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Thursday Mini D #3 7/10

Borneo

Turbo Monkey
Mar 22, 2004
1,010
0
Duvall
To my credit, I've tried not to reply. But, some things still just don't jive. Don't want to be the Debby Downer but moreso perhaps a voice of reason.

One can't "safely" have a timed run in a public park without closing the trail to other users. Those going down only have their end time on their mind (I would!) and should not have to worry about anyone randomly coming up the trail. Maybe having radios and calling out when someone is on the course or caling a hold so a family can walk up that trail safely would be a good idea. Telling them they have to go around is effectively closing the trail. I'm sure the land managers would be okay with this arangement if they knew about it.

No where near a BBTC calendar ride imho, but that's me. Organized racing, no matter how "casual" is still higher on the danger zone in the litigeous society we live in. Seriously, I'd check with the Fluidride legal department. You don't want little Johnny's bitter mom to own it after the court battle do you?

Just food for thought. Still an awesome idea and thanks for giving it a go.
 

Uruk-hai

Monkey
Oct 13, 2004
144
0
The 'Quah
What an opportunity to be ambassadors to the sport for people who may not otherwise be exposed to the whole scene: Enthusiastic, positive volunteers/participants with 2-way radios holding off families from the trail until it is safe to proceed. Meanwhile, they get to see riders on cool bikes and cool gear go by, piquing the interest of Little Johnny, who now wants to get into the scene...Mom and Dad get Johnny a bike and gear, Johnny starts riding, another racer/rider joins the scene (maybe his parents, too!) and the sport gets a little stronger in the PNW.

So goes the theory, anyways. Just my $.02. Turn lemons into lemonade.
 

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
It was majority rule, simple as that. We had the most users on the trail, and as such we delegated a public space to our use. No different than an organized volley ball or soccer game at Greenlake. You don't have to have a permit to do those things, so why would a permit be needed for something that:
- Has no entry fee
- Has no sign up
- Has only a bunch of yahoos on their bikes.

This is bull**** in my opinion. We wanted to ride hard, we didn't affect anyone, and we were just out having a good time.

The bigger reality is that some assclown Seattle-ite got their panties in a wad because we were having fun. It happens all the time in this supposedly "liberal" city. You start having a little good time, and some holier then thou, controller of the fun type comes along and shuts it down.

Complete and utter bull**** is what this is. I could care less about being an ambassador or being some sort of beacon for what your agenda is, I just want to ride my bike with some like minded individuals.

Nate, don't let this slow you down. That was one of the best races I've been to in the decade or so I've been doing this. Grassroots, no cost, running for beer. Keep it going, we have just as much of a right to be there as the soccer mommies, Seattle NIMBY types, and the ****ing concert goers.

Whole thing makes me want to puke all over the entire parks and rec department.
 

Borneo

Turbo Monkey
Mar 22, 2004
1,010
0
Duvall
Thanks for the lunchtime laugh Dirt! :)

Just the type under your webname says it all....

Majority rule.... funny. So, you've been riding since you were 3? That's cool.
 

DirtMcGirk

<b>WAY</b> Dumber than N8 (to the power of ten alm
Feb 21, 2008
6,379
1
Oz
Thanks for the lunchtime laugh Dirt! :)

Just the type under your webname says it all....

Majority rule.... funny. So, you've been riding since you were 3? That's cool.
Wait, is that the Endub fun police I hear?
 

Skookum

bikey's is cool
Jul 26, 2002
10,184
0
in a bear cave
Welp for those wondering if they should lend a hand at Duthie in the upcoming few years or so. This will be one more reason to help out the XC trails they put in, even though most of you probably don't want to help dig on that stuff.

i'm not going to be digging out there as i'll be done working on bike parks for a good long spell. But with all the work at Colonnade i think i've been succesful in demonstrating something that is "beginner" or "XC" can be fun and worthwhile to ride.

Here's to hoping that others make Duthie even worthier... whether it be a simple Super D time trial or frikkin mountain bike polo or jousting or whatever else someone get's a wild hair to do. We got a couple parks now to think about doing this kind of stuff without having to hassle with other user-groups.
 

SeaPig

Monkey
Sep 20, 2005
624
0
Seattle
Reading this reminds me of something I heard here today at the USA National Championships in Vermont. The Event Director told me that they finally got permission from the land managers after 7 plus years to make a new course for the DH. A lot of promises had to be made.

