Ride in the North East, you're unlikely to see another rider.
Here in the US, the "official" rule (whatever that means) is to yield to the climber, but I kind of deal with each case as it comes. If I see someone coming down with their hair on fire or generally out of control, I will yield. The one time it really pi$$es me is if it a really difficult, steep technical climb where yielding/stopping will force me to hike-a-bike a good ways in those delightfully comfortable biking shoes in order to even get started again.
Couple years ago I was following a guy I know (about 55 years old) up a really steep, technical single track. He has been racing for years and can ride/climb just about anything he encounters. A couple of youngish guys, maybe 18 or so come over the crest above us and start down at full throttle and the kid in the lead yells "get out of the way old man", so Kirby just gets as far off to the right as the narrow singletrack would allow and just as the kid starts to pass him, raises his left elbow and catches the kid in the chest---kid and bike did a aerial that would rival an act in Circue de Soleil---Kirby just looks down at the guy and said "oops" and remounts (in a place I couldn't have done so and rides on up the trail. Not that I'd recommend anyone doing that, but it did seem quite just at the moment.
Yield to no one - eat my dirt bitch!
If I'm climbing and see a rider descending fast I will try and keep to one side and make it clear to him verbally if poss.(eg. "I'll keep left mate") If it's a steep tough climb where I will never get riding again if I stop, then I will press on regadless - I won't shout and tell him this is as I will be too breathless to speak.
If I am descending I will always slow to a safe speed when seeing anyone approaching on the trail, and if I see a rider working hard on a climb I will definately give way and encourage them in their endeavour.
Not rules in my book, just common sense and courtesy.
Yield to the descender. Always. Always always always.
And I'll ride as fast as I like thanks, I don't go out to "exercise caution", I go out to rag the tits off my bike and push my limits.
+1 SteveBbrain
It really is all about using common sense and a reasonable sense of courtesy
Have you ever had someone approach you and when they decide to yield and stop, they pull across the trail in front of you instead of just pulling to their side and stopping
IIRC the highway code used to have an antiquated advice of yield to vehicles coming uphill, which has now dissappeared as horse drawn traffic has reduced in volume.
155 on here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070309
[i]And I'll ride as fast as I like thanks, I don't go out to "exercise caution", I go out to rag the tits off my bike and push my limits. [/i]
I'm so tempted to post the oh-so-infamous pic of you going well beyond your limits. 😉
Gwan then.
I went so fast my underpants ended up on the outside.
SpokesCycles - MemberYield to the descender. Always. Always always always.
And I'll ride as fast as I like thanks, I don't go out to "exercise caution", I go out to rag the tits off my bike and push my limits.
There speaks the voice of age and experience
If they're on bikes and don't look like wanting to stop I would probably stop for them if there wasn't room to pass. Walkers (in Scotland) is a tricky one because SOAC states that you should give way to them in any situation if you're on a bike on a path but more often than not they'll just stand aside as they laugh at you. If they look grumpy or unwilling to move then I stop and wave them on. I'll often stop anyway as I have a habit of falling off my bike as soon as someones watching :lol:.
Not many of us here (in the UK, not just the forum though I reckon even that's not many people) really go over to the US to ride bikes and the perception here is very much that IMBA is very US-centric despite their attempts to gain a foothold here. Being called 'International' in this instance is largely viewed as being like the Baseball World Series. As such, people's awareness/interest in IMBA is as low as you'd expect. How many people in the US understand what the CTC for example, does? Very few and why should they? It's essentially irrelevant to them.Oh, to the thread, the answer is common sense. There is no rule. Good manners suggests that the rider less inconvenienced should give way.
Good point well made esp common sense remark (BTW there is a UK IMBA though I dont know how active they are..)
Yield to the descender. Always. Always always always.And I'll ride as fast as I like thanks, I don't go out to "exercise caution", I go out to rag the tits off my bike and push my limits.
There's a time & a place for pushing the limits - hopefully you will learn where & when before you hurt yourself or worse someone else..
I use a Hope Pro 2 and thank the heads peeking out from the bushes as I come round the corner. If I'm climbing I stop but only to show off my track standing skills before pedalling off looking smug.
I am correct and anyone who disagrees is quite clearly a woman.
Stop embarrassing us all!
to feed the trolls
1. the climber should have "right of way" as long as he is pedalling
2. if the climber is pushing a bike he should give way/ move off the trail for those riding up or down
3. the climber should exercise discretion in 1. ie if they are about to stop then stop and give way
4. ride marked trails the right way or give way everytime
90% of the time the DH rider will have another line choice, the likelihood is the climber won't have many choices
the above should be obvious to anyone who lives in a world outside their own personnal "bubble" and who sees the trails as something to share
in my experience those who expect people to get out the way as they barrel down a hill don't give way when they are makng their way up or see anything wrong with laying ther bikes across a trail as they discuss how "gnarr" and cool they are and how "jey" anyone who rides a bike up a hill is 😉
I'm looking forward to the first stories from the link trail Cragg to Lee when it opens