FURTHER NOTES: WHAT IS CORNER MARKING? We might do a video about this soon as there have been a few questions. So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go. He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider. At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again. So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system. Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily. There's a second system too... You simply make sure the rider behind you sees the corner then continue. It's a bit less reliable but works well IF the riders know the system and make 100% sure the guy behind them has seen them! BOOMERS V Z-GENNERS? One guy has commented 'What a typical boomer vid'. 😂 Personally I don't like over-generalising with stereotypes too much. But there can be a stronger tendency toward the 'me me me' philosophy for younger riders. You can be anything you want to be. You deserve the best. Name it and claim it. Nothing wrong with that unless it leads to narcissism because it needs to be balanced with still respecting others. This viewer obviously has a fair bit to learn. But I've come across plenty of 'boomers' with the same self centred approach to life. And in Canada I spent a lot of time with rural guys in their 20s who gave me hope for the future. Tough as nails. Humble. Keen to help all the other riders. The world is in good hands with people like this around. THE NICE DICKHEAD? Once or twice I've had a word with someone mid-ride because I thought he was a serious risk. E.g. Overtaking everyone, nearly clipping their bars, spooking the noobs especially. I had to speak with this guy three times before he finally stopped doing it lol. Actually a nice guy, just a bit ADHD I think. Once he was on the bike the red mist took over and the brain switched off. 😗
one time i was on a bmw adventure bike ride and forgot to bring a coffee holder. thankfully most of the other riders had two or more and i was able to borrow one for the duration
I was also riding with some GS-people and forgot to bring food but lyckily there was a guy that opened his panniers where he had a grill for french fries and kebab on a roll in the other 😂😂😂
On the flip side... last big ride/camp I did, one of the guys was bikeless and asked to borrow my wife's little CRF230. After we got back he spit-shined that thing so it looked like it was brand new before he returned it. With a full tank of course, and some flowers IIRC. Good guy Sean.
That's how it should be! If ever I borrow a bike I try to return it better than I got it with at least a full tank. Recently a friend of my brother borrowed the second DR650. Rode it hard the whole day, sitting right behind the leader rider in thick dust. Eventually I yelled at him, 'Stop riding my bike in the worst dust, you are just getting the bike filthy and clogging the air filter. The moron just looked at me blankly and went "Oh I didn't realise". End of the day? No "Thanks for the loan bike". Didn't even say goodbye. No offer to clean the bike, air filter or top up the fuel he used. 100% moron.
I guess there's always the flip side. I asked my brother why he's still friends with this guy because it's pretty typical of his behaviour on and off the bike... completely oblivious to others. His response? Apparently the guy can be very generous at times which seems to balance things out. But me? Way less tolerant. I refuse to ride with him again.
What people don't realize is that the same thing applies to tools borrowed - clean them off and put them away properly, even if you did not find them in that state. Always budget at least a half hour for cleanup if you borrow someone's tools or workspace. At one point I accused (in jest) a friend of sabotaging my car at regular intervals because he didn't like cleaning his garage. I am the only one he lets use his garage, even his adult son is banned.
I've been that guy plenty of times...not "that guy" but the guy that has the pump, that guy that has the jump starter, that guy that has all the tools, the spare bolts, the cable ties, the spare tubes and the know how to use them all...That guy who steps in to change your tube because you have NFI. That guy who administers first aid and calls the ambulance. That guy who happily leaves the group to escort a fellow rider in trouble. Sometimes "that guy" is the one you need. I have my share of experiences with that other guy... He doesn't get invited back.
We salute you. 😊 I used to help out with public rides and was always thanking the sweep rider. He carried all that gear, stepped in to fix stuff, ate dust all day. The quiet achiever type.
That’s why I love riding with my son who carry’s all the tubes, gas, sam splints, tools etc. for his old man. He inspires confidence helping me and others to ride better. He’s an ex Army Scout and tough as nails but not overbearing. Thanks Son!
Cheers. I think it's fine if a rider is slack on preparation and maintenance, but only if they ride in a group where that's the norm. Don't bugger things up for riders who are good with preparation and maintenance!
For 20 years plus i have chosen to ride alone. Maybe twice a year i will ride with others but i am very selective. I really like it this way, my freetime is limited and chose of where i ride differs greatly, also i camp out or pub it. In saying that well i enjoy nothing more than meeting fellow adventure riders out on the trail,swapping riding destinations, routes, bike mods and funny stories
I think many of us become more selective as we get older. Thankfully the vast majority of guys I ride with are a pleasure to hang out with. But I definitely don't waste time anymore on riders who aren't team players. Or talk non-stop about themselves and you can't get a word in lol.
I dont ride in groups because i dont like adjusting pace constantly and arguing over lunch/breaks. This reminded me of all the other BS i do t have to pit up with riding alone. And riding alone om better prepared since I've only got myself to rely on
Yes, that's quite the combination of experiences we get to experience over the years! It's also why we (me and the wife) don't do group rides - don't need extra baggage, or drama!
It's fun to adjust someone's carburetor float level in the middle of the forest, it's all fun to see how the guy notices that his shocks are leaking and then he fills them up to the top, then crashes because of obvious reasons. It's all fun for the first time. I don't ride with such people anymore. And they don't ride with me, because they still think it's fun.
Our group has had issues with corner marking in the past. 2 years ago we made a rule that: no rides without a GPX, and no one can go without the GPX loaded into 2 separate devices. Without waiting all the time the rides are a lot more fun and we can cover more ground per day. Way cleaner air filters are a bonus.
It's a good idea. On our next multi day ride I'm going to get everyone to upload the free Gaia app and have the gpx file showing in case they get lost.
Welp...I was just about to sit down and write a script on this exact topic and this vid pops up. Guess I'll just share it instead, lol. Thanks for saving me the trouble? ;)
I did a similar vid on the enduro channel a while back, it had way more comments than usual so it does seem to be something almost every rider experiences... too often!
This has always been one of my favorite channels. Thanks guys. But now I'm searching my riding memory banks for dickhead moments. I'm sure I've got them!
On my first group ride, We agreed that if anyone gets to a 2nd intersection and no ones waiting for you, stop and wait, and if you have over shot a turn somewhere along the line, the group will loop back and find you. I decided that I was going to keep following the 3 sets of moto tyre tracks to the middle of nowhere and ended up dropping my the bike 2 times in a clay pan. After I got to the other side, the track got really hilly. I ended up getting my africa twin stuck on the side of a mountain, 1000m above sea level, in a steep rocky saddle covered in tennis ball sized marbles. After spending 45 minutes wrestling the bike on an off camber left hander on a long steep hill climb covered in marbles, with a 5m drop off to the outside (I forgot to turn off traction control) dropping it another 2 times in the hottest part of a 32 degree day in Late February with no shade or breeze, I gassed out and couldn't get the bike off the side of the hill. By this time It had been over 1.5 hours since I had seen the group, and they were looking for me on another fork of the track. I hike up the big hill, and somehow got phone service and text the group my GPS location. i could see a 270 degree vista of mountains that looked like the swiss alps. Panick started to set in. While I was waiting, I skull dragged the bike 180 degrees pointing downhill, got the bike back on its wheels, rolled to the bottom, then walked back up the hill to the shade and took a break. I was absolutely rooted and couldn't get the bike up the steep hill climb that I 2 wheel slid down in the way in. One of the riders came and helped me get the bike out. Then on the decent of a big hill climb I took on the way in, I tucked the front on the marbles and dropped the bike for a 5th time. It took 3 of us to get it back on its wheels. By this time I was absolutely fucked and had to sit down for 30 minutes. So by the time we got going again, I had caused a 3 hour deviation to the plan. I felt shithouse about it and shouted everyone a drink at the servo on the way home and apologised profusely. I got invited back, but it was still a massive dickhead moment, and Its very unlike me to be a dickhead! I just got too excited with the prospect of pushing my riding in the safety of a group in places, where if I was solo I would turn around. Then after the 1st drop, all I was worried about was holding up the group, so I pushed further and further trying to catch up. Lesson learned. Now I'm the sweep in our group and we use the corner man system. I carry all the gear and have helped riders get out of trouble in the middle of nowhere. Video of one of the drops, th-cam.com/users/shortsqY17kx5UUSY?feature=share
Glad it wasn't worse with an injury out there! Really good point about waiting if you think someone forgot to mark a corner. It can get really hard finding someone whose determined to try and chase down the group!
I watched a review by Siskel & Ebert on "The Deer Hunter" that explained Robert Deniro's character when his friend forgot his hunting boots. The professional soldier versus the tag-along.
Great presentation Barry. Gee. I could add lots to that.... I love my remote solo riding and the characters I've met along the way. From the drunk and obnoxious, running everything and everyone down to the all the gear and not a clue. MOST riders are ok but.
Had chain snap once due to it being a crap replacement one. Lesson learnt, buy the best you can afford. Lucky we were close to a motorbike shop near town.
A Regina? I wonder if the quality has dropped... or was it just a rare dud from the factory? Be interesting to see if they've moved to cheap Chinese manufacturing recently. The website says in 2004 a productive subsidiary for the manufacturing and commercialization of conveyor chains and belts was established in China, but no idea if this included the motorbike chains. 🤔
@@crosstrainingadventure it was very strange ,came off the sprocket on straight ASPHALT at steady pace and broke. Luckily 1 side bent but intact which got me home. If you don't mind - quick story. bad mood as hadnt been on it for 3 months due to hot weather Went home grabbed CRF 300 with fancy suspension without giving up,,stopped at friends who invited me out for an enduro ride next week, did my fastest lap of single track that I ever did. Had a good chat, went home happy. Stoic philosophy-if something throws you off balance try to regain balance as quickly as possible, then good things often happen😀
Thx! I had a Baja California trip ruined by a prime example. He needed his new tent assembled for him, or he would have been sleeping on top of it. He started a 2000 mile trip through sparsely-populated desert with 500 miles of rubber left on rear tire. KTM -some odd size. We drove hundreds of miles through small towns chasing rumors. He spoke no Spanish. We finally found him one, but trip already ruined. Apologies? Of course not!
😒 Yep, sounds like a classic case. If he rides with a bunch of similar guys then it's probably okay... as each bike breaks down it's seen as part of the adventure. But of course most of us are way better prepared and simply want to ride, not spend half the ride fixing badly maintained bikes.
