dave1983 Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 I was unfortunately involved in a collision with a fellow mountainbiker on the gravel road leading up to the Blockhouse on Table Mountain on Sunday ( 8.6.2015) I was cycling up the gravel road, just above Rhodes Memorial, keeping to the far left of the gravel road, as there was a somewhat of a blind corner coming up a few metres ahead. Coming down the gravel road were two mountainbikers riding somewhat abreast, one on the left track of the gravel road and the other on the right track of the gravel road. With split seconds to react, and nowhere to go, except into the thick bush, I braked as hard as I could, in order to avoid the mountainbiker coming down the gravel road on his right lane. Unfortunately he also reacted by slamming on the brakes and not moving over to his left lane. The result was that we both collided, head on at a relatively low speed . The collision was quite a shock for both of us and as a result my first reaction was to ensure that we were both ok. Unfortunately the collision resulted in the other mountainbiker breaking his nose.He indicated that he had broken his nose many times before. The only other damage, after his partner pointed it out , was that my front wheel was completely buckled, with the wheel not being able to turn freely. After the shock had worn off for both of us, I indicated to the injured mountainbiker the rule regarding keeping left. He stated that he thought I was going to move over. Having broken his nose, I felt somewhat bad for the other mountainbiker and could not become confrontational or angry with the situation at hand and thus remained calm and quiet. The silent treatment from my side, was in the hope that he would be forthcoming regarding the damage to my bike. The mountainbiker and his mountainbiking partner, then proceeded to carry on riding down the mountain, knowing full well that I would have to walk down the mountain with my bike being unrideable with a buckled wheel . He did not provide any solutions and he neglected to take down my contact details as a mere courtesy . Anyway that was the end of my riding for the day, after only having ridden a couple of kilometres.With the prospect of walking down the mountain with my bike, I decided to try and bend the buckled wheel back into a shape that was barely rideable. After sometime, I managed to get the wheel turning and proceeded down the mountain at snails pace. Needless to say my front wheel cannot be salvaged from its current state. My story highlights the need for all mountainbikers to have a clear understanding regarding the mountainbiking rules that must be adhered to at all times, regardless of the level of mountainbiker. It also highlights the need for trail etiquette to be communicated and instilled in all mountainbikers, at all levels.
dee_biker Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Well done for staying calm. Kudos to the other oke too! We cannot expect to always stay behind each other on trails. Just be more vigilant on blind corners and turns. I blame STRAVA!
DIPSLICK Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 its mountain biking, well done on staying calm,,,, if you took a self inflicted tumble there would be costs involved to,,, think of MTB being hit by buck must the land owner pay, you are correct obey the rules things will go much better, i personally would take it as par for the courseim sure he is thinking "that oke should have paid my medical bill" go get you wheel sorted jump on your bike happiness my count dave 1 other cyclist 0 you drew blood
NelAndre Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Sorry about the crash and damage.....not great. Accidents happen I guess. Is there trail rules or etiquette rules available for distribution other than a visit to the Velominati website?
DIPSLICK Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Sorry about the crash and damage.....not great. Accidents happen I guess. Is there trail rules or etiquette rules available for distribution other than a visit to the Velominati website? ANY SPECIFIC RULE COME TO MIND
Snytjie Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 "...im sure he is thinking "that oke should have paid my medical bill" go get you wheel sorted jump on your bike happiness :thumbup:" As a 'very part-time MTBaaisiklist' I'm confused by this statement. Do you mean that in the realm of MTB we can ride on the righthand side of a jeeptrack around a blind corner, and when colliding with someone on their LH side just take that as something that happens? I would've thought general rules of the road/commonsense safety applies?
Johan A Marais Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Eish, sorry to hear this, but unfortunately Tablemountain is becoming a bit of a traffic nightmare since the closure of all the other trails due to the fire. I have seen this coming, and had a couple of close misses myself. This being two-way traffic on most of the mountain leads itself to these tricky situations, and it is getting worse, as we have walkers, runners, vagrants and dogs also to deal with. It used to be one of my favorite rides, but now it is becoming rather to busy for my liking... You are always in danger to get someone coming at you around a blind corner (and there are many), on the wrong side of the track, or a dog owner not caring much where his/her dog is or going. Find the trailer runners more accommodating and aware... The sooner they police the permit system for all using the mountain, the better...
velomonatiCT Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 he is lucky you where on a bike and not in a landrover "wheeeeee im going down hill such fun ....oh sh1ttttt " hes moving fast he should be more alert on a blind curve well done for not getting angry though
Godzilla Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Always a tricky one as it was on a blind corner by the sounds of things leaving both parties very little time to react. But the proper trail etiquette (had he seen you coming) would have been for the guy who was in your lane to move back into their own ''lane'' until they had passed you.This will happen more and more below TM with Tokai being closed.Sorry to hear about your bike though.
Patchelicious Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Do you even know how much time you lost up that Strava segment stopping to see if he was ok?
DIPSLICK Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 As a 'very part-time MTBaaisiklist' I'm confused by this statement. Do you mean that in the realm of MTB we can ride on the righthand side of a jeeptrack around a blind corner, and when colliding with someone on their LH side just take that as something that happens? I would've thought general rules of the road/commonsense safety applies?easy tiger i am saying its mtbing it happens,,,have you never gone on the rhs or rode next to your mate while blissfully chatting not thinking, or you forced to choose another line???im sure its not like blood nose wanted it to happen
T-Bob Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Are there a lot of people that crash into each other that much in our sport? I've never managed to hit anyone out on the trails (or road to be honest) here or abroad ever. Feel like i should try a bit harder now. I fall a lot but that is normally on my own.
Snytjie Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 easy tiger i am saying its mtbing it happens,,,have you never gone on the rhs or rode next to your mate while blissfully chatting not thinking, or you forced to choose another line???im sure its not like blood nose wanted it to happen No, no, no. No tigering... just curious about opinion
V12man Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Sorry about the crash and damage.....not great. Accidents happen I guess. Is there trail rules or etiquette rules available for distribution other than a visit to the Velominati website? Here you go - Rule 4 is for the OP. https://www.imba.com/about/rules-trail These are the generally accepted rules worldwide - but not legally enforcable as far as I know. edit - left out the link
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