[Closed] ramblers = tossers

retro83 - Member
Ramblers who make comments like in the OP clearly don't know their history.

It is illegal to cycle on a footpath in fact it is clearly stated on OS maps I have one in my hand now.

Really? Mine doesn't. What's the wording?

i'm loving dangleberry's work

a class act 8)

There are grumpy people in the world. They like to prove that they are superior. Unlike normal people who just go on internet forums and slag each other off, some of these grumps mix rambling and grumbling.

It's probably a genetic thing.

trailmonkey - Member
Just do really loud skids when behind them. Not only will it alert them to the fact that you are coming through at speed but it is also likely to excite lady ramblers and will help scrape away the peaty bits off moorland trails and expose the rocky good stuff underneath

Monkey is certainly an appropriate name for you!

Well for a start off moron the word FOOTPATH <snip> a right of way.

How do ramblers now have the right to ramble across places like Kinder Scout?

Have they always had that right, since time immemorial, or is perhaps just a recently acquired one?

[i]A polite ting ting from 30 yards away, then a " thank you" as they let you by.[/i]

[i]I have never had anyone complain about using a bell, I have been thanked numerous times for using one, I really missed it when for a couple of weeks I did not have one.[/i]

Got to agree with TJ on these comments...bells work imo and I'm often thanked for having one.

luked2 - Member

Well for a start off moron the word FOOTPATH <snip> a right of way.

How do ramblers now have the right to ramble across places like Kinder Scout?

Have they always had that right, since time immemorial, or is perhaps just a recently acquired one?

Hi this was a law introduced by Labour called “open access” the first place it was introduced was near Clitheroe on land owned by the Queen. It is the intention to introduced it on all land which is (sorry can't remember the right terminology) but basically land which is allowed to grow wild (a bit of an iffy definition) but think of moorland that type of land. Not entirely in favor of it as I often find there is adequate footpaths in there area anyway. Also there is a fair bit more to this legislation like periods of time when this is not allowed (phesant shooting season for instance). Also there must be clearly defined boundaries (dry stone walls Clitheroe) and clearly defined entrace points. I could go on but I am sure you get the picture?

you're very thorough with your responses aren't you bbj?

Well not really, since brindlebaji seems to have quoted me quoting someone else, and then got three of us confused as the same jock. 0/10 trolling there.

littlegirlbunny - Member
We saw a good deal of ramblers at Malvern today - 99% smiled and were lovely.

The one that wasn't? She stated firmly that 'you are not allowed to ride on this, THIS IS A BRIDLEWAY!'

How we chuckled

first time ive seen anybody manage to shut tj up, brandeberryj you are my hero 😀

Hi this was a law introduced by Labour called “open access”

I was really thinking a bit further back than then. Kinder Trespass was in 1932 - and we all got the right to ramble on Kinder Scout thanks to some people walking where they shouldn't have been.

So doesn't that make it somewhat hypocritical of ramblers to complain about cyclists on footpaths (if they're not doing any harm or being dangerous)?

To be fair, 99% of the people I meet are perfectly civil.

TJ how is it a fact that ramblers get startled by being spoken to from behind? Have you conducted a statistically relevant survey you've not told us about?

I tried a bell. My experience was that ramblers didn't hear it when they were talking. I took it off.

I have never heard so much rubbish in all my life

I take it you've not read many of TJ's posts then?

I don't use a bell for a few reasons:
- all that ping, pinging strikes of arrogance and seems rather rude
- I've got a voice so don't need a bell
- I've got hope hubs which are probably noisier than a bell anyway
- A lot of the walkers/runners have headphones on (or are deaf) so wouldn't hear the bell anyway.

Zulu-Eleven - Member

It is illegal to cycle on a footpath in fact it is clearly stated on OS maps I have one in my hand now.

Please, please brandeberryj, stop now before you embarrass yourself any further...

Teh fact that the ramblers expect a bell

Why would they expect a bell, given 99.993% of cyclists don't use one and it's not a legal requirement that they do?

I walk more than I cycle and would never "expect" a cyclist to have a bell.

FOG HORNS MAKE BIDDYS DIVE INTO BUSHES,,,,,, **** HIL-AIR-IOUS.

cynic-al - Member
TJ how is it a fact that ramblers get startled by being spoken to from behind? Have you conducted a statistically relevant survey you've not told us about?

