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BMX General => BMX Chat => Topic started by: Bushwacked on May 07, 2009, 02:37 PM
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I'm really pissed off and wanted to see what you all think about this situation I've found myself in as I've got to the point where I feel like why do I bother!!!
:angrysoapbox:
Bit of a long story so bear with me.
I'm a member of the local cycling club mainly for my MTBing. Back in November the club chairman was approached by the local paper to comment on the parish council building a BMX track (well there was a lot of talk of it being a race track but turns out they were just using up some earth from some building works to give the kids something to play on, its just turned out to be about 4 times the expected size). He didn't know anything about this sort of thing as he's mainly a roadie so being the only BMXer (although I have no history like you guys) he asks me to comment and get involved.
We get a small group together and start talking about what the council should be considering to make sure it works and is safe etc. We put together a paper was going to meet the council to give it to them. But a day or two before we were going to contact them they started work...
Picture the wettest week in November and diggers trying to put together a track!!! Result was something which was a disaster, bascially unrideable and really needed starting again.
We waited to see how things were over Xmas and if anything was going to be done, as nothing happened we approached the council and said we'd like to work with them to redevelop it. We were just thinking of volunteers remodelling it over time and the council said to come up with a plan.
So I get given the project and start contacting all possible local interested parties to see what comments they had. The MTBers had some input, mainly offering their services. I contacted the BMX'ers via the local BMX webpages and just seemed to receive a whole lot of salt from them telling me to rip it down and giving me quite a lot of abuse. They seemed to have the attitude that the council owed them and even though there is no BMX race club they should get a regional level track fully finished and finely polished and put no effort in (or at least that is the perspective I've got from them). My thoughts are if everyone just criticised and sat on their asses nothing would get done, so I ignored it and carried on determined to achieve something from it and tried to get some sort of input from some of the locals who were interested. >:(
I spend a lot of time mapping out what is there, looking at the issues, looking at other tracks, contacting people to find out how to overcome or handle certain problems on the track and designing an action plan to tackle the issues.
In the meantime the local paper receive a complaint that the track is dangerous and unrideable so they have to sort something out fast.
I manage to get a meeting with two of the guys who head up the local BMX scene - a guy in his early 30s/ late 20s and another guy who was 40. We' had a really productive session and went through the issues and basically redesigned the track with it being simpler and more maintenance friendly. Things were good. :)
Because of the complaint this meeting took place the day after a meeting with the council where I had put forward my action plan and it was accepted. Because of the complaint in the local paper the council were working fast and the diggers were going in the morning after my meeting with the local riders. I end up spending all night redoing the plans to incorporate the changes and managed to get them emailed over to the contractor. Met with the builders and council that morning (Thursday) and they weren't happy with the additions but took on board the suggestions and used the new design. :daumenhoch:
So by the Friday a lot of the track was in place and over the weekend the local riders checked it out. Again I just got abuse and told to sort out A, B and C, including some quite major earth moving and shaping. What they've never understood is the council only has a small budget and can't afford to keep ploughing money into it, this was always only going to be a play track but has turned into a sizeable one.
But I take their suggestions to the council and after being threatened to be kneecapped I get told that they will splash out another days work and make the changes but it means that not everything will get done. It feels like a major victory!! :daumenhoch: :smitten:
So work continues and 90% of the suggestions get completed, the only bits which don't are removing the earth between the jumps to give the track more flow (also this had to happen because of an apparent safety issue but thanks to SE-Bmxer I know this isn't a great issue). I don't see this as a major problem as when possible we can move the earth on to the jumps to make them bigger rather than hauling it from another part of the track. Bit of track development.
So I post up on the local site and say "The major work is done, who want's to help out smoothing and shaping it?"
All I get is more abuse. Basically being told I've stolen someones ideas and then not done it properly. They are also saying that they should take matters into their own hands and get a digger down. That really pisses me off as I gave them more than one chance to get involved and now its done all they want to do is complain and bitch. They are even saying that they want to dig a race track / trails but haven't got anywhere!!! For gods sake this was offered to them on a plate but they did jack shit about it!!!
