Rules of the Trail...my own private list

Per Paladin:

13. Smile, wave, slow down, say howdy, have fun out
there, and don't be so arrogant and serious that you
can't yield to other users and riders.

14. Consider getting one of those single-ding bells. (Incredi-Bell is one).
I avoided it for years because of both the dork factor and the belief
that people would take it the wrong way - as in "Here I come
gedoutta my way!".

But what I kept finding was that sometimes non-cyclists take "On your
left" the wrong way - not comprehending the meaning. I'd get back
the occasional something to the effect of "So does yer mamma!"...

After scaring an elderly couple into near-strokes in French Creek
state park (what they were doing on this trail was beyond me.... if
I weren't going down hill I would have been walking... and having
trouble walking at that) I bought one.

You can make many different sounds with it from a subtle "clink" (deadening
the bell part with the thumb) to a really loud ringing sound.

Used judiciously, I've gotten nothing but good feed back. You do
a full-on "Ding" 75-100 feet back - when you're in the "Oh, there's
something back there range" and not the "Uh-oh!" range. Then you
can follow it up with a quieter "clink" or two if you're not sure they
know you're there.

A surprising number of people say "Thank You".
--
PeteCresswell

On Apr 4, 3:59 pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
14. Consider getting one of those single-ding bells. (Incredi-Bell is one).
I avoided it for years because of both the dork factor and the belief
that people would take it the wrong way - as in "Here I come
gedoutta my way!".

I just had a visual of being 75% of the way through cleaning a
grueling climb, sweat stinging my eyes, legs and lungs burning, just
maintaing traction and momentum, staring at the crest in longing and
suddenly hearing the "ding ding" of a 1950's style incredi-bell on the
bars of someone who's about to overtake me.

I'm not sure if I'd laugh, cry, or donate my bikes and take up
hiking. I'll be chuckling over this one for the rest of the day.

On Apr 4, 3:59 pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:
But what I kept finding was that sometimes non-cyclists take "On your
left" the wrong way - not comprehending the meaning. I'd get back
the occasional something to the effect of "So does yer mamma!"...

I ran into this often in Salem & Boston, where the trails and paths
get a lot of hikers, walkers, kids and pups. I found "coming through
on your left" to be about 95% effective, as opposed to a simple "on
your left" being closer to 50%. It's a touch of extra breath to get
those extra two words out, but it's less than is required to get back
up to speed after someone turns into your path to see what's "on their
left" (and that's assuming you don't hit them or crash, hindering your
progress even more.

On Apr 4, 2:23 pm, " wrote:
On Apr 4, 3:59 pm, "(PeteCresswell)" wrote:

But what I kept finding was that sometimes non-cyclists take "On your
left" the wrong way - not comprehending the meaning. I'd get back
the occasional something to the effect of "So does yer mamma!"...

I ran into this often in Salem & Boston, where the trails and paths
get a lot of hikers, walkers, kids and pups. I found "coming through
on your left" to be about 95% effective, as opposed to a simple "on
your left" being closer to 50%. It's a touch of extra breath to get
those extra two words out, but it's less than is required to get back
up to speed after someone turns into your path to see what's "on their
left" (and that's assuming you don't hit them or crash, hindering your
progress even more.


Complicate the whole situation by the ipod factor, where lots of
hikers are groovin to their tunes, oblivious to others, and can't hear
you say anything anyhow... sheesh.

CDB

"Paladin" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 4, 2:23 pm, " wrote:


Complicate the whole situation by the ipod factor, where lots of
hikers are groovin to their tunes, oblivious to others, and can't hear
you say anything anyhow... sheesh.

CDB


That's when you smack 'em on the back of the head as to roll
by..................

Marty

On Apr 4, 12:48 pm, "Paladin" wrote:
On Apr 4, 12:57 pm, "Mamba" wrote:

"Paladin" wrote in message

roups.com...

7. If you ride with a dog, bring water, and pick up
after the beast. Always.

Great points, and mostly common sense to anyone who rides without too much
attitude. My only question is about #7. While I love dogs, I have yet to
see one that doesn't get into the spirit of the ride and dash ahead/behind
to chase or greet other trail users. I've had some pretty aggressive
animals come up on me when both biking and hiking, and I wish those folks
would leave their critters at home.

Dogs are a huge part of the riding scene around here, and most gals
who run the trails will bring one or more, and most hikers usually
have at least one with them. I don't know if my friend Alex would
know how to ride his bike without his dog Molly along. My point
presumes that the owner can control his dog, (I know, not always the
case) but he must also provide water and pick up after the dog.

