You handled it better than I would have! I had an angry jogger intentionally move to my side of a wide trail to bump me after I had slowed down and moved over for him. I offered him a nice WTF and kept going because I could not believe he did it on purpose.I had an interesting experience this morning with some obviously very jaded hikers while descending one of my favorite descents (Sardine.) I had come across a guy climbing who alerted me to some hikers ahead a couple hundred yards. Now, mind you, I have already started to slow down on this ride anymore because of the incredible increase in trail users, so, I slowed down even MORE because I knew there were some hikers ahead. Came around a corner quite slowly because I could see the dust being kicked up, so knew they were close, and got yelled at to "slow down!" while the guy repeatedly KICKED out at me! My first instinct honestly was to get the hell out of there, but I did tell him that I HAD slowed down but then I got accosted by who I assume was his wife (older couple) who proceeded to yell obscenities as I went by. Mind you, I ride with a Timber bell, which is quite loud, and especially compared to other riders, I am NOT that fast. I yelled at them, "I know you heard my bell and I don't ride that fast!" I almost went back to let them know that their attitudes are most unwelcome, but then realized that some people are just really angry in general and that I'd get assaulted or at the very least it would do absolutely no good. I was pretty rattled especially by the guy who could have either gotten really hurt or whom I could have really hurt because he decided kicking out in front of me then at me as I went by was a grand idea. I'm thinking he's of the same mindset as the person who drives below the speed limit in the left lane because he's decided people are driving too fast. I think that these people believe that bikers should...walk? Or go 5 MPH on the descent. Good luck with that on Sardine.
That being said, I used to go ride the same trail on a weekday morning and there might have been 3 cars in the parking lot. Today? At least 20. Interesting times we are living in. Oh, I got told "YOU'RE WELCOME" the other day when descending fairly slowly by some hikers where I had to drop some roots and then some fairly big rocks. They had stepped aside and I thanked them twice, but apparently they didn't hear me so of course had to let me know what a jackass I was.
People are just unnerved these days. I've tried to be extra super friendly this year because we're ALL unnerved and feeling the pinch in trail use, but that friendliness is not always returned.
I do wish that Snowbasin would cut some new trails, some being dedicated for bikes, and some being downhill dedicated. 3000 acres and we basically have three loops to ride especially for those of us who don't have all day to climb way up into the resort. They could peel away Deer Valley riders if they built the trails properly. Word would get out and people would make the extra trip easily, I think.
There is no place in the mountains for mountain biking.I had an interesting experience this morning with some obviously very jaded hikers while descending one of my favorite descents (Sardine.) I had come across a guy climbing who alerted me to some hikers ahead a couple hundred yards. Now, mind you, I have already started to slow down on this ride anymore because of the incredible increase in trail users, so, I slowed down even MORE because I knew there were some hikers ahead. Came around a corner quite slowly because I could see the dust being kicked up, so knew they were close, and got yelled at to "slow down!" while the guy repeatedly KICKED out at me! My first instinct honestly was to get the hell out of there, but I did tell him that I HAD slowed down but then I got accosted by who I assume was his wife (older couple) who proceeded to yell obscenities as I went by. Mind you, I ride with a Timber bell, which is quite loud, and especially compared to other riders, I am NOT that fast. I yelled at them, "I know you heard my bell and I don't ride that fast!" I almost went back to let them know that their attitudes are most unwelcome, but then realized that some people are just really angry in general and that I'd get assaulted or at the very least it would do absolutely no good. I was pretty rattled especially by the guy who could have either gotten really hurt or whom I could have really hurt because he decided kicking out in front of me then at me as I went by was a grand idea. I'm thinking he's of the same mindset as the person who drives below the speed limit in the left lane because he's decided people are driving too fast. I think that these people believe that bikers should...walk? Or go 5 MPH on the descent. Good luck with that on Sardine.
That being said, I used to go ride the same trail on a weekday morning and there might have been 3 cars in the parking lot. Today? At least 20. Interesting times we are living in. Oh, I got told "YOU'RE WELCOME" the other day when descending fairly slowly by some hikers where I had to drop some roots and then some fairly big rocks. They had stepped aside and I thanked them twice, but apparently they didn't hear me so of course had to let me know what a jackass I was.
People are just unnerved these days. I've tried to be extra super friendly this year because we're ALL unnerved and feeling the pinch in trail use, but that friendliness is not always returned.
I do wish that Snowbasin would cut some new trails, some being dedicated for bikes, and some being downhill dedicated. 3000 acres and we basically have three loops to ride especially for those of us who don't have all day to climb way up into the resort. They could peel away Deer Valley riders if they built the trails properly. Word would get out and people would make the extra trip easily, I think.
Except for e-bikesThere is no place in the mountains for mountain biking.
Except for e-bikes
This has been proposed many times. Something about forest service land, can't do it, yadayadayada. I would LOVE it if they did that, and made it directional.Out here, some of the more popular trails are split between odd and even days. Hiking and horseback riding on odd days of the month, MTB on even days.
