MTB Etiquette... walk off the riding line, demmitt!!

[davetapson]

My friend and i were discussing this on Sunday. sometimes the right hand side of the trail is more noob friendly and we ride it, and ppl get annoyed and come up wanting to pass on the right .. just know we're not doing this to be spiteful .. we just dont' have the skills to navigate the ruts on the left.

 

but the amount of black jacks i collect is evidence of how far left i try to keep, whether i'm slogging painfully slowly up a hill or pulled over to um "enjoy the view"

 

Yeh - I'm not fussed whether it's left or right - the easiest line doesn't normally follow the rules of the road, so check out where you'd be riding if you weren't walking and don't walk there.

 

It's not real hard to do.

[Oxter]

My friend and i were discussing this on Sunday. sometimes the right hand side of the trail is more noob friendly and we ride it, and ppl get annoyed and come up wanting to pass on the right .. just know we're not doing this to be spiteful .. we just dont' have the skills to navigate the ruts on the left.

 

but the amount of black jacks i collect is evidence of how far left i try to keep, whether i'm slogging painfully slowly up a hill or pulled over to um "enjoy the view"

 

i don’t think you are forming part of the rant haha

 

I think it is more towards people that decide that they do not want to ride this hill any further and want to push their bikes, then they choose to push their bikes in the riding line due to the fact that it is easier to push your bike there spoiling it for everyone behind them usually. i don’t have a problem with people pushing their bikes up a hill and applaud them for pushing through (I’ve been there)but don’t just think of yourself and spoil the ride for other people that can and want to ride out the hill

[Vangar]

i don’t think you are forming part of the rant haha

 

I think it is more towards people that decide that they do not want to ride this hill any further and want to push their bikes, then they choose to push their bikes in the riding line due to the fact that it is easier to push your bike there spoiling it for everyone behind them usually. i don’t have a problem with people pushing their bikes up a hill and applaud them for pushing through (I’ve been there)but don’t just think of yourself and spoil the ride for other people that can and want to ride out the hill

 

Yup, as a noob still I make sure to keep off the line if anybody is passing or if I know I'm going way slower. I'll also make sure to wave guys past so they don't have to slow down or make sure they don't have to pass on obstacles/where it's difficult. Teach all my friends the same, and have smacked one upside the head once or twice when he wasn't paying attention.

 

But faster guys please remember to give us a shout and say you're passing if we don't see. Almost had a perfectly huge accident at the monster cos I didn't see someone coming and had to avoid a big rock.

[ChUkKy]

Was a major issue at the monster. Aaaaarg!

 

I didnt find it bad at all, I called and they moved but the majority were out of the line anyway on the climbs.

Depending on my state of mind if I call and they dont move, they tend to move quickly when you nudge their back wheel.

[rouxtjie]

I didnt find it bad at all, I called and they moved but the majority were out of the line anyway on the climbs.

Depending on my state of mind if I call and they dont move, they tend to move quickly when you nudge their back wheel.

Same here...didnt even call, there was only 1 place where i saw some walkers....that little beaatch through mountain sanctuary before the monster....maybe 4 or 5 people.

[Oxter]

Yup, as a noob still I make sure to keep off the line if anybody is passing or if I know I'm going way slower. I'll also make sure to wave guys past so they don't have to slow down or make sure they don't have to pass on obstacles/where it's difficult. Teach all my friends the same, and have smacked one upside the head once or twice when he wasn't paying attention.

 

But faster guys please remember to give us a shout and say you're passing if we don't see. Almost had a perfectly huge accident at the monster cos I didn't see someone coming and had to avoid a big rock.

 

Just dont put yourself at risk to try and accommodate the other guy, he can lose a few seconds and wait behind you too. if there is space for him to pass try and give way lol. But that is very true dude, guys have to look in front of them and plan as well, call out to the guy in front of you "passing right" etc. will keep a lot of accidents from happening. O and a simple tank thank you when you see a guy move aside for you isnt to much of an effort as well

Edited June 2, 2014 by Oxter

[Oxter]

:offtopic:Just did my 100 POST today...should i have done it naked

[GrantRH]

on a slightly different note, I was riding the spruit a couple of months back going over the koppie just before Linden Rd (heading towards the Dam).

 

I came down the little hill with some speed and there were 4 MTB'ers standing in the middle of the trail having a chat. I (wrongly) assumed that they knew what they were doing, as they had fairly decent equipment, and would move off the trail as I approached. They just stood there and watched me approach at speed until I had to hit the brakes and almost took the 1 guy out.

 

I shook my head as I went passed them and the one then turns to me and says "You should have gone around boet". It took me all my strength to ride on, but I looked back and saw that they were still standing in the middle of the trail chatting.

 

Do they make bullbars for bikes?

[Paul Ruinaard]

This is also a pet hate of mine, and in my opinion it starts at the beginning of your MTB career. So if you educate the kids then you get a result that they consciously don't do it.

 

Anyway about 6 months ago around N Farm i stopped behind a guy who was helping a young kid who had fallen on a piece of single track that he should not have been attempting. So after i stopped i suggested that they move off the racing line, single track etc. I was perfectly reasonable about it and i was certainly expecting the guy to also work out that he was a.) blocking the line and b.) actually putting the kid in danger as it was a fast section, and to suggest to the kid that he moves to the side to clear the track.

 

NO. Ponce face on his new Cannondale threatens to have a punch up and to "have a dust up" (his words) if i don't go past them on the left. Now i know the kid had fallen, but its always that point when you are lying on the single track that you will get ridden over, so its best to instill some idea of getting out of oncoming harms way first. Or so i thought.

 

So i did contemplate landing the first blow in the scrap but that was a micro second and i decided to just ride off.

 

Only to have his bike which is now diagonally laid across the single track, catch my back wheel.

 

AT that point he goes frenetic and threatens to bring his buddies to beat me up.

 

And the kid who fell thinks this is great because his savior is showing how he saw off this nasty uncle who suggested he clear the track first.

 

So what sort of example does that set?

 

Now if a guy falls or is pushing on single track in front of me i tend to use them for traction.

[Guest notmyname]

 

 

I didnt find it bad at all, I called and they moved but the majority were out of the line anyway on the climbs.

Depending on my state of mind if I call and they dont move, they tend to move quickly when you nudge their back wheel.

 

The monster was my first race and I started at the back. It's quite possible I underestimated my fitness and ability.

[chrone]

my other hate is people stopping on the race line and not bothering to get off to have a drink, chat, .....