Tailgated by other cyclist!!

[Jenn]

So, DH and I went down to a long bike trail here that runs along the river. It's 40 miles round trip and we wen't down there thinking we felt strong, so we were going to ride strong. Well, we started off and it was pretty empty, not much traffic, as we are cruising along at a pretty good pace, this man and woman...(He has on NO shirt, no helmet, the woman, a bikini top, mini skirt, (NOT a riding skirt) sandals...obviously just out for a "Sunday stroll". Anyway, they proceeded to pull out right in front of us seeing how fast we were going, and ran DH off the road! I almost ate it but unclipped in time and stopped. So, they proceeded on like nothing happened. WE were PISSED. So, DH and I picked up our pace, called out "passing on left" and passed them, well, next thing I know I hear this noise behind me the same time DH does he looks back and starts taking off, I look back and this SOB is right ON my back tire. I clicked down and took off we were running about 22 and he was gone pretty fast after that, but it scared the SH&* out of me to look back, I swear this guy was trying to hit my tire! So, DH slows down asks me if I'm ok, and they were no where to be seen. As we are talking, 2 more people on bikes are taking up the whole path, so DH falls behind me and the guy would NOT get over, I finally YELLED,LOOK OUT, because he wasn't paying attention and he barely missed me. I REALLY shook for awhile after that one. So, for the rest of the ride we kept a good pace, our average was 18. We got to the end of the trail and had to turn around to go back. By then the trail was pretty clear so we were going 20-22 and wouldn't you know I looked down for 2 seconds and look up and there is a HUGE snake crossing the path. I ALMOST ate it, I ran off the path into the dirt but recovered thank goodness. DH might have clipped it's tail.
Needless to say it was quite an eventful ride! I think we will stick to riding on the street, I'd rather deal with motorist I think. We saw alot of guys down there all "decked" out and they were flying down that path faster then us, I don't know how they did it. It' MUCH easier on the street where the only moving targets are autos. I was just shocked at how people would not get over or give you any room. It's a narrow path with a yellow stripe the WHOLE way, so it's pretty obvious what side you SHOULD be on!! Sorry for the vent. We had a good ride beside all that, even though DH made me push myself REALLY hard, by the end of the ride our average was 17.2 which is the fastest I've ever done!

[mimitabby]

yes, once it gets warm, we like to avoid the trails too. You didn't even mention our two biggest fears on the bike trail. Small kids and dogs on long leashes.

The kids are out on a bike, they are just learning to ride, and they don't know about staying on one side or the other, so you can't trust them to stay where they are.
And the dogs.
I really wonder what people are thinking when they take their 10 pound dogs on a multiple use trail and then give them 10 feet to hang themselves with!!

I had a choice of flat and easy Burke-Gilman or Magnolia yesterday, and I took the hills of Magnolia because i knew it would be a lot more peaceful.
(and it was)

what kind of snake did you almost run over?

[Jenn]

Oh mimi you are SO right. I forgot to mention them, the children and dogs..(on NO leashes) we had a few chase us. The annoying thing is there is a dirt path right next to the paved path, so 90% of people walking or running use that, but you have the 10% that want to "stroll" on the path, which REALLY becomes a hazard. There is even a sign stating please stay on dirt path if not on bicycle or rollerblades. I understand that it's a path for ALL but even DH said when we got back in the truck....."NEVER AGAIN!" There were people down there that just didn't even need to be on bikes, swerving, and wobbling...it was an experience!!
Oh gosh the snake I don't know what it was but all I could think was....OMG, it's gonna bite me as I fly by! It was LONG though, stretched the length of the path!! I definatley learned it's a path for the more...."casual" rider, but it's unfortunate becasue it's the ONLY flat place we can ride!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Try to imagine how scary the bike path was for the snake!!

[Jenn]

Try to imagine how scary the bike path was for the snake!!

HAHAHA,.......true, true!!! HAHA, thank you I needed a laugh!!

