RIP: The ability to overtake on an MTB

[Paul Ruinaard]

So if i hear you correctly you just sit line astern on single track and wait your turn?

 

Hmm - am i missing something here? 

[Patchelicious]

Ya, "single" track means exactly that. "Single" file whether you are Aaron Gwin or just pushing your bike.  MTB is not meant to be fun. Its never a race and you must obey the rules of the road, just like a taxi. Nuff said, live with it.

Huh, I missed that memo...

[Paul Ruinaard]

Fat old guys holding up guys who can climb is just as big an issues, as we have discussed before

 

As always, general consideration for your fellow cyclists seems to be the obvious answer.

 

Why is it so difficult for people to execute that answer though?

No I get that - very quick to move out on the climbs and give space to the other guys to get through. 

[dirtrider]

So if i hear you correctly you just sit line astern on single track and wait your turn?

 

Hmm - am i missing something here? 

 

No you can go off the line and fall into a warthog hole if you wanna overtake . I sure as hell will not move of my line unless I am walking .

[Headshot]

Huh, I missed that memo...

Well consider yourself schooled. Now go and do a sufferfest video training session watching Mariah Carey videos. 

[AlanD]

That's a reason I don't do races anymore but when I did and had a slower rider in front of me and where I know I could pin that section and no where to overtake, I just had to trail along behind and wait for an opportunity but I never moaned or swore as it's just what it is.

 

When I was slower than other riders, I tried my best to keep to one side for them to pass and never bothered me but I won't go bund bashing in order to let them pass as they must also wait for an opportunity.

[Hfx0]

“TRACK!” So that’s what people are yelling at me on the Spruit? I always hear “CAT!” and slam on the brakes to avoid running over a feline.

 

This changes everything.

[usxorf]

That's a reason I don't do races anymore but when I did and had a slower rider in front of me and where I know I could pin that section and no where to overtake, I just had to trail along behind and wait for an opportunity but I never moaned or swore as it's just what it is.

 

When I was slower than other riders, I tried my best to keep to one side for them to pass and never bothered me but I won't go bund bashing in order to let them pass as they must also wait for an opportunity.

This is not about races, although that makes it more Friday material.

[usxorf]

So if i hear you correctly you just sit line astern on single track and wait your turn?

 

Hmm - am i missing something here? 

Yep, just chill at the start until you have a gap. Or tap off on the trail, either works.

[Sparki 1]

I also read that bit with a huh?

 

It's been summed up over and over - don't be a dick. 

in point 1 the OP did not say he expects peeps to give way when he wants to pass. what he said is dont be a dick if he wants to pass.

 

OP, you really have a lot of time on ur hands for a grown man hey  

did this happen to you whilst doing a fun ride?

[Patchelicious]

No I get that - very quick to move out on the climbs and give space to the other guys to get through. 

As do I on the downhills. Just remember that when I am going down a rocky downhill, I am going down there as fast as I CAN, and borderline at my skills limit, so I dont have much in the way of reserves to change lines willy nilly, or open beer bottles in my rear wheel, one handed while doing wheelies.

 

If I hear a faster rider come up behind me, I will always almost immediately ask. "Want to come past" if they say "Yes", then I tell them, "Cool as soon as I can I will move to the LEFT". Often though they say "nah bud you keep going, I'll pass when I can"....

 

So moral of the story is, show consideration and you will probably get a postive response.

[PhilipV]

Huh, I missed that memo...

Naah, he forgot to use his sarcasm font.

[FCH]

No; but its not the guy in fronts job to unclip and swerve out of the way everytime someone marginally faster want to gun past.

He or she is moving as fast as they can, if theres a clearing and they can make way for you; awesome. But to expect someone to pull over in rock garden/ roots for you?

Might as well arguy why dont do you work on your ascending performance, so you're not 'stuck" behind the back of the pack guys.

 

I'm out.

 

So if i hear you correctly you just sit line astern on single track and wait your turn?

 

Hmm - am i missing something here?

 

[TheJ]

Huh? In point 1. you are expecting people to move out of your way for you to over take, but in point 2. you aren't prepared to move out of other people's way for them to over take you.

 

Exactly what I'm thinking?

[Paul Ruinaard]

Heres the thing. I have done a bit of racing in my time - cars, bikes etc.

 

You worked out pretty quickly that at the sharp end of the field all the guys could hit an apex and were pretty fast and the piece of track you wanted was normally occupied by someone as good as you. So to get around him you had to be creative. And sometime that meant using pieces of track that weren't considered track - kerbs etc. 

 

Its not like you were doing something that others couldn't.

 

You learned to be able to race off line and change your lines mid corner or pressure a guy in to a mistake.

 

That sir is racing.

 

Even buzzing hubs does the same - pressure and knowledge - its an accepted technique. Just like saying - I will be overtaking you next corner on your RHS sir so expect me to be there. Works a charm.

 

So dont think i am trying to be a knob and blocking or insisting i get track.

 

But you dont win races by sitting line astern in a race.

 

And you have to be able to overtake to win. Its a skill - maybe you should try and learn it. 

 

BTW - hit plenty warthog holes and had Flying W's and through thorn bushes in my time trying to get a piece of track from a guy - and i take full credit for my actions and have also recovered from a big hole and pedalled in to the distance. Warthog holes are not as scary as you think

[Paul Ruinaard]

As do I on the downhills. Just remember that when I am going down a rocky downhill, I am going down there as fast as I CAN, and borderline at my skills limit, so I dont have much in the way of reserves to change lines willy nilly, or open beer bottles in me rear wheel, one handed while doing wheelies.

 

If I hear a faster rider come up behind me, I will always almost immediately ask. "Want to come past" if they say "Yes", then I tell them, "Cool as soon as I can I will move to the LEFT". Often though they say "nah bud you keep going, I'll pass when I can"....

 

So moral of the story is, show consideration and you will probably get a postive response.

Maybe this is what I am saying. If the guy who descended so well could learn to pull off a clean overtaking move you would all be happy. This is the point. we all just sit at the back waiting for the guy in front to give track and if he is out o control he is not going off line soon. So its up to you as the faster guy to take the risks and get past him and learn how to do that....