"My personal opinion is that if ain't paved, keep your goddamn bicycles off of it." Ken Fortenberry, kenfortenberry@ameritech.net.
"Wildlife needs to have a life cycle, which includes death" Jeffrey W. Ryan, mountain biker, jeffryan@ispchannel.com.
"The Bible (KJV) clearly states that this earth is meant for us humans to use... or as it says to 'subdue' it and have 'dominion' over it and the animals here. I believe that to be true. Humans have precidence over animals. The animals exist, as do the other components of the earth, for us." John Morgan, johnm-ii@home.com, mountain biker
"Mountainbiking is restricted often for the right reasons: Hikers need a place to find tranquility." Paul Nam, vocinam@yahoo.com, mountain biker 1.
"It is important to note that footpaths are ‘boring’ for MTB’ers", Adam Reynolds says: , mountain biker
"What Mike has expressed at length, Colin Fletcher summed up pithily in his well-known Law of Inverse Appreciation. Basically, it holds that the more sophisticated your means of travel, the more removed you become from the landscape through which you pass. Mentally removed, that is. One might express a corollary that would hold that the more mechanized your form of transportation, the more damage you do to the environment, and the less you realize it." Bill
"Of all the people who resort to the landscape of a park, much the largest number enter on foot. This, indeed is as it should be; since it is really impossible to thoroughly enjoy scenery except when moving slowly, as in walking...." "If, as seems obvious, both carriage roads and bridle-paths are objectionable in parks, it is plain that special bicycle paths would be still more so. The bicycle is a silent steed, and one which moves with much more dangerous rapidity than either the driving or the saddle horse...In other words, a park is a preserve of scenery; and as such it is no place for the driver's speedway, the rider's race-course, or the bicycler's scorching-track.” Source: Charles Eliot, letter to chairman of the Boston Park Commission, May 21, 1896, regarding the newly created parks such as the Fells and the Blue Hills Reservations. From Charles Eliot - Landscape Architect, Charles W. Eliot, pp. 626-627.
"There really isn't any erosion," [Mark] Farriester [of Modesto] said. "Bicycles can't cause erosion." Jim Haggen-Smit, California representative for the International Mountain Bicycling Association, agreed. He said off-road trails and environmental protection can co-exist. Haggen-Smit said he wants all parties to come together and help determine how to correctly build dirt trails. He stressed the most important detail is to keep trails well maintained. The real culprits of erosion, Haggen-Smit said, are water and bad maintenance.
"I object to Pete Siemens' characterization of bicycles as vehicles. According to the State Vehicle Code, bicycles are not vehicles, but are devices with all the rights and responsibilities of vehicles. I would be happy to find the specific Code and submit them to the Board. Therefore, I respectfully request that Pete Seimens retract his statements that bicycles are off-road vehicles - they are not." Danielle Weber, DVM
"We must learn to interact effectively with nature. By simply banning mountain biking, we are avoiding a continual relationship with the natural environment. Mountain biking cannot be banned; if so, future generations will no longer be able to experience the magnificent opportunities awaiting them." Daniel Keefer [They can't WALK?!]
"If a tree or two has to be sacrificed to build a good and sustainable trail, then so be it". Woody Keen, ascentdesc@citcom.net, mountain biker
He said he continues to ride because he loves it. “It’s just such a fun feeling flying through the air, racing down the mountain. It’s an adrenaline rush that nothing else gives me,” Mason said. https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2020/01/06/downhill-mountain-biker-hopes-to-boost-sport-s-popularity
Mike Zobbe has been there since the beginning. Why? "Cause I like mountain biking. It's totally selfish." http://www.summitdaily.com/news/17800440-113/why-mtb-groups-and-environmental-advocates-should-compromise
"By the way, theres a biological need for dead plants." Dennis Ouellette, mountain biker, User720077@aol.com
"Downhill biking can be considered as an extreme sport with a high risk of injury" British Journal of Sports Medicine
"Being out on the trail, in the open, not really worrying about anything and going super fast, that is the best thing ever," said Nick Tribble, a senior at Casa Grande High School and a four-year member of the Gauchos mountain bike squad
"Remember, access is the is the whole point of our efforts" Jon Sundquist, East Aurora, NY, mountain biker
"As always, we encourage racers to shralp the trails as hard as they wish while maintaining a positive vibe" Jeff Stromgren - BC Bike Race
"I fear greatly that I need to check myself before I wreck myself." Mountain biker
"Driving to trailheads is my biggest gas consumption, so biking actually increases my gas usage" Preston Peterson "I was putting a lot of miles on my car in the quest for dirt under my tires." Mike Zobbe, mountain biker
"Often our mountain bike trails are seen as a playground, an amusement park of sorts, they're there 'for us' so 'we' can get a quick buzz and a thrill." Ryan Leech, mountain biker
"It amazes me that people think rules don't apply to them” bmarshall3rd@gmail.com, mountain biker
"We've all got the same mindset, which is, 'I'm getting downhill as fast as possible, no matter what'" Ben Cruz, mountain biker
"Seems to me that our best biking is in logging areas? I'd rather have
logging than wilderness that I am not allowed in." Nick Valison,
nickv_usa@yahoo.com
"Illegal trails are necessary to grow the sport." Danielle Baker, mountain biker.
