Constant Head plants.

[Jaspy]

Here we go again… over the bars !! What is the trick to riding snowmobile tracks without hitting the sides !? Every time I try to ride in any deep snow it’s a No go unless some sledder has gone before me. Following their tracks just kills me every time. Once my front wheel hits the edge of their track it doomsville for me. The deep powder grabs hold and I’m down, Every time If my back wheel hits first it’s fishtail time and usually a bad recovery that leaves me on the ground. What’s the “Pro’s” technique, anyone ?

 

[Mabman]

XC skiis.

 

[apac]

I've had a few trips to OTB lately and wish I had landed on snow.

 

[stressballsteve]

looking further ahead would help with not hitting the sides

 

[Jeff McD]

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle the handlebars rapidly. That's how motorcyclists avoid smacking the sides of cars when they are "line splitting". The tiny little corrections when you are rapidly wiggling the handlebars allow you to actually ride a pretty straight line and avoid the sides of those ruts in the snow. Ditto for NASCAR race drivers driving inches away from other cars at 200 mph in a pack wiggling the steering wheel constantly. Try it you'll like it. The same technique is used for riding a fairly straight line in dry sand patches, holding a straight line on steep, tight single track climbs, and even at speed on steep but tight descents. Use it anywhere things get tight enough to cause the "pucker" reflex.

 

[Jaspy]

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle the handlebars rapidly. That's how motorcyclists avoid smacking the sides of cars when they are "line splitting". The tiny little corrections when you are rapidly wiggling the handlebars allow you to actually ride a pretty straight line and avoid the sides of those ruts in the snow. Ditto for NASCAR race drivers driving inches away from other cars at 200 mph in a pack wiggling the steering wheel constantly. Try it you'll like it. The same technique is used for riding a fairly straight line in dry sand patches, holding a straight line on steep, tight single track climbs, and even at speed on steep but tight descents. Use it anywhere things get tight enough to cause the "pucker" reflex.

OMGARSH ! I tried this today and What a difference, it’s hard to believe Jeff , thanks cheers

 

[Jeff McD]

OMGARSH ! I tried this today and What a difference, it’s hard to believe Jeff , thanks cheers

Hey, glad to help a mate. I've been riding mountain bikes for 30 years and used this technique for any sandy patches while competing in NORBA cross country races in the 90s. Then I realized it had a much broader application after watching the movie "Bourne Legacy" with Jeremy Renner 3 years ago, where they did this on motorcycles. We just don't get much snow out here in Hawaii. Immediately thought of it when I read your post. You keep that snow over there in BC now, you hear.

 

[Stihldog]

Here we go again… over the bars !! What is the trick to riding snowmobile tracks… What’s the “Pro’s” technique, anyone ?

Baaahaaaa. I thought I was the only one, stupid enough, to do this. (Sorry. Can’t think of the proper PC word at this moment eh.)
Besides getting high enough for snow mobile tracks, the perfectly compacted track-snow, the right tires, upper body wiggling, correct speed and no snow-shoeing hiker in front who is blasting music through their earbuds…it’s challenging.

If you zoom in you might be able to see the snowshoe’r. I got within 10m after announcing my presence several times. Off the track was not an option for passing. Oh well.
I then tried to enter a trail that probably had less snow but the bike didn’t like the 5ft deep entrance …and I fell in a tree-well.

 

[Jaspy]

glad to help a mate. I've been riding mountain bikes for 30 years and used this technique for any sandy patches while competing in NORBA cross country races in the 90s. Then I realized it had a much broader application after watching the movie "Bourne Legacy" with Jeremy Renner 3 years ago, where they did this on motorcycles. We just don't get much snow out here in Hawaii. Immediately thought of it when I read your post. You keep that snow over there in BC now, you hear.

Mahalo Jeff , now don’t get jealous ! I am sure arrangements could be made to deliver a few tonns of snow out your way ️ I haven’t been on the Island’s since the eighty’s but I do recall a volcano or two that would make a “hot” ride

 

[Zimmerframe]

I'm sorry ... everytime I read the title I think it's a weird gardening thread which should be in the lounge/medical problems section of the forum ...

Edit : we don't have a medical section. Which is probably good as it would be constant posts from @BAMBAMODA of :

I have a weird itching and hot sensation .. and should it be normal to see yellow goo seeping out of ...

 

[RickBullotta]

Well, you're bringing a knife to a gunfight. A fatbike with 5" tires at 3-4 psi is the solution for that stuff, and even then, snowmobiles don't always pack it in enough.

 

[Jaspy]

Baaahaaaa. I thought I was the only one, stupid enough, to do this. (Sorry. Can’t think of the proper PC word at this moment eh.)
Besides getting high enough for snow mobile tracks, the perfectly compacted track-snow, the right tires, upper body wiggling, correct speed and no snow-shoeing hiker in front who is blasting music through their earbuds…it’s challenging. View attachment 80382
If you zoom in you might be able to see the snowshoe’r. I got within 10m after announcing my presence several times. Off the track was not an option for passing. Oh well.
I then tried to enter a trail that probably had less snow but the bike didn’t like the 5ft deep entrance …and I fell in a tree-well.

Stihldog well done my man ! I totally hear ya on the tree wells those can be really challenging to get out of. I was out over the weekend and
Stupidly my pride got in the way of my technique. What a hell of a ride, after choosing the stupidest climb ever , I ended up with a pedal strike near the summit . Carrying a fifty some pound ebike up an icy steep slope is a nut bag move but I didn’t have much choice in the matter. You know the story where you’re saying to yourself as you ride “ thank God I’m Not coming back this way !! “ Well no matter how much I practiced the wiggly while you look down the trail I crashed at least 5 times on a three hr ride. Momentum meaning Speed seemed the best way to navigate the rutted conditions but at the cost of bad crashes. Walking the bike out is near impossible so it’s back in the saddle for another round. Isn’t it amazing how fast you can be in the middle of nowhere and not really care until you have to walk out ! . Nooo you say and crash all the way back to the truck hrs later. I think this was the hardest snow ride to date for me. There was a nice frozen crust on the 3-4ft of snow that I could ride on top of until the rising temps made that impossible. What a ride , whoohoo!

 

[Jaspy]

Well, you're bringing a knife to a gunfight. A fatbike with 5" tires at 3-4 psi is the solution for that stuff, and even then, snowmobiles don't always pack it in enough.

Rick your right , but I have seen/followed a few fat bike tracks and they don’t seem to do much better. The studded 3.0 Wrathchild’s at 6psi hook up Amazing on ice but a few cms of deep pow and I’m done. Your right about the sleds too, I stopped on a narrow track and went to set my foot down and missed the trail and over I went into pow up to my waist. It can sure be hard trying to get back onto the bike and trail and get started again. I Love it , nothing but fun here !! Haha

 

[Jeff McD]

Hey Jaspy, wiggle faster, with only small movements. Also, never hold the front brake continuously, even lightly, while going down, but pulse it. When you pulse rapidly, before the front wheel can slide out it is running free again and will bite. Of course you can't pulse too hard or does slide out.
One place this absolutely will not work and nothing else will however is trying to ride black ice on a road in the winter even if you try to ride directly in the center of the road on the crown. That's a disaster without studded tires, unless someone knows a trick for that which would be interesting to hear.