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Date: 17 Oct 2007 06:34:52
From: Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS
Subject: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will wake the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away.
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Date: 20 Oct 2007 19:22:11
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <ff93en$ku1$2@registered.motzarella.org >, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com > writes: > Tom Keats wrote: >> ... >> Sometimes while in there, I've had a bit o' fun >> just silently pacing along at a safe distance >> behind pedestrians, and seeing how long it >> takes before they notice I'm there.... > > I rather pace behind young women on inline skates. Better scenery, and > they move at a pace where one does not have to concentrate on balance. The park to which I refer doesn't have paved trails. Just hardpack. The park serves me and other cyclists as an interface between Vancouver's bike route system, and our nextdoorikah's (to wit: Burnaby, BC.) But it serves the majority of its visitors as what it actually is: a park, and a very lovely one at that. As a cyclist just passing through, I must courteously defer to the /real/ users of that public space. It has signage indicating its 10 km/h speed limit, and that cyclists must always observe the ROW of pedestrians. That's okay with me; sometimes I like to enjoy that park too. The tree air in there is pretty good to breathe. Going through there is like a mid-ride Shabbath to pause and get one's perspective back. It's not always necessary to pass, or to otherwise (have to) outdo, people ahead of you. Sometimes, easy does it. cheers, Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
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Date: 20 Oct 2007 01:11:45
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <KrydnQZSkpOcioTanZ2dnUVZ_rOqnZ2d@speakeasy.net >, russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew T. Russotto) writes: > In article <qv1ch31qgn2cmm4goer24uvcegg6ei10iu@4ax.com>, > dgk <dgk@somewhere.com> wrote: >>On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:19:05 -0700, idomybestworkonabike@hotmail.com >>wrote: >>> >>>The voice works OK too. Trouble is the ped usually has an iPod bored >>>into their head. >> >>That really is a problem. My bell doesn't seem to penetrate at all. >>Yelling sort of does the job. I think the old airhorn might be >>necessary. I think I'll order one. > > A length of 2x4 delivered to the back of the head as you pass > them after they ignore your warning should do the job as well. > > If there's several of them side-by-side blocking most or all of the ROW, you'll > need a larger 2x4. It takes a car driver to talk about deliberately clobbering pedestrians. -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
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Date: 20 Oct 2007 01:34:52
From:
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 19, 6:11 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@yahoo.com > wrote: > A canopy over the trail at a height of about 4 feet would work wonders > to keep undesirables off. I doubt your recumbent would handle very well weaving around toddlers and midgets.
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Date: 20 Oct 2007 07:44:01
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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r15757@aol.com wrote: > On Oct 19, 6:11 pm, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> A canopy over the trail at a height of about 4 feet would work wonders >> to keep undesirables off. > > I doubt your recumbent would handle very well weaving around toddlers > and midgets. Toddlers and midgets have low mass - I just need a bike like Joe's: <http://www.outsideconnection.com/gallant/hpv/joe/outtaMyWay_1.mpg > and <http://www.outsideconnection.com/gallant/hpv/joe/outtaMyWay_2.mpg >. ;) -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 09:35:17
From: nmp
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Tom Sherman wrote: > Zoot Katz wrote: >> ... >> A squealing front brake works very well around pedestrians as does a >> bell. I find verbalised warnings less effective. Pedestrians tend to >> move left if you say "on your left". Many of them don't know their left >> from their right, nor do they immediately comprehend a warning spoken >> in the English language.... > > I find that if one is not expecting to be spoken too, the words are > often as comprehensible an an adult in an animated "Peanuts" cartoon, > especially when that person is moving at some speed. That hits the nail on the head, I think. > A bicycle bell is instantaneously recognizable for what it is and what > it implies. I learned from this discussion that this is not always/universally true. Or perhaps just not in California :P
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 06:41:10
From: Scott in SoCal
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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nmp <address@is.invalid > said in rec.autos.driving: >Tom Sherman wrote: > >> Zoot Katz wrote: >>> ... >>> A squealing front brake works very well around pedestrians as does a >>> bell. I find verbalised warnings less effective. Pedestrians tend to >>> move left if you say "on your left". Many of them don't know their left >>> from their right, nor do they immediately comprehend a warning spoken >>> in the English language.... >> >> I find that if one is not expecting to be spoken too, the words are >> often as comprehensible an an adult in an animated "Peanuts" cartoon, >> especially when that person is moving at some speed. > >That hits the nail on the head, I think. Even in that case, using your voice degenerates into the same ambiguous case as the bell; the pedestrian knows there's something approaching, and will hopefully be more alert. -- MFFYCam Videos Galore: http://www.geocities.com/mffycam/ http://slothkills.blip.tv/
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 07:09:02
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Scott in SoCal wrote: > nmp <address@is.invalid> said in rec.autos.driving: > >> Tom Sherman wrote: >> >>> Zoot Katz wrote: >>>> ... >>>> A squealing front brake works very well around pedestrians as does a >>>> bell. I find verbalised warnings less effective. Pedestrians tend to >>>> move left if you say "on your left". Many of them don't know their left >>>> from their right, nor do they immediately comprehend a warning spoken >>>> in the English language.... >>> I find that if one is not expecting to be spoken too, the words are >>> often as comprehensible an an adult in an animated "Peanuts" cartoon, >>> especially when that person is moving at some speed. >> That hits the nail on the head, I think. > > Even in that case, using your voice degenerates into the same > ambiguous case as the bell; the pedestrian knows there's something > approaching, and will hopefully be more alert. Precisely my point. Dana
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 09:31:17
From: nmp
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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frkrygow wrote: > If a "bike path" must be built, I'd prefer to see a "pedestrian path" > adjacent to it. And, of course, separated by at least a six-foot high > chain link fence with razor wire at the top. That will teach them ;)
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 09:30:07
From: nmp
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers wrote: > nmp wrote: >> Dana Myers wrote: > >>> The listener may not understand the words, but they'll know where it's >>> coming from and how quickly it's closing. >> >> If I use my bell, with its distinctive sound, I see people moving to >> the right of the path for me to pass. If I use my voice, I see them not >> reacting at all, because they were engaged in conversation already and >> are not paying attention. If they do react, they ask: "Heb je geen >> bel?" :) >> >> (transl.: don't you have a bell) > > Apparently, there's a cultural difference at play here. Oh, I'm sure of it ;) Bicycle bells are mandatory equipment in this country (since 1906), even before lights were (1926). And you still only need to have lights on your bike if you are indeed riding in the dark. > In my (admittedly limited) experience, people sharing multi-use paths > here in California are unaccustomed to hearing bike-bells Perhaps it's time to train/condition them... Start using a bell just half a second before saying, "on your left". Ask other cyclists to do the same. Start a newspaper campaign :) Just kidding of course. But your situation does seem a bit, well, "alien" to me. People who can't recognise a bicycle bell! > and seem to typically > just seem to be startled and jump forward when they hear a bell tinkle > (though I do not have a bell, I've seen a few riders use them with the > above results). > > Calling out "on your left" seems to be more effective in politely moving > pedestrians to the right without startling them. > > Then there are the families of 8 that wander all over the path that turn > and look at you regardless of whether you use a bell or speak, and then > wander right in front of you anyway. Oh, but we have those too. Not too mention the dog owners. Even when they must keep them on a leash, they use those long retractable type leashes and let their dogs walk almost freely where it wants to go. Which is of course always the other side of the path.
