Bell or speak?

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Thinking about this again, you made the fatal error of saying "excuse me". This immediately tells them you are apologetic about the situation.

A loud "RIDER COMING THRU" says 'get out of the way', and PUTS YOU IN CONTROL.

I agree partly.

I find it informative and firm to call "bike passing on your right" (or left, whatever), whether I am passing a walker or another cyclist.

I am a walker, I prefer walking to cycling (sorry!) - in fact the reason I started cycling again was so that I could get home faster than walking home, so that I could go walk up a hill somewhere in the evening

Some walkers are just drivers on foot. They hate cyclists on the road, and they hate them on trails or bridleways too, and think that bikes just shouldn't be allowed to exist.

If I'm walking and a bike is coming, I'll look at the best line for a bike and walk clear of it.

HOWEVER - yesterday on the section of my walk that took me down Derwent Valley, close passes? NONE of the cyclists that whizzed past me inches away can EVER complain about a close pass by a car. Mind you, they probably never ride anywhere else.

I found that very rude and could quite understand people becoming irritated by sharing the route with cyclists, when some ride like that


As for my bell, I have it mounted just on the seat tube above the bottle cage. It's reachable in situations like slow cycling on a cycle path underpass, when coming to a blind corner etc, when a bell IS clear and recognisable, but not taking up space that is better used for lights and computer

 

[psmiffy]

I find that singing a few bars of something 50m or so before tends to work - Last year was short Queen excerpts

 

[Debian]

I can't say I care much for most of the bunch that call themselves Ramblers - arrogant whatsits in my considerable experience.

However, there are similarly arrogant twunts amongst the MTB fraternity. Several times whilst hill walking, particularly in the Mendips, I have had close brushes with groups of MTBers travelling downhill on the bridleways at some considerable speed. No chance whatsoever of stopping should anything or anyone get in their way. When cycling on public land, especially in popular walking areas - always ride so that you can easily stop within the distance you can see and if there are other people and animals in close proximity slow right down!

To revert to the OP I've had walkers complain about me ringing a bell and about me not ringing a bell. So I now just use a loud "Excuse me please!" from a reasonable distance away. I once took abuse for "startling" a youngish couple - I tried ringing the bell, I then called out - no response so I cruised slowly past anyway, there was plenty of room. As I passed they jumped out of their skin, they both had iPods plugged into their ears! You'll never win whatever you do.

 

[slowmotion]

I tend not to be in a great hurry on a towpath. This works for me...

Slow down ten yards behind and follow at their pace. If they do not notice you, make a couple of loud clicky gear changes. Usually, they realise that a cyclist is behind them and scatter in all directions. Offer profuse thanks and waves as you gently pass by.

Job done, with no hard feelings on either side.

 

[Debian]

I tend not to be in a great hurry on a towpath. This works for me...

Slow down ten yards behind and follow at their pace. If they do not notice you, make a couple of loud clicky gear changes. Usually, they realise that a cyclist is behind them and scatter in all directions. Offer profuse thanks and waves as you gently pass by.

Job done, with no hard feelings on either side.

Why should I do that? Take my example a couple of posts ago about the iPod heads in a world of their own. You'd wait behind them for ever.

IMHO it can never be considered rude to say "excuse me please" in a cheery way. If others want to take offence at that then that's their concern, not mine.

 

[summerdays]

Yes - I've used gear changing as a way of saying that I'm there rather than I want to get past. Sometimes I just sit quietly behind them as I can see a suitable passing place ahead... and then when they suddenly realise you are there - its almost a criticism the fact that you didn't try to get past.

 

[Cubist]

I've given the subject careful consideration and can only conclude that the way to identify your presence to them is to scream loudly "Get out of my f*cking way you rambling bastards, or I'll plough straight through you."

**nts.

(Singing Queen extracts at the top of your voice from 50 yards gets my vote. A couple of lines of "Here comes the deputy he's gonna come and getta me." should shift the f*ckers.)

 

[wafflycat]

Yep, that's ramblers for you, Daily Wail readers the lot of them. Most people are happy to let you passed on shared use paths if you speak to them, sometimes I say "ding, ding, I haven't got a bell" which usually gets a smile.

Funny that, some of us are ramblers as well as cyclists. What the OP came across was a bunch of rude morons and you get those using all forms of transport, be it feet, pedal, hoof or motor.

To the OP: FWIW, I've given up using a bell as short of an airzound, I find a bell to be useless. I find a cheery "Cyclist behind you!" followed by a cheery "Thank you!" as I pass by *slowly* has been the most effective way to maintain good relations between cyclist/horse rider/pedestrian.

 

[Cubist]

Oh, and to the OP, my only reply in your situation would have been "Ding-Ding this you rambling **nt."

Not that I advocate violence in the normal sense of the word you'll understand, but those cheeky fackers was 'avin' it.

 

[jimboalee]

Thinks again.

It depends on what jersey I'm wearing.


Solihull CC - would stay calm and forget it.

Western Wheelers - Scowl annoyingly.

Plain single coloured - get off and kick his b0ll0cks.

 

[Armegatron]

I find it informative and firm to call "bike passing on your right" (or left, whatever), whether I am passing a walker or another cyclist.

+1

I do this when passing other cyclists on bridleways where they arent expecting to be passed. On a road though I just give a wide overtake as a car would.

With peds Ive never really had a problem (yet) - generally I slow down to a walking pace and the sqeek of the brakes / shadow / sound of tyres often gets attention and I pass with a thank you. Other times I will slow down to a walking pace and say 'scuse me. Never had a bad reaction apart from one couple who didnt hear me the first time so I said it slightly louder - they turned around and jumped a mile at the sight of a cyclist !

 

[ianrauk]

I think the whole point of this is that whatever means of alert or communication a cyclist uses, one cannot win with certain ramblers.

 

[XmisterIS]

OP - there are some people out there who think the world revolves around them. For them life is entitled, "The Me Me Me Me Show".

A few years back, I encountered a group of ramblers who were consulting their maps right in the middle of a crossroads of two bridle paths as I was approaching on my mountain bike. They absolutely would not move (despite my politely asking if I could get past) and told me that I was a menace and I shouldn't be on the path. I politely told them that I was permitted on the bridle path and that perhaps we could share the bridle path - the response was a few laughs and they ignored me. They also refused to move for a family out for a gentle pootle - mum, dad and two very small kids on bikes with stabilisers - they wouldn't even move for them.

Then again, most of the ramblers I pass in the summer off-road will go to one side, I go to the other, we say "hi" to each other as we pass.

It takes all sorts! (No, not liquorice!).

 

[Rob3rt]

I hate the sound of cycle bells so wouldnt dream of equiping one, 1st thing i do on a new bike, take that thing off so as to not have to hear its horrific sound.

I would have just said "excuse me" or just made some sort of sound (but not clearing your throat like a patronising w@nker), words arent really neccessary (when your cycling or walking along and suddenly hear someone talk behind you at least half the time you need a double take to actually realise the situation because the 1st few words dont register) if it was a shared pathway, if it was a cycle only lane I'd have said "get the f*ck off the cyclepath". Sounds like you just encountered some idiots.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Thanks for all your replies.

It good to know I didnt break some trail code.

On reflection, it did seem like they were being particularly obstropolus.

I think I will stick to using my voice as like others have said I also find having a bell rung at me seems to say "MOVE!!! MOVE!!"

In fact, next time I may stop and politely ask them why they prefer a bell to a pleasent "Excuse me".