[Closed] dogs at trail ctrs

LIke MTB ers well behaved ones are ok the less well behaved ones are not ok

I decide based on what they do not what they are.

Trail centres were supposed to be dedicated mountain bike areas where you can be reasonably confident that you won't encounter ramblers, dog walkers etc. so for me it's a no.

is a trail dog now the latest thing that a mountain biker must have

I suspect more than an element of truth here.

LIke MTB ers well behaved ones are ok the less well behaved ones are not ok

If only I carried a crystal ball so I knew for certain that the dog I encounter on a fast blind corner is one of the well behaved ones. Maybe CK do one?

Room 101 for them (was covered in issue 103)

Yes I'm afraid trail dogs seem to be the latest 'accesory'

I was nearly knocked off my bike by a trail dog at a trail centre. They're not designed for dogs. Off road outside of trail centres, fine.

If only I carried a crystal ball so I knew for certain that the dog I encounter on a fast blind corner is one of the well behaved ones.

HTH

This gets done every few months on here. Definitely a fashion trend. Personally I don't get it, but folk will be along soon to tell you about their amazing trail hounds that don't get in anyone's way and crap nothing but fairy dust.

I ride with my dogs on many trails all around NE Scotland, but never take the mutts to any trail centres.

Wish I could say it was out of consideration for other mountain bikers, but if I did I'd be lying. Reason is purely to do with the welfare of the dogs. A mountainbike at full speed over one of their backs will cause major damage, most likely paralysis. Best case scenario of such a collision probably involves multiple broken bones.

Any of that consideration for thr poor rider who encounters the dog? Or do you avoid purely out of thought for your dogs?

Shouldn't be allowed IMO.

Rider a distant second, doubt they'd end up paralyzed

& it's no from me but I love dogs & 'dislike' trail centres. The 2 don't mix AFAIC.

doubt they'd end up paralyzed

I like those odds.

I don't have any trail dogs but I've got 2 normal dogs. If I'm going up to Nevis Range on a weekday then I might take them as most times I've been there on a weekday I've not seen another biker. At the weekend, no, and I've been to Glentress once, and definitely no there (although that was a weekend).

Trail dogs are special like unicorns, they only trump rainbows, none of that disgusting dog muck!

Generally I'm against dogs at trail centres, however today on the first climb on Cafel at Cwmcarn there were 3 people and two dogs walking down. As soon as they saw me they grabbed their dogs and dived off the trail into the undergrowth. I thanked them and advised there were two riders behind me, they thanked me back. All friendly and smiley.

Which just goes to show most things aren't a problem if people use common sense and show respect for others. Sadly this is often lacking.

Out of courtesy, safety as well as common sense they should not be on a mtb trail center ride.

Im always worried Im going to run one over. There have been some numpties on the forum who reckon their dogs are completely aware of riders, bike behaviour, cornering and speed.

In reality one will cause an accident to a rider or itself soon.

I like dogs, but I dont like having to second guess it as an excited mut zigzags up and down the bloody trail. Or changes direction and runs up towards me instead of following its owner down the trail.

My dog doesn't get in anyone's way but he doesn't crap fairy dust just rainbows.

Trimix sums my thoughts up exactly, well, apart from the liking dogs bit.

I ride with my dog but I wouldn't take her to a trail centre at a weekend because as much as I think she's great and 99% of the time she is well behaved she is a dog and they do stupid things sometimes . Also the surfaces tend to be really bad for their pads , I have taken her to drumlanrig as the surface there is fine and it's never to busy . If your not a dog person I understand why you might have a problem with it but riding with your dog is great fun but you should be honest about how much control you have over them and what situation you have them in .
Now if you want to ban something from trails I have had a couple of occasions where I have met groups riding with a speaker blasting out music ,now that is annoying .

I'm not a fan of any one else's Dog, in fact I can't stand other people's dogs, I like them even less half way up the climb from The cafe at CYB on the short cut, especially when the owner gives you that reassuring "It's OK, he doesn't bite"

THEN it knocked my son of his bike, fantastic,
I doubt any of them shite Rainbows or fairy dust but I know one thing for sure, if you went riding round a Dog Walking designated area there would be something to say........

It's self centred and downright rude, the last thing I want to encounter scutching down a descent is a stupid dog and its I'm way cooler than you owner,

double Tap

Last time in was at llandegla, there was a bloke having a right Barney about 'that bloody dog' that just knocked him off. As I passed the felled riders mate he just rolled his eyes and said, 'happens every time, I don't know why he brings it'

🙄 indeed.

