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There is a video on Enduronews.com guy filming pratts on motorbikes they know what they are doing not a reg in site pisses you right off when you green lane all above board.
At BPW: blob:
Looks like they'd be better off on the green trail until they can learn to ride a bit.
Poor BPW staff having to deal with scum like that.
We used to get it when we rode the mountain tracks at Cwmcarn 25 yrs ago. After getting buzzed once too often on a bridleway by the same bike doing really deliberate and dangerous "close passes" my mate pushed him off when he went past and ran after his as he rolled down the trail and pulled his helmet off ready to grip him where he was met by the sight of a 14 yr old kid!
It's everywhere in the Valleys. Has been for yrs. last time I was at Wentwood Forest on my fatbike a few yrs ago 2 idiots turned up in a transit, unloaded 2 scrambler bikes and hacked off at full tilt down a bridleway that looked like a motox track it was so carved up. I went the other way.
Same in the FofD every weekend. Don’t really mind the kids, idiot behaviour is to be expected - it’s the groups of middle aged men that piss me off.
And in Lancs.
Two 30-ish blokes on trials bikes riding Healey Nab on Saturday PM.
And I got knocked off my road bike by some dickhead teenager on a MX bike on the backroads near Rivi the year before last.
Wow there is some Dickheads around riding Motorbikes in Wales
The Motocross riders I come across around my local trails are always very considerate
Yeah saw the video yesterday on Facebook. Personally anyone I've met in the peak district on a motorbike has been considerate and know where to ride. The guys (assume they're blokes) in the video from BPW are a proper bunch of twonks.
We have the same problem in Surrey Hills. Back in the summer a bunch of knobbers turned up at the NT White Down car park, unload their MX bikes and started ragging around the hillside, despite the many people out walking/cycling etc. Pathetically they didn't have the bottle to ride down the 'scary'(their words) steep MTB trails.
It goes back a loong, loong way. I used to help out with the Dragon DH twenty years ago, and I remember people on motorbikes basically digging a 8" deep trench all the way up a track we'd constructed on the hillside where BPW now is. A load of it had to be re-routed as the track was unusable The problem isn't motorbikes. Or bikes. Or cars. It's people (thankfully only a tiny minority) being thoughtless, ignorant, selfish or all of the above.
Wow there is some Dickheads around riding Motorbikes
I came across about 10 of em blocking a track (a fast dh track!) on the South Downs. One of them followed and close passed me kicking up shit and smoke in my face, intead of waiting about 20 yeard before the track widened. To be fair, the next lot stopped behind me and the lead rider said they'd wait til I got to the bottom of the track. Which meant close pass **** **** was sat at the bottom on his own when I got there.. I don't think he expected that, nor the abuse he got when I arrived. Like a little brave soldier he shouted something at me as I rode away. This was a grown adult behaving like a 14 year old.
Everywhere sadly, and increasing. Just heard three razz past my house. Doesn't help that there's basically no policing of it.
bentudder
Full MemberIt goes back a loong, loong way. I used to help out with the Dragon DH twenty years ago, and I remember people on motorbikes basically digging a 8″ deep trench all the way up a track we’d constructed on the hillside where BPW now is. A load of it had to be re-routed as the track was unusable The problem isn’t motorbikes. Or bikes. Or cars. It’s people (thankfully only a tiny minority) being thoughtless, ignorant, selfish or all of the above.
TBF if that was Mountain Ash they would still have been ripping up the track whilst the race was on
They're everywhere in South Wales, including those quads with blingy wheels. In the city, out on the hills and in trail centres. Just drive anywhere in the Valleys and you'll see their tracks on the hillsides. They know they're basically untouchable as they can run away if the police turn up and as they have no number plates and are unidentifiable due to helmets. The only way to stop them is to appeal to their communities and social groups to make them apply peer pressure for it to stop.
People are dicks.
@cha****ng I saw them up the brook at whitecopice I mean I shouldn't be there but it was 2pm on a Sunday
@cha****ng I saw them up the brook at whitecopice I mean I shouldn’t be there but it was 2pm on a Sunday
They are starting to pop up again lately, saw some more on Winter Hill last week, up past the cattlegrid and shut gate. Would've called it in but I was racing the light to get back.
