Motorcyclists: your friends on the byway

I bet that owner was somewhat relieved.
I have no issue with motorcyclists as a rider, they always slow down, usually have a smile & seem to have a live & let live attitude.
 
We have a byway that runs along the back of our yard. We use it all the time - so do huge numbers of motorcyclists (sometimes in groups of six or seven). I have to say that they are fantastic. They ALWAYS stop and turn their engines off. They smile and chat and come in all ages. Even the youngsters are fabulous. I have no problems with them at all.
 
Yeah,

Always have found bikers generally to be the most considerate people on the roads, always slow down or turn their engines off. Maybe it's because they are very vulnerable as well!
 
The motorbikes round here are usually holiday makers and they are very considerate and either slow down or stop - we do have one moped rider who did used to try and speed up - horses back end across single track road put paid to that
 
Nice guys/gals :D

Have not yet met a bad motorcyclist :D *crosses fingers tightly*. As I ride motorbikes I think I'd take it personally if I did!

c110.gif
 
Just thought i'd nip in (I was the bloke that caught the horse. All of us,Me Tony (Filming) and Kev, made a good fence :D ).
Anyway, i don't know if the lady whose horse it was comes on this forum but just hope she got home ok.
I'm only guessing as we saw the horses in the distance so decided to hang back but there was a kennels at the bottom of the track. I'm thinking maybe the dog's suddenly barking startled the horse???
Whatever, it made for an interesting few minutes:D
Cheers and all the best, Rob (Trail Riders Fellowship http://www.trf.org.uk/ ).
 
Ah that's interesting, i wondered why you were going so cautiously to start with. Good eyes :)

So nice of you, owner must have been so pleased. Hope she was ok! nd that you had an uneventful ride the rest of the way!
 
somethingorother said:
Ah that's interesting, i wondered why you were going so cautiously to start with. Good eyes :)

So nice of you, owner must have been so pleased. Hope she was ok! nd that you had an uneventful ride the rest of the way!
Click to expand...
Just one of them things mate, its only proper to look out for each other when out on the trails to be honest. I'm sure horse riders know just as much as we do on bikes that there are a lot of people thinking we dont have the right to be there.
Anyway, i like horses. Noble creatures although i've never owned one but have worked on farms with them. Would hate to see a horse hurt.
Rest of the day was great thanks although it was quiet (expected to see more people out as it was nice).
Cheers all.
 
MFH9 said:
^^^^^ Been connected to bikes all my life and like you, I've never met a bad one yet; rascals yes, nasties, no! :)
Click to expand...

That makes 3 of us!!! Thanks for ropping by GBRob, smiled to see the video, happy to have met you in here!! Things like this always help us bikers and riders!! :D:D
 
Thanks for helping out with the loose horse and clearly being so considerate to horse riders.

Unfortunately we are all vunerable road users who are sadly at the mercy of a minority of road users who choose for reasons better known to themselves to ignore our safety.
 
Agree that the majority of bikers are really good folk. And that's in two countries on both sides of the pond experience. :D I remember once ages ago I was about 18 or 19 and I had a hackney pony that I drove...used to have to cross a fairly busy road to get to some good driving tracks...I had just got to the edge of the road and my pony, even at 22 was a rather bouncy skippy mare and she started to fret - she must have heard the engines before me. Anyway along came about four guys on Harley's - decked head to toe in leathers and tatoos and were heading toward the Harley Rendezvous up in New York...and they all stopped to let us clear and get away.

Having spoken to motorcycle enthusiasts here in the UK, most would rather stop/slow down to NOT startle a horse cos they know if it comes to a tangle between bike and horse, they're gonna be as messed up as the horse rider, and would rather avoid it.
 
Well done GBRob. Occassionally someone comes on here slagging off bikers which drives me nuts. Most are fantastic people. I also ride motorbikes and have horses and would absolutely always pull over and turn off my engine whenever I meet a horse as I have seen many others do.
 
