BIKE TRAIL SABOTAGE WARNING
C YCLISTS’ lives are being put at risk as popular off-road trails are being sabotaged with dangerous obstacles being strewn across tracks, according to a group of mountain bikers.
The organisation – the South Wales Mountain Biking Club – is warning that dangerous obstacles such as logs and stones are being placed across trails in one of the most popular spots for the sport near Cardiff.
Caerphilly Mountain has become massively popular with biking enthusiasts thanks to its range of downhill trails, rock steps, tunnels and open ridge tops.
But it appears their activities are annoying some people, who have taken to sabotaging the trails.
Nathan Manning, a member of the South Wales Mountain Biking Club, said while most people are supportive of the trails, others are deliberately destroying them.
“Over the last 18 months the local mountain bike trails in Caerphilly have fallen victim to trail sabotage,” he said.
“The majority are supportive of the trails and use them in harmony with us mountain bikers, but some have recently taken to laying obstacles, mostly logs and rocks, across them in order to prevent the use of them to mountain bikers.
“We have agreed verbally with locals to stop sabotaging the trails and initially we began to clear these. But recently the trails have seen stones, rocks, logs and even large trees laid across, with no warning to mountain bike riders.”
The group has now organised a mass bike ride, where cyclists will ride around the mountain, clearing the trails.
“We do not intend on digging or creating new lines, but in the interest of public safety and the fact children use these for recreation also we feel we need to show support to each other and unite to show we will not walk away,” Nathan said.
“We have been riding our bikes on these trails for years with no issues.
“We want to raise awareness of the dangers of trail sabotage before someone is injured or death occurs as a result.”
Peter Cloke, deputy regional land manager from Natural Resources Wales, said: “Our forests are a great place for people to walk and ride and enjoy the outdoors.
“We’re aware of a dispute between some users of the forest and local residents.
“The two groups have now come to an agreement which we hope will allow them to continue to enjoy their own interests in the forest.”
A mass bike ride to highlight the issue will take place at 10.30am today, with cyclists meeting at Caerphilly Castle.