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the bloke with the tatts? he's got two mobiles, is he drug dealer too?
freeridenick - no one is, I think, saying that building trails is a 'bad thing' the objection is to organising races on them.
A better approach to this whole situation would have been to have done it above board, speak to the land owners, promote it in a positive way and do it LEGALLY. It could actually have had some positive effects if it was done right. Sadly that opportunity has now well and truly gone. Chances of it being done legitimately now? Zilch.
Chances of it causing access issues for all the other cyclists? Huge.
It was "underground" because they knew it was wrong and illegal. Simple.
Daver27, well put sir, well put!
Yes he deals in Brown Pow and the freshest loam.
@freeridenick - what do you think of the Wisley style dirt jump on the trail you mentioned earlier (I am rubbish with the names but it's in that area) - it must be 5-6ft high ?
Digger90 - you obviously don't know your trails very well then. Nothing wrong with jumps, unless you can't jump
Another outstanding example of totally missing the point...
What the new bigger jumps on Northern Monkey - they are fairly hefty!
But still a great trail if you don't hit them
London is over-crowded. Every so often MBR etc run features on the Surrey Hills. Its rammed. So on that basis everyone with good intentions (sadly) is fighting a losing battle.
Peaks/access is DIFFERENT. Its literally deserted compared to my times down in the Surrey Hills. I bet tomorrow morning I see 2-3 other riders over two hills.
Another +1 for Daver27. As said above, I don't think anyone is taking issue with the trails whoever is building them (and not all are down to this one mythical god) its the raceing thats the problem.
If he has this dialogue with the Hurtwood Ranger perhaps it would have been more sensible to arrange to have the race over there with his approval.
I think alot of the land from the Tower down to Wolvens lane is NT Im sure many of us are national trust members.
The NT have a deeply conservative membership and are generally very anti-cyclist. <unchecked 'fact'>They own almost the entire Cornish coast path, none of which you are allowed to cycle on. </unchecked 'fact'>
Next time you mince your way down Northern Monkey or ride round the jumps on flytipper just remember who built these trails....he has virtually single handedly made what Surrey Hills riding is today.
Sorry, but who has?
I ride there occasionally, but mostly weekdays and on my own, so I'm not really aware of what the local scene is and who has put the work in. Also, don't really know the trail names (apart from the really obvious) but it does look like some good effort has been put into making it a decent riding area.
Surely we must be running out of fuel for this now very large fire. The so called organiser and uplift service are two different people. Judging someones age and intellectual ability by what they write on here isn't really fair
😀
Lots of love , The Chuckle brothers .......
Sorry, but who has?
Tattoo Dave. He's the only person to have ever wielded a spade, and were it not for him the entire Surrey Hills area would actually be marshland.
Because of this he is allowed, nay expected, to jeopardise future relations by organising illegal events on his terrain.
don't see many others out with shovels in hand eh njee...
Do you know me? I don't dig illegal trails no. I think that's a good thing
😥
Dear Mr Tattoo, please don't feel obliged to build illegal trails and jumps or organise illegal races on my behalf.
Dear Mr Tattoo, please don't feel obliged to build illegal trails and jumps or organise illegal races on my behalf.
Please don't do anything for me, either. Thanks.
.
.
He actually now has a dialogue with the Hurtwood ranger and has permission to fix up alot of the legacy trails.
Organising illegal races without the permission or the ranger sounds like a great way to undo all that good work.
Or me for that matter
@freeridenick - that's my point, they are pretty hefty, just the sort of thing the ranger sees and results in him blocking/demolishing the whole trail. I can't ride the gap/double anyway and yes I can and do ride around but I'd hate to see what is a great trail shut because of the dirt jump.
In 1976 on the steep and rough Fire Road in Fairfax, Marin County, California a simular thing went down, it was the begining of mountain biking........
At Leith hill a bunch of guys got back to the pure roots of mountain biking for a night...
Now, most of you soleless trial center only,wouldn't know if it was northings or eastings first in a GR, blinged up, bmw driving, yupee types won't know about this because all your so called knowledge and experience comes from reading forums and crap books written by half baked 24hr riders, you can't see past your carbon bars and you have only been in the game 5 minutes.
Half term is it?
What a frankly insulting, arrogant post.
Ignoring your stupid "been in the game" term, I've been riding mountain bikes since the 80s. So please feel free to get stuffed.
Buy a map? Well, I own many maps, of great places like the Brecons, Snowdonia, and the North Downs for example. I've mapped out some great rides on them.
Please feel free to take your attitude somewhere else. MBUK is over there, dude.
FFS.
[i]a simular thing went down, it was the begining of mountain biking[/i]
errm, you know they did solo timed runs rather than mass start events, don't you?
The also had marshalls to make sure that the course was clear for each run.
They hadn't built illegal trails that they then raced on, either.
other than that it was *exactly* the same 🙂
Leave it be Captain, he's just trying to get you riled.
Yes, you're right. It's exactly the same. I've been a fool.
xterramac - that is possibly the single most stupid post I have ever read on here and that really does take some doing. I'll give you credit for making me laugh thou.
The only reason you lot are bitching is because you did'nt get invited and join in with the race. If you were up there and joined in then you would have enjoied it as much as anyone else.
