How to get found after the accident

Thanks for posting, useful info! 

Not only for winter and not where you expect! We came across this in France early July. We had stopped to regroup and been there 5 or 10 minutes before we spotted the bike! The casualty is not visible, 2 rescuers are. If this had happened 2 days later the casualty would have been in the water! 

A bloke I know through running went for a “quick” run up on the Eastern Edges in the Peak District a few years ago, not winter but autumn from memory and cool (perfect running weather you might argue). Just took his running kit nothing else. Tripped and broke his leg just above White Edge Lodge (for those that know it), so within sight of civilisation and no more than about 500m from a main road.

It took about an hour I think for someone to pass by and luckily raise the alarm. By which point he was starting to get the onset of hypothermia. As you might imagine he’s not so complacent now and I’ll always run or ride with some emergency kit be it a bivy bag and/or blanket, small first aid kit and a charged phone somewhere warm.

A handy set of reminders

I do think people can be a bit naive about this stuff. I did an event last summer. My assessment was that I carried the bare minimum for a say a bust limb at a remote part of the ride. I had a light insulated jacket above what i needed to wear moving. In addition to a water proof that I did wear. I was also carrying some food, water, tools first aid kit. I was actually asked by another person doing the event why I was carrying so much. They explained that b they always carried a jacket. But they meant a thin water proof in addition to tyre cycle jersey and shorts they were wearing. I didn’t fancy my chances in the wind and rain at 500m if immobilised. They had no chance

I didn’t fancy my chances in the wind and rain at 500m if immobilised. They had no chance

Then there are those that went into the winter conditions Baltic Sea in a soft based life-raft wearing nothing (literally naked) who survived. It's a difficult one to quantify but more kit is usually better and I wouldn't be gambling with my safety.

Roger really knows his stuff. Like really, really knows his stuff.

I thought this was a useful article.

Yep saw that on FB and read it. Sensible advice.

Aways carry a rescue bivvy and a couple of foil blankets after coming across a lass who had speared herself with the un-capped end of her handlebars. Gave her and partner my waterproof. Early April, only on the blue at Llandegla, but it was cold and windy once stopped. They just had t-shirts.

Whe  we are in Scotland if more isolated areas I normally take the PLB I use for sea kayaking. Its small light and if it works its a good backup.

I also carry a decent amount of spare clothing.

A good reminder. Thanks. 

I have started to carry a bit of kit when I go running. If I turned an ankle soaked in sweat I would freeze pretty quickly. 

+1 on the PLB (Ocean Signal RescueMe) as I mainly bike alone in remote areas. I did drop Santa some subtle hints about a Motorola Defy Satellite Link. https://hikingguy.com/hiking-gear/motorola-defy-satellite-link-review/ - Guess we'll see what tomorrow brings.

We use Garmin InReach Mini at work for solo field engineers, but the contract is a bit pricy for personal use.

I also always carry a survival bag. Never needed any of this stuff and it would be nice to keep it that way.

Big hills then an extra jumper. Round home. Nope, the pigs will eat me and the place is so bloody busy that peace and quiet is at a premium.

Taking survival stuff into the wilds is all good advice, but as I found a few years ago, you can get screwed up on a solo local ride. I had no backup in place, but fortunately even with concussion (and broken jaw) managed a garbled phone call with a mate who came to find me and subsequently called an ambulance, so in that instance was lucky.

Now I always send a Strava beacon to the Mrs. And also generally wear a smart watch that has fall detection

Always have a super bright dayglo jacket with me, and recently bought a helmet with a Recco reflector built in (dont even if thats supported by UK SAR?).

My Garmin watch has accident detection, but  is way too sensitive to be of any use, any ideas if that can be adjusted?

That is a great article. I always carry a foil blanket. I used to always carry a bothy but have got lazy. Doh. 

And my favourite winter riding coat is my black alpkit buffalo like coat. Doh. 

As an alternative to Strava beacon which requires remembering to turn it on, I'd suggest something like life360 or other family trackers.

Lights, always take an extra one. 

 I always carry a foil blanket.

Foil blankets are pretty useless, the SOL bag shown above is a much better option.

Worth remembering that folk disappear when driving - come off the road and are not found for days.  The M9 case was a particularly distressing incident*.  Quite sobering when you consider even road cycling.  A contributor to Geograph got stuck in a ditch while walking just outside Southampton and was not found until it was almost too late. It's not just the hills.

