MTB Etiqette

Macarooni

Just got back from a ride up Butser Hill near Petersfield and am a bit peeved with the way a lot of mountain bikers behave. I ride there every week and this weekend there was some sort of south downs ride going on. The bit that annoyed me and a mate was when going up Butser. If you've ridden up it you will know what I mean. There is one distinct 'line' up and down but the track has about 20 feet of width so there is lots of room so we struggled up and about 2/3rds up a load of these said mtbikers came down the other way fast and most moved offline to let us go up, another woman almost hit me despite seeing me from 100metres away! The next bloke, who if he reads this will know, headed straight for me as if I should get out of his way and promptly slammed his brakes on still heading for me and just stopped, said a weak "sorry" then off he went. Aaargh! my Butser hill in one clean was ruined.
My point is that it is only fair to let 'strugglers uphill take priority over downhillers.
What do you think?

ddraver

If there was room yes - but if you re sitting in the middle of the path then its assuming alot to have a whole group go around one of you i think

it could be that he s not confident yet and was somewhat along for the ride (i regulalry am on rocky tracks, especially given the hardtail)

alfablue

Motorists need to give priority to those ascending a hill, seems to be a sensible policy for cycling too! There are much more options for trail positioning going downhill (unless you are out of control) than when struggling in first gear going up. Never cycled Butser, but I did an XC run there - its steep and long IIRC.

supersonic

Many people do these big climbs for the reward of the descent - I would give way to the faster moving descenders. After al you have more time to make line decisions, they havent.

dan1983

I can see your point but i'd have to agree with supersonic, they've earned the reward of the downhill by getting to the top of it. And surely it's safer for someone going relatively slowly UP a hill to make a sudden diversion / stop than it is for someone speeding DOWN a hill?

gibby12100

Round my way, the priority seems to be the other way round, Nobody likes getting their decents spoiled, so generally the accenders seem to move out the way as much as possible, then the same generally happens to them, and the cycle goes on...

alfablue

I'm not saying don't keep clear if you can, but on some steep ascents the best I can do is to keep the front wheel on the ground whilst pedalling - this does not make for predictable manoeverability. Those descending need to do so under some control, and indeed will have more control than the ascender if they haven't got beyond a speed they can handle, and are looking ahead and anticipating. How would they respond to rapidly appearing trail hazards, or even walkers - expect them to leap for safety? No doubt that happens on occasions.

supersonic

The ascender will always have more control, and if he falls its not like its going to hurt as much as if you are descending. Ok the descenders need to realise its a two way path, but the ascenders must realise that people coming down will be genrally faster than them and give them respect.

Amos

I can see why you are annoyed, but if there letting rip downhill its easier for the ascender to move out of the way.

dave_s

I have the general rule of thumb that the ascender has the right of way.
If you actually ride your bike uphill (like I try to most of the time) you know how hard it is to get going again when you have to stop.
If you ride downhill, it's just about the easiest thing in the world to get back up to speed after you've let someone past. I can take on board that the descent is the reward for the climb but slowing down to pass a climber or maybe riding over a rockier section so they can have the smoother line up is the way to go.
Share the trails.

StefanH

On a trail, I'd give way to the descender. When commuting, I'd give way to the ascender.

shanexs

I think the ascender should definitely give way! Why spoil the fun of a screaming non stop downhill for your fellow mountain bikers:) I always give way to descenders weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

clarkson

i agree, its easier for you to move out the way going uphill than foe the bloke comin down.

the other day i was raggin it down a hill and some dude was climbing using the line that i was on. i couldnt move over safewlyt cos the rest of the track was really rutted and i couldnt stop in time. fortunately he moved out of my way.

i tned to move ove if im clibing and someone is descending.

alfablue

clarkson wrote:

i couldnt move over safewlyt cos the rest of the track was really rutted and i couldnt stop in time.

Out of control, then

supersonic

But surely you should expect that? You cross a busy road, you look for fast cars. You dont expect them to slow for you. Speed has more respect.

alfablue

Yes, one does expect there to be drivers and cyclists driving / riding at speeds beyond which they have control, its wrong, dangerous, selfish, and causes numerous deaths and serious accicents, but heh, why should cyclists be any better than motorists? Why have care, control and courtesy when you can just blast through and to hell with any one who gets in your way (be they kids, pedestrians or animals) - sod 'em!!! A fantastic attitude!