Surviving the trials & tribulations of the trails

**** This article was submitted by one of our readers, a very well written piece by Terry Wilson ****

Where do I start? I sit here looking at my two teenage daughters. The eldest has just got her “P’s”, the youngest, her “L’s”. I hope that I have taught them enough about safety that they take care on the roads – they know the biggest risk is the person coming the other way over which they have no control.

I am compelled to put pen to paper today by the terrible tragedy that has happened in the Medowie State Forest last weekend. I heard the Westpac Rescue Helicopter go over on Sunday – we are in the flight path to the Pacific Highway so it’s not uncommon to hear the blades chop through the clean air over Medowie. But it wasn’t until Monday morning that we found out it didn’t get to the Pacific Highway this time. There had been a collision between a 17 year old and a 44 year old in the Medowie State Forest. The younger lad didn’t make it. Even as I write this (Monday evening) I’m not sure what happened to the older bloke – I heard he was in hospital. I heard the young lad was out riding by himself on a bike he’d just bought and the older bloke was in a group. They collided head on. Scant as the details are – that’s the most we’ll probably hear about – most riders will never hear about it. I couldn’t leave it like that – if we don’t know about it, we can’t do anything to fix it.

As I was driving to work this morning I couldn’t help think about what the next three minutes after the accident must have been like for those involved and those in the group. The realisation that the accident was serious. How bad were the injuries? Was there panic, did someone take control? The ride has been cut short – so has his life. The next three hours….waiting for the chopper – it must have seemed like an eternity. Comforting and reassuring their mate – it’ll be alright. Maybe a conversation with his partner? Trying to keep the young guy alive? Maybe realising it was too late? Then I think forward to the next three weeks. A funeral. A recovery. Families shattered. They’ll never be the same again. The next three months? Perhaps more recuperation and physio for the older guy. More grieving – I’m told the pain of the loss of a child never get’s better for the parents – I hope I never experience it.

The next three years – loss of job due to injuries sustained? The 18th and 21st birthday celebrations (and maybe a wedding?) that will never be. The Christmas, Easters, birthdays and anniversaries that will always have a slight shadow of loss and sorrow over them.

The pain will never go away.

What can we do? Unfortunately it’s too late for those two and everyone else that’s been injured or killed whilst enjoying one of the most exhilarating, invigorating and relaxing pastimes that I know – trail bike riding.

I am a born again bike rider – having been off the bike for 20 odd years (they felt odd anyway) I threw the leg over again about three years ago and have been the proud owner of a 2000 XR650R and now a 2009 KTM300. (The big girl was a bit too heavy to handle through the single track.) During my years off the bike my career has taken a few different turns but one thing that I have developed is a sincere and unwavering commitment to safety. I’ve seen what can happen during the next 3 minutes, 3 hours, 3 days, 3 weeks and 3 years after a serious injury or death. Does this mean I ride around padded up like the Michelin man at 25klm/hr? Absolutely not – trail bike riding, as with most other forms of the sport, is a calculated risk. There’s risk in everything we do every day. How do we manage that risk? Well, in cars on the road we follow the rules, wear seat belts and have airbags. On bikes on the road, we follow the rules (or get booked) wear a helmet and ride to the conditions. What happens when we get on the trails – some of us forget the trails are used by others and just cut sick! If you do nothing else after reading this but adjust your riding to always allow for someone coming the other way we’ll all be a bit safer on the trails.

Back to the question at hand, what can we really do about it? It starts in the garage or shed at home. Keep your maintenance up. In particular, steering (bearings, triple clamps and tyre pressures) and brakes (fluid levels, pad wear & lever operation). It’s alright to go fast in a straight line but you need to be able to steer and brake in an emergency.

Once you’re at your riding spot it’s time to kit up. There have been plenty of articles on riding gear – you know the essentials: Helmet (to Australian Standards), gloves, long sleeved shirt and pants, boots and body armour (don’t forget the hydration…) Suffice it to say – don’t ride without your gear – it’s your last line of defence!

Now the real important stuff, hitting the trials. There is one underlying principle that I use when I ride – Ride like there is someone coming the other way at pace. Riding with this principle in mind has allowed me to have a few close calls instead of a few nasty spills. Always ride at a pace and a position on the trail that would allow an oncoming rider the opportunity to pass or for you to take evasive action (which is usually the case for me).

One of the recurring pieces of advice you’ll get from the top guys is look ahead. Keep your head up and eyes peeled for the further-most point down the track you can see. Not only does this allow you to pick your best line early, it’ also let’s you spot an oncoming rider much sooner. Be aware of it next time you ride – you may be surprised how many riders are almost on you before they see you but that you’ve already been able to take evasive action against – in constantly amazes me.

Ride to the conditions and your capability on the bike you are riding. New bike? Take it easy – for as long as it takes for you to master the controls anyway. Raining or muddy – have fun but don’t put yourself in an unrecoverable position where you could be hit by an oncoming rider.

When you do come upon other riders, always acknowledge them – get their attention and signal to them how many are in following you. I’ve had a few occasions where I’ve taken evasive action only to find out they’ve nearly cleaned up my mate half a K down the track or, being second in the group, come across a couple of guys coming at us at full noise after already passing our lead rider.

Riding in a group? Who has heard of the cornerman system? Ever been riding in a group and had to wait for one of the group? Ever doubled back and had a close call as the slower riding is pushing the limits trying to catch up? Or lost a heap of time waiting? The cornerman system works with a lead rider and a sweep, the sweep usually wears a hi-vis vest or the like so they are easily identified. The lead rider stays in front and who ever is in second place sits at the corner as directed by the lead rider, usually parked in a position where they can easily be seen by the following riders with their bike pointing in the direction that the lead rider went. They have to stay there until directed to move off by the sweep. They can then ride as fast as they like back through the group or hold their position, either way, you will usually work your way back through to be the “cornerman” again as everyone else gets a turn. The lead rider makes sure any oncoming riders know how many is in your group and the sweep make sure no-one gets lost or left behind. Ideally, the lead and sweep will have two-way radios for communications in case of an accident. This is a really safe and effective way to ride as a group and allows everyone to ride at their own pace.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for FMX, SuperX, MotoX, ( I don’t think I’ll be taking part now at my age though) I’ve got a real soft spot for Enduro – the technical stuff is what I like to ride. I’m not saying don’t ride fast – hell, my Kato cracks!! Just do it where you can see what’s coming or have spotters set-up. Don’t take the risk. Think about the consequences. Hey, even Robbie M didn’t just roll up and hit the 300 footer, he worked his way up to it.

And parents – I would never condone illegal riding – but we know it’s a reality. There’s not enough police to clamp down every trail everywhere – there will always be kids riding. And, a lot of kids ride on their own or mates private property quite legally. Don’t ever just assume they’ll do the right thing. If you want them to come home in one piece – teach them the right way to ride.

Thanks for reading this regardless of what you think of it. I just couldn’t sit back and do nothing. If you’ve read this and take just one thing from it – take this – ride like there is someone coming the other way. It might just save your life (and mine) one day.

Above all – have fun – ride and be free – just make sure you make it home.

R.I.P Shane Richardson