I was once asked to set up a two day 1000 people event in South Wales by a bunch of Northerners. Pointed out that a previous attempt had resulted in the course being set on fire, riders being shot with air rifles and the Quad being stolen......
It's tough down south.
mashr
Full MemberTBF if that was Mountain Ash they would still have been ripping up the track whilst the race was on
Well, that year, some kids set fire to the hillside at Mountain Ash while we were prepping the track. Then started shooting at riders on race day with .22 air rifles until one of the handier local riders walked up and returned with a couple of dishevelled looking kids and a bent air rifle, all of which was handed over to the police.
This was the year after Jason put tree trunks across a couple of the fire road exits and turned them into drops so 'crossers couldn't ride up the trail.
Again, this was a tiny minority of mostly kids from an area with a fair amount of long term economic deprivation. Other options for entertainment at the time included cheap heroin, underage drinking, pregnancy or a bit of light stabbing, so razzing around on a motocross bike was probably a preferable option, and the subtleties of trail access were low down on the priority list.
cloggy
Full Member
I was once asked to set up a two day 1000 people event in South Wales by a bunch of Northerners. Pointed out that a previous attempt had resulted in the course being set on fire, riders being shot with air rifles and the Quad being stolen……
It’s tough down south.
Sounds like we know each other in that case, Cloggy 😀
@bentudder was that Leon Rosser it sounds like him
Or possibly poffley who built kilvey 😂
ran in to a group of 7 a couple of weeks ago (SW) on FC land. when spoken to they knew full well they shouldn't be where they were. no plates or plates covered over. the FC caught up with them when they were playing about in a stream that unfortunately for them was on a SSSI...
if you see them just call the plod and get your mates to as well particularly if you see them with a vehicle and therefore a plate. the more it's reported the more mandate there is to get some action. you may just get lucky and catch the helicopter and a few traffic cars with time on their hands.
Agreed... knobs.
Equally less and less legal places to ride enduro motorcycles.
Green lanes are graded and/or closed.
Riding a cycle bike you can get away with it everywhere, much like we are all annoyed at them. Walkers will be annoyed when you go along a footpath and don't feel you've done any harm.
They won't be realising the damage to the mtb trails, 2 sides to every coin and all that....
Walkers will be annoyed when you go along a footpath and don’t feel you’ve done any harm.
Only if you’re the dick going along footpaths.
jake, i can see their side too - likely just looking for new challenges just like we do. i understand that. unfortunately they've chosen a sport that is more heavily restricted than ours. it is a choice though. nothing stopping them buying a (push) bike and doing what we do. in a few years they'll all be electric and i reckon that's when the 'fun' will start as you won't be able to hear them to find them.
their actions also reflect badly on the good guys like those in the TRF and others who choose to enjoy their sport within the law.
Bin sum dun rowund ere wiv drowunz.
Riding a cycle bike you can get away with it everywhere, much like we are all annoyed at them. Walkers will be annoyed when you go along a footpath and don’t feel you’ve done any harm.
I don't generally chuck rocks at ramblers/landowners though.
unfortunately they’ve chosen a sport
The word "sport" is doing some heavy lifting in that sentence. Last time I rode a FP I didn't close pass the walkers spewing 2 stroke oil, and gouging a rut deep enough to bury people and enough noise pollution to raise them again.
dirtyboy
Full Member
@bentudder was that Leon Rosser it sounds like him
Or possibly poffley who built kilvey 😂
I can't remember his name for the life of me, but he was as sound as a pound.
On the catching MXers thing - I worked a while back on a sailing magazine in Poole and one of the freelancers who came in once a month month to drop off the Admiralty Chart corrections was an RN military policeman. One of his favourite jobs was going up in (IIRC) a Merlin to chase down motorbikes trespassing on some of the big ranges. Apparently it was highly satisfying, and seeing a squad of fairly sizable and tooled-up gentlemen and ladies spill out of a helicopter that'd been keeping up with your shenannigans at low level and close range for the last half hour to whisper sweet nothings in you ear must have really hammered the point home.
