Keeping Singletrack Single for all trail user groups
by Rick Williams, Trail Builder and Designer and GROC Trail Crew.
How do we ride really cool trails, have a great experience and not wreck the very place we want to be? Trails are the lifeblood of Mt. Biking yet we sacrifice this path of utter destruction so that the surrounding earth is not. So the first and most important ethic is 'Stay on the trails'. Going off trail to by-pass an object, avoiding the puddle, taking a short cut or jumping trail is all detrimental to soil and the narrow tracks we love. These principles apply to all users, bikers, hikers, runners, etc.
‘Fall & Winter riding’ is some of the best times to ride but Ride while to frost is in the ground or the trails surface is frozen. The time to ride is not when it warms up. The trail surface becomes greasy and slick. The damage is considerable and creates rutting. ‘One Way Trails’ are one way for all user types. Biking, running and hiking all erode trails much faster on steep pitches. Black trails are all One Way Down and are not recommended for running or hiking.
'Ride don't slide' Control your bike and speed. Skidding because of excessive speed or thinking you're cool leads to major trail erosion and destruction. Good braking and bike handling doesn't skid and stops better. Hey we skidded when we were eight years old, get over it.
'Act like a guest' because we are one. The Town of Victor and Victor Parks and Recreation have invited us. We want to be able to come back again and again. We the riders are the face of Mt. Biking, the guests, and if we're welcomed guests in Victor then maybe some other towns, land owners and counties will invite us.
'Be extra cool' go the extra mile, yield first, be nice to everyone, be an advocate for our biking community to all the user groups that we share trails with.
'Ride the line' This is what it is all about. The greatest impact to off-trail riding is by those who think they are fast. The idea or concept of going fast yet unable to stay on the trail, or needing to go around an object or trail feature is not in keeping with singletrack trails. If you want easier or faster get on a road bike. Ride the trail, the way it was built. Don't cut corners or go off-track to avoid obstacles. If you need practice to overcome obstacles play in the skills area.
'Fix your divot' If you go off trail, biff or take a beater, kick out your tracks. Cover up your sitzs mark and if it was the other guy or gal fix theirs. We are visual creatures and the next person will follow your track visually and compound the divot.
'Educate and set an example' We need to spread the word that we're cool guests to have, so lets get invited to the next party.
'These concepts apply to all trail user groups' A lot of people have put their time and energy into having a cool place to ride. Thanks for respecting and caring for the trails.
Thanks for respecting the trails and efforts of the GROC Trail Crew. If you are interested in helping please contact Mary Lee our volunteer coordinator.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
