Mountain Bikers Love Us / Hate Us??

whiter74

Has everyone got it in for us including ourselves?
Anyone else share a similar view or experience?

My example last weekend.
Only 10 minutes into an enjoyable single track riding on Sunday in my local Forest of Dean, it quickly turned crap, after some old t*** out walking his dogs decided to let rip with some verbal abuse trying to tell me that I was breaking the law and should only stick to the forestry roads bla bla bla . As you can imagine after much restraint (I did try honest) I gave it him back equally with the verbal and was back on my way in no time. However this did peeve me off some what, but not the first time it has happened.

Soon enough though I was back in a good mood and made every effort to say the usual hello to all passer by on my way. But to my surprise most of the bikers I passed were right miserable buggers! Maybe it was me, Sunday morning hang over thing or something but why have so many bikers turn into arses!

Been riding for many years now but seeing a trend develop, what is it with some riders latest top bikes, all the gear, bling’nd up to the max with the dark mirror shades. Obviously after all that some cannot afford a simple / courteous hello back or the fact they can’t see me because the mirrors of their shades must be on the in sides.

Any way rant over, enjoy your day

cee

you get them everywhere!

cgarossi

Personally i've not experienced any animosity between walkers and mountain bikers lately. Most walkers tend to ignore us and get out of the way or give a friend hello and even comment about our efforts. Same for mountain bikers really. I was stopping for a quick 'nana and met a guy on a really nice Lapierre Zesty 514 demo bike. We had a chat about our bikes and where we were going etc, it was cool. Then later met some girls on horse back, chatted to them for 5 minutes and again later on met an older bloke in his 60's on a Giant Anthem. Fair do's to him, hope im still MTBing when im 60!!!

The only issue I have is when people pretend to notice the fact you are behind them and don't get out of the way. I still say thanks but don't really mean it.

Generally im a happy mtber

geordiefreerider

I know what you mean, I wish people were more educated in where bikes can ride, only today I had an old couple walking side by side on a cycle lane/footpath next to a busy A road they saw me coming from miles away and didnt give me any room then proceded to look at me like I was a shi*t stain on a hotel towel when I held my ground !!

Then shortly after a young girl walking along exclaimed that I should be on the f*cking road, by now i'd had enough so I replied "it's a bridlepath you thick little c*nt, I could ride a horse along here if I wanted to never mind a bike"

But honestly I have so many examples of ignorant people I could go on all day, I always try and be courteous but it annoys me when you dont even get a thank you or a hello, the worst ones are joggers with i-pods, they never hear your warnings so I just scream past in a maverick top gun style fly-by and scare them witless !!

.blitz

whiter74 wrote:

Been riding for many years now but seeing a trend develop, what is it with some riders latest top bikes, all the gear, bling’nd up to the max with the dark mirror shades.

Too right. Nobody goes MTBing because they have to but sadly it's becoming too much of a lifestyle statement. I want to know where all these weekend warriors were when it was snowing, and where do they go when it's dark/wet/cold?

Fortunately there is a hardcore element (like me ) who keep it real 24/7.

spark1479

Its a shame that walkers don't give way and expect you to get off your bike even if you have right of way. I've been training up at Ladybower reservoir using the route around the reservoirs and constantly find groups of walkers blocking the way refusing to move even though they are clearly marked for walking, cycling, horses etc. Some blokey even let go of a spring loaded gate on me when I was halfway through it.

Ironically I do a lot of walking and hiking and always get out of the way of bikes. I've decided that the way to combat this is to be polite and say hello to everybody including walkers. Its pretty funny to see some of their expressions.

JayKingFunk

I find that in most situations in life I am surrounded by stupid, nasty people.

Biking is no different, I think its the human race and how it has evolved!!!

When you do meet friendly people its often surprising because its unusual to find them!

I know thats really negative but I think its true, I don't dwell on it though, just adding my opinion!

J

Surf-Matt

spark1479 wrote:

Its a shame that walkers don't give way and expect you to get off your bike even if you have right of way. I've been training up at Ladybower reservoir using the route around the reservoirs and constantly find groups of walkers blocking the way refusing to move even though they are clearly marked for walking, cycling, horses etc. Some blokey even let go of a spring loaded gate on me when I was halfway through it.

Ironically I do a lot of walking and hiking and always get out of the way of bikes. I've decided that the way to combat this is to be polite and say hello to everybody including walkers. Its pretty funny to see some of their expressions.

That has the most feared man made thing (I HATE anything under the water that's man made for some reason - locks, ships, wiers, etc) ever - just thinking about it makes me cringe...





Angry rude people have lost before they even start. Let them stew in their own rage and indignation while we all have fun.

fletch8928

I have not really had a bad set to with walkers but i have had the odd talk with a horse rider, in the end i just asked if they wanted to use me as "the fox" and have a bit of sport.

Trail centre riders who are blinged up havent realised that us mere mortals on our perfectly good bikes are just doing what they are, Granted sometimes better and always more cheefully.

