Errr, you haven't really thought this through, have you, lads?
For starters, Excitable's "Loadsa Fun" route was in MBR in 2008.
Three of the routes (Easy, Medium and Hard) are created, ridden and photographed by Tom Hutton and his partner. The Killer Loop is done by other riders, and also features in an article, with photos. So where's the evidence of "not riding the route"?
Yes, the same areas do crop up regularly, but the routes are very different. For example, February 2010 had a long route starting at Ambleside and going over to Hodge Close, with little opportunity to cut short the ride in case of problems. The following month had a Medium ride with short loops wiggling around Hodge Close. We did this route last year, and it enabled me to curtail the ride when my Bike Buddy felt ill. So, same area but very different routes.
Yes, the route descriptions are a bit brief, but surely they are to complement the map, rather than be a complete guide in their own right?
Another point worth making is the MBR routes are all "legal". Although we may know of better riding on "cheeky trails", they can't encourage people to ride on footpaths, can they?
More importantly, the MBR routes are designed for all levels of ability, including beginners - which you all once were. Sometimes, for a novice, a bridleway can work better in the opposite direction. It's rather dispiriting to slog up a long slow ascent, and then discover the downhill is too technical to ride.
I use the MBR routes as a useful introduction to a new area, and then either modify them to suit my style, or design my own routes. This has led to fantastic rides in Snowdonia, Clwyds, Berwyns, White Peak, Dark Peak, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, and the Lake District.
So, maybe you are not the target audience for MBR and its suggested rides, but that doesn't mean the routes are poor.
