Mountain Biking - Any Pet Peeves?

You know, with having the appearance with another persons bike mine is when, they have the front tire mounted backwards. See a maxxis tire, generally the side with the yellow Maxxis lettering goes on the drive side which happens to be the right side, not the left side. What's yours?

I have many but the one that sticks out in my mind right now is when people ignore generally sound advice and do blatantly dangerous things like ride around with kickstands on the trails or bar-ends pointed straight at them. Usually these are newbies of course and when you explain to them, some of them will heed advice but there are also many who claim they know what they're doing and brush you off.

People riding fully tricked out mtb's to school, with suspension and everything when there is nary a trail in sight, then bragging about it.

People who stand at trail heads that are obviously connecting trails. Not only is it a peeve but it is dangerous (my last crash was caused by 14 12 year olds hanging out in front of a trail entrance (it is actually a second entrance but is blind when you are flying down the trail))

This really only applies on dh or lift assisted trails as they aren't meant to be ridden full speed but in control :)

I'd have beat the piss out of them for something like that Mael. You weren't riding out of your limits were ya? ;)

I think Maelstrom does bring up another pet-peeve of mine... trail disrespect. This spans everything from littering (not picking up old tubes, broken reflector bits, etc) to failure of a downhill rider to yield to an uphill-bound rider to skidding.

It's been beaten to death, but nothing gets me more than skid marks on the trails. It's never just a little mark going off the side of the singletrack where you assume the person was about to crash, so preserving the dirt was the least of their concerns. It's always a huge mark going straight down the center of a hairy section causing ruts, erosion, and displacement of rocks. If you can't ride it, just get off and walk, or go really slow. But how do people think it's normal to lock up the brakes going straight down every hill or technical section? Do these same people lock up their brakes in the car when going down mountain roads? Are they trying to singlehandedly support the tire manufacturers? My other pet peeve is bike parts strewn around the trails (reflectors, water bottles, old tubes....). If your bike is self-destructing, at least have the courtesy to clean up after it.

I'd have beat the piss out of them for something like that Mael. You weren't riding out of your limits were ya? ;)

If they weren't in my line I wasn't outside of my limits. ;)

mine is when people talk like they know what they are talking about.
eg. a buddy of mine is REALLY getting into the sport, and just cause he's read a few magazines, he talks like he knows EVERYTHING about it and I'm always wrong and all this other bull.
SO ANNOYING!

Those people are fun. Especially if they only have one source. When you are spouting stuff, create a false source or use amagazine that is hard to get. Really gets them steamed :)

heres one thing we've been arguing.
how do you pronounce marzocchi?
he thinks its pronounced marz-aw-chi
i think its pronounced marz-aw-key

Mar-zo-key.

Mar-zo-key.

Thats how I say it...or simply...

Marz ;)

I don't really have any pet peeves about other people or their bikes. As long as they're riding, that's good enough for me.

I agree with khuon that people who decline advice because they think they know better are frustrating, but that's not particular to cycling by a long shot.

I just need to find a diplomatic way to tell my neighbor "hey, man, you've just been on a twenty mile ride with your new helmet on backwards" without embarrasing him to death. :)

It's been beaten to death, but nothing gets me more than skid marks on the trails. It's never just a little mark going off the side of the singletrack where you assume the person was about to crash, so preserving the dirt was the least of their concerns. It's always a huge mark going straight down the center of a hairy section causing ruts, erosion, and displacement of rocks. If you can't ride it, just get off and walk, or go really slow. But how do people think it's normal to lock up the brakes going straight down every hill or technical section? Do these same people lock up their brakes in the car when going down mountain roads? Are they trying to singlehandedly support the tire manufacturers? My other pet peeve is bike parts strewn around the trails (reflectors, water bottles, old tubes....). If your bike is self-destructing, at least have the courtesy to clean up after it.


I have to agree with that bold text in trbogti post. I've noticed the trails around here are getting littered. And at a talbetop jump in the woods theres a 'pit' off to the side thats about 2 ft deep and its full of water bottles and random trash items. Then at the same spot there's a punctured tube tied to a tree. That really annoys me.

Wow that sounds horrible. I think the only time I have seen litter is when it is a trail marker (a broken helmet at the entrance of a particularily nasty trail, gloves to mark a split etc)

most times when people skid down hills in my area it is not a lack of respect but it is a lack of know how. thats where forums such as this and practice can be invaluable. most times I have seen a person who is not adept at feathering or braking Before the turn not in it,etc. until recently I was guilty of using too much back brake on steep hills with curves and it caused occasional skids. a buddy showed me as we were riding a steep hill how to bleed off speed using mostly my front brake so I am less likely to fly into the woods as before trying to not skid.I got a chance to use it in the Blue Ridge Mts. this past week and it really made the riding much more enjoyable.my petpeeve is horse $^*t on trails,especially on trails that are supposed to be horse free. the trails I ride are policed very well and when trash is found we clean it up even though we did not leave it. a rule I took to heart is leave the trail as if noone was on it.I do hate horses and bike trails combined.