"Faster is not always better, but it's always more fun." mountain biker
“I just like the adrenaline,” 13-year-old rider Taylor Brown says
"Parks are for recreation, not natural preservation." Ken Chrisman, Mountain biker, Monterey County
"Mountain biking is an extreme sport, so I've had a good few crashes over the years. I have broken my wrist, arm, hand, fingers, and foot, dislocated both shoulders and fractured my kneecap." Colin Ross, mountain biker
"Mountain biking is an extreme sport. The risk is very high. I have gotten 2 concussions, broke both feet, and broken my leg. The sport is just so fun I couldn't stop. The energy rush of flying through the air can not be compared to anything else for me." Eric Marciniak, mountain biker
"mountain biking in designated wilderness and national parks is like playing tackle football in a historical museum" Larry, http://www.thewildlifenews.com
Damian Sanders, mountain biker: "Seriously, what's wrong with erosion? It's nature taking it's course, trail or not."
"Mountain biking is inherently dangerous", Rick Green, http://www.ctnow.com/news/connecticut/hc-green-mdc0716-20100715,0,6316655.column
"If you want to continue with your hobby, you're forced to go into this rogue criminal activity" Matt Dibattista, mountain biker
"im sitting at home with a seperated [sic] shoulder because the rangers thought it would be cool to put up branches in highspeed corners to stop us from riding illegal trails" novatopedaler mtbr member
"I don't understand why our desires always need to be paramount. Can't we give wildlife a break in some areas? I love wilderness, and even though I'm an avid mountain biker, I don't want to see machines of any kind in the wilderness.
There should be some areas, some large and continuous areas where we are NOT the masters of everything, having our recreational way with every trail. We enter wilderness on wild terms. This land belongs to all of us, but it really belongs to wildlife, and we are their guests.
I am in complete support of wilderness on Basalt Mountain, coming all the way down to the DOW land, as close as possible to town. The Basalt side of this mountain is roadless, rocky, steep and wonderfully wild, and I for one will campaign to keep it that way.
If you think we should greatly expand our inventory of mountain bike trails, I suggest getting seriously involved with Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, and volunteering to maintain some of the trails we already have. It helps you appreciate riding these trails more often, rather than creating new ones that we don't have the resources to maintain."
Michael Thompson
Basalt
"Because of these regulations we the users normal every day citizens have to break the law to enjoy this hobby" Michael Town, mountain biker
"Some riders don’t like to operate in this uncertain zone, and they are likely smarter than the rest of us (aversion to risk is in our DNA, which is one reason your ancestors survived to pass their genes on). These sensible riders frequent trails they can always clean so they lack this binary measure of success. And there is nothing wrong with that (I spend much more time riding like this than in the past), but some of us need that charge; that buzz from conquering a move when significant portions are our brain are screaming at us to back away." Cam McRae, mountain biker
"Behan, Richards, and Lee (2001) found that pedestrians valued spiritual benefits more than mountain bikers did, as it was easier for non-mechanized travelers to focus on nature."
"It would be hypocritical not to acknowledge that we as mountain bikers have our own issues with poaching, illegally built trails and just plain rude behavior." Bob Allen, mountain biker
"As we all know, mountain biking is addicting", Austin McInerny, mountain biking coach
"Any form of mountain biking is not a crime." Josh Moore, mtbikes@gmail.com, mountain biker
"Dad, this just isn't any fun." kid forced to hike on a trail where mountain bikes are allowed (and having to frequently jump out of their way)
"Trail spokesperson Tim Hoskin said shared use trails, as they're known, don't work."
"Night riding should be on all mountain biker's to-do lists" Graeme Simpson, mountain biker
"I caught up with a group of hikers, and I was really sorry when their llama was the first to hear me and bolted in its master, who was thrust forward about three steps. It is amazing how easy
it was to startle a draft animal." Josh Moore, josh_moore@comcast.net
"Some riders are out there using their bikes to enjoy the open space, but
others are just using the open space to enjoy their bikes. This latter group
tends to be the least informed about the land, who owns it, who takes care of
it, what lives there, and what damage can be caused by their presence. Educating
this group can be difficult, because they have little interest in the land to
begin with." Charles Jalgunas, imahorse@stanford.edu
"With running I could never go the distances I can on a bike." Melanie Meyers
"I’m addicted to mountain biking" Mike Zobbe
Greg Heil, editor-in-chief for "Singletracks" (a premiere mountain bike magazine), has written, "The fact is, mountain biking is a very dangerous sport."
