Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Cyclists and dirt bike riders in Rhondda Cynon Taf are being warned to look out for barbed wire being strung across trails after horrific pictures of injuries sustained by a man due to such a trap were shared on Instagram.

The pictures show the man with around a dozen lacerations across his throat following the incident in Gelli.

It is unclear whether he was riding a bike at the time, although the Instagram user who posted the pictures warned “dirt bike riders and pedal bike riders” among others to be vigilant.

Instagram user toe_cutter_71, who posted the graphic pictures yesterday, said: “To the person who's been putting barb wire across the bike trails near Gelli in Rhondda valley ,you could of killed this man , if they catch you, god help you as you can kiss your hands goodbye and you will do jail time ... be careful dirt bike riders and pedal bike riders walkeŕs and runners !! Please share the pics and warn people to be vigilant.. ta.”

A post shared by "Buzz" (@toe_cutter_71)

It’s not the first time that barbed wire has been strung across trails the area to target cyclists, with a cyclist likewise sustaining injuries to his throat five years ago in Ton Pentre, the next door village to Gelli in the Rhondda Valley.

Ben Threlfall, owner of the Afan Valley Bike Shed near Neath, had to unwrap barbed wire from around his throat when he rode into a trap as he was leading a group ride along a forestry trail in November 2016.

“I was riding on Saturday in the Ton Pentre area, down a trail I've ridden many times, and was almost beheaded by barbed wire strung up across the trail between two trees," he said afterwards, quoted in The Mirror.

“We were on a downhill part of the trail where riders usually pick up a lot of momentum and speed.

“I was probably going at around 30kmh when I struck the barbed wire.

“It wasn't a slow impact, I hit it hard – so hard that the barbed wire snapped.

“Luckily I'm a big bloke – I'm 6ft 3ins – so it cut across my chest and shoulders first, before sliding up to my neck and wrapping around my throat.

“It threw me off my bike and I honestly thought that my head was going to fall off. I thought ‘this is the point where I'm going to die’.

“I was really, really lucky - I've been left with a couple of cuts, bruises and some soreness.

“If that had happened to someone smaller or lighter, the barbed wire wouldn't have snapped and it would have taken their heads off their shoulders.

“No doubt they would have died.

“It also happened in a quiet area of forestry, so if it had been worse, emergency services would have struggled to get there in time.

“I'd love to meet the person who did this and ask them why.

“What was going through their heads when they decided to put something as extreme as barbed wire across a track?

“Another rider told me they had found nails stuck in the ground in the same area,” he added

“Whoever is doing this, obviously wants to stop us from using the track.”

A spokeswoman for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said at the time: “The council is concerned to hear about this issue and the threat it presents to mountain bikers, dog walkers and horse-riders.

“It thanks the rider for bringing this to the attention of the community.

“All public paths, bridleways and trails in Rhondda Cynon Taf are checked and maintained on a regular basis, as part of the Council’s work to ensure people can enjoy open spaces and public rights of way safely.”

We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99. 

If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.

Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.

Nick Freeman, you are the epitome of 'ankles'....lower than a 'see you next Tuesday'.  ...

I remember work on the South Bank near a major construction site when the Southwark Council decided that no HGV of any type could await unloading...

I previously shared these ideas with Cycliq since it seems odd not to have their products collaborate, especially when it is unsafe to reach for...

It sounds like demmed whiggery I tell you...

Or just buy a less vented cheaper helmet as your winter hat ? And blow the extra £250 you've saved on coffee and cake.

Yeah leave her alone, she does her job and isn't going to cycling everywhere.

Conti Grand Prix GTs are a good halfway house. I've had them on my commuter for yonks. They're grippy (same compound as GP5000s) and feel fast....

This is a very reliable powermeter, don't know where you get the performance issues from. One of the bests, cheap compared to the 2inPower and...

Editorial, general: info [at] road.cc Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc View our media pack

Report an advert on road.cc

All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use.