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 16:11:00
From: Matthew T. Russotto
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <4718791f$0$242$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl >, nmp <address@is.invalid > wrote: > >Oh, but we have those too. Not too mention the dog owners. Even when they >must keep them on a leash, they use those long retractable type leashes >and let their dogs walk almost freely where it wants to go. Which is of >course always the other side of the path. Aim for the owner. They're slower, more predictable, and you won't feel as bad if you do hit them. I once came upon some jokers holding a rope across a trail I use for rollerblading. I don't know what they planned but when I sped up and aimed directly for the smaller of the two idjits holding the rope, they moved. -- There's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one.
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 06:38:30
From: Scott in SoCal
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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nmp <address@is.invalid > said in rec.autos.driving: >> In my (admittedly limited) experience, people sharing multi-use paths >> here in California are unaccustomed to hearing bike-bells > >Perhaps it's time to train/condition them... Start using a bell just half >a second before saying, "on your left". Ask other cyclists to do the >same. Start a newspaper campaign :) > >Just kidding of course. But your situation does seem a bit, well, "alien" >to me. People who can't recognise a bicycle bell! I have not heard a bicycle bell since moving to SoCal over a decade ago. NOBODY here has/uses them. Still, a voice is superior to a bell or horn, as it is less ambiguous. You can tell the people exactly what you're doing (e.g. about to pass them on their left side), whereas a bell can only say "there's a pedalcyclist around here somewhere." -- MFFYCam Videos Galore: http://www.geocities.com/mffycam/ http://slothkills.blip.tv/
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 10:03:44
From: Brent P
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <8jchh3l9nit9t5gi41nga2tm0hsnvimchd@4ax.com >, Scott in SoCal wrote: > Still, a voice is superior to a bell or horn, as it is less ambiguous. > You can tell the people exactly what you're doing (e.g. about to pass > them on their left side), whereas a bell can only say "there's a > pedalcyclist around here somewhere." After being hassled by a cop because I used my voice to say 'Go Green light Go' to a slow motorist ahead of me, I purchased an airhorn. Instead of using my voice, I now use the horn. Not that I like yet another gizmo attached to my bicycle especially since I have to refill it with air (at least I found one that I can fill using a bicycle tire pump) but I have found that horn blasts are more socially acceptable. First I haven't been hassled by a cop for using it in the same manner I used my voice, second the hostile reactions of motorists is much reduced. For some reason they accept the horn, but a voice telling them they are slow, unobservant, posing a danger to others, etc is not. The horn is a rather limited dot and dash vocabulary though and creates more misunderstanding IMO, but less offfense.
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 19:09:44
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Brent P? wrote: > In article <8jchh3l9nit9t5gi41nga2tm0hsnvimchd@4ax.com>, Scott in SoCal wrote: > >> Still, a voice is superior to a bell or horn, as it is less ambiguous. >> You can tell the people exactly what you're doing (e.g. about to pass >> them on their left side), whereas a bell can only say "there's a >> pedalcyclist around here somewhere." > > After being hassled by a cop because I used my voice to say 'Go Green > light Go' to a slow motorist ahead of me, I purchased an airhorn. Instead > of using my voice, I now use the horn. Not that I like yet another gizmo > attached to my bicycle especially since I have to refill it with air (at > least I found one that I can fill using a bicycle tire pump) but I have > found that horn blasts are more socially acceptable. > > First I haven't been hassled by a cop for using it in the same manner I > used my voice, second the hostile reactions of motorists is much reduced. > For some reason they accept the horn, but a voice telling them they are > slow, unobservant, posing a danger to others, etc is not. The horn is a > rather limited dot and dash vocabulary though and creates more > misunderstanding IMO, but less offfense. I find the bicycle bell much LESS ambiguous. The spoken voice requires more interpretation, and required not only hearing the voice, but also being able understand the words, which is not a given due to poor diction, Doppler effect, and/or background noise. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 20:32:50
From: Scott in SoCal
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Tom Sherman <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com > said in rec.autos.driving: >I find the bicycle bell much LESS ambiguous. Really? So when you hear the bell, do you move to your right or to your left? >The spoken voice requires more interpretation Trivial unless you don't understand English. >and required not only hearing the voice, but also >being able understand the words, which is not a given due to poor >diction, Doppler effect, and/or background noise. If you hear the voice but can't understand the words, then that's precisely the same scenario as the bell: you know someone is approaching, but you don't know on which side. So the voice provides at least as much information as the bell, and in most cases much more. -- MFFYCam Videos Galore: http://www.geocities.com/mffycam/ http://slothkills.blip.tv/
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Date: 20 Oct 2007 00:08:43
From: Brent P
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <ghtih35p2lq32vq17qnj094h5e5ulpojgh@4ax.com >, Scott in SoCal wrote: > Tom Sherman <sunsetss0003@yahoo.com> said in rec.autos.driving: > >>I find the bicycle bell much LESS ambiguous. > > Really? So when you hear the bell, do you move to your right or to > your left? People should know to keep right, but they do that on bike trails worse than they drive.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 19:17:46
From:
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 18, 2:59 pm, Matt O'Toole <mattoto...@letterboxes.org > wrote: > > > It's sad that so many pedestrians feel the need to scurry out of the way, > completely off the trail, to let cyclists go by. Why is this sad? > Because: > > * So many people are unfamiliar enough with bicycles to fear them > > * Cyclists have probably exacerbated the problem by riding irresponsibly > around pedestrians -- passing too fast, too close, etc. But the blame is not only cyclists. Pedestrians certainly behave erratically and thoughtlessly as well. Not that I want to regiment them excessively. It's just a fact of life that pedestrians and bicyclists mix rather poorly. It's usually better for the cyclist to share space with motor vehicles, rather than peds. If a "bike path" must be built, I'd prefer to see a "pedestrian path" adjacent to it. And, of course, separated by at least a six-foot high chain link fence with razor wire at the top. - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 19:11:22
