Wink wink, indeed! The nerve of some people, actually
revealing the location of the mountain bikers' secret trails! ;)
"Have some respect" indeed!
Mike
From: [a friend]
Subject: On North Vancouver's Local NSMB.com
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 18:27:36 -0700
"Rules" for rogue mtn.bikers and their rogue trails <wink
wink> This is why our public land managers need to fine and charge mountain
bikers for their "dirty deeds", not reward them more and more -- but
there is no common sense left, so these mountain bikers brag about it without
fear of repercussion...and get patted on the back for it. "Everyone does
it" doesn't make it right.
http://nsmb.com/ten-laws-loam/
The Ten Laws Of Loam
How to Keep Secret Trails Secret
Words by Loam Ranger.
June 17th, 2014
You are a bad person. You ride secret trails? How dare you!
Hang on a sec. This isnt a morality play. You are big boys and girls and
hopefully you are intelligent and informed enough to make wise decisions. Do I
advocate riding secret trails? Nope. But Im a realist so lets deal with the
world the way it is shall we?
Wherever there are trails for hiking, horses, skiing, mountain biking, motos or
any other activity, there are going to be secrets. In some places trails are
secret because some Dear Leader has bent over to one user group and stiffed the
others. In other zones secrets relieve an itch that isnt being scratched. Many
of these trails cant take much traffic because of the terrain, because theyll be
closed or because of the way they were built. The fact is secret trails exist
and will until there is no more wilderness. You can find them in Utah, Tuscany,
Alberta, Hong Kong, on Maui and in B.C. and everywhere in between.
Some of you are going to ride those trails. Right or wrong it happens. Its a
renegade world with few apparent rules, but even renegades have a code of
conduct. Even if you want to go rogue like Sarah Palin you probably want to
keep those sweet secret lines available and in good shape.
So for the love of Jebus, dont be a dick. Here are some guidelines to shield
you from that phallic moniker.
1. Turn off your god damned Strava. Your ego can rest for a day if you are
riding a trail that is best kept under wraps. If you must record how awesome
you are then make that ride private. You can still brag to your friends later.
Im sure they could use a reminder about how incredible you are. And for those
making Strava segments on secret trails. Seriously. What the hell are you
thinking?
2. Dont uncover entrances like a dick. Maybe Joe Shredder doesnt understand the
situation, maybe he feels entitled to roll into every trail he finds. Hes a big
deal after all. Joes as wrong as Dubya declaring victory in Iraq. The best way
to conceal a downhill trail is with an uphill entrance. Dont cut your own line
because you are too lazy to climb.
3. Get off your effing bike! If an entrance is hidden dont lock up your minions
and skid in just because you are too lazy to dismount. If someone has taken the
time to cover an entrance there is a reason. Lift up your steed and put it down
once you are safely past the concealed entrance. If carrying your bike for 30
seconds is too much effort for you its time to buy a razor scooter. You dont
deserve to ride a bike.
4. Dont hang out near trail entrances or exits. Putting on pads or making some
adjustments to your bike? You want to sit down and munch a Clif bar? Do it
before you get to the walk-in, or out of sight down the trail.
5. Noise. Dont make any if you can help it. This includes abundant hooting and
hollering and squeaky brakes. Obviously you want to share the orgasmic
two-wheeled zen you are achieving, but dont do it at the expense of drawing too
much attention to yourself or the trail.
6. Pick your days. If the monsoon is here skip the fall line loamer and ride
something that can take a punch. Plush natural trails become ugly trenches if
you are locking it up following Noah down the line.
7. Dont cut corners or change existing lines. This point obviously goes for
sanctioned trails as well. Nothing trashes a trail faster than Stravatards and
their ilk cutting their own lines to save a few milliseconds or to beat their
buddies to the bottom. Some poor builder spent days and days building a line
and by creating a braid, you are taking a dump on that work. Have some respect.
If the line needs modification to suit your needs then ride somewhere else.
8. Be part of the solution. There are many ways to do this. Somebody has
uncovered the entrance to your favourite secret? Dont high 5 buddy and roll in.
Stash your bike and spend 5 minutes replacing the camouflage. If you are in the
forest, grab some big branches as a first line and then spread some smaller
leaf litter around to make it look natural. If someone is jawing off about a
secret or posting on the web call them out. If your riding partner suggests
riding some buttery line when the weather is nasty steer him or her in another
direction.
9. Be careful about exits. Exits are often what gets stealth lines destroyed,
overused or covered over. If you come maching out like youve just roped your
first calf somebody just might notice. Stop before the end of the trail and
have a listen to see if anyone is around. And just like trailheads, cover up
those exits if that makes sense.
10. DONT GIVE DIRECTIONS. Not in person, not on the web. Dont draw a map or
give GPS coordinates. Again, dont make new segments on Strava and keep your
rides private. Those who hate mountain bikers (hi there!) read mountain bike
forums and web sites to get ammo to use against us. Dont fuel their fire. If
you have a worthy riding buddy, who can keep a secret, bring them along. If you
dont want to ride with them why would you want to let them in on your secret?
You think you are hardcore because you know a secret? Hardcore means you can
keep a secret. One of the worst things you can do is show off by telling people
the name of the trail. Smart ninja builders dont advertise or even name their
trails. Dont mess it up to satisfy your ego.
Bring on the hate. The Loam Ranger uses it as fuel.
We may not always agree with the the Ranger, but sometimes we do. Do you?