[SOFRider]

While I have been riding for some time, I always ride alone. Today I was riding on a local "Rails to Trails" trail. While I was moving along at approx. 16 mph, I was passed by two groups of riders. The first alerted me and passed quickly, and the last rider advised me that he was in fact the last rider in the group. Riders in this group used the common hand signals to alert me to their planned actions, and I made a mental note of their riding skills. Some time later another group of about 12 riders alerted me that they were passing on my left. After the first 6-7 riders passed all these riders seemed to slow down. While I maintained my track very close to the right edge of the pavement, none of the other riders could pass without passing me and other riders in their group. I was forced to slow down my cadence so as not to run into the rider in front of me, and in fact I had to shift into a lower gear for safety. The group, now including me, passed a number of slower riders on the trail. The only thing I could do was to become a member of this group until they left the trail at a junction 2-3 miles ahead. Their leaving the trail was an ugly affair as they swung wide to left edge of the trail to make a right turn off the main trail

While I believe I did what was safe for all concerned, I am baffeled about what the group or leader were thinking about. Any Ideas or suggestions? First time something like this has happened, and most of the groups/clubs I meet on this trail are like group #1.

[salvage_bikes]

Sounds like the first group had better manners, but I don't think there is much you could do about the second group. I think if you ride in a group, it's a good idea to have matching jerseys, signs, or some other signal, and to not box in riders not with the group (like not drafting hard on them, and not riding two abreast with them).

[LarryM]

It is possible that the leaders of the 2nd group slowed because they came up on unsafe conditions, such as slower riders blocking the trail ahead. There's not much anyone can do about something like that.

I think you did what you could. The other choice would be to slow a bit to let the rest of the group pass by more quickly.

As for exiting with a wide turn, as long as they weren't interfering with other trail users, it shouldn't matter. {Besides, roadies are notorious for being unable to make a turn in anything less than a 50ft radius }

[revcp]

My take is that it's poor etiquette for groups to ride on trails. Too many baby strollers, dogs, rollerbladers, walkers, runners, etc. It's a "road" bike for goodness sake.

[salvage_bikes]

I don't care if they ride on MUPs, especially really long ones, but it's foolish to not expect the group to get fragmented and slowed down by lots of things like you mention (other users, kids parking in the middle, dogs, pedestrians, etc).

[citizen_erased]

Could be poor etiquette on the second group. Can't say from experience, since I usually ride alone and even then I give plenty of warning to people. Most of the time they'll look over, with a confused look painted on their face as they try to figure out to move either left or right. My personal favorite is the group rides where they ride three abreast, hog the trail, then move over last minute. It's those people that warrant dirty looks.

[salvage_bikes]

Today some dude on a mtb rode right up behind a couple of pedestrians before passing them, nearly clipping the man on the left. Cagers on bikes! Scary!

I wish the rail trail here was open. We have one that goes over 70 miles, but most of it is gravel with a lot of overgrowth and bad bridges. It would be fun to ride the whole thing and camp and eat at little towns along the way.

[newleaf150]

It's really not cool to buzz pedestrians on a MUP, or to pass them without warning.

That rail trail path sounds cool!

[canotryss]

The other choice would be to slow a bit to let the rest of the group pass by more quickly.

[baj32161]

Originally Posted by salvage_bikes

I don't care if they ride on MUPs, especially really long ones, but it's foolish to not expect the group to get fragmented and slowed down by lots of things like you mention (other users, kids parking in the middle, dogs, pedestrians, etc).

^^This sounds like what I often experience.