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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frkrygow@gmail.com aka Frank Krygowski wrote: > On Oct 18, 2:59 pm, Matt O'Toole <mattoto...@letterboxes.org> wrote: >> >> It's sad that so many pedestrians feel the need to scurry out of the way, >> completely off the trail, to let cyclists go by. Why is this sad? >> Because: >> >> * So many people are unfamiliar enough with bicycles to fear them >> >> * Cyclists have probably exacerbated the problem by riding irresponsibly >> around pedestrians -- passing too fast, too close, etc. > > But the blame is not only cyclists. Pedestrians certainly behave > erratically and thoughtlessly as well. > > Not that I want to regiment them excessively. It's just a fact of > life that pedestrians and bicyclists mix rather poorly. It's usually > better for the cyclist to share space with motor vehicles, rather than > peds. > > If a "bike path" must be built, I'd prefer to see a "pedestrian path" > adjacent to it. And, of course, separated by at least a six-foot high > chain link fence with razor wire at the top. A canopy over the trail at a height of about 4 feet would work wonders to keep undesirables off. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 16:01:30
From: Matt O'Toole
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:17:46 -0700, frkrygow wrote: > On Oct 18, 2:59 pm, Matt O'Toole <mattoto...@letterboxes.org> wrote: >> >> >> It's sad that so many pedestrians feel the need to scurry out of the way, >> completely off the trail, to let cyclists go by. Why is this sad? >> Because: >> >> * So many people are unfamiliar enough with bicycles to fear them >> >> * Cyclists have probably exacerbated the problem by riding irresponsibly >> around pedestrians -- passing too fast, too close, etc. > > But the blame is not only cyclists. Pedestrians certainly behave > erratically and thoughtlessly as well. I'll put the onus of safety on the one with greater potential to do harm. We want cars and trucks to respect our right to the road, yet we feel it's our right to go blasting through a bunch of pedestrians, and that it's their responsibility to stay out of "our" way? > Not that I want to regiment them excessively. It's just a fact of life > that pedestrians and bicyclists mix rather poorly. It's usually better > for the cyclist to share space with motor vehicles, rather than peds. All over the world, millions of cyclists and pedestrians mix just fine -- as do millions of bicyclists and motorists. Matt O.
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 20:36:58
From: Scott in SoCal
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Matt O'Toole <mattotoole@letterboxes.org > said in rec.autos.driving: >>> * Cyclists have probably exacerbated the problem by riding irresponsibly >>> around pedestrians -- passing too fast, too close, etc. >> >> But the blame is not only cyclists. Pedestrians certainly behave >> erratically and thoughtlessly as well. > >I'll put the onus of safety on the one with greater potential to do harm. I'll put the onus of safety on the ones who aren't following the rules of the road (or the trail). >We want cars and trucks to respect our right to the road, yet we feel it's >our right to go blasting through a bunch of pedestrians, and that it's >their responsibility to stay out of "our" way? I shouldn't have to "go blasting through a bunch of pedestrians" - those pedestrians should keep to the right and leave room for other trail users to pass them safely, not spread out and hog the whole goddamn trail as if they owned it. OTOH, if they're going to be selfish MFFYs and hog the whole road, then I have very little sympathy for them if a pedalcyclist "blasts" through the clum and startles/injures somebody. -- MFFYCam Videos Galore: http://www.geocities.com/mffycam/ http://slothkills.blip.tv/
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 19:13:27
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Matt O'Toole wrote: > On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:17:46 -0700, frkrygow wrote: > >> On Oct 18, 2:59 pm, Matt O'Toole <mattoto...@letterboxes.org> wrote: >>> >>> It's sad that so many pedestrians feel the need to scurry out of the way, >>> completely off the trail, to let cyclists go by. Why is this sad? >>> Because: >>> >>> * So many people are unfamiliar enough with bicycles to fear them >>> >>> * Cyclists have probably exacerbated the problem by riding irresponsibly >>> around pedestrians -- passing too fast, too close, etc. >> But the blame is not only cyclists. Pedestrians certainly behave >> erratically and thoughtlessly as well. > > I'll put the onus of safety on the one with greater potential to do harm.... The pedestrians are more dangerous to the cyclists than the reverse. The cyclist usually gets the worst of it in cyclist/pedestrian and cyclist/dog collisions. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 16:17:47
From: Matthew T. Russotto
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <pan.2007.10.19.20.01.26.563426@letterboxes.org >, Matt O'Toole <mattotoole@letterboxes.org > wrote: >On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:17:46 -0700, frkrygow wrote: > >> On Oct 18, 2:59 pm, Matt O'Toole <mattoto...@letterboxes.org> wrote: >>> >>> >>> It's sad that so many pedestrians feel the need to scurry out of the way, >>> completely off the trail, to let cyclists go by. Why is this sad? >>> Because: >>> >>> * So many people are unfamiliar enough with bicycles to fear them >>> >>> * Cyclists have probably exacerbated the problem by riding irresponsibly >>> around pedestrians -- passing too fast, too close, etc. >> >> But the blame is not only cyclists. Pedestrians certainly behave >> erratically and thoughtlessly as well. > >I'll put the onus of safety on the one with greater potential to do harm. That just subordinates your behavior to that of the least potentially harmful asshole. Group of joggers taking up the whole trail? Oh, dear, mustn't yell at them, mustn't pass them fast and close and make them feel uncomfortable, I guess I'll just have to stop and walk the bike past them. >All over the world, millions of cyclists and pedestrians mix just fine -- >as do millions of bicyclists and motorists. It only works if both sets of road or trail users are trying to make it work. If one is given a free pass because they're slower or lighter, they inevitably take advantage and fuck it up for everyone. -- There's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 18:24:05
From: Sir Ridesalot
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 8:36 pm, Dana Myers <dana.my...@gmail.com > wrote: > nmp wrote: > > Dana Myers wrote: > > >> Leo Lichtman wrote: > >>> "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to > >>> hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > >>> You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? > >> Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite "on your left". > >> Odd. > > > Spoken signals, even as polite as that, can be confusing. Just a little > > ping from a regular bicycle bell is instantly recognised by many people > > around the world as a sign that a cyclist is coming from behind. > > I frankly think a spoken signal, even one in a language not > understood by the listener, is better than a brief ding. The reason > is - it's an audible signal that someone is present, and the length > of the signal is more likely to convey sense of speed and direction. > > The listener may not understand the words, but they'll know where > it's coming from and how quickly it's closing. > > That is, as long as the listener isn't blasting the tunes... > > Dana Where I am when on the rail-trail calling out to walkers 'Passing on your left!' almost always causes them to move to their left. Go figure eh? I tried a bell but the walkers just stand there trying to figure out where the sound is coming from. Cheers
