Hiker vs. Mt.Biker... bad

[Winston]

I'll see your Bear Bells and raise you an iPod.

As in, don't expect bells to always make hikers aware of their surroundings. (This goes for iPod wearing mtbr's as well.)

Originally Posted by denmother

We use "Bear Bells". You can get them at REI.

[OTHRIDER]

Good stuff. I'm going to step up and get a bell. The "on your left" is pretty weak and I agree if confuses a lot of hikers.

On Sunday's Loop, I took off to Panorama Park and I came upon a horse & rider on a narrow portion of the trail. I kept yelling to get her attention and finally the HORSE looked back. Yep, she was ipod'g .....

[Abui]

Originally Posted by pamela

I dont want one I have to ring but one that is self ringing! Like one that you stick on a raindeer

Reindeer bells work fine! (Faster riders need more than one.)

[drclark]

I've decided that IPODs in general are a bad thing while out on the trails. All trail users need to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Unfortunately, most people now-a-days don't accept the fact that they are ultimately responsible for their own safety.

However, it really sucks that the mtb'er didn't stop. Hopefully the woman will understand that a reckless individual hit her and doesn't paint the entire MTB community with a single brush. I always hate hearing about incidents like this since they can and will be used to pressure land managers to ban bikes from the trails.

drc

[DDB@OCR]

Again:

Getta BELL and use the damn thing. And don't assume this gives you the right-of-way, because it DOES NOT.
Yelling or shouting your intentions or on what side you are on is f'ing rediculous. If you must speak, say 'hello'.

Slow to a crawl when passing hikers. Stop around horses. Do it. Period.

Hikers always have the right of way. Bikers are at the bottom of the yeild triad.

These are the rules. Don't like 'em?
Getta license, pay the entry fee and start racing.
Public trails are not a private raceway.

[dirttorpeedo]

chances are that daddy bought the bike (for a couple Gs ) and said here son go ride.next good ol dads gonna get jr a raised ford f350 so as to run over peeps, with a bumpin sound system to annoy them. and last 100$ cash, to baby sit hiself. the old days bike shops used to have the IMBA rules for the trails. id like to see that happen again.

[Pain Freak]

So the "Get the Flock out of the way", I've been using for years, isn't a good idea?
Seems to work???

[volcomsteban]

http://www.deltacycle.com/product.php?g=1
Loudest horn around. If you really want people to know you're coming and get out out of the way, it works. I only use it on the streets (stupid drivers on their cell phones). I'm sure it would work on the trails as well. A little too well probably

[OldDogDan]

The bear bell is good for terrain with limited line-of-sight. Others can hear you coming (if they're not wearing iPods). But you can get tired of them. Sometimes I prefer peace & quitet. However you can silence them other times. The bike-specific bell (w/ thumb lever) can be rung just on blind corners and approaching hikers. A good point was made that people know what it means w/o looking. I usually clack my brake levers in & out several times coming up behind someone. It's loud enough to get their attention to alert them to your presence w/o sounding rude like a bell might (as in "get outta my way"). But the bell does have the advantage that the meaning is clear. Maybe I should get one & have a choice of "alerts".

[carbonman]

We use a bear bell and a handlebar bell on the big rig. We tell people that we're passing them and the are nice about it, it doesn't hurt that Adam is back there and flirts with everybody. Then the people that don't hear our bells or our announcement that we are passing them I miss them with the bike, but Adam runs them over and gives them the one finger salute

[DaddyRydz]

I hope the hiker(s) recognize the fact that you did stop to assist and can differentiate between an irresponsible hack who did not stop (did this rider have friends in tow?) and someone such as yourself who is obviously concerned about everyone on the trails.

Thanks for trying to make our trails a better place. Does the the injured hiker qualify for an honorary "Rider-Down" post?