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I have been riding back roads all spring and have not had any problem with dust because most of the time I am alone. I am hoping to do some group riding soon in the near future.

On to the dumb question:

Do people ride with something to cover their nose and mouth to filter out some of the dust when following other bikes or do you ride far enough apart so you don't need to?

...and for a more constructive reply....

Some people do wear a bandana, although most people I have ridden with do not. Spacing out is the thing to do, imo. As long as everybody waits for the rider behind when making turns, it's fine for a group of 10 riders or more to be spaced out over 2 miles or so.

With just 2 bikes, I like to ride side-by-side so nobody eats dust. You can also tail right behind the lead bike and avoid most of the dust, but you get hit with rocks and you'd better watch for the leader to stop, turn, etc.

I'm actually not too bothered by eating the dust. This is most likely because I grew up a dirt-farming KS boy. Sometimes mom would serve dirt for dinner with a side of dirt. For desert, we'd have dirt ala mode--a real treat.

After 100 miles of eating dust while wearing a motocross helmet, the patterns of dirt on the faces is funny.

I h8t dirt but love mud. Well thats what I call it anyway. Its very good. Try it.


1 part refried beans
1 part salsa Con Queso (Tostitos)
1 part Salsa. med.

Mix, warm in microwave, dip with your favorit tortilla chip. One happy tummy. mmmmmmmmmmmmm mud

T

Hayden wrote:I h8t dirt but love mud. Well thats what I call it anyway. Its very good. Try it.


1 part refried beans
1 part salsa Con Queso (Tostitos)
1 part Salsa. med.

Mix, warm in microwave, dip with your favorit tortilla chip. One happy tummy. mmmmmmmmmmmmm mud

T

Oh?, are we sharing recipes now?? Troy might call this gay, but he'll just have to get over it!

1 pound hamburger
1 jar med. salsa
1 block velveeta cheese

Melt and simmer in crock pot...mmmmmmmmmmmIER
It's a meal all in itself. with corn tortillas of course

I would suggest taking a bandana along with you and at the first restroom break you can put it on if needed. Spacing really helps and I have been on some rides where you can't see the guy in front of you until the next corner. That is if they wait on you at the corner....

Also, don't forget to clean the old air filter when you get home!

On the few large group rides I've done we space out quite a bit with each rider waiting at turns until the following rider is in view. Doing this you must keep an eye for your leading rider...as soon as he sees you he's gone. If there is a good breeze/wind then the distance may close a bit since the dust is being carried away. When I'm a following rider my lead rarely had to wait since I don't mind dust and stayed pretty close.

This is why I hope for a non-Cardinal-direction wind on dry ride days ... dust gets blown to the side.

If you trust the rider in front of you, and s/he knows what you are doing, you can do as Troy suggested: Ride just a bit behind and to the side (in the other car tire track). Who is in which track depends on the wind direction. This helps keep a large group from getting too spaced out. For small groups it adds to the camraderie. The lead must adjust his position for wind .... right track or left ... and not roost.

Obviously you need to drop back a bit on turns and when approaching the crest of hills. You can pull in behind the lead rider and avoid the dust, but as Troy said, you will get a few rocks thrown up. This all assumes the guy in front doesn't gas the bike and roost you. Hence the statement about the lead knowing what you are doing.

I don't usually use a bandana (or goggles) as I figure that is what nose hairs and snot are for.

Ok so I guess I'm one of the few "girlie men" who prefer to bring along the bandana. Don't always use it but if the wind doesn't cooperate I put it on. It's the crunchies that inevitably end up in my teeth that I can't stand. Most likely from the perma-grin on my face while out there.

I don't have much luck following close behind, only takes a few roosted rocks to get me to back off.

Besides, it comes in handy for Safiri to use at the end of the day blowin' out those dirt balls.

Shawnj wrote:Besides, it comes in handy for Safiri to use at the end of the day blowin' out those dirt balls.

Like a good day welding ... black snot, aka black lung. If'n somebody lets me soil their snot rag, I will.