"I love the adrenaline of riding. I get a real rush. ... It kind of got me hooked” Joshua Sek, mountain biker
"While I was growing up, I skateboarded, I surfed, I had road bikes and mountain bikes. I have always been addicted to the adrenaline rush.” Lynwood Lockwood, mountain biker
"Theres nothing better than a nice cold beer after a long ride." Nico Drexler, mountain biker
"Virtually all of Greater Boston's local bike shops depend upon Mountain
Biking to stay afloat." http://www.sharethefells.org/busines.htm
"Bikers tend to blow by anything, however interesting, when they are enjoying a downhill run." Dan Harrison (dharrisn@hfcc.net), IMBA rep for Michigan
"Trails sustain our mountain biking experience. Without them all we would have is some really expensive fat-tire bicycles with nowhere to go. … Despite what some people say trail users, be it mountain bikes or horses or hikers, don’t create erosion. What causes the bulk of erosion is water." Seb Kemp
"I also wonder if you realize that there is more to life than looking at
things. You reiterate numerous times on your website that bikers are going to
fast to see nature. I don't see why this is so bad. The reason I mountain bike
is not to look at nature, it is to have fun. Having fun is pretty cool, you
should try it sometime. also, you say all bikers would have access to all trails
if only they would choose to walk. You are missing the point. We find walking
too boring." Caley Fretz, yelac22@adelphia.net
"The majority of mountain bicyclists are not following a regulation or
standard trail etiquette guidelines",
http://www.imba.com/resources/science/trail_etiquette.html
"Hello, Nice web site. You've taken up a cause. You're fighting for your
beliefs. You are saving others from a certain horrible doom. What is this thing
that will destroy our environment, livelihood, and possibly take our lives? Is
is HIV, cancer, or possibly mass starvation? No. Do we fear blackouts, old age,
or government corruption? No. What Evil lurks beneath the waters, waiting to
destroy all we hold dear? TRAIL RUTS!!!(Scary music playing in the background)
OH NO! Trail ruts! Erosion! SILT! How can we ever survive? What to do? What to
do! Can't you people worry about something important? Get a life." Mike
Estvanic, estvanic@bright.net
"Mountain biking is all about suffering.” Ryan Szabo, mountain biker
"Soil compaction? Mike, if mountain bikes are compafcting the soil, then your
recurring claims of erosion must be unfounded. As a civil engineer with a
concentration in soils engineering, I can tell you that soil compaction and soil
erosion are quite different and that if mountain bikes are compacting the soil,
they are not eroding it." Shaun Reid, trailrider@MINDSPRING.COM
City of Montreal: "Mountain biking is harmful to the natural environment in nature parks. Mountain bikes exert an enormous amount of pressure on the natural environment and contribute to its destruction. Leaving the trails creates ridges, destroys vegetation and leads to erosion and soil compression." http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/portal/page?_dad=portal&_pageid=175,1722397&_schema=PORTAL
"Much as I'd like to disagree with Richard, his points are valid. I got to
thinking about where I like to hike and it's not on trails open to mountain
biking. Mountain bikes are invasive; they're fast, silent and the
minority that rides like idiots is out there often enough to wreck it for the
hikers. Even if they don't see one each time out, having had a bad experience
can make them apprehensive and fearful. Hikers do need some trails that are not
used by mountain bikes." Mark Flint markflint@earthlink.net, mountain biker
"I don't agree with the logic of the Horse people on this issue. First of all the reason rogue percentages are higher among mountain bikers compared to other user groups is obvious: We're the ones that are excluded from the most trails." Shane Reed, Shane Reed, shaner@brocade.com, mountain biker
"I'm a mountain biker and a Wilderness advocate and I say no way! Why can't we understand that as mountain bikers we have complete and total access to Wilderness already. Why do we have to run the risk of ruining the holy places for a thrill? This idea is hypocrisy at its worst and yes it is a pandora's box, no way around that disgusting fact. If you want Wilderness just walk or ride a horse. Don't ruin it!" GRB123
"Yeah, I love riding my bike and I've planned and built more than a few trails in my day, but I don't think we need trails everywhere. Considered restraint isn't a bad thing in my book. Shows maturity and thoughtfulness", mountain biker
"No one will argue that bikes don't do more damage than hikers. That's obvious."
Thomas Bennett (DavidMakalaster), mountain biker
"Mountain biker Glenn Fiedler, who came from Texas to ride Mount Tam, complained a 15 mile speed limit would ruin the sport for bikers"
"With this [e-bike] you can ride consecutive days and cover [but not see] a lot more ground." Tyler Flaming, mountain biker
"Exposed tree roots on a Mosgiel track present an impediment to mountain bikers, an enthusiast says"
"It my perspective that hiking only trails retain the narrow back-coutry
character as opposed to the multi-use highways. This is what I want when I am
backpacking. Trails with this character should not have to be sacrificed for the
sake of multi-use. As a trail maintainer, it is my first hand experience that
narrow single track gets widened by multi-use." Norm nalbrecht@att.net, mountain
biker
"non-riders know it's a trail with heavy bike use and tend to avoid that trail" Philip Darst, pdarst@gmail.com, mountain biker
"Unless activities involve mountain bikes and/or parks open to bikes, we do
not get involved. We use the trails and parks to enjoy our mountain bikes. We do
not use our bikes to enjoy the trails and parks. This is the source of 99% of
our problems as a user group." Patty Ciesla, mountain biker
"Even if the trails close they will be still ridden there isn't enough monies
in the budget of any state to hire enough enforcement. So have your dreams but
realize they are only that. Hopefully some night while your dreaming your little
dream you'll see me flying across the sky on my bike kindly giving you a one
finger salute!" huckster@hotmail.com
"MTB's allow many times more people to visit public lands then would without
MTB's." Tom Kunich, cyclintom@yahoo.com, mountain biker
"Flowing 18" wide singletrack is fun. Straight, wide trails and most
fireroads are boring, especially when ridden under the posted speed limit." Ben,
onespd@cs.com, mountain biker
""""Just go to any and all Mt bike magazines on Facebook. It’s a steady stream of videos and commentary about shredding, Ripping, blasting down, dropping, etc, beaming, chainsawing, nailing, screwing, building. I love Mt biking, I ride almost everyday, but Mt biking is incredibly destructive, no matter which way you look at it. Hardly gentle in any way to the environment. Not to mention, fast, on your left mentality. Once they take over, it’s all theirs." TimVoth, mountain biker
If anything, mountain biking is positive for the environment. When a person
decides to go out and mountain bike in nature, they are experienceing the beauty
of nature in all it's aspects. Mountain bikers gain a respect for nature. While
they are riding they gain an appreciation for nature. This appreciation is
not present in a person who does not interact with nature in the way a mountain
biker does. People who interact with nature are often prone to being
proactive to save it. Such clothing manufacturers as Patagonia, who provide
clothing for mountain bikers as well as other outdoor sports, are extremely
proactive in preserving an protecting the environment. If more people became
mountain bikers, then more people would truely understand nature and be more
willing to be proactive in preserving it." proneax@rochester.rr.com
"Personally, I won't ever support a wilderness area until the day mountain
bikes are allowed to use them". Anthony L. Cree, acree@prodigy.net, mountain
biker
"I am an archaeologist for the US Forest Service, and an avid mt.
