lets get down to he knitty gritty!!!

[chongoblanco]

i appreciate all of the hard work of protecting p.v and other related trails i wish i could do more for the sport i have come to love so much no disrespect to any one and again i thank every one for their hard work.

A small part of me echoes in the back of my mind every time i ride wether i see a sign that says no bickers or find an un marked trail, what keeps u from poching? really growing up street riding you ride what you wanted knowing u would have to run from security or cops somtimes becuse of rules and you had to ask your self if it was worth the trouble if u got busted. By all means poching is not good especially for us riders a positive out look is always helpful.

Ask your self do you not do things you want to because you shouldn't or do you do things you shouldn't because of of peer pressure? maybe others would look down upon you? or you do things to go along with flow, or are u not doing it to save face? If this thread gets deleted its because i came across wrong. If I see an unmarked trail Ill ride it. if it says no bikes i wont for two reasons. I am totally being honest with my self it's because i dont want to get busted and the second is i think about the future of mt biking. What i do now determines possible future rides for others.

It takes alot for one to be honest to ones self i Have laid may feelings on the table for every one. Deep down I want to say f it ill do what i want but The future is what prevents me, and makes me think twice.
it saddens me to know that i am that way naturally i geuss that is what makes us human I love riding it is the best stress relief for me.

what Im really asking is what is really in your hearts when it comes to maybe riding things You shouldn't. Besides the post and what people think about u. Honesty is what brings people together not polotics.

AM i really alone or am i the only one talking about it?
I just don't think I can be the only one that feels this way and that others just aren't owning up to how they really feel . . . help I'm all confused inside!!!!

[Tedroy]

... do the right thing even when no one is looking.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by Tedroy

... do the right thing even when no one is looking.

That's it right there. It is a matter of personal integrity.

[HELLDOG]

You are not alone chongoblanco. Well said.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by HELLDOG

You are not alone chongoblanco. Well said.

Happened to you and your bro-in-law Wednesday?

[Flat Broke]

You're definitely not the only one thinking about it. Before sitting through the PUMP meetings for Del Cerro, I kinda had a "F" the man mentality about it. I thought I should be able to ride wherever I wanted. So long as the consequences weren't too high, it'd be worth the risk. I'm not saying I've poached trails or anything like that. But that has been how I looked at the issue since I was a kid.

After seeing exactly how fanatical some people are about expunging bikes from every shred of wilderness they use, I realize that our actions are scrutinized far more than the general biking public knows. As a community we bear the reputation brought forth from every individual action witnessed (either in person or after the fact by seeing the trail and tire tracks) by other trail users. In my brief and limited exposure to how our fate is decided in one area, it is evident that scientific fact plays a subordinate role to perception by those making the decisions. Because of this, we as individuals within the community need to take responsibility for our actions to ensure that the entire MTB community isn't discriminated against because of one careless indiscretion.

The bottom line, yeah I feel somewhat conflicted; even hypocritical at some points. As a kid I rode my bike wherever I wanted. Now our access to areas in the future will require me to stop and talk to any kids that are doing MTBers a dis-service with their actions. In effect I'll have to become "the man" to do my part to help keep trails open. It sucks, but so does going to work to have $$ to spend on your bike.
[FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT]
Chris

[ddmansprty]

There is nothing wrong with following rules and you should never feel bad for doing the right thing. Sometimes we need to compromise a bit to protect the sport we love. Even if it means being submissive to our urges. Every rider out there has a target on his or her back (Thanks Barbara Boxer) The more positive things we do as individuals on the trails, (Hopefully) the more rights we will keep. It sucks that some groups like to lable us as trouble makers, though most of us are not......

[chongoblanco]

glad to see im not alone on this issue thanks for all your input, it was even starting to get me bummed on ridding.

All i wanna do is ride my bike I geuss i started to let people and politics bug me. Went and rode my new jump bike today on the street and had a blast, I gotta just remember to have fun!! and playing by the rules is always better in the long run.

Dont worry you can still shout Dam the man by not letting petty stuff get to you. I guess what they say is true you gotta fight for your right!

[mechmann]

my wife keeps me from poaching. she refuses to do it for reasons discussed, personal integrity.

most of the BS excuses that people use to remove bikes from a trail piss me off. so i honestly would poach trails just like i speed and break various other laws. i do these things because the rules were made to keep the short bus riders from hurting themselves, and i am not a short bus rider.

[chongoblanco]

godd stuff mechmann!

[2w4s]

Santiago Oaks, does anybody know if the section at the top underneath the power tower with the little drop is illegal? Rode there yesterday and there was a ranger with binoculars standing in that area, which is great considering I saw 3 'hikers' smoking cigarettes. When I went to hit the drop I was told curtly 'the trail is over there', when I asked for an explanation I was told 'the trail is over there.' I had no intention of riding anything out of bounds, but trail maps don't show this area as being illegal and I've been riding the Oaks for close to 10 years. Am I missing something?