Scottish Council Concerned by Mountain Bikers "Stripping Off"

Jan 16, 2019
by James Smurthwaite  
The climb up to stage on starts of with this nice fireroad drag. Then you take a right turn up into the woods and things begin to get painful. What must make the punishing top section of the climbing even worse is knowing you need to come back and repeat it to get to stage two.

Innerleithen and District County Council is working with police to cut down on anti-social behaviour by mountain bikers, BBC News reports.

Innerleithen was included in the British EWS rounds in 2014 and 2015 and is a popular destination for British mountain bikers. Tens of thousands of riders visit the destination each year but local residents have recently complained about a small minority of "muddy bikers stripping off in residential streets," using "foul language in response to reasonable representations" and using public land as a toilet.

Jackie Couchman, community councillor, told Peeblesshire News, "The residents' primary concern is parking directly outside their houses and when there are events on in the town, they hardly dare move their cars because they won’t be able to park anywhere near their houses. PC Burniside said that if anyone sees this or any other anti-social behaviour, it should be reported. It’s only if the police have a record of these offences do they then have a feel for how significant the problems are.

She added, “There was talk about producing a leaflet basically welcoming people to the town and giving a code of conduct. I put something on our facebook page about it, there was an outpouring of people who don’t feel it’s a good idea. We need to tread with caution because there’s a danger that in intending to do good, it completely backfires.”

We've all been there though, sometimes the best trails don't have a car park or toilets and on a muddy day you just have to try and be as discreet as possible hunkered down in your boot. Neil Dalgleish, of events organisation Hill Outside, said that he had not heard of mountain bikers using public land as a toilet before but he believed the complaints were due to a lack of infrastructure for mountain bikers.

He told BBC News, "this issue would suggest there's a real need for better facilities. After all, who would choose to strip to the skin in a car park in January? The bike community will get the word out about this and I'm sure the riders will react well. I believe Innerleithen is a busier, more vibrant and probably a healthier community as a result of mountain biking's development here."

He also said the vast majority of riders respected the community they visited and "responded positively" to any issues or requests for co-operation.

photo
Plans for a mountain bike development at Innerleithen Mill are on going.

There could be some good news on the way for all though as plans are currently being drawn up for a new bike park and innovation centre at Innerleithen. A public consultation will be held in town later this month with a full business case due to be published on January 24. An action plan has also been drawn up to look at increasing parking and using a small schemes budget to deliver improvements in facilities, hopefully everyone can ride and live in harmony until they come in.

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Member since Nov 14, 2018
1,770 articles

249 Comments
  • 601 2
 This is actually quite serious. Even short exposure to the extreme light reflection from Scottish skin can cause lasting damage to the retina.
  • 57 56
 I tan quite nicely thank you very much
  • 257 1
 You know it’s summer in Scotland because the rains warm..
  • 1 34
flag Bighill2015 (Jan 16, 2019 at 3:04) (Below Threshold)
 ????
  • 70 0
 Thats the great thing about us Scots we can laught at ourselfs
  • 14 1
 @thegman67: got no option but to lol
  • 3 0
 @trifecta: and the midge swarm.
  • 75 0
 @poah: I think Scots can see each other's tans, but the rest of us can't see that spectrum of light.
  • 46 49
 @jitenshakun: my dad looks like a Pakistani when he has been out in the sun lol
  • 3 0
 @poah: ah, Pictish blood. same as me grandad.
  • 28 13
 @jamesbrant: I'm liking the neg props I got for my comment. apparently people don't like scots with a tan Frown
  • 44 10
 @poah: pc brigade with no sense of humour ,notice no neg props for earlier comment taking piss out of scots pale skin,,its amazing the double standard has infected all western cultures
  • 1 0
 Best comment I've read in a while... I have that skin.
pbs.twimg.com/media/DTv68uqU8AAU8ZN.jpg
  • 2 0
 I take a crackin tan I'll have you know haha more sun here than in Revelstoke in the winter thats for daaaayuumm sure.
  • 3 3
 The response should be " OK I can do that. Sorry I didn't realize I had done that." And then park in a lot and don't be a bad visitor.
  • 9 21
flag timbud (Jan 16, 2019 at 11:42) (Below Threshold)
 @poah: Nah, its probably more that you brought in the casual racism chap
  • 2 0
 @trails801: and if there isn’t a car park?
  • 22 2
 @Linkpin: don't park outside someones house and get your nob out. Its pretty simple lol
  • 3 0
 @timbud: actually lol'd
  • 7 0
 It's ok to be white
  • 4 1
 @johncitizen: But after 5 minutes in the sun the Scots turn red. Like my flag, white cross is their nose and lips covered in sunblock.
  • 3 0
 @poah: non-Scotts just don't think you are tanned because they don't realise that you natural colour is a kind of pale blue
  • 4 0
 Sorry about the casual racism buts its OK cos I'm Scottish, not like when a North amaerican says they're Scottish but real Scottish like born and grew up in Scotland for 27 yrs, with dangerously reflective skin and a tan that looks like neopolitan ice cream.
  • 3 6
 @discoclint: My comment was not referring to the Scottish comments. Just the one about a Pakistani... sadly there's at least 8 people on here to ignorant to see the issue there.

I couldn't give a shit about the rest of the comments about Scots as they're mostly all accurate Razz
  • 10 4
 @timbud: Racism "Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior"

