Trail Etiquette with Hans Rey
June 10th, 2015
By Andrew Dodd in Features
Trail etiquette
Most mountain bikers I know are pretty considerate people, but it’s all too easy to get carried away having fun out on the trails and forget about other trail users – we’ve all done it at some point, but more than ever it’s important to ride smart and respect others as the outdoor market is becoming more and more popular, which means more people will be using trails, be it on foot, horseback or on fat tyres.
Mountain biking is a growing sport, but these days many riders coming in to the sport are used to riding man-made and officially marked trails. This is great as it’s making mountain biking accessible for more people – though it can lead to bad habits when venturing out in to the countryside if you don’t stop to think, or perhaps haven’t needed to consider things like two way traffic on trails previously.
Use your common sense
Though there are no actual rules out on the trail, many riders will know the unofficial code – and who better to out line the things that count, than iconic mountain bike ace Hans Rey?
Recently he nearly took a direct hit from a crashing rider, and posted a shot of his brand new bike that suffered a broken shifter and some scratches as a result of the guy who was riding above his limit.
This is what Hans posted on his Instagram account:
“So I finally just received my brand new @gtbicycles Sensor bike, literally one hour before. I went straight on a photoshoot with the GT crew, some idiot charges down Telonics out of control, freaks out at the Sweaper Jump and hits the deep rut to its left. I stand 30ft below completely to the side out of the way in the grass, next to the 25ft wide trail. I manage to launch myself out of the way just in time as he cartwheels straight at me.
He completely t-bones my bike. I thought it wud be a write off, lucky ‘only’ broke shift / brake lever, chipped paint and bent pedal. He never apologized and insisted I should have been 50ft further over. #Trailidiot
Eventually he offered his phone number, I told him to get lost and learn to brake and ride”
It seemed an ideal opportunity to ask Hans for the things he thinks we should all be looking out for on the trail, so Hans took the time to helpfully put together his top 20 trailside rules – have a read and see what you think. Note that these rules are written by Hans, who lives in California and rides multi-use trails.
Hans Rey’s 20 trail rules
- – Don’t be an asshole on the trail
- – Respect other trail users
- – Always ride under control – don’t ride faster than you can handle (unless you are on a dedicated race track). It is not just dangerous for you, but also for other trail users.
- – Uphill riders have the right of way
- – Slow down when passing others – especially walkers – and make them gently aware of your presence
- – Avoid unnecessary skidding – it ruins the trails and frightens others
- – Smile
- – Don’t litter
- – Stay on the trail – don’t take short cuts or create wider lines
- – Always respect wildlife and plants
- – Respect private property and property owners
- – Don’t build unless you are authorised
- – Always wear a helmet and wear additional protection as needed
- – Don’t ride after heavy rain – unless the trail and soil can handle it, otherwise you will ruin the trail and your tyre tracks will be the beginning of a rut and erosion
- – Use your head, be aware and anticipate the unexpected from the trail, trail users and yourself
- – Don’t charge blind corners
- – Try to brake gently and before the turn (not in it)
- – Ride active. Use your arms and legs to absorb and pump
- – Know your limits, when in doubt walk a section
- – Be prepared (bring water, tools, spare parts, phone, first aid kit, food, clothes, maps….), don’t be a hazard to yourself or others.
Cheers!
Hans Rey