I certainly wasn't defending the head slap.
i like the comments on awareness and most of all don't be a self appointed trail cop....when sleds catch you, you are riding slower than them....please let them by when safe to do so.
Dads not very happy
[QUOTE=snohawk;19865]Or if you come up on a group of sleds with mirrors they are always riding down the middle of the trail.[/QUOTE]
I've said it before and I'll say it 1000 times more: keep your machine WELL on your own side of the trail, period...unless you're actively passing somebody. That means everybody, us included. I tend to ride with my right ski within a couple inches of the trail lip at almost all times as a proactive measure.
[QUOTE=snohawk;19865]The biggest problem is everyone is riding around on a sled that is not setup up properly, 3" of dull carbides, suspension not setup to turn so they always need to be on the inside of the trail.[/QUOTE]
I think more likely the real problem is that the vast majority are FAR outriding their actual ability. :thumbdown:
I've said it before and I'll say it 1000 times more: keep your machine WELL on your own side of the trail, period...unless you're actively passing somebody. That means everybody, us included. I tend to ride with my right ski within a couple inches of the trail lip at almost all times as a proactive measure.
[QUOTE=snohawk;19865]The biggest problem is everyone is riding around on a sled that is not setup up properly, 3" of dull carbides, suspension not setup to turn so they always need to be on the inside of the trail.[/QUOTE]
I think more likely the real problem is that the vast majority are FAR outriding their actual ability. :thumbdown:
This is one reason we will many times get off the 100 MILER by late morning on Saturday and ride on other trails especially to the north where there is less traffic. We have had similar experiences of near misses mostly on Saturdays and it seems like the 100 MILER has got the most traffic and the most drivers that think it is a big race out there on the trails!! Some weekend its amazing how many new tracks there are where machines have missed a corner.Also I heard the the DNR was a bit west of the 100 Miler this past weekend and gave out many citations for OWI while on a snowmobile so watch out I am sure they will be in the area if they have not already.
[QUOTE=Keemez;19890]I've said it before and I'll say it 1000 times more: keep your machine WELL on your own side of the trail, period...unless you're actively passing somebody. That means everybody, us included. I tend to ride with my right ski within a couple inches of the trail lip at almost all times as a proactive measure.
I think more likely the real problem is that the vast majority are FAR outriding their actual ability. :thumbdown:[/QUOTE]
I second this quote and I think the real reason is especially for the guys riding in the back is that they are trying to keep up to the ride leader. Whenever I see the front guy giving hand signals about how many people are behind him and not see anyone for sometime, I know I will be meeting them out of control trying to keep up. I believe this is how many of the accidents happen too. I've been there before, not familiar with the area and trying to keep up. It takes the fun out of it and you drive faster than you are comfortable with. At times I enjoy going fast too, but whenever I am taking someone that never drove a snowmobile before or is not familiar with the area I will slow down and / or wait for them at the intersections. I don't know how many times I see groups of people at a bar laughing because another part of their group is still out there, but they made it to the bar first. Real funny guys, what if someone broke down or made a wrong turn? It isn't about who is faster, look out for your group and enjoy the sport. It will make it more fun for everyone!
I think more likely the real problem is that the vast majority are FAR outriding their actual ability. :thumbdown:[/QUOTE]
I second this quote and I think the real reason is especially for the guys riding in the back is that they are trying to keep up to the ride leader. Whenever I see the front guy giving hand signals about how many people are behind him and not see anyone for sometime, I know I will be meeting them out of control trying to keep up. I believe this is how many of the accidents happen too. I've been there before, not familiar with the area and trying to keep up. It takes the fun out of it and you drive faster than you are comfortable with. At times I enjoy going fast too, but whenever I am taking someone that never drove a snowmobile before or is not familiar with the area I will slow down and / or wait for them at the intersections. I don't know how many times I see groups of people at a bar laughing because another part of their group is still out there, but they made it to the bar first. Real funny guys, what if someone broke down or made a wrong turn? It isn't about who is faster, look out for your group and enjoy the sport. It will make it more fun for everyone!
Our son has been riding his own sled (always between 2 adult riders) since he was 9 years old. we've taught him that the 3 most important things to focus on are
1. Always expect another sled to be coming around every corner and over every hill on the wrong side of the trail.
2.Keep your machine at a safe speed were you can control it to stay on the far right around any corner or hill so you are prepared when you do in fact meet another sled.
3. don't tailgate! Follow at a safe distance to allow yourself time to react.
also to be patient when coming up on slower riders.
