Off-road group riding: how to ride safely

Spacing and dust: visibility comes first

On dry gravel every bike drags a dust cloud behind it. Follow too closely and you see potholes, rocks and bends too late. Leave far more space than you would on tarmac – enough to be clear of the dust. In a crosswind, riding slightly offset can help; on narrow tracks the line is set for you.

A big gap has a second benefit: if the rider ahead brakes suddenly, falls or stalls on a climb, you have room to react. In the forest or after rain there is less dust, but braking distances on slippery ground are longer, so keep the gap large.

Your own pace and mixed abilities

The most common mistake in groups is riding faster than you can to avoid being left behind. On unfamiliar terrain that is how crashes happen. Ride at your own pace – the group adapts to the slowest rider, not the other way round. If you are new to gravel, read our guide to a Bosnia enduro trip for beginners.

• Put experienced riders at the front and the back: one reads the terrain, the other sweeps up.
• Place beginners in the middle, behind a calm rider whose line they can follow.
• Don't force heavy adventure bikes and light enduros into the same pace; smaller groups of similar ability work better.
• Stop briefly before difficult sections and agree who rides how.

Overtaking, stopping and hand signals

Only overtake once the rider ahead has seen you and moved over – never on bends, crests or narrow sections with loose rock. Never stop just after a bend or crest; stop where following riders can see you early. Park at the edge so others can pass safely, but stay on the track rather than in the undergrowth.

Which signals you use matters less than everyone knowing the same ones. Agree them before you set off, for example:

• Pointing with a hand or foot to one side: hazard on that side.
• Flat palm raised: I'm stopping.
• Fingers held up to oncoming traffic: this many riders are still behind me.
• Thumbs up when regrouping: all good.

Water crossings: one rider at a time

Cross streams one at a time. The next rider waits until the one before is safely on the far bank and clear. If the depth or bed is unclear, walk the ford first. Position yourselves so someone can help quickly if a bike drops in the water – every second counts in keeping water out of the air filter and engine.

• Ride through standing, in a low gear, with steady throttle.
• Look at the exit, not at the water.
• Afterwards, gently drag the brakes to dry them.

Regrouping points and losing the group

Agree regrouping points: at key junctions, before and after difficult sections and at fuel stops. A proven rule is that whoever reaches a junction waits until the rider behind can see which way to go. That way nobody gets lost. If you do lose the group:

• Don't speed up to catch them; stop and stay on the track.
• Ride back to the last regrouping point or wait where the group would look for you.
• Swap phone numbers beforehand; signal is more likely on high ground than in valleys.
• Never take a cross-country shortcut – especially important in Bosnia because of mine-suspected areas.

How it works on the Bosnia Marathon

On the Bosnia Marathon you ride independently on GPX tracks, alone or in smaller groups. It is not a race and there is no timing; each day you choose between the more demanding Rally route and the easier Classic route. Breakfast runs from 7 to 8, the start is at 8:30 and the briefing is at 19:00 – a good moment to form groups for the next day.

Throughout all six riding days participants are tracked via OWAKA GPS, and an emergency team is on duty. An experienced motorcycle instructor runs free off-road training starting three days before the event and then accompanies the riders during the riding days. For loading the tracks onto your device, see GPS navigation for an off-road motorcycle tour.

Frequently asked questions