Erosion - Mountain Bikers v Hill Walkers
#1
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Erosion - Mountain Bikers v Hill Walkers
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
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
#2
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As a Hill Walker, I'd have told them to go f**k themselves.
Can't be doing with these eco-friendly to$$ers.
Erosion is a problem for walkers and bikers alike. If it's a well trodden trail then it should be maintained to minimise erosion. You see this on the hills all the time and there are signs telling you to stick to the paths.
Personally, I hate this idea as I want a sense of wilderness when I'm out. Last thing I really want to do is walk up a hill on a 'path'. It's bad enough having to meet other people
Stefan
Can't be doing with these eco-friendly to$$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
#4
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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
#5
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Next time you meet someone complaining on the Pentlands tell them to pi$$ off up a 'proper' mountain and not some poncy wee hill
#6
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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
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
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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.
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.
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#8
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After all an MTB tyre and walking boot have a similarly sized contact patch with the ground.
Sorry to hear your cycling is so restricted down your way
#9
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.
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.
#10
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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
Now there's a scary finding
Cheers for posting the link Mike
#11
*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
agreed
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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.
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.
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Originally Posted by trails
its all good, lids are for beginners
I hope you touched some carbon base inanimate substance when you said that.
Legs mend brains don't
Last edited by anc-sti; 23 September 2004 at 04:56 PM.
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Originally Posted by anc-sti
I hope you touched some carbon base inanimate substance when you said that.
Legs mend brains don't
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Originally Posted by trails
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...
Last edited by anc-sti; 23 September 2004 at 07:57 PM.
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Originally Posted by anc-sti
So what your saying is you would rather have minor brain damage to a wee bump on ye knee Righhhhhhhhhhhht
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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.
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.
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Originally Posted by anc-sti
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.
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Originally Posted by anc-sti
Brain says GO, body says NOOOO
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Originally Posted by SiPie
You've got to laugh when you see them with poles and gaiters etc..... walking up Flotterstone
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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