What are you selling?

You have to axe yourself 4 things?

1) Am I on the clock in a race?

2) Will Lance be more disappointed if I lose the race by 3 seconds or if I hurt someone in an accident that could have been avoided.

3) How did that guy just do the "pass and drop"on me while calling out "onyerleft" ?

4) What am I selling?

This thread has been fairly interesting, and kinda confirmed my hunch, there is no consensus on how to use the trails. I suppose that means whatever I do is acceptable

I haven't been using headphones, and I *have* been calling out "on your left", but honestly I think I'll at least go with 1 ear headphones and i'll call out only when it looks like the person will react how I expect them to. Way to go internet, you've ruined yet another cyclist.

PS, I'm not racing anywhere. Just PEDALING around for exercise. Doesn't mean I can't be regimented about my pace and breathing. I'm in cargo shorts and a T, and I couldn't spot lance armstrong in a crowd of 5 people to save my life.

Get yourself some decent cycling shorts; you won't regret it.

The CVC prohibits blocking a path or trail designated for bicycle use. Rule #1, when stopping be sure to get off of the path.

Rule #2, if you do something stupid in front of me you'll hear about it, especially if you are breaking Rule #1.

I tend to call it out, but I'll call it out late if I see someone who looks like trouble (i.e. riding a hybrid and staring at butterflies). My two crucial rules I follow are
1) always slow down around pedestrians
2) stay in your lane unless passing

If everyone followed those two rules most accidents would be avoided.

I started cycling last year and started riding the bike paths. First i would call out "on your left", to peds first thing usually is confusion. Other roadies i use On your left. Horses i always stop, or if room pass way wide. Used to use earphones all the time.
Now i use"COMING THOUGH" very loudly, this works much better as peds will move which ever way they are going to go and i can take the open spot or stop if needed.
Now i leave the ipod/radio at home, my cycling has improved because i am paying attention to what i am doing without drifting off. I thought i would get really bored but i don't.

Horse owners bug me! I once had one ask me to stop so I didn't scare the horse. OK,no biggie, I don't wish any rider harm and I really slow down around the horses and make noise from far back so that I don't surprise startle the horse but WTF is with all the horse crpa they leave on the trail? Usually on the south side of Katella on the downhill sections. Why don't they cleanup their sheot so that a cyclist doesn't get hurt!

It has been said already, but "on your left" does confuse many people on multi-use paths. This is why a bell works better for me, and I use it when someone appears to be moving erratically, or people are walking four abreast, or someone is walking a dog on a long leash, or there's a five-year-old with training wheels, etc. Overall, it is not reasonable to expect people using a multi-use path to know the jargon that we have created or to behave like we want. Even a bell doesn't work with iZombies who can't hear anything. As cyclists we are vehicles, usually faster than peds or runners, and it is our responsibility to pass with care knowing the unpredictability of other path users. If this doesn't suit you, maybe avoid multi-use paths. There are just too many people who don't know, or don't care, about the protocol we would like to see.

Yesterday riding on a multi-use path I was approaching two women walking abreast of each other, taking up the whole path. It was a long, straight section so they could theoretically see me coming for a good 30 seconds. I thought for sure the woman on the left (the one in my "lane," me being on the right side of the path) saw me and at any second was going to move over so I could pass. Nope. I went from 20 to 0 about 20 feet in front of her and she jumped out of her skin like I suddenly appeared out of thin air. Completely oblivious. I don't care who you are or what direction you're going or what you're doing, you need to be more aware of your surroundings than that. There's no excuse for being completely surprised by anyone or thing approaching you with that much warning. People are just idiots. Especially those who act like they own the path.

Sounds like that was your fault. Swerving in any situation is bad. This is the reason why I always check my immediate surroundings before changing my line in any situation--it's basic etiquette in my opinion. If you didn't see it until the last minute, then learning to look up further ahead instead of directly in front would help.

In my eyes the fault would be put on you for failing to check your surroundings prior to changing your line.

I have to agree on that one!... If I'm on a bikelane, approach glass, I look back to make sure that there aren't any vehicles approaching before I swerve out into the road. Same with the trail!

I agree, if you can't look to see if the way is clear to swerve, use your brakes.