I like bikers and always find them courteous and kind. One once told me as I was thanking him profusely that he knows what it's like to hit the Tarmac, something i luckily haven't discovered yet! ;)

my bug bear is scramblers, I think the difference here is most if them don't ride on the road and seem to have little care for other users regardless of whether they are on horseback or not.
 
marianneip said:
my bug bear is scramblers, I think the difference here is most if them don't ride on the road and seem to have little care for other users regardless of whether they are on horseback or not.
Click to expand...

:D Scramblers????? I'm assuming you mean non legal Motocross bikes?
If you look, my bikes are "Scramblers" to coin a phrase and in the video that is what we are riding for want of a better description.
I use my bikes in competition etc, they are pure "Scramblers".
Just to clear things up for people. The use of the word scramblers is horrific as it is used as a general term by anti's to describe all off road looking bikes. As such we all get lumped into one and the idiots that are out there just ripping up the countryside on non road legal bikes (MX bikes, no lights, registration mark etc) and being a right pain are dragging down us enduro/trail bike riders who ride legally on legal byways and highways.
Just wanted to make that clear as there does seem quite a lot of confusion. As with all walks of life there are the few that ruin it for the many
So,
trail/enduro bike = road legal, fully insured, lights, registration number etc.
MX bike = no registration, no insurance etc etc, should be on a closed circuit for racing only.

Please be sure you dont use a broad term for all off road looking bikes, were having enough problems as it is with Antis.
If you'd like to know more have a look here. http://www.trf.org.uk/ we are all members in the video.

Right, must get off and clean my bike as its still caked in mud and sand. It needs a good grooming :D
Cheers all:D
 
Thanks. I do think your right and there are good and bad in most things. I have generally found genuine bikers to be more understanding than other road users. I put that down to understanding the vulnerability we both face.

How did you find the link on here anyway???
 
I hate motorcyclists!! :mad:

There are about 10 people around us with scramblers and on a sunday they all go out together and speed on our roads (country roads) - they make such a noise I can hear them coming from a mile back!!

They don't slow down, the rev going past us and go past at about 60... :mad:

Am really considering phoning police on them to sit in wait on a sunday morning...!
 
GBRob said:
:D Scramblers????? I'm assuming you mean non legal Motocross bikes?
If you look, my bikes are "Scramblers" to coin a phrase and in the video that is what we are riding for want of a better description.
I use my bikes in competition etc, they are pure "Scramblers".
Just to clear things up for people. The use of the word scramblers is horrific as it is used as a general term by anti's to describe all off road looking bikes. As such we all get lumped into one and the idiots that are out there just ripping up the countryside on non road legal bikes (MX bikes, no lights, registration mark etc) and being a right pain are dragging down us enduro/trail bike riders who ride legally on legal byways and highways.
Just wanted to make that clear as there does seem quite a lot of confusion. As with all walks of life there are the few that ruin it for the many
So,
trail/enduro bike = road legal, fully insured, lights, registration number etc.
MX bike = no registration, no insurance etc etc, should be on a closed circuit for racing only.

Please be sure you dont use a broad term for all off road looking bikes, were having enough problems as it is with Antis.
If you'd like to know more have a look here. http://www.trf.org.uk/ we are all members in the video.

Right, must get off and clean my bike as its still caked in mud and sand. It needs a good grooming :D
Cheers all:D
Click to expand...


I'd just like to second what GBRob says, I don't have anything to do with motorbikes and know very little about them, but the trail riders fellowship are a great bunch and work with the BHS, CTC and Ramblers on access and are also the guys you see working at the big 3 day events.

Sadly in my area there is a big problem with illegal off road bikes using footpaths and bridleways illegally and damaging them, using the roads when they aren't supposed to, running races and generally behaving irresponsibly and dangerously (I've been ridden AT by a biker as a hiker on a FOOTPATH) we have a police unit though who specialise in off road motorbikes and 4x4s are very helpful and work with the assistance of trf to get rid of these riders who give the rest a bad name.
 
Katt said:
I'd just like to second what GBRob says, I don't have anything to do with motorbikes and know very little about them, but the trail riders fellowship are a great bunch and work with the BHS, CTC and Ramblers on access and are also the guys you see working at the big 3 day events.

