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| Author |
Message |
kanaka
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mountain bike
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Jun 10 21:08 UTC 1994 |
I'm an avid mountain biker and would like to chat with other REAL mountain
bikers.
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| 37 responses total. |
scg
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response 1 of 37:
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Jun 11 03:43 UTC 1994 |
I'm mostly a roadie (that's where I do most of my riding and all of my
racing), but if I can be a real mountain biker without racing I would
probably qualify for that too.
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risaacs
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response 2 of 37:
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Jun 11 14:18 UTC 1994 |
Anybody who takes their mountain bike off teh pavement is a real mountain
bikWhere do you live and rideteve?
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scg
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response 3 of 37:
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Jun 11 19:54 UTC 1994 |
Well, by that definition I would certainly qualify as a "real mountain
biker." I live in Ann Arbor, and do most of my riding in the Pinckney
about twenty miles away from here. I don't mountain bike in Ann Arbor
because the City of Ann Arbor, bending over backwards to show their blind
faith in the Seirra Club, has banned mountain biking from all their parks
that were at all usable for it on the basis that mountain bikers are satan.
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rogue
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response 4 of 37:
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Jun 12 02:51 UTC 1994 |
Mountain bikes are evil because they crush the natural flora and fauna.
Why should the lives of dandelions and grass be sacrificed so you can
enjoy the artificial pleasure of biking?
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scg
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response 5 of 37:
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Jun 12 03:07 UTC 1994 |
Actually, mountain bikes do no more damage than hikers. Several studies
have showed that. As for crushing the plants, they will also get crushed
if people walk on them, or let their dogs run over them. Responsable
mountain bikers stay on trails to avoid that.
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rcurl
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response 6 of 37:
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Jun 12 05:47 UTC 1994 |
Those studies were by bikers. I have seen comparisons of the impact
of the two, and bikes are more damaging.
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rogue
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response 7 of 37:
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Jun 12 20:48 UTC 1994 |
#5: Hiking is also evil. Any more questions?
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jdg
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response 8 of 37:
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Jun 12 21:02 UTC 1994 |
<agora 79 is now linked as ing 45>
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jdg
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response 9 of 37:
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Jun 12 21:02 UTC 1994 |
<sorry, that sohould have read: agora 179 is now linked as ing 45>
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davel
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response 10 of 37:
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Jun 13 01:11 UTC 1994 |
The problem is the number of irresponsible bikers out there and the problems
they cause. There are plenty of irresponsible hikers, too, & I'm not about
to defend them - but they're a lot less prone to run over people.
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srw
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response 11 of 37:
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Jun 13 02:11 UTC 1994 |
I think we've hijacked this item away from bicyclists and peppered them
with attacks based on the actions of a few irresponsibles.
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scg
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response 12 of 37:
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Jun 13 02:54 UTC 1994 |
Thanks, srw. The mountain bikers who run into hikers are indeed a very
small minority. I'll admit I've had probably two or three close calls
with hikers in my 4+ years of mountain biking, but I've always stopped and
appologized and made sure the people weren't too freaked out, and the only
thing I've ever actually *hit* was a rather big tree, which caused a lot
of damage to the bike and some to me, but did almost nothing to the tree.
There are significant erosion and overcrowding problems, but those are
legislated and are not the fault of the cyclists. For example, the
problem in the Ann Arbor area is that there is only one significant trail
system (at Pinckney) that is still open to cyclists, and there is too much
use for the less than 30 miles of trails to support. If more areas were
open it would spread out the use much more, and make it a lot less
noticable. Of course, the current system does give hikers who object to
sharing the trails with cyclists lots of other wonderful places to hike.
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n8nxf
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response 13 of 37:
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Jun 13 12:39 UTC 1994 |
I gew up in this city. I was here when Washtenaw was a 3 lane street and
cows romed what is now County Farm Park. There was no Arborland, nor many
others. I've also been riding the roads of Washtenaw county for the last
20 years.v: The traffic has increased to the point where road riding is no
longer fun around Ann Arbor. Too many Bozo's out in their four-wheelers
competing for the same, pot-holed, black top.
I have ridden the Poto many times and agree that the bikers are not to blame
for trail damage, etc. It's simply a matter of over-use, as I've said before.
I find dirt-road riding very enjoyable around Ann Arbor. *Much* less traffic
and a slower, more enjoyable pace. I want to organize a few dirt road rides
this fall via the AABTS. I have a 35 mile ride that I like to do in the
winter. Very pretty! ( And no one yells at you to get off the road or trail!)
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kanaka
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response 14 of 37:
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Jun 13 21:05 UTC 1994 |
)
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risaacs
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response 15 of 37:
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Jun 14 15:13 UTC 1994 |
I think the reason for all the damage created by mountain bikes is their
current popularity. If hiking was al popular, the hikers would cause even
more damage. Hikers can go anywhere, and damage alot more things, bikes are
restricted to the trail and the small area alongside. When mountaing biking
loses its status of a fad, and this has begun, there will be a lot less damage.
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kd
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response 16 of 37:
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Jun 14 15:27 UTC 1994 |
I am a mountain bike rider and I am new to the area. Could someone please
tell me some good places to ride!!! I want a good view when I ride and I need
it to be somewhere in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area. Thanks!!
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scg
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response 17 of 37:
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Jun 14 19:33 UTC 1994 |
The best place (and one of the only legal ones) to ride around here is the
Pinckney Recreation Area, about twenty miles away from Ann Arbor. Take US
23 to North Territorial Road and go west for about ten miles to Dexter
Town Hall Road. Turn right there and within the next mile or two there
will be a big sign on the left, which says something like "Pinckney
Recreation Area, Silver Lake Beach." Turn left at that sign and take the
road all the way to the parking lot. There are three trails there that
are open to bikes. The 17 mile Potowatomi Trail is the longest and most
crowded. There are also the Silver Lake Trail and the Crooked Lake Trail,
both of which are shorter.
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kanaka
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response 18 of 37:
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Jun 15 03:25 UTC 1994 |
WOW! Thanks for using this conference. It is great that now we can talk
current biking issues here in grex. Mountain bikers and roadies alike are
welcome here. Did any one go to the NORBA NATIONALS last weekend in Bellaire?
Risaacs and I did, cool experience. We may race next year. If any one has any
tips for beginner racers, I would love to hear them.
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scg
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response 19 of 37:
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Jun 15 03:28 UTC 1994 |
I don't have any tips for mountain bike races, since I've never done one,
but if you need any for the road let me know.
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n8nxf
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response 20 of 37:
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Jun 16 12:27 UTC 1994 |
I also understand that Island Lake Recreation Area has some decent, less
used, trails.
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scg
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response 21 of 37:
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Jun 16 18:58 UTC 1994 |
I've heard about that too, but I've never been there. Is that farther
away than Pinckney?
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danr
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response 22 of 37:
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Jun 20 00:23 UTC 1994 |
I bought my first mountain bike this spring and have been having a
blast with it. LIke Klaus, I've been riding the dirt roads around
here.
A month or so ago, I rode the Kal-Haven Trail between Kalamazoo
and South Haven. The trail was quit nice, but it's a state park and
you have to pay to ride it.
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canis
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response 23 of 37:
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Jun 21 14:20 UTC 1994 |
I just busted up my rear wheel (soIcan'tspellsowhat) and had to take my bike
into the shop to get it replaced. That sucks, $60.00 bucks (at least) gone.
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n8nxf
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response 24 of 37:
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Jun 22 12:09 UTC 1994 |
How'd you do that? (I build/repair my own wheels.)
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