Off-road riding etiquette: Lemmy's tips for happier trails

But put a motorcycle between my legs, and I try to be polite. I like people to help me when I need it, so I try to be helpful myself. I’ve been riding trails for a few years now, and I think that I have learned the ropes, but there are a lot of riders who don’t know exactly what to do when they hit the trail, be it solo or in a group. I try not to be the guy who tells other people what to do, so here are some things I do that you might think are courteous. If you do them, you might look all classy — even if you’ve got mud on your goggles.

Some things you know from the street apply here. If you’re gonna ride with a group you know to be way faster or slower than you, you need to let them know and let them decide if they’re in for the adventure. You gotta have tools handy and know how to fix your junk. And you have to ride safely(ish). But there are a few other things I think ya could do to be a social, helpful trail-burning maniac.

Leave it as you found it or better

This could be the most important bit of etiquette in this piece. Land is a resource. A valuable one. Whether you’re on public land or private, there are others who would like to use that resource. Be mindful of that. Don’t leave trash or cigarette butts in the woods. Don’t rework the landscape or cut your own trails. Don’t widen a trail unnecessarily, either. We have big suspension travel numbers. Use ‘em! Go over the log, not around it. Cross streams where the trail crosses them. Pay attention to signage.

If you see trash and you have room in your pack, bring it out. I’m not going to tell you where to ride, but this rule shouldn’t be tossed aside even if you’re riding illegally. One wrong ain’t right. Two ain’t helping the situation, either.

Take it easy in the parking lot

Man, I don’t know what it is, but it seems like every time I’ve gone to ride trails, I’ll take a nice lunch break at the trailhead and maybe grill some lunch or make myself a sandwich. Instead of having a nice quiet meal enjoying the woods, I wind up sucking down two-stroke smoke and getting roost dust as a condiment. It seems that there’s usually somebody who just can’t wait to tear it up and starts running hot laps in the parking area.

Please don’t. You’re chucking dirt up in the air and onto the tow vehicles, and the noise makes it hard to be social and talk to other riders. Remember, too, there are families with children out there and they’re not always the best at paying attention. We have the whole woods. If you gotta be a hot dog and wheelie on your way to the trail? No big deal. But using the parking area as a play pit is usually irritating to… well, pretty much everyone else.

Mind your distance

There is an optimal distance between bikes in a group. Don’t get so far back that you drop off, but also leave yourself room when the rider in front of you runs out of talent. You might think about a brake light. I’ve put one on all the off-road bikes I’ve owned. It’s not legally mandated, but it makes it easier for someone to see if I’m slamming on the brakes. Remember, traction sucks. Sliding a rear end is cool, until you’re doing it to avoid your buddy.

It’s not just us out there

Horses, hikers, mountain bikers, hunters, quads, side-by-sides… and I’m sure there are other trail users out there I am forgetting. Use your noodle. Don’t roost someone on foot or on a bicycle, that’s just mean. Slow down to pass someone on a bicycle so you don’t scare the bejesus out of them, and remember that the ruts we cut can be murder for a nice, flowy mountain bike trail; we often ruin them.

When in doubt, yield the right of way. If you come across horses, give them the right of way and turn off your bike. Some horsies spook easily, and taking a second to let them by peacefully is a kind gesture.

Also, be very, very mindful of blind hills and turns in two-track, because those are areas we all tend to pour on the coal. Two dirt bikes passing each other will be just fine, but if you crest a hill and find yourself nose-to-nose with a quad or a Jeep, your chances of surviving a tangle dwindle fast if you’re both carrying speed.

Wait up, yo

It’s pretty easy to get lost in the woods, because often it all looks the same. If you’ve brought someone with you, remember to wait for them if you hit a turn or a fork. It’s usually remote out here, and not everyone has a cell phone, and even if one does, service may not be a guarantee.

Lend a hand

Stopping for a stopped rider used to be common practice on and off-road. It’s becoming less common on the street, largely (I think) because so many people have a cell phone now, but off-road is different. Happily, off-road folks I run into all seem to be much more aware of this. Courtesy ain’t dead yet.

If you see someone pulled over, stop and make sure they are OK. Something as benign as a fouled spark plug at dusk might put someone in a really precarious position. And I don’t have to tell you what the consequences could be if someone is seriously hurt.

Don’t stop

belieeeeeeevin’/Hold on to that feeeeeelin’. I'm kidding. Sort of. More specifically, I mean don’t stop somewhere dumb. If you just navigated a hard uphill climb, don’t stop at the top. Keep going and give the person behind you adequate room to overrun once they crest the apogee. Similarly, if you need to stop and take a whiz, make sure your bike’s not on a blind curve or in a narrow part of a trail.  And if you come across someone needing aid, you may need to ride ahead, get off your bike, and do that gross walking thing.

Don’t roost

If you’re not racing, don’t keep spraying your buddy behind you. Once or twice every now and then just to be a dingleberry friend is OK, but constantly roosting your buddies will ensure their schedules magically fill up when you suggest future rides. Similarly, if you can spread out or slow down on dusty trails, your friends (and those you pass) will like you.

Bring extra

Spurg is real good about this. He always has tubes and tools and a smile for anyone who is in need. I try to always have a couple extra granola bars and jerky handy. When I rode a premix bike, I always carried my oil separately in case someone on a 4T machine ran outta gas. This is supposed to be fun, and sharing is easy. Most people will mooch off you and never get you back, and that’s cool — giving to someone who needs usually feels pretty good, even if you do get stuck paying for a 21-inch tube you never used.

Put on a spread

Speaking of extras, you can bring spares off the bike, too. Bring extra meat for the grill, maybe another pound of cold cuts, and toss a few more brews and Gatorades than you might normally drink in the cooler. Nothing — and I do mean nothing — is better than when you’re whupped and ride off the trail, take off your helmet, and the guy in the old Chevy next to you asks you what kind of beer you want with the sizzling brat he’s handing you. I’ve made so many friends just by being friendly and offering a handful of candy or a sandwich or a beer. Plus, it’s always nice to break bread with a friend, even if that friend is one you just made moments earlier. And being able to help out a rider who simply did not bring enough water borders on a religious act.

There are other ways to be a model trail rider, but these should get you off to a good start. If I missed any, well, you know what to do down there in the comments section. Happy trails. Literally!