Upside Down Bikes, Know what it means?

Hey guys,

Curious to know how many people have seen this and know what it means (common sense I guess, but it’s surprising).

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/upside-down-bikes-on-the-trail-do-you-know-what-it-means/

Like crossed skis…

I’m also a big advocate of sending someone up the trail to warn people.

Not something I’ve heard of before, I’ll be honest, and thankfully not come across. Whenever I’ve been involved in a cycling accident it’s been in a big enough group that we’ve put people in the road to divert other riders or traffic

puncture repair?

I’d be tempted to put them at the crest or upside of that “feature” looks like a nice jumpy bit and landing on bikes indicating an accident would be…..

interesting people’s interpretation of the photo, never in a 1000 years would I have thought that photo was taken back up the trail. It’s obvs to me direction of travel stopping people before the jump, not on the landing!

yeah, I know what it means, had to do it in Morzine a few years back after one of a group had fallen and broken his ankle and we stopped to help. Judging by the amount of folk that either rode around them or stopped to remove them, it’s not well known enough!

I have used my bike for this in the past.
Sadly common sense, let alone knowing a few basics such as this, is missing for many people.

Not seen it before but would slow down regardless.

We certainly need to raise awareness of how to behave on our trails. Far too many who care far too less about anything other than their own kicks..

Common sense is not actually common.

Free bike, help yourself 😀
I’ll have the gold one, comes with a pump and a bottle of sprite.

Never seen it in all my years riding, but I reckon I’d work it out if I saw it. Either that or think a numpty wasn’t bright enough to get out of the way when fixing a puncture. Funnily enough, I have seen that many times.

OK, I’m going to be honest and say that the tone and approach of this article is pretty bad. It flips from a sensible “we should have a discussion about trail rules”, to “this is already the rule and you should already know”. And throws in a patronising “for new riders or those who haven’t been out in a while, they may not be aware”

There is no “crossed skis” equivalent in mountain biking. It’s not an “unwritten rule”. It has none of the acceptance that’s needed to make that the case, if you want it to be, we’re pretty much starting from scratch.

Seriously, if you asked 100 people, how many do you think would give this answer? (I don’t mean like I would answer with common sense, “maybe something’s wrong”, I mean “upside down bikes on the trail is the signal for an accident”) Try googling “upside down bike accident” and “crossed skis accident”, bit different. (literally the only hits on my first 2 pages for the bike one are this article. OTOH there’s a hell of a lot saying “never turn your bike upside down”)

Upside down bikes like in the photo are a good way to block a trail/warn people, yes. And also suggests possible mechanicals- if I see someone with an upside down bike at trailside I’ll ask if they need help. And it’s common sense that if someone’s made an effort to block a trail you should react and think about why… If we’re going to have a rule, it’s a good one.

If you want to create and popularise a rule or rather set of rules, work to publicise it and get it accepted enough so that it’s actually a useful standard, fill your boots, it’s a good idea. It’d be a useful part of a whole brief guide to “what to do if there’s an accident”.

You don’t do that by just pretending it’s already the case and that people should already know. Good idea; wrong message, wrong delivery. And that’s a shame.

Either that or think a numpty wasn’t bright enough to get out of the way when fixing a puncture. Funnily enough, I have seen that many times.

Agree. This is the problem. If I saw an upside down bike, or a person stood in the middle of the trail my initial thought would likely be “what’s this clown up to?”, then probably want to ride round. Hopefully I’d realise pretty quickly, especially if arranged as in the photo. I do tend to stop and offer assistance so wouldn’t go ploughing through but it’s not as simple as sticking a bike upside down on the trail and hoping everyone understands what is going on.

Been riding since the start of the 90’s and never come across this, however common sense would say there is some kind of problem, i mean who treats their bike like that. I would probably prefer to have someone go back up the track & warn others, if bodies are available. As has been mentioned I have seen people blocking a trail fixing mechanical’s or even having a rest.
As Mountain Biking is becoming more popular it would probably be a good idea if BC / Cycling UK & any other organisations came together and came up with a consolidated guide to trail etiquette, a standard as how to deal with incidents etc. Take for example who gives way on a climb/descent some believe those going downhill should give way (as you are supposed to when driving) and some believe those climbing should give way, how to overtake slower riders safely and so on.

Well said Northwind. The writer of the article and the thread OP are the same (fairly newby rider, IIRC) funnily enough. Not dissing their newbiness by any means. But it makes you think eh? 😀

I think it’s catching on.

I’d never heard of it until one of our group (very experienced from riding big events around the world) did it immediately at bike park wales after a big off.

It’s a fantastic idea and saved further injuries.

Well said Northwind. The writer of the article and the thread OP are the same (fairly newby rider, IIRC) funnily enough. Not dissing their newbiness by any means. But it makes you think eh?

