A rant: If you're passing me, please let me know!

[Crankin]

A lot of my weekday riding is done on 2 roads that are extremely popular with cyclists and are somewhat busy. Some of you might characterize these roads as 2 lane "country roads," but they are major cut through streets for the suburban communities around here. Some of the cyclists are commuters, some are racers, some are serious recreational cyclists, and some are just out for a ride with the family, or are tourists (this route is on a map of popular bike rides in historic areas).
I always call out when passing people slower than me. I also often say hi to them, or "have a nice ride." About half of the riders passing me call out; these are usually the serious roadies/racers. What I dislike are the ones who say "on your left" when they are already right next to, or already passing me, not coming up on me. I usually can hear someone approaching me, but often, I kind of "jump" when another rider comes up on me, without warning. Usually, I ignore it, but sometimes, if I'm feeling cranky, I might say "Have a nice day," to them, in a kind of sarcastic voice. I know it's silly, but it makes me feel temporarily good.
I dislike riding on MUPs, and we don't have many here, either. When I have ridden on a path, I call out to every single person and vary what I say according to whether it's a kid, a slower rider, or a jogger/walker. But, it takes a lot of energy. The way I see it, it's like being an ambassador for polite cycling. If I am riding on a path, it's not for "training," and I'd like others to see that roadies aren't all spandex clad yahoos.

[Selkie]

Really? HP is 2 lanes wide (one way). It's not a bike trail. There's usually a very safe passing distance to be had where you shouldn't need advance notice. It's also so crowded that if I would never shut up if I had to call out to every person I passed. Also, everyone knows that on Thursday nights, there is a huge peloton speeding around and sprinting every lap, making it more crowded than usual. Ride as you would on any road and keep an ear out for others.

I see your point on this, Absolut, but I admit that I'm like Owlice, I appreciate a warning and having some type-A rider buzz me p*sses me off (some of my responses to this sort of thing are, "passing on your right," "please warn next time," or "thanks for the warning").

When I ride down at Haines Pt., I try to pick times when I'm pretty sure the racer/hammer types won't be riding there (earlier in the morning, for example, on a weekend). If they pass me without warning but give me plenty of room, I don't care that much.

Ride defensively. I've had these aggressive riders buzz me on uncrowded MUTs, for Chrissake. It's stupid and pointless. Who cares if you can pass me, just keep a safe distance. There are a lot of people who apparently, were raised by wolves, and lack common courtesy. The worrisome thing is that this is a safety issue.

.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sometimes I just holler "On your right!" as they go by.

I do that too.

Some of these bikers are so silent that I totally cannot hear them coming and sometimes they give me a heart attack zooming right past me by all of a sudden out of the blue on a country road. Sometimes it's after a long curve and I couldn't have seen them coming in my mirror anyway. I think it's both rude and a safety hazard.

[PamNY]

Owlice, I think this is a useful discussion even if there isn't general agreement. You should rant all you want, and hearing different opinions is educational.

The first time I biked on a rail trail, I didn't call out because the damn thing looked like an interstate highway to my Manhattan sensibilities. I thought "on your left" was a New York quirk because of narrow roads and crowding.

Speaking of "old roadies:" I do get annoyed at their antics, but they are the best at those two little words that mean so much: "You okay?"

[Eden]

Indeed you can't rant all you want, but that doesn't necessarily mean all comers will totally agree....

I don't think people should be buzzing you. That is just rude. But I also don't think that calling out to people on the road is something that you should do. I do think that it is akin to having cars beep as they pass. If you are passing on the road, pass with care, give plenty of space. If you are riding on a road ride assertively, but alertly and always look before you move. (even though most cars can be heard, there are certainly times that road noise, wind noise or very quiet cars can occur)

[kenyonchris]

Yeah, I will jump on the "I'm a clod" bandwagon. I am a clod. I don't yell ON YOUR LEFT (or right, or CAR! or SLOWING! Or whatever...) unless I think
a) I have insufficient room to pass without getting in another rider's space...and have no future hope of passing any other way, like on a crowded rally or whatever.
b) the rider ahead is holding SUCH a bad line that even giving that rider 3 feet of space is a risk to me
c) the riders around me are behaving inconsiderately of approaching or waiting cars and need to be reminded that we share the road, or some crazy driver nearly runs me off the road and the riders ahead should be warned that they might keep their heads up.

It irkes me to have a "yeller" in a group ride and if I am riding on my own, it startles me to have someone come up behind me and bay in my ear. I generally pay attention, and I hold my line so cars and other cyclists can pass me safely. I look before I move over. And, on more than one occasion, I have announced "on your left" only to have the rider look over and behind AT me, thus moving into me.

But that's just me.

Now, on a twisty two way singletrack on the mountain bike I whistle or ring a bell on a blind curve so that someone pelting his way toward me might be aware that we are about to crash head on into one another.

[marni]

since I rarely ever ride in group rides, and am usually riding solo I rarely call out unless it is to say hi to someone if I come up behind them, or is I am on a bike path and there are walkers sho are taking up the whole path.

I do however object to the hammerhead trains that whip by me close enough to blow my eyeglasses off without so much as a " hi there", or a polite ding a ling and would almost welcome a rude shout to being blown off the path by the speed train.

