[Closed] Bird bikes, how not to endear yourself to the locals

Ignorance/thoughtlessness rather than intent really. (if you're not local, there's really no way you'd know how iffy relations with the golf club have been) If I was Ben I'd be scooting out a second edit quick smart though

Can't manage any indignation about the pool, though, much more crap than that gets washed into leithen water off the roads and farms

As I'm not a local a bit of an explanation would be good ????

Not 100% convinced any damage is being done by a bike jumping into the pool for a couple of minutes.
Have you ever tried cleaning oil and filth off a chain with nothing but cold water ?
Nothing is shifting.

Looks more like people engaging our nations current favourite hobby of ****ing moaning about absolutely everything 🤔

The problem here is one of perception. I think that complaints about the water jump and contamination are nonsense but it only takes a few folk to see that, complain, and lots of hard-fought access could become a problem. Same with the fence jump.

I mean... Who would actually think this is a good idea? You can see the golf club, and folk outside.

Well without knowing local landowner politics, why not? Are you not supposed to ride bikes where golfers can see?

Jesus, that WillCoates is fair blowing off steam after his National 4’s! Every comment that is negative, he is in there. It’s like watching the cult of sick.

Well without knowing local landowner politics, why not?

How well is it working out for them?

Should have done their homework first. Not rocket science.

As an Innerleithen resident there is an interesting dynamic going on. TBH the golf course have actually been really great for example opening their doors for coffee this weekend for the SES. I think what everyone needs to remember is folk are just going about their normal daily stuff and do at times perceive mountain bikers as slightly intimidating, whether we are or not.

I think perception is the whole process here as most of the stuff I use on bikes is of intention biodegradable. I'm not sure the jump into the golf course car park is by itself an issue if they warned people before hand. Golfers are not all madcap anti-bikers and the washing of the bikes in the Leithen water is nonsense, often ending in arguments surrounding the natural run off being somehow the fault of mountain bikers!

What everyone needs to remember is when we are feeling rad or showing off to our buddies this can be construed as anti-social behaviour by some and that's not a good image to project. If people just took a minute to think about how elderly people or even those who don't understand mountain biking may see us, we could keep all our stunts contained in the forests and areas away from population centres and do our image a good bit of PR.

Well without knowing local landowner politics, why not? Are you not supposed to ride bikes where golfers can see

Never been to the place, or even aware of it... but jumping a bike over a fence into a public/private car park can never be a bright idea if shooting a corporate type video if you ask me. Whether it's golfers, public, a stadium or an office building, it's simply not the best idea. Even if it looks cool and fun.

I like Bird and how they are as a company... but that, is just a daft idea.

Are the people from Scotlandshire envious that the little englunders ride better than themselves in their own back yard. The American at the bottom the comments has the right idea. Anyway the music was awful and perhaps the golfer watching was hoping the cyclist was gonna fall off so was watching for a laugh.

Maybe they should try swearing in a northern accent.

Tails - its more to to with understanding scots access laws. don't be a dick is the main principle and these guys have broken it.

Thats why the anger. We get a bit of this from English riders thinking they can do what they wan't. Well you cannot

Tails is Willcoates and I claim my £5

Come on tj you think locals haven't been doing similar? I've seen footage of "locals" doing the same jump. I've also seen people washing bikes in that bit of the river. What about the environmental impact of the golf course?

Maybe not but I have also seen this a few times - riders from England misunderstanding our rights - and two wrongs don't make a right

Looks more like people engaging our nations current favourite hobby of **** moaning about absolutely everything

I agree, and while they're at it giving Bird a load of extra publicity in the process. I probably would have missed that video if it wasn't for the moaners 👍

Seriously it's just jumping over a fence and into some water, surely there are more worthwhile things for people to get a bit of sand in their fannys about!!

We get a bit of this from English riders thinking they can do what they wan’t. Well you cannot

I've got a Scottish mate that I was riding with once at Chicksands. He did a skid, bold as brass, on English soil.

Makes you think.

🙄

tjagain

Member
Maybe not

Well, the thread title is "how not to endear yourself to the locals".

The jump into the car park is a fairly well photographed spot.

There were already locals swimming in the pool when they arrived.

When in Rome etc.

riders from England misunderstanding our rights – and two wrongs don’t make a right

My understanding was that whole hillside was cheeky but tolerated (and very well publicised by the locals, if it's that contentious dont ride it yourself and don't publicise it!). So it's outside the access laws anyway,

riders from England misunderstanding our rights

Seems to be a bit ‘do as we say, not as we do’ from the sounds of it...