I suppose my issue is was I right to bother or are the local riders right that the council should do it all... ? I don't care about recognition for it I just want somewhere to ride and was trying to get everyones input so more people would use it. At the end of the day I'm proud of what has been done and I'm going to love riding it.
I'm just so pissed off that having had the opportunity they have not taken it and now I'm getting slated for not doing it correctly. In fact I can't tell you how pissed off I am!!!
:tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :2gunsfiring_v1: :2gunsfiring_v1: :tickedoff: :tickedoff: :tickedoff:
Anyway here are some photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushwacked/sets/72157617687804033/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bushwacked/sets/72157617687804033/)
Like I say some work left to be done.
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MATE BY THE LOOKS OF THINGS YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF! (ooops caps lock)
the kids you've asked just need a good shoeing! spoilt little shytes mate, like you say....they had plenty of oppotunities to get involved...they just can't be arsed and enjoy moaning about it.
fook em!
without the likes of yourself nowt gets done!
pat on the back mate :daumenhoch:
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If that track apperared in my town I'd be well chuffed.
B**l0cks to all the negative people who have been giving you grief. You should be proud of your hard work - well done mate. :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch:
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It sounds like you have had your work cut out with little or no help at all, good on you for trying; keep it up and you will prevail :daumenhoch:.
Some people just love to complain, they won't get off their arses to help out or do anything themselves and will criticise the efforts others put in. I would ask them to a meeting to discuss their issues and for them to put their money where their mouth is; put up or shut up time for them.
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Cheers, I've started thinking what I've done is crap and pointless. Although some mates were riding it last night and said it was good espescially the berms and some local kids were loving it.
That's the thing, if something like this was built on my doorstep when I was growing up I would have been on it all the time (sadly nothing like this was ever near my doorstep in any of the places I lived when I was growing up - you got to love Industrial town and rural lincolnshire!) It does make me think they are acting a little spoilt.
If they want to put their money where their mouth is I'll happily let them get involved as long as they repair it if it goes tits up in their hands.
;)
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Like the other post here. If that turned up on my door step i would be happy.
A huge pat on the back for your hard work. And if those lazy fookers that didn't what to help you, just give you abuse and don't like it.
Then that means only one thing! More room on the track for you mate. :daumenhoch: :daumenhoch:
Well done...... :)
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:) Looks like you`ve done OK,something is always better than nothing.Tell the ungrateful scrotes that they don`t have to ride it.
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The local scrotes obviously want a proper set of trails, without doing the work. You get a load of them turning up when we've been digging at Epsom, and they just don't get the whole, put the work in, reap the benefit.
Epsom after many years is now locked up because of it, so when the kids turn up they have to help water, sweep and pack anything that needs doing before the locks come off and they get to ride. To their credit they do it.
Keep going mate, people in authority(even if only perceived authority) are always going to cop shite from the kids.
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These youths need to realise - you only get what you put in.
You've done a great job and stuck your neck right out and deserve props for this.
You can't expect everyone to be happy but you can expect, no demand respect.
Where abouts are you again? Get a meeting together at the track one night perhaps? I'm happy to come down and give a reasoned view.
At the end of the day - it exists now because of you. They need to reaslise that.
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Bushwacked - It looks like you've done an excellent job so far.
If you can find it in you, keep going until the job is done....
Then if your still not happy, walk away, be happy with your achievement and don't let anyone say different.
You'll be surprised how peoples reactions and attitudes change once they've been and experienced it for themselves.
Good work - Chin up :daumenhoch:
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:daumenhoch: :smitten:
Cheers for the feedback.
Off to meet the moaning ones at the track to discuss. I can't say I'm looking forward to it!!!
B
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Well done maqte - its always hard to be the one to stand up and be counted - csome people will never be happy. Its a pretty safe bet that those gobshites who give you grief wont even be riding ina few years time, so sod em. Its superb what youve done... im about to embark on a very very similar project myself so will keep you posted!
steve
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a job well done there mr , my son & his mates would love something like that near us north yorks, they try every year to make a track in the local woods allways gets vandalised
keep up the good work
mark
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Fair play mate - I looks like you've done an excellent job and seized an opportunity when it came your way.
