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.