Iwan Kemp Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 In general I agree with the post. We are not allowed to ride certain sections in Tokai and I have never seen a cyclist come out of or go into one of those sections. The other day I stumpled upon a piece of track that looked quite nice, but it was wide and flat and looked more like a hiking trail than mtb trail. Just to be safe I steered clear. What we need is mutual respect. Not just between hikers and horses and mtb'ers, but between mtb'ers in general. Man, most okes out there are freaking rude. And unfriendly. We don't have to stop and chat and exchange recipes, but hel guys, have some manners.
Slowbee Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 I often ride around the Midrand (Saddlebrook' date=' etc) area where I often see people riding horses. I always greet them and sometimes they even greet me back. I've learnt to be considerate and slow down mainly when the road is narrow or when I haven't been seen. However, the other day I was riding downhill on a wide public dirt-road and these 2 ladies were riding their horses on the opposite direction at the bottom of the road. They moved to their side and I moved to my side. I didn't bother to slow down since they and their horses noticed me and there was plenty of room between us. Needless to say the horses got a little bit nervous when I went past but I think they even got more nervous when one of the ladies started yelling like if she had been mortally wounded. I was 100 m away and she was still screaming. She didn't say anything, she just yelled. Surely her behaviour will condition the horse to be nervous around cyclists. I would like to know if I was at fault.[/quote'] Piernas, not your fault. If she was on a skittish horse, she should have asked for you to slow down. I know its hard for mtbikers, but slowing down for other people, animals is hard. (maybe I ride to slow so its not a worry ) Anyway, she was maybe screaming cause her horse would not behave. Dont worry about it
Bos Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 I think horses should have Health warnings like Cigaretts. "DANGER: HORSES CAN KILL HARMLESS PEOPLE AROUND YOU" BOS10002009-01-23 02:34:17
JohnnyReggae Posted January 23, 2009 Author Posted January 23, 2009 JR' date=' you mentioned you have been around horses. You can have the best trained horse in the world - but when they get a fright you can never be sure how they will react. They might have been calm walking down the track, but for them to see a unicycle might have spooked them. Its a but unfair to say they were reckless. I once had an incident where my horse and I were JRA and in the wind a seed pod dropped of the tree next to the horse. Newtonian mechanics combined with the black box principle meant the horse went and I was errrmm how do you say...left mid air for a moment, then saw stars and then asked my kingdom for a horse, cause it was a long walk back. But this same horse was fearless in a jumping arena. So ja, you can never be sure. But I see your point - aint cool being around frightened horses, no matter how they get frightened.[/quote']Been around horses, have ridden horses, been stood on by horses. I understand that they can get spooked easily, which is why I was and am so annoyed with these women taking their horses down that particular single track. Even the most well mannered and most chilled horse can get spooked at the smallest of things. If you're a seasoned horse rider, which there women looked like, you would know this and avoid those types of situations. It's intentionally putting yourself, your horse, and other people on the trail in reckless danger.
Red Zone Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 There are areas in Tokai that are restricted to MTBr's there are no restrictions to any other users. Hikers, horse riders etc... are allowed all over. Most horse riders, hikers and dog walkers will stay off the singletrack because word has got around that I fly down at speeds not seen since the Concord was grounded. So in the interests of self preservation the sensible other users of the forests stay in the areas where bikes are not allowed. Unfortunatly loads of bikers ignor this and hack off the other uses in the restricted area. My advice is to avoid conflict, dont moan at other users in the forest. Lots of people have done a lot of hard work in establishing our use of the forest (there was a stage when singletrack was not allowed to be cut there). If MTBr's start hacking off the other users we could see ourselves in trouble. Believe me some of the people involved in Tokai would like to see MTBr's restricted. Remember we are the noisy, dangerous reprobates.
Bos Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 Great comment FF.. I would hate to have to drive to Stellenbosh to go ride singletrack. Lets make sure our side is clean. Murant mentioned something about a R200 000 gouverment grant to build trails for tokai and Jonkershoek, I dont know when this will happen(half asleep at the time) but it should meen we will see more goodstuff comming our way. lets not shoot ourselves in the foot
Slowbee Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 Been around horses, have ridden horses, been stood on by horses. I understand that they can get spooked easily, which is why I was and am so annoyed with these women taking their horses down that particular single track. Even the most well mannered and most chilled horse can get spooked at the smallest of things. If you're a seasoned horse rider, which there women looked like, you would know this and avoid those types of situations. It's intentionally putting yourself, your horse, and other people on the trail in reckless danger. are you saying they could have avoided this situation by not going down an unsignposted track that they did not know would be used by a guy on a unicyle ?