* I believe that was actually called in but the nascent Police Scotland did not follow it up.

Good advice. I bust my knee walking not that far from Hebden Bridge a few years ago. Wet and cold typical 5 mile winter British walk. No mountain rescue for 2.5 hours due to a mistake by the police call handler. My damn Sol bivy was in my other rucksack. My own fault but I was really bloody cold by the time MRT got to me. 

The photos in the link are really illustrative of colours in the landscape.

I'll be taking a good look at my grey waterproof jacket.... 🤨

Foil blankets are pretty useless, the SOL bag shown above is a much better option.

I carry a foil blanket but have to say I did think about the what ifs yesterday clattering down some Peak descents on my own in pretty tasty weather, what with it being xmas Eve and not many people about.

I have a 4 person storm shelter I used to take kayaking but it's years old now and a bit big to carry biking.

I've just ordered one of those Sol bags so will pack that in future. 👍

As an alternative to Strava beacon which requires remembering to turn it on, I’d suggest something like life360 or other family trackers.

The problem with all the find a phone options as they return nothing if you are out of range. Strava beacon will at least fine Jay known location and direction of travel

good article this, and it comes at a ideal time for me.

i am heading to Norway in a few weeks time, to ride in a Fatbike race/event. the Norwegians seem like a pretty cautious bunch and obviously well clued up to dealing with problems in bad weather.  the mandatory survival list of gear, only to be used in a emergency is very precise........... and expensive.

yes, very good article.

Is that the Fat Viking race? Have a great time regardless!

My Garmin watch has accident detection, but is way too sensitive to be of any use

Mine disables accident detection by default if up choose MTB as an activity, amongst others. Too many abrupt decelerations for it to be of use.

The workarounds is to use Bike activity.

We use Spot trackers at work for remote lone working.
My wife also used to use them in her old job and considered it just a body retrieval aid due to the remoteness from help.

As an alternative to Strava beacon which requires remembering to turn it on, I’d suggest something like life360 or other family trackers

I Strava every ride and it prompts you to send the beacon when you start it up

Good article.

We had a local rescue where the rescue services were informed after the rider failed to return home for his  tea,
Mountain rescue started searching in a remote area away from where we normally ride, but the rider was eventually found unconscious next to the path in the lower woods.  The flashing rear light on his bike saved his life.

The photos in the link are really illustrative of colours in the landscape.

I’ll be taking a good look at my grey waterproof jacket….

That's a strong take away for me too. My Osprey bag has a luminous yellow and reflective cover which gets damp in its pocket, so I had taken it out. I've just popped it back in but inside a sandwich bag so I can leave it there.

It's another reason I just won't buy black or grey cycling tops.

I have recently got a os map subscription. I was using it on my phone, in the Lakes for some low level walking, my phone had my position up to a km from where I was.

Beware of using phones for navigation. (I normally use a paper map or gps for proper navigation.

I don't do much remote or even semi remote stuff these days but my winter road bike always has a foil blanket gaffer tapped under the saddle. It's surprising how cold a crash victim gets when shock sets in. They are also very useful for putting on car seats when a passing driver offers a lift to hospital or home which has happend a few times.

If I do go remote it's usually an overnighter these days so would have full kit. Dread to think when could have happened back in the day when I was young gung ho and lived in the Lakes. Familiarity can breed complacency

Good one to raise.

I've had to deal with 2 unconscious bikers decked out (on the road, but you get the point) - one near home but the other up a Swiss Alp.

Also, my best mate bust his collar bone  when he had a fairly innocuous 'off' on a cold January mid week ride, middle of Wales, literally off the map we had (as we knew the route for that bit), furthest point from the car,  and of course no phone signal for miles.   We did have enough kit, and got ourselves out - but it's a good reminder that without some spare clothing and 1st aid kit with the right sort of stuff and knowing how to use it, it could have been a lot more serious if hypothermia had set in.

A foil lined emergency bivvy bag takes up so all space - the size of a mini sausage roll !

I have recently got a os map subscription. I was using it on my phone, in the Lakes for some low level walking, my phone had my position up to a km from where I was.

Beware of using phones for navigation. (I normally use a paper map or gps for proper navigation.

Been using the OS App for years and it's always absolutely spot on.....

My iPhone gps works fine most of the time, but does go walkabouts quite often.  If you are aware of where you are roughly you can spot this and wait for it to settle back.

