#!markdown
Morgan.
First off. Thank you for chiming in and offering your opinion on the subject.
My intention with the article was to start a conversation on the subject and
to that effect…it has accomplished its goal.
There are a couple of things I do want to clarify as it seems I might not have
expressed them clearly.
For one, the Shore is a much different atmosphere than metro Atlanta, GA. Your
guys version of "beginner xc" is very different than in our area. Ours is
basically roadies on dirt! But that really isn't the point either. I do not
believe that all trails need to be advanced at all. Actually, they should be
the smaller percentage. My argument was that EVERY trail does not need to be a
beginner trail. In our area, people even whine about rocks being in the trial.
This is mountain biking after all and every trail being a smooth mowed down
highway isn't exactly in the heart of what mountain biking was built off of.
If I came off as part of that "elitist group" I am sorry. That was not my
intention at all. One of the best parts about mountain biking is bringing new
riders into the sport and I would never want to discount that. Ever.
The part about volunteer burnout is completely correct. If you show up to a
work party only to be barked and yelled at…you aren't going to come back. **I
am in no way condoning rogue trails.** I even addressed that in the article
specifically under the land management section. If you don't own the land…you
don't have the right to build on it without permission. Period. I was more
trying to state that if every trail is built as a smooth highway…you are going
to loose those workers that create trails they want to ride…beginner or not.
Again. Thanks for your input. It is all apart of the conversation that I
believe helps everyone in the end. You guys have a very special area with the
Shore that we all wish we had and you are an example to almost all groups on
how the community, riding and volunteering should be.
- Robb Sutton
Dec. 4, 2013, 2:20 p.m. - rsutton1223
#!markdown Morgan. First off. Thank you for chiming in and offering your opinion on the subject. My intention with the article was to start a conversation on the subject and to that effect…it has accomplished its goal. There are a couple of things I do want to clarify as it seems I might not have expressed them clearly. For one, the Shore is a much different atmosphere than metro Atlanta, GA. Your guys version of "beginner xc" is very different than in our area. Ours is basically roadies on dirt! But that really isn't the point either. I do not believe that all trails need to be advanced at all. Actually, they should be the smaller percentage. My argument was that EVERY trail does not need to be a beginner trail. In our area, people even whine about rocks being in the trial. This is mountain biking after all and every trail being a smooth mowed down highway isn't exactly in the heart of what mountain biking was built off of. If I came off as part of that "elitist group" I am sorry. That was not my intention at all. One of the best parts about mountain biking is bringing new riders into the sport and I would never want to discount that. Ever. The part about volunteer burnout is completely correct. If you show up to a work party only to be barked and yelled at…you aren't going to come back. **I am in no way condoning rogue trails.** I even addressed that in the article specifically under the land management section. If you don't own the land…you don't have the right to build on it without permission. Period. I was more trying to state that if every trail is built as a smooth highway…you are going to loose those workers that create trails they want to ride…beginner or not. Again. Thanks for your input. It is all apart of the conversation that I believe helps everyone in the end. You guys have a very special area with the Shore that we all wish we had and you are an example to almost all groups on how the community, riding and volunteering should be. - Robb Sutton