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TheLittlestHobo - Member
I think you're over analysing a bit and you're certainly giving mountain bikers a bad name. The incident with the woman and her children is unfortunate but I think that the other cyclists are entitled to ride the Blue at whatever speed they wish. Trails with the same colour grading vary greatly from place to place. The fact that the GT Blue has red options on it might be a clue to parents that this trail will be frequented by faster and more advanced riders. Hopefully she knows what to expect now and will plan her day out accordingly. I'm sure there will be some more gentile blue for them somewhere or maybe a forest track or something. Hope the child was ok btw.
Having had a big accident on a trail I was in no position to move me or my bike as I was drifting in and out of consciousness and even to this day (6 years later) I'm not sure where I was lying on the floor. Whilst it's easy to say that people should get out of the way it's not always possible and might take a few minutes to achive if it is.
Cant agree with that Giant
How am i giving bikers a bad name. All i stated was that bikers dont give a hoot about other bikers whilst out on the trail (In general). Over the years of being a member here and riding i have seen enough selfish behaviour from bikers to back this up. Granted i have also seen some rather touching moments but whilst the adrenulin is going and the riding is there to be had, bikers dont really give a toss. Or we would have a very quiet forum tbh 😉
As per your next comment
[i]The incident with the woman and her children is unfortunate but I think that the other cyclists are entitled to ride the Blue at whatever speed they wish[/i] I didnt state they werent entitled. I said it was maybe down to the fact the trail is SO GOOD that it is attracting more experienced riders who maybe arent such a good mix with families who are attracted to the fact its a blue route. I posted an explanation of Blue grade and tbh it doesnt say anything that would detract me from taking my family out on the trail.
Does it have red option? Are they the little choice sections on the climbs?
[i]Hopefully she knows what to expect now and will plan her day out. I'm sure there will be some more gentile blue for them somewhere or maybe a forest track or something [/i]
Errr, with that attitude then yes she does. Pack in cycling
druidh - Member
If you managed to stop without hitting anyone, then you weren't going too fast.
Skipped most of the thread, just read the OP.
My comment is thus:
At DH races, where everyone is getting down fairly tricky stuff, and indeed wanting race it, you would assume most have done a fair bit of riding and are experienced MTBers. This is probably true.
Despite this, there are always total muppets who do things like stop in the middle of the trail (without checking behind them), or stop on the trail and don't think to get off it - without even dealing with a crash (themselves or others).
So I can well believe an inexperienced MTBer on the blue route at GT would see nothing wrong with standing on the blind side of a jump in the middle of the trail. Some people just don't think.
EDIT: might not be clear here, but my POV is she was more in the wrong that you were. If someone's sat on a blind part of a trail and I crash into them, I'd be raging at them...
I wasn't realy too sure whether anyone was to blame here.. and then I read little hobo's post and thought well.. yeah.. good point.
Then I thought... hang on.. maybe that's a bit of a generalization..
But then I read some of the responses and attempted arguments to his post..
and yep.. the evidence would suggest that hobo's comments are indeed, spot on.
I don't care how exciting or fun the trail is.. it's a family trail... end of.
The fact that the GT Blue has red options on it might be a clue to parents that this trail will be frequented by faster and more advanced riders
After 14 years of riding I still don't know what the colours mean, or for that matter have the ability to correctly identify them, and a novice might well not know that the blue has red sections...
druidh - Member
If you managed to stop without hitting anyone, then you weren't going too fast.
exactly - those of you that are saying its a family trail and should be ridden slowly do you know it?
Its not labelled as a family trail and it is the main way back to the bottom of the hill carrying virtually all the traffic at that point. If you want to ride down the hill you ride that bit of trail
don't be ridiculous. The OP was not in the wrong and the woman who got stroppy was - but understandably as she would be full of adrenaline.
maybe I should retract a bit then..
I just assumed by some of the posts here that it was without question a family trail and so I was a bit shocked by some peoples attitudes..
now where's my pint of 'shut the f*ck up yunki.....'?
nae worries Yunki - you are not the only one.