Brand new to DS! Been On 2 rides. First ride was with another. Other rider had more off road experience - but was giving bad advise, based on my years of obsessing/ watching videos like yours. I'd have taken the advise, except I was fully prepared with parts, gear, food, 1st aid- other rider was not. Their approach to my being timid, was pushy. IMO: they were being a D!ckhead. Avoiding confrontation, i suggested we part ways & find terrain that was suitable for our skill levels. I felt like a P*ssy- But knew it was the safe thing to do. .......Thanks for your YEARS of DS content - which helped this NEWB to avoid ego-driven-injury. I don't have anyone to ride with yet- so it's solo, close to home, with everyone knowing exactly where I am. Joining up some forums in the meantime! I'll probably always be more prepared than skilled
I remember a rider who loved taking less experienced riders into difficult terrain to see them struggle and crash. I kept saying 'This will go badly if he gets hurt' but this guy would just laugh. I stopped riding with him as a result. If this sort of rider hangs out with similar egos then it's probably okay. But I don't want to ride with dickheads who make themselves feel better by watching noobs crash. Love your approach, Bob!
I think there’s a happy medium at some point. You can go extreme in either direction. That is, overly careful versus not careful enough. Truth is, the overly careful, and overly programed ones bother me more than the lackadaisical ones. Takes all the fun out of it if everything has to be just so.
So true. It really comes down to just fitting in the with the group I reckon. If everyone is super cautious and you are too? All good. Bit of a loose cannon but the rest of the group is too? Again, all good. As long as you don't hit a rider outside of your group.
The biggest dick move I've seen is leaving the group (of three) when a rider went missing. Waited quite a while for him to show up and nothing. Turns out the he had crashed a ways back, broke a finger, and was waiting for someone to come to help. I eventually found him and got him and bike out of the woods. The other guy wasn't seen until dinner. You have to have each other's back out in the boonies, even if it means your ride is ruined.
And this is why dickhead behavior is such a problem. We all need to support and rely on each other, so it's on every rider to reduce the need for that support as much as possible so the ride can happen and have the best chance of being successful.
That sucks! Sounds like the guy I mentioned in the vid who hated corner marking because he didn't want to stop for 20 seconds waiting for the next rider. Over the years I've occasionally seen a rider who just decided to go home but not tell anyone so we are trying to find him, assuming he took a wrong turn or ran off the track and was injured.
That's us, Keith. 😂 But mainly coz we are in our 50s and 60s and the hard enduro terrain knocks the stuffing out of us. Probably every 10 minutes we stop to catch our breath and talk crap for a while. 😗
@@crosstrainingadventurefair enough. I'm 35 I would put my self Into the solo track builder/finder. Then the sweep rider. So sweep eating dust all day I know to well. Side note If you're still reading comments. I would find a video explaining the corner man system super handy. Alot don't understand it or are to embarrassed to say they don't know it. A clip where I can link in it in our group chats and Facebook pages would be amazing thanks.
It's definitely been on the list. Only problem I could see is I've seen a few variants so not sure how to present it all. But maybe I should just cover the two main types and say a new rider to a group just needs to ask about any specifics...
This is an interesting topic. Nobody likes riding with "that guy" but I think an indicator of being "that guy" is not caring if you're "that guy". I have seen a few group members, quick to label inexperienced people as "that guy". Some call them gatekeepers, I call them elitist douchebags. They don't get invited back. All I ask in my groups is you listen to the rules of the lead, try your best, and do not endanger the lives of other riders. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I'm good an organizing, but shit with some mechanical fixes obstacles. After so many tries, I will probably need help. But you help me, I help you. I unfortunately don't have a lot of time to practice with work and other hobbies. Videos are always on point
We all mess up at some point of course, especially in the early tdays. But like you say, it depends if you don't care about being 'that guy' and continue with stuff that annoys the group!
I'm an idiot, but a polite, thankful, and generous Idiot. I'm pretty lucky and I ride with me mate most of the times and we have learned to complement each other's load out's, and be forgiving.
The maintenance thing hits close to home. A few years ago I kept having electrical issues with a recently-bought sports tourer, but didn't think to check or replace the rectifier. Eventually, the bike died towards the end of a 12 hour stint on the way home; after having it towed I had to ask one of the other riders to let me ride 2up on his already heavily loaded bike. This year's tour nearly ended early due to a similar reason. I did have the charging system checked before setting off, but the damn R/R failed again and I didn't have a spare AGAIN. This time I was lucky that some friends were heading to the same destination by car, and were kind enough to bring me along. I thanked them profusely. Lesson learned. Always carry a spare R/R (they're not that heavy or cheap, and easy to replace). Replace them regularly; they're fine right up until they're not.
It's expensive but I usually just get a new bike after two or three years because I'm not very good at long term maintenance and try to minimise the chances of breakdowns. Very lazy! I know mechanically minded riders just carry the right spares and can fix most issues on the roadside which is great... you can ride older bikes with peace of mind then.
One time when I was quite young I got invited on a ride with two older and very experienced riders. We rode quite fast and I was only just managing to keep up with them when the guy I was chasing had a bit of a crash. He seemed fine and was already getting up so in the moment with all the adrenaline going on I just flew past him, feeling a bit proud that I "overtook" him, likely even (unintentionally) roosting his face as this was on an uphill section... When I met up with the lead rider he asked with a slightly concerned voice where's the other guy. It's when I started telling how I rode past him after he fell that it dawned on me how much of a dick move that was. A few moments later the crashing guy arrived and was perfectly fine, nothing was made of it, but I sure as hell never ever rode past a fallen rider, no matter how "okay" they looked to me, without at least asking or somehow signaling a question if they are okay and they need help.
Often changes with age, I'm sure I did stuff like that years ago... probably laughed as I rode past. Now I always stop because it just might be a fracture, or they might go to get up and pass out.
I'm gearing up to ride the northeast bdr in September. I'm going overboard and bringing extra cables and tubes for myself and the guy I'm going with. I'm getting wicked redundant with several other items as well ! I'd rather carry an extra 20lbs than get stranded in the woods like a dickhead. Thanks for another entertaining and educational video!!
Really interesting idea I read a month ago... on long trips some guys actually route their spare throttle or clutch cable in place (but I assume a bit of tape at each end to stop dust getting in) so if the stock one breaks it's only a few minutes to connect the new one.
@@crosstrainingadventure DR650 'Ol School lol. Most newer bikes have an electric throttle, and hydro clutch lol. Husky 701 is one popular example. Braking down is an adventure in itself. No point riding if the bike is so overloaded It's not enjoyable to ride.
@@crosstrainingadventure I've just done this on my DRZ which I'm prepping for a 2 week off-road trip in Portugal. Run the spare along side the original, heat-shrink both ends to minimise crap getting in the exposed ends and cable tie them.
This is exactly how mine is set up. Cables in place. A piece of tape covering the ends. I swapped out a clutch cable on a klr like this in about 4 minutes one time. @@crosstrainingadventure
Had a guy with a puncture in our vintage club(very nice guy totally honest great club member) I willingly loaned him my puncture repair spray as it was a rally with a caveat that I wanted it replaced with the same brand (ipone),same size and if he tried to fix the puncture with it that was it no refunds if it didnt work out. No problems whatsoever. I have seen other instances where the reverse happens. It's best to be clear right from the start or take the money on the day. Some people will just use you.
100%! Especially with bike loans. I remember a best mate asking to borrow my bike. I said 'Sure, as long as you fix any crash damage and/or pay the insurance excess'. The response? 'Really? Okay I won't borrow it'. Glad I said something as obviously fixing a crashed bike wasn't going to happen!
On a super dusty Oregon ride, one rider kept asking to pass until he was in the lead. Naturally people defer to requests and let him pass. His rationale when confronted on his repeated behavior: “I hate dust”. Uhh, duh yeah, the rest of us love it. Never invited him to ride again, (friendship also terminated later due to similar behavior)
FFS 😂 Yeah that's dickhear material in my book. I hate dust too but I just hang at the back about 20 seconds behind... or actually volunteer to be the sweep rider.
I have done a few group rides, but generally everyone goes too fast for my liking. Although, as a professional driver (tour buses), the dickheads I encounter are riders coming around blind corners on narrow country roads on the centre line! And, of course, large vehicles try to keep away from the soft edges. That's not a good mix.
I've tried that a few times years ago but gave up. They refused to take responsibility for their actions and just had excuses. My mates have had similar experiences so nowadays we just don't invite them back.
Another excellent video... keep them coming!!! We've got a large group here in Central Florida USA and there's always one or two of those folks who are dickheads that are oblivious to social ques. That's okay, we don't invite them back.
Usually we just don't invite them back. Once or twice I've had a word with someone mid-ride because I thought he was a serious risk. E.g. Overtaking everyone, nearly clipping their bars, spooking the noobs especially. I had to speak with him three times before he finally stopped doing it lol. Actually a nice guy, just a bit ADHD I think. Once he was on the bike the red mist took over and the brain switched off. 😂
So far, in 2024 I have "lost" 3 tubes... 2 21" and 1 18"... So, how do you 'loose' a tube you may ask? EXACTLY as summed up in the video... You help a person out, and never ever see them - or your replacement tube - again! :) I never want to leave people stranded, but I am starting to get quite protective over my backpack of tools and parts...
A real shame this happens. Maybe some riders just forget? But I suspect others are just 'takers' and happy to sponge off others. I've only had to take someone's tube once and I insisted on replacing it. The next day I bought a new one and contacted the guy again to say I'd give it to him the next ride.
Basically, anyone who is irresponsible, and inconsiderate, I'd like to add the person who needs to make an unscheduled gas stop, because they couldn't be bothered to fill up at the gas station we met at.
That last. It's maybe not a big thing, but it's utterly infuriating. Had a guy in a street riding group do that regularly, then have to make random extra gas stops all the time. Ended up just leaving him when he did. We always launch rides from gas stations for a reason. We plan based on the lowest bike's fuel range, usually with good margins just in case. Don't be the guy that messes that up. It's so much worse when the ride isn't going to be near fuel stops due to that planning - if others need to share gas with you, they may not have enough, and even if they have spare fuel it's your damn job to be ready.
Thankfully never come across that. But it must be annoying, it's not that easy getting fuel from one bike to another in most cases. Riders who consistently mess up rides through lack of preparation just need to find similar guys to ride with, I reckon.
I have only ever ridden on my own because I don't feel safe riding at other people's pace off-road or on-road which is usually a lot faster than my own. I don't want to be the guy everyone hates for being too slow.
I know the feeling! There are a few guys I won't ride with because they are simply way faster than me. Even if they say "Don't worry, we'll wait for you at the next corner" I just don't want to feel that pressure to try and keep up. A couple of multiple fractures have a way of making you minimise risks. 😗
And on-road too when you have a DS and your friends have ADV...it's so frustrating because as soon as they hit the road they will never ride moderate and it just wears me out trying to keep up with my DS on road...off-road I can keep up but sometimes it is also a risk. But I also like to push myself a little bit, I only learn that way. Well and the social part is the best 😁 Otherwise I would ride always solo😅
I’ve only gone on rides with one other person a few times. Being I’m still very new, I’m very sensitive to becoming a nuisance for the other rider, I carry all the things including a medical kit, a folding saw, metal and plastic zip ties, duct tape... it almost sounds like some sort of abduction kit, the more I write this out... 😂
If you're prepped, and trying to do things right, people will only help you. Don't not go on rides because you don't think your riding is good enough. Most people don't care. And riding with people that are better than you is the best way to Improve. You'll get nothing but encouragement and help. "Just do it". From my experience, I've only ever seen Noobs get the red carpet treatment. It's in everyone's best Interest, for you to do well, and stick with it.