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 13:03:38
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <27adh3575u3j32o4seikqcga8ikbd9oacc@4ax.com >, Zoot Katz <zootkatz@operamail.com > writes: > I have a bell on all but maybe two of my bikes. It's the law. Besides > being a talisman against a hassle bust they're sometimes fun to ring > just for the joy of it. I haven't used my bell for a long time. I guess that's because I haven't cut through Central Park (in Burnaby, BC) for a long time. Sometimes while in there, I've had a bit o' fun just silently pacing along at a safe distance behind pedestrians, and seeing how long it takes before they notice I'm there. My clicky Shimano freewheel always eventually gives my presence away. The last few times I used my rubber bulb horn were to honk thank-yous to drivers who gave me breaks, and to show my support for striking CUPE workers. cheers, Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 21:06:14
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Tom Keats wrote: > ... > Sometimes while in there, I've had a bit o' fun > just silently pacing along at a safe distance > behind pedestrians, and seeing how long it > takes before they notice I'm there.... I rather pace behind young women on inline skates. Better scenery, and they move at a pace where one does not have to concentrate on balance. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 09:09:52
From: nmp
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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frkrygow wrote: > On Oct 17, 5:31 pm, nmp <addr...@is.invalid> wrote: >> Dana Myers wrote: >> > Leo Lichtman wrote: >> >> "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want >> >> to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. >> >> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or >> >> pushy? >> >> > Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite "on your left". >> > Odd. >> >> Spoken signals, even as polite as that, can be confusing. Just a little >> ping from a regular bicycle bell is instantly recognised by many people >> around the world as a sign that a cyclist is coming from behind. > > Hmm. I don't doubt that the bell is instantly recognized by many > people. Unfortunately, I seem to encounter the many _other_ people who > don't recognize it! Damn, I thought I was the only one who did encounter them from time to time :) But in those cases it seems to me you still have other options. > Oh well. I try to stay off most multi-user paths anyway. And when I'm > on one, I eventually get by the walkers one way or another. Of course, you always do, because in that case there is no alternative.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 09:06:58
From: nmp
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers wrote: > nmp wrote: >> Dana Myers wrote: >> >>> Leo Lichtman wrote: >>>> "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to >>>> hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >>>> You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? >>> Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite "on your left". >>> Odd. >> >> Spoken signals, even as polite as that, can be confusing. Just a little >> ping from a regular bicycle bell is instantly recognised by many people >> around the world as a sign that a cyclist is coming from behind. > > I frankly think a spoken signal, even one in a language not understood > by the listener, is better than a brief ding. The reason is - it's an > audible signal that someone is present, and the length of the signal is > more likely to convey sense of speed and direction. > > The listener may not understand the words, but they'll know where it's > coming from and how quickly it's closing. If I use my bell, with its distinctive sound, I see people moving to the right of the path for me to pass. If I use my voice, I see them not reacting at all, because they were engaged in conversation already and are not paying attention. If they do react, they ask: "Heb je geen bel?" :) (transl.: don't you have a bell) > That is, as long as the listener isn't blasting the tunes... On the bike paths in The Netherlands it is a different species that you have to be alert for. They are the retired Gazelle riding crowd, hard of hearing, slow of wit, always riding two abreast and with an enormous sense of entitlement.
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 15:57:19
From: Matthew T. Russotto
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <47172232$0$245$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl >, nmp <address@is.invalid > wrote: > >On the bike paths in The Netherlands it is a different species that you >have to be alert for. They are the retired Gazelle riding crowd, hard of >hearing, slow of wit, always riding two abreast and with an enormous >sense of entitlement. I suppose the broomhandle to the spokes is considered unsporting. -- There's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 07:08:06
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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nmp wrote: > Dana Myers wrote: >> The listener may not understand the words, but they'll know where it's >> coming from and how quickly it's closing. > > If I use my bell, with its distinctive sound, I see people moving to the > right of the path for me to pass. If I use my voice, I see them not > reacting at all, because they were engaged in conversation already and > are not paying attention. If they do react, they ask: "Heb je geen > bel?" :) > > (transl.: don't you have a bell) Apparently, there's a cultural difference at play here. In my (admittedly limited) experience, people sharing multi-use paths here in California are unaccustomed to hearing bike-bells and seem to typically just seem to be startled and jump forward when they hear a bell tinkle (though I do not have a bell, I've seen a few riders use them with the above results). Calling out "on your left" seems to be more effective in politely moving pedestrians to the right without startling them. Then there are the families of 8 that wander all over the path that turn and look at you regardless of whether you use a bell or speak, and then wander right in front of you anyway. Dana
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 09:24:23
From: Bill Sornson
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers wrote: > Calling out "on your left" seems to be more effective in > politely moving pedestrians to the right without startling > them. I find that more than half of them will turn and even move TO THEIR LEFT if you bark out an order like that. With or without a ding-ding-type bell, I'll slow down enough to stop if necessary and say something /conversational/ like, "I'm going to pass on your left side". Almost always works perfectly. Bill "a little courtesy goes a long way" S.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 09:55:11
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Bill Sornson wrote: > Dana Myers wrote: > >> Calling out "on your left" seems to be more effective in >> politely moving pedestrians to the right without startling >> them. > > I find that more than half of them will turn and even move TO THEIR LEFT if > you bark out an order like that. With or without a ding-ding-type bell, > I'll slow down enough to stop if necessary and say something > /conversational/ like, "I'm going to pass on your left side". Almost always > works perfectly. So, you're saying things work better when you swing to the left?