CDB


I've hit dogs before and it was the dog owner's fault every time. If
Fido can't behave on the trail, he doesn't belong out there. One dog
owner actually got ****y with me and almost suffered some GBH for
their efforts. On my commuter recently I had to warn a dog owner to
leash his Shepherd twice, the second time he got ****y. Wrong move on
mister dumbasses part. Needless to say, I haven't seen said dumbass
on that bike path anymore.

JD

On Apr 4, 4:38 pm, "Marty" wrote:
"Paladin" wrote in message

oups.com...

On Apr 4, 2:23 pm, " wrote:

Complicate the whole situation by the ipod factor, where lots of
hikers are groovin to their tunes, oblivious to others, and can't hear
you say anything anyhow... sheesh.

CDB

That's when you smack 'em on the back of the head as to roll
by..................

Marty


Either that, or pass by very closely at mach speed, hoping they
misstep and being prepared for that contingency.

JD

On 3 Apr 2007 22:42:48 -0700, "Paladin" wrote:

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From: "Paladin"
Newsgroups: alt.mountain-bike
Subject: Rules of the Trail...my own private list
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A newspaper reporter contacted me for an article on trail etiquette,
and I threw the following together quickly to help him meet his
deadline. We really are starting to get a barney problem on our lower
trails, where the traffic's been increasing ever year. So here's my
email to the guy:

Dear D____, snip

If your schedule is real tight, here are the pressing
trail etiquette issues in the Boise foothills right
now:

1.Downhill riders must yield to uphill riders. Stop
at the edge of the trail and let the uphill rider
pass. As the yielding rider, don't ride off trail, but
stop, lean your bike out away from the trail, and you
may place the outside foot off-trail if it's a narrow
trail.

2. Mountainbikes yield to all other users. Slow down
or stop for pedestrians, slow down or stop for dogs,
horses, strollers, aliens, you name it, we slow down
or stop for everybody. A friendly greeting and
advance warning coming up behind other users is very
important, too.

3. STAY ON THE TRAIL. Don't cut switchbacks, don't
ride off the trail. Ride through the middle of mud
puddles, if any, so as not to widen the trail. Stay in
the middle of the trail if at all possible. This is
probably the biggest problem we see out there. That
and not yielding to uphill traffic and other users.

4. If the trails are soft from rain, DON'T RIDE THEM.
Our soil is not forgiving when it's soft and muddy
like east coast trails. Go home, go running, go
skiing, or sit on your couch, but if the trails are
too wet, stay off them.

5. Don't remove rocks from the trail. Hard to
believe, but folks have been caught doing this with
the excuse that they were making the trail "easier."
If you can't ride it, walk it. Don't ride around a
feature. Stop and carry your bike over it so that you
stay on the trail.

6. Don't lock up your tires and skid. This tears up
the trail and promotes erosion. Control your speed,
or learn to ride faster, but don't fly into corners
and then tear up the trail dragging a rear tire with
the brake on. These make "barney divots" that turn
good trails into miserable washboards over time.

7. If you ride with a dog, bring water, and pick up
after the beast. Always.

8. Always wear a helmet, and insist that other riders
do, too, especially your kids. One day I yelled
across a canyon telling a rider to wear a helmet.
Half an hour later I was patching up a deep bleeding
gash in his chin that could have been avoided with a
helmet. If a mountainbiker gets hurt on the trail, we
all suffer.

9. Pick up after yourself. No candy or power bar
wrappers, gu wrappers, kleenexes, you name it, just
pack it out. No big deal.

10. Be careful going downhill, especially around
blind corners. Slow down, announce yourself, or
you're likely to crash into someone coming up. Expect
lots of traffic on Hulls Gulch, up AND down.

11. Ride on marked trails only. Do not violate
private property postings. Do not make your own
trail. Do not ride on trails that are marked closed
to bikes. Close gates after you go through them.

12. If you ride alone, take a cell phone and make
sure somebody knows where you'll be riding.

13. Smile, wave, slow down, say howdy, have fun out
there, and don't be so arrogant and serious that you
can't yield to other users and riders.

snip

Paladin
accept no cheap, younger substitutes.