If everyone followed these rules we would never have issues on the trail, unfortunately we all need to drive defensively on the trail and watch out for the idiots who think they own it. Sorry to hear your daughter was involved, I hope it did not discourage her to keep riding.
1. Always expect another sled to be coming around every corner and over every hill on the wrong side of the trail.
2.Keep your machine at a safe speed were you can control it to stay on the far right around any corner or hill so you are prepared when you do in fact meet another sled.
3. don't tailgate! Follow at a safe distance to allow yourself time to react.
also to be patient when coming up on slower riders.
If everyone followed these rules we would never have issues on the trail, unfortunately we all need to drive defensively on the trail and watch out for the idiots who think they own it. Sorry to hear your daughter was involved, I hope it did not discourage her to keep riding.
[QUOTE=briane;19983]Our son has been riding his own sled (always between 2 adult riders) since he was 9 years old. we've taught him that the 3 most important things to focus on are
1. Always expect another sled to be coming around every corner and over every hill on the wrong side of the trail.
2.Keep your machine at a safe speed were you can control it to stay on the far right around any corner or hill so you are prepared when you do in fact meet another sled.
3. don't tailgate! Follow at a safe distance to allow yourself time to react.
also to be patient when coming up on slower riders.
If everyone followed these rules we would never have issues on the trail, unfortunately we all need to drive defensively on the trail and watch out for the idiots who think they own it. Sorry to hear your daughter was involved, I hope it did not discourage her to keep riding.[/QUOTE]
Briane,
Are you riding in Wisconsin? If so, why is your son on a trail at 9 years old?
1. Always expect another sled to be coming around every corner and over every hill on the wrong side of the trail.
2.Keep your machine at a safe speed were you can control it to stay on the far right around any corner or hill so you are prepared when you do in fact meet another sled.
3. don't tailgate! Follow at a safe distance to allow yourself time to react.
also to be patient when coming up on slower riders.
If everyone followed these rules we would never have issues on the trail, unfortunately we all need to drive defensively on the trail and watch out for the idiots who think they own it. Sorry to hear your daughter was involved, I hope it did not discourage her to keep riding.[/QUOTE]
Briane,
Are you riding in Wisconsin? If so, why is your son on a trail at 9 years old?
"Ride Right and stay in control" is not enough. I took a backpack ride with my son from Lakewood to the four seasons east of Pembine last weekend. We saw 3 actual wrecks (1 roll over, 1 corner overshot into the woods and 1 fence post vs sled) and twice was within inches of being clipped by on coming sleds that were way beyond being in control. One of them on a long strait. Both appeared to likely be (ladies with riding skills please take no offence) grand daughters or the son's girlfriend riding dad's "guest sled"
As sled owners, we need to take complete responcibility for the who and how our equipment is being ridden before the industry or, God forbid, the government regulates them for us. Think of seeing this sign "this trail is Federal property and is reserved for battery or solar powered snow vehicles with green certification only"
How many times have you seen a 12 year old (or younger) with a 100 hp /100 mph sled? Sled performance has progressed so much in the last 15 years that anyone can be on the trail on a machine 10x faster than their skills or the trail can handle. It's up to us to make sure our children, guests and others are not put in a position of operating a machine way beyond their skills, riding without any instruction or practice or putting them in the situation of "trying to keep up to the old man"
It's just dumb and you are asking to get somebody seriously hurt.
As sled owners, we need to take complete responcibility for the who and how our equipment is being ridden before the industry or, God forbid, the government regulates them for us. Think of seeing this sign "this trail is Federal property and is reserved for battery or solar powered snow vehicles with green certification only"
How many times have you seen a 12 year old (or younger) with a 100 hp /100 mph sled? Sled performance has progressed so much in the last 15 years that anyone can be on the trail on a machine 10x faster than their skills or the trail can handle. It's up to us to make sure our children, guests and others are not put in a position of operating a machine way beyond their skills, riding without any instruction or practice or putting them in the situation of "trying to keep up to the old man"
It's just dumb and you are asking to get somebody seriously hurt.
