The Victorian Government has engaged with riders to resolve conflict between riders, resident and other forest users.

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There's hardly anywhere to ride legally in NSW.

Land developers, policy exclusion, clowns and noise has resulted in closure of nearly all available areas.

Now there are Environmental problems as riders push into areas they would not have used previously.

Erosion from new track creation, grooving of water diversion banks (roll-overs), creek bank destruction and spreading of weeds and diseases from unwashed machines are all problems now.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
23 November 2010

RECREATIONAL MOTORCYCLING IS A TOURIST BOOM

The Motorcycle Council of NSW (MCC of NSW) calls upon the NSW state government to immediately introduce Recreational Registration for off-road motorcycles along the lines of the Victorian model.

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The most obviously sensible point about organising a ride is one that is often missed by inexperienced leaders. It has to be established, right from the start, that the ride is within everyone’s capabilities. The degree of difficulty of the route therefore, should not stress the least skilled rider in the group. This may mean that the ride is restricted to roads, or it may mean that you’ll need to deviate around a hill or two, or it may require spending time with a few of the group before the ride, raising their skill levels. Splitting the group at various points to avoid hard spots is a good move, but only if you have competent second lead and sweep riders who know the route. Dragging inexperienced riders into bad territory is poor leadership and the result is usually disharmony, injury and a very dark and late finish.

Judging skill levels is very difficult if you don’t know the riders, so watch the group closely for the first few ks of the ride to get an idea of how they’re travelling. You may have to change the route to ensure all involved can cope, so be prepared for that with a pre-planned back-up course. Determining the distance to be covered is tricky as well. You can only travel as fast as your slowest rider, and the bigger the group the slower it travels. What is a one-day ride for you and a couple of mates can take a full two days with a group of 20. Err on the short side, and have pull-out points so you can cut and run if daylight is getting slim.

You will of course need maps of the route, good communications and be prepared to use first aid skills. Ride leaders should have a heavy backpack, carrying extra of everything. The high energy jelly beans you get from chemists are a fantastic secret weapon, with a handful of them being enough to get a tired rider operational again. Double up on tubes and patches, have gas bottles and a pump, and UHF radio contact with the sweep is highly advised. Extra fuel capacity is also a good idea, because a lead rider often has to go back, or forward, to sort out problems.