Targeting Oncoming Traffic

[whitedust]

Every so often you have to deal with Trail Hog Idiots. The ones I hate the most are the jerks that veer at you force you up the berm because they think they are creating more room for their pack. These yahoos are going to cause a bad accident someday or someone is going to circle back and
slap them up side the head. Just ride have your pack follow let oncoming traffic do their thing you’re not the trail police so just worry about your own riding and stay on your side of the trail.

Anyone want to admit to this behavior and share your thought process?

 

[byr 13]

yep seen it twice this week on 107 south of kenton

 

[old abe]

whitedust, for several years now this "trail hogging" seems as to be getting worse like a lot of other bad habits of riding stupid. This is dangerous, as you could easily hook some kind of hidden debris and end up spinning you right in front of them. Some idiots just don't care, and for the others, there is no fix for STUPID once again!

 

[dothedoo]

I'm not sure I would agree that oncoming traffic intentionally veer at you, as much as it could just be simple target fixation. Your body, sled, car, etc. etc. will tend to go where your eyes are looking. If you focus on a sled that's coming at you, making sure that you don't hit it, you are more likely to hit it.

 

[buddah2]

My experience here in the central U.P. is that most often it's a conscious movement on the part of the oncoming rider....stupid, but overtly conscious

 

[euphoric1]

was pushed off the trail on west side of gogebic by a group of "trail hogs" not just common courtesy but just being plain smart...stay to your right on the trail, another smart and courteous thing to do is signal how many behind you, not just for safety but so you know how many more of your potential "trail hog" buddies are behind you especially when neandering through wooded or windy trails, its for this reason I find it somewhat safer to ride at night as it is easier to see whats on coming, the world is full of lack of courtesy and using your head and I have to agree it has boiled over onto the snowmobile trail as well.

 

[misty_pines]

It seems to me that the trail hogs I see usually are doing this simply by not staying on the right side of the trail when on corners and then they see you and swerve back to the right. Another pet peeve I have is when groups of snowmobiles stop right in the middle of a trail or in the middle of an intersection as if they are completely unaware that other sleds may be coming by. Drives me nuts. It's as if their common sense leaves them.

 

[favoritos]

I had never considered that it might be intentional. Always assumed they just can't ride. Either way, it is incredibly dangerous.

Riders that can't stay on their side of the trail is my number one concern while riding. It out factors all the other potential hazards I may encounter.

Honestly, I worry more about head on collisions while riding than I do driving on the road. I have had a lot more close calls on the sled. Think about how often you have to swerve away from oncoming traffic on the road.

Misty_pines, brings up another wow factor. How often do you see the roads blocked by vehicles just hanging around? It is shocking how often it is seen on the trails. The blocking riders do seem unaware.

Trails obviously aren't roads. The common courtesy used on roads could help make trails safer. It would also make them more enjoyable.

 

[brad460]

I’ve never really seen someone intentionally “hog” the trail...yes I’ve seen guys come in too hot and take up too much trail.

Agreed thought with Misty above- and I’ve come across people stopped two wide in the trail, or scattered all over an intersection. Just shake my head...it’s this mentality that they are the only ones on the trail.

 

[whitedust]

yep seen it twice this week on 107 south of kenton

Wow happened to us too southbound on 107 south of Kenton woods where it opens up a bit. I was moving along at a brisk pace riding #1 and the leader northbound deliberately swerved at me with his left arm out. I had to steer up the berm to avoid him and here comes #2 right behind me and this guy is occupying #2s time and space. #2 missed him but was pissed off! I couldn’t give any hand signals climbing the berm so the thought process of targeting makes absolutely no sense to me just endangering everyone for no good reason. Furthermore this guys group was a good mile behind him so basically they were on their own with so much separation. I sure would like to hear from a rider that targets so we can set him straight since so dangerous!

 

[old abe]

"Idiots only think of themselves", quite possibly is the most likely cause of all this? Such as other riders are of no concern to them? Ignorance, and obstinance, constitutes an idiot! Blocking the trail with stopped sleds, right beyond a blind corner, is what sets me off. Just no fix for stupid!

