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This is worth a read about an incident and the realities of winter riding.
#ThinkWinter
ACCIDENT
We were able to help out with an accident in the Loch Ard Forest yesterday which raised a few issues about cycling on the gravel trails at this time of year.
Two friends from Glasgow called yesterday morning shortly after crashing on a patch of ice in one of the remoter parts of the forest. Luckily they had a bit of a mobile signal and the “what three words” app so they were able to give an accurate location. Also they were in a location that I could access with the van without passing any locked gates.
I drove out with some warm kit, a thermos and first aid kit. One of the guys had badly hurt his hip and couldn’t move from sitting on the ground so we waited for the ambulance then all drove out to Drymen Road car park.
In the end they were stuck for about three and a half hours from time of the accident. The weather was reasonably mild but wet.
I know there aren’t many people riding at the moment, but there are a few issues that come to mind.
Although the weather has been well above freezing for a few days, there are still plenty of ice patches on the gravel roads and they are almost invisible.
There really is no way of carrying enough kit on a ride to sit in the rain for three hours comfortably, but it’s worth maybe taking a rucksack and a bivi bag. I would guess that you are unlikely to be very seriously injured gravel riding but surviving the environmental conditions might be your biggest problem.
There’s no mobile coverage in 80% of the forest so it could be five or six hours you need to wait and it might then be dark.
At this time of year there are very few people around. The guys today were on one of the busier works routes and a van did pass just before I got there, but there are certainly roads where no one passes on a typical day.
What Three Words and OS Locate do seem to work pretty well across the area and the ambulance switchboard could use the information to get right to the location.
I suppose the best thing you can do is tell someone your route and expected return time, as you would do on a hill walk for instance. It looks like mobiles will soon start to feature satellite connectivity for emergency texting, which will be a great safety improvement, but in the meantime it’s worth considering how minor a mechanical or physical mishap can leave you several hours from help in very unpleasant circumstances.
How long until the sun comes back? ☹️
A fair reminder
I suppose it depends on your definition of "comfortably" but when out with others in Winter I carry enough kit to at least be safe for several hours and when on my own enough to survive overnight if in remote areas
OS Locate looks like a worthwhile app, I've just installed it having read that FB post 👍
I always carry a space blanket and one of those emergency sleeping bags (packs up tiny and does not weigh much). I'm also a bit averse to ice, so switch tyres to spiked ones.
It is also worth being aware that it is possible to text to 999 - you need to register your phone by texting register to 999 and then replying yes to the text you receive.
When carrying things like bivvy bags and space blankets it's worth bearing in mind that depending on your injury or injuries you might not be able to get into a bag. Something you can wrap round yourself is probably the best, maybe a suitable emergency shelter, a two person one doesn't need to take up much space.
worth maybe taking a rucksack
We as bikers do seem to take way less gear with us than hikers, for the same location and conditions.
We as bikers do seem to take way less gear with us than hikers, for the same location and conditions
I agree.
Last winter i went out in the mountains in the snow on my own. I had a saddlebag and a frame bag to ensure I had the kit to survive overnight. Extra warm layer, proper bivvy big, full set of waterproofs.
My son rarely carries a pump, let alone any survival kit. He always laughs at me as I come complete with food, tools, a second top and a survival bag. Guess I’m still a hiker at heart ..lol
We as bikers do seem to take way less gear with us than hikers, for the same location and conditions.
Paging @thegeneralist !!!
I don't have a set amount of kit for a ride into/up the mountains. It very much depends on the weather forecast (and often just what I can see from my window). Winter means at least a waterproof jacket and a warm layer (Montane Prism). I always have one of those foil blankets in a bag somewhere but will replace it with a SOL bag on a longer trip.
We as bikers do seem to take way less gear with us than hikers, for the same location and conditions
I agree.
Never made sense to me, when I see bikers while hiking or biking myself. Up at 1000m or out on the windswept moors with just a jacket, maybe a hip pack or a tiny hydration pack. Even in summer I wouldn't be up on the big Lakes mountains in a t-shirt with just bottle of water like some.
Doing a more intense and more risky activity, with a complex machine (i.e. bike) to keep running. But yet having less stuff with you. I think there's some logic in that when biking (like say fell running) you're in fast mode, not going to be out as long (if all goes ok).
I do pare down my kit for biking compared to hiking. Can't have a big 30L rucksack bouncing around.
After reading this, I've come to realise that I don't really carry any emergency provisions other than some basic spares and tools. I think I should maybe be more prepared.
Anyone have a list of what you should carry?
