was finishing our ride (3 of us) down a track which is a designated bridleway. We were going moderately fast in single file. The front rider slowed for 2 walkers with a dog who was not on a lead. Fair enough I though. On passing the front rider hear the old man say "bloody bikes". He cycled on and ignored him.
I was at the rear and my mate infront passed and the guy (the woman - presumanly his daughter said nothing thoughout) and he said " you need bells). My mate on this found his blood start to boil and stopped and thus so did I.
My mate said " Why do we need bells". He said "to warn of our presence". We said "you already saw us and moved to teh side of the path". He then started to rant on about parliment were too lazy to make bells compulsory on all bikes regardless of where they are. We politely informed him that they were not compulsory off road and he said that was out opinion and we replied by saying that was also his opinion he was giving. I informed him that it was also a mistake that parliment withdrew access on many bridleways by declassifying them after teh wars etc...
Now if you choose to walk on the limited number of bridleways we have in England then you have to put up with horse and bike traffic. Now I am not age'ist but I only seem to get grief of the older generation whilst on a ride. We and I always slow down and are very polite. On the same ride 3 walkers opened the gate for us and were very pleasant and polite but were certainly a lot younger i.e. 40's or so. Its does spoil ya ride a bit. I guess we should have ignored him and rode on....
RANT OVER.....
that all sounds far too intellectual for me. If someone told me I needed a bell I'd tell them they needed to wake the **** up and carry on riding.
simple answer - get a bell
As I once said to fatblokeattheback ignore the w*nkers. Every group has its self-righteous idiots.
If you get a bell then some will whinge about you using it (has happened to me and my gf) - you can't win sometimes.
Tried that and it scares then Sh*tless when you come from behind - cant win - I think you missed the point!simple answer - get a bell
We didn't give them any amunition by swearing TBH!wake the **** up and carry on riding
i gave up trying to keep walkers happy after i was verbally lynched by a pack of them for riding on a b.o.a.t.
what's the correct collective noun for a group of grouchy walkers?
what is it about walking thay makes someone grouchy?
(i was out for a run a few days ago in the sunshine after work, and was greatly amused by the sheer number of bikers out on the cheeky trails - is it time for a mass trespass?)
We politely informed him that they were not compulsory off road
Not compulsory on road either! All new bikes have to be supplied with bells, but you don't have to use them. Half the time the deaf idiots don't hear them, or jump when you use them, you can't win!
tbh if I'm on a path I can legally ride on, have done my best to slow down, be considerate and indicate my presence then as far as I'm concerned if they they still have a moan, it should just be ignored and best to cycle on; not going to change anything by stopping and responding to them.
you dont need a bell anywhere.
it has to leave the shop with one, but you can take it off as soon as you like and its fine.
if you ring your bell they just tell you your being impatient, or impertinant, or jump out thier skin anyway.
theres no way of winning, and no point in trying to convince them one by one,
i ride past as courteously and as carefully as i can, making sure i dont terrify anyone, keeping speed down, etc. whatever happens ill just ride on though. if they give me grief after that then stuff em.
if it riles me enough ill call back a comment, something witty thats ready lined up.
I dont think its time for a mass trespass, i hate bridleways for riding, horses make SUCH a mess, it can be impossible to ride in places for rutted hoof gouges.
sad facts are:
Foot paths are the best singletrack.
Cyclists (loosely termed) cant be trusted to behave on footpaths, you WILL get kids doing motorbike speeds down footpaths and someone WILL get hurt.
keep it safe, stick to the laws of common sense on cheekyness, dont go barreling into blind corner, slow right down past walkers, dont lock up your wheels, and ignore the abuse.
lifes too short
I find walkers respond best if you have a bell - so if you want to avoid confrontations then get one and use it. A ping from a distance back does the trick - not when you are right behind them. At least then you don't give them ammunition to complain about you.
I simply do not understand why so many of you are so loathe to have one on your bike. It smooths the way greatly IME
I always very politely ask if I can come past and say thank you afterwards and if someone comments on the lack of bell I always say that a bell doesn't say "please" or "thank you" and that generally shuts them up. My husband once got the comment by one of them "You've got the no-bel prize!".
