<rant> Next time you all feel the urge to all stand in the gateway by the road, completely blocking it for anyone wishing to pass whilst shining your ridiculously bright helmet light into the eyes of anyone trying to approach you up the trail (and subsequently fight their way through), please consider being more courteous to other trail users. </rant>
Your best bet is just to have a word with them at the time, theres a chance they might not read this.
OK we'll all wait in the road next time 🙄
Is this really worth whinging about?
I don't think anyone was being deliberately discourteous. It's just what happens with big re-groups, everyone talking etc.
A polite 'excuse me' would probably have worked.
Your best bet is just to have a word with them at the time, theres a chance they might not read this.
Net warrior alert!
Ranting on here is no good. Butch up and open your mouth at the time. I bet the rest of your ride was spoiled by muttering to yourself how rude some folks are.
grumblegrumble[b]helmetlights[/b]moangroan[b]inmyway[/b]chuntermumble[b]don'tliketalkingtopeopleprefertotypeawhinge[/b]
is it because they had some friends?
well put scottchegg!
Is this really worth whinging about?
It would irritate me a bit as well if I'm honest, because it's just inconsiderate and no different to the red socks walking six abreast along a track and refusing to allow you a space to get past.
If you need to regroup with a large group then surely it's better to do it somewhere where you're not blocking an access point?
Mind you, I'd have probably said something at the time, although I would understand if someone kept quiet because of the size of the group.
get. over. it.
riding's meant to be fun.
it a mountain bikers equivalant to people who leave their shopping trollys sticking out so nobody can get past, just shout EXCUSE ME if they don't shift ram them!
Natural regroup locations are always at the start/end of trails/paths (we're talking about a tarmac cycle path here). That usually means an 'access point'.
A group of 15 individuals who know each other are always going to cause a bit of a rabble when regrouping. Human nature. Waiting silently in single file isn't going to happen.
No one was intentionally rude. Mildly inconsiderate of others, yes maybe.
Any harm done? No.
Avoidable situation? Not really in the real world.
Big deal. Get over it.
OP,
2/10. no use of random capitalisation and decent spelling. points only awarded for lack of punctuation.
this was at the junction with the road and the old adventure trail? i imagine you got up a real head of steam on the 15 yard flat bit between the motorcycle gate and the road 🙄
Can't really fathom why people want to go out in huge (more than 10) groups really, makes the whole thing really slow with loads of hanging around getting cold.
It's all well and good calling the OP an Internet Warrior, but it's pretty intimidating having to say to 40 people, please can you move/not shine your lights in my face etc
And another thing, while we're on the subkect, riding on the road, at night, in a half mile long strung out group is [b]insane[/b], I seen several near misses when a driver has gone to overtake, found that the line of riders extends far into the distance and there is now an on-coming car, and no where to go. Split up into smaller groups and have some ****ing consideration.
I can understand the OP with ppl hogging in groups but a quick Hi, excuse me please etc and I've never found a group that hasn't moved over or hasn't said hi back.
The gp was probably having fun and didn't realise they were hogging-very common/selfish whatever but just say S'cuse folks and bikers then do the bike shuffle and nearly fall over etc.
or:
I find this works even if I get pi55 taken out of me by my fellow riders lol
[img] 
[/img]
Tim41, you come across as a bit of a nob.
'Big deal. Get over it'?? Great way to get on with a fellow MTB'r. Why not invite him along to a future ride instead???
I'm not easily intimidated.. but a large group... especially one containing obnoxious people.. may well serve to put a dampener on my spirits if I was forced to confront them over an issue..
Love the way HUGE group is actually only 15 friends riding together. A simple "excuse me" would have worked and in my experience be met with a "sorry mate".
Instead its a thread that now has 15 people transforming into 40 and taking up half a mile of road on a 15 yard section of road between 2 entry/exit points at a trail centre.
Let alone the use of "ridiculously bright helmet light"s for night riding... i mean its not like you want to see when its a dark uneven trail you are riding.
I agree get over it. Oh and i was not there just gathering info from what has already been posted and laughing at some peoples changing of facts to suit their preconceptions.
I apologise, i may have put a bit of weight on lately and think i was probably the cause of the obstruction... 
We've got 30 down to ride on Saturday so far - please feel free to say excuse me to us if we get in the way (you'll probably be overtaking us anyway!)
yunki - why would you need to 'confront' anyone. IT's dark. Say 'Hi. Move over, fast lad coming through' and there may be smiles and a bit of banter.
It doesn't have to come to banging heads over such a little thing, on anyones part.
LOL at Burchy!
well observed Kamikirk.
big group intimidating? what, are you twelve?
no-one was rude, on the thread OR on the trail. and, as it goes, the OP was asked if he was riding with us ( which he would have been very welcome to do ), or if he just wanted to get by, at the time. as they went through i'm pretty sure they got a 'sorry mate, have a good one', but if not, please accept our apololgies.
this is a well established ride that has been running for something like 10 years. the week before there were three of us. sometimes there are up to 30 odd ( very rarely indeed ). it's a ride, social occasion, and justification for a few mid-week beers - different things to different people. i've been going along for 3 years or so. without exception everyone has been friendly and welcoming. some excellent riders, some crap ones. all welcomed. all waited for.
many of the 'off-piste' sections up there have been put in by members of this ride, and are maintained by them too.
why don't you come along next time? might not be your thing - that's fine, but you might enjoy it, and you might see some trails you never knew existed too. in the spirit of smoothing the waters i'll even buy you a pint after, how's that?
ley arms @ 6.30, or top of the cycle path, next to the a38 flyover at 7. every wednesday.
Maybe he had a bad day.
Tim41, you come across as a bit of a nob.
I'll second that 😀
sorry..
I think you have misunderstood me... I merely suggested that the situation may be a little more intimidating than a usual casual excuse me... based entirely on the obnoxiousness of some of the replies to this thread..
and now I remember why I've never really liked trail centres...
fortunately, Dartmoor's nearby which is [I]proper[/I] mountain biking 😆
For some people it's about the social, for others it's about getting away from it all. I'm the latter - which is why Haldon is very rarely my choice, these days anyway.
LOL. Afternoon Votchy!
As regards the thread, nothing further to add. I'll go back to being a nob 😆
did you run into them?
large haldon collider?
it's cold, shall i wear two coats?
IME i've never come across huge groups at trail centres.
Seen far more people riding together out on 'natural' trails!
Del, if its an open invitation, some of us Cornish folk may pop up 4 it in the future. After our last ride @ Haldon we were thinking it would make a class night ride ! Doing some "off-piste" would be a bonus !
Get a brighter light. 🙂
Or ride with a large mirror arrangement on the front of your bike.
They'll think a bigger group is coming & move.
On the other hand you could of waited for them to go off down the trail then got your own back by shouting coming through or skidding behind them, Or say alright lads to mind if I tag along.
Why were you intimidated anyway, were they wearing hoodies?
If I ever have to share trail time with someone who uses the phrase "Natural regroup location" I'll know it's time to give up 😉
Paul,
it's a very open invitation and you'd be very welcome [b]as is anyone else who fancies it[/b].
in particular we're very aware of our disadvantaged cousins across the border and look forward to giving you a 'hi-6' when you come up 🙂 ( that was a joke, if it offends you, or anyone else, i'm very sorry, and i'll go and sit on the naughty step )
it's not a club, you ride at your own risk, and if you choose to follow the person in front it's up to you. if you break a leg don't come running to me, etc.
post up here when you're coming and we'll know to look out for you.
If I ever have to share trail time with someone who uses the phrase "Natural regroup location" I'll know it's time to give up
Sorry for the offensive language! Don't know what I was thinking 😉
Del, LOL ! Thanks will do !Only a few of us lucky ones have 6 fingers ! I can brake + change gear at the same time !
And where is the OP to reply / apologise now hmmm?
Still muttering.
mumblemumble[b]BASTARDS[/b]grumblemumblebeingpleasant[b]COOKINGFUNTS[/b]mumblefumblestumble
[i]Tim41, you come across as a bit of a nob[/i]
+
[i] Great way to get on with a fellow MTB'r[/i]
Hmmm.
if you break a leg don't come running to me
😆
Zaskar: your bell pic has brightened my day. What a nice.... smile she has
I think the OP has over-reacted totally, chances are the group may well have thought he was a straggler they were waiting for.
Looking at peoples faces is a natural reaction, I find I consciously have to try not to do it with a head mounted light on
OP needs to lighten up a bit ..how much did they really delay you by?
Try taking them up on the offer of a ride...sound like an ok bubnch to me!
[i]Sorry for the offensive language! Don't know what I was thinking [/i]
😆
I wonder if the responses on this thread would have been any dfferent if the OP had posted a message "To the huge group of [b][i]walkers[/i][/b] at Haldon last night"?
A huge group of walkers and he didn't mow them down, and kill any survivors with his bare hands?
Gayer.
QUESTION:
How's the New "Red" route doing? Went there about 4 weeks ago and small land slides, trees down (one nearly killed me) and washed out singletrack sections haven't encouraged me to return sometime soon?
The 'ridge trail' red route is riding OK at present. The trees have been cleared and the landslide affected first singletrack section has been repaired. Still a few washed-out off camber bits here and there but they just add to the fun!
Hi Tim, glad to see you're still having fun down there, just stop acting like a nob and using offensive language, need to organise a 'Clent Duffers'(TM) visit some time this year to do some proper [s]mincing[/s] riding 😀
DezB - Member
Tim41, you come across as a bit of a nob
+
Great way to get on with a fellow MTB'rHmmm.
DezB, I see what you did there 😉
Rode it last night at about 10pm and most of the damaged bits had been repaired. There are a couple of washed out sections but they just make it more interesting! Will try and get up there earlier next week if possible as did not realise there was a regular group ride. Will be riding up from Dawlish so will try and aim to be at the flyover for 7.
...This thread is a perfect example of just why I love STW so! Daft answers, circular logic, pithy humor, the complete and utter irrelevance of it all. I'm here, on the way back to the UK, using the free internet bar at Singapore airport, laughing at the screen like a loon, while all around me are looking morose and tired. Thanks STW! 😀
Tim has changed into a nob??? 😆
Nicely put Del, reckon I'd keep up?