I dislike autos who lean on the horn, but don't mind a polite little two tap which says hi to me, or perhaps " I am a fellow rider."

marni

[mirliluck]

Yeah, I will jump on the "I'm a clod" bandwagon. I am a clod. I don't yell ON YOUR LEFT (or right, or CAR! or SLOWING! Or whatever...) unless I think
a) I have insufficient room to pass without getting in another rider's space...and have no future hope of passing any other way, like on a crowded rally or whatever.
b) the rider ahead is holding SUCH a bad line that even giving that rider 3 feet of space is a risk to me
c) the riders around me are behaving inconsiderately of approaching or waiting cars and need to be reminded that we share the road, or some crazy driver nearly runs me off the road and the riders ahead should be warned that they might keep their heads up.

It irkes me to have a "yeller" in a group ride and if I am riding on my own, it startles me to have someone come up behind me and bay in my ear. I generally pay attention, and I hold my line so cars and other cyclists can pass me safely. I look before I move over. And, on more than one occasion, I have announced "on your left" only to have the rider look over and behind AT me, thus moving into me.

But that's just me.

Now, on a twisty two way singletrack on the mountain bike I whistle or ring a bell on a blind curve so that someone pelting his way toward me might be aware that we are about to crash head on into one another.

I agree with all of this, except I object to being called a 'clod'.

I use my best judgement and will alert someone I am about to pass if the situation warrants it - especially a, b & and definitely the mtb trail. But if I have plenty of room to pass, or if someone has plenty of room to pass me, I don't feel an audible signal is necessary and it DOES startle and irk me when someone yells out, just like the car horn.

And if I don't say hi it is not because I am being rude or not 'acknowledging someone's existence'. I am just on my ride, in my zone, and just not very chatty during those times. *shrug*

[bmccasland]

On mixed use trails I tend to call out "on your left" to walkers/runners as I'm rolling down on them - unless I'm out of breath and going really slow, then they tend to hear me and look back . But if they have ear-buds in I don't call out anything half the time.
For other riders, it depends on traffic. If I have plenty of room to pass, I may go by without saying anything. And if there's on coming traffic, well actually the levee path is narrow enough that I'm not into a game of chicken, so I hold back. Seems like a lot of the time I'm the passee not the passer when it comes to other cyclists on the levee path.

Kids - I yell to them no matter what because they're always all over the place. There were times I've had to call out "up the middle!"

On roads, I may be passing closer by, and then I do tend to call out. Again it depends on the road and the vehicular traffic load.

[kenyonchris]

I agree with all of this, except I object to being called a 'clod'.

I

I, for one, am embracing my cloddish ways.

[TrekTheKaty]

I don't yell ON YOUR LEFT (or right, or CAR! or SLOWING! Or whatever...) unless I think
a) I have insufficient room to pass without getting in another rider's space...and have no future hope of passing any other way, like on a crowded rally or whatever.
b) the rider ahead is holding SUCH a bad line that even giving that rider 3 feet of space is a risk to me
c) the riders around me are behaving inconsiderately of approaching or waiting cars and need to be reminded that we share the road, or some crazy driver nearly runs me off the road and the riders ahead should be warned that they might keep their heads up.
.

I tried to stay out of this one. However, I have to agree with KenyonChris. On rail trails or MUPS, I try to say on your left to walkers/joggers or slower cyclists that seem new or unfamiliar. However, on organized rides, I would be out of breath if I had to say "On your left" every time. I try to be friendly, but there is a limit on a busy day. However, I've never experienced "roadies" that didn't announce themselves, so maybe I'm a "B"!

[TxDoc]

Yep, I am a clod as well - been a clod for over 30 years I guess
I do not yell anything, and usually people yelling 'on your left', 'slowing', 'stopping' or whatever else, kind of bother me. I think it is just superfluous and annoying, and adds to the road noise which is already more than enough.

That I recall, in Italy where I grew up we did not call anything either - we just rode predictably and safely in a continuous paceline, and no one in the team was ever yelling a thing.

[ny biker]

Yep, I am a clod as well - been a clod for over 30 years I guess
I do not yell anything, and usually people yelling 'on your left', 'slowing', 'stopping' or whatever else, kind of bother me. I think it is just superfluous and annoying, and adds to the road noise which is already more than enough.

That I recall, in Italy where I grew up we did not call anything either - we just rode predictably and safely in a continuous paceline, and no one in the team was ever yelling a thing.

It's superfluous and annoying until it prevents an accident. And it's necessary because of the road noise -- I can't hear many cyclists when they are passing me. And the ones I can't hear are always the ones who are two inches to my left. Which means if I swerve we'll crash and get hurt.

You can't assume everyone will act predictably and safely.

[carinapir]

If you are passing on the road, pass with care, give plenty of space. If you are riding on a road ride assertively, but alertly and always look before you move. (even though most cars can be heard, there are certainly times that road noise, wind noise or very quiet cars can occur)

I kind of disagree. I might end up whipping my head around every time I need to avoid a hazard in the road that the riders behind me, who I don't know are there, can't see. I would say that if you are giving plenty of space, then no call out is needed, but if you have to pass closely or there are a bunch of people behind you, then it is best to call out.

[moonfroggy]

people here usually don't call out and when they do i tend to jump from being startled. i don't call out unless i need to and i rarely pass anyone since i am on a heavy mountain bike that is to big for me and not a road bike and when i am off road it is rare for me to see anyone else.