Hey folks,

The wife and I did a 22 mile ride up a local railroad grade MUP named the Iron Horse Trail outside Seattle WA yesterday. We ride this route up to the tunnel on a regular basis. It's typically a low usage route. We rarely see more than 10 other people on a 20 plus mile ride.

Yesterday was the exception. It was busy and initially we didn't mind. We all have to share the resource right? But the trouble started when several groups of 5-10 riders came down the grade. They were happily riding side by side as they glided down the grade. I get it I really do! My wife and I do the same! But we meet opposing traffic we immediately go back to single file, say howdy and be on our way. Normal trail sharing etiquette right?

Well these three groups didn't want to do that! The first group were riding three abreast consuming the whole width of the trail. As we approached and saw that they made NO effort to allow us safe room to pass we started yelling/asking them to make way. I had a fella coming right at me leaving me with NO WHERE TO GO!! It was only at the last possible moment that he hit the brakes and moved over. Utterly clueless....

The next two groups did a similar clueless approach. And we did our same yelling/asking for room to pass as we cranked our way up the grade. We weren't tearing our way up either. Max speed on our part going uphill was maybe 8 MPH!!

I like that the trail is getting more usage. That's what it's there for. Trust me I also enjoy the days when we have it all to ourselves. But are people really that absent basic sharing etiquette??

I can understand this happening once on a day's ride but three times in 15 minutes had me rather frosted...

Where's the common courtesy in people? Am I expecting too much?

One thing I really love about cycling is the bike culture. People on bikes typically like other people on bikes. We've met some wonderful riders in the years we've been riding. I always work to share and socialize within the cycling community. Anytime I see someone bent over their bike I ask if they need help. I appreciate it when I'm in that "position". I love talking to other cyclists out on the road. I really do care. I understand the HTFU jock whizzing by without a howdy. But I'm all over sharing the road and living the community.

So when this sense of community is suddenly absent it really shocks me.

Ok that's my gripe for the day.