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 10:18:21
From: Bill Sornson
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers wrote: > Bill Sornson wrote: >> Dana Myers wrote: >> >>> Calling out "on your left" seems to be more effective in >>> politely moving pedestrians to the right without startling >>> them. >> >> I find that more than half of them will turn and even move TO THEIR >> LEFT if you bark out an order like that. With or without a >> ding-ding-type bell, I'll slow down enough to stop if necessary and >> say something /conversational/ like, "I'm going to pass on your left >> side". Almost always works perfectly. > > So, you're saying things work better when you swing to the left? Well, I did say /almost/ always.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 10:45:01
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Bill Sornson wrote: > Dana Myers wrote: >> Bill Sornson wrote: >>> Dana Myers wrote: >>> >>>> Calling out "on your left" seems to be more effective in >>>> politely moving pedestrians to the right without startling >>>> them. >>> I find that more than half of them will turn and even move TO THEIR >>> LEFT if you bark out an order like that. With or without a >>> ding-ding-type bell, I'll slow down enough to stop if necessary and >>> say something /conversational/ like, "I'm going to pass on your left >>> side". Almost always works perfectly. >> So, you're saying things work better when you swing to the left? > > Well, I did say /almost/ always. ;-)
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 23:56:16
From:
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 5:31 pm, nmp <addr...@is.invalid > wrote: > Dana Myers wrote: > > Leo Lichtman wrote: > >> "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to > >> hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > >> You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? > > > Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite "on your left". > > Odd. > > Spoken signals, even as polite as that, can be confusing. Just a little > ping from a regular bicycle bell is instantly recognised by many people > around the world as a sign that a cyclist is coming from behind. Hmm. I don't doubt that the bell is instantly recognized by many people. Unfortunately, I seem to encounter the many _other_ people who don't recognize it! Oh well. I try to stay off most multi-user paths anyway. And when I'm on one, I eventually get by the walkers one way or another. - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 14:59:09
From: Matt O'Toole
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:56:16 -0700, frkrygow wrote: > On Oct 17, 5:31 pm, nmp <addr...@is.invalid> wrote: >> Spoken signals, even as polite as that, can be confusing. Just a little >> ping from a regular bicycle bell is instantly recognised by many people >> around the world as a sign that a cyclist is coming from behind. > Hmm. I don't doubt that the bell is instantly recognized by many > people. Unfortunately, I seem to encounter the many _other_ people who > don't recognize it! It's probably not as well recognized as it used to be, now that a whole generation has grown up *not* riding bicycles. Spoken signals are great, as long as they're polite. Too many riders are constantly barking orders at pedestrians. It's embarrassing to ride with these people. It's sad that so many pedestrians feel the need to scurry out of the way, completely off the trail, to let cyclists go by. Why is this sad? Because: * So many people are unfamiliar enough with bicycles to fear them * Cyclists have probably exacerbated the problem by riding irresponsibly around pedestrians -- passing too fast, too close, etc. Matt O.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 21:42:30
From: Matt O'Toole
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:34:52 +0000, Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will wake > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. I've used one for 15 years. Bells are so much cheerier than, "On your left!" Matt O.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 21:06:36
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Matt O'Toole wrote: > On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:34:52 +0000, Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS > wrote: > >> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it >> was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't >> have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when >> coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will wake >> the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. > > I've used one for 15 years. Bells are so much cheerier than, "On your > left!" INDEED! -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 17:55:07
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 3:12 pm, Dana Myers <dana.my...@gmail.com > wrote: > Leo Lichtman wrote: > > "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to hear > > some biker telling me to get outta the way. > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > > You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? > > Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite > "on your left". Odd. Such hyperbole. The rest of the world uses bike bells because they're sort of a universal sound. The bike goes ding ding, the car goes beep beep, the cow goes moo, etc. Can't think of any country where people use words instead of the proper tool, outside of north America.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 21:59:25
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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landotter wrote: > Can't think of any country where people > use words instead of the proper tool, outside of north America. Does the United Nations General Assembly count?
