We had this on occasion from a guy who lived by the Forrester's pub in Wollaston.If you entered the woods through the pub car park or up the switch back just past the you were fine But if you went in on his path lower down he would miraculously appear and give you a right rollicking.
It was a footpath for about 100 yards then opened up into the woods so he was correct that you should not ride it but he just seemed to really hate cyclists
I have come across a few walkers the simply freeze on the spot when they hear my bell. Right in the centre of the trail without even looking over a shoulder making it hard to pass whilst leaving a acceptable distance.
My favourite one recently is, while riding politely and considerately on a footpath, got the "you should not be here, it's illegal and trespass". I agreed, said it was silly and pointed out that walkers were only allowed there because of trespassers years ago. Turned into a friendly chat and discussion of which trails were better for running or riding so a win all round.
I hope you pointed out that ordinary trespass isn't illegal...but well done for turning it into a civil discussion.
@sargey
I've had a roll around on the floor with that guy after he threatened me with a hammer...
He also on another occasion swung his reving chainsaw at a mate.
He's a propper nutjob.
I still have one of his no cycling signs on my fridge 😁
Moaned at in Scotland: Twice in 17 years.
I seem to have lived a charmed life on trips down south - not had one yet. (Mind I have been told to get off *MY* land twice by randoms)
I made a point to learn the name of the council ROW officer, I know I am on a legal trail so when challenged, and you will at some point get someone with a bad day / bad attitude, you can politely suggest they speak to that person, said with conviction they often think I work there 😉
I will also offer hugs and kisses, as they look like they need one, if they persist but agree with many others, smile, wave, be happy - it really pi**es them off and makes me smile even more.
James
(Mind I have been told to get off *MY* land twice by randoms)
A friend of mine has had that as well. Once actually got threatened with "I'll report you to the landowner!" and then took great delight in pointing out that he was the landowner.
Apparently the walker scurried off rather quickly after that.
Just shout “I’m taking back control of my country” and ride off.
Got shouted at the other week by a cyclist on the pavement who informed me 'they'd spent 54 million on cycle paths' and I 'shouldn't be on the road.' I was sat at a set of lights waiting for them to change because the cycle path doesn't go where I needed to go without a massive detour.
I foolishly got involved in a back and forth which ended with him asking me if I paid road tax and me telling him it didn't exist, but I did pay Council Tax which went towards the upkeep of the local infrastructure!
He rode off in a self-righteous huff crying '54 million!'
There’s a couple of bellends locally that make a point to walk up a DH section of an obviously purpose built (big berms, rollers etc) section of bike trail, forcing users to stop to then have a go at them. It’s a purpose built blue trail, built officially and signposted as such but still they try and start trouble.
If I see them, I won’t be stopping.
(Oakwell hall in Leeds, for those that know it)
Never once in my case, riding mostly on Sussex bridleways.
It’ll happen today now, won’t it?
I get this from time to time near me. Any reason from I shouldn’t be on a bridle way, I was going too fast so scared them, I should have a bell, my bell startled them, I only said hello rather than thanking them for moving over and letting me past etc.
My reaction ranges from stopping to see what the issue really is and then explaining why they are wrong (I’ve had one or 2 actually listen and apologise). Sometimes I’ll wave and smile, sometimes i’ll suggest getting a bike might do them good as they’d lose some weight and be in a better mood (this one normally gets a great reaction from the fatties). Sometimes I’ll just ignore it and pretend I haven’t heard them.
Me and a mate received some road rage the other day from some scrote shouting abuse at us, before I could respond mate shouts "I love you, I love you" then laughs histerically like a complete nutter. Took me completely by surprise. That did the trick. Certainly made me proper laugh all the way home, I would have given the driver a few choice words back but this showed me that maybe love IS the answer...or not...it did make me realise lightening the situation was better than antagonising someone driving a car. Only had one incident on a footpath literally in the middle of nowhere and used the "it's a shame isn't it" response take off STW a few years back.