biker. ... In my professional capacity, I am constantly monitoring the effects
human behavior has on archaeological resources. What recreational activities
damage them, and how can that damage be mitigated? As an advocate of our sport
in the Recreation section of our forest, I must at times painfully admit that
irresponsible mt. biking can damage fragile resources." Mark Martin,
mmartin@infi.net
http://bb.nsmb.com/showthread.php?t=134599
To whoever is ripping down the DNV closed trails signs!! On our ride up we saw the closed trail signs on jerry rig and pink starfish ripped down and thrown into the bushes, to whoever is stupid enough to do that cut it out its super lame its closed for a reason. Hey I know the DNV isnt in everybodys good books but fromme is gonna get improved and thats a good thing for the mountain. Ripping down closed signs and riding trails like pink starfish when its back under construction is disrespectful there's plenty of trails that you could ride for the time being. Sorry for the long rant but I dont want to see anyone getting hurt on unfinished stunts/trail.
"Just as a note of interest, but this is why I wear a full face helmet when I ride, even on the road. I had my face sewn back on in 2001 and that's an experience best "enjoyed" only once." mountain biker
"I don't like ... slowing down for hikers oblivious to their surroundings"
ANTHONY CREE acree@prodigy.net
"Simple solution: just get up earlier than the lazy rangers, hikers and equestrians and ride wherever you want without worrying about it. sheesh. Ridin' down in PTown
Pacifica, Ca"
"Mountain biking is not appropriate for a nature preserve" Christine Levin
"It is a sport often enjoyed outside the law and off trail", said Kathy Valle, the leading opponent of mountain biking in the woods
"There's no greater feeling than exploring the natural world on knobby tires" IMBA
"A mountain biker, who did not wish to be named, said that he did appreciate that damage could be done by off-trail riders"
"For every one of us that do promote this sport responsibly there are
probably 1000 idiots out there". John Silva, woodjazz@prodigy.net, mountain
biker
"Mountain bikers are people too...so are joggers, but not as much as US!" mountain biker
"Some people think I'm crazy to occasionally drive 180 miles to ride a
mountain bike in Miami Beach when we have so many great trails nearby but it's
worth it." Bob Michaels "Yup Mikey, I do advocate riding where you feel you want. It is a right of
everyone to ride on this earth, and it is not for the Mike Vaderman's or the
Senator Boxers to tell me what to do, when to do it, or how to do it."
allstar@ddminc.net
Patrick Emerson wore his full-face helmet and body armor. His voice, muffled inside his helmet, rang with adrenaline. "These trails are radical,” he said. "You can catch a lot of air.” http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20150913/NEWS01/150919831/-1/taxonomy/Mountain-bikers-go-with-the-flow-
"Mountain-bike racing is like hurtling a rally car down a cliff"
"There are two types of Mountain Biker, those who have fallen… and those who are going to.” mountain biker
"It is a very significant flaw of the Wilderness act that it shuts out
mountain bikers and others" [HOW? Can't they WALK?!] John Gardiner
john@johngardiner.com, mountain biker
"Yeah, it was full contact, face to rock, says Vanessa Murphy, sporting a shiner that elicits respect from other mountain bikers. Cool. Nice, echoes Araxi waiter Andrew, displaying his own scabby road rash."
"Josie took me on a ride in the pouring rain. I was drenched, cold, and covered in mud but smiling and I realized then that I loved mountain biking." Sarah Ogden, mountain biker
"Personally, I don't care if bears are disrupted. Why should I? Same
goes for deer, squirrels, mice and, of course, hikers. See, I have
just as much right, as an inhabitant of this planet and so long as
that use is within the parameters of the law, to use its resources as
I see fit. Bears, squirrels, mice and hikers be damned. This is one of
the advantages of being at the top of the food chain -- everything
else either has to adapt to us being there or die. If they opt for
death, well, that's natural selection, isn't it." Ken B ken_98765_b@comcast.net,
mountain biker
"On the descent, scenery becomes an unnoticed blur." J Cass, casscade30@yahoo.com
"With mountain biking, you have to focus on what's in front of you or you're going to crash," she said. "Every time I'm out on my bike, it's a mix of fear and adrenaline, but I absolutely love it." Kellie Muddiman
"I also love the added technical difficulty of mud and
wet roots that can bring mellow trails up a notch." Linda Bikes
"I also loved my Henery [sic] Coe ride because it too had not only
challenging terrain with steep decents, but no people (I saw five outside of the
three of us ridding [sic]) so I could push it as far as I wanted and still not
worry about other trail folk." Sean Thorniley, managreen@jps.net
"By the way, I find it hard to dispute the notion that there are sensitive
areas that should see no bikes, dogs or horses. Some that should see no
humans, especially since we tend to show up in huge Vibram-soled swarms." Tom
Hays, thays@charter.net, mountain biker
"Subject: Re: bikers (bicyclists, not guys on Harleys) image problem: Who cares what non-mountain bikers think of what we wear? They are never in the woods to see us anyway." Brian Crowley, brian@crowleynet.com
"No structures, games, or practices tending to injure the landsacpe, or
incommode the public in its enjoyment of the landscape, ought to be permitted.
