[Closed] Trail centre etiquette. Taking a slow child down a red route considerately.

Go mid week early in the morning when nobody's around.
He'll love it

My lad done his first red route aged 3.5, he's just about to turn 7 and I've never had so much as a grumble from anybody. Had smiles and encouragement from the last two riders that happened to come up behind us.
Couldn't care less what somebody on a strava run thinks.

Just give way and ignore the strava dickheads. The sport needs people learning young.

I have been taking my little boys around reds at Cannock, Llandegla & parts of Coedy for the past 2 years... They love it, and so do I.

I find that most riders we meet think its uber cool that such little kids are riding reds on 20" wheel bikes, and do respect them, and give them some space. I find the best thing to do is to be their "rear guard" and when appropriate (not all of the time though... Little Uns get "flow" too) tell the kids to pull over and let any riders pass.
.... My oldest is a bi of a hill climb demon though and regularly overtakes adults on "Cardiac Hill @ Cannock" which never ceases to make me crack up, a I've thought him to say "alright mate" as he passes them !

Just use your head and keep your little un safe, you'll both have a blast.

* my boys are 7 & 8 years old BTW

Couldn't care less what somebody on a strava run thinks.

This 100%

If people wanna [i]really[/i] 'get serious' they need to enter a race..
Trail centres are public access facilities meaning that you will invariably encounter the public..

All are welcome and whilst your boy might slow a couple people down, who's to say they haven't spoilt an even faster person's run themselves

it's all relative innit

Ive found the best approach is to ride behind and be a buffer so if anyone comes behind it will be you first, stopping any issues with your son having to deal with someone on a 'mission'.
We all started somewhere and I think some forget that, good luck and hope he carries on enjoying it.

Go for it, always great to see younger kids on the trails. why should he have to take evasive action? I always give younger ones time to slow down (or let them past me 😳 )

As Tom says ignore the dickheads

Just take him along and ride to his comfort level. Only an asshole would have a problem with this on the trail, you have just as much right to ride with him as anyone else.

Have fun!

Please don't make him wear a hi-vis, that's child cruelty and won't do anything to help this country get out of it's moronic hi-vis obsession.

Another vote for get him on the red trails, if folk coming up behind are all that good they'll have no problems getting past.

That's great, thanks for the encouragement and putting my mind at rest.
I was a bit worried that he'd get grief if he caused an obstruction.

So, keep an eye out for him, bright orange helmet and red Spesh. He is very enduro.

Yep, we have just been careful for a few years.

Only once have we been given a lecture by a fellow rider, at top of Spooky Woods at Glentress. He was unhappy I was taking an Islabike riding, lycra clad 11 year old down there - he thought it irresponsible, and would slow everyone down.

When said rider, replete in body armour and 5" travel FS, pulled up to a stop at the bottom, he was squeaked at by the 11 year old, who had stuck to the back wheel all the way down, just to prove a point. 😈

Now the 11 year old is 13 and is showing a few folk how to ride black and red bits at speed...including his dad...

I'm watching this one with interest too. Me and the kids did the North Face a few weeks back when there was some event on. We couldn't work out if the trail was closed or not and so I hung back loads and shouted every time there was a rider coming through. The kids then stopped at the side. All the riders were fine with it. But then we did give way to absolutely every one, which we wouldn't if there wasn't an event.

Last year we did have a moment at deglla when the son's mate and dad were with us. They faffed around on the first big fast berm on the Red route and ended up just at the side of the track whilst a big group of 6 thundered past very fast. It was a complete bit of a mess to be honest and I nowadays I've learned to brief the kids very clearly. As with city road riding I think you need to be quite clear to people behind if you're holding a line or not. I think the accidents would happen when people think they can pass but can't.

If you can teach him to make space for the passing rider all well and good. Almost all riders will be prepared to wait and pass safely at a suitable point. Those that won't will find that Karma is a hard mistress.

I think that anyone giving kids grief at a place like degla needs to have a word with themselves. Take the kids, be reasonable. Make it clear when people can pass. If anyone gives you grief then tell them where to go.

I was hoping to do the Red there with mine this weekend but the little one has hurt his hand 🙁

He'll be fine.
If you encounter someone being a cock its because they are a cock.
You can't do anything about that:-)

Have fun, me and Lewis (13) are doing the Builth marathon on Sunday. can't wait.