I was told to share the road while riding along a contra flow cycle lane on an otherwise empty road by someone on a bike who wanted to ride the wrong way in the contra flow. I’m still bemused by the wrongness of it.
OP here, for reference this is only the second time anyone has had a go at me for cycling where they think I shouldn't since I moved to Wales in 2012, incidentally it was further down the same track, after a brief and civil chat they thanked me for the information and apologised, I think the problem is it's a nature reserve with a bridleway running through it but poor and somewhat ambiguous signage, it's clear at one end that cycling is permitted ( a picture of a bike on the track on the nature reserve map) but at the other end it just says horse track, their website clearly marks it as a cycle path but obviously people don't check this so just go off on one. I'm very much the slow down, say hello, stop if necessary sort of cyclist and tried to be polite to this bloke but he was having none of it and went straight to def con 1 in seconds, wouldn't listen to a word said and became very threatening, he's a bully who just shouts at the world, I feel for those people but they do rather spoil the world for the rest of us.
When I get challenged about not having a bell I always just smile and say 'sorry I'm too vain to have a bell' most of them either laugh or look bewildered
I got told off for not "having a bell" this morning. And that even "Tom Pidcock has a little bell" (he's a local rider, meant to be quite good apparently).
I pointed out that I had a bell, but was just not good enough to ride down this steep, rocky, rooty trail one-handed ... oh the shame!
My standard answer to "where's your bell!?"...
"It's on my other bike."
.
.
I was riding towards an older gent the other day (on my bike with a bell actually) and he'd definitely clocked me. No need to ting the bell thinks I.
I said "good morning" as I got up to him, and he just shouted "BELL!" at me. You can't ****ing help some people.
I've had that shouted at me before.
Yelled END back again.
Sorry, it didn't help, but intrusive thoughts won and made me feel better
I was riding towards an older gent the other day (on my bike with a bell actually) and he’d definitely clocked me. No need to ting the bell thinks I.
There was a guy along the local canal who'd say that too. He'd see you coming, step to one side then as you passed he'd say "you should ring your bell!"
Why?! WTF would I do that when you've seen me already and stood aside? I'll say thank you, I always do. But I'm not going to ring my bell when you already know I'm there.
There's a section near me where a BW turns in to a FP through a field that runs down to a farm. From there it's a tarmac track to the main road.
Been stopped on the road section and told I can't ride there because it's a footpath. Didn't seem to cut any ice when I told her I had pushed along the actual FP and what we were currently standing on was a road! She also declined my offer to look at my map and see she was standing on a road.
It was perfectly civil but she simply wouldn't believe actual evidence. Odd.
If it's the one I'm thinking of, @chestrockwell , the tarmac is FP all the way to the bottom where it meets the houses. I tend to have a sprint through there. 🙂
Had a period particularly after lockdowns started of unofficial no cycling signs appearing on bridleways around Surrey Hills, and a lot more huffy comments insisting shouldn't be there. Explain what a right of way means and get "well still shouldn't be allowed".
Had one on a track of no RoW, huffy guy saying "This Is a Footpath!". Aside from that not being a denial of access as a RoW is never an exclusion only a right, pointed out the footpath is over there and bridleway over there, and neither of us have an actual right.
Grumpy woman on Blackheath I stopped to let past did similar and went into a rant about "you people breaking the law". Meanwhile her dog off the lead during GnB season which is breaking the law, unlike trespass which is the worst I'm doing if even that (can argue common land rights).
Ranty people on Mickleham downs shouting shouldn't be riding there and they weren't even on the path we were on. Nat Trust sign at both ends saying cyclists and horses to the side exactly where we were.
Away from the Surrey Hills though I've found it's more pleasant. People saying hi and giving way even when I stop to let them pass, and in many cases I'm on no RoW, random common track, or even a footpath.
Common one I find also is if you're in a group, they wait for the group to pass and pick on the one at the back to have a moan at.
