MTB Events/Races - Etiquette?

[martinsnyman]

I did the 40km trailseeker yesterday and have seen and heard all the complaints. So why not give a few pointers as to how things should be done.

 

This was my first 40km and only my second race as I started cycling about four months ago. I finished the event in just under three hours, but had to push/walk a few times!

 

My question is, whenever I got off to push / walk or take a break, I made sure I stopped as far left as I could and not hinder any cyclists behind me. I assume the keep left pass right rule apply here as well?

 

When re joining the race again I would check behind me and wait for a gap before resuming, trying to get on the bike and in the pedals as quickly as possible!

 

But what is the right way to go about all this? Instead of moaning, why not educate us, the less experienced riders. By the sound of things some guys never had a first race, they started as semi - pro's with a hundred races under the belt and never got in the way of anyone?

 

Any help will be appreciated

Edited September 2, 2012 by martinsnyman

[Mojoman]

Thankfully it sounds like you were born with the common sense gene! I hate people who don't move off the trail when they are walking and sauntering along and you are trying to get up the hill. And the muppets who insist on fixing their mechanicals in the middle of the trail path around a corner!

[G-Unit]

 

Any help will be appreciated

 

*Etiquette

[rouxtjie]

Martin, nice to meet yesterday, we smacked those lagers like nothing.

 

Look the rules are when dismounting you move TOTALLY off the track not just to the left. When there is a bottleneck and there were plenty yesterday, you wait your turn, do not ride to the front....the guys will chirp if you are lucky or you might get a pomp thrown at you. Other than that just enjoy

[martinsnyman]

*Etiquette

 

Thanks G-Unit

[Joe_Cogs]

Ja I almost smashed into a lady who bottled it at one of the rocky downhills and decided to dismount in the middle of the track.

 

Thanks for bringing up the bottleneck query... I was wondering about that. I saw a couple of plonkers (in cattle class like the rest of us and not A batch / podium seekers) go around the guys. Flipping annoying. I think I need a spare pump to lob at them.

 

Oh and great to meet you guys afterwards!

Edited September 2, 2012 by Joe_Cogs

[Li Mu Bai]

@ joe: the flip side: its a race, if you are not prepared to get off your bike and run around an obstacle or bottleneck, but would rather wait your turn to cross at the designated point, then why complain about it? do what you have to do, or just go for the fun ride and stop worrying about throwing things at people. Why get all worked up if some others out there are prepared to do what it takes to keep racing? Sure it may not be for a podium but people take part in these events for all sorts of reasons. If the organisers poorly plan a route that results in silly bottle necks, its their fault, not the riders. (94.7 mtb race is a classic example of a rediculous mtb race that is poorly planned, the bottlenecks are abominable.

 

@ Martin: punctures or mechanicals - just get off the track as best as possible not to hinder those following you. pushing up hills: move to the side so that those who are able to ride the hill, or want to challenge themselves can get a fair and unhindered crack at it. When you are ready, ease back into the track once its clear or you will cause a tangle.

Edited September 2, 2012 by Li Mu Bai

[Joe_Cogs]

@ joe: the flip side: its a race, if you are not prepared to get off your bike and run around an obstacle or bottleneck, but would rather wait your turn to cross at the designated point, then why complain about it? do what you have to do, or just go for the fun ride and stop worrying about throwing things at people. Why get all worked up if some others out there are prepared to do what it takes to keep racing? Sure it may not be for a podium but people take part in these events for all sorts of reasons. If the organisers poorly plan a route that results in silly bottle necks, its their fault, not the riders. (94.7 mtb race is a classic example of a rediculous mtb race that is poorly planned, the bottlenecks are abominable.

 

I'm not getting worked up at all. I understand it's a race... and it's a race for everyone else too. Everyone wants to race, it's just some people have manners and other people don't. It's just that simple. I have yet to meet a person who enjoys sitting in a bottleneck, but the fact is it happens (it's ok) and people accept it. Point being, no one wants to that but they don't want to be d*cks and run around people who are waiting for exactly the same reason.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[martinsnyman]

isn't a bottle neck a little like a traffic jam? Some people wait their turn and others drive their taxis in the emergency lane?!

[Joe_Cogs]

isn't a bottle neck a little like a traffic jam? Some people wait their turn and others drive their taxis in the emergency lane?!

 

Exactly. Li mu bai... are you a taxi driver?

[scotty]

If you have to dismount then move to the side off the track so others can get through.

 

If there is a bottleneck created, wait your turn to get through, pushing to the front reminds me of the mini bus taxis who believe they are special. I pay the same as them them to ride.

[River Rat]

The way I see it, the position that you arrive at the bottleneck is sort of where you are in the race, by pushing in front of those that got there before you means you're actually cheating to get ahead.

[Joe_Cogs]

The way I see it, the position that you arrive at the bottleneck is sort of where you are in the race, by pushing in front of those that got there before you means you're actually cheating to get ahead.

 

Exactly. The people who were behind me when I got to the edge of the forest finally ended up ahead of me because they were told to use the tar road. How's your wife? Hope she's recovering well!

[Li Mu Bai]

isn't a bottle neck a little like a traffic jam? Some people wait their turn and others drive their taxis in the emergency lane?!

exactly. some see a gap and go for it, and others (as Joe says) have manners. At the end of the day the organisers should be taken to task for these sorts of disasters. time we started voting with our feet, rather than bickering at eachother in bottlenecks. Luckily there are so many mtb events, we can start to pick and choose, and the annoying races will have to adapt or fade away.

[Li Mu Bai]

Exactly. Li mu bai... are you a taxi driver?

 

haha luckily not, hate them even more than you do.

[Li Mu Bai]

The way I see it, the position that you arrive at the bottleneck is sort of where you are in the race, by pushing in front of those that got there before you means you're actually cheating to get ahead.

you better not overtake anyone then either. jokes aside, evaluate why you are doing the event? if its to get a podium or better you last effort then do what it takes, its a race to get to the finish as quick as you can. If not, then enjoy the experience no matter what is thrown at you (Joe's pump and all! )