oldmanbuilder profile

I encourage everyone to provide input on the NSMBA's Strategic Plan.  Looks like this will be thru Jan & Feb?   https://nsmba.ca/strategic-plan-development/

The strategic plan itself seems well thought out, and likely to drive growth and sustainability in the NSMBA.  My concern is more about the NSMBA's long-term priorities, and specifically what new trails are brought into life, and what trails are taken away from us.

Does anyone else have concerns about the gradual loss of the old-school character trails on Fromme?  Since the heights of old-school we've lost: Pink Starfish, Upper & Lower Bitches Brew, Executioner, old-school Lower Digger, and old-school Expresso.  We see flagging around Upper Digger and it's hard not to assume that's next, as there is a need for something easier to connect from the BP to new-school Lower Digger.  

With the rotation of volunteer board members (I know, each making the best decisions they could at the time), my concern is that resources will continue to be directed essentially entirely into green and blue trails.  This will only increase the divide between the legitimate and rogue networks.  It just seems self-defeating to not be investing in challenging trails and keeping the ones we already have.  What happens when all the new people who are brought into the sport by the vastly improved green/blue network want to seek out more challenging experiences?

If you agree, please tell the NSMBA that you think they should commit to keep ALL existing old school trails on Fromme and Seymour, including Upper Digger.  No more trail loss.

Thanks.

this builder thinks it's not quite as black and white as syncro says.

there's a time and a place for braid blockers and keeping people on trail.  disagree that the answer is always to accommodate the lowest denominator of rider.  i would go so far as to say that 9 times out of 10 that a new braid is opened, it is shit and should be shutdown

why tell people on here syncro, to go fuck with the trails, and the builders will just roll over?  jeez.

the ARSS process on Fromme in the mid-2000s had a pre-determined outcome. DNV was able to get a consultant to put in supposed environmental reasons to shut down the trails that DNV had already identified for closure. anyone who was highly involved in the process can tell you that.

as others have said, the rationale was the same then as now: save money on trail maintenance and reduce liability by trotting out environmental reasons. i'm told that some of those policy makers from the Fromme ARSS process time period have moved on, and it might not be so bad now, but i guess we'll see.

those in power within DNV have consistently demonstrated that they only care about mountain biking where it hits their financials and liability. things would be much worse without the years of community support/involvement and pro-MTB councilors like Mr.Bond.

prepare for the worst people.

wrapping in garbage bags or tarps doesn't do much IMO, the moisture usually gets in during the winter around here, and if anything, will keep things damp longer so they can continue to mold?  if you're gonna use plastic i would actually try to keep it elevated above the tools so it provides a rain cover but won't trap in the moisture, if that makes sense.

but absolute best is fiberglass, ya.  not only should it last longer but you're less likely to snap a handle.  i don't get along with wooden mattock handles.

to the people advocating braids for trails that were cut when bikes were super shitty ... the solution is not changing a couple corners.  the solution is a whole new trail.  we're not going to braid our way from old-school trails to proper new school lines.

so how about leaving the old-school stuff alone?  we've already lost enough of it.

Posted by: cerealkilla_
Again, adding a motor lets people do douche-bag things they wouldn't get away with on a mountain bike..,...such as boosting up the left side of the Mashiter and crashing into people coming down, or pinning it past people labouring on a climb and nearly running them off the trail. The motor simply enables more selfish behavior among people that already care little for others. Go figure.

Meanwhile, the ebike-pushers and marketers remain totally silent with respect to any discussion of courtesy. There has not been a peep from our resident walking-commercial about the extra responsibility that comes with adding a motor to the mix. No suggestion of riding in the direction of existing traffic. No discussion of giving people extra warning in advance as you scream up behind them.

Instead, I see ebike buddy posting videos of himself climbing up the downhill trails, whining about how he feels victimized when people call them mopeds, and then hypocritically ridiculing people on mountain bikes. 

If we can point a finger of blame for the broader pattern of (albeit rare) douche-bag behavior, it can point at those people that only seek to sell....selling out our sport, without a spare second to talk about courtesy. Solely focused on instant gratification, while offering every excuse in the book about helping disabled riders, getting a superior workout (while also making it effortless)....and so forth. 