To allow any such things or practices to grow up in a country park is to defeat
its primary and only justifying purpose. Of all the people who resort to the
landscape of a park, much the largest number enter on foot. This, indeed is as
it should be; since it is really impossible to thoroughly enjoy scenery except
when moving slowly, as in walking. ... If, as seems obvious, both carriage roads
and bridle-paths are objectionable in parks, it is plain that special bicycle
paths would be still more so. The bicycle is a silent steed, and one which
moves with much more dangerous rapidity than either the driving or the saddle
horse...In other words, a park is a preserve of scenery; and as such it is no
place for the driver's speedway, the rider's race-course, or the bicycler's
scorching-track." Charles Eliot, 1896
"Even though I face-planted in a mud hole I cant wait to go back and hit the trails again", Bob Spink, mountain biker
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=676279: "if it can't hurt you it's no fun!", mountain biker
"We're no different than any other group when it comes to having our share of
closed minds" [to say the least!] Mark Flint "The more singletrack the better, I'm not too hot on climbing on fireroads."
Nicolas Pottier nicpottier@yahoo.com, mountain biker
"Hello ... my name is Tews and I'm a singletrack addict." mtnwuff@yahoo.com
"We that pay to sustain a Forest have the right to use it in anyway we see
appropriate." Heiss, rlangegger@hotmail.com
"Sometimes you just gotta say, 'Screw the rules!'" pasensio@worldnet.att.net,
mountain biker
"It makes me sad that mountain biking dosnt really get me all that excited anymore. i wish I was stoked as I used to be.
lots of good times in the past but I think I just burned out on it from riding too much year round"
"Sometimes 'don't ask/don't tell' is appropriate with respect to trail
access. If you ask, they may put up signs forbidding bikes ;)" J Savic
bewaremyethnicheart@yahoo.com, mountain biker
"We build trails when, where, and how we want." Terry Haggard
kosmo5150@yahoo.com
"Mike Vandeman, if mountain biking drives people like you off of the trails, then that's fine with me." Roger Colingwood
"WORCA should have no say if one of the trails they maintain is open or closed. I should get to ride it whenever the hell I feel like it." mountain biker
"I just go out on my bike and it takes my mind away." Dillon Morrison [yes, we know; that's the problem!]
"Yeah, try to catch me." MTBguy, http://www.mtbguy.ca/rigaud.htm
"In this new world you get to stand for what you think is right. I will ride where ever I choose. ... Don't lecture me." Roy Branda, mountain biker
"When the powers that be won't come to the table for 30 years this is what happens. We become outlaws." Michael Town, mountain biker
"Yup, you struck a nerve. The difference between why bikes are banned from narrow trails in the Bay but allowed elsewhere in California and beyond is mostly 'attitude'. The attitude of the land managers and the attitude of the other trail users in the Bay is often adversarial against bikes, and that of course pollutes the attitude of the bikers. Bikers in the Bay area are pretty much sick and tired of being treated like criminals just for wanting equal access to the trails that other folks get to enjoy." Yvette Skinner, mountain biker
"Until young people of my mindset, that would be a fair mindset by the way,
come into power on the local and federal level, I will continue to ride
'illegally'." Rob Frank, mountain biker
"You should have ridden last night, water everywhere, plenty of mud and fun." Douglas W. Scheer, mountain biker
"I, like, get an adrenaline rush (from riding fast)" high school mountain biker
"If there's anybody that reaches the depths of trails and such, it's mountain
bikers. Trekking by foot is so bloody boring." vp@gta.igs.net, mountain biker
"I unfortunately cannot ride - I broke my wrist on Sunday on Braille." Josh Moore, mtbikes@gmail.com, mountain biker
"To film XC athletes in spandex and short or no travel XC bikes just blazing high alpine singletrack at full gas from a helicopter is going to blow people away. Mountain biking is not just about getting rad on jumps, or shredding the gnar. It's about getting rad period, and I think we are showing another way to do just that. For us, it's about going out and just hammering it all the way to the floor every time, no matter what.” Barry Wicks
"Many of us road riders still can't figure out why anyone would
intentionally ride off the road." Robert Raburn, robertraburn@csi.com
"I figure my bike probably cost me about $3000." Preston Peterson, preston.peterson@cingular.com
"Once you have more bikes come on, everyone knows what happens - they don't stay on trails." environmental lawyer Celia Scott
"It's only a cheap sport if you want to do it infrequently and calmly." Nathan Quaas, nrod2k@hotmail.com
"For me riding technical singletrack is a snooze. Having started out as a
road rider (simply because MTB's hadn't been invented yet) I'm used to speed.