Just ride it and give way when safe to do so

never had any issues though I dont ride trail centres that often

IME even walkers are fine when you are on a footpath with cute kids

I came across a couple of young and relatively slow riders at Cannock on Tuesday. I caught them up but re-assured them I would wait while they finished the section.

Both were too self-conscious and simply pulled over - that was fine by me but I felt bad that they couldn't ride to the end.

So I say take your kids and ride whatever you want - most people are decent human beings.

Trails are for everyone, not just Strava chasing folks. Only a dickhead would begrudge him having a crack at a more technical trail.

[i]Ive found the best approach is to ride behind and be a buffer so if anyone comes behind it will be you first, stopping any issues with your son having to deal with someone on a 'mission'.[/i]

This, plus if there are folk behind you at the start, just tell to give you space before they set off as you aren't going to let them past.

Only had a problem once when my kids were young, and he didn't get past me 🙂

As said in some of the posts really and just to reiterate, i am always aware that there may be a rider young or old in the trail, male female or keen MTB guy takes out not so keen Girl friend, Lads and dads etc, i always shout out that theres no rush and dont panic, i just get by when i can, i always offer words of encouragement to the young uns. the sport needs all kinds to become what it is and if you cant acknowledge that STRAVA or not then you deserve bad Karma.

Sod the impatient idiots, you have as much right to be there as them. Good on you for encouraging your lad. I love it when I see a father & his kids out riding on the dog at Cannock, as that's what I'll be doing when my eldest is more capable.

Just you wait a few weeks, they will be doing this. Always remember - kids on bikes ROCK 8)
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/7149846023_2a82f6d5d9_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/7149846023_2a82f6d5d9_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/bTNQ8i ]Grantown on Spey bike trails[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/88555557@N00/ ]matt_outandabout[/url], on Flickr

As said, go for it, and just ride behind. It's worth telling kids not to be worried about riders coming up behind them - they can let them through when it is safe to do so, or pull over and let them through, again where it is safe to do so... or just keep going. Most riders seem very considerate, in my experience.

As others have said, I really don't think it's an issue and trail etiquette has an easy solution. You've as much right to the trail as everyone else.

If it is something you feel conscious about, or putting myself in your lad's shoes, he might find it intimidating/distracting knowing other riders are behind. Why not find a section and session it?

That way you could transition him onto the reds gradually and be able to check for riders before each run. If it's a red with a lot of tech, doing the whole course in one hit might be a bit much? (guessing here as I've never seen your lad ride!)

Honestly there's always slower and faster people, the fact that he's young doesn't make that much difference except that it'll be incredibly obvious to the stravaists and other assorted heroes that they need to stop being arseholes. If they're so superior that they can't deal with being slightly delayed for a minute, what are they doing on the reds?

Trails are for everyone and if a person can't enjoy sharing them, they can **** off and join the tories.

I do not have children, and am not their greatest fan in the abstract. I have [i]absolutely zero problems[/i] with waiting briefly on the trail to pass some rad kid on an Isla-mission.

🙂

Depends on the child's ability. I have seen dads with kids with very young kids way out of their depth, seems more like an ego trip then the childs enjoyment. I have a 4 year old that can get wheels off the ground, but we always go early and stick to blues / little known trails

I'm of the same opinion as BigDummy up there BUT if the kid is going to show me up being quicker than me then please get him a playstation and keep him at home. Thanks 🙂

Go early but anyone who complains or isnt considerate is losing 10secs of their 'pro level' fast lap of course. I saw a 4yr old on the final descent/bit at Glentress, I was more astounded/,grinning than thinking about 'hes in the way'.

Does anyone really have a problem with momentarily getting caught behind other riders, young or old?

I love Strava, but I'd never pressure anyone to get through if I catch them on a trail, least of all kids, if they can't move over, just stop, let them get ahead, and then go again. Is anyone really that desperate to get a decent Strava time, or is it a complete urban myth?

A few months back I caught up a bunch of kids (like 10) all 5-6 at a guess, wobbling down Barry Knows Best. I thought it was brilliant, great to see!

Go whenever suits you and your lad,don't get up early just to please others,the trails are for everyone,I often see fathers/mothers with young children on red routes,it's all good,they always look like they are enjoying theirselves,sometimes I stop and have a chat,I've just joined strava and sometimes I'll pop to my local trail centre To have a really good training session but I will make sure I go when there Is no one there and not be a dick and go on a Sunday afternoon and expect everyone to shift and feel like they are in the way,enjoy.