Down here in Kent, I'm seeing lots of unlicensed bikes on the actual roads around here. Sometimes not even wearing helmets, just not giving a **** about even being recognised.
Basically they know the chance of getting chased down by the police is so low it's almost become "legitimised".
Equally less and less legal places to ride enduro motorcycles.
Green lanes are graded and/or closed.
One of the issues with a lot of the Valleys and nearby areas is that for decades they were just spoil tips and worthless pieces of land surrounded by deprived areas. Getting hold of a cheap bike (they're not all stolen) then ragging it around on land no-one cared about was seen as normal for a long, long time. Now that areas like Gethin Woods (BPW) and the Afan Valley have been turned over to leisure the riders see it as they've been removed from somewhere they used, the fact they never were officially allowed there has been lost to time. As their sport attracts a large amount of dicks they see no reason not to carry on using the areas despite the change of use. There are actually a couple of Trials clubs in the Valleys and they only use legal rights of way and can often be seen in the woods having legal fun and interacting with other users in a good and friendly way. Sadly the idiots spoil it for them too.
if you see them just call the plod and get your mates to as well particularly if you see them with a vehicle and therefore a plate. the more it’s reported the more mandate there is to get some action. you may just get lucky and catch the helicopter and a few traffic cars with time on their hands.
Go into the toilets at Glyncorrwg Ponds and there's signs everywhere saying to do exactly that but not to approach any of the riders, some have got violent before.
Down here in Kent, I’m seeing lots of unlicensed bikes on the actual roads around here. Sometimes not even wearing helmets, just not giving a **** about even being recognised.
Basically they know the chance of getting chased down by the police is so low it’s almost become “legitimised”.
Come to Tremorfa in Cardiff, that's every day life for a few people. The local sports field was pretty much destroyed a few days ago by 3 people on bikes and 1 on a quad doing dougnuts, powerslides and wheelies. 5 minutes of fun for them means the local kids that use the field for football and a few other games have nowhere to go. They even managed to break the skate park after doing burnouts on the halfpipe, it's usually heaving with kids on scooters so now they don't have anywhere to hang out either.
Come to Tremorfa in Cardiff, that’s every day life for a few people. The local sports field was pretty much destroyed a few days ago by 3 people on bikes and 1 on a quad doing dougnuts, powerslides and wheelies. 5 minutes of fun for them means the local kids that use the field for football and a few other games have nowhere to go. They even managed to break the skate park after doing burnouts on the halfpipe, it’s usually heaving with kids on scooters so now they don’t have anywhere to hang out either.
What utter dicks. Have to say it's not that bad round here. At the moment anyway.
I think a lot of it is about supplying them facilities too, they see loads of land turned over to mountain bikes, and nothing for them and it causes friction, not saying it is right.
I'm in Norfolk, where there is 5 or 6 legitimate MX race tracks, as well as a number of old quarries run by farmers as MX/ 4 X 4 facilities, so it is a rare problem for us thankfully as they have somewhere to go, but as soon as we cross over in to Suffolk for events, then often we're sharing the bridleways south of Thetford with 4x4 green laners and MX bikes.
Well, that year, some kids set fire to the hillside at Mountain Ash while we were prepping the track. Then started shooting at riders on race day with .22 air rifles until one of the handier local riders walked up and returned with a couple of dishevelled looking kids and a bent air rifle, all of which was handed over to the police.
Must have been around the same era, as had similar at the dreamy venue that was Taff Buggy. Only it was a still burning shell of a car & the locals with air rifles again.
Seemingly on the locals trails in the FoD it's much less of an issue - I rarely see a motorbike tyre in the mud. Not like our previous local anyway, when the symbolic bark of an MX bike meant exit the woods with immediate effect, as it was highly likely a bunch of thieving local scrotes on a stolen bike/s riding like absolute tools & threating everyone around them. Not uncommon to for people to be relieved of their bikes either at the same time.
I think a lot of it is about supplying them facilities too, they see loads of land turned over to mountain bikes, and nothing for them and it causes friction, not saying it is right.
mate who is in the TRF says they've no excuse round our way as there are loads of places to ride.