Before I left I remember reading on RM and hearing in person that the course here sucked and the event was run poorly, so people weren't going to come. Well, there were circumstances to why the course was the way it was and those things were worked out. Now all those talkers and haters are at home and I just got to practice on a great course because I am a believer and person that does my best to get along. Not so fast, just after that I talked to one of the guys working on the course and they are going to do some things to tame the course down. Things that IMHO cancel out work that I and others have done to get an edge, all because people didn't get along, but tried to redirect the flow of things.

Why is this important to this thread? Well, people that weren't there at ST EDS have gone on here and elsewhere and instead of trying to understand what went down they have sought to change the way things are perceived. Instead of getting along, they have all tried to get us to adapt to them.

Borneo, I think I know you and I am sure I respect you, but you were not there. I personally escorted several people up the trail and even stopped during a run as to not run into someone riding up the trail. I was on a hardtail and everyone else was on small bikes. No one, expect one who forgot his half helmet, wore fullface. While this was a mini-dh, the emphasis was on mini and was about cornering, not bombing. While this was associated with FR, it was in no way a FR event. You'd have known that, if you were there. N only does this because he, as it appears to me, like to run a stop watch. Actually, his girlfriend is better at it then he is. Last time I checked, there is no law against using a stopwatch.

I mean why change the record for how this went down? N is being right and taking the high ground and I have no doubt, he'll come back better. You went on that other thread and scolded the park employee for not taking this as seriously as you do. I again say this as I would to any of my friends that not only pulled theirs out and stepped on it, but tried to step on mine in the process. Seriously dude, nothing about how you see this "event," which was closer in nature to a pickup basketball game then an event, was a reality and you should be told that. When was the last time a pickup BBall group needed a permit?

It's true, if this were to get bigger and be an actual event, then a permit and all would be smart. But when two or more get together to time each other that is not necessarily an event. It's called having fun!
 

greenhood

Turbo Monkey
Jun 12, 2006
1,084
0
SEATTLE-MINNEAPOLIS
Reading this reminds me of something I heard here today at the USA National Championships in Vermont. The Event Director told me that they finally got permission from the land managers after 7 plus years to make a new course for the DH. A lot of promises had to be made.

Before I left I remember reading on RM and hearing in person that the course here sucked and the event was run poorly, so people weren't going to come. Well, there were circumstances to why the course was the way it was and those things were worked out. Now all those talkers and haters are at home and I just got to practice on a great course because I am a believer and person that does my best to get along. Not so fast, just after that I talked to one of the guys working on the course and they are going to do some things to tame the course down. Things that IMHO cancel out work that I and others have done to get an edge, all because people didn't get along, but tried to redirect the flow of things.

Why is this important to this thread? Well, people that weren't there at ST EDS have gone on here and elsewhere and instead of trying to understand what went down they have sought to change the way things are perceived. Instead of getting along, they have all tried to get us to adapt to them.

Borneo, I think I know you and I am sure I respect you, but you were not there. I personally escorted several people up the trail and even stopped during a run as to not run into someone riding up the trail. I was on a hardtail and everyone else was on small bikes. No one, expect one who forgot his half helmet, wore fullface. While this was a mini-dh, the emphasis was on mini and was about cornering, not bombing. While this was associated with FR, it was in no way a FR event. You'd have known that, if you were there. N only does this because he, as it appears to me, like to run a stop watch. Actually, his girlfriend is better at it then he is. Last time I checked, there is no law against using a stopwatch.

I mean why change the record for how this went down? N is being right and taking the high ground and I have no doubt, he'll come back better. You went on that other thread and scolded the park employee for not taking this as seriously as you do. I again say this as I would to any of my friends that not only pulled theirs out and stepped on it, but tried to step on mine in the process. Seriously dude, nothing about how you see this "event," which was closer in nature to a pickup basketball game then an event, was a reality and you should be told that. When was the last time a pickup BBall group needed a permit?

It's true, if this were to get bigger and be an actual event, then a permit and all would be smart. But when two or more get together to time each other that is not necessarily an event. It's called having fun!
Well said. I could not agree more.
 

Borneo

Turbo Monkey
Mar 22, 2004
1,010
0
Duvall
Agreed Seapig.

No reason not to be a little cautious though. For the greater good eh?

Scolding? Really?

I never said it wasn't a great idea. The marketing aspect of "race" will always raise the land manager flag though. I'm glad it's being worked out and hope it continues with a better overall understanding.

Can we close this one now? :)