Well, the previous poster beat me to my Pet Peeve.... Horse Shiit on the trails is very nasty. I wish there was a law that made the owners put diapers on them (like in parades) or something. It's always right in the middle of the trail too, so you have two choices 1) bunny-hop over the dung, or 2) run outta the trail to dodge it and risk hitting a tree.... It really sux, especially this past week being the 4th of July & all. There's always a HUGE group of horse riders that camp up @ N. Mills River, in NC this same time every year.... I was confronted with groups of a dozen or more horses on three different occasions. Alot of them looked at me like, "What are you doing up in here on a bike?" Pretty damn rude, most of them....

That generally is the scenario with Equestrians.

My biggest peeve is when other riders look down on other riders for the type of bikes they ride. This comes in many forms. Experienced riders looking down at newbies on Huffy's or entry level bikes. Do they forget they were newbies once? Or XC Racers who look down on people on Freeride bikes, and vice versa. Just because you prefer one style over another doesn't make you any more or less of a rider. Then of course you have your Roadies vs. Mtn bikers debate. I ride both, and I know a lot of people who do as well. To snub your nose at one, just proves you limit yourself to new experiences and techniques. The one that gets me most however is the whole Shimano vs. Sram debate! (That last one was for you TimB. J/K dude)

L8R

Can't we all just get along?

In no particular order...

- litter (off with ye head!)

- riders who do not yield

- bike snobbery

ok, konarider, you think tires mounted backwards is bad? I'm a lifeguard at a pool that is in the middle of a not so good area, you know what I'm talking about, $18 rent and $200 sneakers.

anyway, all the kids from 10-18 ride these BMX bikes...there is this one with the fork on backwards and it is driving me nuts. it gets passed between family/neighbors and I see different people riding it. the handlebars are never tight and the fork is freakin backwards. I even offered to turn it the right way (I had a crescent wrench in my bag since I rode my fixie to work) but they refused.

heres one thing we've been arguing.
how do you pronounce marzocchi?
he thinks its pronounced marz-aw-chi
i think its pronounced marz-aw-key

I heard someone say mar-zoh-chi

i also heard someone call truvativ (i say tru-vay-tiv) tru-vah-ti

my pet peeve are morons who assume you never ride trails when your commuting on your bike since you actually try to keep it clean, so as to not make a huge mess when you rack it up on the train. I had a few guys get pissed and tell me to get a roadbike if I wasnt goinhg to "use it right"...they got an earfull.

I guess i can bring it down to one word....assumptions...especially when its a wrong one...

I get pissed off when i see pictures of other peoples bikes with the disc rotor mouted the wrong way.

Mar-zo-key is the proper pronounciation.

I shall make a proposal, burn me at the stake if it sucks....fom now on we call truvativ "trudy" and marzocchi "marley"....it would make thigns so much easier....or not :p

Anyone else for burning catatonic say I. :p

hmm what peeves me...

1) my lack of nads when it comes to taking on particular trecharous bits of ground
2) my bikes endless mechanical woes

oh hang on u meant external things ;)

id have to say, 1) horse poo!!! esp when it gets stuck in your tyres and just gives off the worst funk.
2) inexperienced riders on fire trails that dont look at whats going on and move onto your line while your attempting to get past them - then decide its your fault for nealy hitting them
3) rubbish, trash, whatever you want to call it. put it in your bag and put it in a bin ffs. hell i even pick up GU energy gell packets on the trail if i stop near them.
4) this is more a road thing than a trail thing, and thats dangerous drivers who insist on putting me in mortal danger while comprimising my right of way on the street. guys, have a little paitence and get past me when its safe for both of us!

ok thats my rant for the day, and i feel so much better :D

1) horse poo!!! esp when it gets stuck in your tyres and just gives off the worst funk.

I once cut a corner by electing to take the jump-bypass. Unfortunately, the landing point was filled with mounds of horse feces. I couldn't see it before I hit the jump. There was nothing I could do except close my mouth and hope for the best. /* SPLAT! */ After landing, I kept my head low. Luckily only my rear tyre hit the stuff and flung most of it above my head. Most of it cleared off the tyre in the next mile but it still stank. I went home and hosed myself and the bike down after that. I wish equestrians would learn to clean up after themselves and their animals. That in my opinion is also trail-littering.

Dumbness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another is kids running wild if in a camping area.

my pet peeve is when me and the people i ride with build seperate trails then the XC trails...and put stunts on them...and then the XCers...or all those who hate freeride deside its funny or their cool if they rip down allll of our stunts...that pisses me off soo much

my pet peeve is when me and the people i ride with build seperate trails then the XC trails...and put stunts on them...and then the XCers...or all those who hate freeride deside its funny or their cool if they rip down allll of our stunts...that pisses me off soo much


Public land or Private???

Are you building trails/stunts with or without permission?


Check out www.imba.com

Illegal trails and stunts are a BIG problem and a Serious NO-NO!


