[Closed] Lee Quarry and MX riders- your thoughts?

So, I watched three bike riders there this afternoon (one of which was actually quite talented the other two were basically pap).

Then one decided to go down a tricky descent at speed that I had painfully gone up not so long before. It starts with a trials-like rock obstacle then curves round on itself.

Crackers. Utterly so. Thing is - there is **** all one can do isn't there? Thats a serious accident waiting to happen with no way of identifying the bike rider.

I dont want to bash mountain bike riders- I actually think it looks fun but not on country trails used by walkers. Thats a recipe for disaster.

Maybe if tke mxers got free, custom built areas to play at it would be less of a problem.

Aye -cant they have the central bit with the cyclists round around and then criss crossing through? Some lovely loose banks to climb, Rocks for trials etc etc.

Maybe if tke mxers got free, custom built areas to play at it would be less of a problem.

Firstly , your spelling is worse than mine, congratulations.

Secondly, when was the last time you saw a cyclist on an MX track?

By default MX is the more expensive hobby, pistons and rings last about as long a superstar bottom bracket. They do hundreds of times more erosion (erosion is proportional to power * weight), ergo their facilities are either built to withstand erosion (supermotard racing), or more commonly use it as a feature (motocross/supercross).

So no MX'ers don't have the free facilities MTBers do (arguably Swinley isn't free, and others charge for parking) but equally, mountain biking costs peanuts in comparison bot to get involved in and to build and run facilities. Thus attracts a different market. Can you imagine as many families getting into mountain biking if they had to shell out what they would for MX?

is it dedicated cycle trail with no access to MX bikes or a free for all to use area?
if the former complain, if the latter you just gotta suck it up

The former, I believe!!

website suggests otherwise
[b]Use of the trails is free and they are always open. All we ask is that you respect other users, whether they're on Mountain Bikes or not!

[/b]
[url] http://adrenaline-gateway.co.uk/LeeQuarry.aspx [/url]

Still think MX are not allowed as motorised vehicles...
...maybe. Am sure someone who really knows the answer will post 🙂

thisisnotaspoon - any need to be so harsh on gusamc? One typo and you castigate him for his spelling. Chill out.

Use of the trails is free and they are always open. All we ask is that you respect other users, whether they're on Mountain Bikes or not!

Site also only mentions walkers and cyclists, no mention of MXers, 4x4's, hovercraft's or tanks.

thisisnotaspoon - any need to be so harsh on gusamc? One typo and you castigate him for his spelling. Chill out.

Steeling my title as STW's worst speller! I'm rightfully annoyed!

p.s. spot the deliberate 'typo' in my original post.

I think the big clue might be at the top of the linked page

'Lee Quarry Mountain Bike Centre'

and the fact there's a big **** of gate with 1 foot high blocks at the base to try and stop anything you can't lift over them coming in.

and the fact there's a big **** of gate with 1 foot high blocks at the base to try and stop anything you can't lift over them coming in.

I don't think they are coming in that way- probably over the moors/parked a few miles away as well incase anyone comes to have a word.

You should have punched him in the face. As there was a few of them they would obviously have just left it at that and ridden off 🙂

firestarter, if I didnt have respect for MX'ing or obviously one was quite a talented rider to watch I would have said something. Couldnt be assed. I decided I wouldnt ride up there often. I'd rather it wasnt me facing someone at a motorbike at speed heading towards me on a black run. No thanks.

I cant see any enforcement pratical or working so its pointless.

Call police next time, take pictures and report.

IMO, MXers shouldn't be there.
The woman with three staffys yesterday wandering up the final downhill section shouldn't have been there, either... 🙄

take pictures

Of what? You can't identify them. Thats why I say its pointless. They arent daft. No reg plates plus they arent going to unload a transit at the bottom of the trail where the mountain bikers are then ride up and into the quarry!

I dunno about gates, I've never been, just going on what the website says, I recon hovercrafts would be awesome fun though

it was in jest mark 🙂

it was in jest mark

sniff! 😆

Of what? You can't identify them.

A picture of them in the act may be useful if they are spotted again, The bike can be identified (Make/Model etc) and the Helmet in combination may be enough for the police to look out for.
I think the police can confiscate & destroy bikes ridden under Antisocial behaviour rules.

The moors round there are completely f'ked from MX bikes there is no need to trash a dedicated mtb area.

If they want a playground maybe they should get access to another quarry and build something.

