Blind Curve Signaling Suggestions?

[Artista]

We frequently ride a set of trails with lots of blind curves. When approaching these curves, I always signal my presence to any unseen riders on the other side by calling out "Bike Coming". My hope is that anyone on the other side would call back so that I know they are there and I can take appropriate action.

The problem is that no one ever signals back. Twice now I've been gritched out for not yielding to an uphill rider that I didn't know was there until it was too late to totally yield the trail. I think that part of the problem is that the phrase "Bike Coming" implies to riders on the other side that I'm aware of their presence. They then assume that I'm being rude or ignorant by not yielding when they're riding uphill.

I need to change the way that I'm signaling. I'm thinking of calling out "Blind Curve" but the simple act of proactively calling out may still imply to unseen riders that I'm aware of their presence. I've considered a bike bell but I'm not sure that the sound would carry far enough.

So I'm wondering if any of you signal proactively? If so, how do you signal?

[Eden]

I'm not a mt biker, but there are some places that I ride on mups that are narrow and that I know people often go wide - ie cross over onto my side... I generally just yell "CORNER"

I think that may be what they do in restaurants when carrying trays full of dishes? It may be that only present and former wait staff have any idea what I'm talking about....

[Becky]

We ride with bells around here. Both of my mountain bikes have one, and I'll often ring going into a problematic corner or climb.

[solobiker]

I will have to think on that one..that is a tough one. I am interested in what ideas others may come up with.

[jessmarimba]

I don't have any suggestions. But those must be some grumpy mountain bikers -I can't imagine yelling at someone for coming around a blind turn and suddenly being in the way! I'd be afraid of coming across a runner with headphones on though. That's most of the reason I don't run trails with music, actually.

[solobiker]

Very good points Jess...they must be grumpy. We were almost run off of a trail up at Buff Creek by a mtn biker with headphones flying down a hill. Ahh...such is the life. He must be more important then me and most others on the trails.

[Artista]

I don't have any suggestions. But those must be some grumpy mountain bikers -I can't imagine yelling at someone for coming around a blind turn and suddenly being in the way! I'd be afraid of coming across a runner with headphones on though. That's most of the reason I don't run trails with music, actually.

These have been the only 2 grumpy people out of the 100's that we've encountered on these trails. I still think that life is too short to be grumpy on a mtn bike but I give them a bit of an "out" if they're misinterpreting my signal as knowing that they're there.

I've found that the trail runners out here typically don't run with headphones but the "hikers" frequently wear headphones. It's the "hikers" with headphones that make me the most nervous. My husband had to dismount today to pass a hiker in the middle of the trail because she didn't hear his multiple signals. She jumped sky high when he began to pass her on foot.

I like the idea of calling "Corner", even if people don't recognize that term. Just hearing a human voice will alert someone on the other side that someone else is approaching without leading them to believe that I already know that they're there. I may combine this call out with an Incredibell which is supposed to be pretty loud.