Forum menu
I've been riding Swinley for some 15 odd years .I've built some of the trails with the BoB lot. I can say I know most of it off by heart.
Sunday I nearly had a punch up with 2 dad riders standing in the middle of a trail ,the downhilly bit from the reservoir, they were standing in the middle of a crossover with their 10 year old daughter
I just missed hitting them by inches, so I shouted at them 'get off the trail!!' their response was to shout arsehole at me..... it nearly kicked off !!
than last night two eastern Europeans dressed in jeans and hoodies wanted directions back to the car park. They were clearly clueless as to which way to go. I'm now thinking there's a new unwritten rule which tells me ...........
don't go there on a Sunday you'll be either held up by the gangs of mum and dad and 3 kids. or beaten up by dads not using any kind of common sense.
just ignore anyone that asks you directions....
If you bump into an asshole one day, meh; you met an asshole.
If EVERYONE you meet are assholes....
I just missed hitting them by inches, so I shouted at them 'get off the trail!!' their response was to shout arsehole at me..... it nearly kicked off !!
I believe the only unwritten rule is don't be a dick. I feel you may have fallen foul of this by miles!
You're riding around a popular family trial centre shouting at kids and then trying to fight their dad....
Between the lot of you, you were a great example in front of the "10" year old girl. I would have stopped and pointed out there in harms way.
What's wrong with someone asking for directions? Not everyone has been riding there as much as you and as a result not familiar with directions.
Bet if it was a fit female you would have given her directions, or even let her ride along with you.
*awaits 'shoulda been prepared to stop' comments*
Not sure of your issue with folk asking directions, or why them being Eastern European makes any odds?
#fridaytrollisobvious
The dad's, meh, you come across as a bit of a plum too.
The folk asking directions, you really do come across as a prize plum.
Your pointing out the lads in hoodies were "Eastern European" is very telling.
Yeah, coming over here; not finding our trails ...Your pointing out the lads in hoodies were "Eastern European" is very telling.
Bloody ethnics, coming here and riding our trails etc etc.
Did you check they were actually Eastern European and not Central European? They're the worst kind, you have to be sure.
TBH you sound like a bit of a entitled fud. Yes maybe they weren't standing in the best place but they'd taken the effort to get their kid out riding. You could have always had a chat with them and explained the potential danger and given some encouragement.
Annoying things at a local trail centre
People.
Bikes.
People riding bikes.
The fact it's your local and you once used a spade there does'nt make it 'yours' any more than it does someone from 'eastern europe'.
2/10 no capitals (extra point for Britain first).
you sound delightful OP, well done 😐
I've been riding Swinley for some 15 odd years
Sounds like you might need to ask directions to finally find your out, you must be exhausted, that's a long stint.
I've been riding Swinley for some 15 odd years
Sounds like you might need to ask directions to finally find your out, you must be exhausted, that's a long stint.
OP seems to have developed a sense of ownership over this local trails. (Been riding here 15 years, dug with my own hands etc).
Hell, as they say, is other people, but they’ve got the same right to use them as you. I also get annoyed by people who block trails, happens all the time in summer near me, groups of lads (usually) used to having their local wood to themselfs arrive at Cwmcarn for their road trip weekender and don’t really adapt stop en mass on hairpins or to look at a rock or something, it’s annoyingly but they’ll usually move when they see you coming.
Have to admit when I’m riding with my kids I’ll block the trail, but most people smile and say hi when they see I’m introducing a child to our sport.
I suspect your “missed by inches” line was hyperbolic, I’ve never been to Swinley, but I suspect it’s not a WC level DH venue, if you can’t see another rider on the trial ahead you’re either riding with your eyes glued to the front wheel, or you should check your brake pads.
bloody foreigners coming over riding our trail centres.
For me it is people who think they own the trails because they have ridden there for longer than others or helped with a shovel some time ago.
I was driving the other day, came round a corner and found 2 cyclists in front of me. I managed to avoid them but they tried to start a fight when I stopped to yell at them. Some people are just assholes, what can you do about it.
kelron - Member
I was driving the other day, came round a corner and found 2 cyclists in front of me. I managed to avoid them but they tried to start a fight when I stopped to yell at them. Some people are just assholes, what can you do about it.
Is that you Ronnie?
You should Czech yourself, I'm sure the lads didn't Armenia any harm, maybe you should go a bit Slovakia.
Well isn’t this going well 😆
I believe the only unwritten rule is don't be a dick. I feel you may have fallen foul of this by miles!
Very much this
kenniboi - Member
Saw two ebike noobs last weekend at Swinley
Brand new matching jackets and bikes
Could have been worse ,European dads in hoodies .
