SiPie

Had an interesting debate with an overly aggresive and violent, eco-friendly hill walker last night, whilst I was out cycling over the Pentland Hills

I've mountain biked for over 12 years now and i can safely say that I try to follow the country code to the last letter... ie. go through a muddy bog rather than round it to prevent creating a new path and adding to the erosion problem, close gates, no deliberate skidding, give way to walkers, horse riders etc and generally just be polite, patient & say hello to everyone and be respectful of people's land and property (especially farms).

I fully appreciate that not everybody does this and that can give mountain biking a bad name....but heh, you are going to get some ******** participating in every sport ..

Anyway......I have my own theories re the erosion bit and although I appreciate that 100 bikes over the hills on a Saturday morning will do some damage... the question is.. will they do as much damage as perhaps 1,000 hillwalkers during the same Saturday morning? (I probably see around 1 mountain biker to every 10 walkers)

Anyway this nutter just couldn't accept that we can all use the trails at the same time, as long as a few simple rules are followed

Hopefully, he'll give it some careful consideration before he challenges the next mountain biker he meets in the same manner

Any thoughts?

PS I do a fair bit of hill-walking as well

ozzy

As a Hill Walker, I'd have told them to go f**k themselves.

Can't be doing with these eco-friendly to$$ers.

Erosion is a problem for walkers and bikers alike. If it's a well trodden trail then it should be maintained to minimise erosion. You see this on the hills all the time and there are signs telling you to stick to the paths.

Personally, I hate this idea as I want a sense of wilderness when I'm out. Last thing I really want to do is walk up a hill on a 'path'. It's bad enough having to meet other people

Stefan

ozzy

Next time you meet someone complaining on the Pentlands tell them to pi$$ off up a 'proper' mountain and not some poncy wee hill

SiPie

Totally agree, but it was just a quick weekday cycle....

SiPie

You've got to laugh when you see them with poles and gaiters etc..... walking up Flotterstone

ozzy

Yeah, I ran past some folk on Tinto Hill a few weeks ago who had heavy leather boots, full gortex waterproofs, 60litre rucksac, walking poles, gaiters, map - the whole works.

I was in shorts, t-shirt and running shoes. Mind you I was up & down it in 40 mins, whereas it was a 3hr expedition for them

Graz

As someone who does both I feel that MTB's and hill walkers create a similar amount of erosion. After all an MTB tyre and walking boot have a similarly sized contact patch with the ground.

I always try and avoid wheel spining or skidding on the bike, this would obviously create more erosion.

Anyway you want erosion, try living the the Cotswolds, were only allowed to ride on bridleways, by-ways etc. Horses do the worst damage, turn a nice path into an unrideable swamp.

SiPie

This was exactly the point I was trying to make with this guy, and based on the larger number of walkers I felt my case was a just one

Sorry to hear your cycling is so restricted down your way

Mike P

Check this out:

http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/politi...ts/summary.htm

Summary is that walkers and bikers impact the environment to a similar extent, but in different ways.

SiPie

Now there's a scary finding

Cheers for posting the link Mike

scobub

*However, while the research comparing mountain bike riders and walkers has not been extensive, the findings to date suggest that the two groups are more similar than is generally perceived*

agreed

anc-sti

The Parks authority has done research into this and it has been proven the bikes and walkers have a similar impact on paths, the fact that the walkers in most places are greater in number means actually walkers by volume cause far more damage.


I live in the lakes and I only have to look out of a window to see the impact of boots on the environment, every mountain has a path 'cough' scar going up it. So your rambler is completely wrong. If I ever have this debate with these 'ramblers with attitude' in the lakes I point this out and they usually shuts them up. If that fails mock there red socks it drives them mad.

SiPie

Funnily enough Red Sock Brigade was mentioned at some point during the exchange

trails

iTrader: (41)

nobody can moan if you go out and build your own trails...

ChrisB

That's a lot of air with no helmet on

trails

iTrader: (41)

its all good, lids are for beginners

anc-sti

I hope you touched some carbon base inanimate substance when you said that.

Legs mend brains don't

trails

iTrader: (41)

Nah, I'd swap a few concussions any day for a knee injury...they never go away! Don't normally land on my head <desperately stoking the trusty wooden desk> when I crash...

anc-sti

So what your saying is you would rather have minor brain damage to a wee bump on ye knee Righhhhhhhhhhhht

trails

iTrader: (41)

trust me joints are no laughing matter, I ruptured my cruciate ligament seven years ago and had it rebuilt three years ago...I still can't ride without a knee brace and my knee is weak as **** after loads of physio and training. every time I fall on my head I might have a mild concussion but it only lasts a few days and I'm back to normal (!), and I can ride still...

ozzy

Don't be wet Chris

Pushbikes are for kids

anc-sti

Ok it all hurts, 5 years ago I decked it big time coming down Garburn Pass head butted a rather large rock(ouch!). Helmet in 2 pieces literally, if I hadn't had it on that day I would be pushing up daisy's now.

Guess its all down to the terrain you ride and the risk, up here in the lakes the rocks are large and sharp and not wearing a helmet doesn't bear thinking about.

trails

iTrader: (41)

absolutely right, its mostly ligaments, tendons, muscle and joint trauma when crashing from height rather than head butting stuff. Of course the older I get the more my battered body complains about doing anything let alone riding...

trails

iTrader: (41)

Is that Pastrana or Mike Jones?

anc-sti

Brain says GO, body says NOOOO

trails

iTrader: (41)

normaly only sorta whimpers...and the COLD winter is coming so I get to stagger round like an little old lady for three months. still I'll always have the photos!!!

ozzy

nah, just some nutter from Norway

trails

iTrader: (41)

its not bad ist it !!

eClaire

ROFL

Was up the Pentlands not too long ago actually - with my can of tomato soup, a spoon, bottle of water and a pipe

Done the Cairngorms not so long ago, too...



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