I did a charity ride a couple of weeks ago which lead to my group riding amongst a group of 14-15yr olds who were nice lads but were young, dumb and full of -well you know.Every time they overtook us , they stopped about 300 yards further on right across the track. This must have happened about 7-8 times before we got to a big enough uphill for us to drop them altogether. You have just got to make allowances for the unfinished life forms![ and their mothers of course!}
You have just got to make allowances for the unfinished life forms
+1 that's all that I was trying to say summed up very succinctly..
I have to be ultra courteous to other trail users as a rule.. due to my penchant for some very nice cheeky stuff that I feel should be available for all to enjoy.. so maybe my view on the issue is a bit distorted..
[i]Its not labelled as a family trail and it is the main way back to the bottom of the hill carrying virtually all the traffic at that point. If you want to ride down the hill you ride that bit of trail[/i]
My understanding was that green & blue were family/beginner orientated routes. Red & Black for the more experienced riders. I have ridden Green & Blue at most of the stanes with either a child seat fitted or a tag along fitted.
Talking to trekster in the past and he has stated to me that stanes funding was going more 'towards family/beginner friendly' routes such as the blue at GT which is why the black etc hasnt had so much done to it over the last few years. From the 7 stanes site i posted earlier, it seems pretty clear that it isnt supposed to be anything approaching a full on blast downhill.
How is the blue the main way down? Have they got rid of the red finish with all the drops etc?
Just to point out i never said the OP was wrong. I said it was down to the trail attracting riders because it is so good. Bad design imo. That and riders will ride whatever they like. How many times have we seen it posted on here about riders riding unfinished trail that trailbuilders dont want ridden? Riders will ride good trail so get rid of the jumps etc and the riders will probably leave it alone
TheLittlestHobo
How is the blue the main way down? Have they got rid of the red finish with all the drops etc?
Have you ridden at GT? The section in question is the only single track route down from the buzzards nest to the Hub It splits into blue and red / black after that section.
Edit - its a great section with almost no blind sections - great for all abilities and built for all abilities
Yes many times. Although it has been a while so i am open to being put right.
Whenever i have ridden black or red we have come to a point where you can choose the red finish or blue. I admit to having done the blue section on a few occasions but have definately finished on the red section before as well.
[i]The section in question is the only single track route down from the buzzards nest to the Hub It splits into blue and red / black after that section[/i]
I am confused now. The section in question is the only section back down to the hub (The end) but AFTER that it splits into blue or red/black....eh?
There is the blue section (electric blue) from the buzzards down to the forestry road that has been there for years. Due to recent alterations it now has a bridge near the bottom of it where the incident happened.
after you cross the forestry road is the rest of the descent that splits halfway down now. into falla brae which is the bit you remember I guess and the Good Game
So if you are riding down from the Buzzards you ride over the bridge where the incident occurred. It carries a lot of traffic
Liftman - Member
If you want a good fast run at GT on a weekend you need to go early, you need to be setting off from the carpark circa 8am. After 10/11am they are starting to park on the road as the carparks are full and hence so are the trails.
If you are setting off later in the day you need to accept there will be more traffic on the trail and adjust your riding to suit.
eh?.. I dissagree!
I usually make a rule never to ride before midday (especially if it's at a trail centre). GT, like most trail centres becomes pretty quiet in the afternoon after all the silly shoes and lycra brigade that feel they need to get there mega early and be in the cafe at exactly lunchtime or their world will emplode have gone home.
GT is made up of mainly up or down sort trail sections so if you want a clean run on any descent there just wait a few minutes for a suitable gap at the start of the next descent. (many slower riders will actually ask you to jump infront) but if you do still catch someone, simply pull over and wait for another gap. getting past someone on a climb is simply a case of letting them know you're approaching and passing safely (it's pretty much all wide enough for passing)
Bit slow to repond, but the specific adult i was thinking of had been sitting in the middle of the trail long enough to take his helmet & gloves off and fish around in his backpack for a spare buff to clean his scratched knee.
Obviously if you were semi conscious or had bones sticking out I'd cut you some slack 😉