Dealing with dicks

[Raptor]

About a week ago, someone wrote a letter to the SL Tribune complaining about inconsiderate mountain
bikers on the Great Water Trail, and suggesting the USFS close it to bike all the time. The trail is
currently closed to bikes on odd days, and is one end of the Wasatch Crest, my favorite local ride.

At the time, I wondered what the guy was talking about. I've hiked that trail more times than I've
ridden it this year, and hadn't encountered a rude mtber, and had met some ridiculously polite ones.
Myself, I always give a quick "thank you" when hikers move aside for me, as they always do.

But today, we (on foot) got passed by a few riders who didn't say anything, and three prima donnas
who gave the old, "Watch out!" as they flew towards us at ~30mph. Like I can't ride just as fast,
but don't out of consideration...

It's occurred to me so far to not move out of their way and see what happens. Any other great ideas
for teachin' these kids a little respect, in the name of keeping my favorite trail open half the
time? I don't know what to do about riders who can't bring themselves to say a

go by silently.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall "I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we
could to protect our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security." --Microsoft VP in
charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

 

[John Harlow]

> It's occurred to me so far to not move out of their way and see what happens. Any other great
> ideas for teachin' these kids a little respect, in the name of keeping my favorite trail open half
> the time? I don't know what to do about riders who can't bring themselves to say a

> go by silently.

It's sad, isn't it?

I'd like to see bike dealers take the initiative to help spread the word on how to share the trails.
It would be quite beneficial for them in the long run, too, as trail closures due to these doofuses
ruining it for everyone and getting trails closed will end up hurting bike sales. ATV dealers go as
far as giving their customers $50 cash for taking a rider safety / etiquette course.

 

[Slacker]

"Raptor" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
> It's occurred to me so far to not move out of their way and see what happens. Any other great
> ideas for teachin' these kids a little respect, in the name of keeping my favorite trail open half
> the time? I don't know what to do about riders who can't bring themselves to say a

> go by silently.

Yeah, use one of those big walking sticks when hiking. Next time you see the *******, jam it into
his spokes while saying, "Oops, I'm soooo sorry."
--
Slacker

 

[Stephen Baker]

Slacker says:

>Yeah, use one of those big walking sticks when hiking. Next time you see the *******, jam it into
>his spokes while saying, "Oops, I'm soooo sorry."

Heheheh! I like that - crude, simple, effective and oh, so efficient. Maybe change the wording to
"Watch out yourself!"

Steve

 

[sm266]

I usually scream something like "hey, motherf*cker, slow the f*ck down." It probably doesn't help, but it makes me feel better.

 

[Bb]

On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 21:11:11 -0400, John Harlow wrote:

> I'd like to see bike dealers take the initiative to help spread the word on how to share
> the trails.

I've been saying that for years, but the dewbies probably wouldn't listen anyway. Of course, these
guys are dangerous for other bikers as well.

I pretty much have my response memorized ever since I was run off the trail by a couple of racer
wannabes in Texas - "slow down, asshole!". But that was 7 years ago, and I haven't come across any
since. Those same dumbasses blew past a family with small children right afer me. :-(

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

 

[Raptor]

sm266 wrote:
> I usually scream something like "hey, motherf*cker, slow the f*ck down." It probably doesn't help,
> but it makes me feel better.

I think, so far, that my idea of simply not yielding if they're flying like a bat out of
hell, is best.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall "I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we
could to protect our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security." --Microsoft VP in
charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

 

[Shaun Rimmer]

"Raptor" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> sm266 wrote:
> > I usually scream something like "hey, motherf*cker, slow the f*ck down." It probably doesn't
> > help, but it makes me feel better.
>
> I think, so far, that my idea of simply not yielding if they're flying like a bat out of hell,
> is best.

Ah, so you walk in full body armour...............

Shaun aRe ',;~}~

 

[Taywood]

Slacker wrote:
> "Raptor" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...

> Yeah, use one of those big walking sticks when hiking. Next time you see the *******, jam it into
> his spokes while saying, "Oops, I'm soooo sorry."

FFS dont. Dont say it or write it.

