Rude riders on the Dog

Tinners41

I frequently ride the dog trail at Cannock with my 10 year old son and have recently encountered some fairly obnoxious fellow riders who seem to think the trail is their own private race track. Clearly my son is not the quickest out there, but he's no slouch either but on our most recent visit my son was a little way ahead of me as a rider tried to pass him on a narrow section of single track, screaming ' get out of my f*****g ' way at him - despite the fact that he was doing his best to make some space.

A little more courtesy and an appreciation that the facility is there for the use of all would be appreciated from some riders out there.

I wonder if anyone else out there has encountered similar hostile behaviour ?

Radioactiveman

I always try to be polite and ask people if I can come through. If people don't like busy trail centres they should try some natural riding. I hardly ever come across people riding in the Lake district

I dont think I would have been calm if I was with my child.

PS I mean the impatient people should go elsewhere,not you

.blitz

With 7 million people living within an hour of Cannock Chase, it's inevitable there will be some knobbers about from time-to-time. Best bet is to pull over as soon as possible and let them go. With a bit of luck you'll never see them again.

Also worth visiting outside peak times - the atmosphere is much more mellow.

stumpyjon

I've been lucky, not encountered that sort of thing before. Trail centre etiquette dictates that you should let a faster rider through at a time where you feel comfortable pulling over. At no time does a faster rider have the automatic right to barge through. If you do let a faster rider pass they should consider that you have done them a favour. Sounds like a total @~\&

sharpybox

I have to admit I've noticed a few grumpy types at Cannock before huffing at me or riding ridiculously close to my back wheel when I'm trying to pull over for them.
I think there are people that need to accept that if you ride trail centres they are there to cater for a wide range of abilities and oweing to the ease and simplicity of riding they are gonna be busy.
I've never not pulled over for someone but when someone is acting a complete tool it certainly makes you less inclined to do so......

Buckled_Rims

Tinners41 wrote:

I frequently ride the dog trail at Cannock with my 10 year old son and have recently encountered some fairly obnoxious fellow riders who seem to think the trail is their own private race track. Clearly my son is not the quickest out there, but he's no slouch either but on our most recent visit my son was a little way ahead of me as a rider tried to pass him on a narrow section of single track, screaming ' get out of my f*****g ' way at him - despite the fact that he was doing his best to make some space.

A little more courtesy and an appreciation that the facility is there for the use of all would be appreciated from some riders out there.

I wonder if anyone else out there has encountered similar hostile behaviour ?

I remember once I was furious along with many other riders at a family going "steadily" down the red run at Chopwell last year. The last part of the course is fast, steepish and many blind bends and this family spent about 1 hour getting from the beginning to the end...I know because I did 3 circuits each time having a breather at the top waiting for this group to move out of the way.

Honestly, it was like watching children playing on the motorway. Super fast riders on downhill bikes just missing the kids. The Mum and dad shouting at riders, riders shouting back for them to get off - it was an ugly sight.

I have to say, the first time I passed them I ignored them, the second time I think I just missed the Mum (who seemed terrified on a bike), the third time about 8 bikes were queued up waiting to pass the whole family (that's when the shouting started).

Now I understand how you feel about your little boy and I'd be as mad as hell, but I would never let any kid on a fast red run impede riders. In my view red runs are thye start of serious riding. If it was on the lesser blue type runs then you certainly have a better case to complain.

.blitz

Buckled_Rims wrote:

In my view red runs are thye start of serious riding.

You are quite right but we all have to start somewhere.

I have been riding around Cannock since 1996 and when Follow The Dog opened in its original form in 2005 I felt as though I was learning all over again. Same thing happened in April this year; the Monkey trail opened and I had a whole new local loop to ride on.

I would be the first to put my hand up and say I (unintentionally) impeded loads of other riders at first but it was all part of the learning process. People can only improve their skills by riding trails that are challenging so it's inevitable there will be some 'blues' or even 'greens' on the red trails.

