Bike park e-tiquete ?

zagcatt

New Member
Oct 22, 2019
16
53
wales uk
Cruising for a bruising with this one....but interested to see what views are out there.
Last sunday was at llandegla one planet...super busy.
Ebike or not...when passing other riders on the up hills (or flats on ebike) I always let them know "bike passing right "etc ...then a ,cheers mate ,as I go past .
Seems to help diffuse the hatred some have.
Speaking to some folk I knew later, they mentioned how many ebikes had blasted past them with not a word of warning..and really did seem to p them off big time.
As a diplomatic gesture ...to help integration...is this letting folk know they are about to be overtsken something we should adopt generally?

Let the onslaught begin!.
 

118

E*POWAH Elite
Aug 14, 2019
642
560
Norfolk
When racing xc, I was always advised of approaching riders.. rider left or right, was common. Nobody took offence. Whilst out on a trail, I still find myself calling out rider left, rider right, and then a polite thank you, as the courteous rider is usually extracting themselves out of a hedgerow, in their panic to get out of the/your way..

Most people appreciate a call, rather than a ping of an approaching bell, as some hikers that I've encountered, find a bell 'rude'... Perhaps if they weren't so engrossed in what they themselves were doing, rather than meandering across joint cycling/walking routes, they would be more spatially aware, that they aren't alone..

Bottom line is, you can't please everyone, not matter how hard you try (sometimes)..
 
Last edited:

Gary

Old Tartan Bollocks
Author
Subscriber
Mar 29, 2018
10,496
10,702
the internet
"rider left" etc. is fine for racing but shows a distinct lack of social skills outwith a racing environment. Just say "Hi" (or whatever your usual local greeting is) when approaching slower riders/walkers from behind, even exchange a few more words. Being friendly costs nothing and it's not like Emtb riders will ever be too out of breath on a climb to blether shit to a few strangers. thanking someone for letting you pass is simply decent manners.
 

zagcatt

New Member
Oct 22, 2019
16
53
wales uk
Just don't be a dick.

it's really not that hard.

some folk actually are dicks though.
Seems the majority of ebikers on sunday were.....(though the folk I talked to called them the anatomical oppsite! )... .but hoping what they did was out of ignorance not dickness...just knowining this may help them ;)
 

zagcatt

New Member
Oct 22, 2019
16
53
wales uk
When racing xc, I was always advised of approaching riders.. rider left or right, was common. Nobody took offence. Whilst out on a trail, I still find myself calling out rider left, rider right, and then a polite thank you, as the courteous rider is usually extracting themselves out of a hedgerow, in their panic to get out of the/your way..

Most people appreciate a call, rather than a ping of an approaching bell, as some hikers that I've encountered, find a bell 'rude'... Perhaps if they weren't so engrossed in what they themselves were doing, rather than meandering across joint cycling/walking routes, they would be more spatially aware, that they aren't alone..

Bottom line is, you can't please everyone, not matter how hard you try (sometimes)..
True...but you (not you!) can piss most off quite easily it seems
 

118

E*POWAH Elite
Aug 14, 2019
642
560
Norfolk
True...but you (not you!) can piss most off quite easily it seems

I'm sure I do piss people off. Mostly my mates, for sure..:LOL:
However, I try to look at it as, expanding their own skills - whether it be their bike skills, or a stranger, who has had to challenge their own attitude.
We all have choices. This year, I chose an eBike. If others are offended by what I ride, that's their issue.. there's already enough snowflakes today, as it is..

Ultimately, you can't argue with an idiot.
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
6,535
5,016
Weymouth
Fortunately where I ride I rarely meet another MTBer but with dog walkers etc I always slow down and if they do not notice me I do tell them which side I will pass on...I think the thing is you can make it sound like a command or you can make it sound like friendly info. In this part of the country it is the norm to have some form of conversation with people you meet.....I know that does not hold true everywhere, it seems the norm in some areas to ignore everyone else or consider them a potential threat!!!
 

zagcatt

New Member
Oct 22, 2019
16
53
wales uk
I'm sure I do piss people off. Mostly my mates, for sure..:LOL:
However, I try to look at it as, expanding their own skills - whether it be their bike skills, or a stranger, who has had to challenge their own attitude.
We all have choices. This year, I chose an eBike. If others are offended by what I ride, that's their issue.. there's already enough snowflakes today, as it is..