I tried a bell. My experience was that ramblers didn't hear it when they were talking. I took it off.

Quite right all that is reasonably required is for them (cyclist)to let a walker know there coming past. I am quite often startled by a cyclist no matter what method they use. BIG DEAL so what? It is not like you are being shot at. Is the idiot TJ saying farmer Giles should not use a bird scarer??? Because they will certainly startle you a hell off a lot more than a cyclist letting you know he is there no matter what method he is using to do so.

My grandmother used to complain about cyclists never using their bells. We went for a walk and promptly a cyclist came up behind and rang their bell and I stood aside while my grandmother kept walking. The cyclist went around her and then she turned to me and said: "See there was another one!"

Getting walkers attention very early on, leads cyclist not to slow down enough when passing them, as you might have got the impression that they have spent a long time waiting for you to catch them up so you better overtake them quickly to let them get on with it...then they get cross because you have gone too fast.

rubberneck - Member
FOG HORNS MAKE BIDDYS DIVE INTO BUSHES,,,,,, **** HIL-AIR-IOUS.

The local coffin dodgers round my way can't hear a bell even if I had one salvaged from the Titanic fitted to my frame so TJ's "just ring a bell from a couple of km away" comments are pure BULLSHINE.

FACT!

TJ's [s]"just ring a bell from a couple of km away"[/s] comments are pure BULLSHINE

Fixed that for you... 🙂

epicsteve - Member

I don't use a bell for a few reasons:
- all that ping, pinging strikes of arrogance and seems rather rude

I agree with you but my experience is that walkers prefer it. Look at all the folk who have had people complaining you don't have a bell. I think the key is to use the bell a distance away and then to say thanks as you pass

- I've got a voice so don't need a bell

However you can use a bell from much further away than you can use your voice unless you shout - which is then rude

- I've got hope hubs which are probably noisier than a bell anyway

- A lot of the walkers/runners have headphones on (or are deaf) so wouldn't hear the bell anyway.

some - but the rest do

One of the biggest complaints against cyclists ( along with pavement riding and red light jumping) is they don't use bells. So why not use one?

It really does help smooth the way in my experience and that of many others -

How you guys can say a bell does not work when you don't use one is rather funny.

I ride most days on shared paths, use a bell a lot and it smooths the way - when used politely and backed with thanks once you have attracted their attention.

Waht is your reason for not wanting to have one?

generally agree with the OP's sweeping statement!

ive had mixed ones though, to a couple of ramblers being really nice and friendly, to a couple of ramblers being absoulte arseholes, i have also had a group of ramblers refuse to acknowledge i was even there (on a bridleway) i waiting patiently for all to pass, and not a one of the sods bothered to say thanks.....ive also had numerous occasions where, i was already on a descent, they have refused to move aside making me come to a stop (YES i understand, why should they move, but its a wide section which would be easy for walkers to move aside, not so for the mtb'er)....

the negative experiences far outweigh the positives ive had from them, so i would say the majority are tossa's

i also spoke to couple today, said hello (proper ramblers, hiking socks the lot) and they totally totally blanked me, .we were in the middle of nowhere, and no one else around....not even a HELLO! tossa's!

that said ill still always say hi if pass and try to make the effort...if they turn arsey, then its verbal war time!

ANYBODY WHOS MTB'D IN GERMANY WILL NOTice how its so different over there to here,,,, almost as if the walkers are sorry for getting in your way and the lads/lasses on bikes almost curse you for being on their trails, my experiance of over there anyway,,,,,, thinking of emigrating me.

How you guys can say a bell does not work when you don't use one is rather funny.

I used to have one on my commuter bike, found it to be next to useless, so don't fit one now. I'm a very polite rider though, however if I was one of those arrogant ones who pings their bell and [b]expects[/b] walkers to jump out of their way then my view might differ...

Far too many people don't hear or have headphones on, so it's necessary to act as if they haven't heard anyway. Even pinging from a good distance back people often seemed startled by the bell.

So TJ you are speaking from your experience alone...and that's better than the experience of the various people who are disagreeing with you?

Funny I recall you slating me for something similar recently...

One of the biggest complaints against cyclists ( along with pavement riding and red light jumping) is they don't use bells.