Although I sometimes ride like one, I’ve been riding for the past nine years (well, I did take a year off). I have also been working in the bike industry since 2013. The point of this article (was not to say this is the rule) it was to say I’ve never seen it, even when I’ve been riding in different parts of the world.

It’s purely just for discussion, and to raise awareness following the accident and the fact people were still riding around. Sorry if the tone was off, @northwind

Oops, din’t mean no ‘arm, honest 😀

I didn’t know about this until recently when I saw it on a YouTube vid. My first reaction was “which bellend blocked off this feature” before it clicked. It would be enough to make me think and slow down though.

I’ve seen the ski and snowboard thing before though.

Oops, din’t mean no ‘arm, honest 😀

Not at all, just defending my honour. Ha. As I said, I definitely do still ride like one at the best of times.

Again, just wanted to open the discussion. Didn’t mean for things to come across like this is the rule and everyone should know. As I admitted, I’ve never seen it myself. Hopefully we don’t see it often, but perhaps it can be adopted where sensible if there’s a need to block the trail.

Common sense IS VERY common. Ask anyone if they have common sense and most people will say they have more than the average.

So if everyone has more than the average amount it must be very common with one poor sod with a massive deficit just to make the match balance out.

Not gonna lie never heard of this until now. Also no idea what the crossed skis thing meant either? Theres a lot of us who have no exposure to winter sports so maybe quite a big assumption?
I would stop but it would be 50:50 that I would assume its a)maybe a crash b)morons having a look at the jump and forgetting about other trail users c)morons trying to film there mate in peace and blocking the trail for others.

^^ And there’s a man who’s crashed once or twice 😀 (WCA!)

So if everyone has more than the average amount it must be very common with one poor sod with a massive deficit just to make the match balance out.

It’s very noble of you to take the job on though. 😉

Upside Down Bikes on the Trail, Do You Know What It Means?

I didn’t know what it meant the first time I saw it, but it becomes pretty obvious once you’ve passed a bike positioned like this and then a casualty on the floor. Doesn’t hurt to raise awareness though to reduce the number of folk trying to blast past.

Surprised no-ones been along to comment about how bikes should never be flipped upside down like that etc….

Warning: Aussies on trail

Never come across it in all my years of riding either. Curiosity would make me stop and look around. I’d assume it was somebody attempting an artful photograph who’d been caught short and needed to nip for a piss.

Never heard of it but cleary a good idea. I think I would have braked if I’ve seen a couple of upside down bikes on the trail

I also did not know this (or the crossed skis thing). Would definitely slow down/stop if I seen it on a trail though. Will for sure stop now that I know this. Thanks for the education

Been riding since the start of the 90’s

Must be knackered by now!

I’ve never seen that before but it is a good idea.

Upside down bikes don’t mean anything. Its not a recognised sign and people put bike upside down all the time

Upside down bikes don’t mean anything. Its not a recognised sign and people put bike upside down all the time

Well there’s really only two options:

1) I’m a total idiot who’s put my bike there as I’m trying to fix a puncture without any thought as to what is going on around me or where I am.

2) I’m helping a casualty out of sight but directly on the trail, perhaps around this blind bend or over the lip of this jump so I’ve put the bike in a bloody obvious position where it’s clear that it’s been done deliberately (rather than the bike lying down where it could be the outcome of a crash or fall).

Either way, any oncoming rider should see that and think “gosh there’s an obstacle there, I’ll slow down / stop and investigate”.

Honestly, in MTBing (or cycling in general actually), it’s equally likely to be either of those options, I’ve seen some people put their bikes (and often themselves) in unbelievably stupid places when trying to fix it.

Upside down bikes don’t mean anything.

But if it’s upside down AND blocking the trail it probably does. And now you know because today, TJ, you’ve learned something new. Cool eh?

In all fairness, it doesn’t really matter whether people know what it means or not as one way or the other it’s going to achieve it’s desired effect.

Erm … it means i am fixing a puncture.

… in all honesty there’s rarely anyone around where I crash.

If it’s me, either I’m fixing a puncture or trying to sellotape my derailer back on. 😆

Happened to me 4 times(2 of each) crossing the devils straircase last week. 😆 worst run of “mechanicals” in history. 😆

But aye, If I see a bike like that across a trail, I’m gonny enquire if they need help. kinda obvious if on the trail really that you should ask

Upside down bikes don’t mean anything. Its not a recognised sign and people put bike upside down all the time

Do they ?. I mean do they place two bikes side by side, across a trail in a manner that only works to block passage, especially given those in the pic are at the base of a short steep hill where you cannot see over the other side.
If someone thinks that isnt a warning sign,about what might be over the other side of that hill, then they shouldn’t be outside unsupervised.