kr32

[QUOTE=BluesDawg;11188612The front rider of a long train of passing riders is not the only one who needs to warn the riders being overtaken. It isn't easy to judge how many riders are coming by if they don't make some noise. Be safe. [/QUOTE]

I have noticed this when riding my MTB at one of the local single tracks near me. Mostly when going the opposite direction and rider will say" I am one of three" or "two more behind me" as we pass. It is a good habit one that I dd not know but now do. I just say 'I'm solo" and keep on keepin on.

sportmac

did ya miss the part about the mirror and hearing? just curious...

I ride the middle and I need to pay attention to those in front of me. I need to yield when necessary to them. I need to make sure they know I'm there. The people behind me? They are not my responsibility. They need to yield to me and others in front of them. There's no gray area here.

Odd how many bikers constantly complain about cars yet can't seem to extend the most basic of courtesies to other bikers. I'd put money on them driving the same way.

jppe

It's interesting that is all boils down to common courtesy-whether it's related to auto's and bikes or bikes and bikes. Heck, if we can't figure out a way to handle bikes and bikes on the roads no wonder there are growing issues with auto's and bikes!!

ModeratedUser150120149

Interesting thread. When this kind of thing first started happening to me I thought as a newbie I was somehow violating one of cycling's unwritten rules. Then I realized these folks are jerks.

In the past few weeks cycling here at home and down south in Metro Denver I've had a couple incidents that reinforce the self-absorbed nature of some cyclists. The "On your left" when the person is abeam is too common. Now I no longer jump and almost swerve into the person, scaring us both.

Had a person who almost hit me while passing and ringing a bell. At home we don't use bells. At that moment I hadn't a clue what the bell meant until I remembered, later, that Denver uses a bell to warn people he is about. As I passed him a bit later I yelled "On Your Left" when I was about two bike lengths back and again when nearly abeam. Both time he blithely kept going left and into my path. As I passed I saw he had ear buds in and a dreamy look on his face. Whatever he was listening to must have been really good to distract him so much.

But, rather dwell on the foibles of others I'm going to do my best to realize I screw up too. Hopefully from being a fallable human and not because I think the rest of the world sucks. That keeps my blood pressure down and my attitude not too, too cranky.

dynodonn 

Yes I did, my apologies.

Since I work urban traffic daily, I need to make everybody in front and behind me my responsibility, that way my chances of getting caught off guard, and being a recipient of a dumb maneuver by others, are low.

I make sure that I give wide berth to other cyclists when passing, not so much on courtesy, but more for allowance of a possible unpredicted movement on their part.

billydonn

Very good point. If told to "move over" by another rider, I think I would tend to respond fairly aggressively verbally. If they are riding that fast they are likely to be skinny and not good fighters!

I must live in a cycling paradise or something because people are by-and-large very cooperative around here, with the occasional exception of the three females talking to each other. (Our newspapers are, after all, constantly assuring us that Nebraskans are superior to all others in sportsmanship and politeness!)