Any evidence for that for example?

i had a case the other week with rambblers standing in the middle of the briddle way about 15-20 of them. did move or attempt top move. one stood there with his hands on his hips so i stopped and had a little word only tyo find out he was and english man telling a welsh man i shouldnt be riding there!! it was my local ride and on common land, i think of he wasnt 50+ i might of given him a swift lefty!!
please note nothing against english but im sure an english man wouldnt like a welsh lad to say to stop riding in his land!!

I used to live in Germany and did ride a bike while there (not mountain biking but certainly on shared paths). Quite a lot of their cyclists were like TJ - they thought that once they'd pinged their bell they were within their rights to fly past without slowing down, not caring for who they endangered.

In my 20 years of riding I can't recall a walker ever commenting that I shouldve had a bell. I either shout a polite 'excuse me please' or if they don't hear then just slow down until they notice me, then thank them for mving over. Most of them are fine, it's only in bad weather when they're togged up like they're going up the north face of the eiger that they don't hear you. No chance of me ever fitting a bell, it's not a penny farthing!

Most walkers I meet are intrigued / impressed by seeing MTBers on some of the trails. I really don't know where all this supposed aggro comes from.

brandeberryj

...you have no idea whatsoever what they do in the rest of Europe and you should keep your snidey racist remarks to yourself.

But you're quite happy to use the term "nasty little jock"

Calling someone "retarded" isn't cool either.

You seem to have quite an empty head perched on that well chipped shoulders of yours.

Troll/idiot of the year.

I'm still agreeing with TJ 😛

To me having a bell is an additional way of alerting walkers to your presence and can be used further away than voice (The earlier walkers are aware of your presence the better in my mind). A bell won't work everytime and therefore you can use your voice but, in the majority, it does work.

Plus to those that say a bell is rude/arrogant (Not that anyone has ever complained about me having a bell), I would have thought shouting loud enough to be heard from 30yards away is far ruder sounding than tinging a bell.

epicsteve - that is not what I do. Wahtever gives you that idea? I am very polite as anyone who rides with me will agree.

Thats just typical - make up something to attack people with when yo know you do not have an answer.

nuke - Member
I would have thought shouting loud enough to be heard from 30yards away is far ruder sounding than tinging a bell.

Not, apparently, if you do it in a humorous way.

luked2 - Member

Hi this was a law introduced by Labour called “open access”

I was really thinking a bit further back than then. Kinder Trespass was in 1932 - and we all got the right to ramble on Kinder Scout thanks to some people walking where they shouldn't have been.

So doesn't that make it somewhat hypocritical of ramblers to complain about cyclists on footpaths (if they're not doing any harm or being dangerous)?

To be fair, 99% of the people I meet are perfectly civil.

B-BERRY, WHY WOULD ALL THE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BE RETARDED BECAUSE I HAVE GROWN SICK OF BEING TOLD TO USE A BELL BY 'DAILY MAIL READING' BIDDYS ONLY TO FIND THEM TO 'JUMP OUT OF THE WAY' AS MUCH AS IF THEY HAVE NOT HEARD ONE,,,, THE AMOUNTG OF TIMES I HAVE CRAWLED UP TO A GROUP OF WALKERS ONLY TO HEAR ONE OF THE GROUP HISTERICALY SCREAM ''BIKE'' AND WATCH THEM DIVE INTO BUSHES LIKE ITS A RAMPAGING BULL,,,, YOu (whoops capslock) cannot win.

PS for you information i have a cousin who has downs syndrome,,, PRICK.

Swift kick to the back of the knee, they go down like a sack of spuds and create awesome additional trail obstacles for your following mates

druidh - Member

Most walkers I meet are intrigued / impressed by seeing MTBers on some of the trails. I really don't know where all this supposed aggro comes from.

On the urban shared trails and in englandshire mainly 😉

It seems to me that he further north, ( maybe further from London) the further from the towns and the worse the weather the better respoonse you get from walkers.

Only had one tiny bit of aggro even in the pentlands/ Never out in the mountains, a bit on the north edinburgh cycleway / urban WOL path

I really don't know where all this supposed aggro comes from.

The only place I occasionally see issues are on the WOL shared path, and when that does happen it's just due to one or both parties being incosiderate.

One one hand there are the TJ types who ping-ping-ping their self-important way down expecting everyone to move over so they can maintain their speed, then there are the walkers and runners (especially the latter) with headphones on who never look behind and are known to swerve at in-opportune moments. Add to that some MTBers who ride home from the Pentlands like they were being timed on a downhill course (and treat walkers and other cyclists as obstacles), plus groups of (often middle-aged) walkers actively looking to be offended (even when they've heard a bell or bike coming up behind they won't give any consideration).

