Forum menu
they actually did nothing wrong. just a big bunch of mates riding down a hill, all on legit trails.
Even if you say that, it's a bunch of 75+ 'mates', hardly great for relationships.
I don't doubt it was great fun, but definitely agree it's only damaging for the perception of mountain bikers.
I saw a bloke with a race number taped to his bars pushing up to the tower. There's lots of talk on Twitter and Strava of winners and positions.
If it looks like a race and smells like a race, it's probably ...
just a big bunch of mates riding down a hill, all on legit trails.
Large group, at speed, descibed as a race by people posting on twitter, vimeo and here. Basic [url= http://www.ramblers.org.uk/rights_of_way/knowledge_portal/rights_of_way_law/basics_of_row_law ]law[/url] on Rights of Way - "Races or speed trials on paths are forbidden"
Looks lots of fun but really doesn't look like a good way to build bridges in an area with access issues.
I am in agreement
but then everytime you race your mates down a trail you are breaking the law! its just on a bigger scale.
Head out of the sand Nick. 70 riders at speed, close together, on mostly shared use trails, some of it with very short sightlines.
They were lucky not to meet someone coming up the other way on Wolvern's Lane. And anyone who went up Wolvern's last night was lucky too.
Can you imagine the pile-up?
[img] 
[/img]
but then everytime you race your mates down a trail you are breaking the law! its just on a bigger scale.
It's the scale that's the specific issue!
Not quite true about 'racing your mates' either, that's not an organised event.
I'm shocked. Ride Leith and Peaslake all the time.
Can't believe anyone would be stupid enough to do this... don't we have enough enemies already?
This wasn't organised either....
it was all over in 13 minutes.
10 mates from diaryofarider.com etc blatting down the tower BW on a sunday morning is just the same - if not worse. going to come up against more foot/horse traffic
njee20 nails it.
Idiots. Selfish idiots.
If you hit and injured someone walking up to Leith Hill, you could easily end up in court. Especially if you've got racing number strapped to the bars, a GPS logging your time for a Strava segment called "Leith Hill Mega", and a phone with text messages detailing a meet up for a Leith Hill race, whilst in a big crowd of 70-100 people doing speeds of up to 40mph and no warnings whatsoever for anyone who happens to be walking in the area.
"No officer, I was definitely riding responsibly"
This wasn't organised either....
cba linking to the face palm again. You calling it a coincidence then?
And unsure what the timescales have to do with anything?
This wasn't organised either....
God I hope that's sarcastic! Did the 75 riders just happen all to be at a specific point, all knowing the route, at the same time then? What are the odds! I want to go to Vegas with those guys!
it was all over in 13 minutes.
WGAS? If the ranger sees them for 10 seconds it's going to cause as much trouble as if they carry on for 4 hours!
10 mates from diaryofarider.com etc blatting down the tower BW on a sunday morning is just the same - if not worse. going to come up against more foot/horse traffic
Seriously? Even though that's non-competitive, and one would hope that on seeing walkers/horses they'd slow down and show courtesy, not see it as a chance to attack the other riders to get a gap.
I'm not sure if you're a naive fool, or just trolling.
muppets.
I'm not sure if you're a naive fool, or just trolling.
He's just trolling.
Remarkable self-discipline from the racers tho, in not posting here.
As someone who was riding up one of the two way trails on Leith Hill last night when they all came hurtling down, it wasn't fun at all.
No one was around to warn of the on coming pleb fest, the guys at the front were all head down racing, I was forced to get off the trail or risk getting hit.
It was basically like trying to ride against the starting field of an xc race.
Oh and no one has mentioned the direction signs nailed to trees yet?
Just had a look at last year's race videos online. 75 riders doing that is a bit daft, but what's done is done. Things like this are like free parties, they only happen a few times before they get busted well in advance. Next time there may be people out to stop it and in any access-conflict bikes would be worst-off.
Yes it was abit silly, and not a good advert for biking...still fun though
^ stop winding people up )
We all know who organises it and he puts in a hell of a lot more than he takes out so I for one trust him not to destroy mountain biking in the area!
As someone who was riding up one of the two way trails on Leith Hill last night when they all came hurtling down, it wasn't fun at all.No one was around to warn of the on coming pleb fest, the guys at the front were all head down racing, I was forced to get off the trail or risk getting hit.
It was basically like trying to ride against the starting field of an xc race.
Oh and no one has mentioned the direction signs nailed to trees yet?
Given that a biker felt threatened by the mob coming down the hill then one can only guess at what local walkers felt like. Not the smartest move by the organisers IMO. The good work done by the local MTB support groups with the rangers will have taken a knock I reckon.
Racing your mates for fun in a small group is a million miles from racing at an 'event' , no matter how informal. Next year expect 200+ riders and some proper trouble. 🙄
We all know who organises it and he puts in a hell of a lot more than he takes out so I for one trust him not to destroy mountain biking in the area!
But it won't be anything he can stop once the ban-it movement has enough momentum. I have a lot of time / respect for peole like that if they're responsible, don't get me wrong.
