dumb rage pt.2

It has been several hours since part one, and I still have the rage glowing inside me like a spicy taco truck burrito. I am still amazed by the ignorance of people, people who are supposed to be in our tribe, think the way we do, live the way we do, but then again every family has that crazy uncle who drinks too much, talks too much, and is well you get the point. My rage digresses into sadness.

(fade to black and white grainy backdrop) I've been riding mountain bikes for almost 17 years, I started back in Utah in the summer because I was getting fat and it took forever when the snow came to get into riding form. Bikes were not my first love, and I just used them as a tool. They did not become my life until about ten years ago. I'm not providing my background in cycling to prove that I "know stuff", it is to show that I don't know everything there is to know. I am a student of cycling and I have a lifetime to learn. My knowledge is only a small sliver. What I do know is this. (house lights come up with a small rainbow and unicorn -stage left)

Mountain bike trails don't make themselves, there is not some magical all seeing being that comes down from Unicorn Rainbow Land to breathe trails to life. I wish. But. For me this is really kinda how it happens. Trails just appear. It is a miracle. I go to the Trail Head ride my bike and go home. Done and dusted, time for a man soda. Wait. I know what you are thinking, you don't believe in Unicorn Rainbow trail making god?

First Santa and now Unicorn Trail Making god. I found out the other day that people make trails. Who knew? Yes, real people just like you and me. Well, except they spend countless hours working, building, breaking, sawing, sweating, cutting, moving for the common good of ALL trail users. Not just mountain bikers you silly. Everyone. It's like going to your job doing all the work and then someone else gets your paycheck to spend on beer and candy. Show some appreciation, say thank you, respect what you have -what you have been given. Find these magical real people and buy them a beer, or probably the best thing you could do, is help. Or, just say thank you and stop your complaining, after all you are big, though, awesome, PRO, mountain bikers.

Thank you for all your hard work. MY trails are awesome. That's right I own them. (last two sentences dripping with sarcasm)

Dumb Rage

This is probably a bad idea, but I'm pissed. I have to put something down to maybe, just maybe work through this seething rage of hatred. I hate ignorance. Ignorance that has no merit but is embolden by years of just not having a freaking clue. Throwing a leg over a mountain bike does not magically make you a mountainbiker, but for some it does, and with this it gives one knowledge beyond all comprehension. Trolling the interwebs, mags, and edits makes one so PRO. Please oh great ones let us know how awesome you are, we seek your wisdom.

Riding a trail or hiking or rolling around in the dust for 30+ years does not prescribe ownership. Taking your sick whip out of your padded tailgate truck for the first time does not entitle you to ownership.

 KNOWLEDGE DROP:  NO one OWNS the trails, we are all users. The only people who OWN trails are the ones that have Title or Deed to the land, then and only then does someone OWN the trail.  

I have never wielded a rake, shovel, sledgehammer, weed-eater, or put on work gloves for trail building/maintenance. I am a consumer, and everyone who does the same as I, is a consumer. If you are not working on the trails in some capacity this is what you are. Unlike Burger King, being a trail consumer, we can NOT Have It Our Way. We have to consume the trail the way it is presented to us.

End of story.

 More to come on this subject, I am by no means finished with this RANT, I'm pissed.

The L's

Live
Life
Love
Live

Live Life, Love the people in your Life, and make sure it is Live.