JohnnyReggae Posted January 23, 2009 Author Posted January 23, 2009 are you saying they could have avoided this situation by not going down an unsignposted track that they did not know would be used by a guy on a unicyle ? basically... yes. Being on a unicycle has nothing to do with it. I could have been bouncing up the trail on a one of those huge bouncy balls I had when I was a kid.... Claiming ignorance on their part (even if it by you), is no excuse.
Bos Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 man I think this is over... and is turning into a "argument for argument sake" point was made, horses are easily excitable and could be harmful to the horse rider as well as those around it. So If you think about it. the horse rider must have known there were bikers in tokai Forrest and that If it was a unmarked trail there would be a good chance of a bike/uni being on it. so I would say Yes. Bikers be friendly, look out for other trail users and don't go on trails that are not meant for bikes. Horses and riders, know you limits & always wear a helmet
Slowbee Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 are you saying they could have avoided this situation by not going down an unsignposted track that they did not know would be used by a guy on a unicyle ? basically... yes. Being on a unicycle has nothing to do with it. I could have been bouncing up the trail on a one of those huge bouncy balls I had when I was a kid.... Claiming ignorance being selfish and thinking they are the only users of the forest on their part (even if it by you)' date=' is no excuse.[/quote'] so you saying then that they should have not gone down that path? As Crow mentioned, there needs to be a bit of give and take here. You are right, but so are they. Lets hope next time you get a date!
JohnnyReggae Posted January 23, 2009 Author Posted January 23, 2009 man I think this is over... and is turning into a "argument for argument sake" point was made' date=' horses are easily excitable and could be harmful to the horse rider as well as those around it. So If you think about it. the horse rider must have known there were bikers in tokai Forrest and that If it was a unmarked trail there would be a good chance of a bike/uni being on it. so I would say Yes. Bikers be friendly, look out for other trail users and don't go on trails that are not meant for bikes. Horses and riders, know you limits & always wear a helmet [/quote']Agree 100%, well said. Argument done.. and over...
DeltaOscar Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 If you ride a bike on someone elses property, you have no rights.MTB's give way to everything. So your ride was 'spoiled' for a few seconds, how was the rest of it? And all the others? Pretty cool eh? Great place to ride, Tokai, rather just be grateful we're allowed to be there at all.
Slowbee Posted January 23, 2009 Posted January 23, 2009 man I think this is over... and is turning into a "argument for argument sake" point was made' date=' horses are easily excitable and could be harmful to the horse rider as well as those around it. So If you think about it. the horse rider must have known there were bikers in tokai Forrest and that If it was a unmarked trail there would be a good chance of a bike/uni being on it. so I would say Yes. Bikers be friendly, look out for other trail users and don't go on trails that are not meant for bikes. Horses and riders, know you limits & always wear a helmet [/quote']Agree 100%, well said. Argument done.. and over... no its not ... next time we want to know if you score a double date oh yes, JR are you doing the argus mtnbike ride ? If so hopefully we meet up and have chat. Does the unicycle group have unicycles for loan ?
JohnnyReggae Posted January 23, 2009 Author Posted January 23, 2009 If you ride a bike on someone elses property' date=' you have no rights.MTB's give way to everything. So your ride was 'spoiled' for a few seconds, how was the rest of it? And all the others? Pretty cool eh? Great place to ride, Tokai, rather just be grateful we're allowed to be there at all.[/quote']Dude...... my ride was not "spoiled" because I suddenly had to stop for some horses, as I frequently stop, pull over, and dismount for the MTB'ers coming past me. I was rather upset that I was placed in a potentially dangerous situation by some people who clearly should have known better. Yes.. Tokai is a great place to ride. That's why I go there a few times per week ...... and always stick to the jeep tracks and single tracks where MTB's ARE allowed to ride .... and never take short-cuts avoiding any additional damage to the surroundings.
JohnnyReggae Posted January 23, 2009 Author Posted January 23, 2009 no its not ... next time we want to know if you score a double date oh yes' date=' JR are you doing the argus mtnbike ride ? If so hopefully we meet up and have chat. Does the unicycle group have unicycles for loan ? [/quote']I've made my point... I'm sticking to it. No real point in arguing it anymore. Yes, I am doing the Argus MTB ride along with 2 other guys from our group. Happy to chat anytime Frequently do to a lot of MTB riders in the forest. If you're interested in Unicycling, happy to loan one to you. Sy name is "Kom-Terug"
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