Trail Rides

[Dave89]

From the epic event rides we have done there is certainly more of this type of behaviour than at most rides.
But dont be put of orgainised trail rides. Mr motorcycles events although very busy dont seem to attract this type of behaviour , and all the Northland farm based rides advertised via Rouse motorcycles are very kid friendly.
Having said that we did have a blast at last weekends Berm Buster.

[Shadykiwi]

Sorry to hear of your negative experiences. Unfortunatly, as with a lot of sports or gatherings, there will always be idiots. Personally I will always slow down for a rider and when passing younger kids Ill make a further effort to pass at a slow pace and get some distance prior to putting the throttle back on. I have been to numerous Epic Events and yes there have been idiots (As with many other trial rides) but generally these rides are very well run and are alot of good fun. I have seen dads reving to let their kids know a rider is comming, which I think is a really good idea. Also I have seen kids riding with those Hi vis flags on a stick (Like we used to ride on our bicycle years ago), these stick out really well. Keep it up im sure it will still be years of enjoyment.

[Lawrence]

Thanks to all for the positive encouragement and advice. Although there were a some moments of terror, and tears there was one moment when we stopped for a rest, and he said 'dad check out the view of the forest'. He came away from the event a bit shaken but stoked with himself that he made the 17km loop. A lesson learned for me also to not push it, so we will stick to the novice and family loops at forthcoming events. We are looking forward to the Mr Motorcycle events this spring.

Thanks again and happy trails....

[scott411]

Thanks to all for the positive encouragement and advice. Although there were a some moments of terror, and tears there was one moment when we stopped for a rest, and he said 'dad check out the view of the forest'. He came away from the event a bit shaken but stoked with himself that he made the 17km loop. A lesson learned for me also to not push it, so we will stick to the novice and family loops at forthcoming events. We are looking forward to the Mr Motorcycle events this spring.

Thanks again and happy trails....

I think the MR rides will be good for you, Glen Murrey is noramlly the biggest rides numbers wise so it may not be a good idea to take him out on the main loop, but they do have a good family loop there that has some challanges, some of the later ones will be better to do the big loops,

I still remember in the early days of going riding with my old man in the Tarawera forest on a DS80, we still go riding together now over 25 years later, in fact i can still remeber him screaming at me to keep my f n feet on the pegs now, when i catch him on rides i scream at him to stand up and keep his f n feet on the pegs,

[LankyBastard]

I have had a similar experience at the Epic events, both myself and the better half have just got into off road riding, so a both complete novices. I stayed off the longer trails to respect the much better riders, as I don't want to get in their way, but what really pissed me off were the far from novice riders cutting us up and nearly pushing us off the trails on the novice loop! Do they get kicks out of being able to go fast on the easy novice tracks, or are novice riders the only people they can actually overtake, and they do it to make them feel like pros? Fucking idiots.

Luckily there were far more people who passed safely and kindly durning the day.

Oh and if you're like me and have always ridden road, get into dirt, its freking awesome, but get coaching. I did, what a help!!!

[BoristheBiter]

I have had a similar experience at the Epic events, both myself and the better half have just got into off road riding, so a both complete novices. I stayed off the longer trails to respect the much better riders, as I don't want to get in their way, but what really pissed me off were the far from novice riders cutting us up and nearly pushing us off the trails on the novice loop! Do they get kicks out of being able to go fast on the easy novice tracks, or are novice riders the only people they can actually overtake, and they do it to make them feel like pros? Fucking idiots.

Luckily there were far more people who passed safely and kindly durning the day.

Oh and if you're like me and have always ridden road, get into dirt, its freking awesome, but get coaching. I did, what a help!!!

Yes it seems it does.
There usually are.
Oh it is, and in big ways it helps.

