[Closed] Groups riding CRANHAM WOODS

We ride as a 5-6 man group twice a week up there (leave it alone during the winter) we would be keen to get involved if it helped. Proper mediation is whats required, well done for bringing everyone together.

I have ridden solo in those woods since 1985. As has my riding mate. Mail in profile so please ad to list. I live in Nailsworth now but went to school in cranham and via work know a lot of the landowners in the area.

Mmmmmm not sure this will work, I can't see natural English nature commission being that interested tbh. That said anything is worth a try, email addy in profile. 😀

Lookmanohands. I have contacted NE and the land agent and both agree that they are prepared to work towards a compromise. If,we show maturity, responsibility and keeness to do our bit then it's our best chance. Better than shrugging shoulders and doing nothing.

I ride up there both solo and as part of a group, will help in any way possible.

correctiveroger - maybe worth a sign up in the royal william or the george with your contact details just to let others that arent on here know?...typical i just moved to witcombe and now they close down my trail...will have to do house stuff instead then! 🙁 🙄

Monsteryeti - any chance you can provide me with your email address to keep you in the loop as this situation progresses?

milesg_01 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Thanks

A small database on rider contacts is building up nicely. As fara as I know Chelt & County CC and Bigfoot are the main MTB clubs that would ride in this area, however if you know of others, please let me know. Anyone know of the local group "hotsingletrack"?? Know any riders who are in their club??

are you getting the adverts for hot singles in your area mixed up with bikes! 😆

Unfortunate club name they have.... They are a MTB group, just need one of them to get in touch.

Maybe these large groups are the problem in Cranham not the remedy.Alot of people ride cranham from out of Gloucestershire and dont use STW.May work but you might end up with a greater ban than we have now.
If it works whats the next thing!!You have to be a member of CC or Bigfoot to use the trails?

"I would let sleeping dogs lie."

Natural England have already admitted that on one hand they need to protect the area, but have a duty to encourage access to the countryside. I can assure those following this that having spoken to them and received contact from the land agent for the area that the door is not shut and it is in our interests, and their interests to find workable solutions. These solutions must account for all riders and as far as club membership goes I think that encoragement to join them might be promoted, it won't be a necessity. The best tool we have is forming a comprehensive liaison group comprosing of both sides. On our part I need as many rider contact details as possible so I send out information relevant to riders at short notice.

correctiveroger, I have just this month joined CC-CC and I ride in the woods most nights in the summer and once a week in the winter (unless it is a total bog as it kills the trail).

There is 4 of us that ride up their frequently and I can get details of them to you if you like?

I have been riding up there for over 15 years since I was a kid so if you need any help then my addy is my profile.

I know that MTB Swindon are regular visitors and also some Bristol and Malvern based clubs.

Loving your work by the way.

I'm from MB Swindon. I've ridden up there with bigfoot but we've always steered clear of the place for club rides due to the issues surrounding access. I'm pretty sure the rest of the club will back me when I say we'll do what we can to help.

Contact me at chris at mbswindon dot co dot uk

Cheers to Dimmadan & Davesmate.
Quick update on progress. Reps from Bigfoot & CC-CC meeting next week to discuss the issue and then CC-CC has its AGM on Wednesday where this issue will be brought up. Then... a site meeting with CC-CC, Bigfoot, Natural England and the Land Agent at the end of the week. I hope by then we will get a feel on how the future looks but the fact that we have got this far in such a short period is encouraging. Our rider database is still growing and soon I will send out updates via email as well as on here. Looking forward to some riding Sunday and getting away from the keyboard..!!

I ride with a group up there, there are usually around 15 of us, get in touch if i can be of any help, cheers

Good work Roger. Keep us posted.

stroudoffroadsquad can you please post or email me your email details so I can keep your group in the loop?

There is a small group of us that visit Cranham a few times each year. My email is, andrew at williams-net dot co dot uk

By Friday 18th I will be able to update you on the first meeting we have with Natural England and the local land agent for Cranham Woods area. Thanks to all those informing me of their use of this area and contact details. If you are just a bunch of mates that ride there I still need at least one person in your group to give me an email address for updates. Part of our proposals for future management will probably rely on having a good contact list of local riders for effective communications. Cheers.

Hi Roger, if you mail me I'll pass it onto the non STW-dwelling bike shop guys in Stroud. They were the guys who got the now waymarked singletrack in Randwick ok'd.

Were the Randwich trails arranged via the National Trust?? Thanks for being a contact on things Cranham.

Thanks roger add me in please bigvern52 at hotmail dot com

There is a small group of us from Cirencester that ride there in the week or at weekends. contact monkeywright(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk I will pass on any info to the other poeple I ride with.