I have the feeling that hard work and dedication tends to come with age - I remember being an ungrateful little sod when I was in my teens - looking back I really didn't know how lucky I was.
So basically sod the kids, you've done a great job, and you should feel very pleased with yourself.
:daumenhoch:
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IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
RUDYARD KIPLING
1865-1936
Chin up fella :daumenhoch:
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Track looks good, wish somone would do somthing like that in my area :daumenhoch:
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Bush, I've been working away alot recently, but I did visit the site and bump into some of these so called Bmx'ers. The overall feeling I get is they were expecting some sort of trails type track with big jumps and stuff, unridable in a race type scenario. They were slagging off everything from the design to the quality..yet funnily enough when I asked them if they had helped, or offered help with either...they shrugged their shoulders and said "No,like" :LolLolLolLol:
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Cheers guys for the boost. :smitten:
BrandyTruffle - Tell me about it, they want everyone to do the work but themselves!!! Met the "head" guy and another BMXer from the local scene last night and they just can't see the positive in what has been achieved and are totally ungrateful. In fact what got my goat even more was I got back (after riding and enjoying it for an hour on my MTB) I found the head guy had posted up on the local BMX website saying that one of them I met is running it now. Like bugger he will, he might be representing his group but with other people interested in this he can help out and get his guys to work on it, but I've done too much on this just to step back and hand it over because someone says so!! Why do people want to take over when the hard work is done??!!
:angrysoapbox: :tickedoff: :angrysoapbox: :tickedoff: :angrysoapbox:
Anyway, rode it for the first time last night on my MTB and its highlighted areas which need tweaking but I loved it. Its going to ride sweet onces its had some of the final work done.
:daumenhoch:
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Bushy.......can you post up the link to the 'locals' web site so we can all get on there and give you some credit :daumenhoch:
show the little fookers who's the boss!
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Yeah, its CheltBMX.com
GC / The Warden is the head honcho guy.
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Just had a good read on cheltbmx.com
AAAAHHHH :angrysoapbox: :angrysoapbox: :knuppel2: :knuppel2:
That has made me mad. So i posted this.
You jumped up lil ------. No respect what ever. If Bushwacked and those who helped, didn't start this track, you would never have done anything yourselves. You want to be careful with what you say. Because if it wasn't for all these older men in their posh cars who take pictures of bikes in their bedrooms. BMX might not be around anymore. What age group do you think make the bmx's of today you _____????
Just get you ass out the chair and chat with the hard working lot and help to change the track then .....
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Glad that you can see what I've been up against.
Luckily I'm also representing a few other areas, including the local MTBers, the Local cycling club and the general community. If the BMXers had been even half as positive as the others it would be no problem.
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:tickedoff: i just posted a reply and now it's gone! >:(
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:tickedoff: i just posted a reply and now it's gone! >:(
Yeah i bet mine will be gone soon..
At least one or two might get to read them.... ;D
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how old is that WARDEN guy? he sounds like a right twonk!
and what's with all the swearing on there? don't they have any decorem? :LolLolLolLol:
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Seriously, they've been removed!!! LOL!!!
Looks like there is one side to every story! :2funny:
Pickle me old mucker, what did you put?
This has cheered me up no end! :smitten: :daumenhoch:
The Warden is 40.
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i only wrote this....
Hey Barnaby.....looks like you've done a great job there! nice to see someone getting off their backside and actually doing something like this. such a shame though that mindless idiots seem content on moaning about how this is wrong, or that is wrong......for crying out loud......constructive critisism is great, but endless drivel about how you're hard done by and that you've not been given the recognition is useless and counter productive.
well done Barnaby!! keep it up mate and don't get put off by the idiots trying to put your great efforts down!
I was then going to add as people responded but taking them off is bad! :tickedoff:
That warden bloke is 40! he writes like a twonk :2gunsfiring_v1: i bet he was bullied at school and a bed wetter!
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:LolLolLolLol: it's on there twice now! :LolLolLolLol:
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PMSL.
Will be interesting to see what response you get.
I personally have given up on them and am not visiting the site in the near future. I'm really glad this James baker guy is going to deal with that side of things as while they helped design the track even getting them to input on that has been a proper mission - I can see Holllywood making a film about it "A track too far"
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Mate, well done and don't let the Bastards get you down.
