What's the concensus on who has the right to undisturbed passage on a section of trail, be it ascent or descent?
I'm of the opinion that you always acquiesce to the faster rider, it seems many others think the faster rider should stop an wait.
It would be useful to know whether you are normally the "faster rider".
Many thanks.
This is entirely independent of the value or percieved nicheness of the bike or clothing choiceof the two riders.
Let the quicker riders through when its safe to do so.
Quicker riders should not expect to have unimpeded passage and may have to wait a few minutes. It is the quicker riders responsibility to let the slower rider know that he/she is there and not with (PASSING LEFT!) and should be polite when let through (CHEERS MATE!). Manners cost nothing.
On 2 way trails, the DH rider should yield to the uphill rider as the uphiller may not be able to restart.
I'm generally the quicker rider down but not up.
oh no, this will end in tears.
If I catch someone up on a downhill section I'd normally pause for a few minutes to allow them to get to the bottom without hearing my Hope hub buzzing in their ear.
If someone catches me up (normally on an uphill) i'll stop, pullover and let them pass
I never expect anyone to get out of my way and would expect the same courtesy. I have been known to pull over and let a faster rider through when I think it is convenient.
I will let riders past - I am often the slower ( but not always) I will ask if they want past if someone is behind me and I will ask to pass if I catch someone up.
However I will also wait at the top of a descent for a clear run
This does appear to be an increasing problem at trail centres as they get busier.
Ordinarily the slower rider should try and let the faster rider through when is safe to do so, and the faster rider should only come through when its safe to do so.
However invarably the slower rider is less technicaly competent and often gets flustered by some one being behind so you have to give them space.
I think there is also an arguement that if you are doing a red or a black route at a trail centre, then you should NOT expect to come across a beginner, and anyone doing a red or black should expect faster riders to come up behind them, unless they are of course riding gods.
come across a beginner!....I prefer to squirt them with my water bottle
Turner riders get priority don't they?
I thought it had been agreed that you ride over slower riders?
chakaping - please keep on topic. We'll cover what happens when two turner riders meet in a future edition of the trail etiquette threads.
It think this is possibly the only area where the worlds of mountain biking and golf converge. In golf you let the faster group through when sensible to do so, i.e. at the next tee. As you should when on a bike.
Last time two Turner riders met head on on the trail the dinosaurs became extinct...
same as druidh, I never expect people to get out of my way, and i'll thank them if they do. also I try not to ride too closely either.
I've asked to go before some folk on climbs, is that rude?
When out with a group I will always try to ensure faster folk are ahead of me - and I would not expect to get past until there was a clear opportunity when I would politely ask
"If they leave a gap,they want to be passed.If they don't leave a gap ,they want to be passed but hav'nt realised it yet"
Slower less technical ride has priority. It's down to the rider uphill of you to be careful/considerate enough so that he can overtake you safely
I don't think there is a catch all solution and each situation would be determined on merit.
I think, like most things in life, this issue can be broken down to one simple phrase.
"Don't be a dick".
If everyone abided by that simple rule then all would be well.
What? You're just riding bikes, let common sense prevail. If you want codes of practice and etiquette then play golf.
What? You're just riding bikes, let common sense prevail. If you want codes of practice and etiquette then play golf.
In principle I agree, the only problem is a severe lack of common sense amongst a large proportion of our population! So maybe some "guidelines" let's call them (not rules as rules just get broken) to stop the bickering and discourteous nature of some riders who believe that they have ulimate right over everyone else at a trail centre, should be introduced? Perhaps...?
I think, like most things in life, this issue can be broken down to one simple phrase.
"Don't be a dick".
If everyone abided by that simple rule then all would be well.
Again, I totally agree in principle. Problem is many people can't not be a dick, its in their nature, and sadly for you and me some of them ride mountain bikes too!
No, sadly I know, it's very true. Too many folk are preoccupied with not allowing others to ruin their day that they don't consider that perhaps their own actions are ruining the day of others.
Of course we could just practice some "christian" riding. Do as you would be done by
If you are riding along either up, down or flat and someone comes up behind you and obviously is a quicker rider (speed of approach may be a giveaway) then you move over don't you... I do. Why wouldn't you? Why would anyone just sit there pootling along ignoring the fact that they are holding someone up when all they have to do is take a second or two to move aside when it's safe to do so.... common sense surely.
bzzzzzzz, sound of alarm. Oh no....rubs eyes and looks around.... it was just a dream.
Of course we could just practice some "christian" riding
It would be nice if we could ride with each other, rather than against each other, never gonna happen though...
I don't like feeling that I'm in the way, so I move over for faster riders, if I catch up to someone I'll say allright mate and see how it goes, I'm old though and rarely in a rush.
I think the simplest solution is that people should understand that I have priority and that other people should get out of my way. If you all remember this, a lot of trail conflict will be avoided. And quite frankly any remaining problems won involve me, so I'm not too concerned at their outcome.
Let the faster rider go first, yield to the uphill rider, use common sense, dont be a dick.
Crikey how hard can it be?
I'm sure Jesus had something to say about this, though it may not have been specifically aimed at MTBers...
Common sense is the key. I always pull over when it's safe to let faster riders past. A friendly greeting when you come up behind slower riders seems to work most of the time, you just have to be patient if it doesn't.
Some people disagree, but if I can I give way to riders coming downhill. The highway code stuff doesn't count as far as mtb'ing goes, its all about having fun not the diffuculties a lorry might have starting on a hill.
I see both sides of this. I'm not slow, but I'm not exactly challenging the podium at races either.
When out trail riding if I catch a slower rider I let them know I'm there and shout "On yer right / left" If I'm not bothered about getting past then "You're alright" to let them know I'm okay to follow. If I'm only just catching someone then I'll just slow down for a bit and try to catch them back up again. I can count on one hand the number of times I've had any issues (might be one finger come to think of it) on a trail.
Racing is different. I make every effort to let faster riders past if I hear someone catching me then pull off to one side so its obvious I'm letting them past. One the (very) rare occasion I catch someone in a race I would expect the same.
I hate being held up, and I hate holding others up.
So I follow TeeJ's christian model.
TBH, I rarely have an issue with this, the majority of riders are courteous and pleasant and respond well to a cheery hello.
I'll always let faster riders through *but* when safe / convenient to do so, if I'm riding down a nice singletrack section then they'll have to wait until the end or a natural passing place 
when safe ... to do so
I have also been known to define when I consider safe and pass riders who're intent on making me wait.
who're intent on making me wait.
This is the thing.
Riders who know they are slower & know they have someone behind them & have no intent on letting anyone past..Its happens in racing, it happens at Trail Centres, at happens all over the place..Why so selfish?
Didnt someone once say "Do what you want, do what you will, just dont spoil your neighbours thrill"..
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