that isn't any where close to my comment. My dad literally turns brown like the colour of someone from Pakistan,
  • 2 9
flag timbud (Jan 18, 2019 at 1:43) (Below Threshold)
 @poah: "casual racism"
Don't try to justify it.
  • 12 2
 @timbud: your obsession with rascism and seeing it everywhere is a reflection of your own inner guilt, the fact that you see comparing someone with a dark tan as looking like someone from Pakistan as derogatory makes you the stealth rascist, you can scream your virtue from the top of your lungs but it just smacks of new age liberal right think.
There are more important issues to get your knickers in a twist over, champion real issues, this calling out everything as this or that ism is just devisive and leads to identity politics, lighten up man.
  • 7 1
 @timbud: Learn the definitions of words before you try and use them. You'll look less of an ass.
  • 2 8
flag timbud (Jan 18, 2019 at 6:29) (Below Threshold)
 Don't try to blame me for your ignorance. I was born in India and lived there and in Nepal for 8 years. My little sister is an adopted Ghurka and when we came back to the UK I was called a "Paki" for 3 years, because my skin was darker than everyone else's. So don't try to twist this and accuse me of being a stealth racist.
Any comparison between people referencing the colour of skin is a form of racism whether you choose to accept it or not.
We're only talking about racism here so don't try to bring in anything else to dilute you error. This kind of childish shit can come back and bite you.
  • 7 3
 like I thought ,you have some deep scars which are causing you to see things that are not there ,the gentlemen above said his father looked Pakistani when he gets a sun tan ,that is not a slur or a bad thing but a point of reference just as previous people making jibes about celtic peoples pale skin wasn't meant with any malice ,its a shame you were taunted as a child but you shouldn't bring it into the adult world with you. its not healthy for you or people around you , ihope you address your old wounds and can move on. peace be with you,ride long and prosper.
  • 4 2
 @timbud My mum was born and raised in Kolkata. I can see that you still haven’t learned the meaning of the word which is a shame.
  • 2 4
 The real world is not as simple as the dictionary definition you’re basing your opinion on.

My past is right where it belongs, I just used it as an example to help you both learn from a different perspective.
  • 5 3
 @timbud: you are unbelievably ignorant. You cannot change the definition of a word based on you being racially abused.
  • 2 7
flag timbud (Jan 18, 2019 at 7:50) (Below Threshold)
 lol I wasn't racially abused!
How a few kids tried to describe me was racist... just not towards me.
I'm not trying to change the definition. Thats such a pathetic answer... All I'm doing is adding to it and I guess all those midge bites over the years and affected your ability to see things from different perspectives.
Do yourself a favour and go research some legal definitions and court cases regarding racism
  • 5 2
 @timbud: oh dear. I posted the legal definition of racism above. point out how my statement falls into any of those categories. All you are doing is being an ass.
  • 4 0
 @poah: So...... um what does everyone think about the new Jeffsy?
  • 3 1
 @timbud: Pakistani guy says " Not seen the sun in so long I'm looking like a Scottish person" Wow imagine how incredibly racist that would be??? (sarc) You're being absolutely petty man, the dislikes of your comments show that.
  • 1 2
 @Brentonius: Petty? You're absolutely spot on there!
But in this day and age if you say that to the wrong person you will end up with a record. Go into London, Bolton, Manchester (etc) and try it. In fact, be brave and make yourself a sandwich board with "last time I got a tan I looked like a Pakistani".

PS. You're more petty than you call me if you pay any attention to the dislikes lol
  • 166 0
 I personally will be upset if they build changing rooms. The one thing mountain biking has taught me above all else is how to get changed stood on a bin bag stood on the wide of a wet windy hill without getting mud on my socks. We can't afford for that skill to be lost.
  • 23 0
 Hear here. #BinbagsMatter
  • 19 37
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 16, 2019 at 2:16) (Below Threshold)
 @tom666 - this!
  • 7 7
 Actually I see potential for a wetsuit for wet riding. Have done it myself with a surfing suit. Does not need to be so tight at the neck and chest and thats it. Warm all ride no matter the rain
  • 19 28
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 16, 2019 at 2:27) (Below Threshold)
 @donpinpon29: merino wool provides almost that. If it's above +10C there is no point wearing hig tech jacket that will just get you wet from the inside.
  • 16 0
 balancing on 1 shoe for the win.
  • 30 0
 I gotta wonder how these people would cope if they lived in a surfing/coastal town... Getting changed out the boot of a car without getting sand/mud/shit on my feet is the only surfing skill I have.
  • 8 0
 I've upgraded to an extra large towel robe to get changed under, top Christmas present from my Mrs! Still have to balance on a shoe or pile of wet muddy clothes though but at least skinny white behind is kept hidden away, dont want to go upsetting the locals
  • 8 0
 @oliverhayes: rubber floor mats for your car is an essential investment
  • 6 0
 @ermoldaker: And then you use the factory one as a changing platform #lifehack
  • 2 0
 @muletron: Wellies! The ideal after ride shoes - so much more surface area to balance on!
  • 3 0
 @oliverhayes: Next Christmas ask for a door mat, they work great.
  • 21 1
 Who else in the US Googled "bin bag"?
  • 6 0
 @Fresh1: ha surely that's pretty self evident even if you don't use that term?
  • 13 0
 @webbe: They're called 'trash can femidoms' over there.
  • 8 0
 For a more luxurious experience try an Ikea bag! I use it when backcountry skiing - all the space and comfort of 2, maybe 3, bin liners and more durability!
  • 1 0
 duck board, make a duck board. I love being in France, it's so much easier to change with out being worried that everything is on show
  • 4 1
 Excuse the blatant marketing plug, but if getting changed in public whilst avoiding court orders is something you need to achieve then check out these Turkish cotton change towels, www.stokednz.co.nz they are super absorbent, pack up small and dry really quickly, I use mine all the time after riding to get changed. The business is run by my partner and was born from spending 5 months on a sofa recovering from a brain injury from an OTB, a portion of every sale gets put into the companies foundation and is then donated to charities including recently supporting a friend who rode across china for world bicycle relief! Cheers!
  • 2 2
 @wisey: What's a 'boot of a car'?
  • 3 0
 @powthief19: The B hole
  • 2 0
 @powthief19: trunk for you guys
  • 12 0
 @powthief19: You should see what a fanny pack is here.
  • 2 0
 @powthief19: A cars booty.
  • 2 0
 @wisey: not even that one I have manage to master mate. My car carpets are always full of dirt and sand from every spot
  • 95 1
 What is the world coming to? Sportsmen changing clothes outside!!!. Call the police! Lol
  • 7 0
 Maybe it's not such a big deal here in SoCal, since it's a daily occurrence on every beach.
  • 4 0
 @Fresh1: The Scotts would be shocked then if they came to Finland with Sauna and out door highway pissing being national pass times.. LOL

Sometimes you just don't have to look.
  • 73 1
 All we need is a multi million pound wood glass and steel architectural marvel with a £25 a day accessible park and ride cubicle facility. If it's not too much to ask. Get your act together rural areas willnae settle for anything less
  • 22 3
 And then they'd complain that no one uses it...
  • 27 30
 @browner - I am glad you brought up architecture as this is my field. Not only the form is preposterous, rendering sucks, but from functional point of view, I see no bike stands and no chargin stations for E-bikes... I'll show myself out...
  • 31 0
 @WAKIdesigns: also missing is the Post Ride Pub. Do these architects even ride bro?
  • 5 19
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 16, 2019 at 2:25) (Below Threshold)
 @Boardlife69: and Ratboy Ashtram
  • 70 5
 Using public land as a toilet. I'm sure this is 98% urine. Peeing outside. Just like all the other animals in the world do.