I dont have a problem with dogs at all and round where i live there is loads of walkers with there dogs and I have had the odd near miss but its a diss used railway line thats for every one so its never really bothered me, but at a trail cntr like today the owners seemed stressed (very), because there dog wouldnt come back to them in the car park which was very busy today

Room101 in the current mag got it spot on. Trail dogs are great, but not at trail centres.

You can walk dogs next to a road, you wouldn't do it at a race track.

Trail centres with specific MTB trails definitely no dogs anywhere else is fair game in my view.

I like them even less half way up the climb from The cafe at CYB on the short cut

I don't see an issue if it is quiet and the dog is well behaved.

I don't see an issue if it is quiet and the dog is well behaved.

Dog might be well behaved but how will it react to a bike suddenly appearing at reasonable speed? Ride with your dog by all means just not at a trail centre.

you'd do well to be able to stop in the distance you can see for your own safety. mtb trails might be purpose built but are not closed circuits!

Staggers me that some consider it completely reasonable to have a pooch freely wander around trails that are specifically designated for riders to be nailing at high speeds.
I'm sure your mutt is fine 99% of the time, but that one ride out of a hundred may well be the one that it decides to stop and lay an egg or do an about turn on an obscured corner - or run straight across an adjoining trail.

A cyclist committed to a turn or concentrating on the trail ahead (and not directly at the dog running out of the scrub and into their front wheel) can easily be doing speeds that would cause serious injury to all involved. If you can't accept or empathise with that then you aren't responsible enough to own a dog.

I watched a video of someone following said trail dog and it's owner at a trail centre. The owner isn't the quickest dh, but even he dropped the dog,leaving a very frustrated rider behind who didn't want to try and pass the dog.

Aren't you supposed to be able to stop in the distance you can see? Unless you're riding closed trails, during a race for example, there could be anything just around the corner. Dog, poo, deer, injured rider, alien invader, worlds biggest inappropriately placed mirror....
Whatever your stance on the suitability of trail centres as venues for dog accompaniment you have a responsibility to ride within your ability to control your bike.
Me? I ought to have a copy & paste reply set on a timer for this thread but for the record: dog owner, he's to old/knackered to come riding now but he used to. He preferred natural trails as kinder to his paws but FOD, Coed y Brenin, Swinley, Cannock, Glentress, Newcastleton, never met anyone who had anything to say about him being there so I assume they were all busy on here rather than actually out in the real world. X

Another reason why I avoid trail centres.

Dog might be well behaved but how will it react to a bike suddenly appearing at reasonable speed? Ride with your dog by all means just not at a trail centre.

For someone to appear at reasonable speed it would assume that you have to ride slowly when you have a dog with you.

OK, so everyone on this thread reasonably explains they don't like dogs on trails when riding at trail ctrs.

But mtbmatt, are you the exception ?

If you do like dogs, wouldn't it be wise to take them somewhere that they wont be subject to being run over or annoy trail users ?

If its a closed trail then it is no place for a dog, or deer or rabbit, or fox, get my point? go to a skate park? all concrete.

I ride at Woburn and there are loads of dogs around and horses, I don't get excited about them. Live and let live, its a shared space.
You really don't want to upset these people as next we lose access to the area.
A little courtesy goes a long way, I hate it when they crap everywhere, but just because of the actions of a few mindless idiots, we want to ban them?

What's worse is owners who keep them on a retractable lead that then crosses the path, I have been tangled up in one and I dragged the dog a good few metres before I fell off.

I love my dog but I spend a decent part of everyday exercising her, rain or shine and whether I want to or not. I don't get out on my bike as much as I'd like and when I do it's a bit of time for myself so why on earth would I want to bring my dog? It's a no from me and out of order at a trail centre.

If its a closed trail then it is no place for a dog, or deer or rabbit, or fox, get my point?

Only the dog has been brought, deliberately, into the environment. We're talking about purpose built trails, not shared spaces

I don't have a problem with it I like dogs

If you do like dogs, wouldn't it be wise to take them somewhere that they wont be subject to being run over or annoy trail users ?

If there were likely to be lots of people around, then I wouldn't ride with a dog, but where I do ride it is always very quiet. Trail centres are perfect as they have a line to follow and mine at least will stick to the singletrack and not wander.

I wouldn't go ride Bike Park Wales on a weekend or anything daft like that.

bro in law hit a dog that ran out in front of him, 3 broken ribs, soft tissue damage to hip and 3 months off work. Dogs have no place in trail centres. Only a cock would take a dog to a place designated for MTB's. If your dog causes an accident its you that will get sued and be criminally liable.