Get him on Strava first 😉

Is anyone really that desperate to get a decent Strava time, or is it a complete urban myth?

There are cocks in the world, some of them ride bikes. Just ride behind and let people know, go when it's quieter and have fun.

Re: Strava if I ride early at the weekends I sometimes come across a whole row/series of open gates on a known stretch. Great for a good time I bet. Shit for anyone who likes to abide by the signs.

I've caught a bunch doing this- slabs upto Whinstone Lee Tor in the Peak District. One rider at the bottom, all gates propped open. 3/4 riders starting off the top. It twigged to me as I saw them setting off/remembering the bloke that I'd passed waiting. Wonder if they then pushed backup and shut all the gates again?

My little (11) lad smashing the black at Healy Nab (really proud of him). To be fair, I dont think anyone expects (or should expect) to have a good clean fast run on a weekend 'cos its busy. If you want a load of PR's/KOMs then go mid week.Like everyone says, its public access, and reds not technical, tell them to get on the black and orange if they want to time it.
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Tom_W1987 - Member

Just give way and ignore the strava dickheads.

This.

Generally when there are young kids around on the trails, I find it can be the parents who panic the kids into getting out of the way as fast as possible, rather than just waiting for the next sensible spot.

If I catch people up in this sort of situation I always call to them that I'm not in a rush and not to worry about getting out of the way until they are happy to do so.
If I catch people at the top of a start of a trail that I know I want to hit at full pelt, then I just have a few minutes wait at the top to give them space and then crack on.

Only time it's ever been a problem is when you get the whole family out and they've stopped right in the middle of a trail to fix a puncture or have a picnic (yes, really) with bikes strewn everywhere and people blocking the whole width of the path.

who are these strava/inconsiderate dickheads we're being implored to ignore? I don't think I've ever encountered one, I've been riding bikes for 30 years so far.

Perhaps I am one?

I've caught a bunch doing this- slabs upto Whinstone Lee Tor in the Peak District. One rider at the bottom, all gates propped open. 3/4 riders starting off the top. It twigged to me as I saw them setting off/remembering the bloke that I'd passed waiting. Wonder if they then pushed backup and shut all the gates again?

Passed a group at the top of a Dales descent with three gates, found all three hanging open, so dutifully shut them and carried on to find the other group member at the bottom. I got a nice Strava PR though - thanks lads! 🙂

I love seeing kids on the trails, it feels nice to tell them well done, keep going, stop buzzing my wheel, that sort of thing.

Like everyone else, I think kids progressing on bikes is awesome 😀 We always give young 'uns loads of room and encouragement too.

It's a bit like swimming in lanes in a pool. The only thing that really winds me up is someone who has been resting at one end and knows you are considerably faster than them waiting until you have almost got to the end before they push off. Never sure if its malicious or just ignorant.

I think as long as you don't appear to go out of your way to hold people up (by setting off from a rest just before they get to you or not pulling over every now and then at obvious spots to let folk patiently waiting behind through) everyone will be very supportive.

My only other thought having done a bit of MTB leading/coaching - don't discard the blues now just because he can now safely get down them. There is arguably as much pleasure and more learning to be gained from doing the blues progressively faster and more smoothly than there is 'surviving' a red (repeat for red to black transition).

When I rode with my Wife at Glentress I just rode behind her. Far enough back that I could see her but giving her space and stopping anybody buzzing her wheel.

For popular sections like spooky woods I gave her a bit of a gap and basically chatted to the guys at the top who wanted to come down asking them to wait a minute if they looked like they would be going full tilt.

Trail centres are open to all so people need to be accepting that there will be all standards of riders there. I'm routinely slowed down by overweight audi drivers on carbon ego chariots 😉 If you ruin your strava run apply some rule 5, ride round again and have another go.

Personally I love seeing new riders and kids on the trails. Wish I'd been able to go to these places at that age.

Dres him in a bright yellow jersey or windbreaker, or one those bright traffic vest.
Or put some strobing lights on his bike:

lezyne zecto drive light

I got a set, rechargable and last 7 hours, and crazy bright in the stobing mode, even in daylight!

