As a NEWBIE to this 'OFF ROAD' stuff, wad'you guys do at this time of year ?

[Mojonaut]

.............. Etiquette and common sense dictate you should try and steer clear of boggy routes to stop damage worsening.

Maybe someone should tell the farmers and 4x4 off roaders that, I don't think a couple of mtb's is going to add much if anything to the damage they've already done.

 

[Psycolist]

At last i've found some hardpack tracks that are still in good condition. There are two areas of woods that I can fool around in doing slow close control stuff in, and an area that the local farmers have sold off as a wind farm that has a network of unmade but hard pac tracks conecting up all the turbines. Had a decent bit of time in the saddle over the last few days so feeling alot happier now.

 

[Mojonaut]

At last i've found some hardpack tracks that are still in good condition. ......and an area that the local farmers have sold off as a wind farm that has a network of unmade but hard pac tracks conecting up all the turbines..

You are lucky, we have a similar area at Burton Wold windfarm, I was recently using one of these tracks which breaks out onto a bridleway, the farmer chased me in his Landrover and blocked my path. After a lengthy (but friendly) discussion he was having none of it and it was a case of 'Get Orf my Land'.

His arguments being if he let me do it others would follow and the next thing there would be a bike club up there. Also it is a conservation area, bit lame imho as permission has been granted for another 10 windmills, how one guy on a bike disturbs the local flora/fauna to the same degree as months of heavy machinery will is beyond me. I since found out one of my friends sons used to run there and was met with the same attitude and told to leave.

But I accept I was in the wrong, it isn't a public right of way, sad though it was a nice little trail which I will miss.

 

[Psycolist]

I did spot a couple of notices in bordering woodland suggesting nasty things happening if i deemed to enter, but the area has a number of fishing lakes so there has got to be access for the anglers, so I assume i am not trespassing on private land, providing I stay on the tracks. However, there hasnt been anyone around during my visits. Time will tell I guess. Something I have noticed, landowners are not above putting up signs saying about "no public right of way" or similar, when the ordanance survey maps have the route marked as a public footpath. Several of these, on what were my autumn routes, have actually been ploughed over. A tank could have a bit of bother getting along them now ! I wonder if thats even legal.

 

[Jody]

I did spot a couple of notices in bordering woodland suggesting nasty things happening if i deemed to enter,

Reminds me of some woods near where I live although there are no signs. We were once riding in there (many years ago) and a guy started firing an air rifle at us from his house. I would have called the police had I been older and known better.