While recently doing a long trail up a mountain, we'd struggled in ice and snow for 3 hours when my mate got a flat. We had everything to sort it apart from sandpaper to roughen the inner tube to provide a key for the glue. Worse, the puncture was right on a ribbed portion of the tube, so it never would have stuck

Noone wanted to head back to the car, and rubbing it with rocks proved useless. In the end my brother hit upon a genius idea:
Start another bike, put it in 3rd, then lift and hold it on its kickstand so the back wheel is off the floor. Establish a smooth, low revs and release the clutch. Carefully use the sidewall of the spinning back tyre to rough up the inner tube. Hold the innertube like you would a catapult, to ensure you have no dangling bits of tube that could get caught in the spinning tyre, and ensure when you touch the back tyre that the bit you touch is moving away from you, not towards, lest you break your thumb

It roughed it up a treat and with minimal effort. Better still the friction warmed the rubber so the glue set really quickly in the zero degrees C temps


I wont deliver too much of a "be careful" health and safety lecture.. I'm sure you could rip your hand off if you dont do this carefully, but then, you could break your neck just as easily ripping through the woods..

Anyone else got any tips I could find useful in trails riding?

A small long OEM (the ones that you put pin or screwdriver through) sparkplug socket can be made into a makeshift clutch or brake lever with the aid of some zipties.

In the event that I bust a radiator hose, I carry rescue tape, a ziplock baggie and a coffee filter in my pack. The rescue tape to fix the hose, the baggie to collect water from a stream or puddle and of course, the filter is used to filter particulates out of the water that is being put into the radiator.

Carry one 19" tyre as it will fit both in the front as in the rear.

On ice drill hex headed iron parkers in your knobbies. Works great off-road but be carefull on tarmac.



Carry some power glue with you to 'stitch' real deep wounds caused by studs. Please don't glue tissue, only skin to skin;-)

Edited by Noppy, 14 February 2012 - 10:55 AM.

Is a "hex-headed iron parker" what USA peeps refer to self-drilling, self-tapping screws as?

?



When towing another bike, take a strap and place it over the footpeg of each bike. Both riders should step hard on the strap to keep it from moving, but keeping a foot on it means eitheer party can quickly release in an emergency, just by lifting their foot

Edited by cjard, 16 February 2012 - 12:46 AM.

My best tip, and this goes double for those who ride solo, is to always assume you're going to get stranded, and equip yourself accordingly.

I ride solo a lot (I know, I know), and I've been stranded twice.  Both times I've been able to walk out same day, but I would have easily been able to survive for several days on the equipment in my pack.  Along with my tools and spares, I carry food (freeze-dried), a small water purifier, two solor blankets, a poncho, lighter + flint + wax soaked paper towl strips (tender), a GOOD first aid kit, and this season I'm even planning to bring along my Ruger SR40 and a SPOT 2 GPS on solo rides.  Other than the pistol, this kit weighs next to nothing considering the peace of mind it gives me.  I'm even thinking I might go spend a few days in the woods this summer just to test my kit!  Might be taking it a bit far, but I like to know I'm prepared.

pur3evil, on 16 February 2012 - 07:39 AM, said:

I like the way you think.

If stranded out on the trail in the dark, remove a headlight and battery as well as a couple wires so you have a portable flashlight to allow you to walk out if needed.  a guy i know did this one time...good idea.


Joe

When I was about 12 YO I was riding in a pit in town and I was alone. I stopped to adjust the chain on my DS 100 when I looked up to see about 10 wild dogs circleing me and growling. I was too young to carry then. I picked up one of my tools and threw it at the biggest one and they took off.

Pepper spray would have helped me if they grabbed my leg.

the best thing I have learned is to let someone know where you are going and when you shouls be back.