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 23:01:29
From: Sir Thomas of Cannondale
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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I carry a boat horn. Very, very loud. What I like to do is sneak up on the poor victim. Get very close .. then let em have it. Scares the crap out of em. ====================== "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2001@yahoo.com > wrote in message news:Xns99CC5E8CC07Briemann1850yahoocom@216.168.3.70... > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will > wake > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 18:10:41
From: Zoot Katz
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:01:29 GMT, "Sir Thomas of Cannondale" <tomcatm@verizon.net > wrote: >I carry a boat horn. Very, very loud. >What I like to do is sneak up on the poor victim. Get very close .. then >let em have it. > >Scares the crap out of em. > >====================== >"Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2001@yahoo.com> wrote in >message news:Xns99CC5E8CC07Briemann1850yahoocom@216.168.3.70... >> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it >> was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't >> have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when >> coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will >> wake >> the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. > I have a bell on all but maybe two of my bikes. It's the law. Besides being a talisman against a hassle bust they're sometimes fun to ring just for the joy of it. I'd be less inclined to have one on a bike used exclusively off-road. Since many bikes are driven to a trail access point before the rider mounts it, it doesn't need a bell to be legal. Were I expecting to encounter bears, skunks or hikers along the trail, I'd probably have a bell on that bike too. A squealing front brake works very well around pedestrians as does a bell. I find verbalised warnings less effective. Pedestrians tend to move left if you say "on your left". Many of them don't know their left from their right, nor do they immediately comprehend a warning spoken in the English language. Stuck on a bike without a bell, I like saying "Gucci, Gucci, Gucci" instead of imitating a bell. Another surprisingly audible, inoffensive neutral universal warning is to hiss with a prolonged S. For communicating with the stunned caged scum who plague our roads, I've no qualms about using an air horn when circumstances warrant. My 120 dB AirZound has stopped a Lexus and a Jeep but I don't feel it's expressive enough. Like today verbalising, "stay there you disgusting chunk of monkey snot", had the desired results when some stunned puke would have deliberately right hooked me at a light had I been the slightest bit acquiescent or intimidated by his scud. -- zk
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 21:03:37
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Zoot Katz wrote: > ... > A squealing front brake works very well around pedestrians as does a > bell. I find verbalised warnings less effective. Pedestrians tend to > move left if you say "on your left". Many of them don't know their > left from their right, nor do they immediately comprehend a warning > spoken in the English language.... I find that if one is not expecting to be spoken too, the words are often as comprehensible an an adult in an animated "Peanuts" cartoon, especially when that person is moving at some speed. A bicycle bell is instantaneously recognizable for what it is and what it implies. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 01:36:52
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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"Zoot Katz" wroe: (clip) "stay there you disgusting chunk of monkey snot", had the desired results (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ He was probably sitting there trying to figure out what it was you were shouting.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 21:31:31
From: nmp
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers wrote: > Leo Lichtman wrote: >> "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to >> hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >> You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? > > Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite "on your left". > Odd. Spoken signals, even as polite as that, can be confusing. Just a little ping from a regular bicycle bell is instantly recognised by many people around the world as a sign that a cyclist is coming from behind.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 17:36:05
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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nmp wrote: > Dana Myers wrote: > >> Leo Lichtman wrote: >>> "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to >>> hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >>> You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? >> Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite "on your left". >> Odd. > > Spoken signals, even as polite as that, can be confusing. Just a little > ping from a regular bicycle bell is instantly recognised by many people > around the world as a sign that a cyclist is coming from behind. I frankly think a spoken signal, even one in a language not understood by the listener, is better than a brief ding. The reason is - it's an audible signal that someone is present, and the length of the signal is more likely to convey sense of speed and direction. The listener may not understand the words, but they'll know where it's coming from and how quickly it's closing. That is, as long as the listener isn't blasting the tunes... Dana
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 13:57:31
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 2:51 pm, "Leo Lichtman" <l.licht...@worldnet.att.net > wrote: > Two of us rode up behind an old couple that were walking side-by-side on a > multi-use trail. I guess our bikes were pretty quiet-- they didn't notice > us for several seconds, and we just rolled along behind them. Suddenly, the > woman saw us and they moved aside, while she said, in a German accent: "You > need a kling-aling; a good Churman kling-a-ling." Ja! All bikes need a kling-a-ling. At least on bike paths. I have a bell on my fast bike for this reason. My city bike is bell-less, so if I use it on the bike/ped path, I resort to "ring ring" or "brrrrrring!" or even "aaoooogah!" With the last one, people give you scads of clearance!
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 13:14:53
From:
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 2:22 pm, "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2...@yahoo.com > wrote: > Dana Myers <dana.my...@gmail.com> wrote innews:dLGdnYlS5ps4vovanZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com: > > > Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: > >> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and > >> realized it was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why > >> most bikers don't have a bell or horn on their bike to use when > >> overtaking a hiker or when coming around a sharp curve. > > > You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a > > little bell? > > > Dana > > No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. I've got a bell on a couple of my bikes. I find "Excuse me" or better yet, "bicycle" to be FAR more effective. - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 16:22:56
From: necromancer
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Someone: > On Oct 17, 2:22 pm, "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" > <xeton2...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > Dana Myers <dana.my...@gmail.com> wrote innews:dLGdnYlS5ps4vovanZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com: > > > > > Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: > > >> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and > > >> realized it was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why > > >> most bikers don't have a bell or horn on their bike to use when > > >> overtaking a hiker or when coming around a sharp curve. > > > > > You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a > > > little bell? > > > > > Dana > > > > No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. > > I've got a bell on a couple of my bikes. I find "Excuse me" or better > yet, "bicycle" to be FAR more effective. IF for some reason I encounter a pedestrian (or even another bicycle) that I have to pass at close range, I find a simple, "on your left," or, "on you right," (as appropriate) to be effective. No need for a horn or bell to startle people (unless, of course, they have the ipod or bluetooth buried in their ear).
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 08:12:23
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 10:00 am, Dana Myers <dana.my...@gmail.com > wrote: > Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: > > > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't > > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > > coming around a sharp curve. > > You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a > little bell? no.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 08:00:27
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > coming around a sharp curve. You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a little bell? Dana
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 17:52:22
From: DanKMTB@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 22, 11:30 am, frkry...@gmail.com wrote: > On Oct 19, 11:36 pm, Scott in SoCal <scottenazt...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > I shouldn't have to "go blasting through a bunch of pedestrians" - > > those pedestrians should keep to the right and leave room for other > > trail users to pass them safely, not spread out and hog the whole > > goddamn trail as if they owned it. > > I agree. It's rude for five housewives to walk shoulder to shoulder > down a Multi-User Path. I'm sure if those same housewives > encountered five teenagers walking shoulder to shoulder through their > favorite shopping mall, they'd cluck like angry hens. > > But another point: Why is it that peds are expected to keep to the > _right_ on a MUP? If they followed the rules for _roads_ and kept to > their left, facing the traffic on wheels, we could skip this whole > discussion of bells. > > It's just evidence that MUPs are thought of as sidewalks, not > streets. The people riding bikes on them are willfully choosing a > sidewalk environment. And on MUPs, as on sidewalks, bicycles and > pedestrians mix poorly. > > - Frank Krygowski There is a bike path in Salem MA that is treated like a MUP, even though it's a city designated bike path. I've been yelled at to slow down on that path by said group while they were walking 5 or 6 wide, blocking the entirety of the path in BOTH directions, coming at me head to head. This is on my mountain bike, on the way to or from the trails, on my middle ring. I don't keep a computer on the mtb, but I couldn't have been going much faster than 15mph, and estimate it was closer to 12. I had to ride off the trail to get around them. None of this was uncommon on that path, and I only used it to get me to a certain trail or on foul weather days when it was actually suitable for the road bike (read: empty).
