Walkers on a bike ride!

Douche

Very true, pedestrianss can and will save your life, after my 'ultimate' crash it was a passer-by who stopped, phoned her husband, and then they both took me to the hospital in his van ... So no, best not bite the hand so to speak ... aint always that easy though 'but im tying Ringo im trying real hard'!!!

bikeperson45

I just yell Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go in a straight line through the middle and it dosen't make a difference if they move
my suspension blocks outh the bumps of running them over, thats what it meant for.

bikeperson45

:twisted: I just yell Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go in a straight line through the middle and it dosen't make a difference if they move
my suspension blocks out the bumps of running them over, thats what it meant for. :twisted:

strodey

Since getting pro 2 hubs i tend not to have a problem due to the noise they make!
Does get annoying though big bridleways with plenty of room and they still insist on playing chicken with you.
I dont let it bother me depending on how nice they are to me, if they don't move i'll be sarcastic and shout thankyou so much, if they do move i'll say cheer's.
If they are fat and don't move i get abusive as they shouldn't ruin my day out just because they decided to have their first day of exercise in 10 years.
(i'm very fattist)

JayKingFunk

I feel bad for starting this topic now! Excellent Pulp Fiction quote there Douche!! Just so you know i am polite 99% of the time but there is the odd occasion when i don't take kindly to rudeness but i'm only 24 and confrontation doesn't bother me or spoil my ride yet, maybe when i hit 30 i'll get a bell!

gotta_hurt

JayKingFunk wrote:

I feel bad for starting this topic now! Excellent Pulp Fiction quote there Douche!! Just so you know i am polite 99% of the time but there is the odd occasion when i don't take kindly to rudeness but i'm only 24 and confrontation doesn't bother me or spoil my ride yet, maybe when i hit 30 i'll get a bell!

That's because when your over 30 it's hard keeping up full speed for more than 1 min!

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1695431/

Pict

A cheerful ping on ones bell always does the trick. I have it specifically to warn bipeds of my imminent arrival. They usually apologize for being in my way, works every time.
Ching ching!!

schmako

bikers46 wrote:

Schmako wrote:

The thing is the majority of walkers are complete idiots

That would be my wife and I and all the other bikers I know who go for walks where we usually ride.

Thank you for that well researched and astute observation. I guess that makes you the consumate authority on trail walkers. I have to look no further, now. I am so thankful. The google of trail knowledge, you are.

Ha, i'm not talking about the place where you usually ride (considering ive never been there). The pentlands + my local woods is filled with snobbish folk who look down on anything but walking and in my opinion can gtf. I'm a completely courteious cyclist when acknowledged by anyone.

dhxcme

My problem is with ramblers (de-evolved breed of walker)who walk walk in large groups ten wide and don't have any real sence of direction. Normally walkers will go round an area with massive signs saying that the area is a desegnated bike area (delamere skills) but ramblers trapse through blockng the tracks. When you stop and ask them not to walk on the tracks you just get abused.

Their most used phrase is I pay my taxes and know my rights. To which I reply I pay more and no you don't so feck off.

Anonymous

Schmako wrote:

bikers46 wrote:

Schmako wrote:

The thing is the majority of walkers are complete idiots

That would be my wife and I and all the other bikers I know who go for walks where we usually ride.

Thank you for that well researched and astute observation. I guess that makes you the consumate authority on trail walkers. I have to look no further, now. I am so thankful. The google of trail knowledge, you are.

Ha, i'm not talking about the place where you usually ride (considering ive never been there). The pentlands + my local woods is filled with snobbish folk who look down on anything but walking and in my opinion can gtf. I'm a completely courteious cyclist when acknowledged by anyone.

Whatever you say, fine. I'm sure your (sic) right.

big_southern_jesse

I have to say that around the Meon Valley and hundred acres woods, every walker we've passed has been exceptionally friendly, polite and helpful; stepping to the side and holding dogs out of the way. I always go for a bright "Good Morning" and "Thankyou" as I pass.

In cycling, as in all of life, there's very little you can't get away with if you are polite, thank the person, and have a huge grin.

cjw

Big Southern Jesse wrote:

I have to say that around the Meon Valley and hundred acres woods,

Do you find Tigger to be a problem bouncing across the trails?

big_southern_jesse

cjw wrote:

Big Southern Jesse wrote:

I have to say that around the Meon Valley and hundred acres woods,

Do you find Tigger to be a problem bouncing across the trails?

Tigger's fine; bounce, bounce, bounce and he's out of our way! It's Eeyore who just mopes around and gets in the way.

Incidentally, must explain the rules of pooh-sticks to one of the guys we ride with... He tried to chuck himself in the river last week.

Thomas Prior

I find that you can try whatever you want, most of the time you get either no reaction or a miserable look.

I generally go for the polite "hello" or a very early "excuse me please". I've also found that if you are really muddy and look totally knackered (easily done with my riding skill) you get a sympathetic giggle.

I also have to admit that I go walking very often, with my dog in tow and if someone came flying past me too close unannounced i would also be pi**ed off. I'd certainly remember the biker and if I saw him again, explain what a twat he is.

Politeness goes a really long way. Also bear in mind that some people go walking just to lose themselves in their thoughts (and the vast majority have no control over their dogs), so don't be surprised if you don't get an immediate reaction.

