If you were the MTBer in Leigh woods this morning who had an altercation with two guys and a dog walking down the trail, just want to check you're ok now you've calmed down a bit?
Lots of people and their dogs on the trail today and it's getting worse. To be honest, those guys were asking for it the moment they asked you wtf you were going to do about it and I think they learned a lesson today. Don't pick a fight with someone unless you are willing to go through with it and don't pick on someone clearly bigger than you!
Adrenaline does some crazy things. At least you didn't strangle them.
None of that sounds good...
OK, I've fallen for the trailer, now give us the full story please....
OK, I’ve fallen for the trailer, now give us the full story please….
Yeah, this.
and the video off your phone...
Had the dog shat in the washing machine before realising it was hammering sausages into a non existent lawn?
Yep, pics or it didn’t happen…
looking forward to this. seen too many stories on road.cc where cyclists get battered by angry Brads in Range Rovers. It's time we got John Wick CC yo
Would be nice to have a general description of the doggers involved. I ride there lots and would like avoid this type of thing!
More info OP
I was there early today. There were loads of spuds walking on the trails. Even a couple of mtber's heading the wrong way up the quarry trail.
Be nice, say hi, politely inform them they are on a bike trail and it's a risky place to walk. Mtb does not come off well from people getting agro about it. Depending on who owns the land they are potentially legally allowed to be there (the case around here on council land for example).
steveh
Full MemberBe nice, say hi, politely inform them they are on a bike trail and it’s a risky place to walk. Mtb does not come off well from people getting agro about it. Depending on who owns the land they are potentially legally allowed to be there (the case around here on council land for example
Massive assumption that the rider didn’t try that first
Today was particularly bad for walkers on cycle trails, dogs with no leads on cycle trails and big groups of ebikers not knowing where to ride. Might start carrying popcorn round with me for when I get to see the next ruckus between confused ebiker and angry dog walker, any luck they will fall into someone’s T5 and scratch some paint 😂
Massive assumption that the rider didn’t try that first
Massive assumption to draw any conclusions at all from the info provided so far
Yikes!
They shouldn't have pushed him.
I missed the very beginning of it but was drawn to it because there was some pretty crazy shouting.
When it all finished I followed the MTBer to see if he was ok. He wasn't, he was pretty shaken up and very regretful that he let his anger get to him.
He told me two guys had a dog off lead were walking along the bike trail, he said to them that they were on a bike trail. One of the guys said 'what the fk are you going to do about it?', he said he started to ride off then one of them went said something along the lines of 'go on fk off'.
MTBer said he just snapped. Got off his bike and grabbed one and threw him to the ground, the other basically crapped himself. He had hold of one of them and was basically shouting in his face, then said he realised what he was doing, picked the guy up and apologised and walked away with his bike which was where I stepped in to see if he was ok.
Can't really say I got a look at either of the guys with the dog. I just saw a huge 20st 6'3" guy who looked like he could snap trees in half in his current state. He had a nice bike, Whyte t129 with fox kashima forks.
Got off his bike and grabbed one and threw him to the ground, the other basically crapped himself. He had hold of one of them and was basically shouting in his face, then said he realised what he was doing, picked the guy up and apologised and walked away
Not that violence is the answer, but I'd say the dog walkers have probably learnt a lesson!
Haha good on him!!! Serves the gobby shites right! They're lucky he didn't give them both a proper kicking!
There's a world of arseholes out there, maybe next time they'll think twice about giving it Larry Large.
Sounds a decent enough guy, and all 3 of them will think a bit more next time.
Sounds like Larry Large is a b it of an arsehole too...
Where was this? Doesn't sound like a place I'd happily frequent...
Ha ha, I like the fact that you can't really describe the dog walkers but know what bike and forks the 20 stoner had
Was it a trail dog?
The fact he was so shaken suggest he's by nature more of a gentle giant who snapped rather than an arsehole thug.
As someone not far from that size I used to get people trying to goad me when I was on a night out, you can't win, don't react and they're all 'brave' for going at a big lad, if you flatten them you're a big bully.
They’re lucky he didn’t give them both a proper kicking!
Yea, that would've solved the conflict between users of the woods wouldn't it 🙄
Yea, that would’ve solved the conflict between users of the woods wouldn’t it
Yes, that’s why he said it was lucky.
Edit: actually, you probably judged the tone of that post better than me on first read! Argh whatever chill out.