Big difference beteween enduro / trail riders, and ****s causing damage.
I'm in Scotland so just ride where I like unless someone asks me to leave.
I ride a 100kg road legal enduro bike that cause bugger all damage, has a legal exhaust and is ridden by a slow useless **** anyway.
People should still be allowed access to their interests when , really , it has virtually no affect on others.
Two words. Predator drone.
In 30 years of MTbiking only ever seen about 5 motorbikes in the Forest Of Dean I usually green lane in Wiltshire loads of byways mind there is plenty of them in Mid wales.
Regarding FoD I've seen 2 MX bikes up the Pludds on Sunday morning, I've come across quite a few over the last few years, I was stuck behind one at Shutcastle a while back as he was finding it hard to make all the tight turns.
I'm dead against them in public woods personally as the public tend to lump us all together as 2 wheeled menaces and local MTB is getting more agro than usual due to Covid driven tourism. When the police do stop and bollock them I see a lot of moaning on local FB about kids having nowhere to go. Anything that can be done to entice them elsewhere is a good thing in my opinion.
Anything that can be done to entice them elsewhere is a good thing in my opinion.
That is the problem though. Getting suitable facilities.
Round here occasionally see them on the green lanes and never had issues. They have always been careful near me whether I have been walking or riding.
There is also a old quarry where looks and sounds like they ride more seriously. Various fences being put up and being pulled down so obviously conflict with the landowner but from a user of the local area it does seem to help avoid trashing other public areas.
I see both sides down here.
I am one who loves to be out in the woods with my dog off the lead, he's only a little Westie so he doesnt wander far from me. As soon as I hear the bike riders I call him close and wave at the riders to slow down. Without fail, every time I have done this the riders have slowed down and signalled to their mates behind to slow down too, like normal decent human beings. A quick "cheers , mate" and a nod of the helmet back. Normal decency.
However, I also know the boys/men who go around in gangs of 6 or 7 bombing along the roads on their Huskies and KTMs and they flat out dont give a shit. They take pride in beating the helicopters in a chase. Arseholes.
The state of the trails and paths after theyve been chewing them up is terrible, especially when theyre ripping all the loam up and leaving clay and rocks exposed, which due to the pisstaking amount of rain we have ruins the paths and trails forever unless remedial work is done.
My argument is that there is so much idle forestry in South Wales, why have they got to target one of the only purpose built facilities and wreck it?
I got no time at all for that segment of society. The decent, helmet nodding types are just decent folk following their noisy hobby though.
It's the mini motos we have the problem with in our local forest. Almost got run over doing official trail repairs. The two biggest issues for us is the damage they cause, particularly as there is no armouring/type 1, and secondly, even on the little bikes the speed differential is enormous.
Having previously been a motorcycle trials rider I can appreciate that venues are few and far between, but it was usually possible to find some sympathetic landowner with a bit of waste land or an old pit to use. Ripping up other people's hard work is hardly the way to get any support or cooperation.
Fancy riding a MX down the Shutcastle trails what a waste of time.We had a small disused quarry outside Cheltenham near Andoversford kids played in there on mini bikes others on trials bikes etc been riding in there for years dont know who owns it but they gave it to the Gloucstershire wildlife trust so it is fenced off and totally overgrown never made much sense that just rocks faces in there and grassy slopes.
Looks like the small red section off the blue at the bottom of Phillips park in Prestwich has been shut permanently due to MX bike damage. I can't see it being repaired any time soon. Also can't see the attraction of riding up the trail in a straight line like, but each to their own...
Happy to be corrected by a proper local.
I caught up with one trying to ride his motorbike down no social at the golfie once. he wasn't having a very good time.
Lee and Cragg quarry have been ripped to shreds by 'crossers.
I had an accident with one in my van - MX bike ragging up a main road bounced off the nearside of my van and hit a bus shelter. Looked like a nicked bike as well, rang police and ambulance.
Result - bike got impounded but he got it back, he got points and a fine, lost his job apparently. **** then claimed off my insurance who rolled over and paid him for his injuries (claim amount was £25k).
My insurance costs went through the roof - had to SORN the van and pedal for a year as I couldn't afford it.