Maybe I'm just lucky but can't remember any grief of walkers, always been pretty friendly to me although I do ride alone quite a bit, dont know if that makes a difference - forget a bell, get a ProII instead and just stop pedaling when you're coming up behind them
I met 4 mtbers racing down the BW opposite my house as I was walking back from a run a couple of weeks back. I had to step out the way as they were going too fast / lacking skill to get from one rut to the other. No acknowgelment, no attempt to slow down because they were passing a walker, or that there might be more walkers.
Nothing.
Put me in a really foul mood, and I'm inclined not to yield trail to any riders doing more than walking pace down there now.
My guess is that if you meet a miserable rambler, there's a good chance they've previously met a cock on a bike.
Of course they could just be plain miserable 🙂
Hardly ever had any grief either and one of the only times I recall is being told to slow down by a walker walking on the road, he was politely told I was within the 60mph limit.
Then again I don't live in an over populated area and ride where there's only serious walkers venture and they always seem jolly.
Has anyone here actually ever crashed into a walker? I haven't and I don't think I know anyone else that has.
I always very politely ask if I can come past and say thank you afterwards and if someone comments on the lack of bell I always say that a bell doesn't say "please" or "thank you"
So do we/I - I just think its a mind set that walkers don't like being disturbed from their mind wanderings - most of them are like a gaggle of geese - and rabbits in car headlights - I could understand if I was doing a bit of cheeky riding and someone said something but... Some walkers, esp organised groups, are very officuous and unfortunately have quite a lot of influence on local councils etc unlike MTB'rs.
I have a proII instead of a bell as well! Works well! I have also been told to slow down going 8mph up a climb by 2 horse riders riding 2 abreast on a very wide concrete road!
[i]Put me in a really foul mood, and I'm inclined not to yield trail to any riders doing more than walking pace down there now.[/i]
Actually, when I think about, I'm a right grump when I'm out walking and meet what I consider to be inconsiderate cyclists. 😀
Actually, when I think about, I'm a right grump when I'm out walking and meet what I consider to be inconsiderate cyclists.
Nuke, I would also be annoyed with inconsiderate riders, drivers, motorbikes but my point was we as a group and I are very polite as we like to give riders a good name. Lead by example!
[i]I are very polite as we like to give riders a good name. Lead by example![/i]
Me to! I wasn't saying you were being inconsiderate, just referring to Ian's post about meeting inconsiderate riders.
Seems to be a theme here, every passtime has its fringe elements that are grouchy/extremeist/partisan blah blah blah its the way of things in society.
Bikes are really very quiet and its the making people jump that upsets them IMO. But sometimes you just can't help it.
Me and a mate were riding towards a group of three old walkers stood in the middle of a bridleway and I was ringing my bell constantly as we approached. As I got near I slowed and was about to stop as I couldn't get past and I knew they were oblivious.
The three finaly registered us.
The two blokes did a comedy bimble into each other-each one trying to get to the other's side of the lane.
And the woman turned to us with such a look of hatred that gradually disolved as she realised what that irritating ringing noise was that she had been hearing for the last 5 minutes!
"Thank-you" she said.
And I said thanks and rode on laughing my head off.
I was thinking of buying a bell. Yesterday I gave half of my Fruit maltloaf to a female Staffy- sheesh she wouldnt leave me alone after the first bit so I had to stop again and give her the rest!
Me to! I wasn't saying you were being inconsiderate, just referring to Ian's post about meeting inconsiderate riders.
No worries Nuke didn't take it that way - just clarifying we are a considerate group of riders 🙂
I tried riding with a bell for a bit....I found most walkers didn't even hear it so I gave up.
I don't see what's wrong with a polite/friendly "Hi there, can we pass when you are ready"
I cough ...or stop pedalling....the King rear hub ALWAYS announces its regal arrival 😆 8)
[i]I always say that a bell doesn't say "please" or "thank you"[/i] VERY good answer.
Agree with IanMunro.
Experience when out walking suggests that grouchy mountainbikers who do not make much effort to yield trail are [i]not[/i] a [i]tiny[/i] minority, while my experience when out on my bike is that grouchy walkers [i]are[/i] a tiny minority. Maybe I just fart sunshine. 😀
I rarely get any grief off walkers on the hills these days, but then I stay away from the popular routes during busy times. If anyone does say anything to me I just agree and leave them to it - certainly rains on their parade then. 😀 However when I'm walking the dog and I see a cyclist, establish if they're local, if not I then send them down what I think is a better route than the one their riding - confuses the buggers to hell. 😯
Strange I think in 20 years of mountain biking I've only really had one confrontation with walkers, and that was on a bridleway (although that wasn't their grief), All strung out in a line about 12 of them, despite me smiling, being polite etc etc they were all really really grumpy, calling me reckless (I was doing less than walking speed) and damaging to the environment (this was pointed out to me by evidence of tyre tracks through a puddle, the fact that there was a boot print right next to it seemed not to matter)couldn't work it out, got past them as quickly as I could.
