Unfortunately this is nothing new, but it has been brought to our attention (thanks Farmer John) that whilst out riding up in Guisborough Woods that Trevor Young was badly injured when he hit barbed wire that someone had strung across the track. Here’s what Trevor had to say on his Facebook page:

“WARNING up in Guisborough woods people, top of concrete road, BARBED WIRE across track, as you can see face height — well for me !!! Got me right on the eyelid and mouth”.

I’m no lawyer or legal expert (and we don’t know the exact particulars of this case), but isn’t this pretty much attempted murder? Of course there have been battles on both legal and illegal tracks over the years – Google about this kind of thing and you get horror stories of ropes, chains, fishing line, razor wire and barbed wire being put across tracks in an attempt to stop mountainbikers in the past (and maybe to stop horse riders and walkers?). Of course when you are riding flat out down a track the last thing you expect is for someone to actually be trying to injure you. There have been cases where people have been killed from this kind of thing (a young MX rider in the US for instance).

Is it kids? Grumpy farm owners/land owners? Dog walkers? In truth it could be anyone. Whoever it is lacks a basic understanding of what their actions might do. Do these people really want the possibility of badly injuring someone (or worse) on their conscience?