Tree Gates

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Originally Posted by The Tip

I wish there was a "funny" button. I just couldn't push the like button on this, you know, because of the rabble rousing and all.;)

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Not even a "like?" Now I'm offended. Ignore! Bam!

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Originally Posted by FJsnoozer

No, it actually does not.

Especially as it pertains to this thread. We recently built a new trail with the permission of the city and specific trees were flagged and catalogued that we could not cut. Some were not easily flagged. It was the intention to have these trees remain and not have a giant open tread for all to pass 3 wide with a stroller.

Moving rocks just annoys the trail builders and riders; removing trees pisses off the land owners, gets us in deep shit and jeapordises access.

Walkers never say, "Damn, who moved that rock I used to trip over while I was texting on my nature walk?", but they do say"Whoah, where did that tree go?" Then they ask around, and sometimes Trail stewards get a call from angry land owners or managers about whats going on.

Two things will get you noticed (negatively) , removing trees and building Kickers on a trail Hikers feel is "their" walking path.

The rock mover battle between mountain bikers will always take place no matter what town you are in.

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FJ... Again... You just support my point with this... "...with the permission of the city and specific trees were flagged and catalogued that we could not cut..." and this "...and sometimes Trail stewards get a call from angry land owners or managers about whats going on."

What you said fully supports that the trail builders do not have the right to do whatever they want. Which was my point.

What is it that is so difficult to grasp?

And as you said, every community will have people who think they can do their own thing – and unfortunately many do.

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Originally Posted by Spicewookie

I'm going to posit: trails inside the CoA are lame and brought down to the LCD of lame-o's. Private land is a free for all and turns into whatever the land owner can make money on (can be be cool or lame). County/State/LCRA land is the sweet spot. They know we know what we're doing and give us the reigns, as long as we abide by natural resource guidelines. There is more trail in the works for these lands. I say, support these efforts. We (MTBers) will get the trail we want if we respect the LMs. The people that put in the work (up front AND in the woods) do get a say in what's built.

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Excellent point... The further out from the city you go, the more freedom you have.

The problem I see here in Austin is that as the city grows, with most of the growth coming from migration to Austin (people with different views to long-time Austinites), there'll be more competition for the natural resources that were once more available (less developed), and less crowded. And these people pay taxes and many feel they therefore have a say in how these resources are developed for public use. Walnut Creek is one example. And it seems Brushy Creek is beginning to feel a few waves as well. South Austin is a bit off the residential development target at the moment, but who knows what will happen in the future.

Now... The above said... There is a matter of sustaining the trails that get developed. It's one thing to build a trail, another thing to maintain it. For that we need hands, and these hands will come from the people who use these trails. So the more people that use these trails the more opportunity to get the hands to help maintain the trails they use. Which brings up the question of how do we get more people using these trails... Especially as mountain bikers.

I think jazz hands may help.

There's been a really narrow tree gate on the BCGB for years. Like 10+ years. Yeah, it's hard to get my 800mm bars through it, but it was a challenge. Some asshat recently cut one of the oaks. I was pissed, it's actually ruined several rides - as I'd pass the previous gate I'd just start an internal rant about pussies who can't ride, entitled millennials, the builder's vision, etc.

Well, guess what I saw today. The most gloriest of glories. I swear to Christ almighty I let out a heartfelt whoop and a Volume 11 'Fuck Yeah' when I saw this:
Attachment 13037

Some ornery bastard was upset enough to take action. It's beautiful. He glued/screwed the damn tree back! Who does that? The vision on this guy - holy shits! He's the fuckin' CEO of the Greenbelt at this point.

To this unknown trail-savior, The Oatmeal said it best:

"Hat-tip to your magnificence! May a squadron of beautiful vaginas find their way to your crotch by day's end"

Fuck yeah man.

Is this the little rocky uphill gate after the small creek crossing? I love that one.

When I first got my Scalpel SI the VERY wide bars really messed with me going through tree gates. Places that weren't an issue before were suddenly trying to bust my knuckles. Just part of riding, cutting a tree because of it should result in public ass beatings.

Zuckerdirt

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Originally Posted by Barry

Is this the little rocky uphill gate after the small creek crossing? I love that one.

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I think it's the one after that downhill section off to the left.

Gluing a tree together? That's a thing?!

The tree is dead. Gluing and splicing it back together won't bring it back to life. But if somebody cut the tree down so their handlebars would fit - they have a problem again.

I can't believe someone would have so little skill and so much self importance that they think cutting down a tree is appropriate. I hope I am wrong with that interpretation. But the theory fits.

I think it is cramsay that has a signature that says " Go over the rock. Go around the rock. Don't move the rock." Same with trees. Up your skills. Don't dumb down the trail.

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Originally Posted by cxagent

I can't believe someone would have so little skill and so much self importance that they think cutting down a tree is appropriate.

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Self importance is a shitty thing, but some people live by it...this is an example of "that guy".

I have had success blocking trail sanitation. Usually the thing I do to "repair" the sanitation, stays. More often than not actually. I think that the "helper" sees that someone has made an effort to undo their "help" and hopefully they say, "whoops, I guess that wasn't as good of an idea as I thought it was."

I hope that is the case with this effort too. It's a cool effort!

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Originally Posted by 512

Attachment 13037

He glued/screwed the damn tree back!

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Might want to wrap that with some Flex Tape just to be on the safe side!

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Originally Posted by 512

There's been a really narrow tree gate on the BCGB for years. Like 10+ years. Yeah, it's hard to get my 800mm bars through it, but it was a challenge. Some asshat recently cut one of the oaks. I was pissed, it's actually ruined several rides - as I'd pass the previous gate I'd just start an internal rant about pussies who can't ride, entitled millennials, the builder's vision, etc.

Well, guess what I saw today. The most gloriest of glories. I swear to Christ almighty I let out a heartfelt whoop and a Volume 11 'Fuck Yeah' when I saw this:
Attachment 13037

Some ornery bastard was upset enough to take action. It's beautiful. He glued/screwed the damn tree back! Who does that? The vision on this guy - holy shits! He's the fuckin' CEO of the Greenbelt at this point.

To this unknown trail-savior, The Oatmeal said it best:

"Hat-tip to your magnificence! May a squadron of beautiful vaginas find their way to your crotch by day's end"

Fuck yeah man.

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Ran into this tree over the weekend. I thought it was creative. But I disagree that the route through this tree gate had some magical value. I would never cut a tree down unless I had specific charter as a trail developer but I think this tree gate is stupid.

I noticed more trees removed from this trail. We've got a regular Paul Bunyan out there.

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Originally Posted by notyal

I noticed more trees removed from this trail. We've got a regular Paul Bunyan out there.

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Just wait. Pretty soon we will hear "this trail is BORING! it just goes straight."

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Originally Posted by cxagent

Just wait. Pretty soon we will hear "this trail is BORING! it just goes straight."

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Unfortunately, I bet they are saying "This is great! my Strava times are improving with every tree I cut."

just because you enjoy playing slo-mo limbo with young oaks doesn't make you a better rider. It just means you like playing slo-mo limbo. people get too hung up on a single tree, not seeing the forest for the (now missing) trees.

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Originally Posted by Anita Handle

Ran into this tree over the weekend.

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see, that's the problem. people running into trees.