[Python]

Sounds like the snake may have been a Kingsnake. The females can grow to be about 7ft long. They're totally harmless

[Jenn]

Yea, I did feel bad when DH said he thought he may have clipped it's tail, but he looked back and he said it looked ok.

[7rider]

You were doing 22 mph on a MUT?? Don't those things generally have a 15 mph speed limit? Most do around here. Going that fast on a trail is inherently dangerous. At that speed, you ARE safer on the road.
At most speeds, I think an experienced cyclist such as yourself is safer on the road, especially at this time of year when paths are crowded with kids, dogs, runners, in-line skaters, and folks who have no clue what they're doing on a bike. Oy. I shiver just thinking about it.

[Jacki]

[QUOTE=Jenn;208945]Anyway, they proceeded to pull out right in front of us seeing how fast we were going, and ran DH off the road!QUOTE]

Jeesch! So much for trail etiquette! . . . yeah, i try to go to a trail near my house once a week just for the pleasure of riding on a level path, but during the week i always stay on the roads - very hilly, but beautiful. Fortunately, i haven't run into any intentional trail shinanigans like you described, but small children on wobbly bikes and lots of dogs are always a concern. Big dogs with little owners scare me - i'm like "are you sure you're holding on to Fido?!" And snakes??? Fortunately any snakes i've ever seen around here are only grass snakes - not very big. i would have freaked out to see the one you saw! Yikes! - j.

[Kalidurga]

I ride multi-use trails a lot, and we all have to remember to share the trail. Yes, most of the pedestrians and many of the other cyclists are oblivious, but if you ride trails of that sort knowing that's what you're sharing the trail with, then you can be prepared to react when necessary. And, as Regina pointed out, you cannot realistically (or logically) use an MUT for fast training rides. Most trails do have a 15mph speed limit that should be respected.

The other thing that I learned a long time ago on trails of that sort: Do NOT run over anything that looks like a stick unless you are absolutely sure that it is a stick!

[mimitabby]

The other thing that I learned a long time ago on trails of that sort: Do NOT run over anything that looks like a stick unless you are absolutely sure that it is a stick!

I'm afraid to run over sticks. and not because I'm worried about snakes!

[Zen]

Did it look anything like this


Harmless and beneficial

[Jenn]

You were doing 22 mph on a MUT?? Don't those things generally have a 15 mph speed limit? Most do around here. Going that fast on a trail is inherently dangerous. At that speed, you ARE safer on the road.
At most speeds, I think an experienced cyclist such as yourself is safer on the road, especially at this time of year when paths are crowded with kids, dogs, runners, in-line skaters, and folks who have no clue what they're doing on a bike. Oy. I shiver just thinking about it.

There were people passing us going ALOT faster, and there is no speed limit posted at all. Most people around here know that alot of people go down there to ride since it's the only FLAT place around here, that is why MOST people stay on the dirt path next to the paved path. We weren't going that fast when people were around, give me some credit, our average was 17 anyway. The POINT of my post was regarding the people that were MORE of a hazard by not looking and just pulling out in front of people on the path, then getting mad when they were passed and trying to hit ME! If you all honestly think that my husband and I are that ignorant and rude, I'm very offended.
Bye ya'll it's been real. I hope you all can keep new people coming on this board from feeling attacked or insulted, it's not worth it anymore.

[alpinerabbit]

Hi Jenn,

I have seen insults on internet forums and this was not an insult. Perhaps it is felt that giving a different perspective is not appropriate for someone who was not there but we are free to express a different viewpoint here, aren't we?

Kindest regards

Alpinerabbit

[LadyinWhite]

There is a fantastic paved bike path right near me, it runs straight out a point w/ gorgeous views of the ocean on both sides. It was created (as I understand it) to keep the cyclists off the road that travels this point. It's become a MUT - I won't go near it in the summer time. The road has no shoulder and is 50mph speed but I'll ride that before I'll ride the MUT unless I'm super organized and get up and out by 6am.

This is exactly why - way too dangerous for me (and everyone else) for me to be humming along dodging cycling and pedestrian obstacles and its so flat that speed is just too inviting.