I've listened to a few podcasts recently (American) that talk about letting out a rescue ribbon. That you can tie to something nearby and that flaps in the wind, or can be set out on the floor. These seem to be a great idea and I'll be looking to find something suitable in the UK. 

If anyone knows of anything good let me know. 

Slightly daft suggestion but surely you could make your own that would be suitable?

My own fault but I was really bloody cold by the time MRT got to me.

Local to me, an elderly lady slipped and broke her hip on some icy cobblestones. Just walking back from the shops, she was dressed as a normal person would dress in those cold conditions, sensible warm clothing but not "full on outdoors" kit.

This was in a populated place and it took about 8 people bringing duvets, coats etc, someone even brought a gazebo to build over her and even then it was still touch and go. She obviously couldn't move and by the time the ambulance got there (it took AGES), she was frozen from lying on the cold cobbles. We called 999 several times to escalate it and the first ambulance that turned up was a response vehicle, not something that she could be lifted into.

If that had been out on the hills, a MTBer or runner in basic "it's warm enough for exercise but not sitting around in the wind", things could have been even more serious.

She made a full recovery.

If that had been out on the hills, a MTBer or runner in basic “it’s warm enough for exercise but not sitting around in the wind”, things could have been even more serious.

There were some videos doing the rounds a few years back of hill runners sitting still in their running kit. It wasn’t long before they were all shivvering wrecks.

The bit I'm not so good at is leaving a detailed note. Very simple and doesn’t take long but I often forget.

bringing duvets, coats etc, someone even brought a gazebo to build over her

This is why I carry my hand warmer things. They belt out heat for the first 3 hours or so then calm down a bit. At some point a casualty can be cooling down and need a heat source - another body, or these 'hot water bottle' hand warmers.

Hi Dick. Yes, I could and intend to. Just didn't know if anyone else had some decent ideas. 

I'm asking as I can't find it doing a basic Google search, so assuming you've seen something somewhere and could imitate or replicate it...is it just a long piece os material that is brightly coloured that you could tie somewhere to help attract attention?

I bought a pack of silver foil blankets and two rescue bivvies. I've shoved foil blankets in my commute panniers and road kit just in case. We had a chap fall off his bike and break a hip on the commute last year.

That you can tie to something nearby and that flaps in the wind, or can be set out on the floor.

Might just be taken as some litter left lying around.

Guess it depends where you are.... Remote Montana mountain top or Yorkshire fell. 

Will always take a jacket with me, might be waterproof/windproof or something with a bit of insulation. 

If going further afield or hiking then I've an emergency drybag that's always In my bag. In it is an emergency shelter, 2 foil blankets, hand warmers, head torch, glow stick, some paracord, old garmin gps with talky toaster maps, small emergency power bank, a few spare batteries and a kendal mint cake. 

Never needed it, still bring it. 

I've had GPS issues a few times with my phone. Turning it off and on again reset it.

Been using the OS App for years and it’s always absolutely spot on…..

I've opened it a few times only for it to display the full user interface but no actual map. Even after force closing or restarting the phone.

ViewRanger once updated their map files format and pushed out an automatic app update which wasn't compatible with the new format. Cue me out of signal opening up the app and no maps available.

With a paper map as backup, I know for certain that nobody is dicking around with it.

Hi Dick. I've not seen anything but was listening to the Real Survival Stories podcast. It talked about a bloke who came off his quad in Alaska and used some to try and attract attention. He tied them to his handlebar and let them out. I've not seen it heard of anything like it. 

I'll have a go at making some in the new year, and post some pics. Hopefully what I create won't look like rubbish, but you never know!! 

Foil blankets are only good at being a wind break and waterproof. I wouldn't want to rely on one in heavy wind. Probably make a good emergency ribbon for flagging down a passing helicopter though.

If your stuck on the floor the issue is hypothermia from the floor below, it doesn't matter how many duvets you pile on top you'll still be cold. It doesn't matter how warm the day is or the people around you are, the person on the floor can become hypothermic very quickly.

If your properly bleeding (internally or externally) and cold, your in a bad place.

A heat source is invaluable, place a hand warmer in the groin and each armpit and layer up.

I’ve opened it a few times only for it to display the full user interface but no actual map. Even after force closing or restarting the phone

Mine takes about 30 seconds to open.
It can be really clunky.