I love Strava, but I'd never pressure anyone to get through if I catch them on a trail, least of all kids, if they can't move over, just stop, let them get ahead, and then go again. Is anyone really that desperate to get a decent Strava time, or is it a complete urban myth?

I think there's an element of myth, in the past some people were dickheads, and we just called them dickheads. Now, some people are dickheads and people blame Strava, it's almost a cliche now.

There may be a proportion of the current dickheads that use Strava, but I'll bet there's a much bigger proportion of non-dickheads that also use Strava, and the ones that really go KOM hunting wouldn't waste their time doing it during normal hours when they are likely to get 'held up'.

Hmm, I seem to have used the word 'dickheads' rather a lot in this post...

Back on topic though:

Just get on with it, your lad will love it, and i'd be surprised if you get any grief from anyone. Bringing up the rear is always a good option so you can block/communicate with anyone behind if needs be and you'll be able to watch your lad ride too so win-win!

Just give him a STW high 5 from all of us at the end!

I always ride behind my Lad (9) so when we get caught up no one is going to ride into him, I just ask him to pull over to let riders pass - in 2 years I've never had a single complaint or crossed word - most people cheer him on and/or say there was no need to pull over.

There are some knobs about, but in 10 years of riding I've found 99% of MTBers are really nice people.

Funnily enough the only people I have encountered that have been a bit funny about my then 3 year old being on the trails were older kids and their parents!

Is was one of those bike park places and the kids pushed (and were pushed) in front of my 3 year old so they wouldn't be "stuck behind the little boy"

He gave them plenty of space, then promptly caught up with them 😀

I have no problem with kids on trails at all.

I DO get pissed off with muppets who stop in the middle of the trail fixing punctures / mechanicals pretty much blocking the way. At least move over to the side that others can get past without having to squeeze by on the edge of the trail. I've had it twice recently, grips my shit it really does.

I DO get pissed off with muppets who stop in the middle of the trail fixing punctures / mechanicals pretty much blocking the way. At least move over to the side that others can get past without having to squeeze by on the edge of the trail. I've had it twice recently, grips my shit it really does.

just ride over their bikes.

njee20 - Member

Is anyone really that desperate to get a decent Strava time, or is it a complete urban myth?

Oh yes. Not just this, but complaining at us while trailbuilding because we'd part closed a trail and they were strava'ing. Or clearing brash we'd used to block off shortcuts off so they can go back to cheating. ON GLENTRESS GREEN ROUTE.

One that did make me smile... Riding at innerleithen I came up behind a feller on mince baby mince, he was getting down the trail ok but dog slow, I kind of assumed he'd pull over on one of the wee climbs but no... So no great stress, I just pulled over, carried on, did catch him again so stopped again, you know how that goes...

But what was weird was, at the bottom he said to me "Sorry if I held you up dude, it's just I think I was on for a personal best".

I think the 'go early' advice is poor.

You can go when you want.

If anything I would say avoid too early as this is when the 'heroes' are more likely to go. But ultimately if you and your fellow trail riders manage their ride well then everyone will have a great time.

If you bowl up to a trail centre in the middle of the day you should expect it to be busy and thus manage your trail ride accordingly - you are not going to get you KOM.

I take my two girls round Sherwood Kitchener and ride behind them.....no one gets past me until the end of a section or a decent opening and I ask the girls to pull over.

Kids on red trails! Sweet, I wish I had red trails to ride as a kid.

Wouldn't bother me, the trails are for everyone to enjoy. 🙂

Love seeing kids out on the trails. Always give them room and encouragement.

Wish I had trail centres when I was that age.

Hoping to get my two on bikes when they are a bit older.

Wish I had trail centres when I was that age.

+1,000,000,000.

Just on the strava thing, my most local trail is Cathkin and have recently seen loads of shortcuts developing, presumably to let folk 'cheat' and pinch a second or 2. The lines are actually not great and not much in the spirit of sustainable trails. Nowt as weird as folk I guess.... FWIW I have never tried strava so maybe I'm missing something 😀

On original question, I remember posting up about 3 yrs ago after getting pelters for holding people up on the GT blue with my 5 yr old on a trailgator. We were making good pace and it was a weekday...

