Letters

IMBA Trail News
Volume 14, Number 1
Spring 2001

Mountain Bike Videos Fail to Tell Story

I just read the "Fighting Words" argument in the February issue of Bike Magazine. I've done editing work for shows on ESPN and USA Network that featured the videos, "New World Disorder" and "Kranked". From a filmmaker's standpoint, the videos are boring. No story line, no intimacy, and no brains. The first couple shots are cool, but once you've seen one you've seen 'em all. The reason these videos sell is because the footage is more exciting than anything else available. Unfortunately, mountain biking has never experienced a quality film. This is where the opportunity lies. The industry should get some money together and hire some real filmmakers - somebody who knows how to tell a story.

Kris Jamieson
Bend, Oregon

Trail Care Crew Accolades

We finished up a Trailbuilding School yesterday at Hickory Knob State Park, South Carolina, and I wanted to let you know that Jen and Rich Edwards from the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew did a fantastic job. We use the phrase "open and flowing" a lot to describe trails. Well, it sure applies to their style. They kept an open dialog flowing throughout the day. We're indebted to you and your hard-working staff. We're also working hard to uphold our end of the bargain so that future generations will have beautiful places to ride. IMBA is putting "partnership" into action.

Jim Schmid
South Carolina State Trails Coordinator

Mountain Bikers Write, the BLM Listens

Dear BLM:

I would like to express my concerns about your proposed strategic plan that would limit the amount of trails open to mountain bikes. I believe your categorization of mountain bikes as OHVs is fundamentally flawed and could lead to unfair restrictions. It is important to note that mountain bikes and OHVs differ in a variety of ways:

• n Mountain bikes are human powered, not gas powered
• n Mountain bikes emit no pollution, are noiseless, and are easy on trailsand the environment

Mountain bikers are a large user group (10 million off-road cyclists), and have volunteered countless hours to trail maintenance and trail improvements. IMBA has worked closely in the past with the BLM as a partner in protecting our resources.

I implore you to make educated decisions about how you classify mountain bikes in your plan and recognize the implicit responsibility of the BLM to perpetuate a multi-use management plan. It is your responsibility to effectively manage the concerns of the public and the needs of all the users. Don't lump mountain bikes in with OHVs and don't close any more trails to mountain bikes.

Chris Conroy
President - Yeti Cycles

A big "thank you" goes out to IMBA members, the bicycling industry and mountain bikers across the United States who, like Chris, wrote the BLM asking that mountain bikes be removed from the draft OHV Plan. The BLM informed IMBA that these letters played a major role in their decision to remove bicycles from the plan.