Too few 'social pillars' about these days.
Are you in Cheltenham BTW?
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Cheers Timmeh - Yeah, I'm in Cheltenham, why do you ask?
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good on ya matey :daumenhoch:
its nice to see a council actually putting some input in to a track .
as for the nobbers who say this is wrong this jump is too low or what ever tell em bol***cks
if they got off there arse and helped out manually and not stand in the background looking on ,giving so called critisism they would get what they want.
(everybodys an expert springs to mind)
well done dude .
when we were kids back in 83 we did a little track ( more of a straight run) with bomb hole's table tops we even contructed our own starting gate.
we borrowed our parents spades and shovals ,did all the digging our selfs we were probably only about 10 -12 years of age and we spent a good few weeks of that summer it was the best year when we were kids.
we used to have people from the local holiday park (caravan site)watch us for ages and commented to us how well we did.
it was brill .
well after a few weeks summer holidays over we went back to school and the first day back we came home to find the council flatened it .
we were gutted .
we found out that some local do gooder complaind it was to close to a foot path and it was to dangerous for him to walk his dog with all those troubelsome bmx'ers. :police:
its no wonder nothing gets done .
i carnt believe now that they have plans to put up a bmx/skatepark where we live ,it will be great for the kids .
but read in last weeks journal that there low on funds .
(talk about getting kids hope up and then pis**ing on them)and mine >:(
like i say well done and i hope it gets used. :daumenhoch:
(sorry to go on by the way rant over )
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Nice one Barnaby good work mate, I've still not picked up my shovel to start my jump spot.
Barby down there then, next bank holiday?
RAd Jam & Barn-a-b-q! :LolLolLolLol:
let's do it.
I'd love to get over one of those jumps.
I don't care 'bout the the clothes you wear it's the size of your heart not the length of your hair - Sucidal Tendencies
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a dam good idea Joe! come on then......when is it going to be?? :daumenhoch:
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Burner gx - Think the council pissing on bonfires previously has led to the bad mouthing on this project, but what gets me is they get given the chance to get involved, don't, then complain its not right and in almost the same post say they want to build a racetrack / jumps.... :wtf:
Barna-b-q :LolLolLolLol:
Well we are planning an open day / skills day some time soon once the track is more rideable (I'm going down in a bit to do some work on it) so perhaps we can do it then.
SEBmxer has said he'll see if he can get some of the team riders down with the awnings etc. Could be good.
:daumenhoch:
B
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That track looks great, you ought to be proud of yourself, fella, it's a really good job :daumenhoch:
And thumbs up to the council too. :daumenhoch:
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Looks like you're doing a blinding job , don't let the cnuts get you down ;) .
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You ought to tap up Uncle Buck on BMXTALK (Scott Dick) for a few contacts and some pointers; he knows anyone who is anyone and most people who are no-one so may be able to offer some help/advice :daumenhoch:.
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That is a million times better then anything around here.
At the end of the day you have built a track for you and your mates!!!
Fook the rest of them...Nice one mate well done.... :daumenhoch:
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It's very often a thankless task sadly....
My vert ramp back in the 90s was one of only two indoor verts in the whole country and I still recieved a large amount of grief over it.
Later in the 90s I was offered complete control of a council bmx track in my local area. Resources were available and the council were keen to see summat done. I'm no racer or trail rider, just someone prepared to get involved. When I spoke to the locals about having a few work parties over there and getting some stuff dug, non of them could be arsed.
Part of the problem is people do want everything on a plate. The other thing I noticed with my vert ramp was a number of people who looked at me (old, dirty mechanic at the time, not very bmx looking) didn't think I was in it for the right reasons, like I was simply trying to make money from it or something.
Funny how most of those same riders have disappeared from riding now and I'm still here...
Fcuk em all. Build it for yourself and be selfish. They'll soon learn that you reap what you sow.
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Wise words Bob, cheers. Everyone wants everything on a plate!!!
When I met them the other day one thing they said to me was "I just can't understand that you're not connected to the council and just want to do it for the love of riding"
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Their loss. They'll miss it when it's gone - or when you tell then to fcuk off.......
