My little adventure.

[Old Phart]

Good adventure! Mine was much more benign. I stopped to adjust the carb on my KLX450R and the B group I was riding with dissapeared into the sunset. I did a couple of little single-tracks (Milk Run was one of them) and then continued up the Church Mtn road. I recognized it as I did part of it earlier in the year with StrongLeftLeg and some of the other Sleepy Hollow boys, but we were stopped by Spring snow at that time. This time no snow, a fairly good road and only a few face-slappers to keep one awake. The view from the top is definitely worth the ride up the hill. A couple of (for me) gnarly bits on the way down. A rock slide was blocked by an ATV that was stuck at its apex. The guys eventually made it through and I continued down. A diagonal log across the road put the bike on its side as did a greasy rock a bit further on. Then there was a really steep drop down to a little creek that looked like an invitation to disaster so I dismounted, bull-dogged the bike down to the bottom and life was good again. After that the trail improved and I finally made it back to the staging area after nearly 30 km of fun riding. I would have preferred more company but I realized that a whole herd of riders would come along sooner or later to lend a hand if it was needed.

[PistolPete]

Good adventure! Mine was much more benign. I stopped to adjust the carb on my KLX450R and the B group I was riding with dissapeared into the sunset. I did a couple of little single-tracks (Milk Run was one of them) and then continued up the Church Mtn road. I recognized it as I did part of it earlier in the year with StrongLeftLeg and some of the other Sleepy Hollow boys, but we were stopped by Spring snow at that time. This time no snow, a fairly good road and only a few face-slappers to keep one awake. The view from the top is definitely worth the ride up the hill. A couple of (for me) gnarly bits on the way down. A rock slide was blocked by an ATV that was stuck at its apex. The guys eventually made it through and I continued down. A diagonal log across the road put the bike on its side as did a greasy rock a bit further on. Then there was a really steep drop down to a little creek that looked like an invitation to disaster so I dismounted, bull-dogged the bike down to the bottom and life was good again. After that the trail improved and I finally made it back to the staging area after nearly 30 km of fun riding. I would have preferred more company but I realized that a whole herd of riders would come along sooner or later to lend a hand if it was needed.

Sounds like you did the full Church Mountain Loop. Nice ride. The creek crossing used to be a lot tougher than it is now!

[scooter]

Yes, be prepared. Maybe a camel back is in order. It is stated in the group meeting before the ride that you must look out for the rider behind you. Shame on the group that you were with. A common mistake with new riders in a group.

[kerunt]

Yes, be prepared. Maybe a camel back is in order. It is stated in the group meeting before the ride that you must look out for the rider behind you. Shame on the group that you were with. A common mistake with new riders in a group.

Seriously guys, I understand where you're coming from, but enough blaming this on the "other guys" - I don't like it. Again, it was my choice to go down that hill, and the other guys did every reasonable thing I would have expected them to do.

[old trials guy]

Seriously guys, I understand where you're coming from, but enough blaming this on the "other guys" - I don't like it. Again, it was my choice to go down that hill, and the other guys did every reasonable thing I would have expected them to do.

I think this has been a really good thread and the best part is nobody got hurt and perhaps many learned something useful and that is what Noobie rides are all about. Nobody should be blaming anyone as we have all made rookie mistakes or have been a victim of our own poor judgment.

I think we may have covered a lot of the information previously on this forum but I suggest to the moderators that it might be useful to put up a sticky post about dual sport survival basics covering the essentials of trail smarts, etiquette, tools, first aid, etc. (with the usual disclaimers)

Rather than an open thread that risks getting way off topic where the information gets lost post up a closed thread with the info.

Just a thought.....otg

[WestCoast Rider]

I think we may have covered a lot of the information previously on this forum but I suggest to the moderators that it might be useful to put up a sticky post about dual sport survival basics covering the essentials of trail smarts, etiquette, tools, first aid, etc. (with the usual disclaimers)

Well said, a "what I wouldn't leave home without" sticky could be a good newbie section header...

[Farp]

I think there is a big difference between riding an "event ride" such as the Newbie and a regular trail ride. I was with the group that started out with Old Phart and we waited for him at the end of the single track section. Had this been a regular trail ride we certainly would have gone back to look for him, but on Sunday the traffic coming out of that single track section was so heavy that back tracking on it was not an option. We knew that there were plenty of other riders on the trail to give him assistance if he needed it, and we thought he might have carried on with the C route so we continued our ride. I think the lesson to be learned from this thread is that when there is over a hundred riders on the trails and you get separated from your group they probably won't be able to come back to get you so your best option is to hook up with the next group coming through. The number one unbreakable rule of our sport is that nobody ever gets left behind, and a close second to that is do not ride alone, for a ride like the Newbie neither of those rules is likely to be broken.

John

[Buckethead]

This is a good thread. Not only did the rider make it out safely, but good lessons are being learned, both first-hand and vicariously.

The issue of group liability vs personal responsibility can be an ambiguous one. Thanks to Skidmark for his leadership, and for explaining clearly the application here.

For those that are interested in safe ride planning, I started a thread a while ago with some ideas based on my professional experience here:

http://www.dualsportbc.com/forums/sh...-On-The-Trails

Please jump in with your ideas and with what works for you.

Ride safe,
Matthew

[North]

I am Glad to see that you made it out kernut.

[Katui]

To the OP: That trail look rather fun! Do you have the GPS route or something like that?