My bike being what it is. I do find myself riding sweep often. And everyone has to start somewhere. I have had a dick head moment. Full day ride, flowing trails, fresh tires, stuck riding sweep. Last section of dirt I did overtake some riders. 😢
I have ruined several rides by going too fast for the conditions or my own abilities - or both, and crashing badly. Several ambulance rides, and even a couple of helicopter rescues later, I still lust for pushing the boundaries, but a battered body have given me the willpower to ride more sensibly. Surprisingly, nobody have turned the back on me for being such an idiot.
Thankfully most riders are pretty good like that. Years ago I stuffed up a ride after only about 10 minutes into the dirt, trying to show off and shattered my lower leg... ambulance ride out. Live and learn!
I’m in my 60s, and I still have idiot moments, just hopefully less often. I came across the DSMRA years ago and when I did a work project interstate I contacted the local DSMRA to join them for a ride. I completely misjudged the workload and had four invitations to join rides all of which I bailed on at the last minute. Felt like such a dick. If invited on a ride nowadays, I always answer yes or no ASAP, keep to my word and arrive early.
Many years ago one of the the guys on our ride invited his cousin last minute. We stopped at the gas station before we left and the guy went in and bought sun glasses and we took off. When got to camp and set up we discovered that he didn’t bring any food. The next day we learned that he couldn’t ride and his bike was junk. It was a long weekend 😂
Honest question here........why do I see riders standing straight upright on the pegs when there are no bumps, pot holes, or any obstacles that would require getting off the seat?
We are enduro riders so the moment we hit dirt it's instinctive I guess. For us it makes sense though. You can see further ahead. The legs soak up pot holes. If you hit hidden ruts in the dust you can use body positioning to hopefully stay upright. And finally our rides closer to town are a succession of sealed and dirt roads. Standing prevents monkey butt!
I have been riding, and racing, dirt bikes for over 50 years, and standing up dead straight as I see many riders doing, does not soak up bumps. You need to be in more of a crouch, like a horse jockey, with the balls of your feet and toes on the pegs. Your legs become extensions of the suspension in that position. Your shoulders should be square with, and over, the bars. Head up, back straight. I only stand straight up like that to stretch my legs on a long ride.@@crosstrainingadventure
Ah gotcha, you're actually questioning the body positioning when standing. I agree it should be a slight crouch. I've covered body positioning on our enduro channel but not here on the adventure channel yet. In this vid it's pretty easy to see the guys who ride dirt bikes too as they are slightly crouched. I disagree that your shoulders should be over the bars as a default position... I assume you are talking about the 'attack' position for hard acceleration? I also don't think the balls of your feet on the footpegs should be part of the default position for adventure and dual sport riding. Very rough terrain for extra 'suspension' from your legs? Sure. But the rest of the time? I'd suggest this is trumped by faster access to your gear and rear brake levers. We've got a training vid about footpeg positioning on the enduro channel which has a combination of tips from various enduro coaches - Graham Jarvis, Chris Birch, Tim Coleman, Ruben Chadwick etc.
Yes, I was describing "the attack position" for use over rough terrain. I think staying on your toes on the foot pegs is very important for a number of reasons, and I might add, I ride that way 90% of the time, whether I am on dirt or pavement. Having your weight on your toes allows faster response and more free movement of your body position, IMO. It is much easier to load the outside peg when cornering, and makes it easier to move your weight around in general. Plus, with my size 13s, it keeps my toes out of harms way. I don't recall having shifting or braking issues, but I don't think about those things much. Besides, you should use the front brake most of the time.@@crosstrainingadventure
Wouldnt it make sense if the group has a common spare kit and tools and then you just divide them. It+s unlikely everyone will have a puncture and not necessary that each person carries their own spanners.
We might do a video about this soon as there have been a few questions. So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go. He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider. At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again. So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system. Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily. There's a second system too... You simply make sure the rider behind you sees the corner then continue. It's a bit less reliable but works well IF the riders know the system and make 100% sure the guy behind them has seen them!
I’m a new rider, apart from what is mentioned in your video; maintenance, not over taking, use corner marks, have extra parts etc. what else should I be doing?
Yep. Two main methods. First? As above, each rider just waits until the rider behind has seen the corner. Second? The leader gets the second rider to stop on the corner and wait there until everyone has been through and the 'sweep rider' waves him on. This method keeps shuffling the group.
I just made this post for someone else that asked. It's a bit more detailed than Bazza's reply, so thought I might as well copy and paste it for you as well. It's the corner man system. So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go. He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider. At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again. So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system. Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily.
It's the corner man system. So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go. He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider. At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again. So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system. Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily.
Good explanation! Generally two systems. You simply make sure the rider behind you sees the corner then continue. Second system as above... the corner guy stays until the sweep rider says move on.
I still am occasionally lol. Dirt ride last weekend. I forgot to take my backpack so someone had to carry a water bottle for me. 😒 Live and learn, sigh. I now carry a spare in the van... along with spare gloves, jersey and pants for similar moments.
@@crosstrainingadventure Hello dr650 wheelie God. I have got to admit I typically don't ride with other humans. As such, I have vary few ideas of "corner marking". Nevertheless I am intrigued. Is this a system of riders skiding on corners? Perhaps to let other in the group know that you have been to that spot. Maybe even narrow the search if someone is missing? Dose it add 20 seconds a trun? Or lap? What are you actually marking? From Idiot.
Do NOT go to a dual sport ride and pretend you are at a race! Go to a race if you need to prove something. Chances are there are some very fast former racers at dual sport fun rides who will put you in your place if you choose to be a moron.
So true! I've seen guys talking themselves up but not far into the ride they go quiet and a bit depressed when they realise most of the group rides better than them, but just isn't trying to prove a point to bolster their flagging ego lol.
@@crosstrainingadventure yep the ego is a real problem for a lot of guys. Doesn't really matter how fast someone is there is nearly always someone faster. LOL.
I remember years ago being asked to lead a ride in an area I knew. I thought I was a pretty good rider on my tricked out DR650 but through these rough forest tracks I couldn't shake these two guys on KTM 950s lol. And I don't think they were even trying! A lot of humble pie that day...
I went on a trail ride with a club from a neighbouring area and was asked if I wanted the fast, slow or medium group (it was well organised). I said fast please. Got to the meet-up and they said "are you sure. They are real fast and don't want to be held back." The third time of asking I opened my van up a dragged out a full-factory 490 Yamaha, a few pissed guys when they discovered I was holding down fifth place in the European Enduro championship and the weekend before won a UK national. You never know.
Tailgaters and road rage riders immediately get booted. I was leading a group newer riders and one rider was following so close i could smell his girlfriend on his breath. We were all on comms and i repeatedly had to tell him to back off to about a 15 second following distance and explain that he needed to maintain a safe following distance so when i fall i don't get ran over or have two bikes crash. He kept complaining that the pace was too slow yet there were riders that needed a slower pace so he was then told that he could continue on without the group if he was going to continue to ride that way.
Yeah we'd be binning a guy like that fast! Tailgating? Obviously you can see in the vids I'm often just riding off the rear quarter of guys for a good camera angle, but I always check with guys before the ride if they mind me doing this for a few seconds while filming... and I'm ready to hit those brakes.
some people didn't have an elderly, parent teaching them Proper ETIQUETTE and how important it is especially in riding. You borrow a tube and replace it as soon as possible. It's called gratitude. The words Thank YOU and Please go a long way, words often not heard these days. It's uncanny how that can be. I learned those magic words at a very young age. Being late is RUDE! Don't be rude. It shows you don't take the other person's time seriously. Be prompt!
Very true! My Canadian mates usually get a few young interns and they warn them they'll be grilled hard for the summer! They work them hard, come down hard on complaints, and teach them manners if they don't have any. The more dickhead-oriented ones hate it but usually a few years later they say "Thanks so much, you really stopped me from becoming an adult spoiled brat". Must admit I needed something like that as a teen lol.
Maybe add to that list following the rider in front too closely and overlapping wheels. Poor bastard in front never knows if you are too close to change lines.
That's me. 😂 Only when I'm filming though, and in my group they are all okay with it. If there's a visitor in our group I always ask them if they mind me occasionally sitting off their rear wheel to film them - some guys hate it for good reasons.
Reality is every group activity ends up with a DH factor . My experience is they tend to be type A personality and narcissistic . Too many of them end up as lawyers - politicians.😁
@@dropbear9526 Some of our rides off road have over 200 riders of many levels of ability . Theirs always a few clowns who feel that everything is a race and preform moves that can and do result in riders cut off ,knocked down , roosted with mud and rocks. Again noncomp events , why ride like DHs.
@@jamesdenton3692 Too each their own. Doesn't bother me at all. Same as car drivers, I just give them a wide birth. If they hit an animal they'll get my attention, other than that, couldn't care less.
I watched a video of a guy I’ve ridden with before and was cringing with how he was riding on a group ride for beginners with a well known TH-camr and at one point he even tried to tell the organiser what to do 🤦🏼♂️ I won’t ride with him anymore and probably won’t watch he’s videos lol
We would always be on the look out for the kamikaze pilots. Try and suss them out on small rides and not invite them on multi day rides. For many of us multi day rides took lots of planning and we were not about to let some kamikaze pilot write himself off and spoil it for the rest.
The worst is low-self esteem lead guy that overtakes drivers on double yellow (no passing zones)....Leaving the rest of the group behind a now pissed off car or truck... The KTM/Husky owner that doesn't know how to wrench when the unpredictable yet expected breakdown occurs... The ride leader that stops at every stop sign, turns off the bike, removes helmet and gloves and takes out his phone and Garmin and tries desperately to find a route....every stop sign.... The guy that leaves a group ride by dropping off the back without saying anything....The group spends time looking for him over every dangerous corner and cliff. the guy that is critical of everyone's equipment.
Same here. Our guys never roost. Even through a mud hole. They'll rev the engine sometimes and pretend they are about to cover you in mud lol. Occasionally I'll ride with a throttle jockey and get sprayed with gravel regularly until I realise not all riders are aware of those behind them. It's no problem of course if the whole group is into roosting, you just keep your distance.
