in White Pine!!! That oughta do the trick?!

Forgot to add that the least experienced and/or slowest should not be the sweeper. I know that's where sledheads would like to put the riders who are slower than the rest of the bunch (we call them turtles with affection) (leader is our hare) but that's for sure not where the least experienced should be.
If ya got a newbie on your hands, get em moving in increments...nothing pushes a rider to learn their ability more than just being able to speed up gradually and not feel like they can't keep up.

AND - again, do I ever shut up?? - if you're riding with folks new to your group/team/tribe, make sure you make that first stop a little sooner than you would with guys you've ridden with prior. Just because a dude SAYS he's been riding for years - well, maybe he isn't telling you WHAT he's been riding for years (maybe it's really been a bike but he wants to look cool in front of his buds??) For sure private meeting with the sweeper and the leader. And maybe your guy really thinks he HAS been riding for years but, well, he's just never gotten the hang of sledding...make it as fun as possible (and then make sure you don't tell him the next time you go ridin'!?!?!)

and I'll apologize in advance if I repeated again - had to go move vehicles for the 32' fters spot on the street!
windingtrailgal

 

[mjkaliszak]

Lead by example, ( IMO )

1) I started doing this last year, but when we come up on a slower group of riders, I size them up, give them a little room so i'm not tailgating the heck out of them, and when they let us pass , I wave and signal " THANKS ".... just seems appropriate !

2) when going by a stopped group with a down sled or the hood open , I go by slowly and give them the " thumbs Up " signal , just to see if they need help.

3) when someone is stuck or wrecked or flipped over, we always stop to help pull them out at least to upright their sled.

I do this stuff because I believe in Karma, plus it's just common decency to me. Not to mention it sets a good example for my kids or the other teenagers in our group.

I'm kind of surprised, when I do the 2nd at some of the looks I get. Most sledders will give me the thumbs up back but... some have just gave me the "stink eye" . When that happens , I just chuckle and call them " jackwagons " and proceed onward.

 

[snowbuff]

Lead by example, ( IMO )

1) I started doing this last year, but when we come up on a slower group of riders, I size them up, give them a little room so i'm not tailgating the heck out of them, and when they let us pass , I wave and signal " THANKS ".... just seems appropriate !

2) when going by a stopped group with a down sled or the hood open , I go by slowly and give them the " thumbs Up " signal , just to see if they need help.

3) when someone is stuck or wrecked or flipped over, we always stop to help pull them out at least to upright their sled.

I do this stuff because I believe in Karma, plus it's just common decency to me. Not to mention it sets a good example for my kids or the other teenagers in our group.

I'm kind of surprised, when I do the 2nd at some of the looks I get. Most sledders will give me the thumbs up back but... some have just gave me the "stink eye" . When that happens , I just chuckle and call them " jackwagons " and proceed onward.

Well said. I always wait till I get the thumbs up from the sweeper. Also, it's not always necessary to ride at the least experienced riders level, as long as he/she has been told in advance to only ride as fast as they feel comfortable, and that the leader will ALWAYS wiat for them at any intersection or stop sign. It is then the leaders responsibility to do this, especially at night. You can't just go when you see a headlight, you need to make sure it is the people in YOUR group, someone in the back could have gotten passed.

 

[snow_monkey]

Inform new riders to hang on to the bars and not to worry about giving hand signals. Also stay to the right of the trail.

 

[Banjo Man]

I always tell my group to assume there is an oncoming sled around every turn and always be ready to react.

 

[snocat_02]

I ride with the philosophy that my #1 job is to get me, my crew, and our sleds back safe and sound.

This in my mind is the number one goal of a leader. I think that everything else being said is a bullet point under this comment.

*use hand signals to inform oncoming riders how many sleds you have in your group
*know the experience level of everyone in your group and keep a safe speed for everyone to enjoy
*know your surroundings and exact path you are taking to make it to your destination (unless Boondocking) Do not take less experienced people somewhere where they shouldn't be
*Make sure your not holding people up

 

[Skidooski]

I agree with all these leader responsibilities. As a leader, I look back often but I also take a head count at stop signs to make sure all members in my group are together, especially when the trail can go different directions. Don't want someone taking a wrong turn and getting lost.

 

[mjkaliszak]

" I always wait till I get the thumbs up from the sweeper ".... QUOTE
Good 1, I forgot that but do apply that technique.