... I want to cover distance. I love covering large chunks of land that I could
never cover by trail running and hiking. For me, that's the joy of mountain
biking." Chris Lowe, cyclocross@yahoo.com
"Now we have BLM patrolling at night to give tickets to night riders. BLM is ruining this land and taking away our freedom. If a man wants to ride at night, let him take responsibility for his own injury or demise!!!!!!" Mike Larucci mikelarucci@gmail.com, mountain biker
"WHENEVER WE GO INTO WILDLANDS, WE MUST TUNE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.
BICYCLISTS ONLY REMAIN FOCUS ON THE "ROAD" AHEAD AND ARE UNAWARE THAT
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE IN THE SURROUNDINGS." [name suppressed to protect them
from mountain biker hostility]
"People aren't going to take us seriously if we insist on defending stupid, aggressive, obnoxious behavior. In itself, riding a bike is no sign of superior moral character - all it takes to become a cyclist is a Target or Costco store and $200. There are some real jerks out riding around, and it's a shame they get into the papers, but they do." David Coolidge, dacoolidge@hotmail.com
"Mountain Biking is an inherently dangerous sport." "JD" dij@usafcct.com, mountain biker
"I've been a mountain biker since 1982, and I enjoy riding on dirt very much. But I don't want to see bikes in wilderness. When I'm out walking in wilderness, I don't like hurrying to get out of the way of fast-moving bikes, I don't like all the flashy colors, or the dust they create. And more to the point, just seeing the tire tracks from bikes already passed makes the area feel small and shatters the "disconnect" from the modern technological world that only wilderness can provide." Tomas Suk
"I see the problem here you do not understand one key concept mountain bikes cannot cause erosion because there is no mechanism for sediment transport. The flow of water, wind and to a small extent gravity provide mechanisms for sediment transport. If you want to slow erosion you need to to stop rainfall..." mountain biker
"Just last weekend I hiked a 10 mile loop trail in the Bowman Lakes Basin,
just north of I-80. Most of the trail was either swampy, snowy root-y or major-
ly rocky (plus a little bit of fine flat-ish forest path that did not need
churning). I met a group of 4 bikers - and remarked that they could not have
seen any of the glorious and varied scenery - surely their eyes were on the
ground the entire time!!! What *is* the point??? And, with 100s of miles of
logging roads to ride - what *is* the point? Keep up the good work. Your message
is important."
"Bikers want Public Lands at Public Expense while putting the Public at Risk. Outrageous! Giving them more trails is like feeding the Coyotes. It just makes for more Coyotes." Hiker/equestrian
"You can't listen to nature while pounding out the miles in heart stopping frenzy." Fole Haafstra
"A friend in Oroville, CA, has been forwarding your letters to me for a little over a year now. I've read through most of your web site. I'm impressed with the arguments you present and heartily agree with you.
I've been a mountain biker. Already an active hiker and exercise nut, I bought the bike several years ago to ride the 2.5 miles distance to the Post Office where I worked. It made more sense than driving my truck. Actually taking it mountain biking was a secondary consideration, and an admittance of a desire for thrills. I've been on perhaps only a dozen single-track trails and invariably felt guilty both for the destruction already caused by other mountain bikers and that which I must also be causing. So, I limited myself to service and ORV roads in national parks and recreation areas in California, Utah, and Colorado. A sense of disservice to local habitat followed me there. Now my feet only touch any trails and the mountain bike sticks to pavement.
I went to Walker Creek Schools website. Yes, it is hypocrisy for such an institution to sponsor a mountain bike race. This sport is in direct opposition with the school's mission & the students gain valuable knowledge and appreciation to help them to be more responsible stewards of the Earth's resources. (Quoted from the Overview at http://mcoeweb.marin.k12.ca.us/wcreek/edcurr.html) Unless the school's goal is to teach the students that seemingly innocent adventure sports can be irrevocably destructive, I see no advantage in providing for such a race. Taking a mountain bike on any dirt trail is absolutely not being a steward of the Earth's resources.
I have already used your argument that mountain bikers are not excluded from hiking trails as they are free to leave their bikes at home and hike the trail. I appreciate your astute assessments of these situations as they arise. Please add me to your email list."
"Thank you ever so much for your most in depth analysis of this subject [mountain biking impacts]. I am a trail builder and maintainer in both Calif. and Idaho. I am an avid hiker and mt. biker and freely admit the oh-so-obvious impact of mt. biking over hiking. I will share this with some Calif. state park employees as well as Idaho dept. of BLM. God bless for your courage to separate the bull from its horns." [name withheld to protect him from harassment by other mountain bikers]
"If you don't crash, you aren't riding hard enough." Jessica,
jessicauwt@yahoo.com
Keith Bontrager, 52, a world-class mountain bike racer who lives in Santa Cruz, said "Crashing is part of cycling. If you ride a lot, you're going to crash".
"Salinas Rural Fire Department currently reponds to 10-20 EMS accidents per year at Fort Ord. Most of these EMS calls are
mountain bikers that have crashed throughout the year. It is
imperative to have a good transportation system in place to facilitate the EMS calls. If you have questions about what the BLM will be doing, feel free to contact me. Thanks for reading this."