I tend to avoid the WOL at weekends in the summer...

M6TTF, i'll try that next time!! haha

The last TBC/STW ride-out

[img] [/img]

(TJ in the middle)

rubberneck - Member

.......THE AMOUNTG OF TIMES I HAVE CRAWLED UP TO A GROUP OF WALKERS ONLY TO HEAR ONE OF THE GROUP HISTERICALY SCREAM ''BIKE'' AND WATCH THEM DIVE INTO BUSHES LIKE ITS A RAMPAGING BULL,,,, YOu (whoops capslock) cannot win.

It in that situation that a ping from a distance away[i] sometimes[/i] helps

epicsteve

One one hand there are the TJ types who ping-ping-ping their self-important way down expecting everyone to move over so they can maintain their speed,

Why do you keep saying this? You have never seen me ride or you wouldn't say I do this. I don't.

It in that situation that a ping from a distance away sometimes helps

broken record...

What? throwing a broken record at them helps?

With that and the red nose, I'm going to need a bigger Camelback

Last years secret santa is far more effective at getting people's attention than a bell - a squigy darth vadar head horn. Brilliant.

That and proII's.

PS for you information i have a cousin who has downs syndrome,,, PRICK.

Don't be so hard on him then FFS.

TJ are you just ignoring me now?

I'll take that as acceptance of defeat if so.

Lol @allthepies

I strafe walkers with an Uzzi. None of them has ever suggested I get a bell retrospectively. It's the right thing to do. Because, er, I do it.

Where's BBJ gone?

I'd just pulled up a chair and got the packet of digestives out. 🙁

It's the right thing to do. Because, er, I do it.

😀

This remark and this remark alone makes you a retard

rubberneck - Member
FOG HORNS MAKE BIDDYS DIVE INTO BUSHES,,,,,, **** HIL-AIR-IOUS.

GROWN SICK OF BEING TOLD TO USE A BELL BY 'DAILY MAIL READING' BIDDYS

PS for you information i have a cousin who has downs syndrome,,, PRICK

You must tell me are all the members of your family retarded?

Excellent! True class. 😀

[b]If you resort to abuse of other forum users we will consider that a negative use of our forum.[/b]

http://www.singletrackworld.com/terms-and-conditions/

That's the warning.

It's most definitively a troll.

cynic-al - Member

TJ are you just ignoring me now?

I'll take that as acceptance of defeat if so.

Yes

Take it anyway you want "winning" seems to be so important to you. 😐

ohhhhhhh BB in your experiance maybe,,,,,, not so the red gaiter nazis on my locals.
google, wigan evening post 'garot (sp?) wire trap injures bike rider in haigh hall' or the MBR issue that featured the same article, you will see the lovely scar i aquired, i ALWAYS give walkers a wide birth, am always polite and NEVER approach at speed

PS sorry i didnt hang on to your every word, im just not one for having an online argument,,, sorry. although, can i ask what in your opinion is a retard ?,,,, just for future reference.

PS, my statment was ment to be tongue in cheek,,, sorry for not being able to find the apropriate 'smiley'

thread made me think of this.

FWIW i never use bells, i think they are rude. a cheerful 'AFTERNOON!' from a distance is all that is needed ime. and i NEVER expect a bell when i'm out walking in the hills - its wierd and out of place.

It's most definitively a troll.

But quite a good one.

I've only read page 1 so far (seen enough already bwahaha :D) but agree with DruidH, Hope Pro 2's or any other clicky free hub works well, works for me anyway as they usually look round when I'm at least 20 metres or more away.

Nobody leaves the bell on a MTB do they? Don't see them on Road bikes either for that matter and Joe public could step out into your path you know!

I've developed this totally rad and awesome set of skills (Full face helmet and knee/elbow pads optional) where I actually pull off these cool as you like finger manoeuvres over these metal thingies located near to the shifters on the other side of the grips, it's like, totally awesome man, you should all try it, gives me the ability to side swerve all the wrinkly red sock crew at such ultra low speeds, they even say hello to me, how cool is that dudes?

It seems to me that he further north, ( maybe further from London) the further from the towns and the worse the weather the better respoonse you get from walkers.