I've never had a problem with walkers at all. Normally say hello, please, thanks etc. Sometimes have a bit of a chat with them. I always slow down for them.
I've never had a problem with walkers at all. Normally say hello, please, thanks etc. Sometimes have a bit of a chat with them. I always slow down for them.
I always mither walkers dogs 😀
Narrow minded people judging other when they don't understand - I feel that a lot people are very opinionated and always think they are right - seeing a situation by someone else's perspective it a good thing and some people cannot do that. I could see that we may have been disturbing their quiet walk but were polite and slowed down. Therefore that Man I feel was no seeing the situation from our perspective and thus judging us by his standards ?
Some people are just grumpy.
What is 'moderately fast' in your eyes might be 'too fast' in his eyes. Suck up the moan and move on. You'll never win that sort of argument. You'll simply reinforce the chaps low opinion of mtb'ers. Life is too short.
I was made to dismount by an irrate walker near Ivinghoe Beacon got accussed of sending Deer into premature labour and all sorts.
TBH the paths very confusing goes from BW to FP and back to BW????
Noticed the other night that it was now a full on BW with official cycleway signs.
So sniff my cheese walkers (not the crisps)
you dont need a bell anywhere.
You do in a Rat Race - the reason I have one on my bike. However like TJ I have found it useful, so it now stays there.
Maybe King, Hope or White Industries hubs should be the substitute for a bell. My Pro2's anncounce their prescence really well 😉
Just be polite and ride on if they start to give you grief, i refuse to have my ride ruined by someone elses bad mood. My time on a bike is too precious to waste 😉
You were having fun and you are (relatively) young. Expect abuse from older people who missed their youth.
Al - the bell can be used from further away than you can speak to them in a normal voice and to many walkers a bell means bike.
I always back it up with speaking to them as well. "Ping ping" "can we squeeze thru please?" / "just letting you know we are here" Then ""thank you" "Lovely day" etc
I firmly believe that cyclists are their own worst enemies on this one. You may think a bell is unneeded but walkers expect one - so get one and use it to take the moral high ground. If you don't have a bell you have no right to complain about grumpy walkers.
[i]got accussed of sending Deer into premature labour [/i]
There are two sorts of problem really aren't there? Some people just don't reckon that mountain bikes should be out on bridleways at all, regardless of the law and how they behave. Some people just object to inconsiderate riders. There is nothing whatever you can do about someone who feels that your legal presence on a path should be banned because it runs the risk of wild mammals suffering difficult pregancies. 🙂
so get one and use it to take the moral high ground.
I find walkers get all grouchy when I try to take the moral high ground 😉
Suck up the moan and move on.
I am not really moaning just making an example out of grumpy people. I have moved on - I am not bitter about it as very used to it after having had a few encounters with the public out on rides or being nearly hit by drivers or verbal abuse.
I said we were going moderately fast and then SLOWED DOWN! But there you go... Ho Hum - I can see it from his point of view but I would be very unlikely to say anything to anyone out on a walk as I try to enjoy myself. Why do people feel the need to give other people grief (wandering off topic) just let bygone be bygones unless it actually affects you in a detremental way!We were going moderately fast in single file. The front rider slowed for 2 walkers
I think some people who go into the countryside go there in such a bad mood. I thank the lucky stars I am still in employemnt, got a house, lovely wife. I look on teh news at other countries in war and think I am lucky - people don't seem to do that these days - the more people have the grumpier they becoma 🙂
I thought that's why Hope made there freehubs so noisy so you could be heard from miles away 😉
All you riders who dont have a ping bell - how else do you apply a rating to fit women as you each ride past? 😕
IME, if you're getting static from a walker, there isn't any reasoning to be done and having/not having a bell makes no difference at all. They're having a go because they are a c0ck, not because there is any right or wrong in the situation. It's a binary situation, either ignore and carry on, or reduce yourself to their level and be obnoxious back.