Eric Morgan BLM's Fort Ord Manager (831)394-8314 emorgan@ca.blm.gov
"I am a mountain biker and I also tell the truth. Too many fellow mountain bikers have some serious ego problems to work through so please be patient. Many of us do not know how to solve problems without throwing fits like two year old spoiled brats. Truth: many have not left that stage and I blame their moms." Gary Fisher, Albuquerque, NM
"I don't hike (bores me to death)." mountain biker
"My skills will really improve! (once Im out of the Hospital)!" Dan Fenton, danfenton@yahoo.com, mountain biker
"Smooth, fast, steep and gravelly multi-use trails are dangerous because bikers have nothing to slow them down [like brains, for example?]." Aaron DelloIacono Thies, adt@sfmtb.com, mountain biker
"Mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport." Justin Beddall
"I just think the bikes ought to stay on bike trails where they don't have to be in the wilderness and get in the way of hikers and the wildlife who belong there," [Dan] Bates said. "Bikers do ride fast. It's just the nature of the beast, you know? You stick us out in the trails, and we're going to go fast. And we don't see the animals, we don't see the scenery, because we're paying attention to not crashing."
Peter Giesbrecht … fell off his bike and landed on a pile of rocks in October, 2015. "Mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport".
"Similar to many Whistlerites, Lisa Dickson is addicted to the sport of mountain biking." Whistler "Question", 5/13/05
"I find this truly disgusting. I have just come back from Colorado Springs
where I walk in a wild park behind my parents house. Colorado foolishly allowed
mountain biking and is paying a huge price for it. The Park I walked a year
ago has three times the amount of illegal single track trails than it had last
year, and the erosion is devastating. Also the tire tracks have cut into the
ancient sandstone formations, a damage that can never be repaired. These
formations are 60 million years old, and are now scarred and worn in one year.
There are bikers everywhere, whooping and hollering and leaping off cliffs.
Awful." hiker/equestrian
"Hey, to correct this ridiculous info, no offense, erosion is NOT harmful to
the environment. That is fact! It has to go somewhere! It is still there! What
do you know!" Joel Benford diablero@sbcglobal.net
"Got an email from a horsewoman in Orange County who lives near Whiting
Wilderness Park. She was severely injured as a result of an encounter with a
mountain biker which got her thrown from her horse. She and others have
campaigned against mountain bikes and their 'competition training' in the park.
She said that now people are referring to the bikers as 'Meals on Wheels'."
[name suppressed to protect them from mountain biker hostility]
"This species [mountain bikers] has one thing in common with horses--
blinders." Susan Sievert
"Ahhh.... flat #3, and we're not even 2 miles into the trail. I break a spoke playing on a slab while waiting." (mountain biker riding illegally in Royal Gorge, CO)
If this means certain trails need to be closed then so be it because the environment comes first. The party at the expense of the forests is definitely over! John Sharpe, mountain biker, North Vancouver, B.C
"Violence does not live alone and is not capable of living alone: I is necessarily interwoven with falsehood. Between them lies the most intimate, the deepest of natural bonds. Violence finds its only refuge in falsehood. ... Any man who has once acclaimed violence as his method must inexorably choose falsehood as his principle." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
"There seems to be a fairly general acceptance of poaching within the bike community." mountain biker (http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=489086)
"'He just couldn't fathom why grown adults would want to ride bicycles in the woods' That's easy - because they like to crash and hurt themselves." Terri Alvillar
"One aspect of wilderness is solitude. I've been places in the Sierras as an example, where the only way to get there is by foot, and several days travel.
The further you go, the more solitude there is. One's experience in the outdoors changes a lot once you are beyond the range of the day hikers. Because of bikes
greater day range, letting us ride some places would erode the solitude that is part of the experience and quality of being in those places." Dave Wade, mountain biker, mtnbiker94@sbcglobal.net
"I don't have the time to wait another 20 years. If the single track gets opened while I'm on my deathbed that doesn't really help me very much. Like the other person above said, I'll just ride and if I get caught politely take the ticket and pay the fine. Call it an extra access fee.” mountain biker
"What you seem to be not comprehending is that those irrational trail closures don't worry many folks because they have been riding those trails for years and will continue to ride those same trails for years to come.” Pete Fagerlin, mountain biker and habitual poacher
"It depends where you are. In the wonderful world of the EBRPD, you can poach to your heart's content, especially at night, with a strong likelihood of not getting caught. Of course, the downside is that there is not that much good stuff to begin with... In the meantime, Sheriffs are patrolling Mt Tam at night, and some ranger is doing overtime to make sure you don't get lost in Skeggs after dark while giving you a $300 ticket.
