Blind Curve Signaling Suggestions?

[Loraura]

I forgot to ask how you knew that I can hardly tell my right from my left I've heard that directional impairment is common in artistic types. I love compasses!

It must be in the name! (I'm also Lori!)

[Artista]

It must be in the name! (I'm also Lori!)

Lori is a good name. It's served me well for a lot of years. I think I'll keep it

About artists being directionally challenged, I find that my sense of direction goes right down the tubes when I heavily indulge my creative side for many months. Most of the time I have to use the analytical side of my brain and that's when my sense of direction gets better but it's never great. I have to spend several months indulging one side of my brain or the other before I notice a slight change in my directional ability.

[Artista]

Here are a couple of pics of typical blind curves on my favorite trails. I wasn't able to get a pic of the most problematic curve because we cut our ride short after hubby's pretty spectacular endo. He didn't sustain any serious injuries but he was sore enough after the fall that we went home early.

The first photo shows how the trail is cut into the side of the mesa so there isn't much chance of improving visibility. This curve isn't too bad as it isn't very steep, there is little vegetation on either side of the trail, and it's flat enough on the outside of the curve for the downhill rider to swerve off of the trail if they unexpectedly meet an uphill rider at the curve apex.

In the second photo, take a look at the dense bushes on both sides of the trail just as the trail disappears around the curve toward the top of the photo. You can also see the steep drop off to the right of the trail in the bottom of this photo. The downhill rider has a slight advantage on this curve since the side of the mountain is on the downhill rider's right. Still, when encountering an unexpected uphill rider at the apex of this curve, it makes the most sense for both riders to continue riding as close to each riders' respective trail edge as possible. There IS enough room to pass safely.

One of the points that I didn't make about both of the uphill riders who were grumpy when I wasn't able to totally vacate the trail is that they were able to pass me without losing any of their momentum. Attempting to vacate the trail with only a few seconds notice would have been dangerous for me as I had dense bushes and steep drop offs on my right in both situations.

I've decided that there is no easy solution when meeting another rider on these blind curves. I don't have enough room on my handlebars for a bell and a horn is impractical. I've started calling out "CORNER" which alerts unseen trail users on the other side of the curve to my presence without implying that I'm aware of THEIR presence. Of course, as the downhill rider, I'll continue do my best to yield the trail when it's safe to do so and I'll ride slowly while holding my line to the far right of the trail when it's not safe for me to totally yield the trail. The many reasonable trail users understand that there is no "one size fits all" approach to reacting to another rider on a blind curve. The rare, legalistic, grumpy, riders can go blow.