spinner
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Post by spinner on Sept 26, 2008 18:14:22 GMT
>:(Just got back from one of my favourite rides at Rhyd y Foel, up in the woods behind Gwrych Castle to find to my dismay that all the best trails, jumps etc have been blocked or levelled by someone. All the best trails have had big trees professionally felled across them and mechanical diggers have levelled every trace of a jump !!! Tragic!!  However, it had to come at some time, as the trail builders have been chopping down trees and setting fires etc instead of keeping the trails discreet, they had started putting ramped jumps across paths where walkers go. If they had kept them to the higher part of the woods then they would probably been left alone. The area is after all a SSSI ( site of special scientific interest) and a protected woodland. I reckon that the general public who walk up there have probaly complained to the Council as it looks like their kind of work Alternatively it could be the new owners of Gwrych Castle. Has anybody any info or heard about this? I have not seen anything in the papers as there has been complaints due to motorbikes scrambling up there in the past. Gangs of youths having all night parties and leaving tons of rubbish up there hasn't helped either I guess. Whatever, it is once again a few numpties abusing the area that leads to the loss of these sort of locations for the rest of us!! I wouldnt be surprised if they start erecting fences up there next which will really put an end to it. I reckon thast as a responsible group we should find out what has happened and why, then lobby the relevant authority to permit legal use by mtb's on the understanding that they do not cause damage so that the woodland can be used by all as the loss of this area for riding would be a tragedy. Comments pleas Oggy and Martin !!! |
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Post by martinw on Sept 26, 2008 18:32:28 GMT
Ive read about this earlier here- northwalesmtb.proboards85.com/index.cgi?board=generalchat&action=display&thread=792Ive never been up the place, so I dont know what was there. this sort of thing is happening everywhere, I think I read something similar on bikeradar. It would be good to hera the reasons behind the demolision of the trails and jumps. Quote: However, it had to come at some time, as the trail builders have been chopping down trees and setting fires etc instead of keeping the trails discreet, they had started putting ramped jumps across paths where walkers go. QuoteBy doing stuff like that, if that had been done, your asking for someone to put a stop to it up there and if it is a SSSI im supprised that it hasnt happened years ago. Like I say i dont know anything about the place. You could lobby it to get a legal use but how long will it take till some fockwit starts chopping trees down again? As far as ive read in the other thread someone has contacted the local papers. Be intersting to see what has actually gone on. |
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Post by danevs on Sept 27, 2008 10:04:45 GMT
AFAIK the sssi is only to the west of the boundary wall. Ie the grassland and gorse on the llandulas side. The woodland is privately owned (or certainly used to be.) by Gwyrch estate and the council have no jurisdiction. Such a shame.  |
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Post by martinw on Sept 27, 2008 10:08:33 GMT
Do you think its the owners of the land that gone and done it?
Need to keep an eye on the papers to get the jist of it
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Post by danevs on Sept 28, 2008 14:11:20 GMT
Well I've been up today and it's not all that bad. Main set of jumps have been flattened as have the two biggies in the woods and the controversial road jump. All the little trails etc are still fine save the odd felled tree (which can easily be sorted.), by the way- I wonder who'd be liable if I ended up in hospital from hitting a felled tree that had been purposely put across a trail? I think we've done well to keep them this far and without the addition of the road gap bringing our sordid use of the woods into public view we'd probably still be fine. As soon as a jump raises serious health and safety issues like that then it's bound to be game over. Can you imagine the fuss if someone had hit a walker? Time to get up there and start building some discreet jumps and freeride bits within the woods I think.  Edit to add pics-       |
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Duane
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Post by Duane on Sept 29, 2008 8:38:18 GMT
Cheers for pics Dan. Time to get up there and start building some discreet jumps and freeride bits within the woods I think. To be honest, dont think thats possible, way too many chavs go up there, anything decent (which decent riders will go to) will attract attention, no matter how well hidden. Think my time at RyF is over, if the landowners really dont want us to be there, not sure I can be fussed with it. Shall be building up at a mates land soon hopefully. |
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Duane
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Post by Duane on Sept 29, 2008 8:39:28 GMT
As soon as a jump raises serious health and safety issues like that then it's bound to be game over. How can a jump (with a gap) not raise serious H&S issues? |
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Post by danevs on Sept 29, 2008 15:59:41 GMT
As soon as a jump raises serious health and safety issues like that then it's bound to be game over. How can a jump (with a gap) not raise serious H&S issues? A jump with a gap raises an issue for the rider only, a risk the rider is aware of thus responsible for his/her own safety. Mabel Jones walking her two Yorkies along the fire-road on the other hand isn't going to be pleased when she's smashed to the groung by a 40lb downhill/freeride bike flying the wrong way over the road is she??? Right to roam says that Mabel has just as much right to be on that land as we do and she needs to be safe while she's there. Anyway, the guys I spoke to up there yesterday were already planning some more natural features within the woods so it's all good. |
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spinner
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Get used to chasing !!