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 21:29:14
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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DanKMTB@gmail.com wrote: > ... > There is a bike path in Salem MA that is treated like a MUP, even > though it's a city designated bike path. I've been yelled at to slow > down on that path by said group while they were walking 5 or 6 wide, > blocking the entirety of the path in BOTH directions, coming at me > head to head.... See <http://sheldonbrown.com/lirpa.html#bayonetz >. As usual, Sheldon has the answer. ;) -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 23 Oct 2007 15:58:28
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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The idea of locking a brake to keep the bike from rolling and tipping is good for another reason. If you can lock a brake, this is a deterrent to casual theft. The person decides to walk away or ride away on your bike, but something is wrong--it just won't go. The important thing here is that the brake should be jammed in a non-obvious way, such as inserting a wedge or shim at a caliper, or at the noodle.
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Date: 22 Oct 2007 08:30:10
From:
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 19, 11:36 pm, Scott in SoCal <scottenazt...@yahoo.com > wrote: > > > I shouldn't have to "go blasting through a bunch of pedestrians" - > those pedestrians should keep to the right and leave room for other > trail users to pass them safely, not spread out and hog the whole > goddamn trail as if they owned it. I agree. It's rude for five housewives to walk shoulder to shoulder down a Multi-User Path. I'm sure if those same housewives encountered five teenagers walking shoulder to shoulder through their favorite shopping mall, they'd cluck like angry hens. But another point: Why is it that peds are expected to keep to the _right_ on a MUP? If they followed the rules for _roads_ and kept to their left, facing the traffic on wheels, we could skip this whole discussion of bells. It's just evidence that MUPs are thought of as sidewalks, not streets. The people riding bikes on them are willfully choosing a sidewalk environment. And on MUPs, as on sidewalks, bicycles and pedestrians mix poorly. - Frank Krygowski
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Date: 23 Oct 2007 15:28:36
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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frkrygow@gmail.com wrote: > On Oct 19, 11:36 pm, Scott in SoCal <scottenazt...@yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> I shouldn't have to "go blasting through a bunch of pedestrians" - >> those pedestrians should keep to the right and leave room for other >> trail users to pass them safely, not spread out and hog the whole >> goddamn trail as if they owned it. > > I agree. It's rude for five housewives to walk shoulder to shoulder > down a Multi-User Path. I'm sure if those same housewives > encountered five teenagers walking shoulder to shoulder through their > favorite shopping mall, they'd cluck like angry hens. > > But another point: Why is it that peds are expected to keep to the > _right_ on a MUP? If they followed the rules for _roads_ and kept to > their left, facing the traffic on wheels, we could skip this whole > discussion of bells. Ahhh... the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail in the American River Parkway from Sacramento to Folsom has signs explicitly directing pedestrians to walk on the gravel shoulder on the left, and many do. It's wonderful, and no bell is required. However, some pedestrians will simply wander around the trail without paying attention to the signs, or the frequent oncoming bicyclists. It is almost as if they *want* to be hit. I don't think a bell would help these folks, either. Dana
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 22:04:29
From: Murderous Speeding Drunken Distracted Driver (Hector Goldstein)
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers wrote: >Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: >> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it >> was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't >> have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when >> coming around a sharp curve. > >You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a >little bell? He's referred to as "tinkerbell" at the bath houses for a multitude of reasons. -- "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's homosexuallity: the guys at the bath-house stopped laughing at my 3 inch weenie. : http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.autos.driving/msg/168e8e621dd649fb?hl=en "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's ability to operate a vehicle: I must be doing something right to go 3 1/2 years without a fatal crash. : http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/msg/a376114ee8a61824?hl=en
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 18:22:22
From: Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers <dana.myers@gmail.com > wrote in news:dLGdnYlS5ps4vovanZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com: > Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: >> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and >> realized it was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why >> most bikers don't have a bell or horn on their bike to use when >> overtaking a hiker or when coming around a sharp curve. > > You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a > little bell? > > Dana > No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way.
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 15:00:53
From: Imam Widdershins
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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The vile and infidel swine, "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS," defiled Allah (Praises be unto His Name) in rec.autos.driving with this blasphemous prose: > No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. Have you ever driven a car faster than the posted speed limit. Allah wants you to address that issue. Imam Widdershins
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 22:05:03
From: Murderous Speeding Drunken Distracted Driver (Hector Goldstein)
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: >Dana Myers <dana.myers@gmail.com> wrote in >news:dLGdnYlS5ps4vovanZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com: > >> Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: >>> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and >>> realized it was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why >>> most bikers don't have a bell or horn on their bike to use when >>> overtaking a hiker or when coming around a sharp curve. >> >> You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a >> little bell? >> >> Dana >> > >No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. Please, don't get out of their way. Preferably if that biker is driving a Harley. -- "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's homosexuallity: the guys at the bath-house stopped laughing at my 3 inch weenie. : http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.autos.driving/msg/168e8e621dd649fb?hl=en "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's ability to operate a vehicle: I must be doing something right to go 3 1/2 years without a fatal crash. : http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/msg/a376114ee8a61824?hl=en
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 13:11:59
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: > Dana Myers <dana.myers@gmail.com> wrote in > news:dLGdnYlS5ps4vovanZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com: > >> Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: >>> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and >>> realized it was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why >>> most bikers don't have a bell or horn on their bike to use when >>> overtaking a hiker or when coming around a sharp curve. >> You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a >> little bell? >> >> Dana >> > > No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. So you'd prefer a blast of a horn instead? I didn't think you made sense to begin with, now I *know* you don't. Dana
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 22:07:09
From: Murderous Speeding Drunken Distracted Driver (Hector Goldstein)
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Dana Myers wrote: >Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: >> Dana Myers <dana.myers@gmail.com> wrote in >> news:dLGdnYlS5ps4vovanZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@comcast.com: >> >>> Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS wrote: >>>> Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and >>>> realized it was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why >>>> most bikers don't have a bell or horn on their bike to use when >>>> overtaking a hiker or when coming around a sharp curve. >>> You don't think a verbal greeting is at least as effective as a >>> little bell? >>> >>> Dana >>> >> >> No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. > >So you'd prefer a blast of a horn instead? I didn't think >you made sense to begin with, now I *know* you don't. > >Dana Just wait. -- "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's homosexuallity: the guys at the bath-house stopped laughing at my 3 inch weenie. : http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.autos.driving/msg/168e8e621dd649fb?hl=en "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's ability to operate a vehicle: I must be doing something right to go 3 1/2 years without a fatal crash. : http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/msg/a376114ee8a61824?hl=en
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 19:51:01
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Two of us rode up behind an old couple that were walking side-by-side on a multi-use trail. I guess our bikes were pretty quiet-- they didn't notice us for several seconds, and we just rolled along behind them. Suddenly, the woman saw us and they moved aside, while she said, in a German accent: "You need a kling-aling; a good Churman kling-a-ling."