On my own I try to say hi and I'll say hi and smile to their dog if they've got one which often defuses a potential rant. Though some you can see they're not in a good mood so best to just move on and don't let them get started.
Partly playing devils advocate, but I don't think I've ever had someone properly kick off at me on a bridleway or even a footpath. One time the lead rider in our group went shooting round a blind bend and nearly hit a horse coming the opposite way, and the horse rider was justifiably upset.
I rode 30 miles on shared use paths, towpaths and bridleways yesterday - was busy with walkers, dog walkers, runners, and the occasional horse. In places there was no room to pass. We all just slowed down, were courteous, had a chat and waited our turn. I suspect that a lot of the people who kick off have had a bad experience with cyclists in the past, I go out of my way not to be that rider.
Also worth remembering that as the Highway Code has pedestrians as the most vulnerable road users, a similar point of view is probably needed off road.
A good tactic more cash but it doesn't always work<br /><br />I was riding down the water of leith . I have a bell and would usually use it however we were on a very narrow section and two older women were walking in front of us deep in conversation. they didn't notice us. I waited behind them until we reached a wider section. As I was close to them rather than the bell I said" excuse me - could we squeeze past please?" to which I got a mouthful of abuse. I waved the rest of the group thru and stopped to say to her " I waited until the wider section, I asked politely if we could get past. what else do you want me to do?" The mouthy one gave me another mouthful of abuse and her pal dragged her away looking embarrassed
I just do not get why folk do not have bells. Yes they are not always appropriate as in the above situation - you need to ring them when a good distance away not when close and also some folk will never be happy but 90% of the time it smooths the way and also gives you the moral high ground.
I am regularly thanked for using a bell
I have a bell, although I seem to recall the ability to hear higher pitched sounds like that goes with age, which may explain a lot with the retired red sock brigade. If I'm on a shared path on my road bike, which doesn't have a bell, I find shouting "ding ding" works surprisingly well and seems to cut off arguments at source.
Again - good points. MY mother cannot hear a bike bell. also a call of ding ding does seem to disarm folk - I use it sometimes
Ding ding ding ding ding ding generally aggravates most people.
Not IME - I get regularly thanked for using a bell and never have been called out for using it.<br /><br />
Not IME – I get regularly thanked for using a bell and never have been called out for using it.<br /><br />
It's happened to me more than once.
Schroedingers bell. Damned if you ding, damned if you don’t.
Miserable people will be miserable, bell or no bell
I like the Leslie Phillips bell above. Passed a picket the other day in Prestonpans. Apologised to them for not having a horn and went 'Beep Beep" as I passed.
I really don’t see what difference a bell vs “hi, excuse me” achieves. So I don’t have one.
with a bell you can alert folk from a much greater distance giving them time to react and it gives you the moral high ground
I ping my bell when 50 - 100 m behind them. I regularly get thanked for using it.
Get it all the time now and to be fair ive given up with the nicely nicely approach to these entitled b**lends .I used to smile and try to educate these halfwits .. Now i just treat people as im spoken to. Smiles and mornings for the nice people and both barrels for the pond life.
If it’s the one I’m thinking of, @chestrockwell , the tarmac is FP all the way to the bottom where it meets the houses. I tend to have a sprint through there.
Coming off Sharphaw? Pretty sure it was past the houses but could be wrong. I'll have to ride it again!
I get regularly thanked for using a bell and never have been called out for using it
When commuting down the WoL/Union Canal daily, I'd get a 50/50 response of "where's your bell" if I didn't have/use it and "don't ring that bell at me" when I did 🙂
What you want is a bulb horn. Nobody objects to one of those!
There was a guy along the local canal who’d say that too. He’d see you coming, step to one side then as you passed he’d say “you should ring your bell!”
This isn't the bloke I mentioned earlier near Marple is it?
slowoldman - I've come across this chap. I now ring the bell regardless of the person facing me or not. A group of male ramblers blocked my path last week, the third chap waved me through, then the last chap said where's your bell? I rode off dinging my bell several times. Mostly the people on the 2 Marple canal tow paths are jolly and say hello, it's usually day visitors or tourists who are grumpy and feel that every path around the countryside is for them and them alone.