I've really grown tired of helping That Guy who doesn't maintain his bike. Yeah, everyone stopping to help fix a tire or what have you is good fun and part of the adventure, but it's different when the problems only arise due to someone's total lack of maintenance and preparation. Nobody expects anyone to be a master mechanic, but if you're riding in groups it's on you to learn and perform basic maintenance. To be on time and ready with a full tank of gas. If something breaks, if you get a flat, and you don't know how to fix it, you get in there and ask for advice *while you do the work* if at all possible, because that's an unavoidable part of adventure riding - you don't get to pass it off on others because you're not "mechanically inclined". If people DO end up going out of their way to help you in such cases, if they do fix their bike, share their gas, supply you spare parts... Guess who is buying the beer, and who sure as hell better learn for next time.
Amen to that. Most riders will understand that noobs have stuff to learn. But don't stand there like an idiot and expect everyone to fix things for you... I've noticed these guys often don't even say thanks or offer to replace the new tube given to fix a puncture. Get in there, learn. And just say a quick 'sorry' for disrupting the group and say it won't happen again and you've learned from the experience.
@@crosstrainingadventure Let's be honest aye? Any time I've seen a Noob have bike trouble, there's been so many "experts" around their bike, trying to fix it, they couldn't get near it if they tried. Everyone wants to be the hero. Actually. Same thing's happened to me. I remember getting a flat once, and the other riders I was with, were almost fighting over who was gonna get to fix it. And, show off, their trail side, skills. You've never experienced that?
@@crosstrainingadventure Most of the blokes I ride with love their bum bag tool kits, any chance to actually use them is quickly taken up. Their trail side tools are heaps better than my actual tools. It's always been that way. I was the youngest, then the oldest, now I'm one of the youngest again. I didn't mind being the oldest, I had an excuse. There's no excuses when you're among the youngest in a group of oldies. They all went to E-bikes, but have recently woken up to themselves again. I'm just getting back into it. Just trail rides, gave up on the ADV rides, just couldn't find anyone even slightly Interested in it. They all said they'd go on adventures with me, but wanted to take their 4x4's. So I sold my 701.
I've got a few mates into buying an adv bike but often they just let it sit in the garage and eventually it's sold. I guess you are either bitten by the bug or you aren't.
I work in a prison, have for a long time now. I was amazed at first that manners existed. Being a dickhead has a place, but After I say please, don't expect niceties....
Same here, I worked in maximum and medium security jails as a guard. Most inmates just wanted to do their time quietly and it was always a pleasant surprise to here a please and thanks here and there.... especially in medium security. Much better atmosphere there.
Group rides over 3 people are over rated. You can't ride at ur own pace, more chance of waiting due to someone's mechanical problems, reduced visibility and more chance of an accident thru branches and rocks flicking up and if there is someone going the other way more chance of collision because escape routes are crowded. If there is only 2 people riding it's easier to tactfully say to the other rider 'hey, it scares me if someones' riding too close to me so either hang back or permanently take the lead' without feeling u are in a minority. I think some riders with an undiagnosed bike problem like to go with more experienced riders coz they get a better chance of fixing it on route than they would if they stayed home and had to self-diagnose or ask advice online.
I reckon three is a good number. Handy if there's a serious injury, someone stays with the fallen rider, the other can call emergency services or ride out for help.
For sure, I still cringe about mine decades ago lol. I figure the key is to learn from those moments... or just find like-minded dickheads to ride with who don't care about your own dickheadery. 😗
One moment that keep haunting me was when my smaller cousin hit me on our motorcycles I was 16 and he was 10. I just bought my first bike that was somewhat powerful, so I decided to practice my wheelie while him and his sisters were getting ready. So there I am, making wheelie on the access toward my parents and neighbours home and the kid comes out a corner wide open. I immediately bring the bike down and hold my right as far as I could. I was not moving and a whole semitruck could have gone by The problem was that I scared him, so he fixated on me and went straight where he was looking. The part were I have been a dickhead was my response. I have been soo confused by what just happened that I forgot to ask him if he was fine. I instead yealed "WTF HAVE YOU DONE!" He wasn't injured, but he was in pain. He just walked back to our base crying without saying a word. After that, he never rode a bike again. If I would have remained calm and asked if he needed help first, maybe he would still be enjoying the sport
Target fixation! Yeah I had that happen as a teenager. I'm stopped at a y-fork in the track. This young kid can see me from a mile away but just kind of froze then rammed me. Big cut to the bone in my lower leg, about 15 stitches.
Oh yeah, that guy who roosts everywhere...the showing up late douchery. And the speed demons who go mental on every straight...I rode with one guy that was going nuts and broke his collarbone in the first 10 minutes at Kenilworth...luckily we were close to the cars...I never say a thing just don't ride with them again. One thing I've learned over the last few years is people don't want their minds changed...so I leave them be...
Those injuries in the first 10 minutes. 😒 Not quite the same, but our one week outback tour saw two guys taken to hospital in the first morning... $6000 trip down the drain. Always a good idea to ease into your ride, especially a multiple day ride. One of the guys didn't have knee guards and fractured the top of his tibia.
Individualists don't belong in a group ride. I don't like when the rigid rules of the group doesn't make sense, but everybody else seem fine with being suffocated, just like the recent three years of politically induced mass psychosis of world wide oppression. So I simply don't submit to "group rides". Had enough of conformity for conformity's sake in the military. I do ride with very close and very old friends, a few times a year. I ride 99.95% alone. A bit slower and careful and less chance of developing myself as a rider, but the piece of mind is why I ride. It's not a school chore. The clueless types - the "Gomer Pyles" that never seem to be able to keep their sh!t together, sinking the team, are just dead weight that needs to be cut, once established. Being "Gomer Pyle" is something I know first hand, so I'm not an elitist. Most of us have to go through it first hand - particularly in youth and inexperience. It has to feel really, really bad -in order to take good note and underline three times "Don't ever want to feel that again!".
Yep, I think most of us have had those Gomer Pyle moments ourselves but it's whether we learn from them and take responsibility for ourselves... or just blame everyone else.
When we were kids on our 80's, in the late 70's and 80's, the Mr Motocross days, we'd ride as far as our fuel would permit, bikes were held together with duck tape, fencing wire, and hay ban. Spare parts? Yeah. Nah. We were lucky to have money for fuel. Tools? Yeah. Nah. We were kids. We lost them on the last ride. Riding gear? At best, gum boots and a 2nd hand helmet. Padding inside the helmet was a bonus. Someone's bike breaking down, just added to the days adventure. Wouldn't have been as good if that didn't happen. Remember, no mobile phones etc back then, didn't even have zip ties, just good 'ol bush mechanics, perseverance and a good sense of direction. "Where there is will. There is always a way". As Brian Adam's would say "Those were the best days of our lives". Ahhh, the memories. Modern day dirt bike riders are as soft AF.
The days of Gally and Gunter! Yeah we had gum boots, gardening gloves, old open face helmets seemed to be optional. Funny thing is we never seemed to break down. The old Yamaha GT80 and all our Honda XL models seemed to be indestructible.
@@crosstrainingadventure We were on XR's, then 2T 80's. One kid had a GT 80. Another kid had a YZ60 H (81 model). That thing was awesome, that's what made us all get 2T's. 1983, for some reason, we all ended up on new bikes. I had the CR80 RD. By 1984, most of them were rooted lol Wrecking my first bike, the XR75, is how I learnt to take care of the rest of them.
I just had the soft Hondas mostly, but talked the old man into a YZ125E as my final bike in my teens. Damn, just about crapped my pants every time I hit the powerband lol!
FURTHER NOTES: WHAT IS CORNER MARKING? We might do a video about this soon as there have been a few questions. So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go. He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider. At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again. So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system. Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily.
There's a second system too... You simply make sure the rider behind you sees the corner then continue. It's a bit less reliable but works well IF the riders know the system and make 100% sure the guy behind them has seen them!
BOOMERS V Z-GENNERS? One guy has commented 'What a typical boomer vid'. 😂 Personally I don't like over-generalising with stereotypes too much. But there can be a stronger tendency toward the 'me me me' philosophy for younger riders. You can be anything you want to be. You deserve the best. Name it and claim it. Nothing wrong with that unless it leads to narcissism because it needs to be balanced with still respecting others. This viewer obviously has a fair bit to learn. But I've come across plenty of 'boomers' with the same self centred approach to life. And in Canada I spent a lot of time with rural guys in their 20s who gave me hope for the future. Tough as nails. Humble. Keen to help all the other riders. The world is in good hands with people like this around.
THE NICE DICKHEAD? Once or twice I've had a word with someone mid-ride because I thought he was a serious risk. E.g. Overtaking everyone, nearly clipping their bars, spooking the noobs especially. I had to speak with this guy three times before he finally stopped doing it lol. Actually a nice guy, just a bit ADHD I think. Once he was on the bike the red mist took over and the brain switched off. 😗
Where is this ?
Only works for small groups and on certain surfaces but I sometimes make a turn at an intersection with a big obvious burn out in the dirt
one time i was on a bmw adventure bike ride and forgot to bring a coffee holder. thankfully most of the other riders had two or more and i was able to borrow one for the duration
Did they all laugh at you while wearing foamy latte mustaches?
That's a cardinal sin in BMW groups, I'm surprised you weren't tied to a tree and whipped. Mind you, most BMW riders do that in any case. 🤔
I was also riding with some GS-people and forgot to bring food but lyckily there was a guy that opened his panniers where he had a grill for french fries and kebab on a roll in the other 😂😂😂
Top comment!
On the flip side... last big ride/camp I did, one of the guys was bikeless and asked to borrow my wife's little CRF230. After we got back he spit-shined that thing so it looked like it was brand new before he returned it. With a full tank of course, and some flowers IIRC. Good guy Sean.
That's how it should be! If ever I borrow a bike I try to return it better than I got it with at least a full tank.
Recently a friend of my brother borrowed the second DR650. Rode it hard the whole day, sitting right behind the leader rider in thick dust. Eventually I yelled at him, 'Stop riding my bike in the worst dust, you are just getting the bike filthy and clogging the air filter. The moron just looked at me blankly and went "Oh I didn't realise". End of the day? No "Thanks for the loan bike". Didn't even say goodbye. No offer to clean the bike, air filter or top up the fuel he used. 100% moron.
@@crosstrainingadventure he was probably "offended' you told him off!
@@crosstrainingadventure Yup. Just clueless. And they wonder why they aren't considered for the the next ride lol.
I guess there's always the flip side. I asked my brother why he's still friends with this guy because it's pretty typical of his behaviour on and off the bike... completely oblivious to others. His response? Apparently the guy can be very generous at times which seems to balance things out. But me? Way less tolerant. I refuse to ride with him again.
What people don't realize is that the same thing applies to tools borrowed - clean them off and put them away properly, even if you did not find them in that state.
Always budget at least a half hour for cleanup if you borrow someone's tools or workspace. At one point I accused (in jest) a friend of sabotaging my car at regular intervals because he didn't like cleaning his garage. I am the only one he lets use his garage, even his adult son is banned.
