J
Let me start by saying my wife and daughter are extremely slow riders so I GET it.
When I am leading a group I make it clear to have respect for all riders, drive under control and ride within your limits and STAY on your side of trail especially corners, and be aware of faster riders, not only coming at you but behind as well.
Now I am glad the sport has become more popular, but the last few years this problem with slower inexperienced riders seems to be getting worse. I have been on a sled every winter for 40 of my 44 years, ride hard when possible and know how to handle a sled. I will stop if help is needed and have not ran into or forced anyone off a trail. I have come across the crazies ridding too fast also (seen a few them wreck with my own eyes) but that's another story.
Now here's my weekend experience. Our local trails are mostly narrow and twisty in the national forest. I was riding my wife's 94 Indy 500 (not my 900) after doing some work testing it for a day long ride. 1 hour into it with 2 friends was coming around a corner and almost got taken out by the lead sled, a touring 2 up with 2 people on board cutting the corner like nobody possibly might be coming from the other direction. The second sled panicked and in order to avoid hitting me and the lead sled slid sideways then drove off the trail ending up lightly hitting a tree. This was a group of 7 people with 3 touring sleds and 1 standard. Made sure they were fine and after apologies we continued on our way.
Second round. 1 hour later we came upon a group of 4 sleds (as it turned out) riding extremely slow. We rode behind them for 30 minuets at speeds of 10-15 mph. Not one time did sled 3 or 4 EVER look behind them. When there was a straight run long enough for my crew to get around them both these riders rode the middle drifting back and forth taking the ENTIRE trail. The corners, right down the middle, if another rider was coming the other way there was no room to maneuver around.To make matters worse sled 2 did look back on every straight run and chose not to pull over to let us by.
Finally after 30 minutes of this there was a long wide straight run and we managed to get by 3&4 safely but as I approached 2 as far on left side of trail as I could possibly get ( could easily fit a sled between us ) he starts drifting left. I'm almost next to him as he starts this, WTF! I manage to get around him and at the end of the straight there is a sled shut off parked on the right side of groomed trail, not off to the side, right on the trail. As I drive past he walks to middle of trail, outstretches his arms like I'm to blame. I had enough, turned around and confronted him. He told me I was driving dangerous.
I went around them at 30-40mph tops with a clear view, plenty of room and NOBODY coming the other direction
Told him to keep track of his group as he is the leader (late 50's), instruct them to keep on the right side of trail especially around corners and be aware there are faster riders behind them. Most of which would not wait as long as we did.
Now after that discussion as I'm turning around to continue our ride they all motor on ahead of us, I just shook my head pulled off the trail waited 30 minuets. As were riding I notice their tracks, no difference.
I know this is a rant so I apologize for that.
But seriously I have heard these kind of people go on and on about how they were disrespected on the trail all the while acting like they weren't at fault at all.
Just my experience and point of view.
When I am leading a group I make it clear to have respect for all riders, drive under control and ride within your limits and STAY on your side of trail especially corners, and be aware of faster riders, not only coming at you but behind as well.
Now I am glad the sport has become more popular, but the last few years this problem with slower inexperienced riders seems to be getting worse. I have been on a sled every winter for 40 of my 44 years, ride hard when possible and know how to handle a sled. I will stop if help is needed and have not ran into or forced anyone off a trail. I have come across the crazies ridding too fast also (seen a few them wreck with my own eyes) but that's another story.
Now here's my weekend experience. Our local trails are mostly narrow and twisty in the national forest. I was riding my wife's 94 Indy 500 (not my 900) after doing some work testing it for a day long ride. 1 hour into it with 2 friends was coming around a corner and almost got taken out by the lead sled, a touring 2 up with 2 people on board cutting the corner like nobody possibly might be coming from the other direction. The second sled panicked and in order to avoid hitting me and the lead sled slid sideways then drove off the trail ending up lightly hitting a tree. This was a group of 7 people with 3 touring sleds and 1 standard. Made sure they were fine and after apologies we continued on our way.
Second round. 1 hour later we came upon a group of 4 sleds (as it turned out) riding extremely slow. We rode behind them for 30 minuets at speeds of 10-15 mph. Not one time did sled 3 or 4 EVER look behind them. When there was a straight run long enough for my crew to get around them both these riders rode the middle drifting back and forth taking the ENTIRE trail. The corners, right down the middle, if another rider was coming the other way there was no room to maneuver around.To make matters worse sled 2 did look back on every straight run and chose not to pull over to let us by.
Finally after 30 minutes of this there was a long wide straight run and we managed to get by 3&4 safely but as I approached 2 as far on left side of trail as I could possibly get ( could easily fit a sled between us ) he starts drifting left. I'm almost next to him as he starts this, WTF! I manage to get around him and at the end of the straight there is a sled shut off parked on the right side of groomed trail, not off to the side, right on the trail. As I drive past he walks to middle of trail, outstretches his arms like I'm to blame. I had enough, turned around and confronted him. He told me I was driving dangerous.
I went around them at 30-40mph tops with a clear view, plenty of room and NOBODY coming the other direction
Told him to keep track of his group as he is the leader (late 50's), instruct them to keep on the right side of trail especially around corners and be aware there are faster riders behind them. Most of which would not wait as long as we did.
Now after that discussion as I'm turning around to continue our ride they all motor on ahead of us, I just shook my head pulled off the trail waited 30 minuets. As were riding I notice their tracks, no difference.
I know this is a rant so I apologize for that.
But seriously I have heard these kind of people go on and on about how they were disrespected on the trail all the while acting like they weren't at fault at all.
Just my experience and point of view.