Rodger Hi

please add me to the list as I have been known to frequent these woods since 1998 on 2 wheels as well as on foot.

Keep up the good work

s.vizor@blueyonder.co.uk

Interesting development on the trail today. A guy I know was riding the "Teachers" twisty track that goes down quite steep. He came a across an old balding chap with glasses deliberately putting branches on the track. May be the legendary Jim Bowen people keep describing there?? I think the old chap got quite a scare being cought in the act and the rider chased him to ask him what he was doing and did not get aggressive. Reply was that cyclists shouldn't be here etc. This will be great ammunition for our liaisons as it shows dangerous occurences WILL happen unless we get this access issue sorted and agreement to ride the tracks is agreed. Meeting with Bigfoot tonight.

Were the Randwich trails arranged via the National Trust??

Hi Roger,

I'm not sure, I'll get in touch tonight and ask. One of them works for Stroud Council planning dept so has some useful contacts but I can't remember if he was involved at Randwick. Is it ok to pass on your email if he wants to discuss directly?

Thanks
James

James. Pass on my email with pleasure.
Corrective at blueyonder dot co dot uk

Has anyone copntact Graham Foot at Slam69 bike shop as he was the person who built the majority of the trails up in cranham.

May give you a very good sounding board. Plus he still rides up there on Sundays when he gets chance away from the shop.

Also, Shrine, Teachers, RaceTrack and The Wall are all really really wet and are cutting up something cronic at the moment. Was up there the other day for a walk with the dog and it's turning into a winter bog.

For the sake of keeping the trail is good ish condition please consider riding elsewhere over the wet winter months.

Dimmadan. I have popped into Slam69 and chatted with Graham so he is aware of the issues and knows I am heading up liaison. Having some best practice arrangement of staying away during the winter months is something being considered. My only objection is the frosty periods we sometimes get when the tracks are much better in the winter. Solutions and best practices need to be simple and easy for riders to interpret so may be making the woods a "no go" area for a few months in the winter is the best policy. We couldn't enforce, but just promote to shops / clubs / riders on our contacts list.

Roger, and what have been saying on club rides last couple of winters!

The chap seen on teachers appears to be the same fellow I bumped into in the summer of 2010, same description, he was wearing trousers... a little on the short side , sensible shoes and was carrying a newspaper delivery bag.Thought he looked a little odd and out of place.
Also what about the issue of roofing tacks on the trails? im sure Natural england would be interested in that and the harm to wildlife.

yup thats jim b. We have picked loads of tacks off the shrine (and a few in my tyres!)

Ah Jim bowen is alive and well then! I think half the problem is the construction of new trails, this is what EN or worried about.

I've only ridden in Cranham once but it was excellent. It would be great to see if we can get to some sort of agreement with the landowners and Natural England.

Though my work, I have access to professional ecologists who deal with SSSIs, SACs etc regularly. If it would help, I can speak to those guys and see what the best approach might be in terms of creating sustainable trails or ensuring the existing ones aren't detrimentally affecting the existing habitat.

Let me know.

Agree that when it is frozen up there it is more fun and less distructive than in the summer so I do ride/slide it 😆

Jim has never gone away, he just moves around the Cranham, Painswick and Birdlip woods as I see him quite often (but not since August).

I have spoken to him a few times when I have been out with some other riders and he seems really nice. Sometimes he has his dog and wife in tow and not always wearing glasses. He is retired so will normally be found up the woods mid week late morning early afternoon setting us some nice obstacles. And he drives a white car (can't remember what) so if you see a car parked up be aware of traps on the trail.

I think the new DH additions may have increased the exposure of the "secret trails" up there and is not a good addition.
Plus the little punks that ride it on the weekeds have no respect for XC riders and leave litter everywhere. Including a 12" lady pleasuring device hanging off a tree branch!!!

I think the new DH additions may have increased the exposure of the "secret trails" up there and is not a good addition.
Plus the little punks that ride it on the weekeds have no respect for XC riders and leave litter

You may see this, i may see this, but to the general public we are mountain bikers. I am a little concerned that Popes wood may be brought into this discussion. To be fair if they use that as an example of how mtbers respect their environment then we haven't a hope.

Few years ago i pick up 100s of nails of the shrine mound.Even if we get permission to ride dont think it we stop Jim might make him worse.
Only ridden in there 5 times this year.think in the last 3 years they have got to hammered.Portway is still ok.Much more fun down the FOD and less hassle.

