Need to vent...

Wow. I didn't realize so many had these same sorts of experiences. Both of the local MUP's are within a ten minute drive from the house, so pretty easy to load up the bikes and get there...

Roads here in Cincinnati are either dangerous (congested and speeds of 45mph+ in a 35mph zone), small, bad pavement, CLUTTERED with parked POS cars that haven't been moved since the Nixon administration.

Did I mention the hills yet??

The MUP has been pretty nice to get some miles under my legs while in a somewhat controlled environment, but I'm beginning to wonder, just might be time to start logging more miles on the road.

We don't have the # of MUPs that other cities have. There are 3 in the area, 2 within close distance, i.e. it's less than 10 miles to the start. I have only been on these paths during the week; one is full of commuters and fairly fast riders on their lunch break, as well as the other types, joggers, dog walkers. The other have more of the typical path "people," and again I would only go on them during the week. Made the mistake of riding the Bruce Freeman rail trail close to its opening day, on a Sunday, last year at this time. My voice hurt from calling out! Plus, it runs a long a road I ride on at times, which is perfectly acceptable for cycling.
The week we came back from Spain, we decided to go on the Minuteman Bike Trail on a cool, almost rainy Sunday in June. We were on our hybrids, dressed in "casual" cycling clothes. DH did not have bike shoes on, although I did. I had an altercation with a woman who was blocking the space between those obnoxious poles they put at the entrance to paths, after an intersection. I barely clipped out in time as she and her family just stood there as I almost crashed. Finally, I said, "can you please let me through?" and she started screaming at me, "why are you in such a hurry?" And i certainly did not look like a roadie type that day.
I won't go there again ever, on a weekend.

And then there's always the guy in his 20s or 30s with a tri bike or an absurdly expensive road bike who won't tell you he wants to pass you until he's on your wheel...:mad:[/QUOTE]

You mean he actually warned you? Around here apparently that is totally unheard of whether on the MUT or out on the road. I can't say how often the mirror has prevented a disaster since I have lost count. And why is it that they always pass you in the narrowest part where the shoulder disappears or if full of stuff?

Practice you good manners, try and find none busy times and persevere.

I'm sorry it was a bad ride. Perhaps the next one will be better.

Oh... I am SO getting one of these :D

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/r...4?a=B000ACAMJC

First you get the polite ding of the bell and if don't work... Say "hello" to my little horn!!!

Shannon

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Originally Posted by Roadtrip

Oh... I am SO getting one of these :D

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/r...4?a=B000ACAMJC

First you get the polite ding of the bell and if don't work... Say "hello" to my little horn!!!

Shannon

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It is an appealing idea, but you might startle dogs and make your problems worse.

Yep - my one an only broken bone from cycling was on a MUP when an inline skater pulled out without any warning!! I'll take my chances on the road.

The one I usually ride on is linear, so once you get out into the more rural areas, the joggers and dog-walkers and rollerbladers thin out. Most people are polite and will move over for cyclists. Actually, some of the worst behavior I've seen on those trails are from other cyclists! (Like the ones I mentioned that won't tell you they want to pass, or a big group that takes up both lanes going around a bend...)

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Sorry you had such a bad ride This is why I avoid multi-use trails like the plague. I'd much rather deal with cars.

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+1...stick to the road or singletrack.

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Originally Posted by PamNY

It is an appealing idea, but you might startle dogs and make your problems worse.

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I hope it was obvious that I was joking about air-horn... yes, I'm sure it would be quite a startle :eek: for someone not expecting it, so the idea of it (or actually using it) was purely meant as a joke.

Good News:
Today was pretty warm and with so much other stuff going on in the city (Bengals playing this afternoon, if what happened on the field today can be considered competitive sports, but that's for another forum) and the Reds in the playoffs and playing this evening the trail was pretty empty. In the end I decided to give the trail another go (yes the very one that I SWORE I would NEVER ride again) and it was actually pretty nice. I still was a bit stressed on the narrow portion of the trail, but there was only a few people to pass, so all in all it was quite pleasant of a ride.

Shannon

I have only been on a part of one local MUP, and if I have any choice in the matter I won't be on another one in my area. I did, however, enjoy riding the trail out of Yellow Springs, Ohio - but that was not in an urbanized area...

I don't have an air horn yet, but I am totally not joking about wanting one. No, it wouldn't be the first warning. They still get the bell (if I'm on my commuter), and when they ignore the bell, they get my voice, and when they ignore my voice, THEN they get the air horn.

I want one for running, too. Both for the oblivious people taking up the entire MUP or track, and for the target-fixated drivers on the road.

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Originally Posted by Roadtrip

I hope it was obvious that I was joking about air-horn... yes, I'm sure it would be quite a startle :eek: for someone not expecting it, so the idea of it (or actually using it) was purely meant as a joke.

Good News:
Today was pretty warm and with so much other stuff going on in the city (Bengals playing this afternoon, if what happened on the field today can be considered competitive sports, but that's for another forum) and the Reds in the playoffs and playing this evening the trail was pretty empty. In the end I decided to give the trail another go (yes the very one that I SWORE I would NEVER ride again) and it was actually pretty nice. I still was a bit stressed on the narrow portion of the trail, but there was only a few people to pass, so all in all it was quite pleasant of a ride.

Shannon

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Actually, I saw two bikes today with air horns on them. I'm in NYC where noise levels are high and people are pushy. I have totally seriously considered an air horn or whistle (a lot of bikers have whistles; there are pros and cons). If I commuted in certain situations, I would get one or the other or both. For recreational riding, I decided against it.

Glad you had a better ride today.