Been riding on the trails for the last 14 years with our girls, Abigale is 17 next week and Katie a couple of years older. In all that time they have had nothing but encouragement from other riders. we tended to have me riding in front of them and Kevin bringing up the rear. Cant thing of any occasion when any one has ever hinted that they have been slowed down.
We usually just let them go now and meet up at the bottom as they are both far better and quicker than we ever were.
Taken them down some tricky stuff over the years, few bumps and bruises, loads of encouragement from everyone around always works as does loads of chocolate in the back pack.

When it all started age 4

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Verbier at age 6

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White room last year

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Rode Cafall at Cwmcarn just before the Easter weekend, it was pretty wet and miserable but there was a young lad there out with his mum and they were having a blast. Stopped for a chat a couple of times, both were trying out new bikes and had only been riding for a couple of years but the smile on their faces said it all.

Id be very surprised if you get anything but encouragement.

matt_outandabout - Member
Only once have we been given a lecture by a fellow rider, at top of Spooky Woods at Glentress. He was unhappy I was taking an Islabike riding, lycra clad 11 year old down there - he thought it irresponsible, and would slow everyone down.

When said rider, replete in body armour and 5" travel FS, pulled up to a stop at the bottom, he was squeaked at by the 11 year old, who had stuck to the back wheel all the way down, just to prove a point.

😆 good lad

I take my 6 year old to a trial centre. We move over if people catch up. The reaction from other rifers is pretty much always "well done, little fella", mever had anyone complain.

And frankly, if someone's so obsessed by strava times that they'd complain about a child on the trails, then I'd be delighted to hold them up.

all good stuff here, seems I was worrying unnecessarily.
So far, we have had nothing but encouragement especially from tired looking old riders (my age!) as he hoons up that long drag at the start of Llandegla. But there was room to pass so I thought all OK as he wasnt holding them up.

I'm thinking of Cannock now, follow the dog and monkey, not too hilly and the youtube vids suggest it is within his skill ability.

Go for it, enjoy it and to hell with what folks think. It's great the kids are getting out and riding, I ought to take mine a lot more. I usually ride behind them and they take it in their stride. Although not done a red yet. Ours are 7 & 9. Hoping the 7yo's broken leg has healed before Wales next month (wasn't a cycling accident, bloody scooters!).

Rockhopper watch out for those darn pebbles on off cambers 😀

Go when you want, it is holidays after all. Ride behind and give encouragement. Any decent rider will be very happy to watch one so young. I've had one or two who have tried to barge past. Nothing compared with a bit of track sprinting though 😈 .

Take chocolate bourbon biscuits. Kids that young run out of energy quickly. I used to feed ours one every three miles on the tandem. All the taste without the mess.

Surely lunch box size ready buttered individual soreen bars is the energy solution????

Trail centre etiquette. Taking a slow child down a red route considerately.

As others say, ignore the idiots, happens in all sports 🙄

They need more than lunch box size, Katie wont ride unless there is a full Soreen loaf in her back pack at the start

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Thats a nice fleet of bikes....and I've never seen a soreen eaten like that before!!

Thanks, only one of the bikes left, Katies blue one. Abigale has moved onto an Enduro and mine had to be replaced after an off mountain incident on last years Alps trip.

Eating it that way means no sharing.

Needs a block of butter to go with it (the soreen)

Loving all the positive vibes on this thread - I'm much the same. Love seeing kids out biking - reminds you how much fun it can be, and what a journey bikes can take you on.

However, veering slightly off the positive vibes, I did chuckle at this:

And frankly, if someone's so obsessed by strava times that they'd complain about a child on the trails, then I'd be delighted to hold them up.

Just to confirm what others have written really. I have been riding trails with my son for a couple of years, he is nine now. Mainly Swinley (as it is on our doorstep), but have just got back from a few days at Afan. I always let my son ride first, mainly incase some one faster approaches from behind. Also riding behind it helps to keep an eye on their riding and give them some pointers, rather than letting him watch me and hope he keeps up.

In all the riding we have done I can only think of one bloke who was very pushy when he wanted to get past. We had caught a slowish family on a short climb, he basically expected us, and them, to stop so he could continue riding past. To be fair he did say sorry to us at the bottom of the next descent, but still no need for his attitude.

Seven years ago age 2:
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Yesterday age 9:
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I've never seen a soreen eaten like that before!!

I have - but it was in a talent show. A whole loaf of soreen and a 4 pint carton of milk to the sound of the clock from Countdown. Quite a lose definition of 'talent' mind.