The old folk can't always hear a bell - had the same on the Peak canal in Marple. Generally everyone is OK, but you'll occasionally get a grumpy barsteward.
“with a bell you can alert folk from a much greater distance giving them time to react and it gives you the moral high ground”
Then again, a bell is a predominantly high frequency sound so harder to hear for older ramblers with failing hearing (degeneration is usually like a high cut filter that drops in frequency over the years) and is also more easily masked by the white noise of the wind.
A lovely one yesterday at Holmbury. Quad bike came through CP1 and went off to the summit up the bridleway. To do some sort of photo shoot for the local hunt. Couldn't make it up.
Then again, a bell is a predominantly high frequency sound so harder to hear for older ramblers with failing hearing (degeneration is usually like a high cut filter that drops in frequency over the years) and is also more easily masked by the white noise of the wind.
My mum cannot hear them - I was out walking with her, heard a bell and moved over, she shouted at the poor cyclist "use your bell"!
Again why you do it from a distance away - it gives you chance to see if they react to you. Yes a bell is not a perfect solution but it really does help IME and gives you that moral high ground and there is no downside
I am a whistle a happy tune at a distance person on the lanes, and an excuse me on bridleways with a happy thanks and good morning on passing . Usually works pretty well.
It's always astonishing how often when walkers have seen you and moved to the side, they then decide at the last moment to all swap places and almost cause an accident. Puzzling
I always chuckle when one goes left and one goes right - they simultaneously realise the stupidity of going to seperate sides - and then both swap over to the opposite side at the same time!
I think an important thing to remember is that whilst WE all know that with our 4 pot brakes and tacky rubber tires, we can slow from 15mph to a stop in 2 metre - the majority of people we come across on the paths and trails do not.
Can't believe this has got to page 4 with no one recommending the Timber bell yet.
(I don't have one 😊)
You know that bit in the cafe in Dead Mans Shoes? Do that. It silences everyone very quickly and you can go about your day.
Can’t believe this has got to page 4 with no one recommending the Timber bell yet.
I've got Granite Cricket bells. Smaller than Timber, not so loud in cowbell mode which makes it less effective but can use it like a regular bell also.
Bells though are seen as a bit rude, kind of "get out of my way", but don't ring one and you get abuse. Ring one and they're deaf, get abuse. Someone sees you clearly approaching from a distance so you don't bother with the bell, get abuse.
Favourite I've had, "at least you have a bell". Yeah, thanks 🙄
Only got a bell thanks to Covid walkers that were all over the place. I keep it now mainly for the towpath but it's little use for the deaf, selectively deaf and headphone zombies.
I have been shouted at to slow down when I had halved my speed to the point I could stop virtually on the spot
Back in Covid days on the towpath I got people ranting that I should get off when passing them, despite wide path, going walking pace and saying hi 🤷♂️. One bloke tried to block the path.
Nothing said we couldn't ride there (shared use) during Covid restrictions. Though it was getting too busy so stopped using it until things calmed down.
I think an important thing to remember is that whilst WE all know that with our 4 pot brakes and tacky rubber tires, we can slow from 15mph to a stop in 2 metre – the majority of people we come across on the paths and trails do not.
From my experience, people are either deep in conversation or , if on their own, have headphones in so stopping distance doesn't come into it - in their opinion, we appear from nowhere.
My most recent telling off was a few weeks ago where I pinged my bell 3 or 4 times, slowed down a little way back and said good morning but still no reply. When the path widened out I passed as wide as I could, looked across and saw she had earpods in. She then shouted at me for "flying past her and giving her a fright", I stopped and mentioned the bell, calling out etc and perhaps she should not wear the earbuds if she is easily startled and to keep looking around as there may well be other people on a shared used path. She went straight into the usual rant about you bloody cyclists all think you own the road...
