[Closed] Malverns - bloody red socks!

It's almost all bridleways up there (except the top)!!

You are right though, they breed them miserable in that part of the world.

can I refer you to item 3 on the the following code of conduct:

I find it pays to always be polite, smile and say thank you to every one I meet- if they are nice back then it keeps every one happy, if they are scowling numpties then you gain the moral high ground.

They are mostly bridleways on the Worcestershire side, but not the Herefordshire side, and the ridge, as BB has said, definitely is not

There weren't any last night (in the rain and mud). I was up there by myself - it's a 20 min ride to the Wyche cutting from my house. Didn't see another soul.

Always say thank you very loudly. If they are nice, then they are grateful, if they are miserable, they never know what to do. We have a bell for Malvern now - most walkers are grateful for a wee warning. 🙂

To be fair, 95% of the walkers are lovely up here and I even get shouted encouragement when ploughing up to the Beacon (maybe because I'm a girl!)

We were out on the Malverns by 7am today, really nice ride - except for the bloody walkers!

Out by 7am, but out for how long? I'm guessing you didn't get much aggro until the grockles were out later. Beginners mistake going out on a bank holiday weekend - personally in all the hundreds of times I've been up there I've only had aggro once.

They are mostly bridleways on the Worcestershire side, but not the Herefordshire side, and the ridge, as BB has said, definitely is not

Well it depends which bit of the hills you're talking about. What you say only really applies to Wyche Ridge - North of the Wyche its BWs everywhere, South of British Camp they're sporadic to non-existent even on the Worcs. side. Not that it really makes any difference IMHO - provided of course you're sensible in your use (for example I'd only ride HRH Cheeky at times of day when you're almost certain not to meet anybody).

Of course the one time I did get abuse and a suggestion that I shouldn't be there I was actually on a BW (the zig-zags).

Can't wait to ride up them again, it's been some 10 years or so... June time.... lots of walkers to knock down I would imagine

[i]5. If riding with mends, avoid bunching, which can appear
threatening to walkers and horse riders.[/i]

What are 'mends', is this some Worcestershire thing I don't know?

Bells are a funny thing, over in the Chilterns where I ride mostly they are seen as very aggressive by walkers... so we usually slow-down and shout.

with regards to bells, don't they have to have 'bear bells' in some parts of Canada? So that it warns bears some MTBer is hurtling around the corner? Wouldn't be a bad thing...As long as you're listening to your MP3 as well

...just driven past on our way back from Eastnor with the kids - the hills still look absolutely chokka with walkers. So watching the clock to go out in an hour or so ... woohoo!

One of the first things I noticed when I moved from the Wyche to Cannock is that walkers are far grumpier on the Malverns! Being as obnoxiously cheerful as I could used to work for me... 🙂

Agreed it pays to slow down and 'thank' the walkers and save the best bits until after dusk!

you can be agressive with a bell too, insistant indignant rings or mild well spaced "ting tings" depending on my mood here

I was up there last Sunday mid-morning walking there with the family. Saw a fair few bikers up there including a group of 8-10 coming down from Worcester Beacon. We gave them plenty of room and encouragement as did most of the other walkers there.

Haven't been up there riding (sadly) so far this year but will be rectifying this over the next week or so....Usually Friday afternoon is good with a cheeky pub stop at the end to avoid the rush hour traffic back up the M5.

I have been up there and seen some very dangerous & ignorant riders so I can empathise with some of the 'red socks'

Access for all....... but not the grumpy ones ;0)

Just got in from my ride, not a soul up there 😀