They complain they can't park outside their houses because someone else has parked there. On a public road. Having paid their road tax.

If you want a guaranteed parking spot you have to buy one. I'm pretty sure no one would park on your drive or in your garage.

Seems to me to be a convenient ploy to force people into paid car parks, thereby increasing revenue for the local town.
  • 8 1
 Hold on now. PB's resident architect Waki will be along any min... Ah.
  • 45 17
 I don't know what you want. I may not be the best architect, I may not have the longest bike, or whole a lot of money, but what I have a certain set of skills... I will find you and I will troll you
  • 25 1
 There is no such thing as road tax. Drivers pay a pollution levy. As a cyclist you should know that. As for the peeing... if its out of sight away from people then fine... but its every day in full view from your house and family then I imagine its not something you would want. We all need to be more mindful of the communities we touch on with our leisure activities, if we want to ensure continued trail access.
  • 6 0
 £3.50 for a roll with potatoe scone and they wonder why their quite at GT
  • 8 1
 @Karve: Have to agree with you there, some sense of respect for others has somewhat diminished, not all fellow mountain bikers, but they are that few who seem to be giving us a bad name, sad really because not often we hear negative things in comparison to some sports/activities. Need to respect these places that are there for us and there communities, not fair otherwise and they have made this public, so they should. can see there is a lot of banter and sarcasm, its so much fun what we all do just need to remember that fine line before they start taking our leisure parks, trails and resorts away or start putting prices on them to deter people.
  • 11 15
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 16, 2019 at 5:06) (Below Threshold)
 @Levos2006:

A part of human population has always been and will be - a*sholes. Some
of them are mountain bikers. However this is not always the case, some people just don’t think about what they are doing, and articles like this lead to slow change. Only a*sholes will not change despite the cues from surrounding community. I can also assume that this has to do with large events when people park EVERYWHERE, and well, when there’s Iron Maiden concert or hippie festival, much worse things happen...
  • 2 0
 @Karve: I did not know that road tax had been abolished, but I've been out of the country for a while. Still it doesn't change the fact that y9u don't own the road outside your house. Or has that changed too?

Of course I'm not condoning peeing in someone's front garden but the exact place has not been specified. When I think of peeing in the wild, it's over a wall in a field or in the woods on a tree or whatever.
  • 4 0
 @Levos2006: Lack of respect for others? You wouldn't think reading PB forums.
  • 2 2
 @Levos2006: Be proactive. Buy a six pack of beer and leave it on the doorstep of the neighbours with a thank you note for the inconvenience. And invite them for a ride. Kindness goes a long way.
  • 8 4
 @WAKIdesigns: I have long said that some people are not a*sholes but just ignorant of their own behaviour - I had a neighbour just like this once, no understanding of how their behaviour damaged those around them.

It’s a bit sad to see that the MTB community sees a complaint from the public and the response is basically to f*ck off and that they are old, have nothing better to do or are lazy / rich for simply expecting their way of life not to be tested by visitors to their home town.

Hopefully there is an adult in the room if the community does reach out to the MTBers of the area and they come to a compromise which suits both sides.
  • 2 1
 @Karve:
Last time I looked (3 minutes ago) it was called vehicle tax, not pollution levy.

If it's a pollution levy then explain to me why older cars (ie the most polluting) are tax exempt?

The point still stands anyway - unless it’s private land, a taxed car can legally park on any street. It’s not the resident’s private just because it’s outside their house.

JP
  • 1 0
 @Jprestidge: until it is their parking spaces of course, a friend of mine lives on a steet that now requires permit parking due to rail commuters parking there early every morning - you get two per house.

Park there now get clamped / towed.
  • 2 1
 @Jprestidge: @Jprestidge:
I think @Karve is refering to the common motorists misunderstanding that vehicle tax pays for roads and therefore gives them rights over other road users.

But it isn't a big leap towards someone leaving their car somewhere where it causes an obstruction as there is no decent parking, then an ambulance or Fire Engine can't get through. So it is a problem worthy of discussion at local level.
  • 11 1
 @Braindrain: I live in a ludicrously narrow street, which is nearly always full of cars belonging to people who want to go into the city centre but don’t want to pay for parking.

Although I sometimes feel I own the street, in reality I don’t and they’re free to park where they like.

I usually don’t smile at them when they say hello, though. Let THAT be a lesson to them...
  • 2 3
 @justanotherusername: your first paragraph about ignorance describes the Taiwanese to an absolute T. Completely oblivious to the fact that there are other people around them, and that their actions could possibly affect said people.
Not rude, not arseholes, just living in a bubble of obliviousness.
  • 39 3
 my wife still does not understand how i can completely undress on a car park, supermarketparking or any other place to dress up for riding - no matter how many people are around. i guess after riding in so many areas where there is no other possibility, you just dont care anymore.
  • 92 2
 I can believe it. Getting nakkid in public places is your national past time.
  • 16 4
 @Mojo348: The Austrians are better at it.
  • 5 3
 @Mojo348: i am from western Germany -FKK ist mostly a easten german thing and i am not a big fan of it.
  • 2 1
 @optimumnotmaximum: FKK and not keeping left in the east
  • 11 0
 Watch the Mr. Bean video of him getting changed at the beach. That's Jedi-level skills.
  • 39 2
 fully understand, last summer there was a girls beach volleyball team changing in front us on parking lot, I can´t sleep from that time
  • 7 3
 well...a slight nap after the rub and tug at least?
  • 5 0
 Best comment !
  • 31 4
 Can't believe lolcals are whining about parking cars on roads. In the U.K. anyone can park on any road as long as it's not restricted, 'oh no some one has parked on the public road outside my house' is not something the police should have any interest in. Getting changed, only answer to that is provide facilities, accept it, or loose the business mountain bikers bring to the area.
  • 28 1
 Its a community council @stevieJB (not a county council as reported) and as a former community councillor... yes, people whine about all sorts. If there was an article every time someone complained about dog mess at a community council the internet would fall over.
  • 10 3
 Yea fair enough there is no law regarding parking on a public road but you are looking at this from your perspective only and I can imagine it is pretty annoying to come home with your shopping or kids expecting to be able to park outside or near your home and cant get anywhere near it.

