[Closed] Annoying things at my local trail centre

If you bump into an asshole one day, meh; you met an asshole.

If EVERYONE you meet are assholes....

I just missed hitting them by inches, so I shouted at them 'get off the trail!!' their response was to shout arsehole at me..... it nearly kicked off !!

I believe the only unwritten rule is don't be a dick. I feel you may have fallen foul of this by miles!

You're riding around a popular family trial centre shouting at kids and then trying to fight their dad....

Between the lot of you, you were a great example in front of the "10" year old girl. I would have stopped and pointed out there in harms way.
What's wrong with someone asking for directions? Not everyone has been riding there as much as you and as a result not familiar with directions.
Bet if it was a fit female you would have given her directions, or even let her ride along with you.

*awaits 'shoulda been prepared to stop' comments*

Not sure of your issue with folk asking directions, or why them being Eastern European makes any odds?

#fridaytrollisobvious

The dad's, meh, you come across as a bit of a plum too.
The folk asking directions, you really do come across as a prize plum.

Your pointing out the lads in hoodies were "Eastern European" is very telling.

Your pointing out the lads in hoodies were "Eastern European" is very telling.

Bloody ethnics, coming here and riding our trails etc etc.

Did you check they were actually Eastern European and not Central European? They're the worst kind, you have to be sure.

TBH you sound like a bit of a entitled fud. Yes maybe they weren't standing in the best place but they'd taken the effort to get their kid out riding. You could have always had a chat with them and explained the potential danger and given some encouragement.

Annoying things at a local trail centre

you sound delightful OP, well done 😐

I've been riding Swinley for some 15 odd years

Sounds like you might need to ask directions to finally find your out, you must be exhausted, that's a long stint.

I've been riding Swinley for some 15 odd years

Sounds like you might need to ask directions to finally find your out, you must be exhausted, that's a long stint.

OP seems to have developed a sense of ownership over this local trails. (Been riding here 15 years, dug with my own hands etc).

Hell, as they say, is other people, but they’ve got the same right to use them as you. I also get annoyed by people who block trails, happens all the time in summer near me, groups of lads (usually) used to having their local wood to themselfs arrive at Cwmcarn for their road trip weekender and don’t really adapt stop en mass on hairpins or to look at a rock or something, it’s annoyingly but they’ll usually move when they see you coming.

Have to admit when I’m riding with my kids I’ll block the trail, but most people smile and say hi when they see I’m introducing a child to our sport.

I suspect your “missed by inches” line was hyperbolic, I’ve never been to Swinley, but I suspect it’s not a WC level DH venue, if you can’t see another rider on the trial ahead you’re either riding with your eyes glued to the front wheel, or you should check your brake pads.

bloody foreigners coming over riding our trail centres.

For me it is people who think they own the trails because they have ridden there for longer than others or helped with a shovel some time ago.

I was driving the other day, came round a corner and found 2 cyclists in front of me. I managed to avoid them but they tried to start a fight when I stopped to yell at them. Some people are just assholes, what can you do about it.

kelron - Member
I was driving the other day, came round a corner and found 2 cyclists in front of me. I managed to avoid them but they tried to start a fight when I stopped to yell at them. Some people are just assholes, what can you do about it.

Is that you Ronnie?

You should Czech yourself, I'm sure the lads didn't Armenia any harm, maybe you should go a bit Slovakia.

Well isn’t this going well 😆

I believe the only unwritten rule is don't be a dick. I feel you may have fallen foul of this by miles!

Very much this

kenniboi - Member
Saw two ebike noobs last weekend at Swinley
Brand new matching jackets and bikes

Could have been worse ,European dads in hoodies .

Maybe you should wear a badge to show how important you are.
If you come across me and my kids happily enjoying ‘your’ trails then I suggest a happy ‘hello, good afternoon ‘ even if we are in the way.

Were they on e-bikes?

Could have been worse ,European dads in hoodies

Or, worse, from The North.

just ignore anyone that asks you directions....

Dick.

thanks lads I must be a dick then

#fridaytrollisobvious

SinglEReichworld anyone?

firstly you lot have exaggerated my ownership of an trails
I'm just a bloke with a bike.
secondly the dads with the daughter were at the bottom of a trail that most riders would be doing around 15--18 mph
if id hit the daughter at that speed who knows what would happen. I literally had to yank my bars to miss them!!

And these trails are listed as RED
or for experienced riders
if they want to take the kids riding stay on the kids trails

"I suspect your “missed by inches” line was hyperbolic, I’ve never been to Swinley, but I suspect it’s not a WC level DH venue, if you can’t see another rider on the trial ahead you’re either riding with your eyes glued to the front wheel, or you should check your brake pads."
your'e wrong actually its a red trail and designated downhill course

Welcome to the real world sir. If it is only recently that you have learned there are folk that do stupid things then you have clearly missed a lot in life. Yes - there are a lot of folk that are not entirely competent with the English Language - it happens in a multicultural society.