Maybe that could be a solution for your trails
Trust me, had I not been alone, things might have gone differently. Although again, I don't think more words would have done any good. We (meaning 4 of us) DID get run off the trail last week by 2 riders coming down Green Pond. I won't yield when I'm climbing and the gal I was riding with got run into the bushes, then @utskier had his handlebars brushed (he had words with the guy.) So, unfortunately there are riders out there being jerks giving us all a bad name. This seems to give some people license to be jerks all the time.You handled it better than I would have! I had an angry jogger intentionally move to my side of a wide trail to bump me after I had slowed down and moved over for him. I offered him a nice WTF and kept going because I could not believe he did it on purpose.
As fast as the e-bikers climb, I can see how hikers and runners are now being overtaken very quickly on climbs and it's absolutely adding fuel to their anger. I had one almost catch me last week on a climb--I heard him coming and knew by how fast he was catching up that he was on an e-bike, and I gunned it myself and got to a fire road before he caught me. If I get a bit startled by one while I'm biking, I'm sure a hiker would be even more startled. I honestly think these bikes have too much power. The guy who caught me was clearly on a mission to ride as fast as he could.Right or wrong, more fuel for the anti-bikers.
I had an interesting experience this morning with some obviously very jaded hikers while descending one of my favorite descents (Sardine.) I had come across a guy climbing who alerted me to some hikers ahead a couple hundred yards. Now, mind you, I have already started to slow down on this ride anymore because of the incredible increase in trail users, so, I slowed down even MORE because I knew there were some hikers ahead. Came around a corner quite slowly because I could see the dust being kicked up, so knew they were close, and got yelled at to "slow down!" while the guy repeatedly KICKED out at me! My first instinct honestly was to get the hell out of there, but I did tell him that I HAD slowed down but then I got accosted by who I assume was his wife (older couple) who proceeded to yell obscenities as I went by. Mind you, I ride with a Timber bell, which is quite loud, and especially compared to other riders, I am NOT that fast. I yelled at them, "I know you heard my bell and I don't ride that fast!" I almost went back to let them know that their attitudes are most unwelcome, but then realized that some people are just really angry in general and that I'd get assaulted or at the very least it would do absolutely no good. I was pretty rattled especially by the guy who could have either gotten really hurt or whom I could have really hurt because he decided kicking out in front of me then at me as I went by was a grand idea. I'm thinking he's of the same mindset as the person who drives below the speed limit in the left lane because he's decided people are driving too fast. I think that these people believe that bikers should...walk? Or go 5 MPH on the descent. Good luck with that on Sardine.
That being said, I used to go ride the same trail on a weekday morning and there might have been 3 cars in the parking lot. Today? At least 20. Interesting times we are living in. Oh, I got told "YOU'RE WELCOME" the other day when descending fairly slowly by some hikers where I had to drop some roots and then some fairly big rocks. They had stepped aside and I thanked them twice, but apparently they didn't hear me so of course had to let me know what a jackass I was.
People are just unnerved these days. I've tried to be extra super friendly this year because we're ALL unnerved and feeling the pinch in trail use, but that friendliness is not always returned.
I do wish that Snowbasin would cut some new trails, some being dedicated for bikes, and some being downhill dedicated. 3000 acres and we basically have three loops to ride especially for those of us who don't have all day to climb way up into the resort. They could peel away Deer Valley riders if they built the trails properly. Word would get out and people would make the extra trip easily, I think.
I had a similar experience last week, timberbell jingling, whistling well ahead of time. This is a multi-use trail on USFS land that was obviously built by MTBers. The hiking couple had stepped off the trail before I got there & I passed them on a slight uphill turn that slowed me even more. As I passed by I gave my usual “thanks, just me”. The guy said in a nasty tone “can you slow down?“. I replied very seriously “YES, I have powerful, high tech, disc brakes with new rotors & pads & lots of practice as I sped away.Came around a corner quite slowly because I could see the dust being kicked up, so knew they were close, and got yelled at to "slow down!" while the guy repeatedly KICKED out at me!
I think that these people believe that bikers should...walk? Or go 5 MPH on the descent.
I know you are joking, but...Haha so i am hypothetically out on an ebike and the couple straining uphill with heavy packs on mile 125 of the at or the dad with baby pack have to get out of my way.
Haha so i am hypothetically out on an ebike and the couple straining uphill with heavy packs on mile 125 of the at or the dad with baby pack have to get out of my way.
When I approach a pedestrian I'll have slowed, often to walking speed, and say 'Hello', 'Good Morning' or 'Ding ding!' while I'm still a good distance away from them. I don't have a bell on my bike but I emulate one; yes, I'm a ding-a-ling'. If they haven't acknowledged me and I'm pretty close I finally get their attention I say, 'I'd like to pass where it is convenient for you.' Using more words seem to get work to get their attention when a brief announcement may not.
100%, exactly. its amazing how easy it is just to say hello, have a good day, happy trails (my favorite) to the other party on a bike or hiking. Its just good trail karma and it might just make someones day
4. And, if you live in a small town, you may see the person again tomorrow in the grocery parking lot!Good manners can pay off in so many ways. I learned this from my sailing instructor decades ago in regards to courtesy on the water.
- You might just change someone's opinion; it is much more likely in this type of situation than you might think.
- You might be on your ass (or worse) farther down the trail and the person remember's your courtesy and comes to your aid.
- If you were polite you can let their anger/frustration/prejudice roll off your back without guilt.