Brainard Lake

Last weekend. Nice weather, great trail, no assholes. Yesterday I literally had a run-in with somebody who MUST have been having a terrible day. At least I hope he was having a terrible day because this guy was acting like a total *^%$. While I was descending a new section of single-track I met with another rider who was climbing; he looked like an experienced rider so I slowed down, said 'hello' and got over to the right of the trail. There was plenty of room for us to pass but this guy was incensed (apparently) that I had the audacity to not completely stop and get off the trail to let him by. Anyway, his response to this terrible slight was to purposely shoulder-check me right off the trail as he rode straight into me without even acknowledging my jovial greeting!

NOTE: (Technically, descenders yield to climbers. In practice however, most riders assess the situation and act accordingly. In fact, I generally yield to people descending and consider it a sign of respect and skill when riders slow and pass without forcing the another rider to stop. Slowing and pulling over to the right counts as yielding in my book)

It didn't stop there. This idiot then engaged me in a yelling match over trail etiquette, "Don't you know the rules!? Get off the trail!! I knew you weren't going to stop so I did that on Purpose! You got a problem with that?!" Jeez... I told him that I didn't have a problem with the rules, just him. I also told him to relax; "it's a nice evening, just enjoy the ride!" I rode away from him while he was still fuming. I could tell it would have made his day to get into a fight right then and there. In classic cheap-shot bully form, he even yelled after me, "Yeah! Keep riding P@$$&!"

I just laughed, but that totally ruined the ride... I never really understand what causes some people to just be jerks.

~t