I carry a ton of crap on long trail rides or ds rides. walkr valley I minimize, but that is because it is easy to get out.

dirtbikegear.com fender bags..
3.25x21 tube
small bottle dish soap
two irons
big zip ties
12v slime compressor
cruzer multi tool (sockets, etc)
mini vice grips (broke shifters, levers)
crescent wrench
8,10,12 mini wrenches
multi screwdriver
elect tape
chain breaker
length of spare chain
two spare master links
allen set
spark plug wrench
sand paper
other assorted tools out of memory...

in backpack...
flashlight w/ battery that lasts 6+ hrs
leatherman
cellphone w/gps and cached maps
map
32oz water bottle
UV Steripen
mini first aid kit (antiseptic, bandages, tylenol, sewing kit, alcohol swabs)
8" folding saw
pocket knife
power bars
bandana or small rag
lighter

longer rides.. in pack too..
Yaesu ham radio (w local repeaters programmed in)
big whip antenna for extended range
2-way radio (for other person to communicate via yaesu)
space blanket
replace 8" saw with Corona saw
more power bars, 5hr energy drink
extra water bottle
extra layer, fleece top or something
extra mag for gun
TP


carry Glock20 or FiveSeven in crossbreed supertuck inside mx pants, works nicely.

I also put 25ft of rope behind my headlight for towing or making a lean-to.

have been able to get out of a lot of nasty situations by having the right tools.

Edited by n16ht5, 03 March 2012 - 07:21 AM.

I try to bring my cell phone, a can of bear spray, spark plug and some tools and a headlamp. The tools in case I can fix the poblem and the bear spray and headlamp if i cant and have to hike out/ or to the nearest cell reception.

what do you do when something as simple as a throttle cable breaks?? the one cable you cant go without.

the only reason i ever thought of it is because mine broke the other day. but i was right at the top of my driveway lol.

use the push cable as the pull... five minute fix...

I won't go into the laundry list of seemingly unnecessary crap, that I carry. What I will share is the emergency bivy sack, and the emergency blanket(which can double as an ultra-lite tarp). Both are ultra light & super compact. Either one might save my bacon, or keep an injured rider from dying, as a result of shock and/or exposure. The bivy is capable of reflecting as much as 80% of someones body heat back into themselves.

Edited by bowhunter007, 04 March 2012 - 10:21 PM.

a suggestion on the first aid side...a staple gun(like doctor uses for scalp wounds). small, light...hold a gaping cut closed, and staple it. bandage it up(even a makeshift bandage). you just might keep someone from losing too much blood. shock from loss of blood is a tough thing to deal with, in the backcountry. I had to sew a guy's leg once, 20 mi from the trailhead. It's harder than it sounds. I could have stapled & bandaged it in a couple of minutes, and moved on to other immediate needs(getting him out).

MCRIPPPer, on 04 March 2012 - 08:29 AM, said:

   turn your idle up if your cable breaks.

bowhunter007, on 05 March 2012 - 10:40 AM, said:

wow... where would a guy get one of those?  Have you seen the CTOM's turnakit (my spelling sucks) would that have helped?  On another not instead of flash light to reduce weight i carry a petzel led head lamp only weighs a few ounces and is good all night... straps to your head so keeps your hands free

somethingnuw, on 26 March 2012 - 08:11 PM, said:

tourneques are an absolute last resort, and can made out of anything, up to and including a long slender, green willow branch (or similar species). As far as a stapler...make friends with a nurse, or someone in a medical field. I can't reveal my source. The staples hurt like hell, but work.

Here's a weird situation that occurred in the wilds:
My friend and I were out riding on some really muddy trails and we see a tent pitched off in the woods a bit.  I thought, "man, that's a strange place to set up camp."  A bit further down the mud trail we see a guy hiking, holding hands with another guy who's dressed as a woman.  She was absolutely hideous!  So with a slight tip of the visor, we rode right on by.

Was that not the type of non-riding tip you were talking about?

Anyone have any tips on how to deal with a snapped clutch cable?  

Mine snapped on a test ride around the block yesterday, and it got me thinking "how would I deal with this on a gnarly trail 20 miles from the truck...."

Thanks!