Long distance event safety

[rastuscat]

Heres a hypothetical question.

If, on Friday morning this week, I was going to a meeting regarding a long distance motorcycle endurance event, and the meeting was to address concerns regarding fatigue and potential speed, what things might I raise?

Give me ideas as to how the risks can be mitigated. The organizer is worried about the potential risk.

FYI, I wear a blue suit. I want the event to happen, how can we make it safer?

[darkwolf]

Would it be possible to get in contact with some of the store owners along the way to offer "refresher stations" or something similar. A place where bikers can stop for 5 minutes and stretch the extremities?

[tnarg]

I take it this isn't a race then? Some ideas- Enforced rest stops with possible assessment of participant for signs of fatigue. Timed points along route that if they break out of time then you know they have been speeding.

[Gremlin]

Interesting question Mr ratuscat

First and foremost, the question you ask, imho, cannot be replied to in general fashion, simply because you can't apply the same level to everyone.

For someone that has never ridden more than 200km with lots of breaks, you can't expect them to ride 500km in less than a day, it would never be safe. At the other end of the scale, there are people that can ride 500km without stopping once.

Items such as bike inspection to make sure it's safe, or pre-qualification (ie, have to have done something similar previously) to do certain levels is possible? Long distance riding is the same as a marathon. You have to be fit enough to do it, and you can't rock up and just do it with no preparation. The sooner the riders participating realise this, the better.

The difference of course, is that the runner is doing 5kph if they fall over, but a motorcyclist is doing 100kph.

[Scuba_Steve]

Visors must be removed, minimum speed of 80km/h... that should keep people awake this time of year

[Gremlin]

I take it this isn't a race then? Some ideas- Enforced rest stops with possible assessment of participant for signs of fatigue. Timed points along route that if they break out of time then you know they have been speeding.

This is good, but it assumes that there is one prescribed route. What if there isn't? Unless there is a choke point, as such, then it's possible to miss the stations. I suppose the option here, if there is a station, is to check for fatigue, some kind of test (if you want to go overboard).

If there is only one route, there is increased traffic on that route, instead of splitting the "load" as such. Care should also be taken in the route planning itself. Routes that have dead-ends for example, require motorcycles to go there and back, and if you have one route, your chances of head-ons or suchlike are heavily increased (there and backs are often minor roads, sometimes narrow enough not to have a centre line) with so many motorcycles. Lets also face it though, if there is one route, the cops will be somewhere and while I don't speed in normal riding, I would be annoyed to get pinged when overtaking (where I'm OK to admit I speed... I'm not hanging around on the other side of the road for longer than I need to). It's not like my GSA/truck can go that fast anyway

In events I've done where route choice is allowed, I prefer to stay away from narrow dead ends, or do them when the bulk of traffic is not around, just an easier way to allow for a bit more safety.

[darkwolf]

Further to some of the suggestions above, I think a rider check would be a good idea i.e. if someone turns up on a bike unsuited to long distance in gear that they are likely to suffer fatigue from then maybe have a specific chat or assign a buddy. In fact the buddy system could be a great idea.

Provisions of food and drink at start point?

Maybe even organise a projector to show a clip of how fatigue can effect a rider over the course of a ride. It might be ignored but at least you tried to make people aware.

[rastuscat]

Liking what I'm reading.

I'll print your ideas and table them.

I had thought about getting the Swedish Women's Volleyball team at a roadside checkpoint offering shoulder massages. Trouble is, would anyone set off again?

[Gremlin]

I had thought about getting the Swedish Women's Volleyball team at a roadside checkpoint offering shoulder massages. Trouble is, would anyone set off again?

Couldn't I just put one on the back seat... if it was a multi day event, I'd even give her a bed for the night... I know, I'm that kind.

I'm also happy to test this theory out in advance for you... you supply girls, I'll do the riding

[haydes55]

Coffee sculling competition at checkpoints. Lucky dip as to whether it is iced coffee or piping hot

[tigertim20]

if the route is variable, then there must still be a way to set up say 6 check points that are driver reviver type things.
That way you could make it that participants must stop at one of these checkpoints and rest for xx minutes, at least xx times during the event.
Im sure theres a way to set the stops up so that people can still vary their route, AND get to the minimum number reviver stops.

[nzspokes]

Compulsory stops for set times. With food included in the entry price.

Provision for water on the bike, eg Camel Back type system. Again compulsory.

I dont think restricting bike type will work as there will always be nutbars doing it on odd bikes.

[SMOKEU]

Make the riders get high on P. They won't be getting tired till the buzz wears off.

[nzspokes]

Compulsory slow speed test at each stop. Something that once the riders tired its hard to do. If they fail, there out or have to take a number of hours out.

[Ocean1]

Require submission of a ride plan, which will remain confidential until after the ride.

The plan must have specified number of features, coffee break, 10 min walks, meal breaks, at least one 20 min ocean swim, wild monky sex with at least one consenting waitress, etc etc.

Ride log to be maintained, to be scored against submitted ride plan, winner decided by best match.

Extra points for wild rampant monkey sex during mid-winter beach swim / meal.




Or you could, y'know, just assume that the participants are aware that they're responsible for their own safety and need neither their hands held or their eggs sucked. 'Cause there's actually no other way it ever works, eh.