MX bikes are definetly banned. I think there's a number on the information boards that you can call and report anything like that on.

please report, (to police and council) the quarry is not open for MXer's other than the classic moto trials groups who use the quarry with the permission of the landowner

the pictures are helpful but not essential

Tonyl who posts on here is the Lancs CC person responsible for the quarry

there is are a number of other venues in the area (Cowm and Hapton for example) for MXer's

you know when a "raid" is due as they put up the sign's stating MXers are banned and will be confiscated. It is usually trggered by a number of reports

mark i was having a little joke about the other thread and the punch lol

I know!

ph0010421 - Member
IMO, MXers shouldn't be there.
The woman with three staffys yesterday wandering up the final downhill section shouldn't have been there, either...

why staffies,why not just say 3 dogs?

🙂 hows the on one goin

hora i was up there from 1 this afternoon and saw them too, there where also a group of about 8 that did the whole red route. the group of 3 your on about where riding the pump track and all of the trails, i said something but they just ignored me 🙁 they can happily use all the other bits of the quarry but should stay off the trails. on another note i cam down the black route to the stone desent from the quarry face only to nearly hit a runner coming up!!!!!!!!

No they are not allowed there.
You can ring the crimestoppers number or local police and complain. [u]BUT[/u] make sure you ask for a log number. Take a picture if you can as MX riders will usually ride in the same kit.
If you dont ring the police then there isnt a problem and the trails will be wrecked before they are open.
If you do speak to them (thats up to you), politely tell them they are not allowed here and they should try Cowm leisure which is just round the corner and is aimed at 4x4 and MX

Crimestoppers - 0800 555 111

Cowm leisure http://www.cowmleisure.com/

Even though they are riding illegally there bikes STILL need to have valid tax mot and insurance....which means a number plate, proper lights etc. You can only ride a 'field bike' on your own land.

Hope that helps

what a bunch of knob heads.ive had a runner ut not a mx co9me my way at lee quarry.going next weekend armed with a stinger.

which means a number plate, proper lights etc

Get your facts right. There is no legal requirement for lights on a bike. 🙄

must admit i liked the new stuff but where was the new slab? the trails in the middle are a little confusing.

Blower - Member
why staffies,why not just say 3 dogs?

What's your point?

As I say - three staffies. The woman was blond, too.

philfive circa 20mins after that bloke/female just missed you the MX'er went up the sameway at speed. I don't think he would have jumped out of the way if he came across a cyclist at the speed he hit it at to clear/grip. Plus he had no spotter at the top to spot/stop anyone entering the run (not that he cared).

I saw a cop program on Freeview tonight- bad 4x4 offroaders on Brecon and I do remember two loads of Rangers coming down just before I set off up.

Actually I think I will ride there again and I'll be abit more proactive (after work during the week this week).

Philfive was you on a white/silver bike/black top? I saw you go down and I had to wait for the male/female (VERY slow) runners to get right up before I could start!

Does http://www.cowmleisure.com/

hows the on one goin

i said something but they just ignored me

Although I sat and watched them: I reckon they were mid-teens and one mid-30's. Abit simple looking (and thats an honest assesment- their open faced helmets/no goggles showed simple clean but very working class complexions). Are you sure MX is an expensive hobby? They looked bloody thick to me*.

*I swear on my Mothers life on this particular bit. No ****ing about.

Edit: Rangerbill- whats to stop you just dialling 999 legitimately then or is it because you are on private land?

their open faced helmets/no goggles showed simple clean but very working class complexions

That's the great thing with the working class these days, the message about exfoliating, cleansing and moisturising is finally getting through. It really does make me optimistic :-/

Philfive was you on a white/silver bike/black top?

yeah it was white, you must of been the guy on the green hardtail?

when i was in the middlebits one of them nearly fell off and rolled down the hill 😛

Silver full sus/Brit army jacket. I saw him - he tried climbing the lose bit and got it wrong. Like I said before- no problem with that- I have respect for opening it up and going at a steep (and lose) climb like that. Then it got to them riding on the mountain bike trails- I couldnt get my head round that. They had everything else to go at yet chose thin trails to rip up. Dickheads.

you went back up the climb as i decided to go home, about 6 more people came up to ride then.

Motor bikes are not allowed in the quarry except as part of an organised event. If you see them there please inform the Police and get a log number. If you can get a photo and or number plate please pass it on to me or the police. Ask them to leave if you are able/confident enough to do so.

They can use cowm leisure just over the hill, its not free and has rules but if they don't use it that too will eventually go it needs supporting to survive.

It does need reporting, the police have been known to actually confiscate and destroy bikes around here. It is a problem in the quarry, they come in off Rooley Moor (which they also shouldn't be anywhere near). Given the amount of money and effort that has recently gone into Lee Quarry these tossers need shooting (I don't understand why they think they have the right to come in and destroy someone elses legitmate work and endanger those people who have a legitmate right to be there). They do have facilities locally (as pointed out above). They are incredibly dangerous, I've had them go past me at speed a number of times and get a face full of gravel as they pass. They've wrecked some of the bridleways locally.

