MTB Trail Rules - Do ascending riders have right of way?

[M L]

 

Ok be honest now, by how far are they klapping you on the climbs and flats

Hahahaha!

[DR ◣◢]

Now days you're guaranteed to pass at least 1 set of Doo$'s (what's the plural for Doo$) on the spruit!!!!

 

p.s. Where & what's the 'bombhole'???????

 

As you head downstream from Fratellis towards Paulshof you find it. Normal trail is off to the left and the bombhole is in front of you when you go straight. Just be careful. The exit is pretty shitty at the moment with an exposed rock ledge that will eat your rear wheel if you have tubes.

[Greg29]

As you head downstream from Fratellis towards Paulshof you find it. Normal trail is off to the left and the bombhole is in front of you when you go straight. Just be careful. The exit is pretty shitty at the moment with an exposed rock ledge that will eat your rear wheel if you have tubes.

 

Ah yes, I know it. There used to be a double hump on the exit?

[HaydenWilson]

Bombhole: As you cycle from fratelli's towards william nicole/ republic you may notice that the trail deviates right after the first soggy with rocks bit. there is a steep descent with a short sharp rise to a tabletop thingy. near the waterfall. there is a secdond little jump after it.

 

was huge and awesome at one point but is now a shadow of its former self. ( i think patches might have posted a video of it at some point.....)

[M L]

On a side not, I can't take the speeding vehicles while out riding!

[DR ◣◢]

Ah yes, I know it. There used to be a double hump on the exit?

 

Thats the one. Jump is still there on the bottom left. Just not a full on double.

Edited January 14, 2013 by S.I.R Maxxis

[Greg29]

Bombhole: As you cycle from fratelli's towards william nicole/ republic you may notice that the trail deviates right after the first soggy with rocks bit. there is a steep descent with a short sharp rise to a tabletop thingy. near the waterfall. there is a secdond little jump after it.

 

was huge and awesome at one point but is now a shadow of its former self. ( i think patches might have posted a video of it at some point.....)

 

[GLuvsMtb]

rule is as old as the hills.newbies to the sport will disagree those of us who have done it for 20 odd years will know .

 

always give way to those coming up . simple it's easier to get going again if you going downhill not so easy if you climbing .

 

this is the same as the off road 4x4 rule .

 

also rode the spruit this weekend and it would be so nice if people would keep left and approaching riders keep to their left .

 

but hay this is not a perfect world we live in and most of the spruit riders don't know the basic etiquette rules.

Correct!

And it seems that only in SA do riders think that its ok to see how fast you can go down a bi-directional trail. I love the Specialized / AMArider boards at Jonkers finally putting to bed any conflict on the issue. The newer sections above Canaries do however give preference to downhill use but is not reserved for Downhill use. So in some cases common sense is what is required.

[Roneblack46]

What are there steep hills on the spruit?

 

I ride there everyday and have not come across them.

 

There are sections on the Spruit with adequate visibility, then you can ride as fast as you want. When visibility decreases you have to adjust your speed and keep left to prevent any unnecessary near misses. SIMPLE....

 

It works for me. And I get to greet everyone and even help those who a have lost their way or broken down.

 

I get my 40km in a day - some days quicker than others depending on time and traffic. But hey it is an awesome ride right on my door step.

 

It could be worse......

 

I only ride and treat others as I would expect them to do to me.

[finallygotabike]

ek stem nie saam...dis makliker om jou lyn te verander as jy op gaan. as jy besig is om af te gaan en daar is een helse gat in die pad dan gaan ek definitief nie my lyn verander vir iemand wat besig is om op te kom nie

 

I agree with this, specially with the long grass at certain sections you can't see if there is a hole/ditch and travelling at speed downhill I do not feel like any surprises. It is easier for someone going up hill to move out of the way.

[patches]

That's not fair. I'll never have right of way???

 

But you're faster than most on your zero travel, so that makes up for it!

[Danger Dassie]

Kandui and Iron answered this on the first page already, can only agree. Especially in the context of the Spruit.

The Spruit has a lot of traffic at times though, so theres more than likely to be an asshole on either side of the argument, and not all of them are riding bikes either.

[braailegend]

The Braamfontein spruit was very busy yesterday. I've never seen so many MTB'ers out there. Which poses some challenge as the trail is dual direction.

 

I was riding up (southerly direction) and started a bit late so most people were coming down. On many ascents going south, riders coming in the other direction (obviously at speed, descending) made no effort to move off the trail.

 

My understanding of hte unwritten trail rules of MTB-ing say that ascending riders have right of way, as emphasised recently by Mr Tread on Twitter (@Mr_TREAD).

 

What are the views on this...??

 

NO, if you think going down should give way, you haven't gone down fast enough. Been riding for years and someone messing up my descend line ruins my day.

Edited January 14, 2013 by braailegend

[braailegend]

2nd its also a safety thing, easier for you(going uphill) to stop and ride again, than for someone travelling at 55km/h+ to stop and let you past.