 

[dfattack]

I definitively agree with dothedoo. People will tend to look at you and will unknowingly drive right towards you. Like when cutting grass with a riding mower. You have to look further down the line, not just right in front of the tractor in order to keep your lines straight.

Pete, sounds like what happened to you was similar to when a pitcher brushes back a batter who's crowding the plate! I'm not saying you were in the middle but that the other guys tactics sounded similar.

 

[Highflyer]

This is the first time in all my years of sledding I’ve ever heard of this targeting to create more space for the Sledder’s behind a leader. I’d bet it’s more of a steering with one had issue that forces the sled moving towards the middle. Just have never seen this or heard it disccused in all my message board reading. Additionally that trail 107 Kenton is pretty damn wide....I believe it’s a fire road. Can’t imagine someone would need to intentionally aim at you for Sledder’s behind him.

I feel the riders who go slow and think they can ride down the middle because they are going slow is the biggest problem.

 

[snobuilder]

Well ....if you think the guy intentionally moved you over "for the following pack" you have plenty of payback op to redish at all of them following.
tit tat.

- - - Updated - - -

This is the first time in all my years of sledding I’ve ever heard of this targeting to create more space for the Sledder’s behind a leader. I’d bet it’s more of a steering with one had issue that forces the sled moving towards the middle. Just have never seen this or heard it disccused in all my message board reading. Additionally that trail 107 Kenton is pretty damn wide....I believe it’s a fire road. Can’t imagine someone would need to intentionally aim at you for Sledder’s behind him.

I feel the riders who go slow and think they can ride down the middle because they are going slow is the biggest problem.

yes this is where the LIKE button would be deployed if this site stepped up their game.

 

[whitedust]

I definitively agree with dothedoo. People will tend to look at you and will unknowingly drive right towards you. Like when cutting grass with a riding mower. You have to look further down the line, not just right in front of the tractor in order to keep your lines straight.

Pete, sounds like what happened to you was similar to when a pitcher brushes back a batter who's crowding the plate! I'm not saying you were in the middle but that the other guys tactics sounded similar.

It was a brushback pitch for sure. Hit a couple of home runs and the bean ball is coming at your head. Unfortunately I didn’t hit the homeruns and Ken riding #2 almost paid the ultimate price. It was totally unnecessary and those of you that think 107 is a wide FR don’t know the trail all. Very narrow and twisty in Kenton woods then gradually widens out as you go farther south. In baseball you throw the beaner and pitcher gets thrown out of the game and/or a brawl breaks out. Why because it’s dangerous and unsportsmanlike. Same when targeting riders dangerous and unnecessary ride your own sled don’t try and mitigate how others ride none of your business no good can come of it.

 

[frnash]

This is the first time in all my years of sledding I’ve ever heard of this targeting to create more space for the Sledder’s behind [sic] …

"… more space for the Sledder’s behind"?
Maybe that sledder sits wide in the saddle and needs more space for his behind?

---

(The apostrophe-s is a possessive form, and a singular possessive at that; of course you know that, right? )

 

[Highflyer]

"… more space for the Sledder’s behind"?
Maybe that sledder sits wide in the saddle and needs more space for his behind?

---

(The apostrophe-s is a possessive form; but of course you know that. )

Nor should the “S” be capitalized......not sure what’s going on with my typing on the phone.

 

[frnash]

Not should the “S” be capitalized......not sure what’s going on with my typing on the phone.

"Not should the “S” be capitalized [sic] …"?

I'm not sure what that means; I see no reason why it would be capitalized, as it's not a proper noun, and not his/her name.

 

[Highflyer]

"Not should the “S” be capitalized [sic] …"?

I'm not sure what that means; I see no reason why it would be capitalized, as it's not a proper noun, and not his/her name.

Clearly I need to proof read my post before hitting send. I fixed the one above.

 

[G]

Nothing topic. Sledding has always been dangerous. Go out and ride. There is snow everywhere. Or else stay home and post nothings on John Dees.