Date: Thu, 24 May 2001

From: Frank Lurz <stoccata@pacbell.net>

Subject: Watch Out for Me . . . I'm Concentrating!

> Medicine Wheel and the City of Colorado Springs implemented a trail

> designation program in Palmer Park a number of years ago. These designations

> are complimented with informative trail head signage regarding park rules,

> authorized usage, etc. Palmer Park is a 760 acre regional park open to all

> non-motorized use within the city limits of Colorado Springs. The

> designations are green, blue and black like ski slopes.

> Although the designations may alert trail users to some level of

> difficulty (always subjective), the designations have been more beneficial as

> a non verbal alert to other users on the trail.

In other words - "Here I come . . WATCH OUT FOR ME!"

> Said differently, if an

> equestrian is riding up a black trail he/she understands not only that there

> may be a cyclist coming down, but also that the cyclist may be exercising a

> higher level of concentration to maintain control, thus preparing the

> equestrian to avoid the assumption that the cyclist will respond and yield

> the trail as readily as on a green trail.

So, exercising his oh, so impressive "higher level of concentration"

our handlebar hero is skillfully able to negotiate his way through ruts,

rocks, branches, and other obstacles on the trail - except for hikers & horse

back riders - WHO HE THINKS ARE OBLIGATED TO WATCH OUT FOR HIM!

Self-serving double talk aside, what our helmet-headed hero really means

to say is that he willfully chooses to ride his bike in a manner that gives him

a cheap thrill. Rather than ride it safely, he deliberately chooses to ride it on

terrain where he must exercise a "higher level of concentration to maintain

control." As his thrills increase, so does his risk of losing control - AND THAT

IS WHY HE FEELS THAT OTHERS HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR HIM - HE

FEELS NO OBLIGATION TO ACT RESPONSIBLY: HE EXPECTS OTHERS TO

DO THAT!

Whether he likes it or not, if he wants to be in that park he is obligated to

exercise the same degree of concern and responsibility as anyone else. That

he chooses not to demonstrates that he simply doesn't give a damn about

anyone but himself - a trait typical of mountain bikers, and one that lies at

the heart of the contempt in which they are held by others.

Frank Lurz