A Passing Thought

Martin Bulmer said:

This is the first time I have encountered any difficulty with my ped handling tactics, what does
everyone else do?

I Shun shared use facilities, in the approved manner ;-)

Guy
===
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Martin Bulmer said:

On Sustrans and similar shared trails, when approaching pedestrians from behind, I slow down, and
when still a fair distance off, give a cheery "good morning", or "Hello". If they don't hear me, a
slightly louder "Excuse me please" usually does the trick. I have a bell attached to my bike, but
I feel that it is slightly rude and "get-out-of-the-way-ish". Yesterday, things did not go so
smoothly. Two or three peds appeared very startled, and hid in the grass verge. One of a group of
three turned an ran for the verge with a "Sorry, I didn't hear you" (which was why I send my
cheery greeting ahead of me) and another in that group said "Don't you have a bell, ding ding?"
(just in case I was unsure of the effect of a bell). I did explain over my shoulder that yes, I
had a bell, but preferred to say hello. I didn't stop to debate it though. I sometimes ride with a
gent aged probably mid 60s, who uses a bulb-squeeze horn enthusiastically, much to my
embarrassment, and I don't really want to use that approach, but I find the ding-ding has less
range than my normal salutation. This is the first time I have encountered any difficulty with my
ped handling tactics, what does everyone else do?

I don't use an awful lot of shared paths (I prefer to share with other vehicles) but when I do, I
find much gear changing, free wheeling, and gear lever flicking works reasonably well. Generally, I
make as many "bikey" noises as possible. I guess rattling mudguards and squeaky brakes would also be
good, but I'm too proud for that.

The object is to alow peds to become aware of bikey noises behind them before you get too close. So
don't use the squeaky brake signal too close up or it can be mis-interpreted for something similar
to the car type squeal of brakes (tyres) which is a completely different signal.

Have you tried farting loudly? Might sort of break the ice. ;-)

--
Cheerful Peddling John Mallard

Quoted message said:

Have you tried farting loudly? Might sort of break the ice. ;-)

Wouldn't that just have a turbo effect, thus propelling the cyclist towards the peds at a greater
rate of knots?

Cheers, helen s

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fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

Quoted message said:

Have you tried farting loudly? Might sort of break the ice. ;-)

Wouldn't that just have a turbo effect, thus propelling the cyclist towards the peds at a greater
rate of knots?

Probably the cause of at least two of my excursions *into* the canal. One of the reasons why I no
longer use tow paths. ('cos I ain't gonna give up the beer and baltis - cause of the farting)

--
Cheerful Peddling John Mallard

Either you are polite and say excuse me, which usually has a laxative effect of a startled
pedestrian or use a bell. What one I use depends on the situation.

My preferred method is to use a small ping bell like a sonar, start pinging a little way off at
regular intervals and if they do not react assume that their hearing is impaired and treat them
accordingly.... by taking a layer of skin off their legs because my brakes don't work!

Wallace.

Martin Bulmer said:

On Sustrans and similar shared trails, when approaching pedestrians from behind, I slow down, and
when still a fair distance off, give a cheery "good morning", or "Hello". If they don't hear me, a
slightly louder "Excuse me please" usually does the trick. I have a bell attached to my bike, but
I feel that it is slightly rude and "get-out-of-the-way-ish". Yesterday, things did not go so
smoothly. Two or three peds appeared very startled, and hid in the grass verge. One of a group of
three turned an ran for the verge with a "Sorry, I didn't hear you" (which was why I send my
cheery greeting ahead of me) and another in that group said "Don't you have a bell, ding ding?"
(just in case I was unsure of the effect of a bell). I did explain over my shoulder that yes, I
had a bell, but preferred to say hello. I didn't stop to debate it though. I sometimes ride with a
gent aged probably mid 60s, who uses a bulb-squeeze horn enthusiastically, much to my
embarrassment, and I don't really want to use that approach, but I find the ding-ding has less
range than my normal salutation. This is the first time I have encountered any difficulty with my
ped handling tactics, what does everyone else do?
--

Martin Bulmer

Pie Conservation Threat

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by John Mallard

Bdirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

Quoted message said:

Have you tried farting loudly? Might sort of break the ice. ;-)

Wouldn't that just have a turbo effect, thus propelling the cyclist towards the peds at a greater
rate of knots?

Probably the cause of at least two of my excursions *into* the canal. One of the reasons why I no
longer use tow paths. ('cos I ain't gonna give up the beer and baltis - cause of the farting)

--
Cheerful Peddling John Mallard [/B]

I ride canal toepaths and have always wondered umm what umm happens if you "fall in" so to speak. Doesn't it wreck the bike big style?

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On Sustrans and similar shared trails, when approaching pedestrians from behind, I slow down, and
when still a fair distance off, give a cheery "good morning", or "Hello".

snipped

handling tactics, what does everyone else do?

The only shared use path I tend to use is a canal bank. I use a bell as the sound says "bike"
whereas a "hello" could be another ped. The only comments I,ve had were positive from peds used to
bikes somes times startling them by not giving any warning of approach. Iain

"Martin Bulmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... <snip> ped handling tactics, what does everyone else do?

