Whether the passer or the passee, if you want to see someone get heated, as them about the worst pass they've ever been a part of. You'l see people relive the entire thing right before your eyes. Unfortunately, you could also ruin their day in the process.
Corey and I were discussing "the pass" immediately after Lumberjack and the conversation continued at both the awards dinner and on the drive home. Corey and I basically fall into the same camp. We go out of our way to let you know we're there. Corey said he basically opens up with something like, "Hey man, how's it going?" I tend to mention I am on a single-speed with the idea of communicating that it's not like I can sit behind you all day and spin. However, we've both also gotten edge from people who don't care to chat. I get that... to a point.
Here are three separate passing stories from Lumberjack. Not all involved yours truly, but I wrote them in the first person anyway. Things like this sound better in the first person.
Pass One: The "Deal with It." I made my way up to two riders working their way up a winding hill with tight brush and fern on each side of the trail. The second rider was right on the wheel of first but nothing was being said. I hooked on, then as the gradient increased, downshifted occurred up front and I needed to go around. "Hey fellas, when it clears up, I'm going to need to come around." "You're fucking on your own, bud," was the shitty reply from the guy in the front. "What the fuck did you just say to me?" came out of my mouth and just as it did, the rider in the middle bolted through a quick openning on the side of the trail. After it closed, I went anyway after a quick "coming left." I rode through a lot of plant life to get around the guy but with that done was just happy to be in the clear.
Pass Two: The "Learn to Get Over." I was just turning into one of the last climbs on the loop when a guy at the front comes up along side me, nothing said, and gives me an elbow to get me out of the way. So, I am fighting to keep my balance and let out a "Shit" or something similar and the guy turn to me and says, "You need to learn to get out of the way." That guy was an asshole.
Pass Three: The "Have a Nice Day." I topped out on one of the harder climbing sections just after the checkpoint and on the decent, I hear someone behind me and think I catch the word "freeride." I get over and as I do I hear, "Thanks man. Great job, keep working." Turns out it's Eatough. Nicest pass I had all day.
So how do you handle passing and getting passed? Worst? Best? I get that situations and races are different, but there always seems to be a story to tell.
Someone should put a study together on this. I find it fascinating.
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12 comments:
I always ask, I always let whomever is commin up behind me around,
and if you get to being a dick about it, when I go around I will farmers blow on you, I will fart at you, I will call you dirty names, and I will threaten you if your too much of a dick...
you put an elbow into me when your going around I might just steer into you and wrech us both just to prove a point.
speak up, ask, get outa the way.
be nice, cuz if your not I'll prove what being a dick is all about...
our sport is a bunch of our buddies and family out riding bikes in the woods, even if money is sometimes on the line karma is better to have...
the fastest guys around are the nices people to have pass ya.. the peeps who don't get outa your way, need to learn what's up.. or get into another sport...
be nice.. it works... say thankyou, encourage racers as you go around them... being a dick, just makes people get into a bad mood, and makes you and your sponsors on your jersey assholes... makes me wana stab your car tires ...
I don't think I've ever had anyone ask to go around me ever.. I'm always aware of who's commin up and make sure I don't break their pace...
When I pass gas I laugh. When I pass a kidney stone I scream. When I pass out I laugh then scream.
In a road race when I pass I grab the guys ass. Nothing needs to be said. I'm uncomfortable when a guy grabs my ass to pass.
The other day in wilderness, this has nothing to do with passing but colliding, I was screaming all sorts of things(even singing and whistling) just let people know I was around the bend. Dam place is like a jungle.
When I'm about to get passed I clunk myself in the nuts. Then I speed up.
I dunno. I usually hear 'em come up behind me and I just ask if they want around. I sure don't want them on my wheel.
At Lumberjack, I was following these guys and could tell the one was tired and getting sloppy so I backed off about 3 bike lengths. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later he buried himself and the guy in front of him in the forest floor, so when I passed, I said, "Are u guys OK?"
Interesting topic b/c I've been wondering what the protocol was. At Ouachita, everyone was so nice. If you were coming up, they'd ask if you wanted by, or if they came up on you they'd let you know and it was easy to move over at the next opportunity.
Lumberjack was a little different, altho I didn't experience any of the rudeness you did. What happens to me is that when I ask to pass, many guys speed up for a while, which works nearly as good as getting to pass.
Now I'm confronted with an ethical dilemma....
As one who gets passed a lot, When I hear someone coming I just give up the trail, it's easier. Although at the adventure race a few years ago a team was just being asses, and kept bugging me to no end, I may have deserved some of it,anyway I told that boy to holster that pistol cowboy, you'll get around when I am ready to let you around
The people who get upset or who are just plain inconsiderate about passing are the one's that have lost there way in mountain biking. If you're pissed at a race, you're probably not having fun.
