MTB Etiquette

[Minion]

 

 

I cannot see the descenders yield rule there at all.

It seems you didn't read it very well:

 

[quote=http://www.imba.com/about/trail_rules.html]

4. Yield to Others

 

Do your utmost to let your fellow trail users know you're coming -- a

friendly greeting or bell ring are good methods. Try to anticipate other trail

users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists should yield to all other trail

users' date=' unless the trail is clearly signed for bike-only travel. Bicyclists

traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill, unless the trail is

clearly signed for one-way or downhill-only traffic. Strive to make each pass a

safe and courteous one.[/quote']

Just because it is American (edit: actually, I see it isn't just US) doesn't mean you need to reject it outright. If that were the case, none of us would be MTBing anyway.

 

Edman2009-04-30 03:45:43

[Danger Dassie]

I have been to the IMBA's website (http://www.imba.com) and nowhere can I find where it says that the descender must yield for the ascender. Furthermore' date=' I fail to see how you can keep quoting and referring to a club which is not represented here in SA, and has no grounding rules which need to be adhered to. In reference to Tokai, NOWHERE does one sign a disclaimer or get a rule sheet for the area. If there is one, I've certainly never got one, and even the basic things are not enforced. Things like "No Helmet, No Ride" are hardly an issue here and if you guys keep carrying on about respecting your fellow man, then this should apply too. Why should I have to ruin my ride for the day by having to help out some concussed fool?[/quote']

IMBA is not a club, and actually does have representation here although it's presence and awareness are debatable.

No helmet no ride is irrelavent to the discussion at hand, although should be enforced, unfortunately it clearly isn't.

 

have a look at http://www.romp.org/rides/beginnerguide.html where they elaborate on the IMBA rules of the trial (http://www.imba.com/about/trail_rules.html)

Rule 4 - refer to the portion in BOLD
Always yield the trail ? Make known you approach well in advance. A friendly greeting (or a bell) is considerate and works well; don't startle others. Show your respect when passing others by slowing to a walk or even stopping. Anticipate that other trail users may be around corners or in blind spots. When approaching equestrians' date=' yield means stop and get off!

Yield to Uphill Bike Traffic - Your fellow cyclists traveling uphill on a narrow trail have the right of way! Stop and let them go by if you are traveling downhill. You can get going again easily, they can't!

See also the Guide to Passing for in-depth tips on passing hikers and horses on trails.
[/quote']

What you just said contradicts with a number of your posts, but yeah this debate will go around in circles until the end of time. Which is why I suggested that for crowded trails like Tokai, it would most likely be a good idea to create one singletrack sections for ascent and descent.

No doubt it wouldn't be the end all solution for all riders, still it should alleviate the problem somewhat. As the sport grows, this is only going to become a bigger issue.

I'm not contesting that common courtesy and respect for others should be paramount. As often is the case' date=' between the two converging riders a decision gets made based on what seems to be easiest for both parties, however I cannot see why a descender has to move. Anyways, this will go around in circles until the end of time.[/quote']



 

[jagwil]

I have been to the IMBA's website (http://www.imba.com) and nowhere can I find where it says that the descender must yield for the ascender. Furthermore' date=' I fail to see how you can keep quoting and referring to a club which is not represented here in SA, and has no grounding rules which need to be adhered to. In reference to Tokai, NOWHERE does one sign a disclaimer or get a rule sheet for the area. If there is one, I've certainly never got one, and even the basic things are not enforced. Things like "No Helmet, No Ride" are hardly an issue here and if you guys keep carrying on about respecting your fellow man, then this should apply too. Why should I have to ruin my ride for the day by having to help out some concussed fool?

I have pasted the so called IMBA 'International' rules (from their website) below. I cannot see the descenders yield rule there at all.

Re?ls van die Roetepad
1. Ry slegs op duidelik aangewyse roetepaaie.
2. Laat slegs fietsspore agter.
3. Wees ten alle tye in beheer van jou fiets.
4. Gee toe aan ander roetepad gebruikers.
5. Moet nie enige diere versteur nie.
6. Beplan vooruit-Toerusting/Vaardigheid/Roete/Tyd.

Rules of the Trail
1. Ride on open trails only.
2. Leave no trace.
3. Control your bicycle.
4. Always yield trail.
5. Never spook animals.
6. Plan ahead.

