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

[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.

[Skierchickie]

I, for one, am embracing my cloddish ways.

Me too!

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

Very true, but I think the OP was regarding the behavior of the person doing the passing. In that light, if the passer gives the passee plenty of space, then the passee should safely be able to turn her head to check for traffic prior to swerving to miss a pothole. I really would rather have the space than the call-out. Once you're on my back wheel, ready to squeak past me with no clearance, that is NOT the time I want you to yell in my ear! And if there are tons of people passing me, I definitely do not want EVERYONE yelling to me - just give me space. Calling out to me does not necessarily mean that you are acting "predictably and safely" - it is no replacement for leaving a safe distance.

Both riders have a responsibility to be 1) aware, 2) courteous, 3) predictable.