BlazingPedals

I demand nothing. Maybe the problem is that you're getting buzzed -- that is, they're passing too closely? Passing at a safe distance applies to bikes passing bikes, too.

wphamilton

On the open road, a safe pass period is fine with me. I'd rather they not say anything, and a lot of people are the same way. You can't please everyone no matter what you do.

avidone1

Actually, I agree. The one time this was a real condern for me was when a car was passing me so I moved further right. A second after the car passed the roadie passed very close to me. I was already started to ease back over a little. It was fraught with danger. I did see him later and commented "do me a favor and let me know when your going to pass me like that"
He looked up and nodded. It told me that he realized he should have either waited to begin his passing untill the car was well past, or given me the heads up.

sail

ding






that was easy

79pmooney

I have to agree with Rowan. That's a pretty snarky reply. Maybe appropriate if you know his situation, say if he was a gifted teammate who refused to train, but it seems you do not know him nearly that well. And let's say he was a serious racer. Ever heard of easy rides? Training properly isn't always going fast.

You may be the Knight of Sufferlandria, but aren't knights expected to be gentlemen when not in armor?

Ben

Indyspeeddmon

Passing at a close distance is ALWAYS a smart thing to do. However, a bike is significantly slower than a car and maybe I'm a little anal about checking behind me but I've never gone long enough w/o a quick glance to allow a sneaker to surprise me. When on the road, never allow yourself to space/zone out...that's when accidents happen.

Juan Foote

Certainly didn't expect some of that feedback, especially given the "tongue in cheek" nature of the post....

Thank you Rowan.

With that said, I think there is a certain amount of courtesy you should show other riders, pedestrians, etc. while out on the road. Coming up to within a few inches of someones ear on a silent bike on a deserted backroad to announce yourself is freaking rude. Two lengths back or so, he could have said "passing/on your left/watch the hell out".....Aside from Electrics, I can hear most cars coming a good eighth of a mile off.

I personally like the kitty with a bell idea, already shopping basket ideas.

As to the mirror: I have been a long time user of a mirror. I found that it did nothing aside from increase my apprehension about the upcoming vehicle and oftentimes ended up with me pulling to far to the unsafe shoulder or ditch. Given the legal responsibility of the driver to share the road and pass with a three foot margin, I have developed a tendency to take more of the lane and force cars to pass responsibly. Looking back does nothing to help me remain relaxed and confident whether I see the "one that gets me" or not is a mute point.

spdntrxi

the avatar pic looks like a recumbent... mirrors are like standard issue for those guys

yooperbiker

Maybe need more fiber in your diet.

Maelochs

if cars honked at him it would grind his gears.

What really grinds his gears is that he has to share the planet with real people ... if everyone would just stay home and use the Internet he could go where he pleases.

Juan Foote

I do still use mirrors on the 'bent, but don't often ride it on the road around here any more. We have some good cart paths nearby that it is much more suited for...or drive well into the country.

Juan Foote

There is truth in this. I don't know that I have ever met any real people though.

Maelochs

Personally I always make sure I pass (on the Very rare occasions when it has happened ... not in years) with Plenty of space to my right so even if a cyclist is startles s/he won't swerve into me and shouldn't be startled enough to swerve off the road.

If someone passed at extreme speed less than a foot away, yeah, that would annoy me. If someone blew by three feet to my left ... just two people on the road on bikes, each doing his/her own thing.

I can understand getting a little irritated, and if some people vent that irritation here on BF ... well, the thread title should have been sufficient warning us it was a whine/complain thread and not too serious, at that.

Of course, I took the "HTFU" guy as not serious and very sarcastic as well. if someone posts a thread like this, s/he needs to expect that sort of thing.

Toughen up your posting muscles.

Nachoman

OP, please do not feel obligated to announce yourself to every cyclist you pass. In my opinion that is way more annoying.

indyfabz

You can hear cars more readily.

I can feel for the OP. Climbing Sherman Pass in WA on a loaded touring bike a local who was out for his usual training ride (Imagine having that as your usual training ride.) rode right up to me and said "Hi!" right over my left shoulder. Scared the Bejeebus Belt out of me since I hadn't seen a person or car in probably at least an hour. And i had looked around recently had just gone around a curve. That and the speed difference made him hard to see. If I approach someone on a quite road I may make a little noise or let out a fake cough or even say something before I get right on their butts since I know what it's like to ride for hours without encountering cars or humans. It's no big deal so show a little courtesy.

indyfabz

See my post No. 40 in this thread. A person who takes issue with showing a little common courtesy in limited situations is precisely the sort of person who doesn't want to share the planet with real people.

Keep in mind that people bring their baggage-driven attitudes to this forum. Some have had their partners walk out on them. Some are in financial pinches for a variety of reasons, including overindulgence. Some are simply mad at the world for one reason or another. This place allows them to vent their frustrations with anonymity. The sad this is that many of them are five-second thinkers who don't really take the time to consider all the scenarios that come under a comment's umbrella. Instead, they dash off comments like "Get a damn mirror!" and move on. People like us are higher, deeper thinkers with more experience than a lot of people who come here to offer inane advice.

calamarichris

Also, employ the cyclist's Crazy Ivan: get in the habit of deploying unannounced snot-rockets over random shoulder to discourage draft ninjas.

Edit: perhaps best not to look over your shoulder before doing this, as it implies intended malice rather than honest mistake.


It is the mucus that binds us.

BlazingPedals

Playing the 'courtesy' card implies that following the laws isn't enough; we should follow unwritten, made-up rules in addition to the DOT laws. No thanks. I only warn people if they're riding so unpredictably that they'll endanger ME during the pass. Otherwise I give them a safe clearance and do it.

indyfabz

smh

Daniel4

What grinds my gears is that when I approach pedestrians, I slow down, ring my bell, they don't respond and then when I'm passing them, they get scared. Only on a few rare occasions they state they didn't hear me or they thought the ding-ding was a bird.

But this cancels out the more frequent occasions when pedestrians thank me for the warning.

GeneO 

Yeah, that is my gripe. When someone does this on trails especially when you are maneuvering ruts and the like.

SloButWide 

I have to admit to a certain guilty pleasure when this happens, but only if the pedestrian is wearing earbuds. I try to call out far enough back that even if you startle, I can react. Too often, a pedestrian reflexively reacts to "On your left" be looking over his right shoulder, and stepping left. If you choose to block out the world and wander obliviously, you might need a reminder you're not in your EZ-boy recliner.

Meerkat80

I try to make some kind of noise, like someone else said I sometimes do a fake cough. haha that sounds pretty lame now I've written it down. It is quite a good fake cough though...
Apart form that i assume people are aware of their surroundings and if they're wearing earbuds (why do cyclists do this??) then I try to give them a wider berth.

Leebo

I find a " good morning" works fine. Or a few snaps of the brake levers.

Phil_gretz

When I encounter a lone rider out in the country, I do try to say *hello* and ask a few questions as I overtake. Why not? We're both out riding in the middle of nowhere...we already have that in common. A little conversation breaks up the monotony, doesn't it? At the very least, I can compliment their bike...