I'm not contesting that common courtesy and respect for others should be paramount. As often is the case, between the two converging riders a decision gets made based on what seems to be easiest for both parties, however I cannot see why a descender has to move. Anyways, this will go around in circles until the end of time.


[/quote']

 

 

This, unfortunately, was NOT clear from all your other posts which displayed a decided bias towards arrogance, selfishness and downright rudeness. 

[splat]

He obviously had his medication this morning...

[jagwil]

Aaaaaahhhhh.

That explains a lot.

[Dirtbreath]

 

Dirtbreath?mmm' date=' maybe you should go and see an otologist?.

 

And what?s this about western cape riders? I am always friendly out there?.and I think western cape riders are waaaay more friendlier in general too?.oh, and more passionate?.    

 

Stop being bitter over the fact that we don?t have to get in our cars and drive a couple of miles before we can hit the single track. I know it sucks, but hey ho..that?s life.

 

[/quote']

 

I have no idea what an otologist is but will make a point to look it up. If you read my post again, take adeep breath and move away from the uptight attitude that is building around a topic that should really just be a case of common courtesy you might see my actual point. Can you not read that I am taking the piss and implying that we might have more agressive riders up here than you guys in CT?

 

As for trails.........I have close to 80 kays of rideable track 3 blocks from my house so I dont get bitter.

 

Oh... and I do greet people even if I dont know them. Have met many interesting people this way many of whom are on the hub and I still keep in touch with.

 

I'm done here...........cheers.

 

[Dirtbreath]

 

As for arrogance in the Cape' date=' I wish you guys stopped this exclusive mentality. You think you guys have everything and we have nothing up north of the Hex. Our level of arrogance kicks butt. We even have guys like BTS but they havent learnt to type yet. [/quote']

 

DT Where does this comment come from?

 

I cant scan this letter in to our local paper but the point is pretty well summed up by a dog walker complaining about cyclists in general. PM me your email addy and I'll scan and mail it to you.

 

Too many people treating public places like their own race track.

 

[JohnnyReggae]

 

 

 

I have no idea what an otologist is but will make a point to look it up.

 

Otology

 

From my experience riding in Tokai the guys going uphill generally (voluntarily) yield for the guys going down, which includes guys stopping and moving over for me on my way down the single tracks. I'm always looking out for people and if I see that it's going to be easier/safer for me to get out of the way I do. The only trail where things become a problem is Faery Garden where you can go close to the same speed up as down, coupled with the switches and bush it gets hard to see and hear things.

 

I'd kinda sit on the "downhiller gets right of way" side of the fence, purely for selfish reasons. It's a long hard slog to get to the top and would like to enjoy the downhill as much as possible. There are other saftey issues that some have already brought up about the noise levels ... etc ... but will stick with my selfish reason

JohnnyReggae2009-04-30 05:53:45

[MoreTrails]

 

b2b' date=' thats cool to yield to guys who are coming downhill. I hope they thank you for it. Dont you find that often they dont?

[/quote']

 

Hmm, good point...most are appreciative and some are really thankful. It is the ones with the 'racing glint' in their eye that to think you owe it to them.

 

I say, use your discretion... I have been riding long enough to gauge whether the rider will stop for me or not, also if they stop will be able to hop back on or struggle cause they are getting to grip s with a very cool sport.

 

[Gansbay]

Haven't read all the post yet - so don't know whether this has been raised.

 

Some trails are uni directional (Lebanon) so no sympathy for cyclists going the wrong way.

 

If the trail is so steep that you will struggle to get going I agree that the descending rider should stop, but maybe the climber shouldn't be there.  When we visited Tokai a few weeks ago we came down the drop just before the camel jumps.  Two were going up so we had to head for the bushes (you do need speed to make the jump).  Both of them couldn't make the short climb and had to push - in my view a cardinal sin.  If you can't make it up don't ride up - there are enough little sections to practice on before you ride the longer trails. 

 

Also when you ride down you generally are looking way ahead - so you often see the climber and can stop.  The climbers are often grunting away looking at their front wheel - so can't see anyone coming.

 

My solution - to have some trails marked as downhill only - so that you can have an uninterupted flow.  The others you yield to the ascending rider (did I really say that!!)