Don't do this. The rider must have hit his bars on a tree and launched off the side of the trail into a pile of rose bushes & dead timber. He landed below the bike, and miraculously escaped injury. If riding solo, it would have been impossible to get his bike back on the trail. We tied a tow strap to the front wheel and hoisted the bike out of the bushes.
Wow! Amazing there were no serious injuries! Ya know, four wheelers can get winches installed...wonder if some two wheelers should too.
I sometimes carry a long medium duty ratchet strap for such occaisions. It doesn't take up to much space and might be the difference of walking out for help.. etc.
I do the same... it takes a LONG time to move something that way, but it does get it moved. In a lot of situations, after getting some tension on the strap, pulling on the center of the strap will get things to move a lot more distance, more quickly than just relying on the ratchet take-up.
Rainbow trail? I feel like I recognize that spot. Good job getting it out, I always think about that type of situation when riding alone.
Had a similar off trail experience slippery log got me... Ropes pulleys or ratchet straps good thing to bring along..
Are covert kit. 50 feet of 6 mm climbing rope and pulleys, binders, and some code. Also some prussik chord to make a 3-1 or 5-1 system. In a pinch if another rider has this kit go with a 9-1 rescue system. We used it for a Triumph 800xc that went about 15-20 feet over bank into trees. Took a lot of work to get it up still. A hand saw is also good to carry.
each to their own, but the idea of dirt riding solo ain't for me. glad this guy wasn't injured. +1 on the rope, i've got a light weight one that takes up little space but gets used all the time for pulling bikes out of trouble, and could tow a bike back to camp if needed.