People get insanely territorial about parking outside of their house, not saying its right but that's the way it is.

Your comment about the business MTB riders bring to the area is also pretty one-sided, I am not entirely sure the average person living on a street that has nothing to do with any business that supplies MTB visitors would care too much or benefit from them being there?
  • 15 0
 @justanotherusername: You're kind of right but Innerliethen only has the cafes,shops, b&b's and pubs due to the large amount of cyclists that visit the town. I'm sure they would miss them if they were gone.

Its all balance and mutual respect at the end of the day.
  • 5 3
 @lochsweed: I used to live next to a football field with a Sunday league team and every time it rained there would be some c*nt from there parked on the road outside my house. The place I expected to park. It was more annoying because the football club had a parking field that the players didn't want to use because I presume they didn't want to drive in mud.
It annoyed the shit out of me but it wasn't my land. It was a public road. My dad never had that problem because he was parked on his drive. No one ever parked on that without asking.
  • 5 0
 @justanotherusername: they can feel all they want about parking outside there house, unless theres a law around it, its public parking. i deal with the same shit on my street here in little ole Vermont, can't keep crying about it
  • 5 6
 @laxguy: Did you buy your house knowing that it would be an issue though? What if these residents have lived being able to park comfortably outside their own homes for years until the MTB tribe arrived?
  • 5 3
 @justanotherusername: that doesnt change the law though.. this isnt about feelings, this is about legality.
  • 6 12
flag justanotherusername (Jan 16, 2019 at 6:21) (Below Threshold)
 @laxguy: Bullshit, so its OK to piss people off as long as its legal then?

No wonder you guys need guns.
  • 6 2
 @laxguy: Correct, there is no law against being a d*ck. Doesn't mean it's a good idea though

Sure we are allowed to park on the road outside people's houses and I often do, but if it's somewhere that looks like it happens often enough to be a genuine problem to the residents I will avoid it.
  • 7 4
 @justanotherusername : obviously parking is different everywhere, but you cannot call me a dick for parking in an open public parking spot.. thats just not reality. but its ok, your feelings got hurt so go snuggle your blankey and tell mommy about your feelings
  • 6 7
 @laxguy: do you have any idea about small town parking in the UK? (I’m from the uk btw)

There will be a row of terraced housing with barely enough parking for a single small car outside the house, if these are regularly taken by visitors going biking they could have almost nowhere to park within reasonable walking distance of their home.

Now what if the resident is elderly, has poor mobility or have young children?

The parts of the USA I visited don’t have such issues, you have space, most houses have land and driveways - how can you pretend to understand?
  • 2 6
flag justanotherusername (Jan 16, 2019 at 6:58) (Below Threshold)
 @laxguy: ah, missed the bit where you deal with the same thing on your street.

Basically you know how much it pisses you off so you think others should be forced to live that way too.
  • 5 3
 Maybe Brian Lopes will chime in to provide some pro mountain biker parking etiquette.
  • 6 1
 @justanotherusername: yes, i am not special. i conform to the local laws where i live, as should every one else who lives here. no one is special.

im sorry that people cant park outside their house, i would love that luxury. but as others have stated, if you want private parking, build a driveway.
  • 8 2
 @laxguy: @laxguy: Here's the issue - if we want communities to support the creation of additional trails, and rowdier trails for that matter, we can't be dicks.

It's a trail access issue. Everywhere. Always. Don't just follow the laws, be good neighbors where we ride. That's how we continue to get better trails.
  • 4 3
 @JustinVP: my point is parking in an open public parking spot is NOT antisocial behaviour and shouldnt even be included in this article. the issue here is people changing in public and pissing/shitting in public. im allowed to park wherever i want (as long as its legal) and im not a dick. how do people not understand this?
  • 3 2
 @laxguy: They are clearly entitled to that space in which they haven't payed anything for because it is close to their home. Duh.
  • 3 3
 @gnarnaimo: no problem.

The residents will get pissed off and lobby the council for permit parking on the street (a friend of mine lives on such a street - permit parking due to rail commuters, two per household)

They will also make as much noise as possible about how the MTB lot are just trouble and do what they can to keep things from expanding.

Or people could use common sense, one hilarious thing here is surely if you have a bike with you parking further away isn’t a problem?
  • 3 2
 @justanotherusername: if they want to get permit parking and go about it legally, that is their right. none of the rest of your argument matters dude, how do you not get that?
  • 4 2
 @laxguy: the argument doesn’t matter to you, it matters enough to the residents that you are hearing about it in this article.

How do you not get that?
  • 3 0
 @justanotherusername: and neither of us are those residents. but you are still wrong, open public parking is exactly that. open and public to anyone that wishes to park there.
  • 1 2
 @laxguy: well done. You might want to convince the people behind the article too in that case.
  • 2 2
 @laxguy this is lawyer/ politician attitude. "It's legal so I can do it with no repercussions" knowing that people are being affected by losing their usual parking spot. Fyi in my great home town of Philly when it snows people will shovel the parking spot in front of their house and leave their trash can in that spot to save the spot for themselves (on a public street) and if someone takes that spot (nobody does cause they know the rules) that car gets vandalized. That's a little extreme but the message is just cause you are legally able to do something doesn't mean you should.
  • 2 1
 @mrgonzo: you are stupid. that is a completely different situation and has nothing to do with the law. the people vandalizing cars should be arrested and prosecuted.
  • 2 2
 @laxguy: ethics is doing the right thing. Legality is doing what you are allowed to do by law. Not necessarily what is right. So you can choose to do the right thing and not take someone's parking spot or at least understand that it is putting them out. Or you can be a dick (legally) and say "tough titties I'm not breaking the law, I park where I want no matter who it bothers." I am raising my boys to be ethical and am disappointed other people aren't seeing the ethical situation here.
  • 3 2
 @mrgonzo: you are still an idiot. i can be an ethical person and still park in an open legal spot. you know whats not ethical? parking in my parking lot and not moving your car for 2 weeks, thats not ethical.

