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Do’s and don’ts with regard to mountain biking
Another weekend of great riding around the NB but I have noticed some consistent practices that really give me the sh!ts. Interested in people's views on below.
1)Making A lines into B lines – if you can’t ride the A line, practice, don’t put rocks down or convert it into a permanent B line. Examples include 19th hole roll off and gap jump coming down the new section into the hydro lab at the dam.
2)By all means make sure you check an obstacle out before you ride it but don’t stand in the middle of the take-off or landing zone with 5 of your mates discussing matters. This has now happened to me 2 weekends in a row with riders running in all directions when I approached. Some jumps need speed (especially gap jumps like the one in point (1) above or the jump alongside Wakehurst at the pedestrian bridge) so it’s not always feasible to approach at a slow pace.
3)If you are riding slowly through single track please beware of your surroundings including faster riders coming up behind. Move over when safe or at least acknowledge the person behind you (especially if they inform you of their presence which is hopefully done in the appropriate manner).
4)Don’t ride one way trails in reverse – especially during peak riding periods i.e. possum on a Saturday or Sunday morning. If you want to ride a trail in reverse choose a time when hardly anyone will be coming the other way such as the dam anti clock at night or the possum very early in the morning on a week day.
5)On 2 way trails – be courteous and don’t just charge past assuming you have the right of way, slow down and “hi mate there’s x of us” would also be nice.
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I understand that sometimes riders will want to back up and do a section over, or are simply trying to get back to their car without going around the world again, but some sense of caution would be appreciated.
I nearly had a head-on with a couple of experienced riders coming anti-clockwise in (I think it was) the "asset protection zone" up-trail from the hydraulics lab on Sunday morning.
For some reason they thought it was smart to stay on the dirt close to the tall rushes on what was (for me) a fast right hand sweeper instead of hanging out wide where they could be seen. And they weren't pleased to be reminded when I said "Clockwise, fellas!"
A couple of tenths of a second slower reaction and it would have been ugly.
More than a few beginners out riding contra flow as well, but at least they weren't going fast. One had their helmet on back to front. Does that cancel things out?
And forgive my ignorance, but is muppets one way or two?
To paraphrase De la Soul,
...I can't understand what the problem is...it's two two two two two two two...
... running down to the old fire trail. The bit from the back of the golf course probably started out the same - I don't think anyone would deliberately run a track line UP that rutted out little sandy pinch on that side. So it's history is probably bi-directional, and I've certainly seen folks riding in both directions. Personally, I prefer the way it flows clockwise.
And to further paraphrase De La Soul '2 is the Magic Number'.
I have always ridden it both ways and I think both directions have their own appeal.
Just wanted to be sure, considering the topic of this thread, as I got the Stink Eye from a few riders heading the other direction over the past few weeks.
No biggie.
Peace.
Out.
I ride Muppet Show both ways. Each kinda works, with different challenges. One way would be better, though. The question is... which way?
Can be frustrating when you're winding up to hit a techy pinch climb and you have to hit the anchors at the worst possible moment when someone suddenly appears.
For one way to be practical, a second trail would be a good idea. (The one along MV road doesn't count - turns into a mush bog at the slightest hint of rain.)
So what we all need is a set of mtb specific rules that must be obeyed similar to the these http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
I like "Failing to get up/down any stretch of trail is a failure of your equipment and in no way reflects badly upon you."
"Failing to get up/down any stretch of trail is a failure of you and in no way reflects badly upon your equipment."
Not even ironically
MTB ethos. No concrete, cars or cops....
It all depends if you have a sense of humour