To add to this, most new sleds cost what, north of $10k?? Those little scratches on their precious iron from staying on the right side of the trail doesn’t look good in the garage with your buddies over with beers in your hands....
What is so hard about.....?
- Thread starter euphoric1
- Start date
To add to this, most new sleds cost what, north of $10k?? Those little scratches on their precious iron from staying on the right side of the trail doesn’t look good in the garage with your buddies over with beers in your hands....
I agree! I noticed riding grades last week that people who were using hand signals had more room to stay right then people that were not using them. And some people run 75-80 and still give signals! Eff that. I signal when i feel its safe and appropriate.
snoden
Active member
Our group is going with RAD lights next year, just tired of using hand signals after almost 30 years of riding the UP. Besides I wanna keep my hands in my muffs...lol. Am I showing my age?
snobuilder
Well-known member
I like using HS in the twisties. mostly because of the the fast guys who approach me....My experience has been that the lead guy is riding fast but in control and I like it when he signals back as to how many are trying to catch him....them is the guys that will be way over to the left in the tight stuff.
If it is a total blind corner in the daytime , I will literally stop before the corner and watch the panic....LOL
If it is a total blind corner in the daytime , I will literally stop before the corner and watch the panic....LOL
Ha, ha, Just as the deer in the headlights. The thing that always amazes me at dusk, and night, how many idiot riders don't know they could "dim' their headlights? Yeah, I mean IDIOTS!
snobuilder
Well-known member
my comment on daytime was due to not knowing if they are right around the corner.?
I deff don't need to know how many people you assume are behind you . keep your hands on the bars and drive . I really love the guys trying to give signals at night lmfao yes I can sort of make out your arm in the air . and the big crews attempting to signal oh yes,all of you in the center really don't need to hold up 5 fingers we get it there are a bunch of you and prob ten more behind you heald up you have no idea about
I
I
x2 we always have a "hammer"at the rear
snobuilder
Well-known member
Where I ride ppl can walk and chew gum at the same time so staying right while giving a quick HS isn't difficult at all.
Maybe move on to a new riding area if the hotel lot is packed with short busses.
Seen a few large groups over the years where the lead sled had a large sign on the windy....XX number of sleds following!!
I was in the middle of the trail all day on Sunday and Monday....lots of whips hanging over the trail this year....I keep thinking I need to start carrying a set a hand pruners, but who am I kidding....I'm driving way to fast to stop....who got time for dat?
Maybe move on to a new riding area if the hotel lot is packed with short busses.
Seen a few large groups over the years where the lead sled had a large sign on the windy....XX number of sleds following!!
I was in the middle of the trail all day on Sunday and Monday....lots of whips hanging over the trail this year....I keep thinking I need to start carrying a set a hand pruners, but who am I kidding....I'm driving way to fast to stop....who got time for dat?
Last edited:
Was out for a rare Wed afternoon ride.....figured would be a slow day for peeps on the trails and it was but still almost got whacked twice....nothing like sitting on top of a berm and a guy is coming at you sideways with the brake locked...not sure how he didn't hit me...getting worse as the years go by.
I have ridden Houghton, MI and North/South last 6 or 7 trips but rode Eagle River, WI last two days to stay closer to home. Guys coming in hot all over the place (me a few times too), today helped a guy pull his sled out from being wedged between two trees 10 miles south of E.R. on 3, came in way too hot.
I rode mid-week, I can't imagine the weekend, just too many people in a small area.
Probably an accident opportunity 4 times every 100 miles down there, not to mention a stop sign every 15 miles or less that adds to the problems.
Back to Houghton next time.
Bear
I took my 12 year old grandson out for his first ride yesterday. He's had a sled since he was 7, but obviously first time on public trails. It did surprise me that a kid fresh out of snowmo safety had no concept of staying on the right side of the trail in left hand corners. My son was lead, and I was behind my grandson and it took me stopping him 5 times throughout the day to get the point across.
There's no doubt that most inexperienced riders have someone leading them, who is completely unaware that they are not riding safely. If it had just been me and my grandson riding, I would have probably not noticed how many corners he was cutting.
There's no doubt that most inexperienced riders have someone leading them, who is completely unaware that they are not riding safely. If it had just been me and my grandson riding, I would have probably not noticed how many corners he was cutting.
https://nhsa.com/nh-fish-game-law-enforcement-encourages-hands-on-handlebars/
In an effort to address the outdated and often dangerous habit of using countdown hand signals while snowmobiling, NH Fish & Game Law Enforcement has produced a new sign asking riders to keep both hands on the handlebars.
