on your left is still the polite way to pass. you know as well as i do this guy was just an angry fool, and by far the exception to the rule. now, riding on the left while not passing is NOT the exception to the rule. unfortunately. let me give you a little history.

i suggested to a prominent west coast head ref, and this was maybe 15 years ago, that he take the time in between waves to give a 30sec reminder to each wave (since they had nothing else to do but listen). just, you know, the basics. including, ride on the right, EASE to the left when passing, and make sure you complete the pass.

he told me no, his job was to officiate, not to educate. fortunately that attitude did not persist and i was happy to eventually see refs do precisely what i suggested to this ref. sadly, tho, i note that this behavior has kind of fallen off, and maybe that's because a lot of RDs are not choosing to "buy" refs and the RDs themselves aren't taking advantage of these times between waves to remind folks of these rules.

i raced yesterday, my first road tri in quite a few years i think, and i had to nicely remind a fair number of people of this. but nobody was agro.

you got the odd curmudgeon. that's very rare. but RDs could do themselves, you, and the angry fool a favor if they did a little more to keep that from happening.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

"On your left" is great if you want a decent percentage of people to veer left into you. Try "passing" instead.

Or, I find a bell works wonders :-)

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

I've seen on FB recently an air horn also works...

i agree. the bell is great. just, you used your bell in which triathlon? ;-)

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

Blocking is becoming a huge problem on IM bike courses. People seem to bike like they drive, never leaving the left side. Some dude did this to me at Chat 70.3 this year and turned to spit in my face. Then he accused me of drafting. It was shameful behavior on his part. I passed him like a little biatch though. Eff em!

I always go with “Left Side!”

And then in my head is whisper “strong side” 😂

Since half of the people I pass are wearing ear-buds and the other half don't hear me until I'm right next to them I rarely say anything anymore.

The only time I say anything is when some dumbass is riding left and I need them to move out of the way. It’s just not necessary to say anything when they’re riding to the right and I can pass them giving plenty of room.

This is a good point. I’m an “on your left” guy but I might be changing now.

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Aaron Bales
Lansing Triathlon Team

Agree. I've guessed that many RDs say little or nothing about positioning rules in pre-race announcements because they worry about intimidating the newbies with too many rules.

I had to instruct a adolescent female riding very near the center line yesterday to stay right unless passing. I was able to easily pass on the right so maybe I didn't sound too much like an old curmudgeon.

Ignore them. A special place in hell is reserved for people like that.

However, always look to set an example by politely letting people know when you are passing them. Over here in the lands up over (NZ and Aus) I always say 'Passing right' as a minimum, adding 'when there's a chance' if on trails.

As for the people with earphones? I usually find 'PASSING RIGHT' as I'm close to them works. Just have to be careful they don't fall off/fall over in front of you!

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Trust me I’m a doctor!
Well, I have a PhD :-)

I had a guy, not in a race, who started to have a fit when I wouldn't move from the far right (he was riding on the left, going against traffic). He looked like a legit cyclist. I think some people are so unaware of their surroundings sometimes.

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USAT Level II- Ironman U Certified Coach

But, I thought the OP was talking about a bike path encounter, no?

Anyway...are bells illegal in triathlon or something?

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

So "Pull the €¿§¡ over if you're not passing!" is actually not the preferred phrasing?

I am so, so sorry to the very, very few of you that I have been able to pass.

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I normally just get really close behind to catch as much draft as I can and then scream left.

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@floathammerholdon | @partners_in_tri

He's probably taking a bit too much Testosterone from his anti-aging doctor.

I second the use of "passing left" instead of "on your left." I can't speak in the context of races, but this has proven to cause less pedestrian and other cyclist confusion over time.

I'd say it generally works for me but 1 in 10 do interpret it as an invitation to race and try to deny the pass.

i might have to try to that, or ideally "passing on your left" if i have the breath - every so often you get someone who just hears "left" so moves left just as you're moving past them.
unfortunately in the heat of the moment we don't necessarily process things as well as we might otherwise and similarly it makes it hard for me to change from my standard call

it should only be necessary when road space is tight though

On some multi loop courses ‘on your left’ is practically a song.

I never say anything unless they start to move left as I'm passing.
Then I say "hup hup!".
I have had to use the "keep to the right, asshole" only a few times for egregious displays of cycling etiquette ignorance.

The cool thing about bells is that most people instinctively move to the right upon hearing them. Rarely have I ever had anyone move to the left. Plus, they're just, I don't know...nicer.

