mdd0127
100 kW
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2008
- Messages
- 1,084
Hi Everyone,
I've been buying Mountain Bike Action for a while now to keep up with the new stuff that's coming out and a couple of their articles really got to me in the last two days. I've never written to a magazine before, muchless posted about one online, but we need to expose crap in the media when we come across it.
So, in the new issue, I read an article that made me steaming mad. I can't find a link to it online and won't recommend buying the issue but the jist of it was that bikes with big travel make people want to ride off the trails and mess things up for everyone else so they should be banned from everything but resorts or races. The idea that an internationally distributed magazine about mountain biking is suggesting that people start banning certain kinds of bikes from public trails enraged me. The people riding the bikes off the trails are the ones to blame for the environmental damage. How about an article suggesting ways to identify and educate/punish people that don't use the trails respectfully? How about a good article reminding people that's it's bad form to go out and tear up the trails when it's muddy? There are so many other ideas that need to be brought up more often because they're IMPORTANT, that the drivel about legislating what kind of bike someone should ride is infuriating.
Also, a little funny is the fact that the same issue that contains the "ban DH bikes" article contains a multi page spread showcasing all of the new gravity bikes. I wonder if the manufacturers of these bikes know how the publication feels about their "legality" on public trails.
Here's a copy of my email to the editor regarding that issue:
Today, I went to their website to see if the article was posted there and see maybe if I could post my letter as a comment. I saw a link to this on the first page and decided to start a public information campaign.
http://www.mbaction.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=46E54141A74B48C298972559355CD9D2
Those who oppose closed minded, ignorant drivel mass in media should let MTB Action know how you feel.
Electric assist bikes ridden by RESPONSIBLE people have just as much right to be on the trails as anyone else. It's up to the user to be safe and ride appropriately. We don't ban Jeeps because they "could" be driven over curbs. Should we ban fixies and unicycles too??? Please let them know how you feel if you agree.
The Editor's email address is: mbaction@hi-torque.com
I've been buying Mountain Bike Action for a while now to keep up with the new stuff that's coming out and a couple of their articles really got to me in the last two days. I've never written to a magazine before, muchless posted about one online, but we need to expose crap in the media when we come across it.
So, in the new issue, I read an article that made me steaming mad. I can't find a link to it online and won't recommend buying the issue but the jist of it was that bikes with big travel make people want to ride off the trails and mess things up for everyone else so they should be banned from everything but resorts or races. The idea that an internationally distributed magazine about mountain biking is suggesting that people start banning certain kinds of bikes from public trails enraged me. The people riding the bikes off the trails are the ones to blame for the environmental damage. How about an article suggesting ways to identify and educate/punish people that don't use the trails respectfully? How about a good article reminding people that's it's bad form to go out and tear up the trails when it's muddy? There are so many other ideas that need to be brought up more often because they're IMPORTANT, that the drivel about legislating what kind of bike someone should ride is infuriating.
Also, a little funny is the fact that the same issue that contains the "ban DH bikes" article contains a multi page spread showcasing all of the new gravity bikes. I wonder if the manufacturers of these bikes know how the publication feels about their "legality" on public trails.
Here's a copy of my email to the editor regarding that issue:
Hi Jim,
I just made it through the article about banning downhill type bikes on page 20 of the April edition and if the person that feels this way is working on future editions, I won't be buying them .
If you haven't read the article, you should.....I'm hoping you didn't and it just snuck past you.....anyway
My wife and I ride "downhill" bikes everywhere. We both have 27 speeds and dual crown forks. We both quit riding due to knee and shoulder injuries that we can't afford to get fixed and just started again a few months ago because we discovered big travel.
My old bike was a 4 inch travel Diamond Back Coil. I've had nicer ones in the past but my blown out knees didn't warrant a nice bike. On the Coil, riding the tough trails around Durango and Cortez, CO, was brutal and nearly impossible. The trails are very rocky with roots, ledges, and jumps. I couldn't ride for more than half an hour before my knees and shoulder were done. I basically put bikes away until I got to ride a friend's downhill bike and noticed how the plush suspension made my whole body feel better. I also noticed than instead of spending a bunch of energy trying to pick lines around softball sized rocks in the trail, I could just roll right over them, concentrating on my form and pace, and best of all, the scenery. I can ride again! I don't care if it's heavy! I'm also the type of guy that tears regular frames, forks and wheels up easily while only riding moderately. The supple ride, confidence, and reliability of a downhill type bike are just worth it.
My "new" bike is a Haro MX-3 with custom links and a longer Vanilla RC that's running around 9 inches of overall travel. The fork is a Manitou Dorado Pro DH Carbon. XTR components, etc. It weighs around 40 lbs and I don't mind at all. My wife had quit riding as well so we got her a Specialized FSR DH with a Dorado DH. She loves it and rides a few times a week.
So, just because the author of that article doesn't like the typical DH crowd that just bombs anything, he shouldn't be suggesting that people start sticking their noses into the kind of bikes that other people CHOOSE to ride. Sure, I wear army pants, combat boots, and a hoody and ride a 40 lb bike through the woods down the horse trails. I wouldn't have it any other way. I bet if I put on spandex and rode a carbon xc bike I'd fly.......
By the way, I'm in the process of building a bike that's going to throw the whole industry upside down and redefine the ultimate 2 wheeled machine. It's time to put the weight hype and $7000 taiwan made bike trends to rest. Enjoy it while you can.
Very disappointed.
Today, I went to their website to see if the article was posted there and see maybe if I could post my letter as a comment. I saw a link to this on the first page and decided to start a public information campaign.
http://www.mbaction.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=46E54141A74B48C298972559355CD9D2
Those who oppose closed minded, ignorant drivel mass in media should let MTB Action know how you feel.
Electric assist bikes ridden by RESPONSIBLE people have just as much right to be on the trails as anyone else. It's up to the user to be safe and ride appropriately. We don't ban Jeeps because they "could" be driven over curbs. Should we ban fixies and unicycles too??? Please let them know how you feel if you agree.
The Editor's email address is: mbaction@hi-torque.com