As someone not far from that size I used to get people trying to goad me when I was on a night out, you can’t win, don’t react and they’re all ‘brave’ for going at a big lad, if you flatten them you’re a big bully.
Yeah I knew someone who was an anchor for a tug o’ war team, he was known as Alex the Viking. He was huge and hated it because all he ever got was people trying to match up against him, week in, week out.
I've met a few dog walkers and families with young kids on various trails around the Surrey Hills and normally we acknowledge each other and are on our way. Often I'll point out that they're on a (unofficial) MTB trail, and they need to i) keep an eye on their dog(s) and ii) keep a look out for bikers.
A bit of mutual respect is all it takes with most people. OTOH a grown adult who retorts with "WTF are you gonna do about it" is an arsehole, plain and simple. No need for that. We're all there to enjoy the trails, not act like self-entitled Billy Big Bo11ock5. Keep behaving like that and one day they'll say it to the wrong person.
To be clear to those unfamiar with the place, these trails are official and dedicated one-way singletrack. The speeds you can get up to would really mess up both the rider and dog/pedestrian.
@goldfish24 yup, @rOcKeTdOg got COMPLETELY the wrong end of the stick there.
What is an (unofficial) bike trail ,a path ?
God, here we go.
To be clear to those unfamiar with the place, these trails are official and dedicated one-way singletrack. The speeds you can get up to would really mess up both the rider and dog/pedestrian.
That was my assumption. I'm guessing those two guys were the straw that broke the camel's back and pushed him a stage too far.
I often think I would do the same, then I remember I'm an overweight middle aged guy who is likely to end being mashed to a pulp. It all goes so much better in my head.
As CSB said, it’s very much a good place to ride and I have never had any sort of issue like this. Very little conflict, just the odd person or group walking on the bike trails. Generally people who are lost!
I ride there a lot and you do see people on the trails occasionally. Tbh I'm surprised there aren't more. It's not that obvious it's a bike trail, there aren't many signs where the trail crosses the paths. It was more noticeable over lockdown as there was a lot of pressure on public spaces.
The way I see it, doesn't matter who's a walker and who's on a bike etc. Boils down to, some 'brave' mouthy p*ick got a wake up call and wont be such an ar*ehole next time. Was probably lucky not to get a few slaps.
As someone not far from that size I used to get people trying to goad me when I was on a night out, you can’t win, don’t react and they’re all ‘brave’ for going at a big lad, if you flatten them you’re a big bully.
John Amaechi talks about that with great and fascinating insight.
Sounds like someone got a shove they didn't need on a bad day. It happens.
A twenty stone gentle giant "just snapped" after advising a dog walker that they were walking on a bike trail and by returns got told to **** off, came close to (probably justifiably) battering the miserable shitehawk and his mate, then felt guilty and went for a bit of a cry?
I'm wholly on Andre's side on the face of it, but I think there's an amount here that needs further explanation (or anger management counselling). "Excuse me sir, are you aware that you're walking on a bike track and you might get hurt" ➡ "What the **** are you going to do about it" ➡ "hospitalise you," I fear we've leaped a few intermediate steps here.
[well, that escalated quickly .gif]
You never know what kind of day someone is having or what they may be dealing with. No intermediate steps required on the wrong day.
“Excuse me sir, are you aware that you’re walking on a bike track and you might get hurt” ➡ “What the * are you going to do about it” ➡ “hospitalise you,” I fear we’ve leaped a few intermediate steps here.
I think you’re being a bit dismissive to “What the * are you going to do about it” which often translates to, “you are a c**t and a coward and I’m happy for violence to occur, c**t”. It’s one of the few retorts specifically designed to bypass intermediate steps and go straight to fight or flight.
Not that violence is the answer, but I’d say the dog walkers have probably learnt a lesson!
Yes, they probably now won't ask "what the **** are you going to do about it" next time. Saying that is pretty much an invitation to a fight isn't it so what did they expect.
As a 6'4" (and closer to twenty stone than I'm entirely happy with) mostly gentle giant, I have a theory that I shall call the "Oh sugar, I'm not in the pub and have no back up" moment of realisation. Always when commuting. Usually after they've exited the car and suddenly realised it's a wet Monday morning, I'm not going anywhere and there's probably a few people filming their aggression already. They just slink back into their cars.
Thing is it's all precipitated by foul mouthed abuse until they have that moment of clarity..