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Jim Manton / ERO Sports

Whether racing or training I only tend to use "on your left" (or "on your right" in some countries!) if one of the following applies:
- The rider I'm passing is riding erratically
- The rider is in the middle of the lane and I want to make a point
- I'm going to have to pass quite close because of a narrow lane or somebody passing me at the same time
- There's another rider or other obstacle coming up that is likely to cause him to change his line

If he's well pulled over to his side of the road, there's plenty of space and nothing else going on then I'll generally just give a bit of extra room and not bother saying anything. That said I'd rather people used "on your left" 100% of the time than not use it at all when they're passing closely.

I always use "Coming through, on your right" (I'm in the UK where we use the correct side of the road)

I’ll say “on your left” and give them a “thank you” as I pass. It racing I’ll slow down

Local to me, this is ALWAYS an issue if there is any kind of trail or bike lane. Open road when training, not really.

But 90% of the time it's people walking or jogging with headphones right square in the middle of the trail or all the way left.

I guess these are the same self righteous left-lane camping drivers on the road too. They just forgot they're on a bike and not in a car.

I just pass them - if they are not riding on the right where they should be - I buzz them. Is it safe? eh debatable.

You should have squirted him with your water bottle as you passed and then just saw how long he could hang while he tried to chase you haha

I tell them "on your left" and when going buy I also remind them to stay right. Don't care if they get pissed or not......that's their problem.

This... it's such a roll of the dice as to what somebody will do when / if they hear you I generally just go by. I'm not terribly loud to start with unfortunately.
The bell is a good idea though. You can usually hear those a good ways off.

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My Blog - http://leegoocrap.blogspot.com

"Passing on your left"

Grumpy guy aside, I've found that yelling out a direction typically results in athletes moving in that direction. As a result, "On your left" will yield an athlete moving to the left. Since most athletes know that they are supposed to be on the right, I've had more success with yelling, "Good morning". They move right. On the rare occasion that they don't move right, I substitute, "Excuse me please". That combo hasn't failed me.

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

Ya if they are being super arrogant and rude about it when I pass - I slow down - look them straight in the eye with a dead serious face - and say, "I will f**k your wife".

usually shuts them up - even if they are pissy - because who says that? haha

The correct thing to do is buy a structural carbon disc wheel. People will move out of the way because they think Stringfellow Hawk is on their six.

People racing in the center of the road drive me nuts. I cannot cross the center line and I am not supposed to pass them on the right, so unless they move over I need to slow down. There should be a special penalty tent for these people...

In training, I have more of an issue with the "On your left" debate running than cycling. In my area, I find most cyclists expect it. It is the random pedestrian on the sidewalk I have a hard time passing. Either I run up and pass them and scare the s*** out of them by not saying something, or I scare the s*** out of them yelling 20 feet back that I am about to come by. Either-way, I seem to make them uncomfortable.

I had some success with “Please stay on your right” followed by “thank you”.

That’s great for one off pass, but if there are tons of ppl on the course that gets old pretty quick.

Certain bell sounds also seem to make people nicer as well.

Before the "mini-cowbells" became the norm around here for MTBs (so other trail users would know a bike was descending towards them), I was already using a small "jingle bell" on my bike that's original purpose was for the end of a fishing rod as a bite alert. It was amazing all the smiles I saw on other trail users as I descended with that bell clamped to one of my brake cables. Instead of being surprised by my presence, they basically heard the sound of Christmas, or the Good Humor ice cream man as advanced warning. Who could be mad? :-)

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

I did eagleman also. Definitely a decent amount of people riding center or left on the road. Not sure why anyone would be upset about asking them to move a certain direction. It takes like 2 seconds and zero effort to do so.

I also needed to pass a couple people through the little curvy section of the run through the trees. Just a quick "Comin' up on your left" and they would slow up and move over. I would make sure I wasn't buzzing them as I went by though even would hope off the sidewalk if needed so I gave them room.

Couple questions not directed at your specifically: If someone is riding close to the yellow line, what is the best course of action, pass them on the right or cross over the yellow to pass them on the left? I honestly usually pass left every time. I'll cross the yellow line if needed but also never pass anyone if a car is coming the opposite direction unless they are on the shoulder or almost on the white line. I'll just sit up and wait for the car to pass. Just not worth the risk of the person pulling left and me having to worry about hitting them or the car coming toward me.

If you come up on 2 or more people and one person begins to pass another, are you supposed to slow up and let that pass happen before you start your pass? or are you allowed to make a pass while another rider is making a pass (hope that makes sense)?

Yep - also did Eagleman and noticed some bizzaro and annoying bike behavior as well.

My pet peeve is left lane hoggers when driving, also hate it when riding. Make your pass, then move right. Don't hang out in the "left lane." Almost everyone is bound to get passed, unless you're going to win, so drop the ego and move right.

