So I'm approaching this "kid" (late teens or early twenties) who's riding an MTB on the right half of the trail. I moved to the left side of the trail and dinged my bell because I was about to pass him. He turns his head left and looks right at me. Then turns his head back and proceeds to drift left. I said "On Your Left!" at which point he comes all the way over into my front wheel. (Yes, we've discussed the pitfalls of "on your left" before - I'd just never seen someone stupid enough to move left...)

At this point I'm on the brakes hard but he still got the wheel enough that I fell down and went boom at almost zero speed.

He turned around and apologized and I tore him a new one about keeping right, yadda yadda.

Long & short: Front wheel slightly out of true. Bike otherwise unscathed. I've got a couple of minor scrapes and a bit of a stiff shoulder. Nothing significant.

I suppose crashes are worthless unless you learn something from them. I learned that I have to announce a pass and let the other person get situated before actually passing. Though why he figured it would be smart to move left, after looking right at me, I'll never know.

Hopefully he learned to keep right.

At any rate I'm going to be a lot more verbal with people from now on...

People go where they look.

When ever I am going to pass someone I say "going around' and I let them decide which side they are going and I got on the other side. SO far no problems...

Well, this guy seemed content to stay on the right half of the trail until my front wheel was next to his rear wheel. Then he darted over pretty fast.

I do have a theory that he tried to play Lance and keep me from passing him (we were going up a hill). That would explain the sudden change of direction... He pushed on the bars trying to power-up.

At any rate, my wheel is now straight and they replaced my worn bearings in the front hub so it was sort of worth a visit to the LBS anyway.

Umm, yeah. Doing otherwise is like putting on a turn signal halfway through a turn!

Glad you (and bike!) survived the crash. What sort of surface was it?

If it happened to me I'd learn to ride on the road and leave the trails to kids.

Paved. And to clarify, I always give people plenty of warning. This guy just blew up when I got next to him, for whatever reason.

Next time carry a bullwhip to announce your intentions.

That's why I don't alert people when passing if there's enough room. I have a better chance making it through that way than otherwise. Alerting them seems to increase the probability that they will change their behavior (ie stop going straight) even when there is no need for them to make any adjustment.

agreed, i only announce my intentions if my spidey-sense tells me there will be trouble...

and for the guy who leaves the trails to kids, come east to philly. i'll race you! you can have the road that leads next to my MUP and i'll take the MUP. i might not beat you, but i'll be the guy who doesn't end up as a hood ornament.

I always try to give plenty of warning also. I've had a few joggers jump bably when they hear me announce I'm coming. I like the extra minute to see what they'll do. Not much you can do when someone turns into you though.

Glad your allrite. My allerts vary on the MUP's I ride.

Along with my bell-I alternate with:"On your left!","Good morning(afternoon/evening)", "BIKING!", "CYCLING!", "HOWDY!" and sometimes nothing (just the bell). It's very difficult to tell if folks w/walkmans on have heard me unless they acknowledge-so I pass them with particular care.

On the few occassions I've seen folks on the wrong side of the trail, around blind corners-I let out a scare the crap out of anyone "TRAIL!" as I slow or stop. I think I picked up hollering "TRAIL!" from crosscountry&downhill skiing as a kid.