Just go for it, you're very unlikely to get any greif. My son is nine and he's been round the red at Bedgebury a few times and on Monday we went round the blue and red trails at Whinlatter. He really enjoyed it, we just pulled over when we could if being followed, and he enjoyed the encouragement given by others. You'll have a great time.

Just wanted to say thanks for posting this. My kids are 6 and 8 and experienced BMXers. Will be taking them on their first blue run at swinley this week. I was in two minds about it before. 🙂

Why? The only thing I would object to are pets on a trail (centre) trail.

Does that mean I can't take my Guinea Pig?

Tracey: Your posts in this thread demonstrate perfectly why Singletrackworld needs a like button.

The problem in the UK is that a lot of MTB'ers do not know the correct trail etiquette!

Only on a black does a faster rider have priority. On green, blue and red, slower riders have the priority! However on a red, slower riders should be considerate to faster riders, (if the faster riders are being considerate too!) and let faster riders past at the earliest opportunity.

Yes youngsters should be allowed to ride whatever trail they are capable of, I know a lot of sprogs who can beast grown ups on some blacks, certainly if they have BMX experience, they are usually ace on the 'jumpy' trails. However, I would recommend that the parent/grown up acts as 'tail gunner' to protect them against the strava w4nkers.

At a lot of trail centres I often see grown ups walking past the first obstacle on black runs - if you can't do that feature, you shouldn't be riding that trail!!

Only on a black does a faster rider have priority

Never heard of this. Not even sure what it means or how it could work?

On any trail you should be considerate to faster people and move over for them when it's safe, and slower riders - let them know you're there and ask/wait to come past when it's safe. Try not to get stuck into a trail if you're going to be walking a lot of it.

The colour of the trail doesn't come into it, surely?

Mini Rippers are awesome! I spent my Saturday chasing this one!

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nedrapier - Member

Only on a black does a faster rider have priority

Never heard of this. Not even sure what it means or how it could work?

On any trail you should be considerate to faster people and move over for them when it's safe, and slower riders - let them know you're there and ask/wait to come past when it's safe. Try not to get stuck into a trail if you're going to be walking a lot of it.

The colour of the trail doesn't come into it, surely?

I agree, consideration is the key to it all - after all, we all share the same passion / hobby, we should be able to get along.

I'm not sure if it's a 'real thing' in the UK - In Whistler Bike Park there was a rule - and I don't remember if it was in writing, or 'unwritten' but everyone I saw stuck to it - on Black Trails the faster rider had 'right of way' which in real terms meant if you got caught up, it was your responsibility to pull over when you could to let them past - it didn't mean throw yourself at the scenery if some nutter came up behind screaming "straaaaaaava" just that you should let them pass when you could.

On the Blue Trails (there aren't any reds in WBP or weren't at the time) the slower rider had priority - so if you caught someone it was your responsibility to either stop and give them a gap or follow at their pace, and at a 'friendly distance' not snapping at their back wheel.

Despite the "I only ride park" video, I found less Egos at play in the Bike Park and more mutual respect, people fell and got hurt far more frequently than say at Afan so most people were friendly and accommodating - if someone got all pissy because some 'noob' ruined their run, they were reminded it wasn't a race-track and directly towards entry forms for Phat Wednesdays when it was.

As for the UK, I ride Trail Centres a lot, and I make no apologies for it - there's loads where I live and I like the riding - anyway, I've never encountered any sort of rules, written or otherwise and BPWales aside, how much actual black riding is there in the UK? a couple of short sections and the odd trail - usually graded as such because it's 40K+ long, not because it's full of big drops and jumps. Usually it's down to a bit of mutual respect - I catch riders and get caught myself most rides 90% of the people I catch pull over, some 'kick' and go for it, I'll follow them at a decent distance to see what they've got - everyone like a bit of a race, some just carry on as they were - I'll usually pull over than give them some space - they're usually the nervy ones who've not ridden that trail before - I'm not going to ruin anyone's day by making them ride faster than they'd like and crash.

Personally when I'm caught I always pull over, partly because I don't want to hold anyone up, and partly because I'm never confident of having someone I don't know and trust riding close behind me after someone smashed into me because they were braver than me, but didn't know the trail as well as I did - it was a big painful mess.