What kind of system to you have rigged up to check up on the people in your group?
When me and my buddies are out, and we are trying to log the miles on the machines, we just stop, give the thumbs up, if every one does the same, you carry on, no talking, no wasted time. I find that if you stop to talk, most people remove their helmets ( I know i do, i hate hearing only mumbling), and by time every one is ready to go again, 5 minutes is gone by, and you don't evenknow it.
What about hazzards ahead? We usually just give a few taps on the brakes so people see that you are gonna be going on/through/over something that is potentially hazzardous.
Any other signals that you find handy your riding group?


Bauer

We do almost the exact same, but try never to let anyone out of site or fall behind.
Always remind everyone about following too closely as well, those taillight lense's are expensive.

I have always ran with the thumbs up also,,, if I am leading, I want the thumbs up from everyone in the group clear to the back,,,

Are signal for unsuspected hazards is ussually headlight taillight headlight taillight headlight taillight....J.K. :D Thumbs up when its really good stand up wave both fist yelling wahoo!

Originally posted by sawman@Jan 5 2005, 03:46 AM
Are signal for unsuspected hazards is ussually headlight taillight headlight taillight headlight taillight....J.K. :D Thumbs up when its really good stand up wave both fist yelling wahoo!
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Heh, I slow _way_ down when someone gives me the taillight-headlight-taillight signal... I usually flail my arm if there's a wicked hazard up ahead, especially if it's really powdery out and you can't see taillights because of the bliz.

Thumbs up. Wait for everyone at stops and intersections. Leader keeps count of the number of sleds in the group. If theres a hazard, I wave a hand and if it's a rock or stump, point it out.

About the same here.

For minor hazards I tap my brakes. For major ones I tap my brakes and stop. I ussually only need to stop if we have novices or kids in the group.

As far as group riding I ussually only do this locally where we have road crossings fairly often, then thats a good place to check the group. Up north were I ride in much smaller groups of me and 1 or 2 people. just watching the rearveiw mirror for headlights does the trick along with the occasional turn and look back. I typically only ride up north with others that ride the same pace as me so its easy to keep track of who's where.

Ya, thumbs up from everyone to see that everyone is OK. Also pointing my arm left or right means we need to go around something on the trail (so slow down and go where my arm is pointing). Arm straight up means we need to stop for a second.

communicators work great. One at the head of the pack and one at the back. Keeps tabs on everyone. If its just 2 of us or without communicators, :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Recently there was a thread here someone on this board reffered to other snomobilers as "slow pokes with mirrors" or "old farts with mirrors" or something like that .... well, let me tell ya...... most of the guys I ride with have either a sled mounted or hand mounted mirror and for checking the headlight behind you these things are great.

At intersections, we make sure all are ok and accounted for, other than that, brake taps for hazzards and common sense are all I've needed / used for well in excess of 30,000 miles of accident free sledding.

And for the rookie who thinks that mirrors automatically mean "slow sled and rider" give your head a shake, dry off the water behind your ears and come up and ride with us ...... 'nuff said.

When i'm pointman (which I usually am!) I just stop at the intersections and wait.

It's nice, because if the trail has alot of flat straight's i'm usually way out front and can shut the sled off and sit there for a minute or so and relax, untill the rest of the group shows up.

Yeah, I use a mirror on my wrist, because after my neck surgery I can't turn my head around that far real well.

Another thing we do sometimes in the day time when coming to a stop, is along with hitting the brakes, put up your right hand to let people know behind. It's just an added signal and it really does help sometimes when there is a lot of snow dust and your brake light gets covered.

I usually signal slow down with a brake tap and left hand down low by the tunnel.. slow down, thumbs up for all good and I always signal to oncoming riders on how many are behind me or if I am last - closed fist.

If there's a hazard ahead where it's possible somebody might get some SERIOUS air, I typically pull up out of the way, turn around and watch the action :D J/K

I typically wait at intersections and road crossings and check with the "thumbs up". At major hazards, I slow way down or stop and point them out.

Everyone in our group rides with some sort of mirror. Each person is responceable for the rider behind them and so on down the line.
Simple and effective.
Stop every now and then to see if anyone wants a break.

Originally posted by Mikadoo@Jan 5 2005, 05:23 PM
Everyone in our group rides with some sort of mirror. Each person is responceable for the rider behind them and so on down the line.
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that's the best way. i like the wrist mirror.