As you said earlier, access micro climates. I'm all for poaching, but my riding time is limited to week-ends lately, and poaching on a nice Sunday morning is not that feasible.” mountain biker
"I just don't see long term success in expecting trails to stay as they are, trails erode with traffic, getting more people riding only speeds that up. Sad but true." mountain biker
"LSCR is so assbackwards on their approach to mountain biking that it drives me batshit crazy....there's a whole fucking mountain out there and theyre all worried about a few stinkweed swamps and shit like that" mountain biker
"Unfortunately bikers do get lumped into a bad reputation......much of it unjustified, but also some of it justified. Locally, the largest impact being discussed by land managers is the amount of unauthorized trails and trail use by the user groups.....and also unfortunately, mountain bikers do make up the largest population of this group (verified by credible studies, and ongoing monitoring)." land manager/mountain biker
"The guy only seems to have one valid point and keeps bringing it up over and over. Mt. Bikes travel a farther distance then hikers on average so Mt. bike cause more overall damage. Which is valid if, as he states, all of the studies were done on a per mile basis." Dave.mountainbiker
"Everything Vandeman says makes perfect sense to me and everything [mountain bikers] say makes perfect nonsense to me. But maybe that is because you are a sinful mountain biker and I am a saintly hiker. Yes, that must be the explanation! Regards, Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota aka Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota"
"People who must ride on sumthin' to get into the back country are essentially lazy." Larry Kralj
"Common sense does say that we are involved in an extreme high risk sport, and there is a high risk of injury, which we do have to deal with." mountain biker
"Tires that grip, don't cause erosion", Kevin Moore, mountain biker
"Subject: Re: Chain Lube We'll all soon be decorated in mud splatters (both dried and wet). Doesn't really matter what you use as long as your chain isn't rusting. Hose the bike off, reapply as needed and go riding. :)" KevinA, mtnwuff@yahoo.com
"Bikes Belong is sponsored by the U.S. bicycle industry with the goal of putting more people on bicycles more often. We have nearly 400 members—bicycle suppliers and retailers combining resources to improve bicycling in America. Based in Boulder, Colorado, we have 12 professional staff, 18 volunteer directors, and a $2 million annual operating budget. Bikes Belong takes the guesswork out of advocacy. We're a professional, unified effort that is powered by the $6 billion-a-year U.S. bicycle industry. When you join, you add your weight to the collective strength of hundreds of other bike businesses."
"I wipe out a few times, leading to the aforementioned scrapes and bruises. But its all part of the sport of mountain biking, which turns out to be a lot of fun if youre humble and not too sensitive to pain. Kurt and Geoff offer patient and helpful advice for mastering the tricky task of keeping a bike upright across rocks, roots, sticks and mud. Its mentally quite difficult, but every once in a while I still
manage to use a portion of my consciousness to enjoy the vista of meadows, pine forest and rocky cliffs." Adam McDowell
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Scars-2013.html midbestdj (Oct 30, 2013 at 21:16) "This just proves how badass mountain biking is and how tough riders are. I'm so sick of people thinking its some pussy sport because they have some image in their head of mountain bikers cruzing down grass double track or some shit. Lets see people in football, basketball, soccer, any sport take an injury like that and come back stronger."
"Mountain biking is an expensive sport", Josh Patterson, mountain biker
"Mountain bikes have taken over every square inch of our Public Lands creating user conflicts with every other recreational user. They have made it very unsafe for us to enjoy ourselves in nature in peace and safety." Pamela L True, equestrian
"Sea Otter just utterly ripped that trail to mincemeat." csiegel@monterey.k12.ca.us
"BTW designate [Wilderness] all you want, I won't compromise anymore. I will ride my Mtn Bike where I please." Fenkse, mountain biker
"I want to ride my bicycle "Risk cannot be eliminated - it is an intrinsic aspect of our sport", Ryan Leech, professional mountain biker
"The aggressive and thrill seeking approaches to mountain biking, however, are likely to remain a constant problem for protected area managers." David Newsome & Claire Davies, researchers
Re: How can we be more effective at recruiting volunteers for work parties? "Seems like riders don't understand how important it is to kiss land manager booty." daveschuldt@yahoo.com
"This isn't about cyclists vs hikers vs horsers, this is about a broken political system. I believe it is our duty as a protest to the idiocy of our state government to continue to respectfully access [i.e., poach] the common land." Aaron Hunter, aa_hunter@yahoo.com
"To me, the more people there are in the woods, the better!" Ryan Leech,professional mountain biker
"The [mountain biking] culture here is incompatible with anything we once thought of as civilized. In so many ways." Hiker
"Is this a problem with the culture of mountain biking, that it revolves around instant gratification and that not enough people care enough about the forest, the trails and the rest?" mountain biker [yep! Mike]
"Cycling is the second-most common cause of sports-related spinal injuries, after diving." Mark Macaskill
"If we want to continue into the wilderness all we have to do is get off our bikes and proceed on foot." http://bike-wild.org
"I think there's more to life than mountain biking" Urs Birrer (brain-damaged ex-mountain biker)
"Illegal trail construction is essential. Government is too stupid to do it right." Essam Welch, essamwelch@gmail.com, mountain biker
"San Diego is a great place to ride mountain bikes; you just have to get used to riding illegal trails." mountain biker
"it's good policy by default to not be a jerk. Except skids, skids are cool." mountain biker
"when I was stationed in Lompoc they closed down an entire area to bikers, runners and dog walking because of some stupid useless 'endangered' flower" mountain biker
"Use your lights and poach them trails" mountain biker
"Mountain bikers ride for the thrill. The joy of racing downhill. The feeling of choosing the best path, hugging the ground, catching some air. The deep satisfaction of being connected to the natural world by navigating its challenges and experiencing its beauty." Kim Kobersmith
"Seriously, one thing that Vandeman is right about: a lot of you guys
are total idiots." critposer@yahoo.com, mountain biker
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bi-
-cy--cle
I want to ride it where I like!"
Patty "caught red-handed re-
opening a closed trail" Ciesla imahorse@stanford.edu, mountain biker
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