This debate on trail etiquette popped up in a forum thread last week and it got us all debating it in the office.
Trail etiquette | Who gets out of the the way?
Let’s imagine you are climbing up a narrow, technical and steep trail. You are in your groove and riding well. It’s a struggle you are going for a clean run up with no dabs. But up ahead you hear the rattle of a fellow rider on his run down.
He’s in the zone too. He’s here for this really great techy descent and is similarly looking to make it down with no dabs.
But the trail is too narrow for both of you to pass. One of you will need to give way to the other.
The question is, who gives way? The climber or the descender?
Is it possible to have a general rule for this? What side of the debate do you fall on?
We’ve decided to settle this democratically with a site poll. The outcome of which will become the law. Maybe.
So, you have the floor. Comment below and vote. Let’s settle this.
To vote in the poll you must be a logged in member. Membership is free so why not join us today?
[poll id=”799″]
option “c” … it depends on lots of things not mentioned
Cop out.. Pick one Kelvin. PICK ONE!
And once you’ve voted you CAN’T change your mind or suggest it’s more nuanced than a simple binary choice. It will be decided forever!
:0)
The MTB groups I rode with back in the mid 80’s ruled that the downhill bike gave way. Our groups were sometimes 30 strong so we needed some rules.
Should be the same as on a road when driving up hill traffic gets right of way.
Far easier for someone going downhill to start off again than it is for someone going uphill. As peajay says make it the same as on the road.
As Welshjen says, no problem to start riding again if you’re pointing downhill.
Thats the way I’ve always approached it anyway, if I see someone climbing towards me I’ll stop & get out of his or her way…probably with a bit of encouragement as they go by too.
If you’re descending with someone/thing ahead on the trail, you’re slowing up anyway aren’t you?
what if the climber / descender is on a ebike ?
Walk left stand right.
E-Bikes give way in both directions and have to give tows on the uphills to naturally aspirated bikes.
But otherwise downhill gives way unless its a downhill trail at a centre.
Two things-
1) There can’t be that many descents that are a challenge to clean without dabs that anyone apart from a trials god would be climbing. So the trail in question should be much easier for the descender to restart than the climber.
2) When I am climbing up a testing trail my focus is normally on the 10 feet or so in front of me ( I find looking ahead to see how much more suffering is to come can cause me to give up). If a descender chargers towards me shouting “rider!” or some-such, I would probably fall over in surprise causing a trail blockage/crash.
Therefore descender stops should be the rule.
I used to live on a hill and would always give way to traffic coming up the hill. It is easier for someone to start off again going downhill than it is trying to start off again on your way up hill.
uphill give way, downhill is precious and should not be interrupted.
It’s much easier for the uphill rider to stop but much easier for the downhill rider to get started. I’d tend to say both need to be ready to stop and not expect the other to get out of their way (rather selfish, “entitled” behaviour?!), and that ideally the downhill rider should give way, but in practice the uphill rider is likely to come to a stop first if both slow down, so they may end up giving way.
How about we just try to give way to other people unless it’s very clear they’re already stopping for us?
Generally it makes sense for the downhill to give way on trails that are equivocal in purpose.
But when there’s adjacent fire roads to the top and yet people cycle up trail sections that are widely known and accepted as descents, it is pretty infuriating to have a full gas drop in ruined.
Then there are the dog walkers coming up the descents…
I would always give way to a rider coming downhill. Not fair to spoil someone’s fun regardless of whether it’s easier to get going again or not!
I always give way to the downhill rider, gives me a good excuse to catch my breath
You’re all wrong. Both riders should stop and say hello and have a wee chat.
Best answer yet!
Sometimes I just stop and step aside because it’s a good excuse for a breather but in principle – downhill gives way. Be nice say Hi and encourage the climber, we all know how much effort is involved in getting up a hill.