Mountain Biking - slowing/stopping etiquette

short overview is I come from a road-biking background, got into MTB this spring. I mostly ride with the BF, who is awesome and very patient. I'm usually following on singletrack.

Is there proper protocol for if you're slowing/stopping/getting off to go around an obstacle? In the road world, we signal (obviously can't on a MTB) or call out "slowing/stopping!".

The bf drives me nuts doing so without warning, and we've had a few close calls. I have asked him to do this, and he says "we don't do that on MTB". :rolleyes:

But then, maybe I'm following too close? (again, the road biker in me might be trying to draft. :lol:)

If you are able to follow him that close.. perhaps it is time you ride in front, you may be faster than him.

Nope...if he's gonna gimp out on a technical section...run over the little cupcake.

Nope...if he's gonna gimp out on a technical section...run over the little cupcake.

This is actually what I was trying to say..

In other words.. your bf may just be a ?ussy

Ok, but I haven't had the question answered- is there protocol?

lol, in some instances, he is wussy. He's more technical, I'm more fit. We were on some pretty steep hills and (both) had to walk it up a couple crazy inclines. some of them I might have made it, if he hadn't stopped in front of me and killed my groove.

Yeah sounds like you're faster. So either he needs to get out of the way or you ride in front.

Yeah sounds like you're faster. So either he needs to get out of the way or you ride in front.not for the most part. its really an occasional thing.

so, protocol?

The bf drives me nuts doing so without warning, and we've had a few close calls. I have asked him to do this, and he says "we don't do that on MTB". :rolleyes:He'll change his tune if he gets center-punched a couple times.

For the record, on climbs, it's proper etiquette for the person ahead who gets stopped by the incline to get the **** out of the way off to the side of the trail as quickly as possible to let the more fit riders by.

If your going real fast he should let you know what's up. Like on a road bike, motorcycles, snowmobiles etc. If you just meandering along probably not. I always give enough space around others riders anyway, blind corners are about the only time I could possibly wail into a fallen comrade.

Bunnyhop to fastplant on his shoulder to pass.

In MTB it *seems* like it's always the responsibility of the faster rider to yield. I'm not saying this is like a hard and fast rule, but this seems to work. For example, on a descent, the descender yields to climbers - this actually is a 'hard and fast' rule.

This means, if you want to get around someone, as the faster rider you must call out your intentions and wait for compliance. Yell out and tell the slower rider where you are going. It always seems to be on the left around here, so you just call out "ON YOUR LEFT!" and the slower guy should move out of your way. If we're talking about singletrack, it's generally a simple matter to stop and lean your bike out of the way. Fire road, well, that's obvious.

If it's a fast descent, and he can't hear you, well...you just have to wait for him to become aware of your presence.

That seems to work around these parts, anyways.

Oh, and...*ahem* "...in walked a monkey with a couple of funky friends, he came right over and said this is what you'll do, you're going to get a bike, you're going to paint it blue."

I go out riding with my 2 boys and Dh on the MTB trails. My kids know if we're going up a hill and they can't make it to hop of to the side of the trail and let those that can ride it, ride it. Sometimes I get stuck behind my kids who are trying to ride up and end up they fall so I get stuck behind them, but it's not their fault and I give them credit for trying. On technical stuff, they'll balls over it where as I wuss out and hop off the bike to walk it over. If I see it coming up I'll yell that I'm stopping or something so they know behind me that I'm getting off the bike. I've gotten good and flying off the trail if I don't expect a big log crossing or what not so I don't mess up the person behind me. My hubby tends to ride right on my butt (drafting) and he has been known to rub my tire being so close, but he can also stop on a dime and stay upright, if I get stuck on some technical part.

I'm not sure what the proper protocol is, but since Dh and I have rode together for a while now, he knows my riding style and I know his so we can "read" each other I guess.

He'll change his tune if he gets center-punched a couple times.

For the record, on climbs, it's proper etiquette for the person ahead who gets stopped by the incline to get the **** out of the way off to the side of the trail as quickly as possible to let the more fit riders by.

Almost right.. it's actually ANYTIME you stop with people following you who may continue up or over the obstacle or even just down the path.

It's also the responsibility of the follower to allow enough room for the person in front time to get out of the way. In other words, don't draft!

My rules, and maybe nobody elses:

If you're generally slower than the person in back, get over and let them by.
If you going down and they're coming up, get over and let them by.
If you can't ride an obstacle, get over well before the obstacle and let them by.
If two people are going in opposite directions on a trail, assume they're not going to yield (get over). If they do be sure to thank them.
If you come upon a group going in the opposite direction, yield to them. If they're a bunch of unorganized noobs out for a social spin call out "rider up" and move past them. Thank them for yielding as you pass.
Always yield for kids when they're going the other way. They don't know what they're going to do so how can you. Better safe than sorry.

Are you hot? If so ditch the wuss and you can ride with me (trust me, I'm more shallow in person)...

Mike

I think you have your answer - there is no protocol. I've never ridden
on a trail where anyone called out that they're slowing/stopping. I've
always figured it was in my best interest to take notice of what the rider
in front of me was doing from time to time. :)

No reason to announce slowing or stopping, if you're riding properly on your own you're watching out for obstacles and people alike and leaving enough space for your to pick your line out almost regardless of what happens in front of you.

If you've got people treating it as a road group ride and drafting or something then it's appropriate, but it's much more of an at-your-own pace kind of thing... saying slowing or stopping would mean that you expect the people behind you to do the same.

Regardless, if you're following leave enough space to do what you need to do despite what he does, if you think that's too slow then maybe you shouldn't be following.

My rules, and maybe nobody elses:

If you're generally slower than the person in back, get over and let them by.
If you going down and they're coming up, get over and let them by.
If you can't ride an obstacle, get over well before the obstacle and let them by.
If two people are going in opposite directions on a trail, assume they're not going to yield (get over). If they do be sure to thank them.
If you come upon a group going in the opposite direction, yield to them. If they're a bunch of unorganized noobs out for a social spin call out "rider up" and move past them. Thank them for yielding as you pass.
Always yield for kids when they're going the other way. They don't know what they're going to do so how can you. Better safe than sorry.

Are you hot? If so ditch the wuss and you can ride with me (trust me, I'm more shallow in person)...

Mike

Great tips, Mcoomer but what does 'hot' have to do with anything? Will riding with you cool her down? I know her in person and she's already a pretty cool lady.

All that silly pointing and calling things out is one of the reasons I don't ride the road.

>All that silly pointing and calling things out is one of the reasons I don't ride the road.

The worst is the "car up"/"car back" calling. If it's a a huge group and two abreast on a narrow road with blind corners - fine. If it's a long straight wide road with one solitary car miles off which I heard at the same time as you - spare me.

Great tips, Mcoomer but what does 'hot' have to do with anything? Will riding with you cool her down? I know her in person and she's already a pretty cool lady.

Good thing you had your sarcasm meter turned on. Oh, wait...

"Are you hot? If so ditch the wuss and you can ride with me (trust me, I'm more shallow in person)...

Mike"

ROFLOL LOL LOL !!!

I think you'll love it. When you're pulling the group, hold your line and bunny hop over the object the very last minute.

Oh man...I wanna go'a'roadie'ing now.:lol: I bunnyhop the curbs on my Schwinn 27" SS roadie. I figure if the thing's gonna break, it's just gonna break. I'm not gonna change my riding b/c of that thing.