Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site varian.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!zehntel!varian!fred
From: fred@varian.UUCP (Fred Klink)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Mountain BICYCLES and the Environment
Message-ID: <247@varian.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 5-Oct-84 18:35:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: varian.247
Posted: Fri Oct  5 18:35:27 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Oct-84 02:56:46 EDT
References: <173@oliveb.UUCP>, <1793@uw-june>
Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA
Lines: 35

Wow, what a lot of confusion!

(1) We're talking about bicycles-- not motors, just pedals.  If you're
    talking about something else I think you're on the wrong net or at
    least the wrong subject.

    Mountain bikes for those who asked are bicycles specifically designed
    for "off-road" use, i.e. the type of use you would not subject your
    light tires and rims to.  They provide a more comfortable, upright
    riding position for bumpy roads and generally have much lower gearing
    than usually seen on a 10 or 12 speed road bike.  Frames are made
    of good double-butted tubing and have shallower angles, again, for
    comfort.

(2) The discussion of whether or not these bikes belong on trails is 
    taking on an absolutist tone-- one side says the "establishment" 
    will ban anything that's this much fun (right; drugs, sex and 
    mountain bikes).  The other seems to feel that anything that goes 
    into the back country should be pure and organic (except titanium
    pack frames, Primus stoves, Ultradome tents...).

    I think the issue that deserves discussion is "mountain bikes are
    here to stay so what are we going to do with them?"  As I stated
    in a previous posting, there are trails where bikes are appropriate
    and other trails where they are not.  The things that make these
    trails inappropriate vary from safety issues to ecological concerns
    to questions of what experience the majority of the trail users
    are seeking.  These are areas I had hoped to spark some discussion
    of.

    Having said all that, what will probably come of all this is trail
    use legislation similar to what already exists, i.e. based not on
    safety, ecology or appropriate use but on who owns it. ("You can't
    do nothing but walk here because its Federal Wilderness, but two
    miles east is Joe Sparkplug's land and he loves four-wheelin' types.")