As for failing to control your speed to such an extent that you are able to slow down for any obstacles - this clearly is a lesson well learnt. Congratulations on that one.

its a red trail and designated downhill course

Swinley red is one of the tamest red trails in the country, and one of the busiest.
You've got to expect some inexperienced people and be aware they might be blocking a trail.

thanks lads I must be a dick then

Based purely on what you have said in this thread, that certainly seems very likely.

Swinley red is one of the tamest red trails in the country, and one of the busiest.
You've got to expect some inexperienced people and be aware they might be blocking a trail.

yeah for sure

went down the same trail last night at the same speed saw no one
from now on stay away from Swinley on sundays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote=kenniboi ]thanks lads I must be a dick then

seems a fair assessment.

Based purely on what you have said in this thread, that certainly seems very likely.

**** you

OP, it's swinley, it's the most popular spot for a huge density of population. I've ridden there a few times over the years, and pretty much every time you had to be on your guard for (in no particular order)

1. wee kids dashing about having fun, not really caring or looking where they're going
2. Mad spaniels trying to keep up with 1.
3. dithery mums pushing empty push chairs having a natter with each other not really paying much attention to 1 or 2
4. Mad keen MTB bloke and their keen wife/son/daughter
5. Mad keen MTB bloke and his reluctant wife/son/daughter
6. People who are lost
7. Hoards of fast local groups on mountain bikes getting pee'd off with 1 through 6 above
8. Horse riders who think they own the place
9. Runners who think they own the place
10. Random running/horsey/mountain bike events
11. Rangers who tell you you're not supposed to be here
12. Doggers.
13. thieves in the CP

Go to the Chilterns, it's much quieter

from now on stay away from Swinley on sundays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like it's worth avoiding altogether.

And these trails are listed as RED

Whoa! You never said it was a "RED"

Good work OP it's good that no one died

if they want to take the kids riding stay on the kids trails

I'm not familiar with the place but I just looked at the "official" map and I can't see any age restrictions on any of the trails. I suspect you're making that shit up.

Perhaps competency might be a useful criteria, since there are plenty of kids more capable on reds (and blacks) than many adults would be?

+1 for yes, you do appear to be a dick.

EDIT: By the way, you still don't seem to have answered the question as to the pertinence of being Eastern European when you're lost in a trail centre? In the absence of any rational explanation people will just draw the obvious conclusion. Which is that you are a xenophobic dick.

There's short loop of wide featureless track for the kids, and a play area by the car park. What more do they need?

[s]You are right - if you want quiet(er) trail - head there midweek evenings. [/s]

Scrap that - bad advice - we coach kids at trail centres on midweek evenings. Then the trails are full of kids. And we session bits again and again. Most folk passing by love that there are lots of kids learning skills on the trail.

The red attracts lots of kids because lots of kids are perfectly able to ride it. It's a good place for kids as they know what the level of difficulty will be all round the trail. A decent 8yr old would be fine round it I reckon. Anyway, at any point on any trail someone might stop. Yes they should pull into the side, but sometimes folk don't. It happens. You just can't expect a full speed clear trail at a busy time, anywhere, except maybe on private land with no public access - eg a race course.

**** you

Worst. Chat up line. Ever.

Next time, shout STRAVAAAA as you descend.

A decent 8yr old would be fine round it I reckon.

Aye my nephew does a really good job around most of the red "downhill" trails
He's more competent than a lot of the adult weekend warriors as well who seem to spend most of their time looking at their front wheel and not the the trail in front of them

And these trails are listed as RED
or for experienced riders
if they want to take the kids riding stay on the kids trails

The family trails are typically flat, open, wheelchair friendly sort of things and not at all what we want to ride. That said, they tend to be quite open and wide. Perhaps you'd have a better riding experience here, where people won't block "your" trails and hold up your vitally important speed session.

Sorry mate, but you're coming across as a bit of a cock here and you might want to reflect on this.

Worst. Chat up line. Ever.

Bit harsh. All it needs is a question mark.

When it said "trail centre", I thought it meant trail centre!

I asked a bloke for directions last time I was there.. now this is the confusing bit - I was (no, am) English and (was) wearing mountain bicycle clothing.. HE was French and wearing a "sports top". Who shouldn't have been there? He didn't even know the way for crying out loud. Maybe he got the "don't tell people who ask for directions" memo.
Going there tomorrow and I'm going to be prepared to be annoyed.

In a parallel dimension...

Incident 1 - "Woah guys, that might not be the best place to stop, just so you know the etiquette is to stop off of the trail - safer for everyone that way."

Incident 2 - "Of course I can help, you need to head that way then turn that way, then you'll see the car park. Have you had a good ride, what do you think of Swinley? How does it compare to the trails back home?"

@daern
fair enough but they were camped in the middle of a trail where most people would be doing at least 12-15 mph
it wouldn't of been an issue if they were riding and not standing

are most of you that post on here actualy cyclist/mountain bikers or do you come to sit and enjoy the fun
just an idea??

secondly the dads with the daughter were at the bottom of a trail that most riders would be doing around 15--18 mph

where most people would be doing at least 12-15 mph

At least most people have slowed down in case there's anyone on the trails.