Quoted message said:

--

Martin Bulmer

Pie Conservation Threat

On the road bike, squeaky brakes (not so squeaky since I tightened 'em up somewhat, might have to
invest in a bell!!), no bell.....A great deal of satisfaction can be had by startling them out of
their dream state as they step off the pavement in front of you, by using squeaky brakes...must
admit, I have, on occassion, overplayed the squeaky brakes to great effect ;-)..then follow it up
with a smile and "phew! that was close...good job *I* was on the ball!!" On the off-road bikes,
bell, little tingy one, used from some distance away to give 'em advanced warning, followed by the
"hello / 'scuse me / thanks / smile / wave" stuff as passing. Can never keep 'em too sweet, after
all, they do take priority over us and on occassion, I am one!! ;-) Dave.

Martin Bulmer said:

This is the first time I have encountered any difficulty with my ped handling tactics, what does
everyone else do?

We carry a bear bell on our MTB.

James

Martin Bulmer said:

... what does everyone else do?

A little whistle usually

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dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers said:

Quoted message said:

Have you tried farting loudly? Might sort of break the ice. ;-)

Wouldn't that just have a turbo effect, thus propelling the cyclist towards the peds at a greater
rate of knots?

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove dependency on fame &
fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

jet propulsion,

(turbo uses the exhaust to blow air back into the engine)

yours pedantically

M

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you know? said:

Martin Bulmer said:

This is the first time I have encountered any difficulty with my ped handling tactics, what does
everyone else do?

I Shun shared use facilities, in the approved manner ;-)

I enjoy a quiet wander up an old railway now and then. look upon those as extra roads!

I have squeaky brakes.. they work a treat. Only nasty so far was from another cyclist who objected
after I was flagged down and stopped to help someone with a breakdown. This pillock needed more than
half a wide track

Richard Webb

"James Annan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Martin Bulmer said:

This is the first time I have encountered any difficulty with my ped handling tactics, what does
everyone else do?

We carry a bear bell on our MTB.

My word. Whats one of them then?

I imagine it to be like a cat bell, on a collar. Not a sound I'd like to hear out in the rockies.
(hmmm sillyness aside I have heard of one, its to tell the grizzlies that lunch is on its way?)

On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 23:26:25 -0000, John Mallard wrote: ) Have you tried farting loudly? Might sort
of break the ice. ;-)

Dear sir, Mr Mallard clearly has much more developed muscles in that area than I. Perhaps switching
to SB's "Man's Saddle" will enable me to perform this trick? Please advise. Yours sincerely, Anally
Retentive of East Cheam.

J-P
--
Perhaps electricians use these labels as curses to ward away amateur competition. But all the same,
I shall resist the temptation to do any wiring until I am completely sober.

W K said:

"James Annan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
net.or.jp...

Quoted message said:

Martin Bulmer said:

This is the first time I have encountered any difficulty with my

ped > handling tactics, what does everyone else do?

We carry a bear bell on our MTB.

Quoted message said:

My word. Whats one of them then?

Grizzly bear warning

In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Montana Department of Fish and
Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears
while in the field. We advise that outdoors men wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not
to startle bears that aren't expecting them. We also advise outdoors men to carry pepper spray with
them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of
bear activity. Outdoors men should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear
droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly
bear droppings have little bells in them and smell of pepper.

--
Alan J. Wylie wylie.me.ukwylie.me.ukOpen ↗ "Perfection [in design] is achieved not when there is nothing
left to add, but rather when there is nothing left to take away." -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

W K said:

(hmmm sillyness aside I have heard of one, its to tell the grizzlies that lunch is on its way?)

That's right. The first time we encountered them here, we assumed it was just that the Japanese
didn't like the peace and quiet of the mountains. There are no bears around here, although they are
rumoured to exist further afield. We got one when we went to Canada and it is quite handy for
alerting pedestrians to our presence.

James

davebee said:

I ride canal toepaths and have always wondered umm what umm happens if you "fall in" so to speak.
Doesn't it wreck the bike big style?

Not really. you just get wet and if you are unlucky you may surface with a shopping trolley on
your head.

Most canals are only a couple of feet deep at the edge anyway.

John B

davebee said:

I ride canal toepaths and have always wondered umm what umm happens if you "fall in" so to speak.
Doesn't it wreck the bike big style?

No. In my boaty-rower-coaching days my bike went in the river occasionally (in my defence, on only
one occasion was I still on the bike, and on that occasion the surface of teh river was a little
above the surface of the towpath so the transition from towpath to river was not 100% distinct). It
was an old and neglected small-wheeled raleigh shopper with SA hub gears, and while it got
occasional oiling and greasing, I never took any special maintenance measures after submerging.

regards, Ian SMith
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davebee <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I ride canal toepaths and have always wondered umm what umm happens if you "fall in" so to speak.

You get wet, as it were.

Quoted message said:

Doesn't it wreck the bike big style?

Why should it? The main problem is likely to be water in the bearings, which can be tedious to sort
out but shouldn't be terminal. An excursion into the canal with its dirty water and submerged debris
may not be all that good for the rider though.

--
Dave...