Safety Issues When You are Riding Solo

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by konakc, Jul 16, 2018.


As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?

  1. konakc

    konakc iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    kc
    Last night I was feeling a little down after reading about Mikie, so many of my friends have seen severe carnage... never met Mikie but as we all know he is experienced, level headed mtbker. Yet a random pedal strike or burped tire or 1/2 second loss of concentration because of the hawk flying overhead... and we eat dirt, rocks...sometimes worse..

    As I tell my clients, you're an adult .. so you make your own choices.. many have given great advice on precautions/safety on this thread... however just the nature of our addiction will cause us to ride over rocks that don't break, catch speeds where our eyeballs starts to jiggle, and fly...

    Just land safely. And when we don't ... make sure you can get back up to do it again...

    MtbkJason said it best, when riding solo in less trafficked areas, dial it back down a little...

    When on a Monday and you the only one at the Oaks, hit just the chutes.. pass on hawk... and waterfall.. well I never hit that...

    gonna ride later today.... all things better
     
  2. evdog

    evdog iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    San diego
    Name:
    Evan S
    I've dialled it back a bit speed-wise pretty much all the time. I still have fun but long ago realized every ride doesn't have to be a race. Crashes are going to happen no matter what we do, but consequences can be less if you aren't balls out, and you have more room to correct and avoid a crash to begin with. If I want to be challenged there is plenty of tech out there, which I find more fun anyways.
     
  3. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    If I dialed back my speed any further, I'd be going backwards!!!
     
  4. Sidewalk

    Sidewalk iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    The road is where I call home
    Name:
    Josh
    Current Bike:
    N+1
    A guy I was stationed with was on a LEDAT (Law Enforcement Detachment, guys who did high risk boardings in the Coast Guard), rode bulls and dirt bike. Was hit by a car on his motorcycle, lost all the toes on his foot and had to learn how to walk again.

    He died as a passenger in a car.

    Live your life now, you don't get to go back and say "I wish I would have tried that..."
     
  5. konakc

    konakc iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    kc
    Funny that slow techy is somstimes safer then fast flow... tech crashes usually just hurt vs speed crashes equals hospital....
     
  6. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Is death random or is our time to go decided ahead of time?
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, Faust29 and 7 others like this.
  7. JordanHMay

    JordanHMay Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Rancho Santa Margarita
    Name:
    Jordan May
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon
    Moved content to other thread
     
  8. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    Solo riding (any outdoor activity) is more dangerous than the buddy system, no getting around it.

    :laugh::thumbsup:
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, Faust29 and 6 others like this.
  9. kioti

    kioti iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Jim Jennings
    Current Bike:
    ibis ripley
    Oddly enough, I haven't always found that to be the case.

    A lot can depend on the skills, mindset and self-sufficiency of the individual, while with groups there's a need for physical and goal compatibility, good communication, mutual respect, willingness to compromise, shared understanding of the natural environment and intrinsic hazards, attention to and concern for the other team members.. Lots of moving parts for ideal partnerships and/or teams. Sure, there's someone to help if things go wrong (if they have the skills/common sense/correct state of mind..), but it's also possible that group dynamics or incompatibility can actually cause accidents or injury.
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, Faust29 and 7 others like this.
  10. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    Great post, Jim!
     
  11. kioti

    kioti iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Jim Jennings
    Current Bike:
    ibis ripley
    Hey Mike, your post got me thinking, and that in itself can be a dangerous thing! :thumbsup:

    For example, lets say I partner with @SnakeCharmer for a ride in his neck of the woods. Things are going well, but for some reason we end up getting separated. He has a bad fall on a tight switchback and sustains a compound fracture of his femur. Darkness is approaching and he's desperately in need of help, so he lights a fire to facilitate a rescue. I happen to be uphill of his location on a steep slope covered with dry brush and dead trees..
     