We're talking about purpose built trails, not shared spaces

Is there such a place? Maybe down south as I don't keep abreast of the archaic access laws, but certainly in Scotland I can't think of one single place is that is only for MTBers and no one else.

It does seem a bit inconsiderate to other users for MTBers to have a dog with them on the ride. It's just too much of a liability

I cycle with my dog a lot, but would never even think about going to a trail centre, just too busy round there

The point is, I don't think a dog is a good idea at a trail centre because some think they are the next big thing and ride too fast. Just because it is a trail centre, does not mean you wont come across something, what about someone lying on the ground?
Foxes, deer, rabbits and other wildlife will be there.
As I say live and let live, why can't we all get along?
I can see why car drivers think the road is for them alone, when we cannot share the spaces we do have.

You can guarantee at Llandegla at 9/10am on a weekend someone will be setting off with a dog, just as the place is at peak busyness and you are tripping over other rides let alone dogs darting around the place. It might just be the same person(s) who goes there most weekends?!

Personally I think they should ban it, even if only at peak times.

'Sup.Dog!!!.....

[img] [/img]

[img] ?oh=fb96ad2757e4125058ec06d98b969144&oe=5726DE2E[/img]

Nobeerinthefridge - Member

We're talking about purpose built trails, not shared spaces

Is there such a place? Maybe down south as I don't keep abreast of the archaic access laws, but certainly in Scotland I can't think of one single place is that is only for MTBers and no one else.

Something tells me you don't read many of the other threads in here....

Shall we start a list?

1.Llandegla
2.BPW
3.FoD/Pedalabikeaway
4...

What happens if a dog takes a Strava!! segment off you?

[img] [/img]

Footflaps - That dog needs SPD booties, then it could ride a bike 🙂

Would this be acceptable?

[img] [/img]

I've taken my dog around the red at Sherwood Pines a couple of times at 06:00 in the AM on a weekday when there is no one around. It's not something I would consider if we were likely to see anyone else. Likewise I wouldn't take him on a group ride as its not fair on others in the group.

Whoever it was that took a deer into the 'downhill' section and let it off the lead was a bloody idiot because it sent me over the bars.

Oh Deer!!

Is there such a place? Maybe down south as I don't keep abreast of the archaic access laws, but certainly in Scotland I can't think of one single place is that is only for MTBers and no one else.

There certainly are plenty of purpose built mtb trails in Scotland. Just because you can take a dog/horse/baby down them doesn't mean you should, hence separate walking trails at the likes of Glentress (which you can of course ride on if you really want)

Something tells me you don't read many of the other threads in here....

Shall we start a list?

1.Llandegla
2.BPW
3.FoD/Pedalabikeaway
4...

Posted 15 minutes ago # Report-Post

As I said, I'm not familiar with your silly access laws.

I agree Legend, it's pretty dim allowing a dog off it's lead at the likes of GT, but our access laws mean everywhere (with the very odd exception) is a shared space. Those same laws allow me to ride on all of the private estates etc, so claiming an area as MTB only is really short sighted in the grand scheme of things.

IMO its a pretty selfish way to use the trail. By all means if its a natural route, but if its a trail centre (like Cannock) then keep it off the trails. I almost hit a lost trail hound on lower cliff before Xmas, and whilst I appreciate it could have been a deer / rabbit / jabberwocky (delete as appropriate) I'd rather the risk was minimised by the damn dog not being there in the first place.

Can't be arsed to write another long response to this. But here goes. Dogs often zig zag and don't follow the trail. On tighter switch backs they will run through the ferns cutting corners running onto and off trail. I have very very nearly run dogs over at Swanley and fod because they 'appeared' like a furry missile from the side and ran across the trail after their owner....

We're talking about purpose built trails, not shared spaces

If your dog causes an accident its you that will get sued and be [s]criminally[/s] liable.

im with you bacondouble, ban them at peak times
if I agreed to meet some one there like I did yesterday and they had brought a dog I would just not ride with them, it would really stress me that it was causing a problem for other folk, I used to ride the local disused railway line with my brother and his dog and that was bad enough, never did as it was told, would go looking for things in the bushes then pop out right in front of folk, it was a bloody pain, you could always rely on going out chilled and coming home thinking NEVER AGAIN, and that was a non specific bike route

[quote=Nobeerinthefridge ]
As I said, I'm not familiar with your silly access laws.
or ours 🙂

[b]6 Land over which access rights not exercisable[/b]

(1)The land in respect of which access rights are not exercisable is land—

(e)which has been developed or set out—

(ii)for a particular recreational purpose

I nearly hit a boar at FoD once, they should ban them.

