Quote Originally Posted by kenyonchris View Post
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*