P.S. walker around my way are generally no problem - it's the nordic walkers you've got to watch out for, those buggers have sticks!

schmako

bikers46 wrote:

Schmako wrote:

bikers46 wrote:

Schmako wrote:

The thing is the majority of walkers are complete idiots

That would be my wife and I and all the other bikers I know who go for walks where we usually ride.

Thank you for that well researched and astute observation. I guess that makes you the consumate authority on trail walkers. I have to look no further, now. I am so thankful. The google of trail knowledge, you are.

Ha, i'm not talking about the place where you usually ride (considering ive never been there). The pentlands + my local woods is filled with snobbish folk who look down on anything but walking and in my opinion can gtf. I'm a completely courteious cyclist when acknowledged by anyone.

Whatever you say, fine. I'm sure your (sic) right.

And you would know because you've been up the pentlands before, right?

cjw

You think it's bad on trails.... Take a looky here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axi0ZzzEQ9E&NR=1 :?

Matteeboy

Gay as it may sound, I use a bell for friendly pedestrian moving.

steelo

When out cycling with a mate once last autumn, cycling along a very muddy track, churned up by horses! A kind and considerate old man, walking his dog with his wife in tow, shouted out that bikes shouldn't be 'going along this way'. I politely ignored him, my mate shouted his disapprovement at the comment. When we got to the end of the track we considered waiting by the adequately positioned signpost for the couple and their dog so we could explain to them who can use public bridleways.

As it turned out both myself and my mate decided we would let him think he was right and continued on our way.

strodey

You think it's bad on trails.... Take a looky here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axi0ZzzEQ9E&NR=1

I was watching it giving each person abuse as it went, you just can't help it!

pete236

Thomas Prior wrote:

it's the nordic walkers you've got to watch out for, those buggers have sticks!

The buggers who have two sticks + a spare in the rucksack, huge boots, gaiters, full waterproofs - I see 'em hiking down the Bath road in Maidenhead sometimes - its very painful trying not to laugh!

Changing over into a hooligan for a few moments - I'd love to nick one of their sticks and clip 'em round the ear hole! Especially when they cross the road without looking - for cars let alone cyclists!

cjw

I thought it would be interesting to see what the walkers say about us. So had a look here http://www.ramblers.co.uk/forum/search.php?mode=results searched for bikes, mtb, cycles etc etc. And couldn't find a mention.....only quite a few ramblers also bike as well. nothing negative about us and no threads titled 'bikes on a nice walk!'

Just interesting... we don't seem to appear on their radar :?

strodey

Someone needs to start putting signs up, just some friendly pr is all it needs and i'm sure we'd all get along fine!

clarkson

if im on the enduro, i just freewheel, the pro II's make a racket, if they dont move, just cain it round them. where i ride the trails usually wide enough for that.

ride_whenever

Bunny hop FTUW.

Tehe, only kidding. I'm usually very courteous, but that seems to be helped by most people being polite to me because I'm 6', stacked and usually covered in mud/lycra/blood and griining like a loon.

manc_ian

I tend to find its the women walkers who have the attitude problems. I was out the other week and 2 men and 2 women were walking towards me, the men were slighty in front of the women. I slowed down, the 2 men stepped to the side of the path and just said hello, the 2 women didnt even move and just looked at me as if to say 'im not fuckin movin'. I had to go round them and ended up in 12 inch deep mud. Well pissed me off.

strodey

a simple

"come on love your not that fat"

usually dents the confidence so they will move out the way in future through fear of being shamed!

GHill

I've not had too many problems with walkers on the trails, pedestrians on the cycle path commute to work is a different story for a different time.

On a somewhat related note, over Xmas I was on the black run at Dalby forest and came to a raised boarding section about half way round. I shot round the corner in the usual fashion only to find about 15 old dears sat on the boarding eating their sandwiches! Luckily I wasn't going all that fast and managed to stop before I got an unwanted bobble hat decoration for my front rotor.

I tried to explain that they were sat on a section of a professional level mountain bike course and that some people may be coming along at speeds in excess of 30 mph, but they were determined that they should have access to this nice picnic spot. After that, I was speechless.

big_southern_jesse

GHill wrote:

to find about 15 old dears sat on the boarding eating their sandwiches! .

Why else do you have a "granny" ring? :shock:

Just change down and ride over the top! :twisted:

dave_hill

GHill wrote:

I tried to explain that they were sat on a section of a professional level mountain bike course and that some people may be coming along at speeds in excess of 30 mph, but they were determined that they should have access to this nice picnic spot. After that, I was speechless.

Should have reported them to a ranger or somebody in authority. The next rider might not have been as courteous or in control as you were. If there had been an accident it could have opened up a whole pandora's box.

I had a similar experience in Kirroughtree last August. Usual scenario, came hooning round a corner way too fast, only just in control and BAM, mum and dad and 2.4 kids in the middle of the track. So I slid to a halt in as dignified a fashion as possible and (politely it should be noted) pointed out the error of their ways. Dad's response was at least that he was unaware that it was a bike trail "because it wasn't signposted" (!!!!!) but agreed that they should leave it as soon as possible. But he also said that I should have been riding more carefully :shock: !

cee

Big Southern Jesse wrote:

GHill wrote:

to find about 15 old dears sat on the boarding eating their sandwiches! .

Why else do you have a "granny" ring? :shock:

Just change down and ride over the top! :twisted:

wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
laugh.... i nearly choked on my afternoon rich-tea!