Tinners41

I agree with Buckled Rims, and if we were deliberately holding up progress & making no attempt to get out of the way then I could sympathise with his anger, but he was doing his best to clear the way for the quicker rider, and as .blitz points out - we all have to start somewhere. I'm sure someone somewhere must once have whinged at the Athertons.

The individual concerned is just lucky I wasn't in earshot 'cause he'd still be looking for bits of his bike now !!!

.blitz

Tinners41 wrote:

I'm sure someone somewhere must once have whinged at the Athertons.

They have ignored a number of open invitations to 'come and have a go' around Cannock so they can't be that good

slowslowslow

I am always happy to move over as I do not like holding up. What does get me is that some fast riders just appear behind. If they gave a shout to warn me I would happily shift over. A lot of it depends when you ride though. I find people are more friendly and less impatient of a weekday and afternoon on the weekend. Had some really chilled rides 'out of hours'

totally agree that we all have to start somewhere-maybe nor the monkey, but the dog is a fine training ground. What bugs me more is people not in helmets. Fools....................

.bitz--top album. Sammy Hager sucks.................

.blitz

slowslowslow wrote:

Sammy Hager sucks

stoponasixpence

Hi every1 This is my first post. When we purchase a new bike certain things such as reflectors, front and back and on the wheels are there for our protection and saftey. The simple answer to this problem is a BELL use it to alert other trail users of your presence. This way given enough warning they will have time to move from your chosen path. My bike came with one and so to did my mates we often use them to scare old grannies walking in the woods.

SAFE CYCLING

sparrowlegs78

My bike didn't come with all those gubbins...and I'm louder than a bell ....got a big gob and I know how to say excuse me lol
Caz xx

Briggo

Buckled_Rims wrote:

I remember once I was furious along with many other riders at a family going "steadily" down the red run at Chopwell last year. The last part of the course is fast, steepish and many blind bends and this family spent about 1 hour getting from the beginning to the end...I know because I did 3 circuits each time having a breather at the top waiting for this group to move out of the way.

Honestly, it was like watching children playing on the motorway. Super fast riders on downhill bikes just missing the kids. The Mum and dad shouting at riders, riders shouting back for them to get off - it was an ugly sight.

I have to say, the first time I passed them I ignored them, the second time I think I just missed the Mum (who seemed terrified on a bike), the third time about 8 bikes were queued up waiting to pass the whole family (that's when the shouting started).

Now I understand how you feel about your little boy and I'd be as mad as hell, but I would never let any kid on a fast red run impede riders. In my view red runs are thye start of serious riding. If it was on the lesser blue type runs then you certainly have a better case to complain.

This happens far too much, its ridiculous to watch families with Apollo bikes and fathers without helmets trundling along red/black routes at trail centres.

Its not safe for them or other riders.

altern_8

i agree about his son,he should be able to go out and ride,it will only make him better...if it was my daughter and she could ride the blue and green routes with ease,id take her onto the red routes to hopefully help her progress....and i agree with stumpyjon about etiquette,but in my experience,when you pass sumone on a trail who is waiting for there slow mates to catch up and then next thing you know they are slamming on there breaks to let me know they are behind me,i think to myself,you saw me go down,wait a minute longer,you have just been waiting for youre friends....or the time a bloke was screaming at me from behind "rider left",the fire road was 20ft wide and i was riding as far to the left as i could,he could of passed me on the right with ease....im slower then the ppl i ride with on the uphills and downhills,so should i not ride the stuff i do,incase i slow ppl down,at the end of the day,we should have a smile on our faces seeing so many ppl out riding,after all,they are doing what we love,getting out there and riding....and before anyone has a go at me,yes i do move out of the way for fellow riders,but i want to enjoy the stuff im riding as well...and no i dont ride trail centres,i prefer getting a os map and making up a route...

rant over :oops:

Buckled_Rims

stoponasixpence wrote:

Hi every1 This is my first post. When we purchase a new bike certain things such as reflectors, front and back and on the wheels are there for our protection and saftey. The simple answer to this problem is a BELL use it to alert other trail users of your presence. This way given enough warning they will have time to move from your chosen path. My bike came with one and so to did my mates we often use them to scare old grannies walking in the woods.

SAFE CYCLING

Yes, but we are talking about a Red Run. Some bikes are traveling over 20mph on jumping over blind bumps, berms etc. I can hardly hold onto the bars, never mind change gear or ring a bell on many sections. Some kids wear full face helmets and mightn't hear a tinkle in the distance and by the time you've read this, a 35lb metal lump has just overtaken you at 25mph!

Crash Test Dummy

I personally don't think there is any excuse for such behaviour. Saying that I have never come across such behaviour personally, most people I've met in the 6-8months back riding again have been nice folk, both passing me and people I've passed and I always say thanks or Good Morning. End of the day the way I see it, Im out enjoying the ride, taking it easy, chilling, taking in the atmosphere along with other people in the area.

As with driving a car, the way I see it noone should be driving/riding so fast there bike that they cant stop when needed too, especially around blind bends etc, doesnt matter if Green, Blue, Red or Black Route. Ive never been around Cannock, but I go around Gisburn Forest regular. Last time down Hully Gully, just after the drop off, my mate in front of me hit a root and ended down the embankment. Now Its a dangerous place to stop with people doing 25+ mph over blind humps and corners with the path like 2 feet wide, so I parked my bike safely down the embankment and helped my mate out making sure he not injured and rescuing his bike from a tree. To get to the point, got on my bike, still stationary and a bloke comes fast around a blind corner behind me, no more than 15 feet away from me, I manage to get to side as fast as possible to let him past, but it could of been a nasty accident with me stationary in the middle of a fast black section, even though I had a valid reason for being so.

Yes lately with the school holidays there have been a lot of mums and dads with there kids. There are some small berms sections just after the big fireroad downhill, and I saw a family with 2 kids about 5 or 6 yrs old on the blue/red track walking down the berms. Personally I dont think they should of been there, but I slowed down, dropped gears and waited patiently till they moved aside and said thankyou when I passed them.

Sounds like to me you were unfortunate in meeting some immature, arrogant teenager/young man who needs to grow up n chill.

mak3m

hmmmm i can see the frustration of the family ride at chopwell :P

but i can garuntee the op's son was probably faster than me on the dog, being considerate i kept an eye out for fellow bikers and stood aside to let more competant riders through

luckily they all said thanks, if they had swore at me they would have got a mouthful back, if they had sworn at my 10 year old they would get a minipump wrapped around their heads :twisted:

drexle

I have read your post tinners 41 and am in two minds. I myself ride follow the dog a couple of times a week and more recently have noticed an increase in numbers riding the course. I dont condone the language used by the rider in question especially to a 10 year old but i think this was out of frustration. You will allways get an idiot with no respect to others using the course, but on the other hand i fully applaude your son for attempting the course and you cant knock him for trying. There has been times when i am ridng and you catch up with a young or inexperienced rider and to be honest i have thought many times they shouldnt be there, but it is a public course and very popular with families. Its not as though there is course rules that every rider should follow, but common sense and courtousey should be used.

christurbo

I had my first run on the dog today and it was a steep learning curve for me - especially since it was slippery as hell.

I let a handfull of riders pass no probs, and also passed one or two myself. Most of the guys up there seemed friendly enough, however there were a lot of experienced guys doing timed runs.

Whats the point in doing a timed run on a busy Sunday at around midday?

I do track days and its the same thing, when you reach an inexperienced or slower car they wait until it is safe and pull to the side - all courteous. I dont see Trail riding any different.

hyperman

In my opinion trail centres are no place to do "timed runs", especially if it's a weekend, unless they are organised events and the runs are shut off to the general public. Everyone has the same right to be at a trail centre and no rider should disrespect an other, regardless of age or ability..

shm_uk

hyperman wrote:

In my opinion trail centres are no place to do "timed runs", especially if it's a weekend, unless they are organised events and the runs are shut off to the general public. Everyone has the same right to be at a trail centre and no rider should disrespect an other, regardless of age or ability..

This pretty much sums up the attitude of 99% of riders

Unfortunately, as in all walks of life, there's the other 1% who seem to have trouble with normal social interaction and considerate behaviour

kaytronika

No need for that sort of language in front of a kid no matter what they're doing on the trail. Worse still if said kid is trying to get out of the way of a cyclist. It's just bad manners.

shm is dead right, 99% of people are fine, courteous and understanding.... 1% are ignorant. They'll get their comeuppance one day.

Rare occasion of me sticking up for kids, they normally do my head in

mea00csf

There's a difference between holding people up and being a danger to others. Everyone has the right to have a go at trail centres as long as they don't pose a big risk to themselves and others. All the trail centres i've ridden have had only very short sections where you may pose a threat to others, so don't see an issue with people challenging themselves and getting it wrong/going slow.
Riding areas which do require commitment, downhill runs etc, probably (i say probably because i'm assuming as i can't ride them!) require commitment and speed to ride properly. Unless you're reasonably confident you are that standard, you shouldn't be on them.
The other thing i would say, if someone is injured and in an area that might cause problems ie, round a blind corner etc, put something on a visible part of the trail to warn riders. If there was a serious problem, i woulnd't hesitate to throw my backpack across the trail BEFORE a blind bend. Most people would see that a slow up or even stop. Have done that when snowboarding off kickers. Saw a friend have a dodgy takeoff off a kicker but didn't see them exit the runout. I went up to the lip of the jump slowly, saw they were injured so took my board off and left it blocking the jump so no-one would use it then land on them. Still got some idiot moaning at me............... :roll:

paramart

on the original ftd, you could pull out of the way for faster riders, went round the new part and knew straight away they had created a race track,i always ask to come past at a convienient place, never intimidate people because they could crash with worrying, but as already stated some families really need to look at thier abillities and parental responsabilities to thier offspring, i usually go after 5pm but the nights are drawing in now, there was a bloke and his son who let us through but were not that far behind us both kitted out with decent gear and had the abillity to get round, these kids are the future of the sport, these trails are as fun for them as they are for us, i always thank people who move out of the way and always speak to and say well done for wearing your helmets to children, its only a minority who let evryone down

newclearbomb

I cant see why any rider would want to be abusive or aggresive to other riders !

I regularly ride with my 5 year old at clipstone altho on the family trails not the red and he loves it !
He gets stacks of encouragement from the other riders, Kids, Mums, Dads, the BMXers at the skills loop that he likes to go and watch !

In return (Respect) i never ever get annoyed at people to my front whether they are young old male or female ! i,ve been riding 20 years and have always had the same attitude !
The fact that they are riders means that they have as much right to be there as me ! no more and no less we all have the same right, i once got a bit physical at a trail centre after i tried telling this guy he was going the wrong way round a one way circuit ! he set about me without a word :roll:

As said you will probably never see them again, i find local riders are the most helpful, respectful ones of all !
Its often the ones taht come from miles away for a blast that upset the locals ? or at least it is in my experience anyway.......

slowslowslow

Whats the point in doing a timed run on a busy Sunday at around midday?

i agree, have been up yesterday at 12ish and lots of dads and kids, and some adult groups who were less experienced. Went this morning at 9 and much different atmosphere. But both were good. Yesterday was nice to see youngsters getting out and having a go, and as one dad said, 'its better than being at home on the playstation'. a couple did not hear me coming and I had to pull up, but these are children and will make that sort of error, as adults we need to be considerate of that. This morning was more serious riders and it was me being overtaken!!

If you want a heads down speedy run avoid the family times..............simple as.

Rocketmagnet

Flying up behind slower riders is irresponsible as presumably the slower
rider is going as fast as they can. Being faster and better riders does not
give us the right to barge our way past these people. Allow them to have their fun
as doing fast doesnt give you extra special rights to the trail.
Technically pressurising others is in the wrong as you have a choice to slow down
but people going slowy are probaly going as fast as they can... no choice for them really.

Being realistic as a better rider you should be able to make the simple judgement
that pressurising these people is dangerous for them and for you.

People in front of you on a decent it's their right of way... be responsible man up and wait

booldawg

If they're that good they'll be able to get past anyway