I've been that guy plenty of times...not "that guy" but the guy that has the pump, that guy that has the jump starter, that guy that has all the tools, the spare bolts, the cable ties, the spare tubes and the know how to use them all...That guy who steps in to change your tube because you have NFI. That guy who administers first aid and calls the ambulance. That guy who happily leaves the group to escort a fellow rider in trouble. Sometimes "that guy" is the one you need.
I have my share of experiences with that other guy... He doesn't get invited back.
We salute you. 😊 I used to help out with public rides and was always thanking the sweep rider. He carried all that gear, stepped in to fix stuff, ate dust all day. The quiet achiever type.
That’s why I love riding with my son who carry’s all the tubes, gas, sam splints, tools etc. for his old man. He inspires confidence helping me and others to ride better. He’s an ex Army Scout and tough as nails but not overbearing. Thanks Son!
I ride alone so I have to be(the guy) and not(that guy). I think Good maintenance, planning and preparedness are crucial to what we do
You hit the nail on the head with this vid. How you act on a ride even with mates can make or ruin someones rare day off to go riding.
Cheers. I think it's fine if a rider is slack on preparation and maintenance, but only if they ride in a group where that's the norm. Don't bugger things up for riders who are good with preparation and maintenance!
For 20 years plus i have chosen to ride alone. Maybe twice a year i will ride with others but i am very selective. I really like it this way, my freetime is limited and chose of where i ride differs greatly, also i camp out or pub it. In saying that well i enjoy nothing more than meeting fellow adventure riders out on the trail,swapping riding destinations, routes, bike mods and funny stories
I think many of us become more selective as we get older. Thankfully the vast majority of guys I ride with are a pleasure to hang out with. But I definitely don't waste time anymore on riders who aren't team players. Or talk non-stop about themselves and you can't get a word in lol.
Great point about riding sweep. Growing up my dad always road sweep. I should have thanked him more.
I dont ride in groups because i dont like adjusting pace constantly and arguing over lunch/breaks. This reminded me of all the other BS i do t have to pit up with riding alone. And riding alone om better prepared since I've only got myself to rely on
Yes, that's quite the combination of experiences we get to experience over the years!
It's also why we (me and the wife) don't do group rides - don't need extra baggage, or drama!
Sometimes it's just easier that way!
Another great vid. I think we all suffer the D.H. award from time to time.
For sure, especially in the early days when we are learning the ropes lol. I cringe remembering my mistakes.
It's fun to adjust someone's carburetor float level in the middle of the forest, it's all fun to see how the guy notices that his shocks are leaking and then he fills them up to the top, then crashes because of obvious reasons. It's all fun for the first time. I don't ride with such people anymore. And they don't ride with me, because they still think it's fun.
Our group has had issues with corner marking in the past. 2 years ago we made a rule that: no rides without a GPX, and no one can go without the GPX loaded into 2 separate devices. Without waiting all the time the rides are a lot more fun and we can cover more ground per day. Way cleaner air filters are a bonus.
It's a good idea. On our next multi day ride I'm going to get everyone to upload the free Gaia app and have the gpx file showing in case they get lost.
Welp...I was just about to sit down and write a script on this exact topic and this vid pops up. Guess I'll just share it instead, lol. Thanks for saving me the trouble? ;)
I did a similar vid on the enduro channel a while back, it had way more comments than usual so it does seem to be something almost every rider experiences... too often!
This has always been one of my favorite channels. Thanks guys. But now I'm searching my riding memory banks for dickhead moments. I'm sure I've got them!
On my first group ride, We agreed that if anyone gets to a 2nd intersection and no ones waiting for you, stop and wait, and if you have over shot a turn somewhere along the line, the group will loop back and find you.
I decided that I was going to keep following the 3 sets of moto tyre tracks to the middle of nowhere and ended up dropping my the bike 2 times in a clay pan.
After I got to the other side, the track got really hilly. I ended up getting my africa twin stuck on the side of a mountain, 1000m above sea level, in a steep rocky saddle covered in tennis ball sized marbles.
After spending 45 minutes wrestling the bike on an off camber left hander on a long steep hill climb covered in marbles, with a 5m drop off to the outside (I forgot to turn off traction control) dropping it another 2 times in the hottest part of a 32 degree day in Late February with no shade or breeze, I gassed out and couldn't get the bike off the side of the hill.
By this time It had been over 1.5 hours since I had seen the group, and they were looking for me on another fork of the track.
I hike up the big hill, and somehow got phone service and text the group my GPS location. i could see a 270 degree vista of mountains that looked like the swiss alps. Panick started to set in.
While I was waiting, I skull dragged the bike 180 degrees pointing downhill, got the bike back on its wheels, rolled to the bottom, then walked back up the hill to the shade and took a break.
I was absolutely rooted and couldn't get the bike up the steep hill climb that I 2 wheel slid down in the way in.
One of the riders came and helped me get the bike out.
Then on the decent of a big hill climb I took on the way in, I tucked the front on the marbles and dropped the bike for a 5th time.
It took 3 of us to get it back on its wheels. By this time I was absolutely fucked and had to sit down for 30 minutes.
So by the time we got going again, I had caused a 3 hour deviation to the plan.
I felt shithouse about it and shouted everyone a drink at the servo on the way home and apologised profusely.
I got invited back, but it was still a massive dickhead moment, and Its very unlike me to be a dickhead!
I just got too excited with the prospect of pushing my riding in the safety of a group in places, where if I was solo I would turn around.
Then after the 1st drop, all I was worried about was holding up the group, so I pushed further and further trying to catch up.
Lesson learned. Now I'm the sweep in our group and we use the corner man system. I carry all the gear and have helped riders get out of trouble in the middle of nowhere.
Video of one of the drops,
th-cam.com/users/shortsqY17kx5UUSY?feature=share
Glad it wasn't worse with an injury out there! Really good point about waiting if you think someone forgot to mark a corner. It can get really hard finding someone whose determined to try and chase down the group!
I watched a review by Siskel & Ebert on "The Deer Hunter" that explained Robert Deniro's character when his friend forgot his hunting boots. The professional soldier versus the tag-along.
Great presentation Barry. Gee. I could add lots to that....
I love my remote solo riding and the characters I've met along the way.
From the drunk and obnoxious, running everything and everyone down to the all the gear and not a clue.
MOST riders are ok but.
Yeah there's one in every crowd! But I reckon 98% of guys I ride with have been brilliant. I find the social angle is at least half the fun. 😊
please please Dean dont forget the old"and you,ve bought the wrong bike" criticism😀
Had chain snap once due to it being a crap replacement one. Lesson learnt, buy the best you can afford. Lucky we were close to a motorbike shop near town.
my regina snapped the other day despite the sprockets being in line and the chain neither very slack or very tight 🤐
A Regina? I wonder if the quality has dropped... or was it just a rare dud from the factory? Be interesting to see if they've moved to cheap Chinese manufacturing recently. The website says in 2004 a productive subsidiary for the manufacturing and commercialization of conveyor chains and belts was established in China, but no idea if this included the motorbike chains. 🤔
@@crosstrainingadventure it was very strange ,came off the sprocket on straight ASPHALT at steady pace and broke. Luckily 1 side bent but intact which got me home.
If you don't mind - quick story.
bad mood as hadnt been on it for 3 months due to hot weather
Went home grabbed CRF 300 with fancy suspension without giving up,,stopped at friends who invited me out for an enduro ride next week, did my fastest lap of single track that I ever did. Had a good chat, went home happy. Stoic philosophy-if something throws you off balance try to regain balance as quickly as possible, then good things often happen😀
Thx! I had a Baja California trip ruined by a prime example. He needed his new tent assembled for him, or he would have been sleeping on top of it. He started a 2000 mile trip through sparsely-populated desert with 500 miles of rubber left on rear tire. KTM -some odd size. We drove hundreds of miles through small towns chasing rumors. He spoke no Spanish. We finally found him one, but trip already ruined. Apologies? Of course not!
😒 Yep, sounds like a classic case. If he rides with a bunch of similar guys then it's probably okay... as each bike breaks down it's seen as part of the adventure. But of course most of us are way better prepared and simply want to ride, not spend half the ride fixing badly maintained bikes.
Brand new to DS! Been On 2 rides. First ride was with another. Other rider had more off road experience - but was giving bad advise, based on my years of obsessing/ watching videos like yours. I'd have taken the advise, except I was fully prepared with parts, gear, food, 1st aid- other rider was not. Their approach to my being timid, was pushy. IMO: they were being a D!ckhead.
Avoiding confrontation, i suggested we part ways & find terrain that was suitable for our skill levels.
I felt like a P*ssy- But knew it was the safe thing to do.
.......Thanks for your YEARS of DS content - which helped this NEWB to avoid ego-driven-injury.
I don't have anyone to ride with yet- so it's solo, close to home, with everyone knowing exactly where I am.
Joining up some forums in the meantime!
I'll probably always be more prepared than skilled
I remember a rider who loved taking less experienced riders into difficult terrain to see them struggle and crash. I kept saying 'This will go badly if he gets hurt' but this guy would just laugh. I stopped riding with him as a result. If this sort of rider hangs out with similar egos then it's probably okay. But I don't want to ride with dickheads who make themselves feel better by watching noobs crash. Love your approach, Bob!
I think there’s a happy medium at some point. You can go extreme in either direction. That is, overly careful versus not careful enough. Truth is, the overly careful, and overly programed ones bother me more than the lackadaisical ones. Takes all the fun out of it if everything has to be just so.
So true. It really comes down to just fitting in the with the group I reckon. If everyone is super cautious and you are too? All good. Bit of a loose cannon but the rest of the group is too? Again, all good. As long as you don't hit a rider outside of your group.
The biggest dick move I've seen is leaving the group (of three) when a rider went missing. Waited quite a while for him to show up and nothing. Turns out the he had crashed a ways back, broke a finger, and was waiting for someone to come to help. I eventually found him and got him and bike out of the woods. The other guy wasn't seen until dinner. You have to have each other's back out in the boonies, even if it means your ride is ruined.
And this is why dickhead behavior is such a problem. We all need to support and rely on each other, so it's on every rider to reduce the need for that support as much as possible so the ride can happen and have the best chance of being successful.
That sucks! Sounds like the guy I mentioned in the vid who hated corner marking because he didn't want to stop for 20 seconds waiting for the next rider. Over the years I've occasionally seen a rider who just decided to go home but not tell anyone so we are trying to find him, assuming he took a wrong turn or ran off the track and was injured.
The other group I find annoying. The ride for 15 minutes talk about the 15 minutes ride for 15 minutes. I'm here to ride!!!
