Visiting family in Smyrna GA (Atanta) this weekend, I realized my bro-in-law practically lives at the head of the Silver Comet Trail...so I took my kids for a little 8-10 mile jaunt to check it out. I'd heard about attacks & such....I guess on a rather busy Sunday (or Saturday), such things are less likely, yes? Anyway, I didn't worry too much about that, but I did end up rather annoyed at the road bike riders (of which I would normally be part..but I happened to be on a beater mountain bike at the time) yelling to "get over" and muttering curses at other people + the kids. At one point, yes, my 10 year old took a dive across the on-coming lane & cursing (or soiling of biker shorts) was appropriate. Given. On all other occasions, we were all in our lane. In fact, a few times, the hollering biker was actually riding on/over the white line. Well, just wondering if this is why I never got into a certain aspect of 'cycling culture' over my 30+ years of cycling....I mean, when I see someone passing ahead of me, I move to the right give them room. I don't worry that they may be crossing the sacred line & I don't yell at them. Seems arrogant & rude...and a bit over-sensitive. Of course, I can understand that after years of being purposely or randomly harassed by cars and crashed by careless kids, dog owners, etc., that you lose your patience. But, from my perspective, it seemed like a good way to cause people who are just getting into the sport to think "what a bunch of jerks". FWIW. I had a great time & some silly stuff like that really had little to now bearing on the day for me or the kids. It did make me wonder what is the norm and whether there is a sort of 'handbook' for etiquette for riding a trail like that. I don't want to make other trail users uncomfortable any more than I want them to make me so.

thanks for thoughts & comments.....and, hey, maybe I'll be yellin' at folks on trails one day......anyone have a bullhorn mount on their bike? just kidding.....

Too many road cyclists ride from the Smyrna trailhead way too fast. The first 4-6 miles is packed with joggers, kids, rollerbladers, and pedestrians.
I totally agree about their inappropriate behavior. That's why I start at the Floyd Road (4.3 mile marker) or Florence Road (9.0 mile marker). Then the non-cyclists don't bother me and I don't bother them.

thanks. that makes sense about the traffic. We probably rode to about the point where traffic thins out. I was riding a bike that I had picked up while in town thinking it would be more of a "parts bike" and as it turned out it was a nice riding bike for the most part (though i didn't have proper gear and was riding without any kind of clips or cages). personally, i don't have an issue with someone riding at speed if they are reasonably in control (and/or understand they're risking practicing a controlled spill maneuver....your risk, your wreck; just don't take out innocent bystanders) & in fact I always move over to the right of my side of a path as much as I can to allow oncoming folks to pass with some room. I guess it takes all types. I'm looking forward to going back. I'll be on my road bike.....but I won't be cursing people :)

I totally agree that there are a lot of "roadies" or "tri-guys" that go WAY too fast on most MUP's. I've ridden on the Silver Comet a couple of times with my wife and we have been yelled at each time by people zipping down the trail at 20+mph telling everyone in their path to move to the right.

I like to ride fast as much as the next guy but it is unrealistic and rude, not to mention dangerous, to ride so fast with other people on the path. The Silver Comet is a great place to train once you are out 8-10 miles, but close in people need to be going a lot slower and be a lot more courteous.

I pretty much avoid MUP's completely if I'm looking to do a real training ride, the open road is much safer.

the one time I rode on the Silver Comet was from Rockmart to Dallas and back which is a good ways awy from Atlanta. There was virtually no traffic but we did get buzzed by a group of roadies in full team gitup. I suspect they were training for some race. It was no problem as they passed us from the front both times but I would hate to have ment them on some of the sharper blind curves. Of course they may have slowed down for those but where we met both times was on fairly straight areas. I did notice that all the other bikes we met were friendly but these guys were all buisness. I was on a bent and several wanted to check it out.