OP, stop digging.

are most of you that post on here actualy cyclist/mountain bikers or do you come to sit and enjoy the fun
just an idea??

Seriously though, you've raised an interesting point about shared trails, especially those in busy locations that get huge numbers of people, not all of which (in complete fairness) should be riding them. I think that chakaping's response from a couple of posts back reflects my attitude to this and I will rarely deviate from this behaviour.

are most of you that post on here actualy cyclist/mountain bikers or do you come to sit and enjoy the fun
just an idea??

Nah I'm just a keyboard warrior, never touched a bike in my life, never been to swinley and don't have a chuffing clue about how to recognise when i've been a douche

Is this you OP 😆

who needs a comedy show when you can read this thread 🙂

it wouldn't of been an issue if they were riding and not standing

Wouldn't [u]have[/u] - because all this thread needs is some grammatical pedantry to make it perfect.

OP, stop digging.

No, don't. I'm still interested in why lost Eastern Europeans are a problem and why you GAF about what they wear.

I think that chakaping's response from a couple of posts back reflects my attitude to this and I will rarely deviate from this behaviour.

And perfectly illustrates the simple rule...... don't be a dick 🙂

OP, stop digging.

No, don't. I'm still interested in why lost Eastern Europeans are a problem and why you GAF about what they wear.

Metathread time! 🙂

The new surface at Swinley is too Estonia for me.

I'm just a bloke with a bike.
secondly [b]the dads with the daughter were at the bottom of a trail that most riders would be doing around 15--18 mph[/b]
if id hit the daughter at that speed who knows what would happen. I literally had to yank my bars to miss them!!

[b]And these trails are listed as RED
or for experienced riders
if they want to take the kids riding stay on the kids trails[/b]

I think that confirms that they were lost and needed directions, possible even European..

OP. Any chance you can enlighten us on why you feel the ethnicity of the hoodies is relevant?

With small children and foreigners being the subject of your wrath you sound like a fantastic guest for a dinner party i'm having. Wanna come?

I think everyone at BOB club would be glad if you'd remove their name from your original post....

At the end of the day you're riding a hugely busy trail centre, you have to expect there to be people of different standards there, there is a reason that most BOB rides only touch on the trial centre itself when busy, there is miles and miles of trails in that area where you won't meet another rider let alone people to take their kids.

Swinley red is one of the tamest red trails in the country, and one of the busiest.
You've got to expect some inexperienced people and be aware they might be blocking a trail.

Come to Thetford......

Incident 2 - "Of course I can help, you need to head that way then turn that way, then you'll see the car park. Have you had a good ride, what do you think of Swinley? How does it compare to the trails back home?"

I think he was in to much of a hurry to give them directions back to Dover.. 😀

Dover's that way

[img] ?w=1200[/img]

Personally I wouldn't call you a dick. I would say perhaps you might consider that you may have reacted in the wrong way.
It is best to ride thinking the trails are for everyone and it is safer to be able to stop if there is an obstacle or an injured rider on the course.
I often stop and show my kids a good line choice, we always watch out for riders and stop adjacent tot he trail, but sometimes people shout at us. The kids thank them for their advice and they normally move on.
Peace out.

are most of you that post on here actualy cyclist/mountain bikers or do you come to sit and enjoy the fun
just an idea??

Yep, I ride quite a lot. I used to ride Swinley often when I stayed in Berkshire 10 years ago, so I can kind of sympathise with you in that the trails can get really busy and it can get frustrating. I guess it's only got busier as the trails are more restricted now.

Think of the positive though, my current trails up north are so quiet that if you had a bad crash you'd be eaten by badgers before anyone found you. At Swinley you'd be found and airlifted away in 10 minutes.

Everyone's focusing on you being a dick to children and foreigners, but I need to ask - what's wrong with wearing jeans and hoodies?

OP, are you talking about Red 15? The only cross over I can think of is at the bottom when it flattens out - the trail pixies recently put two berms there, I presume to slow people down.

what's wrong with wearing jeans and hoodies?

Only noobs and chavs ride in jeans and hoodies*

(* not illustrated)

[img] [/img]

scud - Member
I think everyone at BOB club

Ah I'd assumed Bob was some Neolithic trail builder.

I’ll tell you what is annoying about Swinley. Litter, un-controlled dogs and dog shit.

[i]the trail pixies recently put two berms there, I presume to slow people down.[/i]

Berms to slow people down... interesting.

[i]I’ll tell you what is annoying about Swinley[/i]

The prices in the cafe 😉

Reading the thread title "Annoying things at [b]my[/b] local trail centre"

Maybe the OP is the the owner?

eastern Europeans dressed in jeans and hoodies wanted directions back to the car park.

This makes me mad; coming over here and taking our directions! 😈

And buying our jeans and hoodies

Dez, before it was a slight downhill fast straight exit across a fire road which you could take off on. Now its two tight berms.