Sadly in my area there is a big problem with illegal off road bikes using footpaths and bridleways illegally and damaging them, using the roads when they aren't supposed to, running races and generally behaving irresponsibly and dangerously (I've been ridden AT by a biker as a hiker on a FOOTPATH) we have a police unit though who specialise in off road motorbikes and 4x4s are very helpful and work with the assistance of trf to get rid of these riders who give the rest a bad name.
Click to expand...

Cheers Katt.
Its very hard to get people to not judge the many by the few idiots and thats in all walks of life from horse riding to riding motorbikes, to walkers etc etc. The problem with dirt/trail/enduro bikes is they look very similar to the MX bikes. i mean they are basically the same thing made for off road (off road is a silly term as byways etc are roads but i do use my bikes in enduro races aswell) but MX bikes are not made legal for the road. The more people know and learn the less likely they are to lump the idiots in with the people who do things correctly and with common decency.
Cheers again.
 
only_me said:
I hate motorcyclists!! :mad:

There are about 10 people around us with scramblers and on a sunday they all go out together and speed on our roads (country roads) - they make such a noise I can hear them coming from a mile back!!

They don't slow down, the rev going past us and go past at about 60... :mad:

Am really considering phoning police on them to sit in wait on a sunday morning...!
Click to expand...

Did you watch the video in the first post?
Luckily for you i would still do the same for your horse aswell because its the animals i care about. Hope your never in that situation.
 
Got to agree that I always find motorcyclists very considerate.

When my old share pony drageed me down the road then legged it she was stopped by a considerate motorcyclist. So pleased he was able to stop her - she'd've been on a nasty bendy quite fast road loose and in a panic if he hadn't.

Thumbs up for motorcyclists :D
 
Bit of a diversion from the main subject of the thread I'm afraid - but many of you reading this possibly won't be aware of the bloomin' good work the TRF does in the marking and de-marking of many EnduranceGB rides. So to GBRob and your TRF chaps - many thanks from an endurance rider!
 
GBRob said:
Cheers Katt.
Its very hard to get people to not judge the many by the few idiots and thats in all walks of life from horse riding to riding motorbikes, to walkers etc etc. The problem with dirt/trail/enduro bikes is they look very similar to the MX bikes. i mean they are basically the same thing made for off road (off road is a silly term as byways etc are roads but i do use my bikes in enduro races aswell) but MX bikes are not made legal for the road. The more people know and learn the less likely they are to lump the idiots in with the people who do things correctly and with common decency.
Cheers again.
Click to expand...

Yes as with everything the few bad apples get everyone a bad reputation!

We all need to think carefully about the image we present of our chosen sport (whatever that may be) and take action wherever possible to educate and improve the idiots. Forums like this can be a good way of doing this. I've seen posts on here that make me despair, horse riders complaining about walkers using bridleways for example but we can educate people on the law and hopefully improve things for everyone.

Often there is a good deal of misunderstanding between the sports (I see this as a walker and rider with a couple of relatives who are cyclists) and talking to each other can be really beneficial. Understanding each others problems and how to deal with eachother can make using byways/roads/tracks much more pleasent for us all.

Most importantly we are involved in minority sports that are often misunderstood. Alone we have a very small voice with government/councils but all together we can work together for change. Trail riders, horse riders, cyclists and ramblers all need more off road routes and together we stand a chance of making our voices heard.
 
Faro said:
Bit of a diversion from the main subject of the thread I'm afraid - but many of you reading this possibly won't be aware of the bloomin' good work the TRF does in the marking and de-marking of many EnduranceGB rides. So to GBRob and your TRF chaps - many thanks from an endurance rider!
Click to expand...

Your more than welcome and cheers to all for the good reception.
Hopefully see you all out on the trails in the future.
All the best, Rob.
 
A couple of years ago my friend took an awful tumble from her new horse while we were out riding.
The local "illegals" were out on their bikes, saw what had happened, and stopped to help.
Not only did they call for an ambulance, they rode to the nearest entrance, then showed the paramedics where we were. One of the lads ditched his bike to walk my friends horse back to the yard.
They called in after a couple of days to check the rider was ok.
Nice young lads!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top