Ultimately, you can't argue with an idiot.
Agree...I also have no time for ebike haters ..but by being a bit more understandind as we razz past them ;) ...fewer people then offended...better for everyone.Ireckon
 

118

E*POWAH Elite
Aug 14, 2019
642
560
Norfolk
Agree...I also have no time for ebike haters ..but by being a bit more understandind as we razz past them ;) ...fewer people then offended...better for everyone.Ireckon

Whether you razz or ride alongside them chatting, you'll do well to turn someone's ignorance..:LOL:
I'm all for chatting and challenging ingrained perceptions.. even my own!
 

GrandPaBrogan

⚡ eGeezer ⚡
Oct 5, 2019
1,329
2,068
New Zealand
Being polite is always a good thing... just don't expect everyone to be appreciative of it.

My wife and I were headed to the next trail head on a forest fire road with a reasonable uphill slope (we both have eBikes). We were just pottering along having a conversation when we caught-up to a group of analogue bikers who were riding side-by-side taking up the whole road. They were conserving their spent energy nearing the end of a long climb, and it never occurred to them that anyone else would (or could) pass them.

Unexpectedly, my trail-newbie wife (oblivious to the unwritten laws of alpha males), just decided to pass - and blurted out a phrase she'd often heard - but had never used before... "on your right," she said as she blew past them. On a trail yes (not that many could pass these guys in that setting), but it's definitely not necessary on a wide service dirt road. All she needed to do was say hi guys, smile and pass. All I could do was cringe as her misplaced etiquette unfolded in front of me! :censored:

No amount of well meaning politeness is going to appease bruised egos caused by being passed by a 55 year old lady on an eBike. They reacted by speeding up but she was gone... so, I might as well... and followed her.

Needless to say, they were highly offended by our eBikes. Oh well... oops, and sorry fellas! :geek:
 

KennyB

E*POWAH Master
Aug 25, 2019
824
564
Taunton
I like to ring my bell, an Oi Knogg which has a very pleasant sound, slow down and let people know which side I'm passing on, usually by asking something like "Can I just get by on your right". I've had nothing but positive reactions to the bell, indeed many people are pleasantly surprised. And I soften my accent, less Weegie (Glaswegian).
 

Herder000

Member
Oct 31, 2019
103
84
UK
I do the same as I always have on an analogue bike when approaching slower riders "Pass on your x side when you get a chance please" and usually they move aside and I give a cheery "thanks" as I pass.
The bell is more of an issue with walkers. I use a canal towpath to get to trails. I've had walkers tell me grumpily I should have a bell when I've politely asked to pass. So I fitted a bell only to have walkers tell me its rude to ring my bell! Sometimes you just can't win!
 

KennyB

E*POWAH Master
Aug 25, 2019
824
564
Taunton
I do the same as I always have on an analogue bike when approaching slower riders "Pass on your x side when you get a chance please" and usually they move aside and I give a cheery "thanks" as I pass.
The bell is more of an issue with walkers. I use a canal towpath to get to trails. I've had walkers tell me grumpily I should have a bell when I've politely asked to pass. So I fitted a bell only to have walkers tell me its rude to ring my bell! Sometimes you just can't win!
I'm afraid my reaction would be full Weegie, more Connolly than Connery.
 

Robbie928

New Member
Nov 10, 2019
51
55
Andover
Most people I’ve come across have been pretty good but I always back off before letting them know then approach letting them know what side but haven’t had the backlash I expected so far no different to quick analogue riders really so that’s a plus some seem interested in the bike in The car park and I happily talk about it with them who are interested
 

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