Counting Down Does Not Add Up
The countdown hand signals are hand signals where riders indicate how many riders are in their group by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. Riders signal a countdown of the number of machines in their group until the “last in line” (closed fist) signal is given.
Although the countdown method of hand signals has been used and even taught for years, New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Law Enforcement Division strongly urges all riders not to use them.
Look for a new sign at trailheads.
False Sense of Security
The reason is twofold. First, use of these signals requires everyone in the group to ride with one hand on their handlebars, lessening the rider’s ability to control their machines. Secondly, these hand signals give riders a false sense of what is coming on the trail.
No one knows how many machines are really coming up behind them. All too often riders will hold up a fist to indicate they are the last rider in the group only to have another group right behind them. The last one in line is never truly the last one in line!
Ways To Ride Safe
Always anticipate other riders on the trail and around the next bend.
Keep both hands on the handlebars and maintain control at all times.
While riding in groups, it is recommended that experienced riders be placed at the lead and at the end. Less experienced or younger riders should be placed in the middle of the group.
My Side is the Right Side – stay to the right side of the trail and maintain a safe following distance with the machine in front of you.
Please keep your hands on for safety!
In an effort to address the outdated and often dangerous habit of using countdown hand signals while snowmobiling, NH Fish & Game Law Enforcement has produced a new sign asking riders to keep both hands on the handlebars.
Counting Down Does Not Add Up
The countdown hand signals are hand signals where riders indicate how many riders are in their group by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. Riders signal a countdown of the number of machines in their group until the “last in line” (closed fist) signal is given.
Although the countdown method of hand signals has been used and even taught for years, New Hampshire Fish and Game’s Law Enforcement Division strongly urges all riders not to use them.
Look for a new sign at trailheads.
False Sense of Security
The reason is twofold. First, use of these signals requires everyone in the group to ride with one hand on their handlebars, lessening the rider’s ability to control their machines. Secondly, these hand signals give riders a false sense of what is coming on the trail.
No one knows how many machines are really coming up behind them. All too often riders will hold up a fist to indicate they are the last rider in the group only to have another group right behind them. The last one in line is never truly the last one in line!
Ways To Ride Safe
Always anticipate other riders on the trail and around the next bend.
Keep both hands on the handlebars and maintain control at all times.
While riding in groups, it is recommended that experienced riders be placed at the lead and at the end. Less experienced or younger riders should be placed in the middle of the group.
My Side is the Right Side – stay to the right side of the trail and maintain a safe following distance with the machine in front of you.
Please keep your hands on for safety!
The deaths on sleds this year my wife has informed me of are unbelievable numbers. I mean astounding!
It looks like it has equaled last year's total of 16 fatalities. Sad.
- - - Updated - - -
Not ONE of the fatal accidents in Wisconsin in the past two years have had anything to do with hand signals. About half of them were using their hands to signal the bartender for another drink. I'm a lot more concerned about the drinking than I'll ever be about hand signals.
snobuilder
Well-known member
Was all this carnage caused by hand signals being given?...LOL ...this is dumb logic.
I like the comradery that the hand signals give to the sport. Guys on bikes do it all the time.
Worrying about someone giving me a HS and being even a minor problem on the trails is idiotic at best.
I'd say most on this site have way more riding experience than the NH idiots that took the time to address this hilarious issue....talk about much aDoo about NOTHING!!! Bureaucratic idiots.....I bet they think they actually did something to improve snowmobile safety...smh.
I don't really give a rats *** if you quit giving HS , I will continue to shove my signal in your sideways skidding face to let you know my home keeper is around the next corner....lol
I like the comradery that the hand signals give to the sport. Guys on bikes do it all the time.
Worrying about someone giving me a HS and being even a minor problem on the trails is idiotic at best.
I'd say most on this site have way more riding experience than the NH idiots that took the time to address this hilarious issue....talk about much aDoo about NOTHING!!! Bureaucratic idiots.....I bet they think they actually did something to improve snowmobile safety...smh.
I don't really give a rats *** if you quit giving HS , I will continue to shove my signal in your sideways skidding face to let you know my home keeper is around the next corner....lol
Last edited: