rydabent

Yesterday while riding on one of our many hiker/biker trails, I was run off the trail by a fully kitted roadie.
Fortunately I was watching him. He had his head clear down watching his front wheel, as so many DF riders do. He drifted clear over and I had to take to he grass to avoid a colision. Roadie and other DF riders cast snotty comments about us bent riders, but since I was sitting up right, I prevented a wreck.

I-Like-To-Bike

Another life saved by riding a recumbent! Obviously natural selection will weed out all the idiots who don't recognize the life saving powers of riding a recumbent while "un-kitted"!

Commodus

Way too obvious. You get 4 out of a possible 10 troll points.

WPeabody 

Well, my encounters with near-misses with other cyclists are with all types, really. I sometimes ride on mountain bike trails, and have surprised a few mountain bikers... for the most part, it was a near miss with a bit of humor thrown in... It seems everywhere there are humans there will be some sort of self imposed heirarchy, and fully kitted roadies tend to be at the top of the food chain of the cyclist world, LOL

Not to say us bent riders are anywhere near the bottom or anything, we're in a class by ourselves. I like that.

ratdog

I have also seen more & more careless riders out on the MUP and also whole kitted out groups (8-12 riders) treating the MUP as a race track. It's uncalled for and reckless.

For example, just this past weekend, the 11 year old riding with my son & I complained that he was forced off the 8' wide MUP because members of one of these groups insisted on riding side by side as they were coming towards him. Two weeks ago, I had a pair of riders whip by my 10 year old son & I from behind at what seemed to be well over 20mph.

lostarchitect 

Some people are rude and / or inattentive. They will always be out there. be aware and careful.

Leebo

Wow, sitting up right prevented a crash. I prefer being aware of my surroundings. And using my mirror.

delcrossv

Recumbent or road bike, it's still the rider's responsibility to be aware of their surroundings. On a MUP it's probably better to stay on the tops. It's not the track.

degnaw

Wow, I didn't realize that my riding a road bike in kit was causing a danger on MUPs. I'll cease at once.

caloso

I rode on the ARBT this morning for an hour (in my team kit), often in the drops, and did not manage to run a single recumbent rider off the trail. I must be doing something wrong.

delcrossv

Gotta keep practicing. Takes a lot of skill.

Flying Merkel

I've seen knots of 4-5 riders on the local river trail (SART) taking up 3/4 or more of the width of the trail. A MUP is not the right place to make time. In a head on collision between a nice road bike & a cruiser, I'll bet on the cruiser. Those steel handlebars are neck height and heavy.

I'm more afraid of recreational riders who are not paying attention and taking up the whole trail.

Hoshnasi

This reminds me, I need to buy a bell and remember to yell "Heads up"...

CB HI

It is not about you being bent, it is your personality.

RaleighSport

I see things when I ride mup's etc.. horses side by side.. oblivious pedestrians scattered like lemmings on the path unmoving.. people with dogs with the leashes all the way across the path.. people with no leashes on their dogs.. hardly ever do I have a problem with another cyclist on a path... but on rare occasion I do indeed see a kitted guy on a road bike going too fast on a mup.. I've also seen a few bent riders riding recklessly on the paths too...FYI I ride these paths in my kit on a road bike most of the time.. what I'm failing to understand though, is why fully kitted roadees are dangers on mups... OP are you a danger on a mup because I've seen reckless bent riders?

mconlonx

I wish we had MUPs so I could curse the various fauna who aren't utilizing it in exactly the same way I am...

gcottay

I wear lycra.
I sometimes ride MUPS but like roads better.
I ride recumbents.
I enjoy the company of DF riders.
I am a normal member of the cycling community.
Those who feel the need to characterize other riders by their choice of rides or apparel? I leave it to them to work out their own problems.

CB HI

Why wish for MUPs when you could wish for real bike paths?

mymojo

Say it with me now: "friggin' roadies."

There. Don't we all feel better now?

CB HI

How can they be "friggin' roadies" on a MUP? To me, they are just part of the "friggin' MUPie" mix.

Robert C

Bet 'ya didn't know that it is possible to do both, at the same time even

rydabent

And DF riders claim they dont stare at their front wheels.

As an adult riding a bent, I was able to react. What if it were a kid????

Paul Barnard

The kitted out roadies on our MUP are the most predictable and safest riders, but far less likely to exchange a greeting than the bent and family bike riders. It's the walkers, especially those with dogs, that are my greatest concern.

maxine

**********????

Twice now you've said this, and I remain baffled. I ride a DF bike. I don't "claim" to not stare at my front wheel -- I *do not* stare at my front wheel. Neither do any of the other (many) DF cyclists I know (nor any of the 'bent riders I've seen, either.)

So one guy not paying attention caused a near-accident, and now every cyclist wearing tight, colorful clothing and not riding a 'bent is a menace on the local MUP? Bit of a leap of logic, there, no?

Oh, and I've never "cast a snotty comment" about 'bents, and neither has any other cyclist I know. Anyone getting around on non-motorized wheels -- it's all good!

delcrossv

This.