Hidden fence on Bat out o’… Sh@t!!!
This afternoon I managed to free up some time and thought, briefly, “What shall I do?”
Moments later, I was dressed and excitedly unlocking my bike from my little cave. I decided that I would try out a new route from home to include a short extension to my usual route and set off thinking about where to go.
I crossed the Epsom Downs and headed down to Langley Vale and along Pebble Lane, up Life On Mars and on to Secret Singletrack. I messed up the line there and re-traced my tracks up to Headley Common. Once out the other side, I was marvelling at just how good conditions were. Dry and pretty firm. I was really enjoying it. Having never done Bat Out Of Hell in the day light, I decided that it was calling my name, so cut into the woods and began the traverse over.
Having dropped the steps at the top, I turned hard right and let the bike go. Picking up speed I was amazed at just how smooth the run was compared to the last time us moles rode it. The ‘track’ seems to have opened up loads and it was a real pleasure nipping under the trees into the dark side.
Turning hard right, I dropped down into the tight, steep chute and let the bike go. The breaks screamed and hissed as the trail twisted and turned and I pinned it all the way down to the bottom laughing to myself at just how sweet it had been. I rolled through to the bottom section by the little house there, and turned up to follow the track all the way to the next sharp right leading me down to the Reigate Road and across the railway bridge.
Here comes the fun part. Having negotiated the crazy decent and feeling really good on the bike, I cruised the last few meters down towards the railway grinning like a Cheshire cat and, I admit, silently priding myself on stomping the trail. Free wheeling left and right through the twists and turns I was as happy as a boy could be.
Rounding the final corner and exiting the dim shadowy light that the trees and bushes had cast, I saw the railway bridge ahead. On previous rides I remember the bridge to have a nice little drop off on the other side which you can pop off. Looking ahead to spot my line I was completely oblivious of the sturdy wire fence with barbed wire top that had been erected just at the entrance to the bridge. But then I saw it. I had no time to react. I slammed on the brakes and hoped for the best as I hurtled towards my impending doom.
My front wheel slammed into it and stopped dead sending me over the bars with the bike still under me. I did a forward roll that I know Sam Pilgrim would have been stoked with and crashed into a heap about five meters down from the fence.
I jumped up in that ‘I’m so embarrassed’ way and started checking the vitals. Bike. Ok. My various limbs seemed to still be intact. No particular pain or blood showing. With the exception of my riding jersey being torn in a way not dissimilar to what a fight with Zorro might look like, I was fine.
I then got quite cross as I stood there looking at the fence. It was a bridleway after all. Surely some signage would have been a good idea? Some advance warning? A bit of high viz tape? Anything really. Anything that is apart from a flee bitten bit of A4 stapled to one of the posts saying something about ‘temporary closure’ I can tell you, the strength and viscousness of that 5 foot fence felt anything but temporary!
Still, I was lucky enough to have lived to tell the tale, so I rode on. I’m not sure what the moral of the story is really. Perhaps it’s to expect the unexpected.
I just wanted to let you all know about this particular obstruction before anyone else comes a cropper.
About the author
Dan's been into mountain biking for just over two years and riding with the Moles for one. His trusty stead is a 2010 Orange Five Pro which he loves, perhaps more than he should. Oh and a Kinesis Maxlight XC Pro...
When not riding Dan's a lawn care specialist. Check out www.matts.biz
There are 16 comments on ‘Hidden fence on Bat out o’… Sh@t!!!’
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Tony says:
Hi Dan,
Lucky escape there. Knowing too well how much speed you can be carrying there it’s lucky you didn’t hurt yourself. I presume that this was the railways doing? Certainly a letter to them would be good. Also a sign at the top would be good. If you get to the bottom and realise that you couldn’t get across and had to go all the way back to the top you’d be very hacked off.
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Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:42 am
Daniel Pullen says:
If it had been a night ride…
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Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:47 am
StevenD says:
I think you need to contact the local byways or row officer (not sure if that is county or district council). Permission might not have even been asked, but that is not the point. fwiw the only time I have a temporarily blocked bridleway in the Chilterns there 3 or 4 notices before the blockage. HTH.
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Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:29 am
Matt says:
I love the wheel indentation on the fence wire and the twenty foot skid before it Dan!
Sounds like you’re lucky not to have ended up with broken bones after clattering into that. A pretty thoughtless way of blocking off a trail but I guess people forget about bikes. If you were walking or on horseback you’d have no problems seeing it.
As it is it’s basically invisible to mountain bikers.
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Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:47 am
Dandy says:
I couldn’t help chuckling at the ‘ploughed furrow’ leading to the wheel-shaped bending of the fence, too. Having first ascertained that he’d not caught any vital parts in hurdling the bars 😉
Lucky escape
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Posted on February 22, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Tony says:
Hi D’Andy
There is a certain Wile. E. Coyote element to the whole accident scene isn’t there? It’s a good job that Matt wasn’t at the top of a cliff next to boulder.
Tony
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Posted on February 22, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Dandy says:
What we needed was a hedge with a ‘Dan-shaped’ hole in, arms and legs stuck out in true Cartoon Capers stylee 🙂
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Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:35 am
JR says:
Danny – I suggest you contact the Surrey ROW officer, as per the attached:
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/footpaths-byways-and-bridleways/contact-us-about-rights-of-way
Looks like a lucky escape.
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Posted on February 22, 2012 at 10:55 am
DaveW says:
I was thinking that might be a footpath, but that section is on the main track down from Boxhill (which goes either side of a big tree), which is a bridleway. Perhaps we could build a jump just before the fence ;o)
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Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:34 am
Daniel Pullen says:
Yeah, defo a bridleway bud. Reported it to the council yesterday as it’s a tad dangerous no?
I find if you hit it hard enough you clear the fence fine. No jump needed. Try it out. 🙂
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Posted on February 23, 2012 at 2:38 pm
paul901 says:
What’s the significance of it being a bridleway? Does it mean that the council or landowner has the right to block it in this manner where they would not be able to with a public footpath? I don’t know the rules of the different types of trail
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Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Dave says:
We’re allowed to ride bridleways! The only wheels allowed on footpaths are those of prams and pushchairs. ;o)
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Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Rima says:
Hello Paul,
The land owners have all the rights on what they want to happen for their land properties. There is really nothing wrong about fencing it. In this manner, their acts towards the violators is very much accountable. It’s best to consult a lawyer regarding this matter.
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Posted on May 29, 2012 at 1:57 pm
stevend says:
Sorry Rima that is not correct. The landowner owns the land underneath the BW, but the council owns the BW.
Landowners cannot block bridleways. Gates are ok and can be closed but they must be left unlocked. fwiw One landowner around here tried to get the bw through his property moved and was told he could not block or move it, he had to keep it open and free for access to all.
In exceptional circumstances if a BW needs to be temporarily blocked then it has to be clearly marked, I believe at both access points each side of the blockage.
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Posted on May 29, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Robin says:
should have gone to spec savers!……
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Posted on February 24, 2012 at 8:38 am
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