[browny]

It seems from some responses that if you go fast or racing you're an idiot, not sayin we're aren't all the time but you can go fast and be courteous at the same time. The team I normally ride with at rides are late thirties early forties and with kids. We wil stop and help other kids when it's obvious they're battling a bit, and not only kids. But there also a lot of idiots out there, albeit doing the right thing with their nippers,in some places way out of the wee fellas league usally blocking faster riders at the same time.then squawking when someone loses there patience and gives them a squirt of dirt,it's not necessary I know and I never done it nor would I, but yunno. Stick to the novice loops until they are truly ready for a mainer,not on their first trail ride.as has been said there's more decent guys than dickheads but not everyone go's on trail rides to view the scenery even when it is spectacular.trail rides requires common sense from everyone not just blaming the fast guys.

[Utenz]

I have just done a ride with my boy on a PW80, there were a scant few who behaved in this manner. We ride on the Waitemata Club family days at Woodhill. The few who blip the throttle (and the one who yelled at me to move aside), I stop & explain to them that if they can't pass a PW80 in first gear there must be a problem with their riding ability.
The WMC family days are just that, for the whole family.
http://www.waitematamcc.co.nz/

Come along & if you find me there your lad may even tag along with my boys while you have a lap on the larger loops.

[Lawrence]

I have just done a ride with my boy on a PW80, there were a scant few who behaved in this manner. We ride on the Waitemata Club family days at Woodhill. The few who blip the throttle (and the one who yelled at me to move aside), I stop & explain to them that if they can't pass a PW80 in first gear there must be a problem with their riding ability.
The WMC family days are just that, for the whole family.
http://www.waitematamcc.co.nz/

Come along & if you find me there your lad may even tag along with my boys while you have a lap on the larger loops.

Thanks for the offer, very keen to do that. Would be good to ride with others at the same level.

[random rider]

I've done a few of the Epic rides, the Tussock, Mr Motorcycle and the WMCC and Sandpit style rides. The Mr MX, WMCC and Sandpit one's are my favourite rides.

Epic is by far the worst for dickhead riders. I am not fast....but not super slow. I am a "Monday Rider" - meaning I have work on Monday so can't really afford too many bad spills! I hold my line, pull over and put a hand down to wave the rider through - when I can. It isn't always possible. But I do try.

But it seems some riders are out for the win at the trail rides. If they want to go fast - fine - but don't take me out on the way. Epic rides are great but attract more of those dicks. I might
be controversial but I find the age group to be 16 to 30 males to be the worst. I know not all are like that but this is the group I find the worst.

On the other hand I have had some awesome people stop to help me out...getting out of bogs, up hills and even out of a gorse bush, and I would say that I get a few yelled - Thanks - as I let people past, which makes it all worth while.

I agree the rides are getting big and that a big debrief can be hard but the culture at some of the events needs to be changed. There is no reason at sign in that people are told or where they sign in they acknowledge some basic track courtesy.

It is hard to get kids or more nervous people into the rides and this behaviour doesn't help at all.

[ktm84mxc]

The problems are how do you cater for the vast range of rider ability's and bikes? If you attract 1000 riders and 10% are aggressive racers/riders that's a 100 accidents waiting to happen be it to them or those they may cross paths with. What do you do ? impossible to have a marshal[fun police] on every corner/straight.
You'll soon find events that suit the style of riding you're happy with best to stick to those and leave the aggressive/racer types to enjoy wiping out each other at events like Berm buster etc.

[Jay GTI]

I know when Nick Reader owned Epic, he was really struggling with the issue of guys riding as if they were on a fast lap of a GNCC round. The problem is bikes have come so far in the last 5 to 10 years that people can buy serious machines that are easy to ride fast for sod all money, so pretty much anyone can get out there and be quick enough to be a problem. Dirt biking is becoming more and more popular in NZ, which is great for the scene and the people that feed it, but it also means there's a lot more people out riding that haven't got the experience or rider courtesy some of the more experienced have.

There is no magic answer to the problem, just keep leading by example, ride courteously and hopefully (fingers crossed) the idiots will get it and do the same.

[budget biker]

been in the same situation.all i can suggest is keep at it . i used to ride behind my kid(hes quicker than me now so i dont see him much) and ride just slightly wider than him so faster guys had time to see him .suggest you check out the honda kids club rides. awesome for this level and the slower the riderthe more priority they have on the track, .the hamilton one i did this yr with my daughter was great .varying levels of track difficulty to suit most riders. highly recommended