hairyleg

All right, I'm reading threads on annoying people who pass fast without waving or anything. Question: What exactly am I supposed to do? I tend to ride faster than most out for a ride, and consequently pass people. I can never figure this out. I don't want to be a snob or jerk or whatever, so how can I pass people without being annoying? If I were 28 on a nice bike it would be easy, but I'm 17 on an old trek 1220 seven-speed. Not quite high class. Am I underestimating people's attitudes out there?
Anyone care to enlighten me?

bhh

Just say good-morning, afternoon whatever and don't blow a snot-rocket at me

John Wilke

For me, you don't have to do anything or say anything ... just don't knock me over when you go by.

John Wilke
Milwaukee

Mariner Fan

You definitely want to say something like "Passing Left” etc because you don’t know if the person in front of you is getting ready to turn or just screwing around and will veer into you. I get annoyed with the folks wearing head phones and are unable to hear me.

bbattle

I slow up a bit so as not to startle anyone; make sure they know I'm there, especially if the road is busy or the trail is narrow.

I then say "how's it going?" "Hello" "Been riding long?" "Nice bike" something like that.

I came up on two mtb. riders last night on the backside of Monte Sano. The road is blocked off and people park at the bottom and ride up. MTB's go onto the trails, while us roadies go through the park and take another road back down. I made sure they knew I was there as they were kinda hogging the road. They moved to make room and I said "how's it going?" They said "Cool, how you doing?" "Tired" was my response. Then I pulled on ahead; not too hard for a roadie to pass two FS-mtb's. Shouldn't be, anyways.

I think it's good etiquette for the passer to acknowledge the passee.

DamnRock

yea, if the road is really wide, go way wide... look over, say "morning" or "afternoon" and go about your business, regardless of what they do. If you are on a narrow path... yell "on your left" or something when you get close... say it loud and 99% of the people wearing headphones will be able to hear it. I wear headphones on solo rides and occasionally I pass others or others pass me... and I can hear their road noise when they get really close, and the ones that call out their position typically do it loud enough for me to get adequate warning.

Some people prolly do listen to the headphones louder than I do, so as always, proceed with caution.

On the original point though, just nod or wave or say "hey" and that's it. Don't do it because you want a reaction out of them or are afraid what they'll think... who really cares once they're lookin at your ass getting smaller and smaller. Just do your own thing and all will work out. Personally, I've NEVER had another rider not acknowledge me when I acknowledged them.

rock

Hipcycler

Personally, I've NEVER had another rider not acknowledge me when I acknowledged them.

Then you've never experienced, "The Knave"! It's one of his best moves.

SilentShifter

As you rip past someone either say "good morning/afternoon/evening" or something along the lines of "hi". The point is, just say something.

rule

I always say, 'can I come by on your left', and then 'thank you'. If they look like they are hurting I'll ask, 'how's your ride' or just say 'hop on if you like' if they look like they could use a pull.

If they are a complete weenie about it, I always say 'just let me know that you are coming if you decide to pass' and 'thank you for that'.

By this time, even the biggest weenie in the world is usually over it.

hairyleg

All right, I'd better ask who "the Knave" is. I get the impression he the generic not-everybody's-best-friend-kind-of-guy. Am I right?

gurana

"The KNAVE" (note the use of the definite article. It is a mandatory part of his title, so when conversing with The KNAVE ((which few people do)) you would say, "Hey, The KNAVE, how are you doing?". Kind of like The Cheat) is a real person that dogs Hip. However, Hip seems to have catapulted him to folk hero status for some, and for others he has become a metaphor for any person that pisses you off whilst on a ride. The Knave is quickly becoming the cycling world's equivalent of "that guy", only much much worse.

rufvelo

Depends where you're riding.

On a trail with dozens of riders in both directions, you really can't be waving all day. A simple 'on your left' will suffice when passing. And you can ignore the riders in the opposite direction.

But on a lonely country road, where you see maybe one biker on the entire ride in five hours, if at all, while the same 'on your left' while passing still applies, you should indulge at least in come minor conversation with the person you're passing, and of course always wave to the person in the other direction.

dagna

It's nice to say something when you pass, if only 'hey'. And most of us older riders are particularly impressed by good manners in the young .