Because of the left lane hoggers at Eagleman, I saw a couple people pass on the right and a couple people go across the yellow line into the oncoming traffic lane to make their pass - yikes, I never recommend either of those moves.

On the opposite end of the spectrum - I saw a guy that ended up so far right that a little lapse in concentration and he hit the edge of the pavement and took a tumble. Luckily he didn't take anyone else down with him and he got right back up...but still, ouch!

But really - on the whole, it was a pretty spacious and draft-free ride.

When riding on a road with those road reflectors. I find it great practice to weave in and out of them in the aero bars - akin to a skier and doing poles. That way, during a race, you are always prepared to weave in whatever direction fits your fancy. Is it dangerous? Oh absolutely. But I also take my salad dressing right on my salad and not on the side, where there is no going back.

Yep, Jane, you could get away with that

I'd get punched

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Now that sir, is a nice reference!

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Team Zoot-Texas, and Pickle Juice

In training, it's the same for me. Never really have an issue with cyclists. Unless I know I'm going to scare them by sneaking up on them, or if they are riding erratically, I just pass. In a race though, people assume that the road belongs to the cyclists since it's race day. And they are riding, so they can do what they want on the road. Very annoying. I still only say anything when I think there is a legitimate chance of a collision or if I really need to pass and they are actively blocking and not making their own pass.

I live in an area with miles and miles of multi use paths. Plenty of people just taking a stroll. I only run on those trails, but always have to pass people taking up the whole trail. And that's no issue. It's a family out with their kids or something and that's what makes where I live enjoyable. But as soon as you say on your left or something, it's like a mad scramble to figure out what to do. So instead, I just try to get as noisy as possible from far back. I'll purposefully look for leaves to run through or start coughing and breathing louder. Usually does a better job than the verbal "on your left". No idea why, but if they hear you "naturally" it doesn't seem to get the same panicky response.

Absolutely. The "jingle" bells offer up a much nicer sound runners, walkers, and hikers genuinely seem to appreciate. On the dirt, we all need to be out there "shaking hands and kissing babies" to protect our ability to access the roads/trails. It's amazing how far a simple "Enjoy your run/walk/hike" goes.

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Jim Manton / ERO Sports

I still say on your left, and if they get angry, I slow down and politely listen then say

"I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! I Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time"

Wow, I kinda like it. I will definitely add this to my list of "on your left" warnings.

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Team Zoot-Texas, and Pickle Juice

I just blow my General Lee horn and go over the top, while screaming "YeeeHawwww![/img]

Doesn't this count as blocking? There's no tent for it but should be a penalty or even a DQ.

I had to deal with a guy riding the centre line at the Oliver Half two weeks ago. We were leapfrogging as I was faster on the descents and he was faster on the climbs so there were many passes. He was more comfortable riding the centre line on the downhills but in the process was preventing me from passing. I didn't want to be DQ'd for an illegal pass, luckily I have the ability to be very loud, especially when angry. After two ignored "On your left" calls I scared him with a very, very loud "ON. YOUR. LEFT!!" I wanted to tell him to stay to the right, but was too pissed off to say it without a lot of swearing so kept quiet.

I did a duathlon a month ago where one person had a bell and that was kinda unique, I had not seen that.

Then when I did Triple-T Sprint a week ago, there was somebody there that had a bell they used. Maybe it is getting more popular.

In a mountain bike race once, some dude had a bell on his bike and rang it when we wanted to pass. Weird, whatever. I let him pass when there was a little room, but he nearly sent me off the trail in the process. A few minutes later he crashed hard in a corner. I still remember his little bell going DING-DING-DING-DING-DING-DING-Splat as his bike goes tumbling down the side of the mountain.

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Don't drown. Don't crash. Don't walk.

There’s no time to converse with these a holes. They just need to get the eff out of the way (ie. Learn how to ride right).

This is too great.

i never pass anyone on the bike so dont run into this issue.

what i prefer is someone just passing me...when they tell me "i'm on your left" i just think to myself "sigh, why didnt i do those extra trainer workouts"

-life of a FOP swimmer and BOP biker...

Aaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahhahahaa
AAAAAAhahahahahahahaAAAA!!!!!

My office manager is wondering WTF is wrong with me. It was such an explosive, unexpected outburst of laughter, I may have actually pulled a muscle in my core and that laughter turned into a mixture of coughing and snickering through a grimace.

I would stand up and applaud, but I am in some slight legit pain. No worries, it will subside. If it doesn't and I'm out for a couple days, know that it was well worth it on my part and should be on yours too. Well done, sir! Well done.

Imho it still is the polite way. But people tend to be more aggressive when they get faster, at least that's my experience. When I started tri's a couple of years ago, I finished somewhere in the last 20%. The ambiance was perfectly fine though. Nowadays I am more in the front. The people at this level seem to take it more serious, too serious for some.