Bells are rubbish for most people you meet out on the trails - they are either wired up to some personal music gimcrack, profoundly deaf due to age, or gazing soppily at a view to the exclusion of all other stimuli.
The best thing to do is just moderate your speed and ride around them. Alternatively, smoking a pipe while you ride might provide some sort of olfactory alert, depending on the direction of the prevailing wind.
yup - in this case he just wanted to moan I think! I think we gave him some fuel - prob best to have ignored him and ride on - I would have but my mate had had enough I think!
[i]All you riders who dont have a ping bell - how else do you apply a rating to fit women as you each ride past?[/i]
Oh dear we're not the only ones then, riding buddy has a bell on his bike and it's used to forewarn of milfs and totty depending on the number of rings.
I don't think bells make a difference. If they're grouchy I think it's because they've been made to jump (or at least have suddenly become aware of you) by a noise you've made and they feel a little bit embarrassed and off guard. Whether the noise you've made is the ringing of a bell, the buzz of your Pro IIs, or a polite "Excuse me"- they just feel they have to say something to regain the upper hand and something about a bell is just the first thing that's springing to mind.
As trailmonkey says just do the right/polite thing, then if they're ar$ey just switch off and go about your business.
I was asked by a red faced twit where my bell was once, i replied "ding dong" and rode off.
So you and your mate bullied an old man and his daughter?
If it was me telling you that you needed a bell I bet neither of you would have stopped MUHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
Drac can you get a bell that goes 'Diiing dooong' for top totty.
So you and your mate bullied an old man and his daughter?
Do you work for the BBC News team - i.e. make more out of a story than there is BlingBling 😉 Thats what they are doing with Swine Flu at the mo. You don't have anything to do with that do you?
Well lets say it was 2 big blokes that passed comment that you needed a bell as you whizzed passed, would you have stopped to "talk it over" with them?
Thought not 😉
I'm starting to think of it a bit like the fire triangle (here comes the science bit - lol!). For fire you need Fuel, Oxygen and Heat. Take one or more of these away and fire can't exist. Take some of the sources of conflict away then you prevent the "fire" of the argument.
I have noticed a difference now I have a bell on my bike. A good ding ding does carry very well, and you've immediately taken away the "where's your bell" riposte. Most walkers upon hearing you have a bell will take it that you do have respect for your fellow bridleway user and want to get along. It shows you are prepared for other users and don't see the bridleway as your personal Afan/Seven stanes/Fort William downhill course.
There's also something untheatening about the sound of bell on a bicycle.
It can evoke up images of vicars on bikes in english villages on a sunday afternoon. I'll stop before I get over flowery, but you know what I mean. Before the bell you appear as an angry speed obsessed lycra lout that doesn't care about anyone else expect the clock. After the bell you're a considerate fellow trail user. Back up the bell with a cheery hello or "Can we squeeze past?" and you're pretty much there.
Yes, there will always be exceptions, but we can do a lot to stop the sparks becoming flames...
2p deployed
TM
Bells are rubbish for most people you meet out on the trails
Depends where you ride. I find they work fine more often than not for me. It would appear TJ does as well. I suppose it helps that I mostly ride on my home patch, where despite rumours to the contrary, at least for weekday riding, the people you meet are almost universally friendly.
Blimey - The issues was that the guy clearly saw and heard us comming and had time to move out of the way while we passed (and slowed down before we got there). He said "bloody bikes first" and then argued about bells which was irrelavent as he had already seen us and heard us.
I would stop but if they looked like they were after trouble then no. I dont think 2 big nastly blokes would have been walking in the countryside in the middle of know where. I stopped someone (big bloke) in a pickup towing machinery to have a go at him for nearly running me over. so no I am not a coward so Ner nerdy ner ner - blow a rasberry 😉Well lets say it was 2 big blokes that passed comment
On the whole relationships between them and us are pretty good. Especially lady walkers they're proper dirty buggers they are.
Especially lady walkers they're proper dirty buggers they are.
I think I've seen you and the ladies up on top on Haldon Forest oldgit 😉
I agree its only isolated cases - most people move to one side and say hello etc - or even say - blimey have you ridden all that in amazement - make me feel really tallented even though I'm sorta crap/chicken.
Can you get bells that don't rattle when you're just riding along?
If you take the hammer out they dont rattle 😉