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making up the rules as they go along…
last August we mentioned that we’d been told by the Forestry Commission that we couldn’t use Whancliffe woods to hold a round of the Midlands XC series this summer, infact they wern’t going to allow any more events in the woods at all after complaints from walkers, its to busy and it disturbs the wildlife. After quite a bit of discussion and lobbying from other parties we left it be after being told that “we don’t use Wharncliffe for racing anymore ( apart from a one off charity event).”
Guess what- its not a one off theres another one ! Excellent so some downhillers can have a piss up and ride around in fancy dress (in aid of charity of course) whenever they want but no organised events please. Why wern’t they told to use Sherwood Pines like the rest of us?
I don’t think that this will suprise many people, Forestry are rapidly going down in peoples estimations with irratic trail support and extortionate licence uplift fee and capitalising on other peoples hard work.
outraged of Hillsborough
Bec,
This is NOT the reason the FC or I gave at the time at all.
The reason the FE have stopped racing at Wharncliffe is as follows. Two years ago there was a MTB Orientearing race held in the woods. The riders where abusive and aggressive to hoarse riders and walkers during the event. The FE had never had as many complaints at wharncliffe about MTBers except on that day.
Therefore other riders are the reason we have lost the chance to have races at Wharncliffe. The situation will change over time as the Wharncliffe Riders Collective work closley with the FE to repair the damage done by the other group of riders.
Steve Peats CHARITY Event has been granted access two years running for a short race and ride. This is the first step on getting other races held there. The riders of that race have been co-operative with other users of the woods and we are again prooving that mountain bikers can ride in the woods along side other users.
Regarding the uplift fees, The only detailed one I know about is Pearce cycles. They are charged a mere £1.00 per rider on an uplift day on FE land. The other £18 odd quid for a days uplift goes to Pearce. In return Pearce build and maintain the trails.
“positive of wharncliffe”
I wouldn’t have quoted something that wasn’t said. I expect I still have the emails, but as it was 8 months ago I’ve really forgotten about it and holding a race!
Uplift fees were in reference to the Glentress and some Welsh centres where it has been hard for people run them commercially, that was topical at the time last spring.
bec
“Hi
the place is cut with bridleways, footpaths ,circular walks etc. Singletraction are working on a new XC trail that was designed by local riders and that will get people into the wood and off the fire roads. You would be surprised the effect a race has on a wood. The last low level Trail quest we had there . We had riders swearing and abusing locals in the pursuit of their goal. So if puts a whole new slant on things. Believe me I’ve seen both sides for the past 15 years.
chris “