I took my new bike out for its first spin today with Duncan.
We rode up from our house onto Brinks Row, then along onto
Old Rake, coming out on George’s Lane. We
then rode along Matchmoor Lane and turned into Walker Fold.
At one point, going up a steep hill, I hit a rock and came
off the bike a little and Duncan then had to try to teach me how to do a steep
hill start as I find it really difficult to get going again when I stop on a
steep hill. I eventually managed it, but
only because Duncan was holding the bike steady for me. I’ll have to keep practicing that one.
Shortly afterwards, Duncan was trying to teach me the ‘attack
position’. I know full well what I’m
supposed to do when I’m going down a rocky descent but knowing it and actually
doing it are two very different things. When
you have rocks hurtling towards you, it’s terrifying even though you know it’s
better to go faster than slower.
We rode out onto the mast road then rode up it a little,
before going up onto Two Lads. Duncan
said I could go back down by the mast road if I wanted to and he’d meet me at
the bottom but I decided that if I didn’t keep trying, I’d never get used to
descending so I followed him down towards the tanks. I did have to keep getting off the bike and
pushing it though because it was just too much for me. I felt like such a fool but I suppose
everyone has to start somewhere.
I did eventually overtake Duncan on the descent but this is
only because his chain snapped and he was busy fixing it.
The descent along the path at the side of Wilderswood was
pretty terrifying too and again I found myself getting off and pushing the bike
down.
I really enjoyed my first time of ‘proper’ mountain biking
but I have a LOT to learn. I can’t wait
for my skills day in October.
The elation from my ride did get slightly marred later on in
the day after a comment put on Facebook about it. I haven’t replied to the comment because I know
how things like this can escalate into arguments and I really don’t want that
to happen. The thing is, tone can’t be
judged on social media and I didn’t want my response to be read in an
argumentative way and then end up with tirades of other responses from both my
fell running friends and my mountain biking friends all arguing with each
other.
I’m going to try to set out here my views on this and I hope
it can be read in a neutral tone.
The comment mentioned that there is no bridleway up on Two
Lads. I fully take on board this point
and accept that I shouldn’t really have been there, however…
If the point related to the legalities of this, then aren’t
a lot of fell runners (not all, I hasten to add) guilty of this themselves when
they routinely trespass on land? As an
example of this, there is no foot path through the plantation across from the bottom of the diagonal towards
dangerous corner, yet the barbed wire fences here are regularly scaled and the
land run through. I don't see how I can be criticised for riding on a footpath when runners are running where there is no public right of way at all.
If the point related to erosion of the land then, again, I’m
willing to accept that mountain biking can contribute to this but fell runners
themselves are not guilt free. A few
months ago I was running with a group who had been complaining about the damage
caused by mountain bikers, but then half an hour later, when running from
Hordern Stoops towards Spitlers, the same fell runners choose not to run on the
newly laid path/flagging and instead to run along side this, themselves causing
erosion to the land which could have been avoided.
My point is that none of us are entirely guilt free when it
comes to these matters so can’t we all just enjoy the countryside in our own
way (except the 4x4s and motorbikes, they can just bugger off!)?
My only problem with mountain bikers is when they are
hurtling down hills with complete disregard to other path users, causing them
to have to leap out of their way but I would never do something like that (I couldn’t
if I tried to be honest – hurtling is definitely not a word used to describe my
descents!). Duncan would never do
something like that in fact, he’s very respectful to walkers/runners as they,
and I quote, “are the ones who will pick me up when I fall off”.
Also, in my personal defence of coming off two lads, I spent
most of my time pushing the bike rather than riding it so that’s allowed J.
Total distance – 5.6 miles