I myself took part in it didn't come anywere near 1st but had a great time none the less.
as for all this bullshit of people getting hurt (walkers and horse riders etc.) it was at 7pm on a wednesday hardly anyone was about, and if they were then they could definatly see us comeing and get out the way. it only happens for tops of 20mins once a year! GET OVER IT!!
[i]The only reason you lot are bitching is because you did'nt get invited and join in with the race[/i]
bless.
The only reason you lot are bitching is because you did'nt get invited and join in with the race.
Any chance for next year? 😉
Joker22, well I must say thats a very appropriate name
Having read all these posts, it occurs to me that the general argumentative nature and tone is exactly why this event took place in a sort of 'closed to buddies only' manner. You lot would take to punching each other in the face over what colour your bikes were let alone trying to get a consensus on a more complicated subject. I'm trying to imagine you lot having a non-abusive conversation with each other - I've tried really hard and I can't picture it. Please keep arguing, it's very amusing.
Maybe an organised stw 'slow mince in the surrey hills' to coincide with the next one?
In hindsight, what i posted was a touch OTT and did have other issues I have, vented through it. I've edited it now as it wasnt the time or place. However i see the post above by joker22 and ive gotta say, he is right, we werent there it was a once a year thing, let it go...Its no where near as bad as alley cat races or street racing (cars, not road bikes) though...
Cheezpleez - "I understand some of you are feeling defensive. You've done something silly and now you're feeling a bit confused and guilty. It's quite natural to lash out under the circumstances but don't worry, it gets much easier to deal with your emotions when you grow up"
Seems to me the people lashing out on here are the naysayers.
Digger90 - "the Twunt who's been running van assisted illegal uplifts at Peaslake"
"Maybe not illegal but motorised-assisted sport is against the Hurtwood's Byelaws, Regulations or Code of Conduct."
I think they mean motorbikes etc by "motor-assisted sport". Virtually all MTBers who visit Peaslake would come under that category otherwise. What's illegal about running your mates to the top of the hill?
njee20 - "I don't dig illegal trails no. I think that's a good thing".
Do you dig any trails, or do any maintenance?
mattjg - "Dear Mr Tattoo, please don't feel obliged to build illegal trails and jumps or organise illegal races on my behalf."
I very much doubt he had you specifically in mind when he dug them.
it was at 7pm on a wednesday hardly anyone was about, and if they were then they could definatly see us comeing and get out the way.
it only happens for tops of 20mins once a year! GET OVER IT!!
He's right you know.
It's the same reasoning that makes it ok for me to drive home from the pub pissed at Christmas 😀
Invites, I thought it was just a bunch of mates ! Looking forward to mine for next year.
Funny thing is, I was actually out biking on Leith Hill on Wednesday night and for a lot longer than you by the sound of it.
it was at 7pm on a wednesday hardly anyone was about
you mean early on a warm pleasant mid-summer's eve, with hours of daylight to go?
why would anyone want to go out then eh?
if they were then they could definatly see us comeing and get out the way.
Ah yes, as all the trails ridden were straight fireroads, and horses are known for their ability to suddenly get out of the way!
This is just as bad as all the absurd anti-cycling "they don't pay road tax, so shouldn't be on the roads" arguments spouted by dramas.
Please keep arguing, it's very amusing.
Not so much in-fighting though, there's a consensus between the sensible ones that acknowledge it's a horrendously stupid thing to have done, and there's the morons (some of whom participated) who are advocating it because it's 'opened a dialogue' with the rangers.
I don't doubt (as I've said previously) that it was brilliant fun, and to be honest it would probably have been better if it had taken place at 2am or something, make it properly clandestine, but I really do think doing it as it was is totally indefensible. The whole "it was 7pm no one was around" just shows the lack of foresight, or naivety shown. You don't need lots of people, just one not paying attention who gets killed/seriously injured, doesn't matter if they're the only person in the entire county and whether it's midday on a Sunday or 7pm on a Wednesday, I suspect the effects would be similar, just a hunch.
In hindsight, what i posted was a touch OTT and did have other issues I have, vented through it. I've edited it now as it wasnt the time or place.
And yet CFH has immortalised it through quoting! Marvellous effort Tim.
and there's the [s]morons[/s] [i]others[/i] (some of whom participated) who are advocating it because it's 'opened a dialogue' with the rangers
funny thing is every time they post they just dig the hole deeper, right here on the public internet for everyone to see, and archived by google forever
(why else would I have bothered to help keep this thread going?)
anyway job done now I think, it's been the best part of 22 hours, work to do ...
dig the hole deeper
unintentional pun, really!
[i]Not so much in-fighting though, there's a consensus between the sensible ones that acknowledge it's a horrendously stupid thing to have done[/i]
There's a consensus amongst a number of people on this forum - they don't (necessarily) represent the views of others. Line 10 people up and you'll get 10 differing opinions.
We have a long history of law breaking in this country (illegal raves, illegal road races, base jumping etc) and whilst I have no firm opinion on the rights and wrongs, I'm glad these things take place - shows good spirit and all that, one in the eye to the powers that be.
The trouble is though that those things don't impact on folk not partaking. They don't ban driving because of illegal street racing. They don't stop people going up buildings because of base jumpers. This may well have repercussions for folk who had nothing to do with it.
The consistent inability to see this is what's so crazy.