PS -- its EVERYONES parking spot.. thats what a public parking spot means, dumbass.
  • 4 0
 @laxguy: I'm with you. If you want to exert ownership over a parking spot, buy it. Otherwise it's not yours and you should not treat it as such.
  • 2 0
 @jaame: here here brother
  • 3 0
 @mrgonzo: cretins who vandalise other peoples' cars like that are the scum of the earth, lower than housebreakers and muggers. also irrelevant to the issue in this article.
  • 24 1
 Come on admit it, who parked their car on someone’s drive, got changed in their garden and then shit on their lawn? You know that type of behaviour is just not acceptable!
  • 6 0
 I was told that was my initiation to the mtb world.... You poop in one lawn and everyone decided to get uppity about it
  • 4 0
 We will have no public peeing in Peeblesshire!
  • 23 0
 Residents, don't bother with leaflets and such. Just downvote. That'll teach us.
  • 16 2
 "they hardly dare move their cars because they won’t be able to park anywhere near their houses"

Oh jog on. Brits and their fetish for their cars are embarrassing.

A good portion of us have changing towels, or even vans. If the odd silly sausage wants to rock out with his cock out for 10 seconds in the car park, and that causes offence, you need to reevaluate your life.

I find the whole concept of golf offensive (see top pic), but i'm not a dick about it.
  • 4 1
 haha, sounds just like every pearl clutching suburbanite over here. They complain about everything until your riding scene increases their land value, then they complain about their taxes!
  • 13 0
 I'll admit I have used foul language in response to reasonable representations.
  • 20 1
 I have used reasonable language in response to foul representations as well though.

Some old codger - "Its not a f*cking public carpark!"
Me - "That's true, but it is a public street and it is perfectly legal to park there."
  • 10 0
 @Patrick9-32: Oh sorry sir. Is this your land that I have somehow mistaken for a public street? My mistake. I'm awfully sorry. I'll be on my way just as soon as I've stripped off and changed my clothes, then quickly emptied my bowels on your lawn. Lovely grass by the way. Looks like it's had a lot of fresh organic fertiliser.
  • 9 0
 It's disappointing to read complaints like this. Anyone who knows Peebles/Innerleithan will know that both towns are considerably better off as a result of the economic benefits mountain biking has brought to the area. Yes, there are no facilities at Innerleithan, especially at the Golfie side but for the most part mtb'ers are just trying to get changed as discreetly and quickly as possible. Mouthing off and verbally abusing residents will not help (and is inexcusable) but I can't imagine this is a common occurrence. The amenities and local businesses both towns and therefore their residents enjoy are largely down to the tourism spend that biking brings to the area - I think the locals should be very careful with what they wish for. As for the parking, this is only an issue during races so circa 3-5 times a year. I can understand why it's frustrating for the residents but they should remember, as many others have pointed out already, they have no more right to park on that public road than anyone else. All in all, it seems like a small price to pay for the upside the sport brings to what would otherwise be a struggling commuter town with a high street full of for sale/to let boards.
  • 3 0
 Baz knows
  • 1 0
 Season pass 500. Findra 500, Booze 500, Icycles 300. Oh god and 2 months of No1 breakfasts, coffees and other refueling 200. Oh and a season pass for Tweed valley.
  • 9 0
 For those interested you can buy a social membership at Innerleithen Golf Club for £20 per year, entitles you to park, use toilets, shower and have a post ride beer if you so desire.....

Money well spent if you ride up there a lot.....

Now if only there was something similar at the other side of the valley
  • 3 0
 they have showers and pints you say?
  • 1 0
 Don't they still have that gravel filled field or did it get washed away along with the shed?
  • 8 0
 Well that's what happens when the local council benefits from the tourism that mountain biking brings and don't bother investing back (innovation centre doesn't really count as a solution, unless it will have a large car park with reasonable fees unlike the overpriced fees at Glentress down the road). Can understand the residents concern, but it's not really the fault of bikers, rather it is the local council.
  • 7 0
 a) changing clothes in public - well, before a ride you're too hyped to care and after a ride you're tired to care
b) using foul language - it's hard to educate uneducated; it's not up to anyone anymore; damage has been done
c) pooping in public - sooooo, yeah... ok that one... obviously.... no.... of course not.... ffs...
  • 8 1
 I don't get this at all.... I was in peebles a few weeks ago riding just up the road from Innerleithen. I am from canada, so i was a little surprised to find I needed to pay to access their washrooms. So guess what!? I stripped of in a parking lot. Wankers
  • 8 0
 I think these rural places want to remember that without tourism and these riders half the businesses in Innerleithen and Peebles may not make money.
  • 7 0
 Good point. How many visitors would Innerleithen get if it wasn't for mountain biking? The businesses that have embraced it (No 1 Cafe for example) do really well out of it. I saw a picture online of them offering warm blankets to MTB'ers who sit outside cause they're covered in mud. They might want to consider mtb visitors as an opportunity for the village rather than a threat.
  • 9 0
 Just imagine seeing all that pasty skin in public on a January day! Would somebody please think of the children!!
  • 5 0
 It seems that it is getting harder and harder to find a good country to ride in, umm, live in. Why do people complain so much about something so pointless? Kids in schools are doing Dog knows what to each other on Snatchchat, becoming ever so feral and cave-like, yet I cannot change my dirty clothes for a minute?
In Germany I dare not make a skid in the forest, otherwise i would de-root the entire planet, but I can shoot animals in the face and clobber them with a home made mace. Someone even made a video in which two elderly men were walking in the forest and became terrified at the sight of a small gap jump over a stream. I guess they wanted to polevault over it with their walking sticks, but the dang mountain bikers ruined their fun. Bill Burr said it perfectly, we need to get rid of about 70-80% of the population.
  • 2 0
 A shit article with a bunch of a*sholes worrying over shit. Let's build a wall of outhouses & then push it into the sea along with its supporters.

