What is it about them, Ive just been on a 16 mile local ride to spin the legs using bridleways and roads, One of the Bridleways comes into a park and then continues out into a village.

I'l set the scene, Over a stream onto a bridleway the otherside which was overgrown so stung me legs on lots of nettles and scratched to buggery on brambles, Ended up in the park at the other side, So i headed up the path towards the other bridleway to see a toff in his BMW racing down to slam his brakes on accross my path with his hand out the window STOP?

Me: WTF Up on my front wheel trying to stop! Where you going he asks so i told him my intended route he asked where i came from so i told him Well you havent got authority to ride up here its Private land 😯 'Scuse me only been coming up here the last 10 years and its Private land all of a sudden'

Argue argue argue Wifey starts moaning and whinging too, I was like WTF have i said ive only said im intending to ride up their onto the next bridleway, I sais its no problem to me i'l turn round and head on the road instead, Which is what i did in the end. So he followed me until he could see me heading up and through the gate. No private land signs there either rather odd? Saw a few people walking their dogs and a couple of horses too

Got home checked the OS guess what its still usable, Next time Toff tries to knock you off like he did smash his head on said dash in front of wifey.

Guess he felt good in front of his wife, Mr & Mrs well spoken 😆

speak to your county rights of way officer

Grow a pair.

take the reg next time and ask for proof of ownership of said land.

2unfit, I wasn't in the mood for mouthing off, Only really get out on the bike to have a bit of fun and a smile. It was nice just to get out on my own for once 🙂

I might go back next week see if Lady and Lord have turned up for tea :lol

tell him to F and just keep on riding. (BMW-says it all! )

chill out, I know it's irritating, but you wont change folk like that. Just hope they die prematurely of a heart attack or other stress related illness. And carry on riding where you like.

rich, no offense, but really, have you read the rants on here?

All mouth & no trousers is the norm, forgive me.

Could you post a Streetmap OS extract of the area in question so we can all go there?

You should have stood your ground and told him where to shove his BMW.

http://www.propertypedlars.org.uk/advice-frame.htm

http://www.trespasslaw.co.uk/common_misconceptions.html

Did you get his car number ? In which case you could folow up with local ROW officer after checking definitive maps on the actual route.

Do what I do! When I get pi**ed off by a landowner, take a large group of mountain bikers there and make as much noise as possible 8)

Actually it's the only time I've had a problem (Chilterns, where they don't like mountain bikers).

Meant to have said, not all toffs dislike mountain bikers. I often meet shooting parties and they are very friendly and courteous.

have you tried violence 😆

Move to Scotland, then you can ride pretty much wherever you like.

Oh, and there's a "toff" at Drumlanrig who loves mountain bikers.

as above, either grow a pair or know your rights of way laws.

If its a footpath, back down courteously and just ride it at night.
If a bridleway or BOAT, tell BMW to go F himself and be on your way.
If he's not the landowner or the landowner's agent then he can swivel regardless of the right of way too (assuming no bylaws apply)

Personally if you've now discovered it is a ROW I'd be back, OS map in pocket and some choice words if he objects again. (Choice words can be absuive or elegantly demeaning, choice is yours).

Rudeness doesn't solve anything. Be courteous and don't allow anyone the opportunity of giving mountain bikers a bad name.

In my experience it's anything but toffs that drive BMWs.
We had the same last year in the Dark Peak, I'd fallen off the bike and took a shortcut on a FP which is a lane, so no errosion from our bike tyres, because my legs were seizing up.
An absolute holigan, bully boy got out of his car (not a toff, not driving a BMW, but the land owner all the same) who threatened to punch my lights out with some really strong language, in front of his girlfriend.
These people are a menace to the countryside.
If you're damaging crops or worrying sheep that's another matter.

I have a three stage approach to conflicts,

1. Politely tell them that since 1968, cyclists have a legal right on BWs.

2. If that doesn't work, tell them its an offence to stop me riding a ROW.

3. If all else fails I invite them to take up yoga and commit an indecent act upon themselves.

cinnamon_girl thats pretty much what i did, Like i said further up, I wasnt in the mood for arguing or been rude, Well i might have been a bit rude with a few words i'd said, But this guy nearly put me over his bonnet the way he drove infront of me so hes got to expect a bit of hassle for that.

The route i would have taken is a small cut through a few fields to save about 10 minutes on the journey, I wasnt too arsed about getting a few extra yards in on the ride TBH, I'l go ride it again and i'l be riding it as long as i live in the area now i've confirmed A: Its not private B: its definatly a bridle way and its open to cycles. Dont know what made him think its a footpath only maybe because its narrow?

Either way the bloke was a tossbag and completely overreacted from a single MTBer

BMW? Must be a toff. Almost certainly went to Eton as well. I bet he's a hedge fund manager as well…

FFS….get over yourself with this inverse snobbery twaddle.

Hang on where did i say in my posts BMW drivers are toffs, Just because i said this particular one was in a BMW? a 320i to be exact

😕

CaptainFlashheart, driving BMW's since he got given his first one as a present from pa for passing his driving test 20 years ago.
I thought Range Rovers would be more your thing old chap? *

* I claim a prize, you really are just a chav ain't yer CFH 😉

Indeed, I am a chav. As has already been revealed, I am a single mother of three from Warrington. 😉

(Current cars = Volvo, Audi and a retro Mercedes. Not sure what that makes me, but don't really care! 😉 )

Put a link to multimap so we can see?

As has been said being rude will achieve nothing whether you're in the right or wrong and may brand all of us bikers (who no doubt look the same in a helmet etc) thugs? I worry misinformed people like this will end up booby trapping the ROWs with branches or worse and our options will get fewer.

CFH, Old, boring & behind the times?

🙂 Yep, that's me! 🙂

Shame, I had you down as a Telegraph reader 😉

Socialist Track World?

Some miserable people over Leckhampton today but no obvious "toffs" although even chavs in Cheltenham might be considered toffs by some of the Proles on here 🙂

SSP