Clearly there's a simple solution to this dilemma. Just cut down all these stupid trees and replacement them with artificial xmas trees. That way riders can move them around as they like.
Bonus to this solution; it gets rid of all those pesky GCW's
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Clearly there's a simple solution to this dilemma. Just cut down all these stupid trees and replacement them with artificial xmas trees. That way riders can move them around as they like.
Bonus to this solution; it gets rid of all those pesky GCW's
I laughed a little when I realized something. We mountain bikers must be a hard to please group. First we bitched about the people maliciously placing rocks on the Bambi trail. Then we bitched about someone taking rocks OFF that trail. There's just no pleasing us! lol
p.s. Yes, I realize that I bitched the loudest about both things! Oh the irony.
For the most part, we just want folks to leave shit alone. Except the face-slappers. You're welcome to remove face-slappers.
Nothing wrong with people complaining when interlopers won't just leave the damn trail be. Maintain it so it's possible to ride, but don't make pointless changes.
Riding on Saturday evening with my wife, she had a fall near the end of the new section of trail by the Nichols Park apartments — where the new section of trail finishes by a dirt road on the west side of Mopac (we were headed back to the little parking lot by Convict Hill and Latta Drive. She had just come around a slight blind right corner (heading northish), got momentarily distracted and hooked her bar on one of the two little trees that are on either side of the trail. Her wheel got turned and she went — thankfully — chest first into a bigger tree that is a few feet away from the little trees. Bruised, but nothing broken, it could have been much worse.
This is one of those trail "features" that I could go out and get rid of in a second. And just might. It's just a silly, and unnecessary, dangerous "feature" in the trail. You're coming to the end of the trail section... That can be ridden fairly fast... And as you turn a corner you're confronted with the need to hit the brakes and negotiate your way through a boring, foolishly left set of trees. For me, it's just not indicative of good trail building.
And what made it really upsetting for my wife, and myself, is that she had been riding really well. For the first time since she's started riding again she was somewhat keeping up with me. Which is important, as I am always telling her that speed (well, a degree of momentum) is her friend when riding through rock gardens, and so I am always encouraging her to pick up her pace a bit. Which is what she was doing.
Please do not cut trees. Learn your lesson and pay attention to where you are going. If we used your logic regarding trail features, we'd just cut down every tree in the county. Please leave the trail alone. If something is difficult, ride more and become a better rider. Don't confuse a lack of "good trail building" for a lack of skill and attention. If you want to avoid unpredictable trail features, stick to the Veloway.
do not mess with the trees. Now we know who to blame if you do. Seriously, do not mess up the trails, like you have threatened to do with "dangerous rocks."
mack_turtle... Thanks for your class of how to ride trails. But after 20+ years of mtb riding I kind of have an idea of how things go. As for me threatening to mess with dangerous rocks... Again, as you have in the past... You're just in error. I didn't threaten to mess with the "dangerous rocks"... I inquired about a five foot section of trail that, in my opinion, had been routed through some rocks that could easily cause injury to a rider... With the thought of this short section of trail not really adding anything to the nice flow of the trail on either side of it. And the steward of the trail was curious enough to ask me to meet him and go take a look, which we did. And since then it's been a non-issue. Yet... Here you are, like an ass, bringing it up again.
Tell you what... You handle yourself how you think necessary... And I'll handle myself how I think necessary.
You can handle yourself however you please, preferably in the privacy of you own home, like I do.
These trails, however, are a community resource that depends entirely on people not handling them as they see fit. Please respect that.
(P.S.- I am trying to be civil, but damn.)
How wide are your wife's bars? Go wider. She will become hyper aware of where the trees are on the trail. As an added bonus, she will get the leverage and control of a wider bar.
And please, DO NOT CUT DOWN ANY TREES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!
RidingAgain I know exactly the two trees you are talking about. And yes, that is certainly a tree gate. That is really the only tight spot on that entire bit of single track that parallels the Violet Crown Trail. It is definitely different from how the rest of the trail flows.
I'm guessing that tree gate was left there on purpose. As you mentioned, it is right before the trail intersects that dirt road. At one point, there was a lot of VCT construction traffic on that dirt road. The tree gate acted as a speed reducer so that riders would be moving slowly as they encountered the road. But now that the construction is finished that need has passed.
I personally wouldn't mind at all if one of those little trees was removed. The more appealing to riders that single track is the better. It's a slightly amusing way to bypass the VCT there. It needs wheels on it to keep it clear.
Thank you for going to the mtb community, again, to discuss something before doing like other "helpers" do. That is to impulsively alter things before thinking the pros and cons out.
I hope the mrs. doesn't quit biking because of her mishap.
There ya go... Someone who gets it.
And no... The Mrs., after releasing a bit of a wail and a few, ahh, colorful words, was back up on her bike to finish the ride; but said very clearly that she would not be going through the little creek section that leads to the cave. It was getting dark, so I understood.
Thanks for asking Tip.