Anyone wishing to strip off on my street is welcome; I can even pay. Trades also considered.
  • 7 2
 First World problems....someone parks in front of my house?common in my hood in Madrid you need 30 minutes sometimes to find a place to park a car. People need to swap muddy&dusty clothes,I can change any clothes inside a car This people are just bored or have nothing better to do than watch naked bikers.
  • 6 1
 There is nothing wrong with using the countryside as a toilet! I don't hear them complaining about deer/birds/rabbits/their own dogs/other favourable animals taking dumps in the forest

I PERSONALLY love peeing in rivers.
  • 4 0
 Apart from adrenaline uplift plans for hut..toilet etc(well done Gordo doing a fantastic job ????)
The public infrastructure in inners is virtually zero.......
Community council should get there finger out and place even a basic changing facilities.?
  • 1 0
 There is the toilet block on Hall Street which could be left open or a deal struck with the playing field owners if not for use. It's probably an issue on Leithen Road and Traquir Road where people park instead of the FC car park. i guess if facilities beyond the portaloo were there more people would use it, but thats the debate on pay vs free parking.
  • 5 0
 Even though I certainly do not condone human "using public land as a toilet", I surely hope none of the people who complained are letting their dogs/cats shitting and pissing everywhere.

A pet peeve of mine...
  • 1 4
 Sounds like my neighborhood, Uppity liberals driving Priuses and Volts but let their dog shit everywhere..
  • 2 0
 I can confirm that the residents do indeed let their dogs shit in the same areas this concerns, I had the evidence smeared on the back of my shorts were I sat down to take my shoes off.... Actually.... I hope it was a dog, not some filthy mountain biker?
  • 1 0
 @Beez177: nah that's the shit coming out of you
  • 9 3
 They may take our trails... But they'll never take our toilets!!!!!!!!! -William Wallace
  • 7 0
 Parking in front of someones house is considered anti-social behavior?
  • 1 0
 right? I'd like to report my entire city for parking on the street outside my house
  • 3 1
 I think pissing on their grass and telling them to fuck off is the anti-social element. Let's not dilute it too much for the sake of a laugh.
  • 1 0
 @dglobulator: Very true, human social behavior is quite interesting sometimes. I was in a similar situation, parked my vehicle across the street from my house. Neighbors over there didn't like it so they called the authorities and reported my vehicle as abandoned. Walking out to my vehicle one morning and the is an officer placing a warning on my windshield. I was so confused as it was registered and being driven on a regular basis. Calling the cops instead of asking me to not park in front of their house, pretty anti social, this is the world we live in.
  • 2 1
 I am biased, but these are a nice alternative made from a natural material vs microfiber nice and comfy, www.stokednz.co.nz they are made from super absorbent turkish cotton, pack up small and dry really quickly, I use mine all the time after riding to get changed. The business is run by my partner and was born from spending 5 months on a sofa recovering from a brain injury from an OTB, a portion of every sale gets put into the companies foundation and is then donated to charities including recently supporting a friend who rode across china for world bicycle relief! Cheers!
  • 3 0
 Kinda reminds me of Vancouver's north shore back in the 90s, before they built the parking lot at fromme. I used to feel sorry for the home owner who had bought their house only to get invaded as the sport took off. The view certainly changed,and you could see a full moon most of the time. I guess you wouldn't have to worry about watering your shrubs in the Summer. We were kinda prickish
  • 5 3
 I can see the point of the people who have paid their money to live somewhere, I would not want someone parked outside my house getting changed, stripping down to the buff. Maybe some riders should practice common decency whilst out representing a minority sport.
There is an uplift service at Innerliethen and Events, when paying for these services it might be good if there was something as simple as a pop up Gazebo in place (wind permitting) for people to get changed in.
How about the FC provide something as simple as a screen or box for people to get changed behind... maybe reinvest some of the money from parking fees on a bigger and better surfaced car parking area at Innerliethen.

Saying all that, being a mountain biker I find myself turning up for Badminton and just getting changed in the hall, I know I shouldn't but we just get accustomed to changing at our cars. But then, when I was young in the late 70's and 80's we swam in the river/sea, got changed at the side of the river or sea. We went running and got changed in the local park and when we were out on our road bikes an needed a pee, we just stopped and went for a pee in the countryside.
  • 6 4
 Bang on with that, and the term 'common decency' - reading through the comments here the general attitude is that what MTB riders are doing is absolutely fine, comments like 'shoving leaflets up his arse' and complete opposition to anyone else thinks will hopefully not be used as an example of the MTB community in a council meeting or similar when it comes to improving or providing additional facilities. People basically think its OK to piss of other people who actually live in an area they are visiting and don't seem to have any sympathy or understanding as to why.
  • 9 5
 @justanotherusername: don't worry about me shoving leaflets up arses, I'll not be at any cooncil meetings, I'll be at work.
I will not to be respectful to self-righteous old codgers who would harrass me, a more useful responsible taxpaying member of the same community, for changing on the side of a B-road.
  • 5 6
 @Vastusaurus: so you are being self-righteous about someone else being self-righteous?

Wow, you have a job! You think the older generation may have worked before being retired though? You planning on being old someday?

I don’t see why people can’t see that some MTBers behave like dicks and that causes these conplaints etc, backing the little MTB ‘tribe’ is counter productive, if we want to invade a town it’s up to us to fit in with the residents, not the other way round - of course assuming everybody is being reasonable.
  • 7 3
 @justanotherusername: I think Vastusaurus attitude illustrates exactly the issue the local residents face. A classic boarish myopic self centered attitude, that comes with being a kid. Those old "codgers" were the ones who were paying their dues while he was at school. It does a disservice to the wider MTB community.
  • 3 0
 @Vastusaurus:
Now if they made that leaflet absorbent and attached a doggy bag . And a map of small bushes to squat behind .one problem sorted.
  • 4 3
 @Karve: what's myopic about my attitude?

There are lots of me, quietly carrying on with our lives minding our own business, changing sports clothes in car parks, responsibly using the outdoors for [preferred outdoor activity]. We are your schoolteachers, doctors, postmen, butchers when we're not riding bikes.

I think anyone with the gall to stand up in a community council and denigrate us as antisocial hooligans is the one with the bad attitude. In the tweed valley of all places!
  • 6 1
 @Vastusaurus: Regularly arriving at someones neighborhood with this attitude....

"I'll look forward to telling some crusty old community do-gooder to shove their 'code of conduct' leaflets up their arse too."

Shows your just concerned with what your getting, and not with your impact. Hence myopic... If we all took that attitude to our local trail head it would be a disaster for the sport. Look back at the history of trail access in our sport.... nothing good comes from being disrespectful to the local communities we use.
  • 2 3
 @Karve:
I come from a community where we don't make other peoples' affairs our business. Good fences make good neighbours.

I don't care for the out of touch self-righteous do-gooders that would harass me and pollute Leithen valley with 'code of conduct' leaflets, but I don't publicly object to them or "work with the police" to prevent them doing their thing. I just ignore them unless they harass me.

