A safety reminder

HeliMark

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2013
Messages
995
Location
Tennessee
Some recent comments in another part of the forum prompted me to write this as something we do not always think about. Here is the text before I deleted it to move it here.

Quote from Checkswreak:
"First off, I'm glad that **** is OK after his deer hit. A number of members have hit deer and we know all too well how fast it happens. Plus, Encinal Canyon, Mulholland, and the other roads in ****'s area would've been all too easy to go off the side and not be found for a long time. "


As an add on as far as safety, and this applies to anywhere in the world, please carry some kind of noise maker, mirror, and/or a bright object on you. Until I retired, I was one of the helicopter pilots for the law enforcement agency that covers that area, along with the "famous" Angeles Crest. Many many times over the years I have searched for people over the side of the road in both cars and motorcycles, and the proverbial lost/overdue hiker (X1000). Some have been found, some not. But the important thing is that you have something that does not match the terrain. A searcher, or even a passerby, will see an unusual object moving, or hear (on the ground) a loud noise. Although it doesn't look like it, the sage brush in most canyons here in California is 6-10 feet tall (reason fires are so bad here), and someone under it is extremely hard to find without help.

99% of the people here that have gone over the side without being seen, are found due to yelling/honking their horn.

Many times over the years I have asked the people that have been rescued why they didn't even waive for help. Most have said that they thought we would see them lying down, or the car. Funny how untrue that is from even 300' in rugged terrain.

So please, carry some of this stuff on YOU. Your bike most likely will not stay with you on the way over.

Mark
 

ace50

Active Member
Joined
May 19, 2015
Messages
640
Location
VA
Not a bad idea.
I took apart a computer hard drive once and found the magnetic disc's come apart easily and make great mirrors (highly polished) and are not glass so they wont break. Guess I'll throw one in my bike!
 

rider33

New Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2015
Messages
203
Location
the wilds of western Wisconsin
it's always sort of puzzled me that the predominate motorcycle clothing color is black, 'harder to see on or off the road. I get that black hid the oil spewing from the total loss oil system or maybe the non-0 ring chain but really, how long has it been since that is much of an issue? I wear a lighter colored 'Stich most of the time: water proof, temp adjustable, good crash protection, and acres of reflective material; 'don't leave home without it. Re: dear: I use to really enjoy riding at night. Now I avoid even dusk/dawn given the dear thing. I have no idea what dear populations have grown to but it seems in these parts that there are a hell of a lot more of them than there use to be even 10-15 years ago. Avoiding when they are active can improve your odds, as can slowing down and wearing the proper gear. Dead critters by the side of the road are your signal to slow down and keep your eyes pealed.
 

shrekonwheels

New Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2014
Messages
772
Location
Montana
My father always pushed simple preparations, of course most of this was wilderness related, however as you pointed out it applies now. i have a whistle he gave me which I carried for the bulk of my hunting excursions in my pack. It is arguably a lost tool that could help, and I plan n carrying one in my pocket everywhere from this point on.
I have been an advocate of bright colors for some time now, but I never really thought about it in relation to what you mentioned.

I live in deer hell, so I follow a few rules to help increase my odds. I try to use routes with better visibility, meaning where the tree/shrub line is cut back and grass lower. I try to keep my front brake covered, ride below the posted limit, and way below at night, which I try to avoid. I also try not to ride in the mornings and evenings, regardless it happens so heightened awareness at the these times is best.
 

UpToNoGood

Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2016
Messages
45
Location
Fort Worth
My Dad has a plastic whistle around his neck. We call it his rape whistle he can use if someone it trying to rape him. ::025::
 

Madhatter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Messages
3,846
Location
buda texas
blowing a whistle takes less energy and effort than hollering HELP.... especially if injured .... there are like everything else out there different whistles , some are better than others , none are real expensive....
 

SilverBullet

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
1,171
Location
Harmaston, TX
How would EMS know to search for you? Going over a cliff or off the road typically would go by unnoticed unless a car just happened to see you. Whatever you wear or whatever type of sound or visual signal you carry pales in comparison to a GPS tracker. That is the only fail safe solution IMO when your life could be on the line. I ride solo 95% of the time and always ensure at least one family member plus one friend is keeping tabs on my tracker periodically. I have a "check in" signal for end of the day and unplanned stops so an extended lapse in my movement gets the ball rolling. With the tracker they have the exact coordinates to locate me by. This assumes I am immobile or unconscious and unable to trigger the SOS button on my GPS tracker. If that is done the search/evac process gets started immediately.

_
 
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