You forgot:

14. Don't ride a bike anywhere but on pavement, where it can't do much
harm.
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

On 4 Apr 2007 00:00:12 -0700, wrote:

On Apr 3, 10:42 pm, "Paladin" wrote:
A newspaper reporter contacted me for an article on trail etiquette,
and I threw the following together quickly to help him meet his
deadline. We really are starting to get a barney problem on our lower
trails, where the traffic's been increasing ever year. So here's my
email to the guy:

Dear D____, snip

If your schedule is real tight, here are the pressing
trail etiquette issues in the Boise foothills right
now:

1.Downhill riders must yield to uphill riders. Stop
at the edge of the trail and let the uphill rider
pass. As the yielding rider, don't ride off trail, but
stop, lean your bike out away from the trail, and you
may place the outside foot off-trail if it's a narrow
trail.

2. Mountainbikes yield to all other users. Slow down
or stop for pedestrians, slow down or stop for dogs,
horses, strollers, aliens, you name it, we slow down
or stop for everybody. A friendly greeting and
advance warning coming up behind other users is very
important, too.

3. STAY ON THE TRAIL. Don't cut switchbacks, don't
ride off the trail. Ride through the middle of mud
puddles, if any, so as not to widen the trail. Stay in
the middle of the trail if at all possible. This is
probably the biggest problem we see out there. That
and not yielding to uphill traffic and other users.

4. If the trails are soft from rain, DON'T RIDE THEM.
Our soil is not forgiving when it's soft and muddy
like east coast trails. Go home, go running, go
skiing, or sit on your couch, but if the trails are
too wet, stay off them.

5. Don't remove rocks from the trail. Hard to
believe, but folks have been caught doing this with
the excuse that they were making the trail "easier."
If you can't ride it, walk it. Don't ride around a
feature. Stop and carry your bike over it so that you
stay on the trail.

6. Don't lock up your tires and skid. This tears up
the trail and promotes erosion. Control your speed,
or learn to ride faster, but don't fly into corners
and then tear up the trail dragging a rear tire with
the brake on. These make "barney divots" that turn
good trails into miserable washboards over time.

7. If you ride with a dog, bring water, and pick up
after the beast. Always.

8. Always wear a helmet, and insist that other riders
do, too, especially your kids. One day I yelled
across a canyon telling a rider to wear a helmet.
Half an hour later I was patching up a deep bleeding
gash in his chin that could have been avoided with a
helmet. If a mountainbiker gets hurt on the trail, we
all suffer.

9. Pick up after yourself. No candy or power bar
wrappers, gu wrappers, kleenexes, you name it, just
pack it out. No big deal.

10. Be careful going downhill, especially around
blind corners. Slow down, announce yourself, or
you're likely to crash into someone coming up. Expect
lots of traffic on Hulls Gulch, up AND down.

11. Ride on marked trails only. Do not violate
private property postings. Do not make your own
trail. Do not ride on trails that are marked closed
to bikes. Close gates after you go through them.

12. If you ride alone, take a cell phone and make
sure somebody knows where you'll be riding.

13. Smile, wave, slow down, say howdy, have fun out
there, and don't be so arrogant and serious that you
can't yield to other users and riders.

snip

Paladin
accept no cheap, younger substitutes.


Paladin,
totally agree with all points and wish more people would heed your
advice.

But they won't! After all, they are mountain bikers. They are above
the law, as well as common decency.

jv
Common sense is useless if not practiced.
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande

On 4 Apr 2007 16:46:14 -0700, "JD" wrote:

On Apr 4, 12:48 pm, "Paladin" wrote:
On Apr 4, 12:57 pm, "Mamba" wrote:

"Paladin" wrote in message

roups.com...

7. If you ride with a dog, bring water, and pick up
after the beast. Always.

Great points, and mostly common sense to anyone who rides without too much
attitude. My only question is about #7. While I love dogs, I have yet to
see one that doesn't get into the spirit of the ride and dash ahead/behind
to chase or greet other trail users. I've had some pretty aggressive
animals come up on me when both biking and hiking, and I wish those folks
would leave their critters at home.

Dogs are a huge part of the riding scene around here, and most gals
who run the trails will bring one or more, and most hikers usually
have at least one with them. I don't know if my friend Alex would
know how to ride his bike without his dog Molly along. My point
presumes that the owner can control his dog, (I know, not always the
case) but he must also provide water and pick up after the dog.

CDB


I've hit dogs before and it was the dog owner's fault every time.

And when you hit hikers or plants or animals, I suppose THAT'S their
fault also?

If
Fido can't behave on the trail, he doesn't belong out there. One dog
owner actually got ****y with me and almost suffered some GBH for
their efforts. On my commuter recently I had to warn a dog owner to
leash his Shepherd twice, the second time he got ****y. Wrong move on
mister dumbasses part. Needless to say, I haven't seen said dumbass
on that bike path anymore.

JD
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)

Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!

http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande