This is something that gets on my nerves during a lot of rides at local, loop style trails. If I come up on you at a fast rate, it is not a challenge to go the same speed I am. I don’t know what it is, but there are a lot of riders out there that will not let you pass! They take it as a challenge to go your speed, which they normally don’t, and take up the entire trail.
I am not the fastest guy in all of Atlanta, so I get passed on a regular basis. I have zero problem with this. Every rider is out to enjoy their ride, at their pace. I do not want to mess up a riders favorite section of a trail because of my ego. Why is it that some riders do not get this?
There are beginners on every trail, and the more beginners I see…the happier I am about where the sport is going. The funny part of this entire deal is that the beginners are more likely to let you by than the rider who never rides anywhere but the local trail. These are the riders that I find to be the worst about not following this common courtesy.
When you hear a faster rider coming up on you, pick a spot to either slow down or stop and let them by. This very little amount of time will not affect your ride over the course of the day. This will improve the quality of your ride and the riders around you. If you are the one passing, please do not be one of those riders that passes just to slow down. If you are going to pass, pass with authority and stay ahead.