So it’s outside the access laws anyway,

No its not unless you ride like a dick. Access laws apply. there is no such thing as "cheeky~" under scots law. Access rights apply to 90+ % of the country

Feels like the mumsnet thread again. Yeah maybe some golfers look at them doing that and think they're a bunch of ****s or scary youths, but its a jump to a grass bank with lots of space around. They're not putting anyone at risk or causing property damage, it seems like the complaints are entirely about image.

weeksy Subscriber

Never been to the place, or even aware of it… but jumping a bike over a fence into a public/private car park can never be a bright idea if shooting a corporate type video if you ask me. Whether it’s golfers, public, a stadium or an office building, it’s simply not the best idea. Even if it looks cool and fun.

No one seems to complain about that Danny McAskill bloke riding on pavements, along railings, jumping off posts etc.
Doesn't seem to have done promoting Red Bull too much harm.

Tails – its more to to with understanding scots access laws. don’t be a dick is the main principle and these guys have broken it.

I'm still none the wiser, whats wrong with the video ?? Were they riding somewhere they shouldn't. They seemed to be sticking to well used trails 🤔🤔

Taxi - jumping over the fence and chucking their bikes in the river. Breaking "don't be a dick"

tjagain Member
Taxi – jumping over the fence and chucking their bikes in the river. Breaking “don’t be a dick”

But I can't remember any Scot getting outraged by this? (If the link doesn't work, it's the vid of Danny MacAskill jumping off various bits of Edinburgh).

Doing this stuff in broad daylight in the middle of a city, on public infrastructure & buildings with traffic & pedestrians nearby....

Yeah, OK it's a bit of whataboutery but is it OK because he's Scottish? Or double standards?

Bikes not to mention motor vehicles are riden/driven through water every minute of every day. There's no environmental impact in this particular instance. And jumping over without in any way damaging a fence as part of a commercial shoot isn't being a dick. Come on what's the real problem ?

Taxi - you show with that your lack of understanding. the right to ride in Scotland offroad is a qualified right not an absolute one - and qualified by the need to act responsibly. this clearly does not apply to street riding.

Sorry, but I'm still trying to get my head round the issue of putting a bike in a river. Are folks seriously saying that will cause pollution to the water..or is there something else I'm missing.

Storm in a teacup! Get over yourselves, bit of bike riding followed by a quick dip. Perhaps close all the mtb trails if you don't like this sort of thing on Scottish soil, its not like MTB brings much tourism or money into the economy up there 🙄

But within the context of a commercial shoot how were they acting irresponsibily, the fence and water thing don't go over that line to any reasonable person.
You don't define reasonable as perceived by 0.5% of people but by the majority view. The majority seeing the Bird antics might ask "whats going here" but when told its filming for a promotional video would be fine with it, probably be interested enough hang around and watch for a bit.

I, for one, will no longer be riding through stream crossings now I've been made aware of the environmental devastation it can cause.

just seems like case of the recreationally offended brigade finding this mornings reason for being outraged to me.

Yeah, **** the locals!

Goddamn snowflakes need to toughen up. Then they can take this newly found 'go **** yourself' attitude to local meetings and show everyone who's boss.

It's not like the people who live there might know best. After all, everyone in Scotland is just jealous of the access rights you enjoy in England and Wales

@Brucewee. Yet again what are they doing wrong in this specific video, don't say they jumped over a fence and into water. But what exactly about how and where their ridng is wrong. Yeah and the angry scotsman thing, it's not a good look 😉

I'm not a local. You'd be best asking the locals who were commenting on the PB article who know the local area and local politics.

If I have to choose between listening to the locals and listening to visitors with a strong sense of entitlement I'll listen to the locals every time.

Maybe because that's what we do in Scotland, that's why we enjoy the access rights we do.

*looks in thread*

*quietly backs out again*

shock horror, man jumps fence on his bike wont somebody please think of the chillllldreenn…..

jeez

Hobnob anyone?

the video and comments linked to above seem to be removed now

Has it been taken down? - The OP's link doesn't work for me.

Edit - TJ's confirmed

Provocative post from the OP and fair bit of venom on here from a lot of the Scots posters- is compare attitudes on this thread with comments about access on other threads.

As pointed out earlier can only conclude there's an element of cross border prejudice.

Rather ironic that people are saying 'don't be a dick' then publishing aggressive dickish posts on here.

I agree with 'vinnyeh'. This thread seems to have developed into a vehicle for a few of our neighbours from the North to have a whinge about the English. Not that some Scotsmen need an excuse to whinge about the English...

Its not cross border prejudice. Its the lack of understanding by some of our neighbours as to what scots access laws mean.

In england you have an absolute right to ride on bridleways and the like. In Scotland you have a qualified right. that qualification is to be responsible. If you are not acting responsibly then you are not in accordance with our access laws.

In this particular case there is already "political" discussions with locals and MTBers. A lot of folk have worked hard to keep good local relations. People who do not understand the need to act responsibly spoil things for others.