Fifty Plus (50+) - Geezers, gotta love them

Had a nice ride yesterday, stayed out untill I ran out of water.

On the way home at the largest road junction on the trail I noticed a gaggle of geezers (GOG) walking on the trail just outside the parking lot. I downshifted through about all the gears I had, got down to under 5mph and announced "I'm about to pass all of you on the left side of the trail"..............!@#$ some broke left, some broke right and some stayed in the middle of the trail slowly turning around to see what was going on. I abandoned the trail and went around all of them in a grass area to the side. As I rode away I heard one saying to another..."darn kids on bikes".

I almost went back to giver her a hug. :love:

Is he talking about us?

That happens all the time on the MUP I ride on. if there is more than one person in a group, at least one will go the wrong way. I usually slow to below walking speed and see what they will do before I try and pass. Even when you shout "PASSING ON YOUR LEFT" one of them will move to the left, the other will jump half out of his/her skin in a panic, and give you the "where did you come from, you a-hole" look.

I have a similar problem riding past a baseball diamond on a local trail. The kids like to stand on the bike path while waiting their turn at the port-o-john. I've found that "Passing on your left" doesn't register so I've started yelling "Move and I'll run over you". This seems to stop them in there tracks and gives me a chance to get by them:D

Denver Fox had a good suggestion a while back, to just call out "passing" as passing on the left is universal and natural. I had experienced the same thing with groups where everyone heads a different direction, but tried his suggestion a few times and darned if they all go right if you just say "passing!" Denver is right! Just call out "passing" and the whole group/flock/gaggle/herd/bunch goes right! Almost very time! The "on your left" confuses them - maybe they think you want them to go left or something!
But dang it! Nobody ever calls me a "kid on a bike!" Maddmaxx, I'm jealous.....

It's not only Geezers, it's walkers in general (also skaters, skate-boarders, etc.).

The "on your left" call is pretty well understood by cyclists (yes, there are exceptions!), and/or walkers who are also cyclists, but is more often mis-understood by the "General Public" (and you know who they are!).

Rick / OCRR

Denver Fox had a good suggestion

Finally, I had a good idea! :o

I've noticed that while I'm riding,, all I hear crisply when another rider calls out "On your left", is "left". The "on your" only registers in my head as "someone is saying something".

When you add "on your left," then you have to give the geezers sufficient time to remember which side that is, and that they have to move to the right in order to allow you to pass on the left. Given that this would take about 15 seconds, you'd better start calling out from a long way back.

In a situation like this, I always use a unique approach.
Unique up on 'em, then zip past without making a sound....

I wonder if we should say "Don't move"

The really frightening part of this is that most of the folks in this crowd were only a couple of years older than me...:eek:

Assuming you had helmet and glasses on, your body must be in just terrific* shape! Congratulations!

I've given up on saying anything when I pass. Even if they're looking right at me, they get nervous and flit around in a panic, trying to get out of my way. I just ring my bell now. They look back and see me and get out of the way, and they like the sound of the bell. So instead of embarrassed panic, they exude peaceful happiness.

Silent is generally the best bet that way you are past them before they react. You risk someone moving into your path but as you saw that will happen anyway. I gave up on yelling, horns and bells and just avoid MUPS altogether, I never found a solution that worked 50% of the time.

Assuming you had helmet and glasses on, your body must be in just terrific* shape! Congratulations!

I've given up on saying anything when I pass. Even if they're looking right at me, they get nervous and flit around in a panic, trying to get out of my way. I just ring my bell now. They look back and see me and get out of the way, and they like the sound of the bell. So instead of embarrassed panic, they exude peaceful happiness.

My body is in fine* shape as long as I remember to get the jersey's from the "bell bottom" stock. :o

I always yell out "Rider Behind" and sometimes it works and sometimes it is evasive action. I just can't understand why people do not hear me approaching but for the last couple of rides- I have not used The I-Pod. Bikes are silent and if you do not give plenty of warning- Others on the paths will not hear you. I find the best means of Audible approach though is squeaky brakes and the louder the better. That or a skid on the Gravel about 2' behind them. That always wakes them up.

As I rode away I heard one saying to another..."darn kids on bikes".


I usually hear "white punks on bikes" ;)

Ah, you have to love the MUP pedestrians. Someone in another forum called them "trail zombies". An apt description, I thought.

I just call out "my brakes don't work" and scream like a little girl.... seems to clear 'em out.

:)

Ken

I usually hear "white punks on bikes" ;)
I suppose DG hears "punk on white bike"

I don't hear anything at all - I'm over 50 and can't hear anymore...

I noticed a gaggle of geezers (GOG)

Now, now. Be nice. If you are lucky, one day they will let you be one. The other option is death. :p

I think we should be kind when talking about "geezers", until we check the rule book and find out at what age does one become a "geezer" and when do you turn into an "old fart". It may not be too far off.

My wife already thinks I'm an old fart. Geezer can't be far behind.

I let an extended family of a dozen have my air horn from 100+ feet. Everyone on the left merged right and the right merged left. They formed a nice honor guard as I rode trough.

I wonder if we should say "Don't move"

Then they would hold there hands up.:D

I let an extended family of a dozen have my air horn from 100+ feet. Everyone on the left merged right and the right merged left. They formed a nice honor guard as I rode trough.

You didn't get the little kid who decides to switch sides at the last second???

If you ride on MUP's...get a bike bell. You can ding it from further back, and people almost always will move right without asking.

Hubby's bike bell works great so far.

When you add "on your left," then you have to give the geezers sufficient time to remember which side that is

Tom hit the nail on the head.

[QUOTE=stapfam;5207646] I just can't understand why people do not hear me approaching but for the last couple of rides- [IQUOTE]

Shape of the human ear, just not meant for hearing well from the behinder :) Besides they are all moving so fast along the trail that the wind in their ears is deafening :roflmao:

Ah, you have to love the MUP pedestrians. Someone in another forum called them "trail zombies". An apt description, I thought.

Some one else in the forums called them "meat Pylons". I always yell "passing" when I am about 100 feet behind them, that way I can watch how they react and keep from running them over.:D

I haven't been on my local MUP in ages. Too much speed differential (velocity, thinking, action, etc).

Street sweepers are a better investment IMO.