Not sure how they're going to stop them though, the top of the quarry isn't fenced and neither is Cragg Quarry. There has been enough erosion in Lee Quarry in places just from MTBs, a few MXs will tear it up completely.

I don't have any sympathy for them either, we are restricted as to where we can (legally) ride, they're even more restricted. Thing is if everyone had complete freedom of access the 4 x 4 drivers and MXs would effectively drive everybody else off from some areas.

philfive- I decided to go home shortly after as well. I'd only been there an hour but the MX riders put me off. I'll take a camera with me one early evening this week and will post up pics here/call the Police if I see any. Thanks guys.

I can see any normal folk being put off using Lee Quarry. Thats not on.

Hora when you next thinking of going over? I was thinking I might go after work one day

What timeish does it get dark now?

Half six ish, I finish at four in stockport so could motor over after that

i'm up next saturday morning, to be fair you need more than an hour to enjoy lee quarry, i stand around chatting for more than that 😀

Agree, they put me right off. The wind on the outermost edge was 'interesting'!

Podge- tomorrows weather looks good. Remember though, I'm on-call at the moment.

Hora,
its generally agreed with the problem of illegal Off roaders that we ask people to ring the crimestoppers number or the local police station, report the offence and get a log number. This way the Police can build up a pattern and then hold an operation to clamp down on the problem. 999 is the number you would call for accidents or emergencies (me legs dropped off, my house is on fire etc)
There will be more signs going up around Rooley moor road (and the whole of the South Pennines in general) which explains about section 59 giving police the power to seize vehicles. The signs are seen to be the first warning (whether they have been read or not) and the second warning by the Police is when the vehicle can be seized.

singlespeedstu, sorry, didnt know about this daytime MOT.

For info you can run a motorbike without any lights (though if it has a back light, it MUST have a front light) but it still has to be taxed, insured and have an daytime MOT.

Ta. Although I am not a big bloke by any stretch of the imagination I can see how other quarry users will be intimidated by these types (and put off). It put me off staying there with the noise then witnessing one using the trails.

I wont say anything to any of them- I imagine me taking a blatant photo of them will pique their interest accordingly 8)

if its hte same people they have been seen riding the wrong way up berms and on one occasion pulled an air rifle on legitimate trai users , apparrantly in a primitive attempt at humour .ho ho. report the bastards

mr potatohead its the same people. I looked them in the eye and they look bloody simple.

Called the local station there, logged and will take my camera.

Oh and will pack my keyboard for offense/defence reasons 😆

hora - Member
Does http://www.cowmleisure.com/

hows the on one goin
fine

i said something but they just ignored me

Although I sat and watched them: I reckon they were mid-teens and one mid-30's. Abit simple looking (and thats an honest assesment- their open faced helmets/no goggles showed simple clean but very working class complexions). Are you sure MX is an expensive hobby? They looked bloody thick to me*.

you being serious Hora or what?
Working class huh..

They can use cowm leisure just over the hill, its not free and has rules but if they don't use it that too will eventually go it needs supporting to survive.

Looking at its web page I see mx bikes over 85cc are excluded. No use to this bunch of rider then.

They probably need to give up the mx bikes and get a mountain bike, then we would welcome them with open arms!

Sadly IMHO MXers seem to feel that where MTB'rs ride, they can. I've seen over the years quite blatant "off piste" MX riding in the Peaks, Dales, and west pennine moors (from Rivi Tower down to the road).

If there are any identifiers then it is well worth ringing the plod, they can issue a section 59 order, which is designed to prevent anti-social use of vehicles, but can be used to cover illegal motorised use - my understanding is that the general public can provide details that the police may use to issue a section 59, two S59s mean vehicles can be siezed & scrapped.

[pedant mode]

MXers race MX on closed circuit MX courses.

Nob heads with an offroad bike are not MXers.
[/pedant mode]

Please try not to tar innocent people with a bad name.

singlespeedstu very good point. I've discussed this with walkers before about irresponsible (and dangerous) speeding mountain bikers near walkers.

Plus, (sticking my neck out here) dont mountain bikers also have 'cheeky trails'?

Saying all that you can only stop possible dangerous riding as you see it. I'm going to see if I can get 2x laminated signs ziptied to the first gate in big red caps:

'see a MX'er? Ring this local station number. Get it logged'.

I dont think the existing signs are BLATANT enough- I missed them.

I think you may have missed the point a bit there hora.

No I developed what I was thinking on the day- you just reminded me 😉

So you agree that you shouldn't tar innocent people with a bad name then go and do it again.

Sounds about right for you.

