Blind Curve Signaling Suggestions?

[Artista]

Climbing cyclists have the right of way. When I'm descending, I make sure I don't outride my sight lines. That often means keeping the speed down until I'm around the corner and can see what is there.

Veronica

Yes, I'm aware that the climbing cyclists have the right of way. And I always slow down and call out when approaching a blind curve. The problem is that people aren't signaling back so I don't know that they're there.

Today I didn't see the other cyclist until literally about 2 seconds before we were side by side. He was actually riding faster uphill than I was riding downhill. I had boulders and a steep drop off to my right so I couldn't ride off the trail. If I had stopped, I would have had to lean my bike and body into the center of the trail. I did the best that I could under the circumstances and held my line as far right as possible. That's when the other rider yelled back at me that I should have yielded.

I was really "between a rock and hard place" in this encounter. I would have had a much better chance of totally yielding had he signaled back after I first called out.

[Catrin]

This doesn't sound like a good situation at all. I've never seen a blind curve on any of the mtb trails I've ridden or hiked, but of course I am new and far from an expert. We have a good number of tight switchbacks and other features, but as long as you keep scanning ahead you can see others coming enough to be able to do what you need to do. As a slower rider I just tend to get out of the way of everyone, regardless of direction

Good luck on finding a solution, it sounds like your terrain forced the trail builders into some less than optimum choices.

[Veronica]

You know they may not hear you when you holler, or they may not process that you're talking to them.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

I've found that wearing hi-viz makes it much easier to spot oncoming riders on the MUP when the curve is blind because of vegetation. You can still see flashes of that brilliant color through the trunks and leaves. No help if the way forward is blind because of a hill or rock, of course.

[Artista]

We're riding up and down mesas so our sight is often blocked by the sides of hills. There is no opportunity to catch even a flash of color. That's why I'm signaling proactively but I think that the term "Bikes Coming" is leading other riders to believe that I know that they are there and that I'm yielding before they even see me.

Calling out "Corner" isn't a perfect solution but it may alert other riders to my presence while preventing them from assuming that I know that they're on the other side. In the end, I may have to be satisfied to be the only person signaling in these blind curves and blow off the occasional grumpy rider.

[Becky]

Usually, when I'm calling out during a ride, it's to my riding partners behind me to let them know that we have traffic in front of us. Other riders in my area seem to do the same thing.

I can see why verbal signals might confuse other riders around you....

[solobiker]

Would it be easier if you changed the direction you are riding? Just wondering... because in the case of Centinnial Cone it is easier to avoid others in tricky areas because most people ride it clockwise so we are all pretty much going in the same direction.

Still it is a tough call on that and I wish I had some suggestions. Luckily for me DH's brakes sometimes squeel so others here us coming. There is no need for them to be grumpy though...they should just enjoy being able to be out and riding.