I think you're siding with the antagonists in this situation, the people objecting to me changing in the car park
  • 3 1
 @Vastusaurus: Nobody is realistically objecting to you getting changed in the carpark, that isnt unreasonable but the article refers to foul language and disturbance in the town - you say you dont do this but then at the same time seem to feel that anybody that complains about such behaviour is wrong.

You are not the problem but being tribal about all MTB'ers is wrong, there is always a minority who make everybody else look bad, just take into account that some other MTB riders will go to the same place as you, act like dicks and then you will be tarred with the same brush.

Your attitude goes no way to help this, even though you are not involved, you also have a 'so what' attitude about it all, going as far as suggesting 'stuffing leaflets up their arse' - that might lead to you being 'harrassed' in the future, in the same way you tarred all old people with the same brush you will be tarred with the same as the a*shole loudmouth group that pissed all the locals off.
  • 1 0
 @justanotherusername: I can't argue with that.

I don't tar all old people with any brush though, I am stereotyping and ridiculing community council attendees who claim to represent the community when they stand up and denigrate us, the lifeblood of the village, talking about "antisocial behaviour" and wasting police time.
Now that I think about it I don't ever see any antisocial foul-mouthed groups parking on the residential streets in Innerleithen and I'm around regularly. Its a fiction.
How should I change my attitude? What more should I do?
  • 2 1
 @Vastusaurus: I very much doubt you need to change your attitude in the real world, you are clearly not the problem here.

What you could do though is not claim that because you dont do it, nobody does and because you dont see it, it isnt happening.

You say you are around regularly, but unless you live there you cant possibly claim to experience the area in the same way as a resident. You probably dont park outside residents houses on a regular basis either.

If they feel they have an issue, right or wrong they have the right to an opinion, its up to the decent majority to show the 'bods' at council that the MTB community is full of decent people and that its the small minority of nobheads that bring it all down - I have seen them at my local trail centre, music blaring from the van, skidding and 'jbbing' all about the carpark and shouting all sorts of shit - They are having a great time together but im not sure 60yo Mavis out walking her border collie agrees.

We have to think of others, if we dont they will complain until something is legally done, like taking away trail access, reducing funding, withdrawing the ability to host events etc,

We all have to live together, if we nobody behaved like a dick we would be fine, the extreme bods and extreme tossers on the other end can get f*cked.
  • 2 0
 I get that some people may be over-reacting but if you lived there with your kids would you want to see a bunch of guys standing around in their pants giving each other a bit of 'banter'?

Its probably a small amount of sensitive people complaining about a small amount of over-loud nob-head's, always the minority that spoil things for everyone else.
  • 3 1
 They've seen Top Gun, they know what the bro-life is like
  • 2 0
 If they spent the kind of money they spent at glentress maybe this wouldn’t happen....but oh when they spent the money at glentress and got rid of Tracy and Emma the place fell on its arse...no wonder more and more people are use real trails round Innerleithen ????
  • 1 0
 spooky woods, lol Razz
  • 1 0
 Hear hear - from a decent rider-centred experience to a soulless corporate money-making machine. When I ride at Glentress I park in the toon and ride up from there. Emma even lent me a spacer off her own bike after I forgot mine after changing the fork and couldn't tighten my headset up. As for Inners, doesn't look like much if any of the money, be it FC or Council, is going back into local facilities or trails. Still one of the best places to ride DH, but that's mostly thanks to the old-skool natural trails which have been there for at least 20 years, well before MTB became a moneyspinner.
  • 3 1
 not surprised unfortunately, saw a bit on people in the uk regularly hurling cups or bottles of urine at music festivals.... please don't start that at mtb events guys. come to rallies for Donald Trump and hurl piss here instead!
  • 1 0
 The river Tweed and the 7 stanes, our Scottish Borders two tourism greatest income generators.... There's a lack of water in the Tweed of recent years and the salmon numbers are diminishing..... Simple really, pee in the Tweed!
  • 1 0
 being a frequent to inners i have hardly ever seen any of these issues, the car park is a few 100ms from the nearest house and can fit 50 cars or so ? when theres a race you have to park in town and yeah its busy and annoying but guess what i live in glasgow and when theres football on theres no f*cking way your parking anywhere near your house. you suck it up if you cant afford a house with private driveway. i think there is 2 portaloos in the car park which are minging. and most people take a piss in the woods how is that a big deal ? yeah people get changed in the car park but people do that the world over for sports and again its 100s of metres away from the nearest house. There is no facility there at all maybe build a changing/toilet/shower block and problem solved. cost what at the very most 200k like a campsite facility and have a charge for the showers. do these people really think we want to park on their streets and change outside and have no toilet when we have just driven for 4 hours to ride our bikes for 20 mins after many hours of pushing up. get a proper uplift there too. the town generates so much income from bikers take aways restraunts hotels b&bs etc etc. Of all the places to bike in scotland theres 2 uplifts fort william and glencoe both have 2 runs and some facilitys and are great except the lack of runs. ever been to the alps or that 10s of lifts and 100s of runs loads of facilitys and loads of money. this argument is a joke.
  • 5 1
 After all, who would choose to strip to the skin in a car park in January? The bike community
  • 1 0
 Someone who doesn't want to drive home wetter than an otter's pocket.
  • 5 0
 That is one really poor architectural rendering!
  • 5 0
 ahahahahaha
  • 4 0
 Best trails in the country nowhere to park or piss.?
  • 1 0
 Spot on ????don’t think the forestry has kept up with MTB trails in this area..
  • 4 0
 Brings me back to The Shore circa 2003
  • 2 0
 @sxjimmy - ha. Yes. Been there - done that.

As somebody stated above - mutual respect. Turn down the tunes, turn down the “bro” tales, turn down the suck. Simple, right?
  • 2 0
 FC and the council need to pull their fingers out and get something built, Glentress seems to get all the attention as its more family friendly.
  • 4 4
 It's evident that people there are too rich/lazy. In most places in the world local community would happily capitalize on tourism. Like maybe build a parking (you can charge for it), or build a place to change muddy and soaked cloths? But they just give a sh*t and complain instead.
  • 3 1
 There are car parks at inners and glentress that you pay for.
  • 12 2
 @poah: yea and there’s the thing, “pay for” you can park 100m along the road for free!!

