Rant from a solo female endurance racer
I have three incidents that I'd like to vent about, they all occured during ONE race.
Incident 1:
It is getting dark, and I am following 1st place solo female on a tight section of singletrack. The trail will open up in a tenth of a mile or less, however at this moment in time, there is no safe passing zone. A guy comes up from behind and belligerently (sp?) demands to pass. I ask him to hold off until it opens up because the two of us didn't feel comfortable letting him pass there, and I am certainly not going to step off my bike or ride into a sketchy line off the trail. He responds back in a hostile tone that he needs to pass NOW, he is a member of a first place team. Meanwhile he's half-wheeling me on the tight singletrack climb. At this point, I get really pissed. I tell him that the woman in front of me is in 1st, and I'm in 2nd, and we're racing too and basically he can wait 30 seconds to pass. He gets really pissed and blurts out some nasty words and cuts off through the woods. Too bad he didn't get a stick in his wheel or crash. Jerk. I hate people like that, why should anyone assume that their race is more important than yours? I get this all the time as a solo female endurance racer. Guess what, guys!! I might be in first place too, who freaking cares? I don't care if you are racing for 10th, 1st, whatever. There is no excuse to not be polite and considerate when passing. 99% of the guys out there are very considerate and good at it.
Incident 2:
This happens about 5 minutes after incident 1. A guy comes barreling past me on a singletrack descent, he kind of took me by surprise but no harm done. THEN...Kim, the 1st place woman who was still in front of me almost gets taken out by this guy..he basically called the pass as he ran her off the trail in a tight rooty, rocky drop/switchback thing. I couldn't believe what I just saw, and I yelled at him and told him to get some passing ettiqute because he could have seriously hurt her. AAARRGH!!!
Incident 3:
I'm riding up a wide doubletrack gradual climb on the far left, where the trail is more worn in. I'm riding at a steady pace, and all of a sudden I hear "passing on your left" while this guy is nailing my handlebars with his. HUH??? Passing on the left? There's no room on the left!! After he apologizes for tagging my handlebar, I say to him, "You know, there was a lot more room to pass on the right"...duh....WTF?? He responds with nothing but "OK, whatever".
Come on. This is getting old, and sometimes it makes me not even want to continue to race these lap races with teams. I always find solo riders to be very respectful and good passers, and like I said, 99% of the team guys usually are too. I just couldn't believe I had these 3 annoying incidents happen in just one 12 hour race. I will always let someone by when it's clear and safe, but seriously, do people have to be jerks about it?? I don't expect people to pull over off the trail when I'm passing either! Get some passing skills!
Incident 1:
It is getting dark, and I am following 1st place solo female on a tight section of singletrack. The trail will open up in a tenth of a mile or less, however at this moment in time, there is no safe passing zone. A guy comes up from behind and belligerently (sp?) demands to pass. I ask him to hold off until it opens up because the two of us didn't feel comfortable letting him pass there, and I am certainly not going to step off my bike or ride into a sketchy line off the trail. He responds back in a hostile tone that he needs to pass NOW, he is a member of a first place team. Meanwhile he's half-wheeling me on the tight singletrack climb. At this point, I get really pissed. I tell him that the woman in front of me is in 1st, and I'm in 2nd, and we're racing too and basically he can wait 30 seconds to pass. He gets really pissed and blurts out some nasty words and cuts off through the woods. Too bad he didn't get a stick in his wheel or crash. Jerk. I hate people like that, why should anyone assume that their race is more important than yours? I get this all the time as a solo female endurance racer. Guess what, guys!! I might be in first place too, who freaking cares? I don't care if you are racing for 10th, 1st, whatever. There is no excuse to not be polite and considerate when passing. 99% of the guys out there are very considerate and good at it.
Incident 2:
This happens about 5 minutes after incident 1. A guy comes barreling past me on a singletrack descent, he kind of took me by surprise but no harm done. THEN...Kim, the 1st place woman who was still in front of me almost gets taken out by this guy..he basically called the pass as he ran her off the trail in a tight rooty, rocky drop/switchback thing. I couldn't believe what I just saw, and I yelled at him and told him to get some passing ettiqute because he could have seriously hurt her. AAARRGH!!!
Incident 3:
I'm riding up a wide doubletrack gradual climb on the far left, where the trail is more worn in. I'm riding at a steady pace, and all of a sudden I hear "passing on your left" while this guy is nailing my handlebars with his. HUH??? Passing on the left? There's no room on the left!! After he apologizes for tagging my handlebar, I say to him, "You know, there was a lot more room to pass on the right"...duh....WTF?? He responds with nothing but "OK, whatever".
Come on. This is getting old, and sometimes it makes me not even want to continue to race these lap races with teams. I always find solo riders to be very respectful and good passers, and like I said, 99% of the team guys usually are too. I just couldn't believe I had these 3 annoying incidents happen in just one 12 hour race. I will always let someone by when it's clear and safe, but seriously, do people have to be jerks about it?? I don't expect people to pull over off the trail when I'm passing either! Get some passing skills!
posted by Namrita O'Dea at
2:42 PM
9 Comments:
I can not wait to be at another one of your races! It's always excitment around you. I'm very happy you are not hurt and are able to express yourself. :)
Always
M
You need to start carrying a pump so that you can shove it in their wheel!!!
Great job...again!!!! You have a great winning streak going on!!
I had a guy call a pass at the last minute, and it was as i took the left line through a pair of trees, He tried to take the right line and we nearly collided. He DID apologize and let me have the line. I said "you clearly want to get around me so why don't you just go ahead." And then another time I was riding with two other girls. We were just chatting and taking it easy and this guy comes barreling past us (it was on a wider section of trail). I hollered, "why don't you call the pass next time!" His response, "well, i had plenty of room so I didn't think it mattered."
I'm fairly sensitive about male racers running ladies off the trail, it's happened to me several times, but mostly in XC races. It's the folks who, from 20 feet back, start hollering "expert rider, expert rider," or "first place rider" who REALLY piss me off.
Hello, I may not be in first, but I'm racing too!
I think some folks don't know/think about passing on the right if it's a better line. They think "on your left" is the only acceptable manuever.
Every person I passed and everyone who passed me was completely cool, so it bites that you had three baddies in a row.
Thats why I like long point to point races on the fixed gear...
I get passed by everyone then only have to pass a few people way down the trail...
When i'm doing a lap race I like to move over any time I hear someone coming... I only pass if its not gonna hurt me or the other person. I'm probably a bit timid but I'd rather eerrr on that side
Hmm...maybe long point to point races on a fixie is my solution.
Or...not.
:)
I absolutely hate it when someone comes up hollering they need by because they're in 1st place.
if there isnt any room to pass I dont care if its the Pope behind me.I'll let you pass when theres enough room!!!
On a side note.....I was glad to make it through a whole race without knocking you off the trail this time Nam. ;-)
By the way,great,GREAT job to both you and Eddie!!!
So, people actually catch up to you?
jerks! some racer people take this events way to seriously. the overall idea is FUN and personal accomplishment right? karma will get them in the end (i hope :) )
Sean E.
Team NMB
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