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Post by spinner on Sept 30, 2008 7:53:45 GMT
You are dead right Dan. Let's hope they keep it sensible up there this time and out of the way of the main drags used by the walkers ! Hope you warned em !!?
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Post by Taffydoo on Oct 8, 2008 18:45:24 GMT
This is all down to motor cross bikes they have very bad press up there.
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Post by danevs on Oct 8, 2008 21:19:02 GMT
[HIGH HORSE]I don't buy the motorbike line at all to be honest, sounds like a load of crap if you ask me.
I've been riding up that mountain for over 12years now on a combination of Trials, Motocross and mountain bikes without an issue.
Has anyone seen any motorbike tracks up there recently because I certainly haven't. Maybe the real issue is the recurring theme of kids riding motorbikes around the area adjacent to the golf course??
As for the issues stated re trail damage etc not once have I known a motorbike chop down a tree (or hundreds off.), dig a hole, build a jump, leave litter, take drugs or knock down a wall up there.
How many times do you get off your mountain bike and allow the walkers to pass, maybe having a friendly chat as they go??
I think you'll find that these are all mtb related issues and the more I think about it maybe we deserved to have the place flattened after all.[/HIGH HORSE]
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spinner
Have-a-go Hero
Get used to chasing !!
Posts: 180
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Post by spinner on Oct 9, 2008 13:32:15 GMT
Hi Dan, Unfortunately I think you are mostly right although I have seen motorbikes up there on a number of occasions and their tracks! I believe they have been upsetting the owners of the houses on the private road off the Abergele stretch opposite the footbridge over the A55 and golfers by revving up when passing their properties and the putting greens on golf course. They have (it is alledged) also been responsible for ripping the main gates off their hinges which give access to the lower path by the castle and into Tan y Goppa Woods in Abergele on a number of occasions so they can get their bikes up there. i think we mtb's should keep a look out and take reg numbers if we see motorbikes up there?? |
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Post by Taffydoo on Oct 9, 2008 18:26:43 GMT
I work for a local company that are in to Mountain biking and are members of the local golf club. Also local Abergele council have backed this up. I have seen Moto cross bikes with my own eyes day and night going up there from where I work in Abergele. We have been night riding up there and moto cross
tracks are everywhere. Do you know any body with a mountain bike with 4.50 tyres and take it up by trailer?
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Post by Taffydoo on Oct 9, 2008 18:33:34 GMT
Hi Dan, Unfortunately I think you are mostly right although I have seen motorbikes up there on a number of occasions and their tracks! I believe they have been upsetting the owners of the houses on the private road off the Abergele stretch opposite the footbridge over the A55 and golfers by revving up when passing their properties and the putting greens on golf course. They have (it is alledged) also been responsible for ripping the main gates off their hinges which give access to the lower path by the castle and into Tan y Goppa Woods in Abergele on a number of occasions so they can get their bikes up there. i think we mtb's should keep a look out and take reg numbers if we see motorbikes up there?? I agree with you mate. |
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