No problem, especially with a fatty like Del about... 😉
Not him too? I should bring cake then?
yep, unless you want us to leave you lost in the middle of the forest for the killer deer to eat. 😯
Killer deer! ❗
Usually find grumpy squaddies on night ride on the moor, never happy probably 'cos they've usually got night vision goggles on and they don't work too well with HIDs and LEDs around.
Tuesday night was up widowmaker, down to Nuns Cross and along to Eylesbarrow then to Ditsworthy and sadly back to the van when someone else found his DX light only ran for 2 hours. We had one not very happy camper in the group who said nothing all ride, but then dropped out of Afan next month. Might be related to the OP?
grumblegrumbletoomanyrockslightfailingmoangroanmorerocksgrumble
Hey Chris,
you're welcome always, as you very well know. you'll have no bother keeping up. Piabetics like Burchy are dragging the average speed way down 😉
Dave,
look out for the SSers and you'll find the [s]obnoxious ****ers[/s] stw contributors on the ride. look forward to meeting you.
Pies? And cake? Haldon sounds like heaven 😀
You need to reply to my Afan e-mail
mmmmmyeah. hadn't got round to that. clearly. 😳
I would have stopped for a natter.
You have mail with the word [b]bar [/b]highlighted to get your attention
Can't really fathom why people want to go out in huge (more than 10) groups really, makes the whole thing really slow with loads of hanging around getting cold.
STW ride recently:
[url= http://www.bogtrotters.org/rides/2010/24jan/thumb/144p.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.bogtrotters.org/rides/2010/24jan/thumb/144p.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Piabetics!! LOL! Perfect description of me.
A bunch of about 7 or 8 of us were spread across a tarmac cycle path here on a night ride a few weeks ago, having just finished a trail down the side of the valley.
A guy had to stop and politely asked us to move, and then he carried on his way on his tourer. We apologised etc.
Why were we blocking a cycle path?
Because it was 9pm on a winters night and we've never seen anyone else out at that time of the night on these tracks.
But of course it's not a trail centre.
LOL at some of the replies on this thread.
It’s interesting but whenever I chance upon a large group I feel more a sense of camaraderie than say irritation or frustration that they might hinder my progress in anyway. I cycle in Leigh Woods (Bristol) and access the area via North Road. At times, particular in the summer there can be some large club rides in addition to solo riders converging at the same time resulting in an almost entirely blocked road.
It’s about being reasonable. If you are a member of a large group and you see a solo rider heading towards you then IMHO you ought to alert other riders and allow the person through. By the same token if you are alone and you encounter a large group, then all that’s required is a pleasant salutation and a gesture that you want to get through. If this meets with disinterest then the only proportionate response left is to throw your bike down heavily to the ground and with helmeted head bowed, charge full steam into the group with bombers flaying.
All the best.
Well you lot sound like a complete bunch of Knobbers
What time do you meet up at t pub ?????
me 456 should be back in action for week wednesday (s/s no fuggin way) as for me well can you lot wait that long for a duffa like me
I also don't get the large group riding. You either end up breaking into smaller groups, or constantly waiting at various points to regroup, the ratio of flats/mechanicals multiplys tenfold and you end up taking hours to get nowhere fast. 6 or 7 riders max for me
How awesome, STW reveals it's ****ing fraternity, who spouts their disgust at people's lack of manners, which appear to be a GATEWAY...now how dare them stop and regroup at such a place...may i suggest one person dashing ahead to open the gate then waiting the rest of the day for every other rider in the area to come through..hell manners count yeah!
Could i please meet the OP on the trails and teach him a lesson in happiness, perhaps just point at other riders and say, " hey! look at though just out with mates having fun"
Bejesus, he should get to a trail centre and have to walk through a anti motorbike fencing.....how dare them.....
In my quest to learn about people, it's sad to hear these stories of utter ****erism..
Too all you happy buggers....hope your 2hrs of riding was ruined by a few seconds of getting pee'd off..now off you trot and take up golf with the other impatient tossers!
*rant over!*
And for those who don't get the big group riding thing....it's about making friends....there's still a place for that in modern civilization....
did any one say "you are going the wrong way"?
*i know it is a just a polite conversation opener
sharki... I love you
Do I get this right?
Mr Sceptical has a rant in the comfort and safety of his armchair. Far away from the 'Haldon hordes' only to get soundly 'beaten up' (metaphorically speaking of course) by a gang of vicious STWers.
ooh crikey it's all so macho
thought this thread got taken down, as i searched for it the other day, and it wouldn't come up not matter what i tried. oh well.
sound like a complete bunch of Knobbers
Andy, think you have our number right there.
be pleased to see you. from above - ley arms @ 6.30, or top of the cycle path, next to the a38 flyover at 7. every wednesday.
Tim, Dave and I usually meet the rest at the top, as we 'go the other way'.
fnar, wokka, etc.
Hmmmmmmmm
1 hour from Hemyock to the Ley in a Oil burning Picasso
It may be tight but next week I will give it a go
The thread is a week old-let it be lol