  12. kioti

    kioti iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Jim Jennings
    Current Bike:
    ibis ripley
    ^^Just kidding @SnakeCharmer. I get where you're coming from. My bad for getting uphill of you in dry conditions. ;) Sorry, sorry..
     
    littlewave, doublewide, Mikie and 9 others like this.
  13. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    OUCH, a compound femur fracture?! :eek:

    I guess I got that coming? :laugh:
     
  14. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :Roflmao:thumbsup::bang::laugh:

    Ho man...brutal. Tears af laughter... cheers, Mike and Jim, glad you’re both alive and well!!!!
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, Faust29 and 6 others like this.
  15. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Yes.
     
    DangerDirtyD, scan, mtnbikej and 7 others like this.
  16. mountaingirl sara

    mountaingirl sara iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    So Cal
    Name:
    Sara
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley
    Not random IMO:)
    I say do what you love, live fully and be smart about it.
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, bvader and 6 others like this.
  17. bvader

    bvader iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    HB
    Name:
    Mr. Brown
    When I was younger riding in group of guys was waaay more dangerous for sure that whole peer pressure thing etc... Well so was riding solo for that fact cause I was just learning.

    Well I guess it just comes down that I am older and wiser now... But I ride alot faster downhill...

    Well screw it ...

    It is all statistics anyways, Life is just a series of statistical events.

    Understand, manage, respect, lower or raise your abilities and risk profile and environment, just understand that interesection wholly, then what happens should never really be a surprise.

    That may sound obvious but many a tragic stories are rooted in not understanding that.
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, scan and 8 others like this.
  18. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Interesting. Thanks for sharing that.
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, mtnbikej and 4 others like this.
  19. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    One person it's a ride, two it's a race.
     
  20. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    And three?
    And four?
    And so on?
     
    Mikie, Danmtchl, mike and 3 others like this.
  21. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    He could have given you trailside debilitating hemorrhoids. :p:D
     
  22. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    You win. :thumbsup:
     
  23. kioti

    kioti iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Jim Jennings
    Current Bike:
    ibis ripley
    It had to be bad, mate.

    But guess what, I talked about these safety threads at dinner tonite, and now apparently I've got to get a Spot Tracker, a Sat phone, 3 smoke bombs and a messenger pigeon. And here I thought wearing a neon jersey was all the safety I'd ever need. :cautious:
     
    mike, Mikie, SnakeCharmer and 5 others like this.
  24. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    At some point it becomes a cluster.
     
    mike, Mikie, SnakeCharmer and 5 others like this.
  25. bvader

    bvader iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    HB
    Name:
    Mr. Brown
    Totally!..Live Life, Have Fun... Occasionally get banged up.
     
  26. scan

    scan iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    fran allas
    Current Bike:
    Scott Spark
    I'd rather take my chances with 1 other person, preferably than "groups" as you suggest.
     
  27. kioti

    kioti iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Jim Jennings
    Current Bike:
    ibis ripley
    Roger that. Two-person groups can be amazing if the individuals work well together. I was always happy to have a backcountry ski partner willing to dig me out of an avalanche, or a climbing partner stop my fall (or vice versa).. And those are my abiding friendships.

    But in my personal experience, I haven't felt more at risk tackling outdoor activities on my own, instead of with one or more people. There's instantly at least double the chance of an injury, and some situations I've found myself in would've been a disaster with even one person getting hurt.

    There are of course no guarantees, but I like what @bvader says above, "Understand, manage, respect, lower or raise your abilities and risk profile and environment, just understand that intersection wholly, then what happens should never really be a surprise." And react accordingly.
     
  28. mountaingirl sara

    mountaingirl sara iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    So Cal
    Name:
    Sara
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley
    High five!
     
    mike, Stkx66, kioti and 3 others like this.
  29. konakc

    konakc iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    kc
    Thursday night fully floop rides... basically the whole loop becomes a group ride... I would see from my backyard .. lights of over 100 bikes go by... not one group but groups turning into groups.... kinda cool to see...
    can't help race a little when your in a group....
     
Loading...
Similar Threads - Safety Issues Riding
  1. H2oChick
    Replies:
    15
    Views:
    1,349


As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?