Having read the Edale feature in the latest Singletrack I first felt obliged to comment. On reflection, I still do, but I think that considering all the angles has made me realise something....
My initial reaction was "friction with walkers, horse riders and motorbikes in the Peak District? - you want to try to ride around where I live, mate. I have never had a really bad experience in the Dark Peak, and a lot of the ramblers are quite supportive".
This is true, but I then began to think. I ride in the Peaks, on average, once a month. At least half of those are on weekdays when taking leave from work. I ride (probably) four to five times a month where I live. This means that due to the extra time I spend riding at home, I am statistically more likely to meet a 'difficult person' on my local ride.
To ride anything vaguely interesting where I live, I have to poach footpaths, and areas where I am not 'supposed' to ride. I do this as considerately as I can, but I am still technically in the wrong.
The countryside around where I live is 'smaller' than the area available for all in the Peak. Greater concentrations of user means more interactions.
What I am getting at is that there are statistically no more 'difficult people' in my local area than the Peak, but it just feels like there are.
Add to this, the fact that the only major stand-up barney I have had with someone was in my local area, then it would further jaundice my view.
Don't go anywhere with preconceptions - the article on Long Mynd in the previous issue stated that the local walkers were cheerfully encouraging. When I have been there, I have actually found them to be less friendly than in the Peak.
Walkers in the Yorkshire Dales seem to be brilliant company - but I have only ridden there three times(!) Maybe northerners are just more chatty. Or maybe because the north has most of the beautiful countryside, there are just fewer people per square hectare trying to use it?
I live near, and ride in the Peak District all the time. I think in possibly 15 years of riding I've only had a couple of issues.
I'm not sure the article in question was actually that well written to be honest
Chaps I don't want to belittle your experience or feelings on this matter, but is anyone really surprised that a journo has massaged the facts to make things seem more sensational? The few times I have read singletrack mag I found the reviews to be so transperently subjective it made me want my money back. They might as well ahve jsut put a list on the front cover saying "stuff we llike/stiff we don't like, and don't bother to read the reason why as there isn't one other than we like it.."