Good imagination.

+1

Still wondering what the point of the thread is. What did the OP want to accomplish?


Or was it just an "I was startled on the MUP" vent/rant?

LOL, well I'm a nut case then. Last time I had a bell on my bike was in Germany back in the 80s. Hmmm, and I don't see any need now.

Fixed.

-A nut case

Wait, now I'm really confused.... which am I??

I have a path that actually passes right alongside my house and advoid it like the plaque. I don't see any safe way to ride it fast enough to get my needed exercise without being a hazard. So I'll still to the roads thank you very much. Between wandering walkers, dogs, cars backing out, fishers hogging the path, goat head thorns I can't see any reason to use the path.

Right ... if other path users are going to bother you ... ride the road.

I agreee with the OP's comments but what can you do. I ride my local trail everyday.
There are breaks in the trail about every mile to mile and a half and there are signs in both directions with simple trail rules. On every sign it says "announce intentions to pass" but it seems hard or immpossible for some and it is usually the guys in full kit on an 'UBER' bike. I cannot imagine why someone would want to make it unsafe to the point of actually endagering people while running the imaginary 'Tour' in their heads.
The stuff I have seen is sometimes just unbelievable... Example today I just cross a
street and am building speed on a slight uphill climb. There is an older woman up ahead wobbling as she is trying to gain enough forward momentum. Coming towards her is a couple walking and almost to the point of convergence. I slow my roll to let the walkers pass the lady. then I will simply announce "on your left" and pass her. A couple seconds before I make this move a guy blows by me unnanounced going all out, as he did not get stopped by traffic. He then passes the wobbly lady as the walkers are just about to walk by her. He barely misses the rider and the woman walker who has to jump aside. The lady on the wobbly bike is so startled she ends up in the grass.
I just shake my head and add this moment to the ones I have eperienced....
When I was in Drivers Ed in High School there were situations where you have to just "Brake and Hold." It's no different on a bike but some people just don't care.

I don't care that you don't care but your lack of caring can put us both in harm's way. If you wish to be reckless then that is your privelege. I just ask to not be a part of the accident scene...
Keep it safe, Please......................

Max Bryant

You know some seem to have a real bias towards riders in full kit going hard. It doesn't have to mean they are tour wanna be's. Maybe, just maybe, they take their exercise seriously and want to get the most out if it. Not trying to excuse bad manners but some seem to think everyone in full kit wants to be the next superstar or something and that's just a silly as this whole post.

+1

We roadies don't care what anyone wears ... not sure why anyone should care what we wear.

We roadies just want to ride our bicycles.

People everywhere are jerks. I had a father daughter combo repeatedly blowing past me, slowing down to the point I had to go back around them, just to come by me in a dangerous manner again a few weeks back. Not a clue what they were doing, the third time they came past me I let out a few choice words, and thankfully our paths diverged before they slowed to nothing and forced me around them again.

It is the faster traffic's responsibility to yield to slower and pass in a safe manner, that is simply basic laws of movement of almost any vehicles. That applies to cars passing other cars, cars passing bikes, bikes passing other bikes or pedestrians. I don't know what MUPs look like by others, but I know by me, there is usually about a mile stretch where people walk around any given town, followed by long spaces where one rarely sees a pedestrian or slower cyclists that is a burdensome problem to have to slow to avoid.

Or, I have an 8 mile direct shot on a shaded MUP trail with little traffic to where I want to go, or 11-12 miles on a gridlocked rush hour road without cycle lanes, where I will be sitting in traffic in the sun going no where and taking all day to get there.

Yep...

Everyone in a nice jersey is a "tour wannabe" or "pack racer".

Anyone going 1.7 MPH faster is "intentionally buzzing" slower riders.

Anyone with an upgraded wheelset or carbon frame is a suicidal terrorist on an "uber bike."

only with roadies slower than me, in jeans jacket and slipons

word. it's laughable how some folks are downright pathological about people in 'kit'...perhaps their mothers were frightened by a peloton during pregnancy.

anyone that's not riding some boring-ass, off-the-rack, modestly-priced bike is a 'snob' with too much disposable income...

to avoid their contempt for kit (especially with words and colors! oh, the horror!), guess we'll have to ride in soiled wife-beaters, board shorts, and crocs...the uniform of real cyclists everywhere...!

if there were white man with white hoods riding horse, would it be ok?

****

How can you ban someone from participating in an activity that is a "right"?

You guys in full kit on Uber bikes seem really defensive and uptight. Why? Someone makes a comment and you guys all feel picked on? Seriously it almost always seems to be that guy in that gear on that rig. Does it condemn all of you? No ! Just a few people who can give a group a bad name. You always remember the unsafe riders and what they are wearing and riding. Just as I am sure you guys in the fast lane remember those who are not going as fast or the Mom with stroller or the old lady with the dog on the 12 foot leash....

I will take this moment to commend those folks in full kit on uber bikes who take their workout seriously and for keeping it safe for everyone else as well as themselves.


Max Bryant

In motorcycling we often refer to the "one percent." Around here that descriptor was used for the many Harley riders who blast down our Main St. with straight pipe, refuse to acknowledge other bikers and generally don't give a damn about others. Recently, the young sport-bike guys seem to be sharing the title. In general, I think there's a one-percent crowd in every category. The vast majority of people are decent and respectful of others.

This is a great quote that is generally applicable:

Some _______ are jerks because some people are jerks.

You could put men, or women, or kids or adults or Christians or atheists or Democrats or Republicans. This is good to remember. For me, it underscores the possibility that I might be acting like a jerk at any point in time, and to be watchful so as to avoid this. Thanks, texaspandj (and I hope its not offensive to you if this Texas Ex says "Hook 'em! Go enjoy some barbecue brisket!).

We're going to yell at you.

Where I live, it's against the law not to say "On your left" or give some other indication (bell, etc) that you are about to pass someone.

I generally yell out "Terrorist Attack" and every ducks to the ground and huddles there so I can breeze through.