London Calling

thel33ter

deadkenny wrote:

Oh, and maybe join us on an Afan trip. So far it's been fantastic weather every time I've been and got some excellent photos (of people standing around at least ).

Ours wasn't :roll:

Richard2118

Anyway now that I have left the top of my soap box ( sorry DK)and stopped being a knob.

How is everyone ?


Anyone up for a ride next week Tues, wens .

Buckaroo

Richard2118 wrote:

Most of the stuff we ride is classed as Foot path therefore it sits in the illegal with no right of way side of riding.

Ah... I'm considering myself better informed...
My initial thoughts were that I could post the route and someone would spot a trail and say "Oh, you rode 'Wobbly Puppies' and 'Floppyjobs' how'd you find em"... not... "Ger off my land!" :evil: ...

Weekdays are out for me while we go mental at wrk for a couple weeks, deff up for a tour somewhere weekend after next.

Stan Leigh

When you say Tuesday , do you mean daytime or evenings ?

Anonymous

Richard2118 wrote:

Dk Sorry to be a bore but I am the GPS police. fine to share on PM or direct but not on an open forum.
Most of the stuff we ride is classed as Foot path therefore it sits in the illegal with no right of way side of riding. problem with open forum maps is that anyone can see them.
Some of the local land owners seriously dislike us and this can potentially lead them to the trails and then shut them down.

Sorry to seem a d$ck about it but think its something to bear in mind .

Cheers Rich

Yeah, I know the situation. Though I'm starting to feel that it shouldn't be this way, especially after reading articles like this:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/2010/09 ... all-areas/

The thing about footpaths is the law isn't about making it illegal to ride there, it's about providing rights to walkers who effectively forced a law to allow them to roam the land. In Scotland these rights have to some degree been extended to cyclists, but not in the rest of the UK. We are instead treated like horse riders. Why shouldn't we do as the walkers did and demand the same access?

Land owners. Yes there is contention. Then again some are more accommodating. They are really the ones who give the rights. Footpath law just says where walkers can go regardless of what the landowner says. If the landowner says you can ride the footpaths though, you can go ahead.

Then a walker can do the same route and feel it's only too right to share the route or publish maps (and many such maps are published on the net and have been for years in books).

edit: actually, was going on about there not being much fuss about the area, but there is much fuss it seems. Landowner says "no" - http://redlandstrails.wordpress.com/history/

Noting there are footpaths and bridleways through it though, but still the landowner says "no recreation" there. Oh well.

Anyway, I know how you feel about this and point taken . I do agree in part, just I'm torn between the daft rules and somewhat snobby attitudes of walkers, and the need to not upset people to the extent they will spoil our enjoyment.

Richard2118

Stan Leigh wrote:

When you say Tuesday , do you mean daytime or evenings ?

daytime

Richard2118

deadkenny wrote:

Richard2118 wrote:

Dk Sorry to be a bore but I am the GPS police. fine to share on PM or direct but not on an open forum.
Most of the stuff we ride is classed as Foot path therefore it sits in the illegal with no right of way side of riding. problem with open forum maps is that anyone can see them.
Some of the local land owners seriously dislike us and this can potentially lead them to the trails and then shut them down.

Sorry to seem a d$ck about it but think its something to bear in mind .

Cheers Rich

Yeah, I know the situation. Though I'm starting to feel that it shouldn't be this way, especially after reading articles like this:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/2010/09 ... all-areas/

The thing about footpaths is the law isn't about making it illegal to ride there, it's about providing rights to walkers who effectively forced a law to allow them to roam the land. In Scotland these rights have to some degree been extended to cyclists, but not in the rest of the UK. We are instead treated like horse riders. Why shouldn't we do as the walkers did and demand the same access?

Land owners. Yes there is contention. Then again some are more accommodating. They are really the ones who give the rights. Footpath law just says where walkers can go regardless of what the landowner says. If the landowner says you can ride the footpaths though, you can go ahead.

Then a walker can do the same route and feel it's only too right to share the route or publish maps (and many such maps are published on the net and have been for years in books).

In small defence of what's been posted, I can't believe any of it is unknown to the land owner(s). I'm not sure if any was marked as footpaths. I did see bridleway signs on parts, some bits firetrack, some singletrack (which is neither cyclist or walker "right of way"), and then of course the approved stuff anyway such as Summer Lightning. All of it fairly well known. If it was an obviously contentious bit or footpath I'd resist posting.

But anyway, I know how you feel about this and point taken . I do agree in part, just I'm torn between the daft rules and somewhat snobby attitudes of walkers, and the need to not upset people to the extent they will spoil our enjoyment.

i'm in total agreement , the rights of way issue is complete Bo!!ocks and the scotish way is far superior. was not a pop at the content just think its a point we should all consider

Thing is there are contentious people in the area EG 3 foot hole that was dug and covered on a trail on pitch hill 2 years ago , then covered by sticks a dirt and full camo, my front wheel fitted lovely !!!!!!!! I was hoping for jeremy beadle to appear as i hurled over the handle bars, no such luck and the person who did that was sensible enough not to appear at that point..........

there is also the Tit who works for one of the estates who is handy with a digger and likes to ruin some of the trails by digging out the end of them.

There is also the issue of not P!ssing off the local NIMBY's .
thing is they probably have a point , although we may well be polite and enviromentally friendly not everyone is , this behaviour just reinforces the s1tty attitude towards us MTBer's ( by some )

I suppose my last point ( and not my main one ) is,please don't advertise the lesser known stuff, tell your mates follow a map whatever, however you can vet these people.the internet does not have that ability..