I think an important thing to remember is that whilst WE all know that with our 4 pot brakes and tacky rubber tires, we can slow from 15mph to a stop in 2 metre – the majority of people we come across on the paths and trails do not.<br />From my experience, people are either deep in conversation or , if on their own, have headphones in so stopping distance doesn’t come into it – in their opinion, we appear from nowhere.
Yeah, the lack of awareness is quite amazing sometimes. A lot of people devolve responsibility for themselves and their pets, kids or belongings once they get outside, seemingly assuming that you will look after them while they stare at the phone, feet, trees or whatever.
Quite a while ago I was riding along the cycle path along the seafront on a fairly busy day, so not exactly charging along. I caught up with a runner heading in the same direction as me, running along the middle of the cycle side of the path. I'm not precious about which side of the path people use as long as I can get past, but he had a loose dog with him which was very nervous and dodging from one side to the other. (The cycle path is used by lots of cyclists.) I made a comment that the dog might benefit from being under control, and he replied that I'd been riding too quickly. I asked how could he possibly know that when I was behind him, to which he replied, 'I'm partially sighted!'. I think I gave up, speechless, and rode away.
I ring a bell from a bit of a distance and say a cheery hello as I get close, and thank them for acknowledging me. Seems to work, but you will always have grumpy sods about.
I know I won't go to heaven, but I once approached an elderly -ish couple on the designated cycleway/towpath near Salterhebble in Halifax. I slowed right down, called out several times and on the third go the bloke looked over his shoulder, did a comedy dancing exaggerated jumping out of his skin hop to the side of the towpath and shouted something about bells and ****ing idiots.
I carried on past to the car park near the lock keepers cottage and put the bike on the bike rack. As I was leaving the car park the same couple simply stepped out in front of my car and as I had the window down I waited til they had crossed and bawled DING DONG !! as loudly as I could behind them. That guy should be on a talent show with his breakdancing😈
Not had problems with any walkers for a while but every so often I seem to meet a posho peacocking around the place on horseback that has to make a comment.
One time I remember I said something like "sorry mate but it's a bridleway so I can ride here, and i need to go that way".
He said:
"No you are not allowed here and you are not my mate"
I said:
"I don't think you're anyone's mate"
Didn't help at all but got a chuckle from the guys he was riding with. 🙂
(needless to say I had the last laugh etc etc)
Things I've learnt about walkers and using bells:
That a some of them hear you and turn around doesn't mean that all of them did. So keep ringing that bell as you approach and while passing. Trigger bell helps with this as you can keep your hands and brake fingers where you need them.
Don't assume that people coming towards you have seen you. Some people must walk not looking more than 5m ahead.
If your bell isn't loud enough there's always the Hornit DB140 or the Airzound.
What I really want though is a battery powered version of this tyre-driven bell
Ping bells are very annoying and insistent "get out of my way". What you need is a nice sonerous two tone "bing BONG" bell...possibly hand cast in Hebden Bridge, possibly Bristol, I'm not picky...
Some people are just dicks..usually I just ignore them but some just wind me up too much..
one time on a canal path (in Scotland) I remember slowing down and politely asking to get by, at which point the chap says ‘you should have a bell’ . I had a bell, so gave it a little ding and asked if that was any better. This royally wound him up and he started screaming obscenities at me
Perhaps not my finest moment but after a long day I just lost my rag with him. Suffice to say as soon as he realised his bully boy tactics had spectacularly backfired on him he quickly backed down and turned tail
my point is, whilst trying to ignore or placate these people is all well and good, it just encourages them. sometimes they need to just be told to ‘shut the xxxx up’ in no uncertain terms..
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A lot of people devolve responsibility for themselves and their pets, kids or belongings once they get outside
TBF on shared paths, It is very much the cyclist responsibility to make sure that they're looking out for walkers, based on hierarchy of vulnerability. If you're going to ride on towpaths or shared paths then TBH you owe it to the folks around to be paying attention to what's going on, and that includes folks who aren't really paying attention.