However, my vote is, please say something before you pass, unless you know the person is aware of you. Sunday, I had a guy zoom past about 3 inches from my left elbow with no warning whatsoever. Startled the bejeezus out of me. In Mr Speedo's defense, I have had it happen that when I called out 'on your left', the person got so shook that they went left directly into my path, but in most cases this is someone who's looking insecure to begin with. I wasn't at all unsteady before Mr Speedo almost sideswiped me--I was happily pedaling along at about 18mph, minding my own business . I was a tad unsteady for a few seconds after he almost blew me over, though .

In general, I always acknowledge and also give plenty of early warning and as much room as I can when passing.

Dagna

SDRider

I just say on your left as I'm coming up behind them and then pass them. I don't wave at other motorists as I drive past them so I honestly don't know why this offends some people on bikes. If I'm on a dedicated bike path and they look over at me I will usually say goodmorning but if I'm on the street I just want to get by them quickly and not bother with any pleasantries. It certainly doesn't offend me when someone passes me and all they say is, "on your left!"

substructure

Man, this bites.
I never pass anyone and no one has passed me yet. I've seen other cyclists going the other direction and I always say, "hello." (whether or not I get a return)

What I would expect, though:
Them - "On your left, Dummy."
Me - *pant* *pant* "m'kay." *pant* *wheeze*

rufvelo

True. Also, doesn't help either then cars honk 2 feet from you!

'nother

The only sure-fire way to get it right is to ask each cyclist, "Pardon me sir (ma'am), would you prefer that I announce, 'On your left' prior to passing you, or should I just pass without saying anything?"

Of course prior to that you need to secure permission to ask even that question, because some people don't like to talk at all because they're focusing so intensely on their workouts and such. It's tough out there folks.

alison_in_oh

Whether I'm passing pedestrians or cyclists, I've forced myself into the habit of saying "Hey-a, passing on your left!" in a bright and cheery tone. Enough that when you actually pass you don't scare the bejeebers out of them. I do this because I find I appreciate it when others do it for me.

If someone stealth-passes me, I *will* grab a wheel without asking. And probably re-pass as soon as possible.

"Never get passed. Never get dropped. Never give up."

Oh, and for goodness' sake, after you pass someone don't forget they're there! I recently chose not to grab the wheel of someone who passed me politely, but my competitive spirit demanded that I stay about a bike length behind him. This became a problem a quarter of a mile later when he swung way left in preparation to turn right into his home driveway. He noticed me at the last moment and disaster was averted, but this was only a few weeks after I got out of my cast and you'd better believe my heart was pounding at the prospect of another crash!

ovoleg

I usually say "Hey" or something along those lines.

Unless it's a girl I am passing...

Then I say, "PASSING NOW! AHAHHAHA HAHAHA

HAHA

HAHAHA

HAHAHA

DROPPED You!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA

DROPPPPPED!!!!"

Phantoj

I usually say something along the lines of:

Halloo there, old chap! Certainly a stellar day to be perambulating out on the ol' velocipede, don't you think? Weather like this is rare indeed! Hope your ride has been pleasant so far and continues to be so. Well, I really must be going... carry on, my good man! Cheerio!

bernmart

In principle I don't care whether someone passing me says anything or not (almost everyone passes me!), as long as they're not too close. But in fact, I always feel better if they at least toss a "good morning" my way.

What really hurts is when I'm going so slow that, as they scream past me, they call out: "Are you all right?"

budster

Passing: Hey, heya, on yer left -- something along those lines. Ting ting on the incredibell if it's riders two abreast, or someone wearing headphones. Takes practice to know just when to hail them. Plenty of room (3' ideally) on the pass.

Face to face: eye contact first, then friendly head nod and/or lifted index finger wave. Occasionally a smile or a hey.

I never expect anyone to wave anymore, but I do get annoyed when passed without warning by another cyclist. Y'know, when I'm, uh, cooling down after a workout, like.

bbattle

Come up slowly on the left then say "Pardon me, would you happen to have any Grey Poupon?"

Extra points if you wave your Clif bar to show it needs mustard.

Eatadonut

I issue forth a battle cry, make sure my neck muscles are sticking out like my head's being pulled off, and bare my teeth at the slowbie as I blow past em.


Except, occasionally, I'll catch their wheel, yell a good morning (I never see anyone in the evenings), give em a "passing on your left", put about 3mph an hour on them, take the lane, and wave kindly as I pass.

chipcom 

It's also important to give warning or announce yourself with plenty of room for the passee to react. My GF has a bad habit of coming right up on someone's rear end then screaming 'ON YOUR LEFT' at the top her lungs, usually causing them to jump out of their shoes and leaving me whispering a sheepish 'sorry' as I pass myself.