Full Armor Mountain Bikers on the Mt. Waterman Trail Saturday Afternoon

Other than the name calling, this is a good and important discussion. We have to cultivate and protect our image as mountain bikers to maintain access to trails. We will not prevail if we thumb our noses at those not on bikes and seemingly say "I can do whatever I want, wherever I want and screw you."

I think this bears repeating. Whether you like it or not, as someone who works on trail advocacy (and who from time to time wears full face/body armor on trails shared with hikers) this is the sad fact of maintaining and enhancing trail access. We are the last user group to the party, and have to fight to keep legal access. That is the reality in SoCal.
 
San Juan is a gnar trail ??? :-k


Yes it must be. Every weekend you see downhill bikes being shuttled to the top.

There is PLENTY more to drop in from the top of Ortega (NOT SJT, Pinos or any other on that side) that some might consider 'gnar' - can't assume where those shuttle trucks are heading...

Just sayin' ;)
 
There is PLENTY more to drop in from the top of Ortega (NOT SJT, Pinos or any other on that side) that some might consider 'gnar' - can't assume where those shuttle trucks are heading...

Just sayin' ;)

Parked at the bottom of SJT?.....

Saw a few of them on the trail. Armor, Full faced helmets and huge backpacks. Had music playing and looked all hopped up on Mountain Dew. One of the riders continued to use the word “Bro”.

Maybe they were lost?

:-)
 
The interplay between Donny and Rox juxtaposed to people trying the same old arguments about what we perceive versus what others perceive makes me feel like I am watching a Felini film..

Cut to crying clown and....


Fin
 
I usually refrain from wearing armor unless I'm injured or riding a new trail that I'm not familiar with but that's my choice. I'm not understanding why we are so inclined to keep the hikers happy when many of them don't have any regard to trail etiquette. Just last weekend I encountered some hikers that left me scratching my head there was a pack of 20 of them and they all decided to congregate right in front of the freaking trail head C blocking all the traffic to and from the trail a little further down the trail another group of hikers blocking the trail right after a DH section while looking at a map. I stopped to warn them that many riders exit from that section of the trail and that it's probably not the safest spot to stop to read a map. Did they bother to say thanks not even. Why can't hikers realize they are not the only people on the trail and walk in a single file line. Seriously the Japanese got it right! If you've ever been to Japan it's a single file line to the right no matter where you go and if you don't follow the rule people will F you up.
 
I usually refrain from wearing armor unless I'm injured or riding a new trail that I'm not familiar with but that's my choice. I'm not understanding why we are so inclined to keep the hikers happy when many of them don't have any regard to trail etiquette. Just last weekend I encountered some hikers that left me scratching my head there was a pack of 20 of them and they all decided to congregate right in front of the freaking trail head C blocking all the traffic to and from the trail a little further down the trail another group of hikers blocking the trail right after a DH section while looking at a map. I stopped to warn them that many riders exit from that section of the trail and that it's probably not the safest spot to stop to read a map. Did they bother to say thanks not even. Why can't hikers realize they are not the only people on the trail and walk in a single file line. Seriously the Japanese got it right! If you've ever been to Japan it's a single file line to the right no matter where you go and if you don't follow the rule people will F you up.


I could say the same when it comes to mtn bikers....This has been a huge pet peeve of mine.

Have run into large group rides at Oaks and at Whiting where riders on and off bikes are sprawled across the trail....then making no effort to clear a line when a rider not in the group ride comes through. Ring the bell, they all look, and no one moves.
 
Just a mild rant. Instead of riding Waterman Saturday, I chose to hike the trail with wife and dog late PM.

Full helmet, body armor riders descending gave us a head's up. Kudos for that. But us hiking up. The trail etiquette is pull over for hikers. Don't expect uphill hikers to pull over for you. More of a big deal is a) doodz tossed a LOT of dirt around skidding the turns. Very, very bad form, especially on what is usually a pristine trail. Stay away. and b) you pissed off some other hikers down trail to the extent they posted up on their hiking forum. Must of been carrying too much speed.

Here is some food for thought. I got full body armor and a full faced helmet. But I also use them on trails where I may get tossed (i..e- uber-high speed or technical terrain). Waterman is neither. Max speed only OK on week days when you see no cars in the parking lot = no hikers. The problem with the full armor is hikers just don't dig meeting a Star Wars Storm Trooper.

I really am not a crusty old guy, but I have been riding San Gabs single-track for 29 years and I have a vested interest in keeping trails open to mountain bikers. Plus as a hiker, I don't want mt bikers pissing me off. Peace out.


Was there a party of 4 and an unleashed dog?
 
I could say the same when it comes to mtn bikers....This has been a huge pet peeve of mine.

Have run into large group rides at Oaks and at Whiting where riders on and off bikes are sprawled across the trail....then making no effort to clear a line when a rider not in the group ride comes through. Ring the bell, they all look, and no one moves.

Yesterday at the Fully looop i encountered this
im like really ???? you have to stop right in the middle and then give me the stink eye as i ring the bell and yell at you to move and not block the whole trail with your bikes
 
Yesterday at the Fully looop i encountered this
im like really ???? you have to stop right in the middle and then give me the stink eye as i ring the bell and yell at you to move and not block the whole trail with your bikes

That's because you went on a Thursday. :lol: That's like the highest traffic day on the Loop aside from weekends.
 
OK i found a Video from Mt Waterman that day

Was it these guys ??
Seems like not all DH guys were disrespectful that day or maybe Hikers over reacting ???

[video=youtube_share;NZ0fwhZCBfo]http://youtu.be/NZ0fwhZCBfo[/video]
 
Always wear a gopro going downhill! Nice to see it was another unsubstantiated embellishment. Thank god for auto correct...those words were big.
 

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