unauthorised trailbuilding

[mr fish]

while i was there on tues i noticed someone had been trail buffing in the beech side of the wood,where Simon is going to layout the 4x/duel track,clearing a section and joining it up with the old dh(?)trail.
this trail has long been abandoned for good reason as this is about 3secs long :badmood: and does nothing to take advantage of the hillside :badmood:so whoever you are bloody well pack it in as there are much bigger plans in the making :badmood:

[mr fish]

ok who's been tweeking the XC trail ?

[Rick Brown]

Fish there are to many people who are non members crawling all over the tracks
me and jamie saw 4 guys as we were leaving last saturday-no helmets riding the trails we have also seen familys/ dog walker/ people on horses even people pushing prams up and down the trails all I can do is tell them politely that they are on the bike tracks and to be careful and aware of bikes.
They always reply sorry (I did'nt see any signs) one guy I spoke to was actually deaf (but he did'nt hear me:D :D :D :D ) and he most certainly would not of heard a bike coming or anything :D .
We need to sort out some safety signs,no littering signs,and club members only to ride these trails,
And at one point there was at least 20 people sat having dinner on the North Shore they were map reading/orienteering or sumut so some of the litter could have come from them :confused:
Theres to many (wannabe mountain bikers) finding us and not following the right procedures maybe its time to get touch with riding non members:hammer:

[fragy]

could we politely ask the forestry to do us a couple of signs to put near where the cars are parked, warning that certain areas are for mtb riders and that there is a members only policy. I know it may make the place more common but this seems to be the case already. just a thought, not knowing the ins and outs and all that.

[fragy]

or just get the cat o nine tails out:mad:

[Rick Brown]

I was up today for a couple of hours and there was at least 6 walkers up and down the tracks when I spoke to them about being on the bike tracks they said we weren't sure with way the path went.
Again lack of signs (maybe):confused:

[swifty15uk]

i think the only way to stop non members riding the trails is to issue membership cards as its the easiest way to prove membership
and put signs saying no card no riding or something
and the same for helmets cause thats silly

[c2crider]

If you could get rid of the sign on the track that leads to the trails, that might help because it says something like, "Footpath, no bikes no horses" or something similar.

Maybe theses walkers are just confused and lost?

[Baker]

i think the only way to stop non members riding the trails is to issue membership cards as its the easiest way to prove membership
and put signs saying no card no riding or something
and the same for helmets cause thats silly

But there is not always going to be anyone up there to check the cards and if there is they can simply advise them away from our trails for the obvious reasons, and if you doubt they are members all you can really do is take their word, (most of the committee know nearly every member any way) and inform them about the rules of membership etc. Always seems to work.

If you could get rid of the sign on the track that leads to the trails, that might help because it says something like, "Footpath, no bikes no horses" or something similar.

Maybe theses walkers are just confused and lost?

The signs are mandatory for the forestry as far as i know, walkers have a right of way on the main fire road hence the signs so it wouldnt help removing it. I think it would be worth while getting some new heavy duty signs to inform people about the tracks, 2 at the bottom - Each entrance to the bottom of tracks and 1 or 2 at the top, just simply saying members only, experienced cyclists only no walkers on tracks. Hard to say though, most people wouldnt take notice any way and make their own way around!

[Xpink]

Wasn't we talking about building small gate ways at the bottom of the trails so people know not to walk up, and to stop us at the end:?

All the trails begin at the top near the start tower and there are big signs up there saying that its a free ride park anyway, so we have told them.

But I agree with Baker, many people are pretty arrogant and stuck up and will just ignore them and walk on anyway! Same with members, it's not private land so if they want to ride there, then they will :mad: :mad:

But if they fall and hurt themselves it's their own stupid fault and they cant blame us because we have told them, and the rules simple! Though member ship cards = good idea :)

[True Saxon]

Placing signs at the bottom/end/finish of each trail is a must. But if we want them to stay there, they will have to be substantialy constructed.
True, some people will always know best and still walk up. But they have been warned.
Placing signs along the course near to any public right of way would also be a good idea. ie where a bike track can be seen from the main track up.
If anyone see's anyone riding without a helmet, advise them that they are not allowed to ride without one, point them to the sign at the top of the hill (has the main points on it), tell them about the website.. Sadly if one of these fools without a helmet has an incident, it could jepordise the project. Signs or no signs.
I believe that the Forest we use is private land and the FC have classified it as a recreational cycling area. Hence the 2 seperate areas.
Maybe get onto the FC about signing their footpaths aswell.

[Rick Brown]

That all sounds pretty good to me

[mr fish]

Yet again i'm having to post on this thread :badmood: whoever it is that keeps tweeking the XC route will you just pack it in :badmood: as club members know that EVERY trail modification is discussed with the comittee FIRST ..... this helps avoid stupid and idiotic changes, such as clearing the trail so it exits straight into a public footpath, causing collision issues and also you've made it look very inviting for walkers to wander up our trails :badmood: also if a trail has been abandoned or indeed was never really there because it didn't work,this doesn't mean that YOU can decide to rake it clear,it might have been well intentioned, but we certainly don't need people going off on their own program.
i'll just point out that the comittee is well within its rights to BAN people for any amount of time or indeed indefinatley for not keeping with program etc
club members please keep an eye out for the culprits ;)

[Baker]

Can i add that it was also one idiotic move to integrate one of the digging pits (which had been covered with multiple logs and filled with more logs) into a jump.

Looking at the nature of it all today it was dangerous and hell, how can we reuse the digging pit if some fool has put a trail through it!?

Own up now as the outcome will be better than if you dont and get found out!!! Just remember we're only a relatively small club so things get heard and passed about easily ;)

[IMafizzleI]

Which one is the XC trail? The one with 'XC' spray pointed in orange? With the arrow pointing right, after the start tower berm?

Or is there another one?

[Baker]

Round the right hand berm at the top and you come to a small drop (KFC) the start is just before the drop. I think there is some spray paint on the tree there aye.

[carrerabiker]

you could call the snake xc

[Cookie]

You could... But you could also use the actual names of the trails so people don't get confused?? Thats a better idea i think.

[Baker]

Why change the trail names?
Dont understand your point at all!? The snake trail if the one far left which follows the flow show nearly and the XC is the one in progress far right.... Make sense!?

[Will]

I agree with baker, you cant change the names because there would be more confusion as people would still call them by their original name!

[carrerabiker]

no you tit i was saying that the snake isnt realy a dh trail its more like a xc trail

[Baker]

no you tit i was saying that the snake isnt realy a dh trail its more like a xc trail

Firstly, thats a bit un called for, you didnt make a clear point, and thats obviously the case as 3 people took your wording for the same thing!!

And secondly, the snake trail has never been called a downhill trail, and never will be. Its a fun, flowing track on a gradient, soon to be a dual track.