Some riders are to!!ssers and do not give a s"it about the area or the effect riding has on the trails, someone has made and done all of the work on the trails we ride , how would you feel if you are building a trail and then100 people get the location prior to you finishing it, or what actually happens, people riding the trails at the wrong time of year ( ie when so wet that any kind of skid etc ruins the trails surface) because they have no idea what it takes to maintain or build a trail........ examples of trails that have had major work to rectify this kind of damage Parklife, BKB .
same damage on less ridden trail will probably mean it gets shagged and no work will be done to rectify.....

sorry to labour the point guys but I am rather passionate about this subject and as a local get to see some of the issues first hans for the past few years.

Anyway i'm off to bed now. hopefully i will be able to remove my own head from my arse before i go to bed............ and if anyone else wants a lecture from me pleaseask :roll:

Anonymous

Richard2118 wrote:

Anyway i'm off to bed now. hopefully i will be able to remove my own head from my ars* before i go to bed............

And likewise myself on both points

Anonymous

Buckaroo wrote:

Ah... I'm considering myself better informed...
My initial thoughts were that I could post the route and someone would spot a trail and say "Oh, you rode 'Wobbly Puppies' and 'Floppyjobs' how'd you find em"... not... "Ger off my land!" :evil: ...

Handy site for some names is http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/ ... _downs.php

The naughty "Ger off my land" bits are filtered out though, but not bad description of the rest. Otherwise it's down to riding with people who know.

Richard is the main man for knowing the routes and local names .

Weekdays are out for me while we go mental at wrk for a couple weeks, deff up for a tour somewhere weekend after next.

Weekdays out for me too for a while for same reason . When things are more relaxed I might be able to get flexible and take the odd afternoon off.

Anyway, Swinley session on Saturday it looks like: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12732370

And I'm up for anywhere Sunday.

bungalistic

I'll try watch what I say and post on my website regarding the areas of some rides too as I know some are of the cheeky variety and I'd rather not get anyone annoyed or in trouble because of it. They're too much fun to ruin and less people means they stay in better condition for longer.

6 weeks of healing now and haven't even tried the bike yet

pieman71

Hi all,

was wondering if anyone's going to be around surrey hills (holmbury/pitch) this weekend, not sure if sat or sunday yet.
looking to do a few routes, try a few jumps (nothing drastic as can't jump for toffee) just generally have a bit of fun, nothing to serious.
will probably go out at some point but always better if theres a few of you, different routes and all that.
post up details if interested.

pieman

cooldad

Looks like one at Swinley on Saturday. See:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 0&start=40


Nothing definite I can see for Sunday yet, but DK is easily swayed if you suggest something - he is like a trail slut - can't say no.

Anonymous

Popstar went to Scotland right?

Was this his plan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkN8oSn8NwU

! :shock:

cooldad

deadkenny wrote:

Popstar went to Scotland right?

Was this his plan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkN8oSn8NwU

! :shock:

Can't see the point or fun in that. Give me a bit of singletrack anyday.

Atz

Might make it out this weekend. Last weekend would have been stupid in the state I was in... barely left the couch for 2 days. Not sure if I can do a third consecutive ride at Swinley though so might fit something in around SH. That said, am easily led so might go to Swinley after all

bungalistic

deadkenny wrote:

Popstar went to Scotland right?

Was this his plan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkN8oSn8NwU

! :shock:

I've ridden there a few times before, rest of the trails are normal and really fun also. Plus Jemma makes the best bacon butties

cooldad

I'd do anything for a bacon buttie.

thel33ter

cooldad wrote:

I'd do anything for a bacon buttie.

Can we go, can we go, can we go?

cooldad

Too dangerous. They have bears, crocodiles and Scots type people.

supra-man

I will probably be out on sunday for a ride, depending on the loop that is planned.

And tomorrow trying out a new frame.

Atz

Supra - drop me a line about Sunday. Let's sort something

popstar

Popstar is back from Scotland trip and tells the story to crowd. Actually, didn't ride that much at all. Just managed to ride Laggan Wolftrax(page57-) and XC red at Kirroughtree. Few pictures will follow, but didnt' film any movies as had to try and stay alive on some of Black graded trails. Riding alone didn't add too much of balls of steel but managed to flow quite easily in rock gardens (thanks to Jedi skillz). Whites level Black run does look like a fluffy puppy compared to Laggan's black trails, the experience was immense. Kirroughtree XC wasn't worth it unfortunately. Think doing Black graded trail there is a must next time.




and a local riding spot not far away from where I stayed

cooldad

Nice pics. When are we going to see these new skilllllzzzzzzzzz

thel33ter

I can get out on Sunday, and will be going faster due to major hair cut

Anonymous

Really wish I could get out Sunday. Work has convinced me to go in to meet a deadline (convinced as in there is financial reward, but not sure it makes up enough for missing out on a ride).

Out today at Swinley anyway.

popstar

Dkenny save up a little cash for real true experience in future!

Atz

Forecast is rain, rain and more rain. Hmm.

cooldad

Heavy rain according to BBC. Don't mind if it gets a bit moist during a ride, but going from a nice dry warm house into a downpour is not my idea of fun.
@thel33ter - play it by ear. If it's not too bad I'll call you. Otherwise new bike will be ready for next weekend anyway.

thel33ter

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, tis the drizzle too much for your ickle Marin

Also got my work experiance sorted at Switchback Cycles in Knaphill So now everyone must buy everything from there.

@ Supra - Was it the Sunn you were testing today?

Anonymous

Swinley was a bog today. SH shouldn't be so bad.

Still, after a stylish dismount I've knackered my toe enough that I doubt I'll be out for a couple of weeks but will see how it goes. Think I need to get decent shoes that are re-enforced in the toe area.