Rope trap horror on mountain bike trail (From The Northern Echo)
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Rope trap horror on mountain bike trail
8:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News
LUCKY ESCAPE: Lukasz Sikorski
A REWARD is being offered for information leading to the arrest of whoever sabotaged a North-East mountain bike track by tying a rope across one of its main runs.
Cyclist Lukasz Sikorski was “clotheslined” from his bike when he ran into the rope at the bottom of the main run at Descend Hamsterley, in Hamsterley Forest, County Durham, at lunchtime on Sunday.
The blue corded rope had been strung between two trees at about waist height.
Dramatic video footage caught on the 29-year-old’s helmet camera shows the moment he hit the rope at a speed of about 20mph and is thrown off his bike.
A few seconds after hitting the snow-covered ground, the footage shows the bewildered man picking himself up and walking over to remove the rope before cycling away.
The cyclist had just come round a steep hairpin corner off a 4ft drop then landed on a steep downward slope, with the bike compressed and ready to hit the next jump, which was where the rope was located.
He escaped uninjured but the impact with the rope caused a friction burn on his nylon cycling top.
Last night Mr Sikorski, a toolmaker from Consett, County Durham, who cycles at the track every weekend, said he had not seen the rope, which struck him in the ribs.
He said his protective clothing minimised his injuries, which could have been much worse if the weather conditions had been better.
“It was a big shock,” said Mr Sikorski, originally from Poland. “I had a big pain in my chest and for a few seconds I had problems breathing.
“But if the track had been dry, I would have ridden faster and then I don’t know what would have happened.”
It is thought the trap was laid between 3pm and 5pm on Saturday, or between 7am and 10am on Sunday.
Craig Hunter, project manager at the track, said: “By rights, this rider should have received serious injury, possibly fatal.
“We stress that this is a pure attempt to seriously injure those using the facility.
“Due to this incident, we must advise that all riders check the tracks before use – even though management checks the trials daily.
“There are eight runs and we go up and down them regularly, but it takes time. We cannot risk another incident of this nature because next time, it could be a whole lot worse.
“I am very annoyed about it.
The rope has hit him in the stomach so he has been very lucky.
“He told me it felt like he had been shot – he felt his bike go away from him and he fell backwards.
“The top and bottom of it is, this lad is over 6ft, but if it had been one of the younger ones, it could have been so much worse because it would have been at chest height and could have caught their helmet strap. Cyclists travel up to 30mph down that track.”
Mr Hunter appealed to anyone who may have encountered conflict with any members of the public at the track over the weekend to come forward.
And he said Descend Hamsterley was prepared to offer a “substantial” reward for the arrest and conviction of the culprit.
Facebook users are being encouraged to share the appeal from Descend Hamsterley’s page on the social networking site on their profiles in a bid to catch those responsible.
The video footage on YouTube has been viewed by more than 800 people, many of whom express their disbelief and anger towards whoever tied the rope.
Durham Police say they are aware of the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call the force’s nonemergency number 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555-111.
Comments(30)
GeordieB
says...
2:36pm Wed 8 Feb 12
DixieDixie
says...
10:37pm Wed 8 Feb 12
"This is an extremely serious incident and it's only by good fortune that serious injury was avoided. We have asked all Forestry Commission staff and members of the Hamsterley Trailblazers – the local mountain bike group – to be extra vigilant and look for any signs of tampering on or near bike routes. Hamsterley attracts 180,000 visitors every year and has a record as a safe and great place to go biking. We urge anyone with any information about this incident to contact the Durham Police.”
Tom Boros
says...
1:38am Thu 9 Feb 12
NotaSissy
says...
11:59pm Fri 10 Feb 12
mjvande
says...
5:19am Sat 11 Feb 12
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1994:
http://home.pacbell.
net/mjvande/mtb10 . It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes.
They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else -- ON FOOT! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking....
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see
http://home.pacbell.
net/mjvande/scb7 ). I found that of the seven studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the area, and (worst of all) teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?
For more information: http://home.pacbell.
net/mjvande/mtbfaq .
mjvande
says...
5:29am Sat 11 Feb 12
Bicycles should not be allowed in any natural area. They are inanimate objects and have no rights. There is also no right to mountain bike. That was settled in federal court in 1994:
http://mjvande.nfsho
st.com/mtb10.htm . It's dishonest of mountain bikers to say that they don't have access to trails closed to bikes.
They have EXACTLY the same access as everyone else -- ON FOOT! Why isn't that good enough for mountain bikers? They are all capable of walking....
A favorite myth of mountain bikers is that mountain biking is no more harmful to wildlife, people, and the environment than hiking, and that science supports that view. Of course, it's not true. To settle the matter once and for all, I read all of the research they cited, and wrote a review of the research on mountain biking impacts (see
http://mjvande.nfsho
st.com/scb7.htm ). I found that of the seven studies they cited, (1) all were written by mountain bikers, and (2) in every case, the authors misinterpreted their own data, in order to come to the conclusion that they favored. They also studiously avoided mentioning another scientific study (Wisdom et al) which did not favor mountain biking, and came to the opposite conclusions.
