Soft Skills for Mountain Bikers [Podcast #127]

Pick up etiquette tips for mountain biking, including rules of thumb for yielding, passing, and getting along with others.

By Jeff Barber
October 30, 2017 Last Updated: January 27, 2021

10 comments

Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article.

On this Episode

Warning: this episode contains adult language.

There are countless coaches and videos out there to help with bike handling and wrench skills, but soft skills are just as important for mountain biking. In this episode of the Singletracks podcast, we offer tips for getting along with your fellow mountain bikers, other trail users, and even your spouse. However, please note that if you’re getting relationship advice from Singletracks, you may be in more trouble than you realize.

Support this Podcast

Review the Singletracks podcast on Apple Podcasts for the chance to win a free hat. Or drop your feedback in the comments below!
Make a donation to help sustain future episodes.
Become a Singletracks Pro Supporter.

Never Miss an Episode

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Google Podcasts
Listen on Stitcher
Listen on Overcast
Get the RSS Feed
View all Podcast Episodes

MTB Tips

MTB Instructor Simon Lawton on Teaching New Riders and Riding in Baja [Podcast #273]

MTB Tips

MTB Legend Tinker Juarez Shares Tips for Getting - And Staying - Fast on the Mountain Bike [Podcast]

MTB Tips

MTB Legend Tinker Juarez Shares Tips for Getting - And Staying - Fast on the Mountain Bike [Podcast]

MTB Tips

MTB Coach Shares How to Time Mountain Bike Jumps and Break Bad Descending Habits

10 Comments

Please log in or create a free account to join the discussion.

mongwolf Mongolia // 2011
Oct 31, 2017

Also to broaden the subject about soft skills even further, how about the topic of soft skills on mtb internet forums. Here's a story of where I failed once. Jeff, posted up a forum topic one time about "baggies or spandex". Various persons were piping in on which one they preferred, but the conversation wasn't very interesting. So I piped in to not just say which i preferred but why. I went off on how I think spandex-cladded riders look in the forest/backcountry setting. I was trying to spice up the thread a bit and poke fun a little, but I was insensitive and wasn't as soft as I should have been. Appropriately, Aaron chimed in pretty tersely at me. All in all, I'd say it was not what we want on the forums in general. I felt bad, but lesson learned ... ... You want to make sure your comments don't go to the point that you are being perceived as a smart ass. And usually it's better to poke fun at yourself than at others.

0 reply

mongwolf Mongolia // 2011
Nov 4, 2017

Thanks Kevin. Honestly, I don't think I was misunderstood. The issue was mine totally. I was giving my honest opinion on the topic, and poking at others a little. It was just more sensitive than I thought it would be. It just goes to show that sometimes things are better left unsaid ... ... a "soft skill" for mountain bikers.

Kevin Mills 2016
Nov 4, 2017

Don't worry about your "baggies vs spandex" moment. I have had one of those myself. I started a thread on "bike funerals" which like yours was meant as a spicy thread but it got completely misinterpreted. I even got verbally abused by several people! That's the problem with the internet - things get misinterpreted too easily.

Bikermike Alabama // 2010
Nov 2, 2017

I don't understand way you have to use that language at all. Your a professional podcaster seeking all the listenership you can get so why not just fix the problem? I really wanted to relisten but that's not going to happen so I have deleted it from my long list of your podcast.

AUTHOR

Jeff Barber Georgia // 1998
Nov 2, 2017

This is probably the first time anyone has ever called us professional podcasters, so thank you. We honestly don't think of ourselves that way, but maybe we should as our audience grows.

Everyone is different and has their own definition of which words are inappropriate. I think I know the word you're referring to (which was repeated a couple times at the beginning,) and while it's certainly not one of George Carlin's "7 dirty words," I understand that some do find it offensive.

Clayatfield Ohio // 2017
Nov 2, 2017

I hate to say it but I sometimes have to ride with headphones. If I’m on call for work, and I couldn’t wear headphones, I wouldn’t be able to ride.

Tried to listen but the inappropriate and vulgar language right from the start, worse than I have heard from any of the other single podcast left me disappointed and saddened so I was unable to focus on the message in the podcast. I would caution adults in allowing their youngsters to listen.

Sorry about the surprise. We've added a strong language warning to the description of this episode.

mongwolf Mongolia // 2011
Oct 30, 2017

Wow, you guys covered a lot of ground on this podcast from how to relate to others as you pass them on a ride to one's relationship with his or her spouse. Pretty impressive. Obviously, attitude is big on the soft stuff. As you said in certain parts of the podcast, taking an attitude that it's not about you or it's not just about you will go a long ways. Probably because I do so much riding alone in Mongolia, I have found that I really enjoy coming across other trail users when I am back in the US/Colorado. It's fun to give way to them and in small ways try to make their day better. That has become one of my goals when riding in the US. You never know what people are going through and what a small friendly exchange might do for a person.

Greg Heil Colorado // 2008
Nov 6, 2017

Ha! Yes, we did cover a lot of ground. Trail yielding and related issues could almost be its own episode!

On this Episode

Support this Podcast

Never Miss an Episode

Featured Articles

10 Comments