I hate litter. Well I hate litter louts to be precise and now I’m dismayed.

On a recent solo ride up on Pitch and deep into Winterfold Wood, planning the next Muddymoles Pedal-and-a-Pint night ride, I resolved to stop and pick up the litter I came across on my travels. I’m not after a mention on the next New Years honours list, its just something that really ticks me off so I thought I’d take action.

It soon became apparent that my minimalist Camelbak Lobo is no dustcart, so I had to limit my collecting to the small stuff and try my best to ignore the plastic bottles, mattresses, 2CV’s etc (I exaggerate a tad). I got back to the car very satisfied with my work – some great new trails and a good way of linking them up, all plotted on the gps for future use. However, my good mood disappeared when I started emptying the Camelbak and other orifices I had been stashing the litter in.

FFS!! I hadn’t just been in Croydon High Street, this mound of waste was gathered over 2 hours in an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). What makes this worse, and the reason for my dismayal and disappointment is this.

MTB’ers seem to be the main culprit. Out of all that crap, I reckon 75% of it came from them. Energy bar wrappers, gel sachets etc left me in no doubt. Whatever the source, I assumed most folk who enjoy using the Surrey Hills would at least give a toss when it comes to taking their waste with them.

Clearly not. Its an odd one because out of the many people I’ve ridden with over the last 2 years, I’ve not come across one person who has, or would do, this. Well apart from one, who was a complete tosser.

I can take heart though – so far Pitch, Holmbury and Winterfold Wood seem to have avoided the phenomenon that is cursing Ranmore and Norbury – bagged up dog turds hanging from the trees. I’m not sure which is worse.

What a strange world we live in.

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