I think you are being a pedant slightly stu. We are talking about the people riding motorbikes in the quarry here. We are not talking about them riding motorbikes on the roads or anywhere else that they are entitled to ride. The generic term for the bikes they ride according the general public - rightly or wrongly - is MX. WE all know what we are discussing here. You seem to be going off on a line of pedantry for the sake of it.

I think you are being a pedant slightly stu.

The [pedant].....[/pedant] bit kind of gave that away.

Still not right tarring innocent people though.

For what it's worth you 'll find that most MX clubs frown very strongly on any of there members riding illegaly.

Still not right tarring innocent people though.

For what it's worth you 'll find that most MX clubs frown very strongly on any of there members riding illegaly.

but the point is, nobody's doing that here. we are [i]specifically[/i] talking about the people who are riding MX bikes illegally in lee quarry. having seen them myself in the past, i know how scary/dangerous it is when one of them suddenly appears on the trail in front of you after off-pisting it up the side of a hill...

but on saturday gone, a bloke was walking his dog up through the bottom singletrack bit so my mate and i waited at the gap on the road until he got to the top (cos he was walking on the trail itself) and he muttered something about mountain bikes in there being dangerous as he passed us. despite the fact he was walking on what is a signposted as a bike trail, and we had waited for him to get out of the way...

further pedantry.
Other than the legality issue there are safety issues with the use of mx (as opposed to enduro/trail/trials) bikes used outside of mx tracks.
MX bikes generally don't have a spark arrestor- it's less of a risk in this country, but there is a danger of fire, in many countries it's illegal to ride these outside of closed courses due to safety/ brush fire concerns, unless a spark arrester is fitted.
Secondly, they're high maintenance vehicles - they cost quite a bit to keep running properly, more so than other off road bikes. While older bikes towards the end of their life can be cheap to buy for a kid who wants a bit of fun, it's unlikely that they're going to be maintained- tired and faded brakes, stretched and rusted chains, worn tyres, shot wheel bearings etc, and it's this sort of bike that are normally found out on the trails, and can pose a real danger to other trail users.

Please try not to tar innocent people with a bad name

Like all the off piste mountain bikers do for those who don't ride off piste? We're all "mountain bikers" to the red socks & landowners aren't we?

Received a message at work. The Police called and said they'd 'solved' the 'crime'.

Really? Or does this really mean they can say 'case closed' and put it into their 'crimes' solved stats?

going sunday with my helmet cam.just in case my mate mr police man is coming wahhoooo not that he can do much od but it should help .plus hes 6ft2 wide .

I might pop up on Sunday.

I'd never get into a fight with any of them. Not because I am 'ard (Im not) but if you want a tip...if the idiots keeps his helmet on- grab the mouth/jaw-brace part of his full facer firmly and swing/twist. He'll be swinging wildly into the air whilst he falls badly to the ground (remember to keep holding this part). Then kneel on him.

I imagine this might work well on mx helmets. I dont have a clue but thats what I'd attempt to do. If hes still punching- dig your knee in with your bodyweight?

Going Sunday Myself. I belive that Leisure Lakes are having a demo day in the quarry.

plus hes 6ft2 wide

So am I, but I guess in a different way

[img] [/img]

im not hard either or at least not at the moment 😀
i don,t like fighting either but needs must .
congrats btw

Thank you. I think when he says 'Daddy' I will fall over and need reviving.

demo bikes how who when were......

one thing that annoys me is that a lot of very good money is being spent to stop people with quads/mxs/enduros accessing land a significant majority know they are barred from

- the money could be better spent on trails for people that want a bit of peace and quiet with their sport and even on some facilities for the kids that know no better and want to ride mx and whose parents aren't interested or part of the picture

the other thing that pees me off is people defending "the good offroaders" some guy on an expensive (i think) enduro tried telling me about the "freedom of the hills" in wharncliffe woods and that his bike created less erosion the other day and tried to claim we had something in common - i pointed out that despite his bike being quieter i'd still heard him from my house and despite the reduced erosion i'd still followed their tracks to find them

and the other day on a green lane i had to wait ten minutes for a convoy of 4x4's to pass - why? - not relevant but that desn't matter

antigee, I personally definitely hear you. Definitely. Everyone should be allowed their own personal access and right to what they want to do.

I personally wouldnt enjoy 4x4'ing and winching but each to their own and why not?

Everyone should be allowed their own personal access and right to what they want to do.

as i think you are aware not what i was saying

was trying to say that a small minority choosing to do what they want to do is costing us all money and resources which could be better applied

each to their own and why not?

and the other day on a green lane i had to wait ten minutes for a convoy of 4x4's to pass - why? - not relevant but that desn't matter

Why? Because. Its the same as a rambler saying why ride a bike around the countryside when you can walk.