If, and obviously it is still an "if" at this stage, we can get some kind of legitimate access then instances such as these can be escalated to NE / Police etc. In the past if we had identified ourselves and said there was trail sabotage (not the Black Sabbath sabotage..), the signs we see now would have gone up I reckon. Once we have consent to ride, this issue is something we can try and pursue.
I will feed back meeting outcome, thoughts, actions required etc as soon as I can Friday. Good or bad vibes I really think a get together of those interested at a local venue is a good idea. I did this with my Leckhampton Hill work although the eventual turnout was not that great it was a necessary process to include all riders and give them an opportunity to discuss ways forward / organisation etc. Somehow I think we could fill a pretty big room this time!!!

Superb work correctiveroger.
Once mrsH is fit and well I'll be able to get riding again.
But count me in to anything you need (as long as I can bring along 2.5 year old twins)
Definately agree with Mrmo, popes wood needs to be "hidden under the carpet" as it's a great little spot.
The broken glass, litter etc that gets dropped at the top of the jumps isn't going to help matters though.

Six present at our meeting. 2 from NE, 2 from CC-CC and 2 from Bigfoot. Overall (personal) view of how it went, well pretty good at this early stage and NE will now consider a number of trails for us to use. As they don't know where we ride exactly they appear to have a perception that we have dozens of trails all over the place. The truth is there is essentially two or three main routes that run from birdlip to the A46. A handfull of trails branching off and thats it. We have in principal agreed to log these on a map and share them. At some point in any agreement they have to know where "agreed" trails are going to be. Jumps / constructions are going to have to be a no-no in the woods and I doubt if many riders will disagree. In the near future we hope to do some actual trail assessments to prove they are not damaging to the woodland. And it is likely we will need to promote no riding there in the winter months which is also reasonable so can I urge you to spread the word that we are officially on the case for protecting at least some trails, can't promise all of them, and we stay away until it starts drying up as Spring approaches. If we can show them we can manage ourselves it will give NE confidence for any future trail agreements. The closed door has been opened and we intend to open it up as much as we can but we need YOU to do your part. In time we will have more rider consultation as it is YOU who want to ride there. We CAN do this.

seems promising, just wondering how you can inform those who dig that it may screw it up for everyone.

maybe we could suggest some signs with club logos on to show that cyclists have had a part in forming whatever deals arise.

Signs could give details of what it is that has been agreed (maybe not as far as a map of trails, but a quick description) and say that new digging/building is not allowed.

As well as helping to stop digging, signs like these could be useful for us by giving us some respectability and stopping walkers from being able to say "you're not allowed here".

Who was behind the signs on Lecky?

Dave

Who was behind the signs on Lecky?

correctiveroger in part.

I have been thinking about siagnage, and the NE ones as well. If we can put some up I will get this arranged. As our liaison group grows the responsiveness to ideas such as this will unfortuantely slow a bit as we have to consult more parties, but for sure this is a good idea and will be progresed for sure. Word of mouth, forums, websites, bike shops and my now extensive email contact list will help information getting out though. These early days are important to demonstrate our organisational capability.

Rog, have you had any contact with the owners of the house by the Sawmill who own the triangle above and across to the painswick rd? They were also blocking trails including putting logs in the bottom of the bombhole on the opp side of the road, they were seen doing it (same couple who stop riders and tell them they now own it) and their son / grandson / nephew (c.16 years old).

Or are we just letting the Sawmill trail go?!

Nice one Roger.

Rog, have you had any contact with the owners of the house by the Sawmill who own the triangle above and across to the painswick rd? They were also blocking trails including putting logs in the bottom of the bombhole on the opp side of the road, they were seen doing it (same couple who stop riders and tell them they now own it) and their son / grandson / nephew (c.16 years old).

Or are we just letting the Sawmill trail go?!

different owners and words have been had, assuming we are talking about the same, they are not interested in cyclists in the woods around the sawmill, no discussion no cycling.

If you mean the Tysons who own the land where the Shrine is, then yes. They said come back in two years!!! I will expect Natural England to engage with them in time on the partnership we are trying to form. I hope they will be able to convince them that it will be in their interests to work with us and not against us. Could be a tough one though.

Email for contact etc. steve@stroudoffroadsquad.co.uk

ah didnt see your comments on stopping for the winter...just took my first night ride around there...my god the felling has made a mess of racetrack 😯 🙁

and you guys are right it is quite a bog in places, nothing sinister to report (branches etc) though as of 20:00 friday night

shall take my riding to lecky 🙂

Cheers v666ern. Felling is just commercial, nothing sinister!! Much obliged if you can steer clear for now. Pass on the message to follow riders when you see them. Thanks.

