RFEngineer

I just got yelled at, I guess, for blocking car going down a narrow mountain road. Speed limit 35. I probably averaged 30. They said I "give cyclists a bad name." I mean, there is no shoulder and I took the whole lane. Even if there was a shoulder it wouldn't be safe to try to stay in it. Thoughts?

K.Katso

Don't sweat it. It was probably safer for you to use the whole lane than to try to stay off to one side to let them pass.

Maelochs

Who yelled at you, the driver or passenger in the car? If so, the appropriate response is, "Thank yuo very much" and then keep on about your business.

If there is no safe place to edge over to let the car by, there isn't. Simple as that.

I don't want to inconvenience anyone, but more than that, I don't want to get run over.

gregf83 

Depends how long the descent is. Often cyclists can descend as fast or faster than cars. If you're on the brakes to limit speed then it wouldn't hurt to ride closer to the side when it's safe for the cars behind you to pass.

Blue Church2

Don't sweat it, just wave when they pass. I've been yelled at for waiting at a left turn light and the lane going straight to my right, a guy honked and yelled at me saying I was on their lane.

There's a hill here called "Honey Springs Rd." and the few times I have descended, I'll take the lane for the few miles or so. There are sections where the road opens slightly so I'll let vehicles pass during those periods.

Shimagnolo

You know cars can pass cyclists in CO even if there is a double yellow, right?
I occasionally get nimrods that want to honk and yell at me even when there is plenty of room to pass.
Heck I've recently *twice* had idiots tailing me and honking on a 4-lane street when the lefthand lane was wide open.

RFEngineer

Passenger. It was a 7 mile descent, but they were only behind me for the last mile or mile and a half. So maybe for 3 minutes. Road was pretty windy, not safe to cross the double line with all the blind turns.

It's one way to go from "great ride" to "buzz kill"

Shimagnolo

Which road?
I once had a couple hicks pacing beside me on Golden Gate Cyn, with the passenger (rhymes with "itch") hanging out the window screaming in my face: "GET OFF THE ROAD YOU ASSH___!!!"

Maelochs

That's why I am constantly training myself to immediately laugh when I hear that crap. If I let it in at all, i can't stop thinking about it, because even though I know I am 100 percent right, i don't want to create strife for others. It has taken along time, but i am getting better .... now I can usually forget about the car-shouters withing a minute.

The ones who could pass and won't are even worse ... but hey, you only have to deal with those folks for a brief time ... they have to live with themselves for a lifetime.

RFEngineer

Golden gate canyon.

RNAV

Wasn't there and don't want to Monday-morning quarterback you. Are you alive and uninjured? Then you did well.

I will add, though, that as a rule I won't take the full lane unless I have to for my own safety. On a curvy mountain descent, I'll take the lane when I'm exceeding the speed limit to give myself more maneuverability. But if I'm not exceeding the speed limit, and it's unnecessary for my safety, I don't take the lane. I try to be a good rep for the cycling community and strive to be courteous to other users of the road.

lupy

IMO on narrow roads take the lane. I also personally will pull over if I notice a build up of cars behind me. Sometimes its not safe for cars to pass and I appreciate it when they are considerate of me so I try to be considerate of them. Depending on how long and steep the descent was depends on what I would do. I wouldn't slam on my brakes on a steep decent just to let one car pass a few MPH's faster (semi with smoking brakes and I would get out of the way asap lol). Winding slow ascent that keeps cars backed up behind me and I would pull off when its safe and let them pass.

EDIT: Just read a few more posts. I'm assuming that you are going fast and in order to take the majority of turns safely you would need more than the narrow shoulder. When I descend 30+ I need more margin for error personally so I scoot over. I don't want to decide between avoiding a rock and going off the road at those speeds.

Shimagnolo

I just realized I named the wrong canyon in my previous post.
(I just now fixed it.)
Welcome to the group who has encountered hicks in Golden Gate Cyn.

For contrast, climbing Flagstaff Mtn, I've had motorists shout encouragement.
And descending the same, I've had cars pull over so I could pass them.

DXchulo

Sometimes it's faster to take the whole lane on the corners (where it can be unsafe for cars to pass, anyway), though I doubt most drivers understand that and will still get mad at you. But when you're on the straight portions you might as well ride closer to the right and try to let them pass.

It's impossible to say whether you were right without knowing the road firsthand.

RFEngineer

Thanks for the replies. I'll certainly be more aware next time.

Maelochs

Funny (sort of.) I posted a reply here, hopped on my bike, and a third of the way through my ride was passed by a couple youngish guys in a pick-up (one lane each way but a small breakdown lane and a ton of room to get by.)

The passenger leaned out and said something like, "There's a sidewalk. You do know you're supposed to be on the sidewalk, right?" in not a particularly nasty voice.

I laughed, but I still ran through my head the scenario of catching them at a light and saying, "Actually, state law says ..." Luckily, I got over it in under a minute and really enjoyed my ride except for being so fat and slow.

Maybe this thread helped prepare me .... so, Thanks.

scott967

There is a descent here that I can ride 30-40 mph (posted is 35). First thing is, some (probably most) drivers want to pass even if I go the limit. The road has no shoulder and there are many sections of pavement damage from the fog line into the right tire track. So often I have to ride towards the center of the lane for my safety. Also sections tend to be windy and even though I'm not a lightweight, I get blown around some. I don't have a lot of trouble with road raging, most folks just pass when they can. Had one woman (what is it with angry women?) cuss me out and like said up thread, it can be a buzz kill.

scott s.
.

CliffordK

You need more of these signs:



I haven't seen them very frequently, but I did find them on a narrow winding 2-lane mountain road with no shoulders, although I think most of the signs were along the uphill lane.

While not going as fast uphill as downhill, it was beneficial to relax one's line of travel a bit while pounding up 20 miles of uphill.

big john

It always surprises me when people think we are supposed to ride on the sidewalk. I told a young idiot at work that riding on the sidewalk is not legal, and she said she had never heard that.

You're assuming they can read and/or aren't texting when they pass the sign.

on the path

Let it go. It probably won't be the last time an ignorant motorist yells at you. Just smile and wave. Five fingers of course..