Last time I checked there was no reasonable toilet anywhere near the trails in Innerleithen

Pretty certain this is about the golfie since there is nothing at all on that side

And the getting changed in public man Jesus Christ get a grip everyone has a penis or a vagina it’s not something you should be disgusted about catching a glimpse of! Better yet if it does bother you then don’t watch the Mtbers getting changed at the side of the road ya pervert.
  • 6 1
 @toad321: Golfie et al are not sanctioned trails so you wouldn't expect there to be a toilet there just like lots of other "walking" trails in Scotland. There used to be portaloo at inners. Should there be more investment probably but why would they bother unless they are getting 9mil to build chalets. Hopefully once AU get the go ahead to build their cabin at inners things will start to improve.

You don't see the vagina in a naked lady. You would see the vulva if they were shaved :p
  • 1 0
 @poah: no big enough during events for everyone tho...
  • 7 3
 @toad321: I change my clothes parked at the fish ladder twice a week and will continue to do so. I'll look forward to telling some crusty old community do-gooder to shove their 'code of conduct' leaflets up their arse too.

Like toad says, there is no toilet in the place. I park sometimes at the Traquair car park but I will never pay, at least not while there are no facilities, not even a bin! Why anyone pays is beyond me.
  • 1 0
 Spot on ????
  • 2 0
 @Vastusaurus: I agree pal. its no different to getting changed on a beach.
  • 1 0
 @Vastusaurus: luckily I’ve got a camper and can get changed in the back without a nice breeze on my bum hole!

But yea been biking ~7 years and never payed at inners, I do at Glentress if I ever go there, never at any other forestry site

Would probably choose to shit in the woods rather than a portaloo as well
  • 1 0
 @Vastusaurus: Yeah I won't pay at Traquair either. I would consider it in the future if 1) they put money back into the trails, 2) provided some decent but basic facilities, and 3) don't get greedy. The last thing we need is another monstrous overpriced 'facility' like Glentress. Inners still has good independent businesses, reasonable prices, and the the excellent I-Cycles.
  • 1 0
 @toad321: Sh*tting in the woods is pronounced camping!
  • 1 0
 What a load of media pish this story is - I believe it was just 1 person that complained to the community council not plural Blown totally out of proportion by usual media sensationalism.
  • 1 0
 Not heard of mountainbikers using public land as a toilet? If you collected the urea of all the riders who stop to pee in the woods of the Tweed Valley, you could probably fill an olympic swiming pool in a matter of weeks.
  • 1 0
 My limb origami is on point. Changing into winter tights and pants while sitting in the driver's seat? No problem.

...Oh shit, a family is parking next to me, gotta cover my junk.
  • 2 0
 cheap solution, not for 'exhibitionists' though i guess ;-) www.changeinbag.co.uk
  • 2 0
 Does a bear sh1t in the woods?
I don't know, I haven't met one to ask, but I sure do
  • 4 1
 Were they changing into of their kilts?
  • 2 0
 What's... what's that gross artificial manicured lawn next to the forest in the pic? Are those sandy bits the toilets?
  • 2 0
 I think the world is so massively populated now that there is no quiet corner of the woods to change
  • 1 0
 Welcome to Siberia, although parking lots are scarse, the only thing stopping you from getting naked or pee in the open is the cold. Population, the cities not included, probably less than 0,1 ppl/km2...
  • 1 0
 @animatedcorpse: well, here in Pisgah, if you are ever lost, desperate and alone, whip out your ding ding to take a pee and suddenly a herd of 20 strangers appear out of thin air.

I'd imagine with England & Scotland being populated for as long as they have, the difficulty in finding solitude to shine your shimmy stick is even harder.
  • 2 2
 Seems like we could reach a compromise. I think the mountain bikers should continue to do as they please, and as an act of good faith, the offended types can go fuck themselves.
  • 2 0
 Racism, architecture, festival etiquette, road tax. This comments thread really does have something for everyone
  • 1 0
 Ahhh the great UK; where you can’t swear, change clothes by your car or pee in the woods without the cops being called.
  • 1 0
 Naked bodies how terrible! Swearing OMG! I'm never going to a public pool again!
  • 1 0
 Come ride in New Mexico. We have superb trails, dry weather, and never run out of parking!
  • 1 0
 that building will be a canker on the landscape modern building styles are repugnant.
  • 1 0
 "If you build it, they will come." So add enough car parking and water closets, dammit!
  • 1 0
 Il continue to get changed in the street standing in my big IKEA bag, leave my padded inner short on.
  • 1 3
 Excuse the blatant marketing plug, but if getting changed in public whilst avoiding court orders is something you need to achieve then check out these Turkish cotton change towels, stokednz.co.nz they are super absorbent, pack up small and dry really quickly, I use mine all the time after riding to get changed. The business is run by my partner and was born from spending 5 months on a sofa recovering from a brain injury from an OTB, a portion of every sale gets put into the companies foundation and is then donated to charities including recently supporting a friend who rode across china for world bicycle relief! Cheers!
  • 1 0
 TIL: In Scotland they don't have Nextdoor.com, they just have The Pebblesshire News!
  • 1 0
 They've clearly forgotten about the age old saying: "When in doubt, cock out"
  • 1 0
 I always need a shit before a ride. Bring back the car park thunderbox then you can have my pound for parking
  • 2 1
 Its unfortunate a few selfish ignorant louts can't understand the concern over stripping down in public. Grow up.
  • 3 5
 Has anyone been to Scotland? They use their front porches as a toilet, like they'll not let it out in the woods. Local residents need to take a trip to the town centre and see what their neighbours are really like!
  • 2 1
 Caberston uplift for the lazy
  • 2 1
 nah, hard trails for hard men only!
  • 1 0
 @Vastusaurus:

it was a joke but yeah. There are ebikes instead Frown
  • 2 1
 Behave pinkbike ffs this ain't cnn
  • 1 0
 Window mounted water cannons
  • 1 0
 No nudity in car parks? What kind of world do we live in?
  • 1 0
 Scots often toss there caber in public
  • 1 0
 It seems GB ran out of actual problems.
  • 1 0
 You’ve missed Brexit, then?
  • 1 0
 @Linkpin: Nope, but I feel like it's on the same ballpark.
  • 1 0
 Interesting to see Marin County 2.0 unfolding in real time on this thread.
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