STAYING ON RIGHT SIDE OF TRAIL!!! was in the U.P. the 13th - 19th and for as long as I have been riding with our group I have always been the leader, had a few clean out my shorts incidents from those that cannot stay on r/h side of trail, its really not that difficult, I certainly hope they don't drive on the road this way, one thing I noticed was it seemed there were a lot more families with children on the trail that I have seen in the past. We are all riding high powered essentially missles with little protection... STAY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE TRAIL!
What is so hard about.....?
- Thread starter euphoric1
- Start date
I honestly do not think people know any better, I've been behind people this year, and they ride right down the center. Don't get me going on people waving others through a stop sign, and then the next person doesn't even look to aee if there is a vehichle approaching, because they were waved through by the person in front of them.
D
Deleted member 10829
Guest
I've had a few of those experiences myself and don't care to lead anymore if I don't have to. I always was lead sled in our group for many years. It's not fun always wondering what is coming around the next corner or over the next hill! As far as the families with children, you were up there over a holiday weekend and this is always the case.
Uh oh, here we go with the hand signals again. I'd prefer that people just stay on their own side of the trail and keep their hands on the bars. If you take a corner any differently because you received a hand signal for more riders, that means you planned on taking it recklessly without the signal. Every blind corner should be treated as though a rider is coming.
I've been riding a long time, and people on the wrong side has always been an issue. But it seems to be getting worse. My favorites are the people (on their left side of the trail) who get mad when they almost hit you, as if you had no right to be in their way, LOL. Or the people who ride right down the middle of a bumpy rail grade with their left hand in the air, struggling to control their sled. I can see the other 3 riders in your group, and the other 8 sleds that you didn't know were there. Just keep your hands on the bars and stay to the right, please.
sweeperguy
Active member
Yes 100%
X2 and if you cant stay home.
D
Deleted member 10829
Guest
I like the hand signals, mostly for knowing when the last rider in the group has passed. When we were up in January, I'd say almost 100% of the groups used hand signals. If you are having a hard time controlling your sled or taking a corner, then of course you shouldn't be taking your hands off of the bars.
dfattack
Well-known member
Exactly. little common sense mixed with courtesy is all it takes. I for one slow down to the point it's very easy to give a hand signal...which I will say I'm noticing this more and more lately. I know...weird to be going against the trend of rude people out on the trails, but it caught my attention a couple of weeks ago.
Of course its obviously going to happen where you meet someone in a corner last minute and there is no time for hand signals, so don't do it. common sense.
I'm with DamageInc on this one.Think about it, over the years how many times has the last sled givin' you the "all clear" sign and then you meet another group coming up right behind. That last rider can't possibly know what is following and is how close they are in the corners. As for the straight-aways and grades, I can see for myself how many are approaching. And if there's snow dust that limits my vision then I use caution until it clears.
It is surprising that there aren't more head-ons considering how many close calls we've all had. Sorry, but I trust no one's hand signals in the corners.
It is surprising that there aren't more head-ons considering how many close calls we've all had. Sorry, but I trust no one's hand signals in the corners.
Agree totally,,,, I on my own can figure out myself who is behind you,,, don't need you telling me it incorrectly.
With all the lawsuit happy people nowadays , you signal the wrong number and all of a sudden its your fault.
favoritos
Well-known member
Getting back to the riding right topic.
I ride lead. That issue makes me more nervous than any other part of my riding day. I ride right and it isn't enough. I ride with the assumption that eventually someone will be coming at me on the wrong side. It sure takes a lot of pleasure out of the ride.
I also ride at a speed that allows me to catch up and observe other groups and individual riders. I rarely encounter single riders that aren't riding fairly safe. The problem seems much worse with mid size groups. I'm not exactly sure why that would be the case?
I like to have another experienced rider at the back when we ride as a group. I feel like it is our job to educate the new riders on safe riding practices. The rider in back helps a lot with observation and feedback to the less experienced riders. I honestly think that many just plain don't realize they are dangerous.
I've have noticed that more groups are pulling over to allow passing. I do appreciate the courtesy. But, don't get worked up when I wait until you are out of the blind corner before passing.
I don't know why the two way traffic thing is so hard to understand when we ride trails. We do it all day long on the road.
I ride lead. That issue makes me more nervous than any other part of my riding day. I ride right and it isn't enough. I ride with the assumption that eventually someone will be coming at me on the wrong side. It sure takes a lot of pleasure out of the ride.