Deary me.. 🙄

brandeberryj - Member
Well for a start off moron the word FOOTPATH also further down it says byway open to all traffic a clear statement that others are not. Also as there are stiles on a footpath then the farmer would be breaking the law if cyclist were allowed to use it...as it is illegal to block a right of way. And of course there is something called the highways act which clearly states it

You're either a rubbish, unfunny troll or a complete cretin. Either way, disappear please.

Found a solution to the problem!

SORRY JUST NEED TO HAVE THE LAST WORD.

"SICKINING USING A FAMILY MEMBER LIKE THAT",,
UNTIL YOU ARE PART OF A CLOSE NIT FAMILY THAT TAKES OFFENCE AT SOME 'IDIOT' COMMENTING ON SOMETHING THEY HAVE NO EXPERIANCE OF,,,,,, NEED I SAY MORE

"CLEARLY A BULLY BOY ATTITUDE"
IM A POT SMOKING LIBERAL HIPPY YOU PLEB,,,,,, I TREAT PEOPLE AS I EXPECT...

"I READ THE TIMES"
KEEP THAT TO YOUR SELF PAL,,,,,, IT IS NOTHING TO BE PROUND OF.

TandemJeremy - Member

rubberneck - Member

.......THE AMOUNTG OF TIMES I HAVE CRAWLED UP TO A GROUP OF WALKERS ONLY TO HEAR ONE OF THE GROUP HISTERICALY SCREAM ''BIKE'' AND WATCH THEM DIVE INTO BUSHES LIKE ITS A RAMPAGING BULL,,,, YOu (whoops capslock) cannot win.

It in that situation that a ping from a distance away sometimes helps

Posted 1 hour ago #

Or a friendly ding-a-ling from a suitable distance, remember TJ yours is not the only way to enlightenment IMHO.

I'd not normally jump on the bandwagon of rambler-hating but this week ... grrrr

Weve just had the heaphy track reopened to biking in the off season. Its a lovely 80k (paper road - quesitonable) off road ride which is in an area that was made a national park in 96 (i think) so became off limits. Its reasonably remote in that its apoint-to-point to get to the start its well out that way as is the finish. if you drove back from finish to start it would be 5+ hours. So it gets light traffic, something like 3000 people per annum, 80% in SUMMER. So they have decreed to allow biking in the winter (May-Sept). Bear in mind the numbers - thats roughly 600 people walk it in 6 months over this period, so 25ish a week, its 80k long so each person has 3.2km of clear track 🙄

Well OMG if the paper wasn't full of letter from 'outraged tramper', 'i'll never walk it again, i last walked it in 1982 and it was brilliant', 'we'll be run over byt the millions of bikes on it', 'think OF THE CHILDREN' etc etc

I wonder how many of them wrote letters to DOC during the consultation process ? Honestly, hand wringing annoying moaners the world over take up tramping. I walk, run and bike. I applaud the decision to share the countryside with all user groups. But oh no the tramping crowd want to keep it to just them. I'm annoyed about this, and its MONDAY ffs. 😆

hungry monkey - that's a great clip.

I loved the way they moved out of the way for a "bike" on the escalator 🙂

Obviously we need more Japanese walkers.

I often wonder about this whole RoW thing. At what point in English history did the right of the common man to free movement across land become subject to these restrictions?

Or a friendly ding-a-ling from a suitable distance, remember TJ yours is not the only way to enlightenment IMHO

I still think the key thing is to alert them to your presence from a distance away so as not to startle. Its easier to do this with a bell IMO and IME the walkers prefer a bell to a shouted " excuse me"

epicyclo - Member
I often wonder about this whole RoW thing. At what point in English history did the right of the common man to free movement across land become subject to these restrictions?

The enclosures? Goes back a long long way

A polite ting ting from 30 yards away, then a " thank you" as they let you by.

I have never had anyone complain about using a bell, I have been thanked numerous times for using one, I really missed it when for a couple of weeks I did not have one.

Got to agree with TJ on these comments...bells work imo and I'm often thanked for having one.

absolutely agree 100%..

on the trails (and footpaths 😳 ) that I ride down here in the very popular walking destination of Devon I've only really been given grief by one rambler and I was blatantly in the wrong on that occasion so I wonder if I'm just very fortunate..