Actually I accept that - my point is - the rider coming behind still should have called out - as is normal considerate BIKE etiquette - in order to prevent me from swerving and also, if you don't know, the front rider has the right of way. Doesn't matter if I change my line, if coming up behind me, you have the responsibility to observe and respond.

I know, times have changed. It's all about going fast and doing one's own thing - so get out on the road where you belong. Fast, silent riders don't belong on a bike path. That's a recipe for disaster!

LAriverrat - you have it right. I applaud you!

How do you figure? "COMING THOUGH!" sounds too much like "COMING D'OH!" I'd be very disappointed finding that the passing rider isn't really Homer Simpson!

It's your responsibility to ride safe, and that means to hold your line, particularly when on a path where you know there are a number of different users. It's not up to you to dictate anybody else's line or their pace. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety as well.

If you swerve without checking what's behind you, that's on you. Would you do that in the road, where an auto might just rapidly change the overall quality of your day? If you consider yourself an experience cyclist, this is a basic skill and you should know how to ride safely around others.

As to the "multi-use" issue, when I ride Ballona Creek and the South Bay BIKE PATH, I am just dumbfounded by how many users just wander all over the place, and often act surprised when they get passed by someone on a bike. On a typical morning, walkers might get passed by at least 200-300 bicyclists an hour, or more at a busier time. How many riders have to pass you before you realize there are other people populating your little world, quite a few of them on bikes?

For the record, I rarely call out. There's only a handful of times it's been helpful, and on the BIKE PATH you'll pass so many other users it's just stupid to try and do it for everyone. Besides causing more problems than it solves, it's not smart to expect that others will do the safest/best thing in this situation.

You should not be riding the bike path... you can't expect everyone to be a "professional" rider like you. Paths are used by noobs, ****ers, families etc. and they have just as much right to the path as you do.

I'm a good and experienced rider and understand the value of holding a line. I thought I was alone and was pulling off to take a photo. Apparently the rider was on my right (blind side) and as I turned left started to pass. I assume now he was drafting behind me (without asking). I checked before pulling left. But as I said, I take responsbility for my actions and he needs to take responsbility for his. I had the right of way whether that suits you or not.

I diagree calling out causes problem... generally I don't SCREAM "ON YER LEFT!!!!!" I say, in a normal voice, I am passing you on your left, stay steady..." People get it, that aren't all idiots as you assume.

DOH!

I'm with Rip (except for the double century thing)

I disagree. I train/ride on the SART almost daily and have yet to have any accidents with other patrons on the trail and that's with riding at speeds ranging from 15-34 mph. What other completely flat roads can I find to do long intervals without interruption? Plus the river trail is less than a half a mile from my house. You can enjoy noodling around on the trail (or any speed you feel like) and I can enjoy going as fast as I feel like (until the police start ticketing riders for going over 10 mph--hah!) and being predictable to all users of the trail.

If anything it should be a requirement for ALL patrons of the trail to be predictable and constantly aware of their surroundings. That's all that should be to it.

"Oh, that hurt."




I'm not the one telling everybody how and where they should ride, and I'm not giving it up.

I mean, I train all week just to win the Tour de Bike Path. My sponsors expect that kind of dedication, given all that they have invested.

What I haven't figured out yet is a strategy to beat that really fast guy on the low racer. Maybe it'd help if I had my own version of "the look". Think this'll do?




Still working on my victory salute...

Found my victory salute:


"The UPS Man":


And a brief explanation courtesy of BikeSnobNYC, who knows more about all things cycling than you do: https://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2010...es-to-win.html

I work during the week so don't have the same opportunity as you to ride the SART when traffic is low/quiet. I generally use it either after work or during the weekends when activity is high. Plus I live in a congested busy area. Very very hard to get away from noobs, ****ers and the like. I just have to deal with the situation which is why I generally get out on roads (or mountain bike!) instead.

And Dscott - I appreciate the humor - but in this instance are you Contador (ie arrogant, brash, win at all cost) and I am Armstrong (veteran, been there, done that, doesn't like putting up with young whippersnappers)?

I liked the Armstrong look. And, it's been a while since I was either young or a whippersnapper. Maybe we're more alike than we are different?

FWIW, I don't ride the bike paths during busy times (weekends, or later in the day) just for those reasons, and will gladly drive to ride in the mountains any time.