The start of the Racetrack is well felled pass there today on road bike tractor and trailer were well busy.Might dry up quicker once they have finished in there less trees.

Bigfoot MBC have already put an update on their website. http://www.bigfootmbc.co.uk/2011/11/cranham-update/
CC-CC will be doing something similar soon. The email contacts list of groups, shops and riders will be operating from this week I hope to get messages out and as a way of getting feedback. Of course this forum will continue to be used for this as well.

Email received and sign spotted in leisure lakes chelt - good work that man 🙂

Roger - you're doing a great job... I go out cycling with the guys from work (on average about 6 of us). Cranham is one of the popular destinations, though not usually in Winter. I can be your point of contact, though Andy W is the one who leads mostly. I guess the message is to keep off the trails for the moment. You can always contact me through the CCCC Yahoo group, if I don't see you on a Saturday.

Justin Mellor

Cheers Justin. Just keep an eye on the Yahoo updates through the club. If we were to switch off the Yahoo groups (not expected but things are moving towards a forum suposidely), then I'll pop you on my separarte contacts list.
CC-CC update now on the their website to compliment Bigfoots.
http://www.cc-cc.co.uk/news/newsitem.php?id=36

Top work Roger and thanks for the email update.

Does this mean that the new DH track at the bottom of Racetrack and the jumps on the Shrine are being "removed"?

I look forward to seeing the drawn out map. Ideally with names of the trails on to show them how much we love the place to have named them all.

I assume the Teachers and OneWhoWaits will be included in the 2 or 3 trails?

hint - maybe naming one the 'racetrack' on the map isn't great PR .... 😉

I suggest something Jim Bowen related. 'pick a dart' or 'Bowen's delight'.

Look what you could've won?

What about Bully?

Will be looking at mapped out tracks tonight. Making sure we have covered them all. Will send off to Natural England when we are agreed (Bigfoot / CC-CC).

Super, smashing, great!

😉

Hi All,

A friend pointed out this topic as we are concerned about the future of riding at Cranham. It's a magic spot and one of the best in the area, would be a shame to lose it. I ride out there quite regularly with a group of mates, if there is anything we can do to aid please do post here (im sure you all will.) Thanks also for fighting the cause for the good of the mtb community.

Needless to say rubbish is not acceptable, and perhaps anyone found doing so should receive a (verbal) shoeing 🙂

Cheers
Oli

Hey bushwacked did you spot my post on the PVF thread? I'd go with 'super smashing great' as a replacement for racetrack!

BFH Bus Fare Home

I did my AC joint on the Bus Stop section if that gives any inspiration 😀

Let's just hope we have some tracks to name in the near future.
NE have told me that they will erect signage detailing our current negotiations. We still need to stay away for now though.
If we offered to help with conservation work occasionally in Cranham, such as scrub removal etc, would anyone be prepared to volunteer to assist? Just exploring the idea of helping to earn our ability to use the trails.

We are all staying away for winter as normal, good luck with all your doing guys

We have virtually finalised what will be included in the map we are going to send to NE next week. Pretty much everything - trust us. Just a few missed sections that will be done this weekend - yes that means someone riding a trail, but this will double up as a recce to engage with other riders who may be using the area who don't know what is going on.
We will show a main link from the Racetrack all the way down to the wall and the track the other side (Bunny trail I heard??). It will look OK I believe with a main link and a few branches off (Teachers, Spooky Wood and the One Who Waits and the like). Area of the Tysons land (Shrine, Spooky etc) is an unknown at this stage. If NE can see it makes sense to include them then they may engage with the Tysons (with the help of the Land Agent) on our behalf. We are pushing for another site meeting in December to keep the momentum up.

Rog - I'm up for work parties where I can.

Tang - yeah, sorry forgot to reply, but chilled rides are always good. Putting a few training road rides in at the moment so might be after Xmas I'll be available.

Bushwacked- no training needed with me!

Roger - Is a meeting still on the cards?, might be able to help with a suitable venue.

A meeting with riders will no doubt be arranged at some point, whether we get, or don't get a suitable agreement. No dates thought about yet but be assured it is part of our strategy.

A meeting with riders will no doubt be arranged at some point, whether we get, or don't get a suitable agreement. No dates thought about yet but be assured it is part of our strategy.

Stick me on whatever list you're putting together

I'd like to go on the 'list' also. I occasionally ride with Bigfoot there, sometimes on my own or with other mates. Also there is a group called the Bramblers (not sure if anyone on here is with them) that go up there, I can get in touch with them

Continuing on the Jim Bowen themed trail names: I'd like to throw in:

Listen to Tony

You asking me or telling me?

Two in a bed

🙂

Here is what you could have won!