Mountain Bikers Love Us / Hate Us??

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Comments

  • GhallTN6
    GhallTN6 Posts: 505
    Ha, I laugh in the face of evil.. try riding the Vanguard Way bridleway between the A26 (just south of Crowborough) and the B2188, which is dreaded Ashdown Forest territory. Although completely legal, the “strictly no cycling” signs at the car parks surrounding the legal bit encourage every other user to attack MTB’ers, and on one occasion with dogs, and as for someone getting out of your way, forget it mate, anyway, we’ve given up being defensive and gone for the big smile and “lovely morning” approach, it gets them off guard and leaves them speechless as you quickly ride off.

    Talking of Ladybower, we rode past a rave there in June, I’ve never heard music so load in all my life, didn’t see any walkers complaining to the stoned out occupants though!!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/grizzer_mtb/
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    GhallTN6 wrote:
    Try riding the Vanguard Way bridleway between the A26 (just south of Crowborough) and the B2188, which is dreaded Ashdown Forest territory. Although completely legal, the “strictly no cycling” signs at the car parks surrounding the legal bit encourage every other user to attack MTB’ers

    It may appear to be legal, but are there any Traffic Restriction Orders in place on it?
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  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,594
    passout wrote:
    Have you heard of the 'wilderness effect?'. It has been studied (by me amongst others) but basically people from urban or suburban areas go to the country (usually as walkers) to have to experience the wilderness & sublime landscape. They 'sometimes' have a kind of poetic outlook and expectation which is often not realised, as the countryside and especially other trail users doesn't always fit in with their expectation. Horses are fine - they fit in with this romantic view. However large parties of other walkers and especially mountian bikers don't. Many see MTBing as an intrusion on their romantic image - we interfere with their wilderness perception. Of course they won't say that - people aren't even aware of it most of the time - it's sub-liminal. It applies to other groups too - windsurfers & sailors, especially when windsurfing started, for example. So, the legal access & danger stuff is a front, they are justifying to themselves why the don't want you there. Hard to prove this stuff of course but it 'may' be useful to countryside/leisure planners and the like... I must say though that most walkers, especially those without rose tinted on, are fine & polite. I have had few problems - just a few sarcastic comments for the most part. Personally I think MTBers are less precious about rights of way but equally as rude in all other ways.

    Anyway - have you lot experienced the wilderness effect? I was brought up in the Lakes and I'm pretty realistic about the rural tourism economy BUT I still don't like too many people on 'my' trails!

    this is the truth,

    and don't knock trail center riders or weekend warriros they provide a great sytem of getting on your bike with minimal time drain on sorting out maps routes or anything as the facilities are there.

    Just nock abusive or unpolite twats k
  • angrymeerkat
    angrymeerkat Posts: 134
    Ding ding! Get a bell. Breaks the ice, and generally polite conversation follows. It's amazing how much other track users' perception of you changes.

    Perhaps it shows you don't take yourself too seriously?
    Everytrail, Flickr.

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