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

[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.

[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.