On uk.rec.cycling recently we had a post from a walk leader, in charge of seven walkers, who
complained of abusive behaviour and shouted abuse from cyclists. It turned out the moron had taken
his party out on the day of the famous UK Three Peaks cyclocross race. They'd passed the car
park/changing area/ start line and seen the race stewards, but nobody had warned him about
changing use of the moorland track. Not long out on the trail they were startled by a bunch of
cyclists screaming at them and shouting abuse, he complained in his post that they were even
threatened with violence.

This had to be the leading bunch of riders finding morons spread out accross the trail, we think
they shouted for track and shouted warnings about the fast approaching horde. You can imagine one
rider breathlessly shouting 'if they hit you you will be hurt' or something less polite.

It was a cross post with a walking group, typical troll, and the only response which caught their
imagination was when one moron proposed use of the 'big walking stick in spokes'. So if you ride on
uk bridleways watch out for walking stick abuse in future. It wont be the ******** fastriders who'll
be hit, it'll be the quiet family groups who'll be easy targets. Mike

 

[Pete Jones]

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 13:29:36 +0100, "taywood" <[email protected]> blathered:

>> Yeah, use one of those big walking sticks when hiking. Next time you see the *******, jam it into
>> his spokes while saying, "Oops, I'm soooo sorry."
>
>FFS dont. Dont say it or write it.
>
>On uk.rec.cycling recently we had a post from a walk leader, in charge of seven walkers, who
>complained of abusive behaviour and shouted abuse from cyclists. It turned out the moron had taken
>his party out on the day of the famous UK Three Peaks cyclocross race. They'd passed the car
>park/changing area/ start line and seen the race stewards, but nobody had warned him about changing
>use of the moorland track.

I stumbled on that discussion while looking for something else - had to *really* exert myself not
to get involved. I've encountered people like that bloke before - almost always in large groups
like he was.

The most famous cyclocross race event in the country, running for over four decades on tracks
normally denied to cyclists, but open one day a year with the express permission of the
landowners. I've been there when it was on - you would have to be a blind man not to realise
something was going on.

I can just picture him, jaw jutting grimly forward, trekking poles at the ready, determined that by
damn he IS going to walk this track despite it being occupied by an officially sanctioned race,
because it's his RIGHT!! And if there is any resulting conflict - well, it's THEIR fault, of course.
********, the kind that gives walkers a bad name.

 

[Miles Todd]

Raptor wrote:

> sm266 wrote:
>
>> I usually scream something like "hey, motherf*cker, slow the f*ck down." It probably doesn't
>> help, but it makes me feel better.
>
>
> I think, so far, that my idea of simply not yielding if they're flying like a bat out of hell,
> is best.
>

Which is exactly what I do. Bump them off the trail if need be. Years of track racing and criterium
sprinting have taught me the fine art of the shoulder shove. I also do this for right-of-way
situations. A typical day at the SJT I may have to do it a half-dozen times.

Miles

 

[Sorni]

"miles todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Raptor wrote:
> > I think, so far, that my idea of simply not yielding if they're flying like a bat out of hell,
> > is best.
> >
>
> Which is exactly what I do. Bump them off the trail if need be. Years of track racing and
> criterium sprinting have taught me the fine art of the shoulder shove. I also do this for
> right-of-way situations. A typical day at the SJT I may have to do it a half-dozen times.

Could have used you Saturday!

Bill "although by the time they get to me they're just that much more ****** off" S.

 

[Raptor]

Shaun Rimmer wrote:
> "Raptor" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>
>>sm266 wrote:
>>
>>>I usually scream something like "hey, motherf*cker, slow the f*ck down." It probably doesn't
>>>help, but it makes me feel better.
>>
>>I think, so far, that my idea of simply not yielding if they're flying like a bat out of hell,
>>is best.
>
>
> Ah, so you walk in full body armour...............

