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Have there been any reports of riders being attacked or trail sabotage at OMV?
I was riding at OMV today and towards the end of Turkey Royal I had a large branch fall in my path. I was lucky that the branch fell parallel to the trail so I essentially drove it down the track rather than went over it.
I got a shock when I looked at the GoPro footage because the branch moved very quickly.
Due to the speed and light conditions its not crystal clear however for 1-2 seconds the footage shows a large dead branch stationary on the upper side of the hill and just as I approach it violently rotates and flys out onto the trail.
In slow-mo its rotation and acceleration look even more unnatural. Like it had been pulled.
Just thought I would throw it out there to see if any similar things have been reported.
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Any chance you can post the GoPro footage?
Sounds weird. My first thought would be kids being silly, but you never know.
I must say each of my 4 rides there I have had to clear the track of glass.
First time...it happens
Second time....it happens
Third time...this is annoying
Fourth....somebody does not like bike riders in their backyard!
When I read it on your website I thought it sounded a bit suspicious, I think you gotta post this video up.
there was a similar problem at Allambie heights before the present Manly Dam route was settled some years ago. They used nail boards as well as glass then at the bottom of drops. I assume it is loose talk by parents being put into action by kids. I don't believe kids would think of it on there own, and adults are unlikely to do it themselves
I wonder if you tripped a booby trap a la 'predator' style that some 'person' made? With the sheer volume of riders going around, it would need to be reset many times over. And they'd probably not like to hurt some young innocent child riding with their mum. I'm thinking it's probably kids being silly, and I'm sure they'd have been watching to see if it worked too. You may have been the target as you are an adult male. Many kids also have access to video cameras like yours so they can publish some of the things they've done on the net. So you may also end up on the other side of the lens too
But I, like many others would really like to look at the footage. Can you upload to youtube then post a link?
Here you go .. what do you reckon?
Break it out by clicking on the YouTube logo. Make sure you have it at the large size and maximum quality. GoPro in bright forest sunlight .. not so clear.
http://youtu.be/BwPCPmCJPEo
Yikes .. the HD processing isn't completed yet .. might be worth coming back later.
The shadows make it difficult.
Perhaps you've snagged a small part of the fine branches with your tyre or clipped another stick and that's transferred enough energy to make the rest of it slide down.
It doesn't look like anyone else is involved.
Which is good news ... but I can certainly see why you are scratching your head!
I would just say its been on the verge of rolling down an it happened to do so in front of you.
A couple of weeks ago I was walking with my partner and a branch fell from a tree right in front of us. If I was two steps further along it would have been a trip to the hospital.
It's a little suspicious but could also be just nature. Was there a gust of wind that could have picked it up in your path? Did the ground give way beneath it causing it to fall.
If it was intentional, did you check the branch for trip wire? It could only move without natural forces if something caused it to do so...
Could even have had a snake or other reptile basking in the sun on it that got spooked when they heard you coming...
Just for the record, I checked my previous run and the branch was already on the ground but in a different position.
I went back up to OMV today and stopped to check it out. Nothing suspicious.
I wish I could get some of that timing when it comes to buying lottery tickets.
For f&$k sake, nature my friends, branches drop 24-7 unlucky you....