Maybe you should wear a badge to show how important you are.
If you come across me and my kids happily enjoying ‘your’ trails then I suggest a happy ‘hello, good afternoon ‘ even if we are in the way.
Were they on e-bikes?
Could have been worse ,European dads in hoodies
Or, worse, from The North.
just ignore anyone that asks you directions....
Dick.
thanks lads I must be a dick then
#fridaytrollisobvious
+1
SinglEReichworld anyone?
firstly you lot have exaggerated my ownership of an trails
I'm just a bloke with a bike.
secondly the dads with the daughter were at the bottom of a trail that most riders would be doing around 15--18 mph
if id hit the daughter at that speed who knows what would happen. I literally had to yank my bars to miss them!!
And these trails are listed as RED
or for experienced riders
if they want to take the kids riding stay on the kids trails
"I suspect your “missed by inches” line was hyperbolic, I’ve never been to Swinley, but I suspect it’s not a WC level DH venue, if you can’t see another rider on the trial ahead you’re either riding with your eyes glued to the front wheel, or you should check your brake pads."
your'e wrong actually its a red trail and designated downhill course
Welcome to the real world sir. If it is only recently that you have learned there are folk that do stupid things then you have clearly missed a lot in life. Yes - there are a lot of folk that are not entirely competent with the English Language - it happens in a multicultural society.
As for failing to control your speed to such an extent that you are able to slow down for any obstacles - this clearly is a lesson well learnt. Congratulations on that one.
its a red trail and designated downhill course
Swinley red is one of the tamest red trails in the country, and one of the busiest.
You've got to expect some inexperienced people and be aware they might be blocking a trail.
thanks lads I must be a dick then
Based purely on what you have said in this thread, that certainly seems very likely.
Swinley red is one of the tamest red trails in the country, and one of the busiest.
You've got to expect some inexperienced people and be aware they might be blocking a trail.
yeah for sure
went down the same trail last night at the same speed saw no one
from now on stay away from Swinley on sundays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[quote=kenniboi ]thanks lads I must be a dick then
seems a fair assessment.
Based purely on what you have said in this thread, that certainly seems very likely.
**** you
OP, it's swinley, it's the most popular spot for a huge density of population. I've ridden there a few times over the years, and pretty much every time you had to be on your guard for (in no particular order)
1. wee kids dashing about having fun, not really caring or looking where they're going
2. Mad spaniels trying to keep up with 1.
3. dithery mums pushing empty push chairs having a natter with each other not really paying much attention to 1 or 2
4. Mad keen MTB bloke and their keen wife/son/daughter
5. Mad keen MTB bloke and his reluctant wife/son/daughter
6. People who are lost
7. Hoards of fast local groups on mountain bikes getting pee'd off with 1 through 6 above
8. Horse riders who think they own the place
9. Runners who think they own the place
10. Random running/horsey/mountain bike events
11. Rangers who tell you you're not supposed to be here
12. Doggers.
13. thieves in the CP
Go to the Chilterns, it's much quieter
from now on stay away from Swinley on sundays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like it's worth avoiding altogether.
And these trails are listed as RED
Whoa! You never said it was a "RED"
Good work OP it's good that no one died
if they want to take the kids riding stay on the kids trails
I'm not familiar with the place but I just looked at the "official" map and I can't see any age restrictions on any of the trails. I suspect you're making that shit up.
Perhaps competency might be a useful criteria, since there are plenty of kids more capable on reds (and blacks) than many adults would be?
+1 for yes, you do appear to be a dick.
EDIT: By the way, you still don't seem to have answered the question as to the pertinence of being Eastern European when you're lost in a trail centre? In the absence of any rational explanation people will just draw the obvious conclusion. Which is that you are a xenophobic dick.
There's short loop of wide featureless track for the kids, and a play area by the car park. What more do they need?
[s]You are right - if you want quiet(er) trail - head there midweek evenings. [/s]
Scrap that - bad advice - we coach kids at trail centres on midweek evenings. Then the trails are full of kids. And we session bits again and again. Most folk passing by love that there are lots of kids learning skills on the trail.
The red attracts lots of kids because lots of kids are perfectly able to ride it. It's a good place for kids as they know what the level of difficulty will be all round the trail. A decent 8yr old would be fine round it I reckon. Anyway, at any point on any trail someone might stop. Yes they should pull into the side, but sometimes folk don't. It happens. You just can't expect a full speed clear trail at a busy time, anywhere, except maybe on private land with no public access - eg a race course.
**** you
Worst. Chat up line. Ever.
Next time, shout STRAVAAAA as you descend.