How big is too big??

[Jaynelson]

4 is the magic number for me. Quick and easy to get out of most "stucks," not too many to keep track of, and the terrain doens't get ridden out too quickly. Plus it's fun to have a few people to BS with when you stop or eat lunch, whatever. Most of our rides have 2,3 or 4 people.

A larger group can be really fun, but it usually turns into more of a screw-around than a serious ride. Which is a nice change sometimes.....go to the cabin, check out sleds, drink some beer, play in the fields, etc. Nothing wrong with that sometimes.

 

[Bagger]

D and I usually ride together. Sometimes I go alone. (I don't want to hear it.) But, when it's just the two of us, there are places we don't go. Have one other buddy that goes, and I'd trust him with my life and V/V. When he's along we get a little froggier. Would like to add a fourth, but not just any fourth.....ya know?
Have met up with larger groups in the hills and been invited to go. Usually pass....not to be rude, just don't want to be a "Pack". B

 

[Redneck Farmer]

6 or less is good. We that have to travel usually go in a big group. I've been on a couple trips where there was 12 of us. You want to talk about a fricken hassle. 3 guys who had never ridden in the mountains to worry about, one idiot who has a lot of experience but likes to disappear at times, and then the rest of us. Never again. If that situation ever arrises again we're splitting into groups. If we have to we'll draw straws.

 

[Bagger]

one idiot who has a lot of experience but likes to disappear at times If we have to we'll draw straws.

RF, don't give the idiot a straw........ B

 

[BackCountryBob]

Three min, 5 max. It is always best to have an odd number to break an "opinion" tie. On the odd occasion there are only 2 of us we generally stay away from known hazards--even with Sno-bungies. With 5 riding the trees, the last guy usually gets to ride over stumps/dead fall and trenched out snow.

Radios and avy gear is a must have.

 

[summitdude]

3 to 4 is best..no more than 5! with 3-4 we put on the most miles,,and always stay together having a blast! with much more riders it turns into a circus sometimes..and is not much fun....especially when it gets deep and guys getting stuck everywhere! one time last season it was like that! i was so burnt out from pulling people out that i was too exhausted to ride and play! it was one of those times when i actually got angry sledding!

 

[REV414]

The reason I asked is I am contacted by people quite often to go to the snowies.
I try not to be rude or anything, but I have had some people get pissed that I won't lead their group of 15 people. The type of riding I (and the other 2 in my group) do precludes large groups of people.
As has been stated, it is hard to get 15 people thru the a single hole.
I was just wondering what everyone else thought.

Ollie, I had contacted you about going riding and I don't blame you at all. I don't mind 4 or 5 when you can trust them all, but when they are newbies its hard to know what your getting yourself into. Hopefully I'll get to ride with you sometime this winter though.

 

[xcrash911]

When I am in a group of more then 4 I will usually "pair up" with someone in the group. That way I know at least one person is looking out for me and I am looking out for them.

 

[Cyle]

My last trip to the mountains was 4, this time it will be 6, can't say I think it will be much different, beside that both of the others coming are very new to the mountains. My group has a specific order we travel in, so you know who is suppose to be in front and behind you, so you know right away if someones missing, and the 2 people riding behind/infront can narrow down were they got away from the group. I've rode with around 12 2 times and it was horrid yes, because it's really hard to even tell if someones missing, but that was my group meeting up with another, and we just look out for our own group.

 

[beer gut]

There's no "magic number" as far as I'm concerned. I've ridden with 5 and it seems like too many. But this Monday - Thursday I'll be riding the Flattops of Colorado with a minimum of 8 and possibly as many as 12, and we're gonna have a blast! We're all good friends, all from North Dakota or ex-ND. We'll just find a play area, bash it up (should take about 3 minutes), round 'em up and move to the next spot. Most of us know the area real well, and we look out for the couple guys that don't. I usually go last and never let one rider go anywhere alone.

I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, though.

 

[Ex-Member]

zomg bagger... your avatar made me throw up in my mouth a little

way to go... !

 

[R J]

Perfect size group IMO is around 3-5. Lets call it 4 or the same caliber riders.

2 is ok but you don't dare do too much because there is only two of you to get unstuck or worse if it comes to safety your are kind of hosed in a way. 3 works and is super easy to ride from sun up to sun down. 4-5 is good as you can rest, some will screw around and then when they are taking it easy the other guys can screw around. That way you kind of have an idea of where everyone is at and you aren't constantly going around and getting people un-stuck.

6+ is a train wreck anywhere that has trees, gully's or creeks in sight.