I know a guy who used to put loads in to our local spot, made cheeky trails, put on events, was a big part of creating a whole scene that grew from that area as well as making some of the local trails. A bit of a 90's MTB scene legend really. The riding drew attention though and up against the local anti's, landowners, the council etc, powerless. There's less riding available in that area than there was 10-12 years ago. Over-simplified version of the story and a different situation yes, likely outcome any different? No.
Always remember rule #1.. individually or collectively )
surprised at 2 people employed by MBR/IPC partaking in what essentially is unofficial racing in a sensitive area (recreational use/conflict)
it's just a bit of harmless fun until somebody loses a leg.
Milner has already removed his from strava.
"it's just a bit of harmless fun until somebody loses a leg."
What was it, a chain saw owners convention?
Man, those middle aged IT managers ROCK!
I was pi$$ed off enough by what happened last night to consider jumping on any anti mtb campaign and support any attempts to ban riders on anything other than ROWs.
24hrs later, it's still a stupid thing to have done again, it was reckless last year but they got away with it, this time it's just "jumping the shark" and it has been done right under the nose of the ranger from what has been said earlier.
any videos? 😆
Milner has already removed his from strava.
Shame he's still visible in pictures (with race number boards? hardly discreet) on public flikr sets.
We all know who organises it and he puts in a hell of a lot more than he takes out so I for one trust him not to destroy mountain biking in the area!
[img] 
[/img]
(Actually, I dont know. Who?)
It really does just take one walker or their dog, or a horse rider to be injured or even just terrified to shut down the whole area.
Bizarely this would actually be safer and less contentious being run on trails used only by mountain bikers.
to shut down the whole area.
It will never happen, at least it will never happen that they shut the whole area down and actually stop anyone from riding.
How would you ever actually enforce a ban? It just wouldn't work.
We all know who organises it and he puts in a hell of a lot more than he takes out so I for one trust him not to destroy mountain biking in the area!
Well, whoever that is is a stupid f*cking idiot. Deserves a right slap.
Well, whoever that is is a stupid f*cking idiot. Deserves a right slap.
When you stop riding his trails (and buff up a little) then you get the right to make that call. Otherwise I would keep stum.
It will never happen, at least it will never happen that they shut the whole area down and actually stop anyone from riding.How would you ever actually enforce a ban? It just wouldn't work.
This is a red herring.
It's bloody dangerous to other users for bikers to race in large numbers on shared use trails. As a side issue it's especially dumb to do it in a sensitive AONB.
Surprised you're defending the indefensible geetee.. you ride up there too.
I think it is defensible to a degree; I don't think it's without problems but that's not the same thing as it being wrong - it is after all, totally subjective as to what actually happened.
There are large groups out on the hills all the time.
Anyway quite apart from anything else I think the guy responsible deserves a medal for all the work he's put in. We have one of the best riding areas in the country because of his and a few other peoples' efforts.
it is after all, totally subjective as to what actually happened
No it's not. There are Tweets, photos, Strava logs and testimony here.
I've tried to read this but teh radnez is blinding me
can anyone send me a braille summary
Utterly short-sighted... thanks guys.
Surrey Hills is private land don't forget. very easy to throw us off if we don't show consideration..
How would you ever actually enforce a ban? It just wouldn't work.
Try organising the next one in Ashford forest and see what happens.
FYI, the National Trust has the power to create bylaws. That could make it a criminal offence to cycle not on a ROW. Its pretty unlikely, until theres an accident...
FYI, the National Trust has the power to create bylaws. That could make it a criminal offence to cycle not on a ROW. Its pretty unlikely, until theres an accident...
they wouldn't dare - they will lose my membership immediately - I only use it to pop in for the odd cream tea anyway.
We all know who organises it and he puts in a hell of a lot more than he takes out so I for one trust him not to destroy mountain biking in the area!
Well, whoever that is is a stupid f*cking idiot. Deserves a right slap.
We all know who he is, and its not for any old reason that there is a lot of bad feeling from the locals who put up with us far far too regularly. Yes he puts in a lot of time building trails, but lets not forget, they are for the most part illegal. this just puts the final nail in the coffin for me, the guy is an absolute idiot.
I grew up there and have ridden there for nearly 25 years now and the change in the last few years is not all for the good. and yes, i do enjoy the trails, but i haven't forgotten that its private land, walkers have right of way and that being polite to people out enjoying the area comes first, it is in no way solely a bike playground.
this kind of short sighted, Selfish behaviour will have just armed the locals to the teeth with ammunition should it come to it.
Tat... ..ve, the MBR guys et al should be very very ashamed, not praised as MTB heros.
Hurray!
Modern mountain bikers and their over developed sense of entitlement...
There was a time when mountain bikers had a reasonable amount of common sense and a certain affinity with walkers in their respect for the countryside.
Now there is an irresponsible 'I've spent loads of money on this 'steed' and I'll ride it wherever I want' attitude that has crept in. I hope access is restricted; they have proved they don't deserve it.
...and it's a large part of why I don't do much mountain biking any more, because we are increasingly seen in the same way as the off road motorbike lot; simple vandals who don't really care about the environment we use.