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 19:45:50
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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"Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to hear some biker telling me to get outta the way. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy?
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 22:05:25
From: Murderous Speeding Drunken Distracted Driver (Hector Goldstein)
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Leo Lichtman wrote: > >"Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to hear >some biker telling me to get outta the way. >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? Actually, he finds it beyond his ability to comprehend. -- "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's homosexuallity: the guys at the bath-house stopped laughing at my 3 inch weenie. : http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.autos.driving/msg/168e8e621dd649fb?hl=en "Speeders And Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS" brags of it's ability to operate a vehicle: I must be doing something right to go 3 1/2 years without a fatal crash. : http://groups.google.com/group/misc.transport.road/msg/a376114ee8a61824?hl=en
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 13:12:57
From: Dana Myers
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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Leo Lichtman wrote: > "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" wrote: No - i don't want to hear > some biker telling me to get outta the way. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > You find, "On your left, please," abrasive or pushy? Apparently, he/she prefers a horn blast to a polite "on your left". Odd. Dana
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 07:38:40
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 1:34 am, "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2...@yahoo.com > wrote: > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > was a biker and moved over. I have a bell on the fixed gear I do laps with on the greenways--and I'm not very bright. Don't make grand assumptions that us dingers are smart. /reinserts finger into nostril
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 12:51:02
From: bluezfolk
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 1:34 am, "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2...@yahoo.com > wrote: > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will wake > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. Maybe if you keep at it long enough you'll even meet an intelligent hiker someday.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 12:48:18
From: DanKMTB@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 2:34 am, "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2...@yahoo.com > wrote: > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will wake > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. Mikey? Is that you? Anyway, I've got one of those devices. It's got a wide range of tones, warnings and an adjustable volume control. It's also operated hands free. I call it "my voice". I was going to get a patent, but it seems I'm not the only one who has come up with this. Alas.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 02:19:05
From:
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Oct 17, 6:01 pm, "Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - Global Warming Edition =AE" <b...@bellsouth.net > wrote: > "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2...@yahoo.com> wrote in > messagenews:Xns99CC5E8CC07Briemann1850yahoocom@216.168.3.70... > > > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized= it > > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers do= n't > > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will > > wake > > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. > > Well, I always thought my sqealing XT front v-brake was enough to give me > away instead of a bell. The voice works OK too. Trouble is the ped usually has an iPod bored into their head.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 16:06:27
From: necromancer
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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: > On Oct 17, 6:01 pm, "Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - Global Warming Edition =AE" > <b...@bellsouth.net> wrote: > > "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2...@yahoo.com> wrote in > > messagenews:Xns99CC5E8CC07Briemann1850yahoocom@216.168.3.70... > > > > > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realiz= ed it > > > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers = don't > > > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or w= hen > > > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that wil= l > > > wake > > > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. > > > > Well, I always thought my sqealing XT front v-brake was enough to give = me > > away instead of a bell. >=20 > The voice works OK too. Trouble is the ped usually has an iPod bored > into their head. For which, only the air horn from an 18-wheeler will penetrate the sonic=20 fortress around the ped's ears.... --=20 "Speeders & Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS," supports letting drunks drive: "Yup - another scam by the automakers to increase car prices and thereby profits for themeselves." --"Speeders & Drunk Drivers Are MURDERERS," 3/27/07 Ref: http://snipurl.com/1dwi4 Message ID: mKaOh.17057$tD2.15903@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 09:16:30
From: dgk
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:19:05 -0700, idomybestworkonabike@hotmail.com wrote: >On Oct 17, 6:01 pm, "Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - Global Warming Edition ®" ><b...@bellsouth.net> wrote: >> "Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2...@yahoo.com> wrote in >> messagenews:Xns99CC5E8CC07Briemann1850yahoocom@216.168.3.70... >> >> > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it >> > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't >> > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when >> > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will >> > wake >> > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. >> >> Well, I always thought my sqealing XT front v-brake was enough to give me >> away instead of a bell. > >The voice works OK too. Trouble is the ped usually has an iPod bored >into their head. That really is a problem. My bell doesn't seem to penetrate at all. Yelling sort of does the job. I think the old airhorn might be necessary. I think I'll order one.
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Date: 19 Oct 2007 15:43:45
From: Matthew T. Russotto
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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In article <qv1ch31qgn2cmm4goer24uvcegg6ei10iu@4ax.com >, dgk <dgk@somewhere.com > wrote: >On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:19:05 -0700, idomybestworkonabike@hotmail.com >wrote: >> >>The voice works OK too. Trouble is the ped usually has an iPod bored >>into their head. > >That really is a problem. My bell doesn't seem to penetrate at all. >Yelling sort of does the job. I think the old airhorn might be >necessary. I think I'll order one. A length of 2x4 delivered to the back of the head as you pass them after they ignore your warning should do the job as well. If there's several of them side-by-side blocking most or all of the ROW, you'll need a larger 2x4. -- There's no such thing as a free lunch, but certain accounting practices can result in a fully-depreciated one.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 04:01:31
From: Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - Global Warming Edition ®
Subject: Re: Finally I Meet An Intelligent Mountain Biker
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"Speeders & Drunk Drivers are MURDERERS" <xeton2001@yahoo.com > wrote in message news:Xns99CC5E8CC07Briemann1850yahoocom@216.168.3.70... > Was walking along a trail and heard a bell sound behind me and realized it > was a biker and moved over. I've pondered for years why most bikers don't > have a bell or horn on their bike to use when overtaking a hiker or when > coming around a sharp curve. It doesn't have to be something that will > wake > the dead; just something loud enough to hear 30 feet away. Well, I always thought my sqealing XT front v-brake was enough to give me away instead of a bell.
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