I have only ever recieved gratitude and 'I wish more people would fit a bell.. is it uncool or something these days' type comments for the polite ting a ling from a distance before approaching slowly and cheerfully..

Bell = Great Public Relations exercise.. why on earth wouldn't you?

I can understand that on your commutes a bell might not go down well.. people are angry enough at that time of day without your tinkly input.. and inconsiderate use of a bell any[i]where[/i] or any[i]time[/i] is gonna rub people up the wrong way too..

I really cannot for the life of me understand the type of cyclist who has very fixed anti-bell sentiments.. did you just forget or were you to cowardly to rebel as a youth..? Is that why you now insist on making up for it in utterly pointless ways that just irritate everyone around you..?

Even better public relations exercise; stop.
Get off.
Say Hello.
Have a chat.

Not always possible, I agree, but I make the effort.

So we are agreed then, when aproaching walkers from behind, a audible friendly warning of your prescence is the best approach.

I've spent the last 15 minutes reading each post. I've been fascinated by the descent from discourse to disagreement and finally to hostility.

For fear of being sanctimonious I hope at least some of the people who participated in this forum brawl reflect a bit on their behaviour.

To quote John Lennon "the more I see the less I know for sure"

RIGHT THATS IT,
FK IT,

A BELL ON MY LOCALS = NO MOVEMENT+ A 'how dare you scowel'

THE ONLY WAY THEY GIVE YOU RIGHT OF WAY IS IF THEY FEEL INTIMIDATED.
A BELL IS OF NO USE ,,,,, the mother in law is a big walker and agrees with my opinion,,,,,, I HAVE HAD WALKERS STICK THEIR WALKING STICKS ACROSS THE TRAIL WHEN I HAVE APPROACHED THEM,,,SLOWLEY,,, THIS IN MY OPINION IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE,,IF SOMEBODY PULLS A STICK ON ME IM THINKING ABOUT A JAB+UPPERCUT+SWEEP TO THE LEGS,,,, CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG !

from now on i will fly past walkers at full tilt to see how they like it........... HOW DARE THEY EXPECT ME TO GIVE THEM RIGHT OF WAY

after all they have no 'i am approaching' warning signal,so why the **** should i,

if they had any brains they would keep to one side of the path as they do in europe which is a MUCH MORE 'BIKE FRIENDLY'PLACE

ITS FUNNY HOW THE HIGH WAY CODE ASKS WALKERS TO FACE ON COMING TRAFFIC... EG WALK ON THE RIGHT..... BUT OFF ROAD ITS A FREE FOR ALL,,,, AM I WRONG ?

sorry for cranky posts,,,,,,, to much post ride carb VINO

How about this for a bell....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Samui-AirZound-Horn-115db-Rechargeable-Bike-Air-Horn-/330507154279?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item4cf3c2f367#ht_1525wt_905

A quick parp from about two meters away is sure to let any ramblers know you're there!

+1 if it's on a canal towpath as the resulting dive into the water by the rambler would mean that the path was free for any further cyclists who come past within the next 5 minutes (or however long it takes them to get out of the water)

On a serious note however, I see nothing wrong with slowing to a near stop and saying "Excuse me." It's polite and as long as cyclists are allowed on the path/trail that you are using, you have as much right to be there as any rambler.

rubberneck - Member
....sorry for cranky posts,,,,,,, to much post ride carb VINO

Obviously! But do us a favour, if you follow your action plan, please put some playing cards in your spokes so the walkers think it's motorcyclists to blame 🙂

On a more serious note,

TandemJeremy - Member
'epicyclo - Member
I often wonder about this whole RoW thing. At what point in English history did the right of the common man to free movement across land become subject to these restrictions?'
The enclosures? Goes back a long long way

That's what I thought too, but not sure. It seems to me the landowners have taken away rights from English citizens. Maybe it's time to take them back.

Can we all walk across your garden when we feel like it then?

So ... have you ever been out for a walk? Do you realise that you can't always hear a bike coming from behind, particularly if it's an ss without Hope hubs/Hope Minis?

Are you aware that not everyone has perfect hearing? Many 'ramblers' are elderly and they are perfectly entitled to be on the trails. They can easily be intimidated by a speeding cyclist.

Why not treat each ride as a PR exercise? You know, say 'good morning', ask how far they're walking, comment about the weather. Courtesy goes a long way in this world so treat others in the way you yourself would like to be treated.