That's us, Keith. 😂 But mainly coz we are in our 50s and 60s and the hard enduro terrain knocks the stuffing out of us. Probably every 10 minutes we stop to catch our breath and talk crap for a while. 😗
@@crosstrainingadventurefair enough. I'm 35 I would put my self Into the solo track builder/finder. Then the sweep rider. So sweep eating dust all day I know to well.
Side note If you're still reading comments. I would find a video explaining the corner man system super handy. Alot don't understand it or are to embarrassed to say they don't know it. A clip where I can link in it in our group chats and Facebook pages would be amazing thanks.
It's definitely been on the list. Only problem I could see is I've seen a few variants so not sure how to present it all. But maybe I should just cover the two main types and say a new rider to a group just needs to ask about any specifics...
@@crosstrainingadventure thanks it would he greatly appreciated 🙏 😊
This is an interesting topic. Nobody likes riding with "that guy" but I think an indicator of being "that guy" is not caring if you're "that guy". I have seen a few group members, quick to label inexperienced people as "that guy". Some call them gatekeepers, I call them elitist douchebags. They don't get invited back. All I ask in my groups is you listen to the rules of the lead, try your best, and do not endanger the lives of other riders. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I'm good an organizing, but shit with some mechanical fixes obstacles. After so many tries, I will probably need help. But you help me, I help you. I unfortunately don't have a lot of time to practice with work and other hobbies.
Videos are always on point
We all mess up at some point of course, especially in the early tdays. But like you say, it depends if you don't care about being 'that guy' and continue with stuff that annoys the group!
I always ride alone so....
I'm an idiot, but a polite, thankful, and generous Idiot. I'm pretty lucky and I ride with me mate most of the times and we have learned to complement each other's load out's, and be forgiving.
I reckon that sums up my riding group well, Wyatt. 😂
The maintenance thing hits close to home. A few years ago I kept having electrical issues with a recently-bought sports tourer, but didn't think to check or replace the rectifier. Eventually, the bike died towards the end of a 12 hour stint on the way home; after having it towed I had to ask one of the other riders to let me ride 2up on his already heavily loaded bike.
This year's tour nearly ended early due to a similar reason. I did have the charging system checked before setting off, but the damn R/R failed again and I didn't have a spare AGAIN. This time I was lucky that some friends were heading to the same destination by car, and were kind enough to bring me along. I thanked them profusely.
Lesson learned. Always carry a spare R/R (they're not that heavy or cheap, and easy to replace). Replace them regularly; they're fine right up until they're not.
It's expensive but I usually just get a new bike after two or three years because I'm not very good at long term maintenance and try to minimise the chances of breakdowns. Very lazy! I know mechanically minded riders just carry the right spares and can fix most issues on the roadside which is great... you can ride older bikes with peace of mind then.
One time when I was quite young I got invited on a ride with two older and very experienced riders. We rode quite fast and I was only just managing to keep up with them when the guy I was chasing had a bit of a crash. He seemed fine and was already getting up so in the moment with all the adrenaline going on I just flew past him, feeling a bit proud that I "overtook" him, likely even (unintentionally) roosting his face as this was on an uphill section... When I met up with the lead rider he asked with a slightly concerned voice where's the other guy. It's when I started telling how I rode past him after he fell that it dawned on me how much of a dick move that was. A few moments later the crashing guy arrived and was perfectly fine, nothing was made of it, but I sure as hell never ever rode past a fallen rider, no matter how "okay" they looked to me, without at least asking or somehow signaling a question if they are okay and they need help.
Often changes with age, I'm sure I did stuff like that years ago... probably laughed as I rode past. Now I always stop because it just might be a fracture, or they might go to get up and pass out.
8 bikes and a spark plug spanner. The cigarettes, the kicking, laughed we did 🫡
I think most of us were idiots at some point, the difference is in those who stopped being idiots. Nice video!
Completely agree. To be old and wise to first need to be young and stupid lol. The secret is to learn and improve as an adult...
I'm gearing up to ride the northeast bdr in September. I'm going overboard and bringing extra cables and tubes for myself and the guy I'm going with. I'm getting wicked redundant with several other items as well ! I'd rather carry an extra 20lbs than get stranded in the woods like a dickhead. Thanks for another entertaining and educational video!!
Really interesting idea I read a month ago... on long trips some guys actually route their spare throttle or clutch cable in place (but I assume a bit of tape at each end to stop dust getting in) so if the stock one breaks it's only a few minutes to connect the new one.
@@crosstrainingadventure DR650 'Ol School lol.
Most newer bikes have an electric throttle, and hydro clutch lol.
Husky 701 is one popular example.
Braking down is an adventure in itself. No point riding if the bike is so overloaded It's not enjoyable to ride.
@@crosstrainingadventure I've just done this on my DRZ which I'm prepping for a 2 week off-road trip in Portugal. Run the spare along side the original, heat-shrink both ends to minimise crap getting in the exposed ends and cable tie them.
This is exactly how mine is set up. Cables in place. A piece of tape covering the ends. I swapped out a clutch cable on a klr like this in about 4 minutes one time. @@crosstrainingadventure
@crosstrainingadventure that's a great idea. Thanks for the heads up!
Had a guy with a puncture in our vintage club(very nice guy totally honest great club member) I willingly loaned him my puncture repair spray as it was a rally with a caveat that I wanted it replaced with the same brand (ipone),same size and if he tried to fix the puncture with it that was it no refunds if it didnt work out. No problems whatsoever. I have seen other instances where the reverse happens. It's best to be clear right from the start or take the money on the day. Some people will just use you.
100%! Especially with bike loans. I remember a best mate asking to borrow my bike. I said 'Sure, as long as you fix any crash damage and/or pay the insurance excess'. The response? 'Really? Okay I won't borrow it'. Glad I said something as obviously fixing a crashed bike wasn't going to happen!
@@crosstrainingadventure Its always good to hear from you Barry (or skipper as i like to say!) once bitten.....
On a super dusty Oregon ride, one rider kept asking to pass until he was in the lead. Naturally people defer to requests and let him pass. His rationale when confronted on his repeated behavior: “I hate dust”. Uhh, duh yeah, the rest of us love it. Never invited him to ride again, (friendship also terminated later due to similar behavior)
FFS 😂 Yeah that's dickhear material in my book. I hate dust too but I just hang at the back about 20 seconds behind... or actually volunteer to be the sweep rider.
Lol that’s hilarious. I’m a new rider with no one to ride with 😂 I promise I’m not a dickhead
I just ride alone and keep my (crossed) fingers on the Zoleo panic button.
I have done a few group rides, but generally everyone goes too fast for my liking.
Although, as a professional driver (tour buses), the dickheads I encounter are riders coming around blind corners on narrow country roads on the centre line!
And, of course, large vehicles try to keep away from the soft edges.
That's not a good mix.
I need one of those t shirts for one of our occasional riders who wants to join us.
Hey, now I finally got it why no one never invites me to no rides 😂😂🤣🤣
And you're a cat person.
Calling them out is way men handle things. It's also investing in them so they can better themselves.
I've tried that a few times years ago but gave up. They refused to take responsibility for their actions and just had excuses. My mates have had similar experiences so nowadays we just don't invite them back.
Another excellent video... keep them coming!!!
We've got a large group here in Central Florida USA and there's always one or two of those folks who are dickheads that are oblivious to social ques. That's okay, we don't invite them back.
Usually we just don't invite them back. Once or twice I've had a word with someone mid-ride because I thought he was a serious risk. E.g. Overtaking everyone, nearly clipping their bars, spooking the noobs especially. I had to speak with him three times before he finally stopped doing it lol. Actually a nice guy, just a bit ADHD I think. Once he was on the bike the red mist took over and the brain switched off. 😂
I love these moan videos that you do. They're so enjoyable! BTW where are you based? Would love to do a ride with you and your crew!
So far, in 2024 I have "lost" 3 tubes... 2 21" and 1 18"... So, how do you 'loose' a tube you may ask? EXACTLY as summed up in the video... You help a person out, and never ever see them - or your replacement tube - again! :) I never want to leave people stranded, but I am starting to get quite protective over my backpack of tools and parts...
A real shame this happens. Maybe some riders just forget? But I suspect others are just 'takers' and happy to sponge off others. I've only had to take someone's tube once and I insisted on replacing it. The next day I bought a new one and contacted the guy again to say I'd give it to him the next ride.
This is so true lol...i thought you only get them here in south africa...
Plenty of chops here, bru 😁
@@crosstrainingadventure 😆😉
Basically, anyone who is irresponsible, and inconsiderate, I'd like to add the person who needs to make an unscheduled gas stop, because they couldn't be bothered to fill up at the gas station we met at.
That last. It's maybe not a big thing, but it's utterly infuriating. Had a guy in a street riding group do that regularly, then have to make random extra gas stops all the time. Ended up just leaving him when he did.
We always launch rides from gas stations for a reason. We plan based on the lowest bike's fuel range, usually with good margins just in case. Don't be the guy that messes that up.
It's so much worse when the ride isn't going to be near fuel stops due to that planning - if others need to share gas with you, they may not have enough, and even if they have spare fuel it's your damn job to be ready.
Thankfully never come across that. But it must be annoying, it's not that easy getting fuel from one bike to another in most cases. Riders who consistently mess up rides through lack of preparation just need to find similar guys to ride with, I reckon.
I have only ever ridden on my own because I don't feel safe riding at other people's pace off-road or on-road which is usually a lot faster than my own. I don't want to be the guy everyone hates for being too slow.
I know the feeling! There are a few guys I won't ride with because they are simply way faster than me. Even if they say "Don't worry, we'll wait for you at the next corner" I just don't want to feel that pressure to try and keep up. A couple of multiple fractures have a way of making you minimise risks. 😗
And on-road too when you have a DS and your friends have ADV...it's so frustrating because as soon as they hit the road they will never ride moderate and it just wears me out trying to keep up with my DS on road...off-road I can keep up but sometimes it is also a risk. But I also like to push myself a little bit, I only learn that way. Well and the social part is the best 😁 Otherwise I would ride always solo😅
I’ve only gone on rides with one other person a few times. Being I’m still very new, I’m very sensitive to becoming a nuisance for the other rider, I carry all the things including a medical kit, a folding saw, metal and plastic zip ties, duct tape... it almost sounds like some sort of abduction kit, the more I write this out... 😂
Metal zip ties ? I need some of those for sure. Don't forget the jb weld.
@@MaxwellBenson80 I did forget that. Thanks for the reminder. 🤙
Blindfold and a set of handcuffs and it will be complete. 😗👍
If you're prepped, and trying to do things right, people will only help you. Don't not go on rides because you don't think your riding is good enough. Most people don't care. And riding with people that are better than you is the best way to Improve.
You'll get nothing but encouragement and help. "Just do it".
