Two Red Benches and a Conga Line
Fully Rigid, 4/30/23
As a gentle reminder, this column is supposed to discuss things that maybe we all don’t agree with, within our mountain biking community.
In addition to the seeming never-ending details/news on this year’s Sea Otter gathering and what looked like a celebration of gravel and e-bikes, I’m going to add this photo as evidence that in my teeny weeny MTB world view, things ain’t right:
Pine Mountain Trail to Champagne Pass is one of my favorite stretches of singletrack that exists on planet Earth, one that is open for me/you to ride a bike on, traversing a beautiful ridgeline across the sky. When I got to the pass and saw the 2 recently/newly installed fire-engine red metal benches, it peeved me.
WTF?
What is the point/need for such incongruity?
Who put it there and why? Was it a mountain biker?
What’s wrong with sitting on the ground?
Maybe a wooden bench, if one really is needed?
Is this someone’s modern art installation, done for shits and giggles?
The benches do not belong there. There is no real need for them to be there. The sighting ruins the natural surroundings.
Lighten up, you say. Ha! What’s next? A cell tower to be sure your portable speaker doesn’t lose connection while out there?
And then later on in the same ride, as I’m climbing up a gradual incline and nearing where it flattens out, a piece of trail that is trafficked by bikers, walkers, hikers, trail runners, even people sometimes pushing a baby stroller, I see an approaching conga line of super bad ass, fully kitted out mountain bikers traveling at a very high rate of speed, weaving around the hikers. I caught a glimpse of a jersey and later on looked up the name; why would high school coaches allow that kind of riding on a busy trail?
Ain’t nothing worse for the MTB community than inconsiderateness. Dust in the air like a cloud of me-first entitlement, I kept my line and elbows out. Some brakes were squeezed, which was a good thing.
The glass is half full, isn’t it?! Cheers, everyone! Make it a Sunday funday!
Fully Rigid is a monthly column by James Murren about Mountain Biking Issues within the Mountain Biking Community.