Maybe a Singletrack article on this might be good?
Anyone have a list of what you should carry?
Depends where you're going and for how long. Remote stuff like in the OP's story - a space blanket and warm jacket is a good call.
Local stuff, busy with walkers etc, much less so.
Anyone have a list of what you should carry?
That is a judgement only you can make.
I do however, after too long working with groups outdoors, tend to carry more than many. Even on road rides in winter I have spare layers, 2x buff and extra gloves, those chemical handwarmers to use as hot water bottle, toolkit and my SOL bivvy.
Local woods, basically as above.
Further afield off-road- just add layers, food, hot drink, first aid kit, and a wee foam mat to sit on.
Really further afield I add in my waterprooof trousers, proper hat and gloves, proper ultralight two person bivvy bag/KISU etc.
A big one not to forget is to tell someone your route and return time - we have family WhatsApp and any of us post on where we are heading and eta of return.
When carrying things like bivvy bags and space blankets it’s worth bearing in mind that depending on your injury or injuries you might not be able to get into a bag. Something you can wrap round yourself is probably the best, maybe a suitable emergency shelter, a two person one doesn’t need to take up much space.
Good point.
I have a foil blanket which used to come on most rides, when I just had the one backpack.
Now I'm swapping between different packs I must admit it often gets left behind.
I'm going to order a couple more now.
That's a good share Matt.
We as bikers do seem to take way less gear with us than hikers, for the same location and conditions.
That's not me!* I still wear a loaded EVOC bag on all rides, year-round, although that's partially for the back protector properties - also because one of my bikes can't easily be fitted with a bottle cage. Bag contents vary depending on ride and time of year, but
* Waterproof jacket (packable in summer, thicker in winter)
* Decent tool selection inc things like mech hangers, spare pads, inner cable etc), spare tube, usual tubeless stuff etc plus pump (not co2)
* Spare gloves
* Buffs x 2
* Windproof gilet
* Foil blanket (did have two but one fell apart and not yet replaced)
* Extra warm upper layer (winter only)
* Hat (winter only)
* Although we did raid @StirlingCrispin's 30L rucksuc of most of its contents before he set out on a lap of Trentham Gardens at SITS 24hr BITD, including a handheld GPS unit, waterproof trousers and multiple jackets, possibly a map of North Wales too...
Given the current situation with the ambulance service if you have an accident you could be waiting a long time for assistance, no matter where you are riding it makes sense to take extra layer's etc
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/are-you-prepared-for-the-worst/
We as bikers do seem to take way less gear with us than hikers, for the same location and conditions.
Yep, walking in winter (or even summer) I always carry stuff to spend an uncomfortable night on the fells, but biking much less kit (although always have some spare clothes and a space blanket).
I have a foil blanket which used to come on most rides, when I just had the one backpack.
Now I’m swapping between different packs I must admit it often gets left behind.
I’m going to order a couple more now.
I have a generic F.A.K. which contains a space blanket and this gets carried whenever we're going off road (walking, MTB or gravel). Gets used quite a lot as my wife is very good at crashing...
@a11y
Guilty as charged. Although I do remember sitting in the corral at the 2nd SITS 24hr race when a rider came in having taken in excess of 6hrs to do a lap!
I have also done a yoof ride with @matt_outandabout where one of the designated leaders (a certain SurroundedByHills) turned up with a map of the next valley.
In a real emergency I would simply convert a CO2 cartridge into a Humane Killer and go back for the corpse the next day....
turned up with a map of the next valley.
I had forgotten about that.. 😆😆😆
A few useful links:
Small bothy/bivvy/kisu bags are great. My two person can squeeze three in. I thoroughly recommend these: https://www.summitgear.co.uk/product-category/bothy-bags/supalite-bothy-bags/
I have used for a few hours a SOL emergency bivvy while practising with Mountain Rescue - 3hrs+ in about 1*c and raining, perfect hypothermia terrritory, and with all my clothes, a SOL and sat on my rucksack I was warm enough. Below zero would have got uncomfortable if it was much longer. - https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/sol-emergency-bivvy-with-rescue-whistle/
Buffs - are lighter than most hats, and two of them have much more coverage.
First aid - I have made my own smaller one, basically there to resuscitate someone or duck tape a leg back on. Everything else is but a scratch... YMMV.
My phone: I have OS Locate https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/apps/os-locate/ and OS Maps subscription https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/os-maps-12-months-recurring-subscription/ and pre-download maps. I also print maps if on a long / properly wilde trip. Plus compass and whistle (which is on all my bags now, built into sternum clip).