I have noticed how many roadies say hello as they whizz/whoosh past me and never in a smart rs way.

cat_with_no_tail

fletch8928 wrote:

I have not really had a bad set to with walkers but i have had the odd talk with a horse rider, in the end i just asked if they wanted to use me as "the fox" and have a bit of sport.

Sir you are a bleedin GENIUS! Now fox hunting is banned, they do the drag hunts don't they, why not get them to chase a MTBer instead of someone on a quad? So long as we get a fairly decent head start, I'd be WELL up for that. (Just so long as the hounds dont try to eat me/my bike of course)

Finally maybe horsey types and MTBers can get along and share some common interests.

cgarossi

I don't mind horsey types. The ladies I chatted to the other day were very friendly.

llamafarmer

Surf-Matt wrote:

What the Bejesus is that?! :shock:

lastwords

thats one of the drain plugs in the ladyvower res.
I believe it feeds the generators went up that way the other week they are high and dry at the minute though

cgarossi

Thats an inlet for keeping the reservoir from overflowing and supplying treatment works with water.

I know what you mean about man made things like these. They are creepy!

edit: Ah, its a hydroelectric dam?

fletch8928

I usually like horse riders. hot plummy girls with rich Daddies. its more the olde school that have not got used to sharing their riding places. I also have a boy to a horse rider/groom so we must get along some of the time

bluechair84

I think that people are naturally 'groupies' and take part in branding because we are herd animals and identify ourselves through a social status. Once you are in some kind of social partition (politics, music, fashion, sport...) you are happy because you are surrounded by people who prove your existence as being worthwhile. It is an unconscious drive to belittle other groups because they undermine the superiority of your own group. We aren't naturally accepting because to do so would have weakened the gene pool when we were evolving.

I want to be a part of Geordies 'Maverick fly-by', and would like to add a 'whaaassssup!' barrel role of the eyes to add insult to injury

Seriously, I very rarely have any issues. I take my shades off when ever I say hello to walkers and it is always appreciated with a look of pleasant surprise.

clodhoppa74

.blitz wrote:

whiter74 wrote:

Been riding for many years now but seeing a trend develop, what is it with some riders latest top bikes, all the gear, bling’nd up to the max with the dark mirror shades.

Too right. Nobody goes MTBing because they have to but sadly it's becoming too much of a lifestyle statement. I want to know where all these weekend warriors were when it was snowing, and where do they go when it's dark/wet/cold?

Fortunately there is a hardcore element (like me ) who keep it real 24/7.

we stay indoors or take the car mate.

sorry, i'm a 'weekend warrior'. i don't have all the gear but i don't have al lthe time either, so sometimes i can only get out at weekends, being i work 2 jobs.

people, in general, are idiots and w4nkers. some of them ride bikes, some of them jog, some of them walk dogs.

Northwind

clodhoppa nails it...

I've always had a suspicion that the reason walkers in particular seem to be anti-mountain bike is that they know we're doing basically the same thing as them, but having more fun. We get the same views, the same feeling of being out of the city, but also the pictures move faster, our feet hurt less and we get to jump off stuff to boot.

The only time I've ever gone for a ride and had a lot of positive meetings with walkers was on an epic hike-a-bike affair with an awful lot of steep walking with a bike on my back- as soon as they saw me toiling, I was one of them, had some lovely chat. Then I got on the bike again and suddenly it was all glowers and "Oi slow down" and "you shouldn't be riding here" again.

Larok

Perhaps you could change your mindset on this. The way other people initially present to you is out of your control, however the way you respond to them is your control. That way you are able to effect the outcome of the interaction for them and yourself? I guess the suggestion is you choose your response rather than feeling it is dictated to you by the cirumstance.

spark1479

Guess I am a 'weekend warrior' these days as well. Pretty difficult to use the bike during the week as I travel all over the country/abroad for work.

Even if somebody has all the 'latest top bikes, all the gear, bling’nd up to the max with the dark mirror shades' and only rides 5 times a year in the summer and enjoys every ride, what's wrong with that. They are spending money in local bike shops making the stuff we buy cheaper and they are outdoors having fun.

tjwood

Most people are very nice. However the few idiots are the ones that stick in your memory.

That goes for cyclists too. Once upon a time these people met a couple of complete a-holes on bikes and now they think everyone on a bike falls into the same category.

In the couple of months I've been riding everyone I've met off-road has been relatively polite, or at least indifferent. On road (I ride to work to keep up my fitness) you find that actually most drivers are very courteous, a few are slightly dangerous, and the odd one or two are complete idiots who will hurl abuse, tell you you shouldn't be on the road, etc. I met one of these guys at the start of my ride to work once, spent the next 20 minutes thinking about what an idiot he was, etc, and then suddenly realised that I'd spent so long thinking about this one idiot that I'd not noticed the many other nice drivers who'd let me out, not rushed to overtake, left a decent gap, etc.

I guess the same applies off-road - most people are nice. Don't focus on the few who aren't (and be nice yourself, so you don't give everyone else a bad name).