Those were all experimental studies. Two other studies (by White et al and by Jeff Marion) used a survey design, which is inherently incapable of answering that question (comparing hiking with mountain biking). I only mention them because mountain bikers often cite them, but scientifically, they are worthless.
Mountain biking accelerates erosion, creates V-shaped ruts, kills small animals and plants on and next to the trail, drives wildlife and other trail users out of the area, and (worst of all) teaches kids that the rough treatment of nature is okay (it's NOT!). What's good about THAT?
For more information: http://mjvande.nfsho
st.com/mtbfaq.htm .
bishop1
says...
11:04am Sat 11 Feb 12
carry on hugging the trees instead of trying to justify the dangerous & life threatening actions of another .
NotaSissy
says...
3:15pm Sat 11 Feb 12
mjvande
says...
3:35pm Sat 11 Feb 12
So we should ignore the dangerous & life threatening actions of the mountain bikers?!
bishop1
says...
5:48pm Sat 11 Feb 12
Tom Boros
says...
8:16pm Sat 11 Feb 12
Trying to save the planet then let's go step by step and take a look on your driveway, i bet it's not an electric, / or let's count how many unnecessarily sheet of a paper you wasting everyday...
' rough treatment of nature ' yeah right
mjvande
says...
1:11am Sun 12 Feb 12
Even if mountain biking is allowed, 20 MPH on a rough trail is too fast for anyone's safety.
bishop1
says...
2:11pm Sun 12 Feb 12
mjvande
says...
4:54pm Sun 12 Feb 12
So explain where you see "joy" in all of this....
Introducing children to mountain biking is CRIMINAL. Mountain biking, besides being expensive and very environmentally destructive, is extremely dangerous. Recently a 12-year-old girl DIED during her very first mountain biking lesson! Serious accidents and even deaths are commonplace. Truth be told, mountain bikers want to introduce kids to mountain biking because (1) they want more people to help them lobby to open our precious natural areas to mountain biking and (2) children are too naive to understand and object to this activity.
For more information: http://mjvande.nfsho
st.com/mtbfaq.htm .
Tom Boros
says...
7:06pm Sun 12 Feb 12
If you call us irresponsible then probably the best job for to fill is improve health and safety rules, we want more yellow sign when the floor is wet, not just public places but at home as well, it's very dangerous because we're all idiots and cannot see the wet floor, so tiring to pay attention. I want crosswalk the street not to look left and right my eyes hurts and neck is stiff end of the day too... should i continue???
mjvande
says...
7:27pm Sun 12 Feb 12
richardturnbull123
says...
8:37pm Sun 12 Feb 12
http://home.pacbell.
net/mjvande/mtb10".
Forgive me if I am missing something, but what has a US law got to do with the UK? Our laws differ in many ways - for example, it is against the law to drive on the right hand side of the road in the UK. Your logic suggests that all car drivers in the UK are breaking the law too.
From what I can find out about you online (http://mjvande.nfsh
ost.com/mjv1.htm), it appears you are an American citizen. Therefore, this is none of your business, so please do not pollute our beautiful British land with your views (ps I love America and Americans, just not you!). You'd think someone with a Phd would know better!
This rider was riding on land where he was perfectly permitted to ride by the Forestry Commission (http://www.forestry
.gov.uk/forestry/INF
D-6VYG9A).
I can't believe I've lowered myself to write back to this drivel, but that's what happens when you're bored on a Sunday evening. Thanks though Michael for reminding me what a wonderful island I live on!
I wish the rider all the best and hope that the idiots that did this are sent to America to spend an afternoon with Michael. I'm sure they would get along famously!
bishop1
says...
9:16pm Sun 12 Feb 12
The answer is 42
says...
10:34pm Sun 12 Feb 12
I hope they catch the *@!$ who did this.
Mountain bikes are the best form of offroad transport, end of.
mjvande
says...
1:32am Mon 13 Feb 12
richardturnbull123
says...
7:52am Mon 13 Feb 12
I'm sorry but this is so stupid it's not worth the time... there are far more important discussions to be had.
Good luck with the rest of your life Michael and keep true to yourself.
miketually
says...
8:15pm Mon 13 Feb 12
This happened on a purpose-built downhill course, in a man-made forest which is routinely felled for wood. At the top and bottom of the downhill track are tarmac roads and it runs parallel to another track down which it is legal to drive a motor vehicle.
The forest is also full of wildlife :)
mjvande
says...
11:27pm Mon 13 Feb 12
miketually
says...
11:08am Tue 14 Feb 12
Go and troll on Californian newspaper sites, please.
richardturnbull123
says...
2:49pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Perhaps it would be best to get your own house (and country) in order before spreading your holiness (and hypocrisy) elsewhere.
mjvande
says...
4:38pm Tue 14 Feb 12
richardturnbull123
says...
6:33pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Duh.
miketually
says...
8:55pm Tue 14 Feb 12
tea.addict
says...
5:13am Tue 21 Feb 12
http://police.berkel
ey.edu/crimealerts/2
010/10-052810-37NC.h
tm
Perhaps the police could check if he's in the UK?
Jolly Roger says...
11:36am Wed 8 Feb 12
Just a thought.