I have a few small off-cuts of old karrimat I tuck down the back of all my rucksacks and even a tiny one in my bum bag - they make a huge difference sat down on cold ground.
I *always* carry a charged rear light - great on road, but also ideal in flash mode on the hills to help locate you.
Any other tips?
In a real emergency I would simply convert a CO2 cartridge into a Humane Killer and go back for the corpse the next day….
Reminds me of a quote back in the day on some staff training for heading to Greenland. They were discussing that the supplied guns would not reliably stop a polar bear at any distance, and likely just really piss it off...
"So what is the point in having a gun?" asks my colleague.
"You can always shoot the geologist you are guiding in the foot and run. The bear will eat the evidence for you...." came the reply.
Loads of good advice up there. I've always been able to either self-rescue or get the injured person to a road, and with a Trans Cambrian on the books for later this year, I'm starting to think about what needs to happen if either of those aren't possible. A bothy bag is probably going on the kit list as a result - I should have got one years ago.
Short local rides: I continually swap bags because one of my bikes doesn't have bottle bosses, so I got survival blankets for each one. They take up next to no room and weigh nothing. I ride in the Surrey Hills mostly, since it's on my doorstep. Even here it can take a while to get help to people - certainly longer than it takes for someone to get really cold if they're lying down or standing around with an injury. What Matt says up there about insulation from the ground is really important. It's like a massive heat sink.
Another bit of get-you-home kit I've used several times (yay - flinty local trails) - cut up an old toothpaste tube to use as a tyre boot.
A big one not to forget is to tell someone your route and return time
x10000
In 2020 my FiL (who lived alone) went for a country walk on a sunny Thursday in November. He had a heart attack en route, and the alarm was not raised until he failed to turn up to a friend's on Friday night. We had no clue where he was, the police just said his car was seen going North out of town, and we found his body on Saturday night.
His mobile phone hadn't been switched on (another mistake, they could have tracked it) which suggests it was quick and he couldn't call for help. But even so. If we'd known roughly where he was, we could have all been spared one of the most gruellingly unpleasant Saturdays you can imagine.
I like to be prepared. I rarely go for a big day out ride. Would go on a big walk so would carry all the stuff, on the bike I'm bikepacking (so have lots of kit) or out for a local ride.
Big fan of the bothy bag, have a supalite (plus another cheaper, heavier one). Only had to use it once in anger, which really was to get my daughter out of the wind/rain for enough time to calm her down and get some food in her. More of a prevent something happening down the line than dire emergency
Local rides from home I ride with a hip pack. As it's local and I'm rarely out for more than 3 hours riding in total, main bits are
- insulated gilet (mainly because it's cold on the way home from the pub). and/or packable waterproof, windproof gilet
- in winter i'll include buff and skull cap if I'm not already wearing it
- Very light, minimalist FAK with space blanket
- Spare lights (blinkies that can do both red and white, plus a head torch for emergencies)
If I'm using a rucksack (on the bike or on foot) then I'll nearly always have a sit mat with me. So light and so useful when you're stopped. Big fan
EDIT - nice reminder for a thread. It would be no fun getting caught out in the wrong weather in the wrong place
I take a micro, foil lined survival bag like this https://harrierrunfree.co.uk/products/emergency-survival-bag as well as a space blanket. If I can get in to the bag the blanket may be wrapped around me as well, or if I'm walking I can use the blanket. If i can't get in to the bag, i can use the blanket.
If you've disolcated your shoulder its pretty much impossible to get smock type tops on to stay warm.
There's a PDF about Hypothermia here https://www.everythingoutdoors.co.uk/hypothermia-facts-causes-treatment/
Take a binbag. Because you can make a hole for a head and the rest of the body sits inside out of the wind. You can wrap a space blanket before you apply the binbag over the head, but you'll want to get that torso out of the wind and you might not be able to move the arms around (see dislocated shoulder and broken collar bones). They are also waterproof. You can apply a buff around the neck too.
If you spend a lot of time on your own in difficult to reach places then obey a very simple rule.
Dress for the mountain, not the bike.
I learned an addendum one time when I had an accident after hitting sheet ice hidden under an inch of snow. My body started chilling down right away.
I was dressed lightly to minimise sweating but I was carrying my Buffalo shirt. The trouble was it was a pullover one, and my shoulder was buggered. I couldn't get it on because of the pain which backs up Pieface's warning.
The lesson was make sure you can put on your warm gear while somewhat handicapped.