There simply has been zero leadership from those that brought ebikes to the riding community, so it is little surprise that the minority of jerk-offs that do buy them, proceed to use them in such a manner. They are the same crowd that strip on front lawns, toss their empties, and blast loamers in the rain. Most people will use these rides responsibly. However, a motorized mtb provides a special attraction to those that really only care about themselves...minimal effort, maximum yahoo. 

If I ever get an ebike, and I won't rule it out, I sure as hell won't ride up Rupert and LOA, and will sure as sh*t slow down and give an extra friendly hello in advance as I seek to pass, and definitely won't use it to slap on fenders and pants so I can rip trails in the rain....but I guess that it's too much to ask that this is suggested to others. Wouldn't want to suggest that this extra fast toy comes with a bit of extra responsibility. Heaven forbid we infringe on that personal individual freedom.

thanks for taking the time to write this out.  i agree 100% but would never be able to pen such an eloquent statement.

Posted by: D_C_

DNV is closing some on-street parking this coming weekend:

https://www.dnv.org/programs-services/covid-19-updates-and-closures?fbclid=IwAR0BTqfwunsE9OalA5NcVBOsItXtblA18gjToGJdmcbI7s6DqRjZi1y41LQ#Closed

Onstreet parking is restricted in these locations used for accessing mountain trails:

Berkley Avenue, Hyannis Drive, Riverside Drive, Mountain Highway 

Riverside Drive North

Mountain Highway, south of Coleman

Woodlands, Indian River Drive – closed to public

finally some sanity

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: oldmanbuilder

our health care workers aren't just risking their lives, but also the lives of their family members. 

if the shit hits the fan all this recreational use needs to stop to ensure that no health care resources are spent on avoidable recreational injuries.  maybe we're not there yet, but the time may come when riding becomes an extremely selfish act.  i do not agree that the risk can be managed.  many people have serious accidents on easy sections of trails.

waiting for the trails to get shut down.  won't be disappointing.  at that point if you go riding, just be prepared to bleed out or crawl home and pray your bones heal in some usable manner.

if you need to workout to maintain your sanity there are less risky ways to do that.  if you think it's riding or nothing, see my selfish comment above.

Well people slip and fall in the shower, do we ban showers too? How about lightning strikes, they kill people, can we ban those? Alcohol causes issues too, better stop selling that. And cigarettes. And anything with sugar in it. And, and, and... Just how many people have serious accidents on easy sections of trails? What is the nature of these serious accidents, just how serious are they? Do you have ant data or info to back this up?

C'mon man, you haven't really thought through your statement and are trying to support it with a dubious claim. People can manage the risk, I saw lots of them doing it on Sunday.
However, I will give you points on the thought of whether some people are responsible enough to manage the risk, but that's a deeper conversation.

that the weakest argument you could come up with to try and troll me?  this is about people making decisions to reduce activities that may cause demand on the health care system.  i guess people really are too selfish to see the big picture.  the answer is me, me, me.  i'll keep doing whatever i want even though we're on the verge of being in a war zone.

god, i can only help the trails are shut down.

our health care workers aren't just risking their lives, but also the lives of their family members. 

if the shit hits the fan all this recreational use needs to stop to ensure that no health care resources are spent on avoidable recreational injuries.  maybe we're not there yet, but the time may come when riding becomes an extremely selfish act.  i do not agree that the risk can be managed.  many people have serious accidents on easy sections of trails.

waiting for the trails to get shut down.  won't be disappointing.  at that point if you go riding, just be prepared to bleed out or crawl home and pray your bones heal in some usable manner.

if you need to workout to maintain your sanity there are less risky ways to do that.  if you think it's riding or nothing, see my selfish comment above.

Posted by: LoamtoHome

waterproof shorts should come with a shovel so you can fix the trail damage afterwards....

totally.  unless you're riding the mapped NSMBA-maintained trails that can support wet weather riding.