[QUOTE=Chainlake;20002]"Ride Right and stay in control" is not enough. I took a backpack ride with my son from Lakewood to the four seasons east of Pembine last weekend. We saw 3 actual wrecks (1 roll over, 1 corner overshot into the woods and 1 fence post vs sled) and twice was within inches of being clipped by on coming sleds that were way beyond being in control. One of them on a long strait. Both appeared to likely be (ladies with riding skills please take no offence) grand daughters or the son's girlfriend riding dad's "guest sled"
As sled owners, we need to take complete responcibility for the who and how our equipment is being ridden before the industry or, God forbid, the government regulates them for us. Think of seeing this sign "this trail is Federal property and is reserved for battery or solar powered snow vehicles with green certification only"
How many times have you seen a 12 year old (or younger) with a 100 hp /100 mph sled? Sled performance has progressed so much in the last 15 years that anyone can be on the trail on a machine 10x faster than their skills or the trail can handle. It's up to us to make sure our children, guests and others are not put in a position of operating a machine way beyond their skills, riding without any instruction or practice or putting them in the situation of "trying to keep up to the old man"
It's just dumb and you are asking to get somebody seriously hurt.[/QUOTE]
Agreed.
I've also seen many wrecks and had close calls with inexperienced and/or intoxicated riders.
Its our responsibility as parents and safe snowmobilers to make sure our kids are capable and responsible enough to handle whatever sled and trail we put them on. Putting an inexperienced kid or adult on a rocket sled is a recipe for disaster. Same goes for hunting or any other activity that has its risks.
That being said, kids are the future of our outdoor sports and we need to get them involved and teach them early so that this sport will be there for our grandkids and so on... As for the kid, wife or girlfriend who is "trying to keep up with the old man" then the old man should let up on the throttle a little and have some consideration for the inexperienced riders he should be setting and example for.
My son started riding sleds around the yard at 5 years old on old skidoo Olympic. I made a throttle stop for it and added a tether cord. At 8yrs we put him on a 250 Citation which is the same sled he started doing short trail rides with us at 9 years old. At 10 we moved him up to a 93' 377 safari with better suspension. He took his snowmobile safety course at 11 years. And now at 13 years old he rides a 98' MXZ 440 fan. He does 150+ mile rides with us every weekend and he can handle his machine better and safer than a lot of the adult riders . We ride at safe, comfortable pace and always put the kids in the middle of the pack between more experienced riders. An adult gets off of his sled at busy road crossings and directs snowmobile traffic to cross safely. No adults have any alcohol until the sleds are parked for the day. Maybe this all sounds boring to some but we do or best to minimize risk , and we still all have a great time riding.
As sled owners, we need to take complete responcibility for the who and how our equipment is being ridden before the industry or, God forbid, the government regulates them for us. Think of seeing this sign "this trail is Federal property and is reserved for battery or solar powered snow vehicles with green certification only"
How many times have you seen a 12 year old (or younger) with a 100 hp /100 mph sled? Sled performance has progressed so much in the last 15 years that anyone can be on the trail on a machine 10x faster than their skills or the trail can handle. It's up to us to make sure our children, guests and others are not put in a position of operating a machine way beyond their skills, riding without any instruction or practice or putting them in the situation of "trying to keep up to the old man"
It's just dumb and you are asking to get somebody seriously hurt.[/QUOTE]
Agreed.
I've also seen many wrecks and had close calls with inexperienced and/or intoxicated riders.
Its our responsibility as parents and safe snowmobilers to make sure our kids are capable and responsible enough to handle whatever sled and trail we put them on. Putting an inexperienced kid or adult on a rocket sled is a recipe for disaster. Same goes for hunting or any other activity that has its risks.
That being said, kids are the future of our outdoor sports and we need to get them involved and teach them early so that this sport will be there for our grandkids and so on... As for the kid, wife or girlfriend who is "trying to keep up with the old man" then the old man should let up on the throttle a little and have some consideration for the inexperienced riders he should be setting and example for.
My son started riding sleds around the yard at 5 years old on old skidoo Olympic. I made a throttle stop for it and added a tether cord. At 8yrs we put him on a 250 Citation which is the same sled he started doing short trail rides with us at 9 years old. At 10 we moved him up to a 93' 377 safari with better suspension. He took his snowmobile safety course at 11 years. And now at 13 years old he rides a 98' MXZ 440 fan. He does 150+ mile rides with us every weekend and he can handle his machine better and safer than a lot of the adult riders . We ride at safe, comfortable pace and always put the kids in the middle of the pack between more experienced riders. An adult gets off of his sled at busy road crossings and directs snowmobile traffic to cross safely. No adults have any alcohol until the sleds are parked for the day. Maybe this all sounds boring to some but we do or best to minimize risk , and we still all have a great time riding.