I also ride at a speed that allows me to catch up and observe other groups and individual riders. I rarely encounter single riders that aren't riding fairly safe. The problem seems much worse with mid size groups. I'm not exactly sure why that would be the case?
I like to have another experienced rider at the back when we ride as a group. I feel like it is our job to educate the new riders on safe riding practices. The rider in back helps a lot with observation and feedback to the less experienced riders. I honestly think that many just plain don't realize they are dangerous.
I've have noticed that more groups are pulling over to allow passing. I do appreciate the courtesy. But, don't get worked up when I wait until you are out of the blind corner before passing.
I don't know why the two way traffic thing is so hard to understand when we ride trails. We do it all day long on the road.
And I got a ton of crap for throwing a reminder up back in December....
And to favoritos question on why it’s worse with mid-sized groups; it’s because “the race is on” to the next bar.... been seeing a ton of it for the last 7+ days, weekends especially. It’s as if they get their kitchen pass and forget how to act like an adult when their wives are not around.
Ride safe everyone!!
And to favoritos question on why it’s worse with mid-sized groups; it’s because “the race is on” to the next bar.... been seeing a ton of it for the last 7+ days, weekends especially. It’s as if they get their kitchen pass and forget how to act like an adult when their wives are not around.
Ride safe everyone!!
I agree with keep hands on handle bars in corners but Im referring to the leader of the oncoming group that is not on his side of the trail coming into a corner hot and heavy that when he sees me coming on my side of trail ends up finishing the corner brake locked up and sideways, let me know how many morons are behind you with the same driving habits, so at least I know how many more are behind you as the gap in some of these groups can be substantial. I don't want hand signals because I am riding the same way. My wife and I toned it down this year still managed a lot of good miles, were back at base twice while it was still light out, may be irritating to some riders but our top speed didn't break much above 50 mph, we enjoyed the ride and were very happy with the miles we put on while we were up there.
Here in Vilas I have had the most near accidents in my life this year, not perfect don’t claim to be. but the worst is the two up rentals this year driving there boats where ever they want it seems and you have to get off the trail cus there coming by. Rental company’s should have to explain rules of trails better I think. there also is a lot I catch up to and fallow that just don’t give a dam to try to stay on there side doesn’t matter age or gender as far as can tell from there suits and body language to determine. Pretty sad no one cares anymore. Funny thing is they fallow so close all on wrong side of trails then throw arms up at you like what the **** when you have to beach your sled on insides of corners cus there coming threw and they almost hit each other cus if there bumpers aren’t 20’ apart they might get lost . That and last weekend so many people turning around in middle of trails in corners then waving hands like slow down dumb arse your on my trail. but it’s like 10-15 yrs ago you drove up trail to safe place can make a huge circle to turn around safely now it’s like press the yellow-orange reverse button it’s ok we’re in middle of blind 180 degree turn. Stupid people suck and is isn’t always kids or young riders that I’m having problems with. Also lots of no stopping this year again rolling like 15 mph stops it seems. It’s all kinds of people and ages that don’t understand how to Be safe
I pretty much always lead my group and I admit, this year has been really bad. Something else I'll throw in there--oncoming UP riders are more likely to pass you at full speed than Wisconsin riders. Wisconsin riders have been very good at slowing down and getting to the right for the most part, but the Wisconsin riders have also been really bad around the curves. Presidents' Day weekend I had more scares than I can remember in one trip. Another thing I noticed--when couples (man and woman) were riding, if the leader was bad, the follower was even worse. Guys, get to the right and teach your partners to do the same. Also, I agree with the previous post about hand signals: If some moron does something stupid but also gives me a signal that sleds are following, I know to expect at least that many more morons coming at me. A lot of the time I will just pull over somewhere safe and let them all go by. I certainly never enter a turn when I can tell that an aggressive group is coming my way.
snoden
Active member
People ride the center because it puts them further away from the bush/trees. I believe it scares the bejeezes out of them staying on the right side of the trail. There's just no other way to look at it because it makes no sense to me. We have these threads every year and it certainly seems to get worse every year. The unfortunate part is its here to stay. WHY?? Because the people that need to read these threads DON'T. So until they figure out how to spray a double yellow line while grooming this is what we have, sad but true.