No, just relatively fat-free 185 lbs, backed up by above-average agility and guts, themselves
reinforced by a little pique given the situation. There were three of them involved in this case, at
which time diplomacy becomes useful. Hopefully.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall "I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we
could to protect our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security." --Microsoft VP in
charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

 

[Jd]

Raptor <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> About a week ago, someone wrote a letter to the SL Tribune complaining about inconsiderate
> mountain bikers on the Great Water Trail, and suggesting the USFS close it to bike all the time.
> The trail is currently closed to bikes on odd days, and is one end of the Wasatch Crest, my
> favorite local ride.
>
> At the time, I wondered what the guy was talking about. I've hiked that trail more times than I've
> ridden it this year, and hadn't encountered a rude mtber, and had met some ridiculously polite
> ones. Myself, I always give a quick "thank you" when hikers move aside for me, as they always do.
>
> But today, we (on foot) got passed by a few riders who didn't say anything, and three prima donnas
> who gave the old, "Watch out!" as they flew towards us at ~30mph. Like I can't ride just as fast,
> but don't out of consideration...
>
> It's occurred to me so far to not move out of their way and see what happens. Any other great
> ideas for teachin' these kids a little respect, in the name of keeping my favorite trail open half
> the time? I don't know what to do about riders who can't bring themselves to say a

> go by silently.

I laugh at them because they suck and think they are good.

JD

 

[Jd]

miles todd <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Raptor wrote:
>
> > sm266 wrote:
> >
> >> I usually scream something like "hey, motherf*cker, slow the f*ck down." It probably doesn't
> >> help, but it makes me feel better.
> >
> >
> > I think, so far, that my idea of simply not yielding if they're flying like a bat out of hell,
> > is best.
> >
>
> Which is exactly what I do. Bump them off the trail if need be. Years of track racing and
> criterium sprinting have taught me the fine art of the shoulder shove. I also do this for
> right-of-way situations. A typical day at the SJT I may have to do it a half-dozen times.

They always seem to give me a wide berth.

JD

 

[Paladin]

"Shaun Rimmer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Raptor" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > sm266 wrote:
> > > I usually scream something like "hey, motherf*cker, slow the f*ck down." It probably doesn't
> > > help, but it makes me feel better.
> >
> > I think, so far, that my idea of simply not yielding if they're flying like a bat out of hell,
> > is best.
>
> Ah, so you walk in full body armour...............
>
> Shaun aRe ',;~}~

No kidding. "Not yielding" is a dangerous tactic anytime, but especially so if the barney is a jerk
and would just as soon hit you, or if he's a doof and can't control his bike in the first place.

Paladin

 

[x]

RE/
>It's occurred to me so far to not move out of their way and see what happens.

How about carrying something large/bulky and just dropping it "...so I could jump out of the way in
time..."? At least you'd could observe their jumping skills...
--
PeteCresswell

 

[Corvus Corvax]

[email protected] (JD) wrote
>
> They always seem to give me a wide berth.

Except on Usenet, apparently.

CC

 

[Raptor]

(Pete Cresswell) wrote:
> RE/
>
>>It's occurred to me so far to not move out of their way and see what happens.
>
>
> How about carrying something large/bulky and just dropping it "...so I could jump out of the way
> in time..."? At least you'd could observe their jumping skills...

We have a winner.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall "I'm not proud. We really haven't done everything we
could to protect our customers. Our products just aren't engineered for security." --Microsoft VP in
charge of Windows OS Development, Brian Valentine.

 

[Trentus]

> I stumbled on that discussion while looking for something else - had to *really* exert myself not
> to get involved. I've encountered people like that bloke before - almost always in large groups
> like he was.
>
> The most famous cyclocross race event in the country, running for over four decades on tracks
> normally denied to cyclists, but open one day a year with the express permission of the
> landowners. I've been there when it was on - you would have to be a blind man not to realise
> something was going on.
>
> I can just picture him, jaw jutting grimly forward, trekking poles at the ready, determined that
> by damn he IS going to walk this track despite it being occupied by an officially sanctioned race,
> because it's his RIGHT!! And if there is any resulting conflict - well, it's THEIR fault, of
> course. ********, the kind that gives walkers a bad name.

I've seen the same type of person in a number of other situations too. For example roads closed due
to bushfire, when moron says to him/herself "damnit, I always use this road, I'm using it today
whether they like it or not" as they drive around the closed signs. The same moron who screams blue
murder about how long the emergency services took to come rescue him/her when they found out the
hard way why the road was closed. If only the Darwin awards took out a few more of these people,
more quickly, the rest of us might become safer.

Trentus