From my experience, I've only ever seen Noobs get the red carpet treatment. It's in everyone's best Interest, for you to do well, and stick with it.
@@crosstrainingadventure as long as the blindfold can double as a gag too yea?
Nobody invites me back. So now I ride alone.
My bike being what it is. I do find myself riding sweep often. And everyone has to start somewhere. I have had a dick head moment. Full day ride, flowing trails, fresh tires, stuck riding sweep. Last section of dirt I did overtake some riders. 😢
I have ruined several rides by going too fast for the conditions or my own abilities - or both, and crashing badly. Several ambulance rides, and even a couple of helicopter rescues later, I still lust for pushing the boundaries, but a battered body have given me the willpower to ride more sensibly. Surprisingly, nobody have turned the back on me for being such an idiot.
Maybe you give them good video materials
Thankfully most riders are pretty good like that. Years ago I stuffed up a ride after only about 10 minutes into the dirt, trying to show off and shattered my lower leg... ambulance ride out. Live and learn!
I’m in my 60s, and I still have idiot moments, just hopefully less often. I came across the DSMRA years ago and when I did a work project interstate I contacted the local DSMRA to join them for a ride. I completely misjudged the workload and had four invitations to join rides all of which I bailed on at the last minute. Felt like such a dick. If invited on a ride nowadays, I always answer yes or no ASAP, keep to my word and arrive early.
Many years ago one of the the guys on our ride invited his cousin last minute. We stopped at the gas station before we left and the guy went in and bought sun glasses and we took off. When got to camp and set up we discovered that he didn’t bring any food. The next day we learned that he couldn’t ride and his bike was junk. It was a long weekend 😂
Yeah they don't get invited back lol!
Honest question here........why do I see riders standing straight upright on the pegs when there are no bumps, pot holes, or any obstacles that would require getting off the seat?
We are enduro riders so the moment we hit dirt it's instinctive I guess. For us it makes sense though. You can see further ahead. The legs soak up pot holes. If you hit hidden ruts in the dust you can use body positioning to hopefully stay upright. And finally our rides closer to town are a succession of sealed and dirt roads. Standing prevents monkey butt!
I have been riding, and racing, dirt bikes for over 50 years, and standing up dead straight as I see many riders doing, does not soak up bumps. You need to be in more of a crouch, like a horse jockey, with the balls of your feet and toes on the pegs. Your legs become extensions of the suspension in that position. Your shoulders should be square with, and over, the bars. Head up, back straight. I only stand straight up like that to stretch my legs on a long ride.@@crosstrainingadventure
Ah gotcha, you're actually questioning the body positioning when standing. I agree it should be a slight crouch. I've covered body positioning on our enduro channel but not here on the adventure channel yet. In this vid it's pretty easy to see the guys who ride dirt bikes too as they are slightly crouched.
I disagree that your shoulders should be over the bars as a default position... I assume you are talking about the 'attack' position for hard acceleration?
I also don't think the balls of your feet on the footpegs should be part of the default position for adventure and dual sport riding. Very rough terrain for extra 'suspension' from your legs? Sure. But the rest of the time? I'd suggest this is trumped by faster access to your gear and rear brake levers.
We've got a training vid about footpeg positioning on the enduro channel which has a combination of tips from various enduro coaches - Graham Jarvis, Chris Birch, Tim Coleman, Ruben Chadwick etc.
Yes, I was describing "the attack position" for use over rough terrain. I think staying on your toes on the foot pegs is very important for a number of reasons, and I might add, I ride that way 90% of the time, whether I am on dirt or pavement. Having your weight on your toes allows faster response and more free movement of your body position, IMO. It is much easier to load the outside peg when cornering, and makes it easier to move your weight around in general. Plus, with my size 13s, it keeps my toes out of harms way. I don't recall having shifting or braking issues, but I don't think about those things much. Besides, you should use the front brake most of the time.@@crosstrainingadventure
Wouldnt it make sense if the group has a common spare kit and tools and then you just divide them. It+s unlikely everyone will have a puncture and not necessary that each person carries their own spanners.
100%, we've discussed that in a few vids.
I own a DR650.What sort of tools / parts should I bring? I mostly have the standard toolkit, a leatherman and an Allen key set.
We've got a whole video about that.
@@crosstrainingadventure oh dam. you‘re right. and i even watched i……
😁👍
I'm a new old rider and haven't done any group rides yet. What is corner marking?
We might do a video about this soon as there have been a few questions. So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go. He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider. At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again. So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system. Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily.
There's a second system too... You simply make sure the rider behind you sees the corner then continue. It's a bit less reliable but works well IF the riders know the system and make 100% sure the guy behind them has seen them!
I’m a new rider, apart from what is mentioned in your video; maintenance, not over taking, use corner marks, have extra parts etc. what else should I be doing?
We've got a massive playlist of 'before you ride' videos on our enduro channel.
Riding
Haha thanks ;) I’m actually doing a little trip today.
Sorry, but what is Corner Marking?
if there is a split in the trail, each rider waits to ensure the rider behind them makes the correct turn.
Yep. Two main methods. First? As above, each rider just waits until the rider behind has seen the corner. Second? The leader gets the second rider to stop on the corner and wait there until everyone has been through and the 'sweep rider' waves him on. This method keeps shuffling the group.
I just made this post for someone else that asked. It's a bit more detailed than Bazza's reply, so thought I might as well copy and paste it for you as well.
It's the corner man system.
So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go.
He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider.
At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again.
So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system.
Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily.
Cheers mate, I was about to cut and paste yours here!
I could tell you a few horse stories
I have a husaberg fe570 that keeps killing fuel pressure regulators 😢😢. Did you have any similar problems with yours? Thanks in advance from the USA…
Haven't heard of that before, it didn't seem to come up as a known issue for owners...
@@crosstrainingadventure thanks, I had to check 👊👊
What is corner marking?
Stopping at the next trail-head, etc, and waiting for the group (& taking a pee, "marking").. my definition anyway 🤙🏼
It's the corner man system.
So, say you have 10 riders. The lead rider stays in the lead all day. When he gets to a corner, where the track could go more than one way, the person behind the lead rider, stops on the corner to let others know which way to go.
He stays there until the sweep rider comes along, then joins back into the group, in front of the sweep rider.
At the next corner, the person who took your spot behind the lead rider, does the same thing. Eventually, you'll get back behind the lead rider, and repeat the process again.
So, lead rider stays lead rider all day. Same for the sweep rider. Everyone else rotates in the corner man system.
Sweep riders normally wear a fluro work vest so people can Identify them easily.
Good explanation! Generally two systems. You simply make sure the rider behind you sees the corner then continue. Second system as above... the corner guy stays until the sweep rider says move on.
Wooow... I can tell I've always been lucky on French trails! Never met anybody acting badly...
Corner marking?
I've been thinking of doing a vid about that since there are a couple of different systems...
I haven't ridden with idiots yet, but hopefully soon! So, up for a ride?
just kidding haha
We are pro level idiots in our group... at times lol
100% the same as mountain bike group rides.
Yep, not surprised...
A wise man once said to me...Piss Off!
😂
I had to quit enduro riding because apparently the dickhead number count around my area is too high
Ppl don’t think far past themselves sadly it’s all bout them
I stopped riding with a group because of a consistent DH. Lost a so called friend over it. Oh well.
Bummer when it happens.
I am usually the idiot.
I still am occasionally lol. Dirt ride last weekend. I forgot to take my backpack so someone had to carry a water bottle for me. 😒 Live and learn, sigh. I now carry a spare in the van... along with spare gloves, jersey and pants for similar moments.
@@crosstrainingadventure Hello dr650 wheelie God. I have got to admit I typically don't ride with other humans. As such, I have vary few ideas of "corner marking". Nevertheless I am intrigued. Is this a system of riders skiding on corners? Perhaps to let other in the group know that you have been to that spot. Maybe even narrow the search if someone is missing? Dose it add 20 seconds a trun? Or lap? What are you actually marking?
From Idiot.
I've had a few viewers ask so I put a note in the pinned first comment. 👍
Do NOT go to a dual sport ride and pretend you are at a race! Go to a race if you need to prove something. Chances are there are some very fast former racers at dual sport fun rides who will put you in your place if you choose to be a moron.
So true! I've seen guys talking themselves up but not far into the ride they go quiet and a bit depressed when they realise most of the group rides better than them, but just isn't trying to prove a point to bolster their flagging ego lol.
@@crosstrainingadventure yep the ego is a real problem for a lot of guys. Doesn't really matter how fast someone is there is nearly always someone faster. LOL.
I remember years ago being asked to lead a ride in an area I knew. I thought I was a pretty good rider on my tricked out DR650 but through these rough forest tracks I couldn't shake these two guys on KTM 950s lol. And I don't think they were even trying! A lot of humble pie that day...
I went on a trail ride with a club from a neighbouring area and was asked if I wanted the fast, slow or medium group (it was well organised). I said fast please. Got to the meet-up and they said "are you sure. They are real fast and don't want to be held back." The third time of asking I opened my van up a dragged out a full-factory 490 Yamaha, a few pissed guys when they discovered I was holding down fifth place in the European Enduro championship and the weekend before won a UK national. You never know.
Tailgaters and road rage riders immediately get booted. I was leading a group newer riders and one rider was following so close i could smell his girlfriend on his breath. We were all on comms and i repeatedly had to tell him to back off to about a 15 second following distance and explain that he needed to maintain a safe following distance so when i fall i don't get ran over or have two bikes crash. He kept complaining that the pace was too slow yet there were riders that needed a slower pace so he was then told that he could continue on without the group if he was going to continue to ride that way.
Yeah we'd be binning a guy like that fast! Tailgating? Obviously you can see in the vids I'm often just riding off the rear quarter of guys for a good camera angle, but I always check with guys before the ride if they mind me doing this for a few seconds while filming... and I'm ready to hit those brakes.
Great topic to discuss among ADV / DS riders. ADV / DS community is like: Big egos and fat wallets. Perfect combination IMO 😂
some people didn't have an elderly, parent teaching them Proper ETIQUETTE and how important it is especially in riding. You borrow a tube and replace it as soon as possible. It's called gratitude. The words Thank YOU and Please go a long way, words often not heard these days. It's uncanny how that can be. I learned those magic words at a very young age. Being late is RUDE! Don't be rude. It shows you don't take the other person's time seriously. Be prompt!
Very true! My Canadian mates usually get a few young interns and they warn them they'll be grilled hard for the summer! They work them hard, come down hard on complaints, and teach them manners if they don't have any. The more dickhead-oriented ones hate it but usually a few years later they say "Thanks so much, you really stopped me from becoming an adult spoiled brat". Must admit I needed something like that as a teen lol.
Maybe add to that list following the rider in front too closely and overlapping wheels. Poor bastard in front never knows if you are too close to change lines.
