Proposed permanent traffic regulation order - Chute

[LiquidLAN]

Well, for starters, many on here are responsible and are seen to restrict numbers on offroad rides, but others are a free for all. The TRF advise small numbers.

Is there a consensus on this? I'd certainly start by suggesting no more than FIVE on offroad rides, especially the bigger heavier GS's, but this needs support of the masses and the club as a whole

One of the things that I like about this site is the enjoyment that everyone gets on rides and the freedom from rule makers

And there in lies the rub

How do we achieve something like that while still being able to run these big group meets and rideouts that everyone enjoys?

Its the one thing that stops me short of saying we should adopt a small groups policy - but that's on a different thread.

 

[GrinningGSer]

I don't think we should have a rigid policy on numbers because I believe that the majority can act responsibly.

I don't think that there is any need to restrict numbers on Salisbury Plains, for example, since most destruction is by bombs anyway. A different matter occurs on byways.

I think that what you are getting at, i.e. a section here dedicated to offroad riding, could be interesting and possibly quite powerful if sufficient numbers participate. Many here prefer to lurk rather than participate though.

 

[BurtieBoy]

Hi Guys,
I agree with the small groups - if the group gets bigger then run a couple of groups and perhaps reverse the route for the second group - but htis does need a bit more organising and two or three group leaders.

I also find that I get a totally different reception riding the GSA as opposed to my KTM - people are much more friendly. Also the full BMW riding suit with nice badges and NO GOGGLES help enormously. Perhaps UKGSer has a role to play here by portarying a different off road user. The exhaust is also standard and whisper quiet.

 

[Womble]

I'm now pretty active in the TRF and I lead a fair number of local rides, but my first experience of trail riding was on bigger runs like the Hograost and the Big Trailie rides round Thetford Forest.

My preference is definitely for smaller groups, both from the viewpoint of any people and animals being ridden past, as well as from the viewpoint of general co-ordination because the tail-enders don't get left too far behind and regrouping is easier. Also, if you do have a problem like a puncture, it's generally better to only have a few people helping to sort the problem out, not a crowd, half of whom are bored because there's nothing to do.

One thing to bear in mind is that people who ride responsibly in smaller groups will often get swept up in the situation and cross the line, for instance in this thread where some riders went off piste and, combined with some foreign riders who just went with the flow, it all took a bit of time to get back on track.

Also, now that people often have decent GPSs, it's a lot easier to have smaller groups because the leader just needs to follow the dots on the map and to add a dash of common sense.