Aargh. After spending the summer putting in some decent woodland trails in the local woods, it appears that the local motocross yobs have discovered them, and are proceeding to destroy them. This is despite them having the run of the hill, with plenty tracks of their own to entertain them. What really p*ssses me off is their inability to do any trail building / maintenance of their own. Seems it’s a case of destroy, move on, then destroy somewhere else. Rant over. Any advice on how to shoo them away?

Meanwhile, over on hikingtrackworld forum, there’s a similar question about how to shoo away cyclists from the walking trails……

simply introduce to the front wheel

‘Gates’ a la Afan that are too narrow for a motorbike? Pain though.

Speak to the landowner. Obviously, as you’ve built the trails, you’re already in a good working relationship with them. Aren’t you?

build trails with narrow sections between trees, under branches and with very tight turns.

Live and let live is my usual take on life. I wouldn’t bike on walker trails if it would do damage. Equally, if I show people respect, I would expect the same in return. It’s the level of destruction they do that makes me despair. To balance out the agrument, they also destroy walker paths as well, which must hack the walkers off. These are community woods built on an old mine slag heap. The trails I put in were hidden well away from existing paths and pretty discrete to be honest. With lots of branches etc. And still the wee blighters made it onto them. *sigh* maybe next summer, I’ll just need to hide my activity a bit more.

Some of the best DH tracks I’ve ridden were created by MX bikes.

True, but these boys keep going on them until they are trenched over a foot in depth. My clearance just can’t cope!

Wee on them.

stick in some north shore skinnies?

It is a shame, tried talking to them?

Sure they’d understand, most kids wouldn’t like someone else riding they ride.

I go not expecting a fight, just open chats.