Safety in groups

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Folks,

What do you guys generally do to go safely around corners when riding in a group off road (not single tracks)?

I ask that because about a year or so ago, I did a 4×4 trip with the family in Yengo and as I turned into a corner, a group of riders came flying around the corner, one braked, fell and slid under my fourby. Luckily I was not going fast and by that stage had stopped already. The rider crawled out, picked up his bike and took off with his mates without saying a word. If I had not stopped, he would have been seriously injured or worse.

That incident always makes me think twice about riding with a largish group as it seems to turn into a full on race pretty quickly (In my book OK in the right conditions but not OK when you can injure or kill innocent folks).

What do you do to still have fun but also arrive home in one piece?

Cheers, TT

[Dwayne OMember]

Sounds a little like me on Sunday :dry: :laugh:
Sliding across the road in front of a car :whistle:

[David FirmingerMember]

I did it twice on the weekend, and lucky TB yelled out via the blue tooth or it could have been worse!!

[scott bockingMember]

I don’tspend a lot of time on open trails but I do lead a lot of rides in my local area and am always conscious that fourbies could be around. On blind rises and sharp corners I always stand up to give me better visibility and on some really tight ones I actually ride up the inside of the corner rather than wide as if a fourbie is driving fast he will be on the outside.
On singles I often stop before a fast section and kill the engine and listen for other bikes, then I pin it :woohoo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a_HxI2EbK4

STM

[Aaron WildeMember]

If I am leading a ride I slow down on corners, stay on the left side of the track and pretend there is another person coming.To make up for this slowing down I use the following tactics. Because you can drop corner men you effectively slow down the group. Remember you don’t just have to drop a corner man on a corner. You can point and drop them on a crest or any other half dangerous obstacle ie logs deep ruts or G outs etc. This way you can ride slower at the front but still keep the ride flowing. You do have to take advantage of the straits to keep ahead of the pack though. Some conditions help you keep ahead like dust. Also when riding in loose sand I find I can run through quicker when you are the first one to break the surface. A 4 B would be a serious obstacle if you met them on what we call single trail. Like over at Coffs when they are scrubbing the sides on branches all the way. Lucky there are not too many of those die hards out and about though. I heard of a death on a trail ride and it was the second rider that got killed. The first dude missed the 4 B but was still in the scrub when the second on smashed into the vehicle. Scary stuff. So we all should take note and ride a little safer some times…. Yes me included.

[GregMember]

King STM wrote:

On singles I often stop before a fast section and kill the engine and listen for other bikes, The I pin it :woohoo:
STM

I would re-think that theory King as I have seen you near nail Boris :huh:

There is high risks with what we do, I lead most rides and with groups as big as 57. Its just a case of being careful and treating every corner like someone is coming the other way. Its worse on Adventure bikes because the bikes are heavier, the speeds can be higher and you can get complacent in remote areas as you dont see vehicles for such a long time

TB

[Jan Marais-van VuurenMember]

Thanks guys,

I guess the answer is to expect the unexpected in blind spots/corners and to ride accordingly.

Cheers, TT

[James RookyardMember]

I think half the trouble is you can come out of a tight single track and back onto the main track/public road and forget the road rules. remember where you are is probably the best bet. You also have to consider when you are hooking along the single track that there is an even chance of another bike coming along the other way. Common sense should prevail really.

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