I'm happy to stand my ground when folks get in my face, but 99% of folks are OK.
always chuckle when one goes left and one goes right – they simultaneously realise the stupidity of going to seperate sides – and then both swap over to the opposite side at the same time!
Sheep are far more predictable and intelligent than a significant chunk of the rambling community.
A good one on walker behaviour 😄
I find a really loud freehub tends to do the job of letting people know you’re coming.
The Hope Pro4 is fairly noisy. Superstar V6 is loud and the Hunt 4Seasons one is very loud I find.
I tend to slow right down and assume someone is going to do something erratic when passing pedestrians / dogs and then thank people if they’ve moved out the way or grabbed their dogs. Smile and wave and generally it’s fine.
I was told by a random that I wasn't a proper cyclist because I didn't have a bell. I was able to point out he wasn't a proper dog owner because his dog was off the lead on a mixed use path.
I find a really loud freehub tends to do the job of letting people know you’re coming.
I’ve just (unwittingly) switched to some silent wheels… gonna miss this. Haven’t needed a bell since hope pro hubs were invented way back…
I Have thought about yelling death to pedestrians.
What defines 'screamed at' these days?
I've always been under the impression that screamed at is proper purple faced spittle lobbing one notch above shouting - the sort you can hear a mile away.
Can't help thinking this scenario is more raised voice, maybe borderline shouting. Maybe I'm wrong?
I always chuckle when one goes left and one goes right
and more often than not, the one on the left moves right and the one on the right moves left
then in a panic, call their dog that bounds out of nowhere and directly into your path.
i’ve ridden in a few countries and have found this to be the case in every location.
I have always remained calm in that type of situation....until a couple of weeks ago.
A foul mouthed woman told me (not asked me) not to ride down the bridleway that went down the side of her house.
She also tried to tell me that the route was no longer available to bikes?? At this point I pulled my phone out showing her the bridleway on the os map, no reasoning with her at all.
I eventually reached the point where I was getting nowhere and she continually swore at me, so I gave her the first option, why dont you just mind your own business and let me ride, it didnt work so I gave her option two, why dont you just **** right off and mind your own business, it did stop her talking for about 8 seconds, enough for me to move away from her!
Now anyone who knows me would know that I am one of the least aggressive people around, I'm against all forms of violence and I hardly ever swear around people. My nephew was with me (he is 25), even he was shocked at the time, but found the whole thing hilarious and he wished he had recorded it all on his phone! lol
In hind sight I should have just ignored her and just cycled on as it probably wasn't a good advertisement for mountain bikers!
Meh. Miserable buggers of all sorts. Had some MTBers swear at me the other day as I was walking down a path, that they were riding. No legitimate reason for them to be there.
Am I obliged to change sides when I hike a bike?
Sounds like you should be:
A. Contacting your local RoW Officer so this delightful lady can become better informed.
B. Broadcasting the location so she can enjoy hundreds more visitors.
I was shocked.........
On the Stiperstones yesterday, pretty bleak, high winds horizontal rain. Met a group of about 15 youngsters walking with a few leaders on a descent. we stopped descending as they hadn't noticed us. As they passed the one female leader came over to us and said.....
"Have you been blown off yet?"
You shouldn’t be riding here!
Umm…this is a bridleway…
Not at night it isn’t!
I thought everything was a bridleway after 6pm? 😉
then in a panic, call their dog that bounds out of nowhere and directly into your path.
I'm often a better judge of their dog's behaviour than they are, having experienced loads of different types of dogs on paths. Calling their dog often makes it worse when I can see it's happy investigating something and taking no notice.
Labs are lovely. Guaranteed they'll lazily wonder in front of you without a care. I just smile, say hi to the dog and find a way round. Owner either looks frustrated or just laughs.
Most dogs I'm fine with. Odd few clearly have issues with bikes and should be on a lead (dog and owner 😄).