L8R

1. people riding with the rear d just so out of tune, that your can hear that the the rear d is really in between gears.
2. a)groms that are so new, that you can tell they bought from a dept. store
they still have that round cardboard thing in the front wheel.
b) person that forgot to take the last service ticket off the bike frame. I swear there are guys that show up to the LBS I go to that have like a collection of them handing off the handle bars
3. Trail runners that just will stop at the site of you coming up on them. This usually happens with them standing in the middle of the trail. Giving you the choice of run them over or hit tree A or Tree B or stop- fly- and roll.
4. the dang activist that tried living in a tree in Memorial Park for a while. I hated it, trying to ride the HO CHI MINH is one thing, but to ride while you have cops and media walking around looking for the bozo SUCKED.
5. Someone deciding to take on spider patrol, and then not going fast enough. This is why I always just take on spider patrol.

People who think that gear/equipment can compensate for lack of ability.

People riding fully tricked out mtb's to school, with suspension and everything when there is nary a trail in sight, then bragging about it.

Yeah, mine too. I see really nice, full suspension bikes on this crushed limestone trail by me that is flatter than a penny on a railroad track. I always think, "That salesman must have seen you a mile away." Other than that, people not wearing helmets bugs me and people who litter or smoke on the trail. Oh! And here's a big one. Bike snobs who wear team jerseys when they aren't even sponsored by anyone. You know who you are! hahahaha Nothing better than blowing past a pseudo-Lance.

5. Someone deciding to take on spider patrol, and then not going fast enough. This is why I always just take on spider patrol.

I HATE spiders, so I'm one of these guys. Spiders give me the hebejeebeez. We get these HUGE banana spiders down here!

I definitely have some arachniphobia.

I'll let you take "patrol" ANY time you want!!!!

L8R

Definitely horse crap on the trail!

Ran over some today, luckily it wasnt fresh!

5. Someone deciding to take on spider patrol, and then not going fast enough. This is why I always just take on spider patrol.

I'm the exact opposite. I like being the last person. Then I just yell at everyone else to speed up.

5. Someone deciding to take on spider patrol, and then not going fast enough. This is why I always just take on spider patrol.

What is spider-patrol?

My pet peeve has already been mentioned. It was people forgetting they were new to the sport once...

What is spider-patrol?

My pet peeve has already been mentioned. It was people forgetting they were new to the sport once...

The person in front who goes down the trail first. Basically the guy who clears all the spider webs created on trails.

I had one that was the color of my skin hit me in the face last year and made a b-line for my eyes,then around my head.I slammed the brakes ,threw my helmet off my head,then I saw it on my shoulder so I threw off my water pack then shirt. thats the only spider Ive ever had scare me.I thought it was a leaf stuck in the web so I just hit it and. the worst part is it got away! we usually have those big hairy ones with the Spiderman size webs start showing up in late Aug.till the first frost. spider patrol can be funny to those not on it.

now that would suck...me being an aracnophobe and all...

..if that happened to me, you would prolly see me pull off osmething involving flame and an aerosol device of some sort. I will also be shrieking like a little girl.

I did not shriek but I did say some pretty bad stuff and very loudly.there was some kids coming out of the woods from paintballing and they got a kick out of seeing my fat belly hanging over my biking shorts and jumping around like I was on fire and cussing at a spider(I think they thought I was touched in a mental way). I am not afraid of spiders but I thought it was a leaf and did not expect it to crawl across my face but I do hate spiders and snakes too ,but not as much as horse poop on my bike or me!

Riders who stop in the middle of trail. If you stop, move to the side.

My PP: That one obstacle that you just can't get over, but is as easy as hell. My 2nd PP: fast paced groups or pretty much anyone that makes you realize how slow you are.

When I took my Specialized Rockhopper XC with discs for 20 mile rides on the road last summer...Finally I invested in a road bike.

My friend still takes his Specialized Enduro on the road more than on the trails.

I did not shriek but I did say some pretty bad stuff and very loudly.there was some kids coming out of the woods from paintballing and they got a kick out of seeing my fat belly hanging over my biking shorts and jumping around like I was on fire and cussing at a spider(I think they thought I was touched in a mental way). I am not afraid of spiders but I thought it was a leaf and did not expect it to crawl across my face but I do hate spiders and snakes too ,but not as much as horse poop on my bike or me!


These are what we get down here! Hit one of her webs at full speed, hit dead center. I slammed off the bike, jumped off and did a heebeejeebeez dance, ripping off my helmet and yelling, "Oh ship, Oh ship" (but nowhere near the ocean).

Picked up my bike and she was clinging onto the handlebars.

I let her go without squishing her. Hoping to find favor with the Spider gods.

L8R

Dang that looks scary. I live in the desert mountaints in the south west so we really dont have that problem. We do need to keep an eye out for rattlesnakes though. Myself, i havent seen one but know friends that have.
Not a pet peeve but on a positive note, I have been warned by other riders on the trails of one they just saw.

Mar-zo-key is the proper pronounciation.

and then there was light.