Quote Originally Posted by Veronica
How many of you mountain bikers ride illegal single track?

It seems like every time I go out by myself I run into (not literally) guys who talk about doing the single track at my local park and I know none of it is legal. Yeah, I know it is a lot more fun. I had a blast at Rockville on the single track (until I fell in the rock garden and I'm still black & blue!) but that was legal.

V.
Not I. I won't even ride if I think I will damage the trails because they're too muddy. Wish the horsie riders in our area had the same respect for the trails!

I know that many hikers and equestrians hold dim views of mountain bikers, so on every ride, my goal is to get at least a few people to realize that not all mountain bikers are jerks. There are a lot of jerks out here who make life difficult for the rest of us. My worst fear is that the idiots will get mountain biking banned on my favorite trails.

I make a point of stopping for horses (well, that's partly self preservation) and speaking to their riders. I make a point of saying hi and smiling to as many people as I can. I haven't figured out yet how to "gently correct" the dewbies crashing down the trails with no regard for others or the trail, although DH keeps threatening to use a stick through the spokes as a corrective aide.

I remember the end of one ride. I'd done three laps of Betasso, a 3.5 mile rollercoaster-type loop, and at the end of the third lap, this one idiot sat on my tail for the longest time. He wouldn't say a word and wouldn't pass me, and I wasn't about to pull over for him on my best ride of the year. After he practically breathed down my neck on one longish uphill, I said, "Would you pass already??" He apologized and steamed by. Anyway, on the last short downhill, two ladies were walking their dogs. I don't remember if I saw him ride down it, but I remember that though I called out to the ladies and did slow down, I didn't stop and I know that I startled them a bit. When they got to the trailhead, I walked over to them and apologized. One didn't want to hear it, but the other started talking with me and I found out that they'd just been buzzed by the idiot, who hadn't said a word and hadn't slowed, almost running over one of the dogs. No wonder they were inclined to be annoyed. I also found out from this lady that, while my friends and I are scrupulous about riding only on legit days (Betasso is closed to bikes on Weds and Sat), many bikers aren't, and they don't necessarily follow the indicated direction, either. When she's confronted them, some have said that they'll happily pay the fine if caught. Great. So eventually, these losers will get bikes banned from the trails. They'll keep riding and those of us who follow the rules will be penalized.

No, I don't ride where I'm not supposed to be.