While crossing the yellow is arguably safer (if you are 100% sure a car isn't coming), it can be an automatic DQ if seen by a marshal. While passing on the right is just a time penalty. Both are above my risk tolerance, so I just wait (and if necessary, yell) until the person moves over.

I've had the experience of having a bell rung at me quite angrily, on a path in Austria, when I was riding slowly and trying to look at google maps on my phone. So I guess I deserved it.

There's an idea for innovation there for someone with a 3D printer...make an "aero race bell" with an ultra loud DING sound. $29.99 per bell. Triathletes will buy just about anything.

Do you go by the name of Tyrone?

Hah good memories!

I call "on your left (or right)" in a race... it's pretty much standard and I've never had a negative response.

Training, however, is a different story. I said this once then realised how stupid I sounded. Also, I got some strange looks and side eyes (they did move aside nevertheless). I do feel that it's a bit aggro to say this to recreational riders or cyclists who don't race ... usually a light tinkle on the bell or polite "excuse me" is standard here.

Maybe this guy you're talking about just didn't like being passed?

I passed on the right one time during a race when a lady and two of her friends were blocking just about the whole road. We were going uphill and there was room on the right (on the shoulder) so instead of bothering them I just passed on the right. As I went by the lady turned straight into me and fell down.

I was really upset for the rest of the race, from then on I just cross the yellow line if the whole road is blocked (if it's clear).

 
Had a guy basically want to fight me on the bike at eagleman yesterday. An older guy on a specialized transition with an older zipp disc.

He was riding close to the yellow line and as I came up on him I said "on your left" as I always do. He swerved in front of me and starting cursing to F'ing pass him if I want to that there is plenty of room and he doesnt need to move. Took me by surprise so I sat up and he yelled at me to start peddling and F'ing pass him



In the general population, if you have not figured it out, people don't like being told or suggested, what to do - even when it's in their best interest, safety, and even the rules to do so.

For years etiquette like "On your Left" worked well within the sport of triathlon and cycling, to indicate what it was supposed to do, for those slower riders to move to the right and let the faster riders on through. It was UNDERSTOOD by everyone that this was the right thing to do. No one got upset. Everyone understood.

But now as triathlon "grows", and more and more of the general population come into it's ranks (which is a good thing), we now have the issue that I stated above - people don't like being told what to do! It's the same on the roads when driving. Drive-right, and pass on the left. Makes sense. Works for everyone. It's safer, and allows a smoother flow of the traffic. However, despite all that you still have, maybe 20% or more of drivers who REFUSE to do this. You'll come up on them in the left lane. Wait. and wait and wait for them to do something - go faster, change lanes etc . . you might flash them with your lights and then EVENTUALLY they move over. Then as you are going by, you look over and they are giving YOU the finger!! Even though you have been following every convention and rule of the road, and they have NOT been!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

My throat is not in a great shape for some reason. After hours of riding and mouth breathing my intended polite 'on your left' sounds like 'Release The Kraken!!!'
Never had issues, half of the time people thank me back :)

As a slow swimmer and solid cyclist it's pretty constant for me at larger races.

People are interesting, I think some of the guys riding on the left have the attitude "I'm so fast, no one's going to pass me" even though they are not that fast. Other people stay left and get all pissy when you pass them on the right.

And then I bet you remember the titans as you blow by.

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"I think I've cracked the code. double letters are cheaters except for perfect squares (a, d, i, p and y). So Leddy isn't a cheater... "

Just imagine being female and passing "that guy." You can see how upset they get in their body language alone.

Does anyone else honk when passing on the highway? I do. Always make sure to warn slower drivers that I'm coming.

Also, when someone passes me without honking prior, I speed up and shout to them my indignation. A few haughty zingers and deft gesticulation underscore my righteousness.

The passing decorum is for everyone's safety. Even the arrogant Schumaker-wannabe stealth passers.

Right, I think it was George Burns who said essentially the same thing -- it went like "The secret to success is sincerity -- Once you can convincingly fake sincerity you have it made."

I usually call out "on your left" or "passing" while I'm behind someone and give them a few seconds to realize that they're blocking and need to move to the right. This usually works, but sometimes people are confused and don't know which way to go, so giving them a moment to wake up helps.

Guessed you morphed your statement to driving the car. Technically in West Virginia there is a law that you make an audible alert to somebody that you are passing. So, blow the horn, but in reality if you do that on the highway most people think you are a jerk.

I don't say it anymore, I just cleanly pass and get on with it. Stories like yours with people veering left make me even more unlikely to say it... if the scenario is right with a crowd of riders without much room to pass against a yellow line I'd vocalize in some way and hope no one veers left.