I nearly hit a sheep at Cwmcarn once, they should ban them too.

Does it hurt Nobeerinthefridge?
The burning? 😆

scotroutes - Member
Nobeerinthefridge »
As I said, I'm not familiar with your silly access laws.
or ours
6 Land over which access rights not exercisable
(1)The land in respect of which access rights are not exercisable is land—

(e)which has been developed or set out—

(ii)for a particular recreational purpose

darn it, I cannae ride my bike at the dog park anymore.... 🙂

Does it hurt Nobbersinthefridge?
The burning

😆

[quote=hammyuk ]Does it hurt Nobbersinthefridge?
The burning? Does anyone else's screen do that thing where the letters "r" and "n" merge together to form the letter "m"? 😳

You cant ban wild animals 🙂

You can ask people to be considerate and not risk their dogs safety as well as other riders on a purpose built mountain bike trail.

Guess that's the butthurt kicking in....

I had a fairly bad accident at Cwmcarn thanks to someone else's "trail dog" I was a good 200m ahead of him and the dog decided to latch onto me, not him. I didn't even know it was beside me until I happened to catch a glimpse of it as I approached a series of s-bends, completely distracted and moving to avoid the dog beside me, I hit the outer edge of the first berm, not sure what happened after that, but I was on the ground. The chap with the dog just rode past without a word...

I don't think any of the tracks are sole use for bikes, if someone wants to walk up them they can and are entirely within there rights, same with dog walking/horse riding etc.

You may want them to be sole use, but that doesn't mean they are.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/nwepermissions
Your Right To Roam

The majority of our forests are dedicated as open access under Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW) which gives walkers the right to roam across these areas. In many of the rest we operate a permissive right to roam policy. In addition we extend a permissive right to roam to cyclists and horse riders who may use our forest roads and tracks.

You can find out whether your event includes Forestry Commission land by using the MAGIC website.

Whilst everyone has right to individual and family recreation on open access land this right does not extend to holding events or running commercial activities.

I nearly hit a boar at FoD once, they should ban them.

I nearly hit a sheep at Cwmcarn once, they should ban them too.

Don't forget fat knackers and kids. They are often in the way too. Add them to the banned list, if you would.

OK, we have now run out of common sense 🙂

Im off to a trail ctr where I will ride randomly up and down the trail with lots of zig zaggig to keep you all guessing.

I don't think any of the tracks are sole use for bikes, if someone wants to walk up them they can and are entirely within there rights, same with dog walking/horse riding etc.

Trimix - Member

OK, we have now run out of common sense

wrecker - Member
no chance I'm slowing down for horses

I have a dog and he loves coming with me on the bike. Goes mental as soon as he sees me putting my riding shoes on.

I took him to a handful of trail centres when he was younger and they aren't the right place for him. The ground mashes up his feet pads, lacerates them up. I take him over long rides up the black mountains/brecon beacons/quantocks but trail centres are a no go, hes better company on a long ride anyway.

Needless to say he never knocked anyone off their bikes but i've given him a few tyre rubs on his backside now and again! 🙂

They can do so at their own risk; no chance I'm slowing down for horses or walkers on a dedicated MTB trail.

Access or right in this isn't particularly relevant for me

It's irresponsible to ride with your dog at a place where people go to specifically hoon it around on a bike, and you know that in advance

Unless your dog is always within a metre of you and NEVER deviates from that. But even the best behaved dogs sometimes have a moment

Whether you're allowed to have a dog there is sort of irrelevant

As for slowing down for horses, trust me on this, if you collide with a horse you will slow down rapidly.

See its MY trail and I will go as fast as I want, get out of my way.

See also, you don't pay any road tax or insurance get out of my way.

Its all a shared space, sometimes you have to slow down for whatever reason, accept it, and ride accordingly.

Can the owner safely satisfy the criteria that they are under control in a public space?

I do not think so, based on the fact a dogs presence on a trail would make me worried it could injure me from its actions.

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview

I'd not take my dog for fear of injuring someone and being liable

Do any trail centres have protection orders?

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/public-spaces-protection-orders

The comments regarding being able to stop in time are of some merit. Obstacles or obstructions usually don't move though and you can dodge, hop swerve. Dogs are unpredictable moving objects on a trail. Possibly not so bad in front of you but lethal to the side of you.