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.
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[poll id=”799″]
d for descender to stop, but as always the old rule of “don’t be a dick” applies…
I agree with Davee128 – “both need to be ready to stop and not expect the other to get out of their way”.
Climbers need to look ahead and be aware of what is around them (lol @ Tonto’s comment).
Descenders also need to do the same. Instead of a climber coming towards you, it could be a walker, random animal, fellow descender crashed in a heap etc.
“Then there are the dog walkers coming up the descents…”
Yeah… That’s because they’re NOT “descents”, they’re public rights of way that dog-emptiers and cyclists riding up them have EVERY BIT as much of a right to be on as you.
The people who bang on about the downhill rider getting right of way because they are having more fun sound like the the people who justify riding down the volunteer built trails before they are ready despite all the signs etc asking them not to
So dependant on a number of things but if it’s a DH track then at least for me, the up rider give way. If it’s an XC track then the downhiller gives way.
I agree with an earlier comment, stopping and then starting again is much easier going downhill than uphill. Plus even the biggest strava jockeys aren’t flying past other MTBers on a single track descent without so much as a hello are they? Seems pretty clear cut to me.
I voted for Uphill gives way. If I was riding up a hill and someone was clattering down it, I would gladly step aside and shout gooooo ooooonnnn as they flew past with a gormless grin on their faces. I now have to confess that:-
a) DH gives way is more a sensible and gracious option.
b) As has previously been said, even if I was the DH rider I would probably stop for a chat.
Interesting I agree downhillers should give way, and offer (the excuse) to stop to engage in discussion if the uphiller looks like they need a breather..unless
1) its a dowhill run at a trail centre..
Or
2 it’s Peaty, then the uphill rider stops and watches as Peaty hucks over them, and the three riders also toiling up the hill…
Another similar issue is what if the guy behind you, going either up…or down is clearly a better rider than you?
Being a fat old git I’ve had blokes who’ve sworn at me to “get out of the f..ing way”…but I’ve also been caught by riders of both sexes who’ve encouraged and coached me, and a couple of riders who really gave me great words of wisdom which really moved my abilities on…and of course mates who offered to lend me ‘the wife’s electric bike’…
I think it very much depends on the trail – if your imaginary trail is as you put it “Let’s imagine you are climbing up a narrow, technical and steep trail.” then you may well both have to stop – other than that in reality I would say it really depends on who is most easily able to stop
A few points:
1) The rule should be the same no matter where you ride. I.e. total confusion and angry people if this is not the case.
2) If riders riding up the hill were forced by convention/rules to yield to riders descending, descending riders would with a little time begin to assume riders below them will yield. Human nature being what it is, riders descending will not want to give up more speed than they have to … or THINK/JUDGE they need to. So what happens when someone who hasn’t learned this convention doesn’t move out of the way of a descending rider? Or someone riding uphill doesn’t yield quickly enough? Lots of opportunity for injuries and other unpleasantness.
3) MUCH better/safer for descending riders to yield to climbing riders.