Very interesting topic!
As a female MTB who is slowly getting faster:), I am getting passed a lot and I tell you what you see and hear it all...
I am with CVO karma is better to have but a lot of people just don't know, how to behave out on the trail.
Some guys (I say guys, because MTB are 98% male anyway) think, they own the trail, just b/c they ride better, faster, longer, etc., so they expect you to pretty much disappear so they have a clear trail.
But I have to say, those are thankfully a minority and it will come back to haunt them...
Most folks are pretty good about announcing their passing and then, it's a bit of team-work. If the trail is wide enough, I let them by immediately. If not, if there is a log crossing coming up or such that I can only clear, if I stay in the perfect line, I say, one moment, I..., so they know and it worked fine the last races.
The most fun did I have at Landahl last time. The course was extremely muddy and a lot of the faster riders were hesitant to pass me. They came up and said: " pass you on the..." and then nothing:) they didn't want to make me slide or fall. That was cool. What they didn't know, is that I played Bike Polo all winter and I don't mind any close bike-to-bike action, so I told them to just pass, I'd be fine. They did and I had more then one rubbing tire, elbow and whatnot.
Most folks wish you luck, while passing and that's very cool!
Especially nice, if you know each other:) I also think we are one big family, crazy, but kind.
And, oh yeah, recently, I am passing folks as well:) Sometimes, you try to just hang on to a wheel, but they loose their nerve and pull over. If I want to pass I tell them: "coming up, on you left/right, whenever is good for you"...
Pass #1: I can live with that; it's a shitty attitude, but some people take that approach to racing.
Pass #2: No you didn't!! Guess what? We are getting off our bikes and I am kicking your ass! Nobody gets to put an elbow on me during a race.
Pass #3: This is how it almost always happens at endurance races. The longer the race, the nicer people get.
Most of the time it goes pretty well--whether being passed or passing.
Sometimes people are a little impatient, "c'mon man I need to get around!" as we sit on a narrow singletrack with 4 other riders ahead in a train...
I have a little bell on my SS. It's a cheerful way of saying "rider coming up". Sometimes I ding it when someone passes me to sort of cheer them on.
A thanks, or good job, or keep spinning" goes a long way. Really just common courtesy, sorta like real life I guess.
On the Eatough story--I haven't raced with him, but other pros like Nat Ross, Tinker, Nick Martin, those guys have all been classy when I blow by them--er I mean when they blow by me. :)
I'm a roadie who's fairly new to the mtb pass. I did't realize how crucial it was till I realized how far up the trail someone can get on you after they get a pass while you wait behind slower riders. And yes, riding a single speed makes it a little more crucial because up some climbs, you'll be doing a semi-trackstand waiting for geared people to crawl up in their 20x34.
What I've found works well is to ask, "Let me know when you feel comfortable to let me pass." Now this is not so easy to get out when you're panting like a woman in labor, but it's real courteous and a good situation for both passer and passee. Passee knows you're there and jonesin to get by but you aren't a dangerous dick that'll throw elbows just to get around. This also let's them make the choice of left or right. An openning might be on the right, but if they aren't ready for you're pass and you don't announce early enough, an accidental elbow brush might be misconstrued as deliberate. Communication is key for any family.
I just let them hear the cowbell. They usually just get sick of listening to it or to me talking to them.
I too have never been asked to be passed...I alway hear the rider coming up from behind and will give the right of way...wether I'm in the rough riding for a little bit or if I just bail off the bike for a quick second to let them pass when conditions aren't going to allow it for a little bit. Hence why I expect it sometimes...which as we all know is purdy stupid:)
As for passing I always am curtious "FIRST", you'll hear my bell ringing way before I ask..can I get around you when your comfortable....I will say I'm not the most patient man....you have a minute or so... which when rolling down the trail is a good amount of time I think for the passee to make a descision....a clear spot...a not so clear spot....scoot over and give me a little room....roll off the trail and stop/slow... hell what ever..just make a descision that won't crash you or I:)
I have had two times in my 11 years of racing when I personaly have said things in a mad frenzy that I later had to find the mates after the race and apologise for my stupidity, offer them a beer, then ask for forgiveness...lets face it most of us are there too race...yes racing is fun...but racing is also a competition and things can get out of hand. If they do man up and apologize for your being an asshole...or better yet don't let it get that far...but again...we're only human:)
Everybody I see on the trail racing whether the passer or passee and I mean everybody gets a good job or something to encourage them to keep it going. I've often wondered how much energy I use encouraging my compitition:)
I'm going to link this up Skip a very good topic.
Peace
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