The only place I'll yell "hold your line" is at the track. Riding on the MUP with the kids I've been saying "beep , beep" . That seems to work pretty well.

Yeah I do car horns sometimes, nothing like a BRAMP BRAAAAMMMMP of a "speeding semi," to keep people in their place, or make them laugh.

They aren't having a conversation with you, so when you start talking out of the blue, it doesn't really matter what your first few words are.

If you say "on your left", frequently, "left" is the first word that registers, and they veer left as requested.

If you say, "good morning, on your left," they're listening by the time you get to "on your left." It would probably be just as effective to say "rutabaga on your left." The intro just doesn't matter, other than being long enough that they realize someone is speaking to them.

Sorry Hauptmann6, I did not mean to rope MUPs into this discussion. I find them a bit too chaotic to ride on them, with few exceptions. I look for less frequently used roads with some shoulder space for recreational rides.

I find that I have to gauge my approach to the situation when I do use them. Sometimes the best option seems to be to ride off the edge of the path and give plenty of room, for example when two people have a dog on a leash and are chatting away. No amount of calling out greetings or bell dinging seems to work.

I'm gonna sing this the next time I pass somebody! "It's not in the way you look, or the things that you say that you do...HOLD YOUR LINE!"

:lol:

:lol:

Since I am law-abiding, and bells are required on bikes in IN, I have a bell and am recently tending to use my little brass bell more frequently than shouting out cycling jargon before overtaking.

In most cases the passing person calls "on your left" when they were already being passing me, and also the voice is so low that I only realize what it's all about after seeing them passing.

Once, I only heard "On your left! Second time!!" As I turned to look, I saw an angry face toward me.:mad:

Yesterday, someone called "on your left" while passing me on my right! :cry: Later I also saw a double-deck tour bus before me turning left while having turn signal indicating it's going to turn right.

So, again, what's wrong with using a bell? Do some people think it makes them look more pro when calling "on your left" instead of using a bell that even little children use on their bikes? :rolleyes:

zipping along at a fairly good clip, I can't hear what others say while riding. It's even more difficult when they are slightly to my rear. If it is me that is passing someone else, I'll just ring a bell, sometimes they seem to hear, other times not. No problem for me.

I get passed all the time. When they say on your left, I know to "hold the line". Most say nothing and that, for me is just a good. I usually follow a slow rider unit there is long open area ahead; then I ring my bell and pass. Once, I stayed behind a young woman and she seem to take offence. She turned off. I stopped about a mile up to drink some water and she went by me. I guess she pulled off to get away from me. Now if the rider is a young woman, I pass at the first opportunity.

On rail trails I ring my bell, or verbally announce (usually "On your left"). I have had very positive responses to the bell by pedestrians if rang well in advance... I often have people thanking me, and they get over to the right side of the trail.

When I am riding with friends, as I am beside the peds or slower cyclists I will usually say something like, "Two more coming."

Yes, some people, while moving to the side, even imitate: "Dingding!" :)

I like that "hold your line" is instructions. A bell says that you're there and it says it faster than any words. The problem is when the person in front has to think about what that means, and so. . .
. . .this sounds like the best idea.

I've been ringing the bell and saving my breath for answering the "sorry!" (no problem! I'm supposed to pass on your left!) when the women strolling and chatting take awhile to figure out who's going to what side. So far packs of guys don't split like that. They stay in formation.

I think "HOLD YOUR LINE!!!" all the time when I'm walking or cycling. People can't seem to walk in a straight line ... they're meandering aimlessly all over the place.



My guess is that they've been observing the cyclist, and have seen that the cyclist is having trouble holding his/her line or doing anything predictable. They want to pass the cyclist, but they are afraid that the cyclist will suddenly hop sideways into them.

All it means is ... please ride as straight and predictably as possible.


And BTW - when we say "On your left" or "Passing on your left" ... people either move left or scatter like chickens.

Some of us simply use our bells to indicate we wish to pass. It's really not that complicated.

I just get a classic mental picture hearing the description of a flock of women scattering upon approach. Seen it happen with a group of "speed-walkers" that were in their own world. Like 10 of them. Can only imagine what the road outside the school their prodigy go to every weekday looks like in the morning and afternoon!

Find that just saying hello is enough. Say it clearly with a bit of distance and let the rider(s) settle out before passing. Have been startled myself when the speedster comes up barking commands when passing. Is it discourteous? Guess so, but then I understand that they are in their "zone" and changing pace is a little different when you are cruising at 25 mph.