sfb, not wanting to get into this because you have clearly stated your position repeatedly on various thread on anything bearing a resemblance to a tangent on this issue, but the idea that you have some kind of phantom presence, ghosting across the landscape is laughable. Your rides (judging by those posted on here) are in some of the most intensively used areas of the UK, and your being there will almost always be noticed. Just pointing that out, not saying that it's necessarily a problem.
... if you have a relationship, then whoever you're trying to appease will know the difference between you and the strangers, and if you don't then your localness counts for naught
Apologies, I don't understand this. However 'local rides for local people' is not a fair summary of my point, which was to ride with consideration for others who may come after you (in history, not chasing you down with a pitchfork), wherever you are riding. If you are “local” then your judgement might be better on this matter than as an outsider. The more general point is that you can and should ride in a considerate manner, rather than one that is narrow-minded. Not asking permission for fear of refusal is ridiculous. Maybe we should take that approach for all consensual matters?
Anyway, off out for a ride, it's too lovely an evening to waste it all on here.