That's me. 😂 Only when I'm filming though, and in my group they are all okay with it. If there's a visitor in our group I always ask them if they mind me occasionally sitting off their rear wheel to film them - some guys hate it for good reasons.
@@crosstrainingadventure yep, so long as theyre cool with it. Ive seen a mountain bike group bought down like that. Not pretty!
Reality is every group activity ends up with a DH factor . My experience is they tend to be type A personality and narcissistic . Too many of them end up as lawyers - politicians.😁
No other rider has ever upset me on a ride. And I've been riding for 48+ years.
Just sayin.
@@dropbear9526 Some of our rides off road have over 200 riders of many levels of ability . Theirs always a few clowns who feel that everything is a race and preform moves that can and do result in riders cut off ,knocked down , roosted with mud and rocks. Again noncomp events , why ride like DHs.
@@jamesdenton3692 Too each their own. Doesn't bother me at all.
Same as car drivers, I just give them a wide birth.
If they hit an animal they'll get my attention, other than that, couldn't care less.
I watched a video of a guy I’ve ridden with before and was cringing with how he was riding on a group ride for beginners with a well known TH-camr and at one point he even tried to tell the organiser what to do 🤦🏼♂️ I won’t ride with him anymore and probably won’t watch he’s videos lol
But isn't it a pleasure to watch a known idiots videos, when he f%cks up all the time? ))))
We would always be on the look out for the kamikaze pilots. Try and suss them out on small rides and not invite them on multi day rides. For many of us multi day rides took lots of planning and we were not about to let some kamikaze pilot write himself off and spoil it for the rest.
Great idea
The worst is low-self esteem lead guy that overtakes drivers on double yellow (no passing zones)....Leaving the rest of the group behind a now pissed off car or truck...
The KTM/Husky owner that doesn't know how to wrench when the unpredictable yet expected breakdown occurs...
The ride leader that stops at every stop sign, turns off the bike, removes helmet and gloves and takes out his phone and Garmin and tries desperately to find a route....every stop sign....
The guy that leaves a group ride by dropping off the back without saying anything....The group spends time looking for him over every dangerous corner and cliff.
the guy that is critical of everyone's equipment.
My pet hate is being roosted.
Same here. Our guys never roost. Even through a mud hole. They'll rev the engine sometimes and pretend they are about to cover you in mud lol. Occasionally I'll ride with a throttle jockey and get sprayed with gravel regularly until I realise not all riders are aware of those behind them. It's no problem of course if the whole group is into roosting, you just keep your distance.
I've really grown tired of helping That Guy who doesn't maintain his bike. Yeah, everyone stopping to help fix a tire or what have you is good fun and part of the adventure, but it's different when the problems only arise due to someone's total lack of maintenance and preparation.
Nobody expects anyone to be a master mechanic, but if you're riding in groups it's on you to learn and perform basic maintenance. To be on time and ready with a full tank of gas. If something breaks, if you get a flat, and you don't know how to fix it, you get in there and ask for advice *while you do the work* if at all possible, because that's an unavoidable part of adventure riding - you don't get to pass it off on others because you're not "mechanically inclined".
If people DO end up going out of their way to help you in such cases, if they do fix their bike, share their gas, supply you spare parts... Guess who is buying the beer, and who sure as hell better learn for next time.
Amen to that. Most riders will understand that noobs have stuff to learn. But don't stand there like an idiot and expect everyone to fix things for you... I've noticed these guys often don't even say thanks or offer to replace the new tube given to fix a puncture. Get in there, learn. And just say a quick 'sorry' for disrupting the group and say it won't happen again and you've learned from the experience.
@@crosstrainingadventure Let's be honest aye?
Any time I've seen a Noob have bike trouble, there's been so many "experts" around their bike, trying to fix it, they couldn't get near it if they tried. Everyone wants to be the hero.
Actually. Same thing's happened to me. I remember getting a flat once, and the other riders I was with, were almost fighting over who was gonna get to fix it. And, show off, their trail side, skills.
You've never experienced that?
Damn, I need to hang out with a different bunch of guys lol. We all hate punctures so we all have TUbliss. And no one likes trailside repairs. 😂
@@crosstrainingadventure
Most of the blokes I ride with love their bum bag tool kits, any chance to actually use them is quickly taken up.
Their trail side tools are heaps better than my actual tools.
It's always been that way.
I was the youngest, then the oldest, now I'm one of the youngest again.
I didn't mind being the oldest, I had an excuse. There's no excuses when you're among the youngest in a group of oldies.
They all went to E-bikes, but have recently woken up to themselves again.
I'm just getting back into it. Just trail rides, gave up on the ADV rides, just couldn't find anyone even slightly Interested in it.
They all said they'd go on adventures with me, but wanted to take their 4x4's.
So I sold my 701.
I've got a few mates into buying an adv bike but often they just let it sit in the garage and eventually it's sold. I guess you are either bitten by the bug or you aren't.
Show up with full gas tank
I work in a prison, have for a long time now. I was amazed at first that manners existed. Being a dickhead has a place, but After I say please, don't expect niceties....
Same here, I worked in maximum and medium security jails as a guard. Most inmates just wanted to do their time quietly and it was always a pleasant surprise to here a please and thanks here and there.... especially in medium security. Much better atmosphere there.
Group rides over 3 people are over rated. You can't ride at ur own pace, more chance of waiting due to someone's mechanical problems, reduced visibility and more chance of an accident thru branches and rocks flicking up and if there is someone going the other way more chance of collision because escape routes are crowded.
If there is only 2 people riding it's easier to tactfully say to the other rider 'hey, it scares me if someones' riding too close to me so either hang back or permanently take the lead' without feeling u are in a minority.
I think some riders with an undiagnosed bike problem like to go with more experienced riders coz they get a better chance of fixing it on route than they would if they stayed home and had to self-diagnose or ask advice online.
I reckon three is a good number. Handy if there's a serious injury, someone stays with the fallen rider, the other can call emergency services or ride out for help.
I think we have all had dick head moments over the years
For sure, I still cringe about mine decades ago lol. I figure the key is to learn from those moments... or just find like-minded dickheads to ride with who don't care about your own dickheadery. 😗
Basic stuff for most. Idiots are everywhere unfortunately.
One moment that keep haunting me was when my smaller cousin hit me on our motorcycles
I was 16 and he was 10. I just bought my first bike that was somewhat powerful, so I decided to practice my wheelie while him and his sisters were getting ready.
So there I am, making wheelie on the access toward my parents and neighbours home and the kid comes out a corner wide open. I immediately bring the bike down and hold my right as far as I could. I was not moving and a whole semitruck could have gone by
The problem was that I scared him, so he fixated on me and went straight where he was looking.
The part were I have been a dickhead was my response. I have been soo confused by what just happened that I forgot to ask him if he was fine.
I instead yealed "WTF HAVE YOU DONE!"
He wasn't injured, but he was in pain. He just walked back to our base crying without saying a word. After that, he never rode a bike again.
If I would have remained calm and asked if he needed help first, maybe he would still be enjoying the sport
Target fixation! Yeah I had that happen as a teenager. I'm stopped at a y-fork in the track. This young kid can see me from a mile away but just kind of froze then rammed me. Big cut to the bone in my lower leg, about 15 stitches.
@@crosstrainingadventure Its a common accident reason in paris -dakar ...
Oh yeah, that guy who roosts everywhere...the showing up late douchery. And the speed demons who go mental on every straight...I rode with one guy that was going nuts and broke his collarbone in the first 10 minutes at Kenilworth...luckily we were close to the cars...I never say a thing just don't ride with them again. One thing I've learned over the last few years is people don't want their minds changed...so I leave them be...
Those injuries in the first 10 minutes. 😒 Not quite the same, but our one week outback tour saw two guys taken to hospital in the first morning... $6000 trip down the drain. Always a good idea to ease into your ride, especially a multiple day ride. One of the guys didn't have knee guards and fractured the top of his tibia.
This video should be captioned "how not to be a dickhead"
It was tempting but TH-cam would probably have blocked it lol
Gods children are everywhere that have no idea.
I hear they sometimes have trouble with grammar too? 🤔
I have a sister who suffers from hyperreligiosity
Individualists don't belong in a group ride.
I don't like when the rigid rules of the group doesn't make sense, but everybody else seem fine with being suffocated, just like the recent three years of politically induced mass psychosis of world wide oppression. So I simply don't submit to "group rides".
Had enough of conformity for conformity's sake in the military. I do ride with very close and very old friends, a few times a year. I ride 99.95% alone. A bit slower and careful and less chance of developing myself as a rider, but the piece of mind is why I ride. It's not a school chore.
The clueless types - the "Gomer Pyles" that never seem to be able to keep their sh!t together, sinking the team, are just dead weight that needs to be cut, once established. Being "Gomer Pyle" is something I know first hand, so I'm not an elitist. Most of us have to go through it first hand - particularly in youth and inexperience. It has to feel really, really bad -in order to take good note and underline three times "Don't ever want to feel that again!".
Yep, I think most of us have had those Gomer Pyle moments ourselves but it's whether we learn from them and take responsibility for ourselves... or just blame everyone else.
When we were kids on our 80's, in the late 70's and 80's, the Mr Motocross days, we'd ride as far as our fuel would permit, bikes were held together with duck tape, fencing wire, and hay ban.
Spare parts? Yeah. Nah. We were lucky to have money for fuel.
Tools? Yeah. Nah. We were kids. We lost them on the last ride.
Riding gear? At best, gum boots and a 2nd hand helmet. Padding inside the helmet was a bonus.
Someone's bike breaking down, just added to the days adventure. Wouldn't have been as good if that didn't happen.
Remember, no mobile phones etc back then, didn't even have zip ties, just good 'ol bush mechanics, perseverance and a good sense of direction. "Where there is will. There is always a way".
As Brian Adam's would say "Those were the best days of our lives". Ahhh, the memories.
Modern day dirt bike riders are as soft AF.
The days of Gally and Gunter! Yeah we had gum boots, gardening gloves, old open face helmets seemed to be optional. Funny thing is we never seemed to break down. The old Yamaha GT80 and all our Honda XL models seemed to be indestructible.
@@crosstrainingadventure
We were on XR's, then 2T 80's. One kid had a GT 80.
Another kid had a YZ60 H (81 model). That thing was awesome, that's what made us all get 2T's.
1983, for some reason, we all ended up on new bikes. I had the CR80 RD.
By 1984, most of them were rooted lol
Wrecking my first bike, the XR75, is how I learnt to take care of the rest of them.
I just had the soft Hondas mostly, but talked the old man into a YZ125E as my final bike in my teens. Damn, just about crapped my pants every time I hit the powerband lol!
@@crosstrainingadventure LOL.
The YZ60 was the first 2T I rode. There was no going back to the XR75 after that.