Ramblers association for cyclists

[Globalti]

Caught? By whom? Just keep an eye open for NT wardens with green Defenders. The worst that can happen is a polite request to take thy velocipede and ride elsewhere.

Many MTBers only ride in the evenings or even in the dark so the chances of hassle are small. In 20 years of MTBing I have only had half a dozen run-ins with landowners and in the worst case the bloke, a farmer near Helmshore, Lancashire who was apoplectic with rage at the 25 or so cyclists riding across his land, calmed down and became reasonable once I had spoken nicely to him. (While the 24 others cowered nearby cakking their shorts!)

 

[nickp]

The land i plan on riding is very quiet, i have walked them many times and never met a NT warden or any other offical so i think i'll be ok.

 

[Globalti]

Where are you and how big is this area? As you get fitter you will be wanting to ride further afield anyway.

Best thing to do is go and buy the Ordnance Survey map for your area, the orange cover Outdoor Leisure one. It will open your eyes to new places to ride and will be the best £9 you ever invested.

 

[nickp]

I'm in torquay.

How far i plan on going all depends on what i'm doing, i bought my bike so i could go further afield and to more remote places while out photographing, but having the bike so far has been more of hindrance.

 

[garrilla]

Can't help you here.

I'm a member of the Pre-Mountainbike Brotherhood.

Do you still have the monthly cycle? I notuiced last week you appeared to have a bit of PMT.

 

[nickp]

I have an OS map, i also have the the overlay for google earth.

 

[Globalti]

Out of interest I've just had a quick gliff at the OS maps for your area and spotted a load of interesting routes just a couple of kms west of the A380, with names like Tanyard lane, Aptor lane and Wrigwell Lane.

See what you can find out about ancient packhorse trails and drove roads. There is a huge national network of them conecting all towns and villages, they were the motorways for hundreds of years before canals then railways then turnpike roads took over. They make geat MTB riding as they evolved over the centuries as the easiest routes for horses so they represent centuries of accumulated wisdom. Your local library or county records office will be delighted to help you with a couple of hours of research. What looks insignificant on a modern OS map will probably once have been the local equivalent of the M5 and would be worth checking out with a camera.

 

[nickp]

Thanks RR, i do some research and see what i can find.

 

[jimboalee]

Do you still have the monthly cycle? I notuiced last week you appeared to have a bit of PMT.

Yeah, I'm still doing the 'Randonneur Round the Year' monthly cycle.

And yes, I did have Pilloxon Mountainbikes Termination feelings.

 

[Jonathan M]

The bottom line is 'if you are not walking, you have lost out'

The selfish Tramplers Ramblers have not just screwed the motoring groups, they have done so for many others (including cyclists).

With this in mind, how could anyone want to associate themselves with this selfish bunch.

I resisted being so blunt, but yes, if you are not a walker you are screwed for access, I believe the figure is something like 95% of the network is footpath, only 5% is bridleway or higher, and the Ramblers would like even more of those downgrading to footpath.

They argue that they are more environmentlaly friendly, and cause less erosion than other (wheeled) users. Ah, so that is why the national parks have to throw millions at the footpath network to repair the damage done by boots trolling up & down mountains!

Sadly the Ramblers enjoy good political support (as does Sustrans, I believe?) but there is no joined up voice for other users of the RoW network. Even IMBA tend to shy more towards the removal of MTB's from the risk of conflict with other users, with a lot of promotion of forest trails, trail building etc etc

 

[Jonathan M]

Caught? By whom? Just keep an eye open for NT wardens with green Defenders. The worst that can happen is a polite request to take thy velocipede and ride elsewhere.

Many MTBers only ride in the evenings or even in the dark so the chances of hassle are small. In 20 years of MTBing I have only had half a dozen run-ins with landowners and in the worst case the bloke, a farmer near Helmshore, Lancashire who was apoplectic with rage at the 25 or so cyclists riding across his land, calmed down and became reasonable once I had spoken nicely to him. (While the 24 others cowered nearby cakking their shorts!)

NERC has changed that somewhat, certainly motorised users can be reported based solely on registration number, and get reported twice you run the real risk of the vehicle being siezed and a court appearance. It is a "misuse" of the legislation that is supposed to reduce quad bikers, scrambler bikes in the local park, that sort of situation.

If people remember the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act (Patrick, are you there???) that had a lot to do with redcing new age travellers etc from using whatever land they wished, and I did get a friendly warning from a local country ranger when he "caught" me riding a footpath (like most of the local MTB'ers) and pointed out that under the CJA that could be dealt with more harshly than previous.

Bottom line is that only bridleways or routes with proven higher status should be ridden. This may be a case of do as I say, not as I do though

 

[nickp]

I resisted being so blunt, but yes, if you are not a walker you are screwed for access, I believe the figure is something like 95% of the network is footpath, only 5% is bridleway or higher, and the Ramblers would like even more of those downgrading to footpath.

They argue that they are more environmentlaly friendly, and cause less erosion than other (wheeled) users. Ah, so that is why the national parks have to throw millions at the footpath network to repair the damage done by boots trolling up & down mountains!

Sadly the Ramblers enjoy good political support (as does Sustrans, I believe?) but there is no joined up voice for other users of the RoW network. Even IMBA tend to shy more towards the removal of MTB's from the risk of conflict with other users, with a lot of promotion of forest trails, trail building etc etc

It does seem to be the walkers that have the best deal, i shall be joining CTC as they seem to be campaining for the same access rights as in scotland, i'll also have a look at sustrans.

 

[nickp]

NERC has changed that somewhat, certainly motorised users can be reported based solely on registration number, and get reported twice you run the real risk of the vehicle being siezed and a court appearance. It is a "misuse" of the legislation that is supposed to reduce quad bikers, scrambler bikes in the local park, that sort of situation.

If people remember the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act (Patrick, are you there???) that had a lot to do with redcing new age travellers etc from using whatever land they wished, and I did get a friendly warning from a local country ranger when he "caught" me riding a footpath (like most of the local MTB'ers) and pointed out that under the CJA that could be dealt with more harshly than previous.

Bottom line is that only bridleways or routes with proven higher status should be ridden. This may be a case of do as I say, not as I do though

I walk on most of the NT land in my area, and unless it's a reserve of some sort i have never seen a ranger.

Also the SWCP has some good routes which i shall be doing.

 

[Jonathan M]

If I'm not mistaken NT land is generally open access to walkers anyway?

 

[nickp]

Yeah you can walk on it all you like, but not cycle