Dowse40

spark1479 wrote:

Its a shame that walkers don't give way and expect you to get off your bike even if you have right of way. I've been training up at Ladybower reservoir using the route around the reservoirs and constantly find groups of walkers blocking the way refusing to move even though they are clearly marked for walking, cycling, horses etc. Some blokey even let go of a spring loaded gate on me when I was halfway through it.

Ironically I do a lot of walking and hiking and always get out of the way of bikes. I've decided that the way to combat this is to be polite and say hello to everybody including walkers. Its pretty funny to see some of their expressions.

Do your homework. YOU don't have right of way over walkers and horse riders They have right of way over you a fact all of us should always bear in mind.

grudfuttle

Larok wrote:

Perhaps you could change your mindset on this. The way other people initially present to you is out of your control, however the way you respond to them is your control. That way you are able to effect the outcome of the interaction for them and yourself? I guess the suggestion is you choose your response rather than feeling it is dictated to you by the cirumstance.

If you're out riding and having fun and you meet walkers who're happy that you're enjoying yourself, this is good. If you meet walkers out having fun and you're happy that they're enjoying themselves, this is good too. But if you're out riding and having fun and you meet walkers who begrudge you enjoying yourself, you officially have the right to say f**k 'em. Equally, they have the same right.

Rightly or wrongly, that's how I see it.



grudfuttle

spark1479

Dowse40 wrote:

Do your homework. YOU don't have right of way over walkers and horse riders They have right of way over you a fact all of us should always bear in mind.

Chill out - maybe I phrased my post poorly but if i'm in a group riding single file at pace coming towards a group of walkers blocking the footpath should we have to dismount and then let them pass. Its common sense on all sides.

Why do cyclists have less rights than walkers or horse riders?

RockingDad

I've recently returned to biking after several years and I have found the following after riding every other day ( a 12 mile ride 3 on roads, 6 on cycle paths).

1. The roads are WAY worse than I ever remember them and I used to have a racer and that always found every imperfection but with chunky mountain bike tyres it seems worse. I always thought I would have trouble getting in some tough trail experience but Essex County Highways have ensured this isn't much of a problem.

2. 50% of walkers will move to one side and 50% won't. This isn't in my opinion because i'm on a mountain bike, it's just some peoples nature to be obstructive (even if it is their right of way).

3. I was surprised how some bikers passing you by, be it on a latest full sus or an old boy on his 3 speed that don't say hello. But then how many of us go out wearing sunglasses which puts up a perceived barrier between us. I'll always give a nod though even if I can't see if someone is looking at me.

It's easy for negatve people to ruin you good mood, don't let them, its their problem, don't let it be yours (unless you just ran them down).

So if you see a beardy git cycling between Clacton and Frinton on the seafront on his old school red mountain bike say hello and have a chat.



RockingDad

TimesLikeThese

Why cant horse riders be legally enforced to pick up their horses crap after them like dog owners?
I just hate all inconsiderate btards equally - apart form the dangerous drivers who need to have their licence revoked before they kill someone.

Northwind

TimesLikeThese wrote:

Why cant horse riders be legally enforced to pick up their horses crap after them like dog owners?

We have this conversation about once a month- horse poo is mostly just grass, it doesn't really attract pests, and it's almost completely nontoxic. Also, it decomposes fast. Dog poo on the other hand attracts all manner of pests and carries toxocara canus, and toxocariasis is not a nice disease- it's one of the most toxic animal wastes you'll find in the UK (the toxocara canus larvae can remain viable in the soil for months even after the poo is gone). Dogs have specific laws passed because of this, horses aren't a health hazard.

dave_hill

spark1479 wrote:

Dowse40 wrote:

Do your homework. YOU don't have right of way over walkers and horse riders They have right of way over you a fact all of us should always bear in mind.

Chill out - maybe I phrased my post poorly but if i'm in a group riding single file at pace coming towards a group of walkers blocking the footpath should we have to dismount and then let them pass.

Yes. Cyclists are required to give way to horses and pedestrians. Go figure.

spark1479 wrote:

Why do cyclists have less rights than walkers or horse riders?

Errrrr, because push bikes have only been around for the last 175 years or so? Home Sapiens has been around for about for around 150,000 years plus all our ancestors prior to that, and horses have been around in one form or another for several million years.

dave_hill

Northwind wrote:

Horses aren't a health hazard.

Ever had one fall on you? :roll:

dave_hill

My two penn'orth...

Mountain bikers - 50/50 mix of arrogant, jumped-up tw@ts with more money than sense and even less manners who think that they own the countryside and that everyone else should get out of their way, and chilled out, enlightened individuals who just like getting out and about, throwing themselves down (and up) big hills, getting muddy, tinkering and shooting the breeze.

Walkers - see above

Horse riders - in the main pretty reasonable, except the ones who do own the countryside.

Runners - cocks. The day I see a runner smiling, I'll try it.

Roadies - don't get me started.

Northwind

dave_hill wrote:

Ever had one fall on you? :roll:

You got me :x