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Got a phone message earlier today - the head honcho guy has said he'll pay for a digger to come in on Friday to make some changes he thinks need doing.
Not quite sure what to make of that. :-\
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There can only be one head honcho guy calling the shots bud - if it's him, or he's planning on making it him, then you have a decision to make..
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I know, decision time.
It's just annoying after all the effort I've put in over the last 6 months that he is trying to muscle in now the hard work has been done >:(
But if the track ends up being better for this extra work then fair enough, I'm slightly worried it won't but I'll discuss and see what is what. I've drawn up my own plans on how to make the track work better now the diggers have gone and I like to think we can work together to make sure it is as good as it can be for everyone, not just the small group of BMXers he represents locally.
B
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Hi bush i'ts 1 steve
As before bud thanks for the track dont worry. We have been up the track 2ngt again in the RAIN and had a top ride ... THANKS SNIFF SNIFF UP YOUR ARSE..
I have to saye cheltbmx are somthing else or is it me ? seems if your not in the gang the shits in ya face all the time.. We will be up the track again next thursday rain or shine ? about 7.30 ish, Would be great to see you. Yes the track needs this and that but so what we have a track happy days .. top job keep it up .. if ok with you i could explain a few things that could work, simple to... There is about 5 of us that go on a thursday if you need a ride i have bike you can use.. :daumenhoch:
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He wunts to turn it into a jump park ! nonononononon thay have ther own jump park ! yes move things but not a jump park :tickedoff:
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Steve, good to see you on here. Great site.
CheltBMX have their hearts inthe right place but it is proper "if you're names not down your not coming in". Stopped using their site after I posted last as I got too fed up with trying my best to get them involved and just getting shit all the time, even the council has said they are acting like spoilt brats over this. Its a shame as the new design was mainly down to finally sitting down with them and putting pen to paper. I've blocked it on my firewall to resist the temptation to read all the salt about what has been achieved up there. What's the latest they've been saying about it?
Apparently the council don't want anyone working up there unless I'm with them, so beware if you are working up there. Happy to try to meet up one Thursday although it clashes with the MTB riding I do. We're hoping to get up there most mondays to do some work and then ride depending on the weather.
Would be good to meet you as the more people we can get involved in this the better - I'd love to see it develop into a bit of a club / regular thing as it is something that is missing from the area. If it did I'd love to have a "all are welcome" policy. I've been asked a few times recently where friends kids can learn how to ride BMX properly.
Track needs some TLC and I've had approval for some finishing touches but nothing major, mainly shaping jumps and packing down here and there.
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Same old bull from chelt bmx im afraid , insults at me ect ect your 40 your not in our family dont come on here pushing around your idears and also im a dick !!!! ? lol
Did invite all of um up the track to express :knuppel2: this to me but no show lol. ANYWAY yes will pop up monday bud would be good to see you what time ? you from cleeve.
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Going to aim to get there for 6pm if not earlier (although have to make sure I'm not "booked" in to do something by the other half).
Don't know why CheltBMX call themselves CheltBMX - I get the feeling its only for a select few BMX riders in Cheltenham. I give them their props - they can ride really well and a few of them are sound to chat to. But at the end of the day most of them are just kids who ride for themselves and don't see that they can put something back into it for the next generation of riders.
I live in Chelt.
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What happened to all the insults posted earlier from the warden?
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I think there are in the the track safety thread.
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I think there are in the the track safety thread.
;D cheers Dex
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Good to see ya bush ! We will have that track spot on soon budy .... long last someone with a brain on this track sorting it ;). And this old school rider might show you some old school riding :LolLolLolLol: :4_17_5:
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Cheers - Yeah, think we'll have it sorted in a few weeks, coming together nicely so far. I'm surprised that on the whole the drainage is quite good but obviously we need to sort out those problem areas.
Can't wait to see you old school riding, especially that trick you were telling me about last night - what was it??? Something like an X-up to Faceplant!!!
:LolLolLolLol:
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YA BOY ! Walkt into that 1 8) big time m8 >>>> Good news will have 3 peps on monday to help out .. dont fget its a bank holiday sweeeet .