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From: isiw@druri.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Mountain Bikes - One Rider's Reply
Message-ID: <945@druri.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 11-Oct-84 19:19:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: druri.945
Posted: Thu Oct 11 19:19:52 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Oct-84 04:48:58 EDT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 38

>From **NSC** Thu Oct 11 17:15 MDT 1984
>From **NSC** Thu Oct 11 17:15 MDT 1984 forwarded by **NSC**
>From dht Thu Oct 11 17:17 MDT 1984 remote from druxq
Status: R

> ...there are long, flat trails along river valleys that would be
> candidates for such transportation [mountain bikes]. Erosion would
> be minimal, foot traffic is low since the trails are pretty darn
> BORING [emphasis added] compared to those on more mountainous terrain...

1. "River valleys" - yeah, right. Why do you think they call 'em
   "MOUNTAIN bikes"?

2. "BORING" - the only assumption one can draw here is that if you were
   such a dim bulb as to buy a mountain bike in the first place ("Hey,
   Jim Bob, where's the durn motor on this thang?"), then you won't
   have enough snap, crackle, pop to realize that it's a "boring"
   trail ("Yeehah! That shore is some purty mud over thar! An' look
   at th' size a them skeeters! Shore are a sight fer sore eyes!").
   Your prejudices are showing...

3. "Erosion would be minimal" - D+, Failed To Show Work. I have yet
   to see anything other than conjecture and hearsay on the damaging
   effects of mountain bikes on the environment. Facts, gentlemen,
   facts. Just assuming that they're like jeeps and dirtbikes only
   illuminates an underlying bias.

There's an old saying - "Don't knock it 'til you tried it." If you
guys spent a day on a mountain bike I think you'd be more understanding
and a little less itchy on the trigger. Sigh.

Davis Tucker
ATT-IS
Denver, CO