An Apology

Great write Jim really good points mate. The moderators and myself have been watching the rec rego thread with the odd call discussing things as there is a heap of passion involved in the subject and opinions which is great I know a few people were sent a PM saying be careful we don’t want it to become personal and everyone should be congratulated on how such a passionate thread has been conducted without a drama.

You are right about the things you have written there most members wouldnt know that we have here at OBT been pinned before for track marking on the north coast by national park rangers. When infact it was the local mountain bike club that had marked the trails. We got pinned and contacted here because bikes had been seen in the area and they had OBT stickers. Once cleared up it was all good but it took some sorting.

My hate is over ridden areas and unregistered loud bikes both which do the reputation of the sport I love unrepairable damage. I have copped a lot a flack about my stand on unregistered bikes on Old Bull rides with even riders in the area the ride was being run saying “as locals thats their area and as such they should be able to ride their unregistered bike because it’s their area” well the state forest belongs to us all. I have also copped my share about my stance on over ridden areas but I know it’s what the state forests, NWPS and the powers to be use to shut our riding areas. I want this sport to be there for my boys to enjoy, I have been doing it now for nearly 40 years (yes maybe I am now a whinging old bastard) it was easier years ago and I know that I have contributed in my younger years to the over ridden areas and some of the sports problems. I have had problems with the police here where I live because of unregistered pit bikes riding the streets, I was visited and thought guilty because I owned bikes, one of those bikes I was told must be unregistered because it has race numbers on it! Imagine the coppers surprise when he found you can have numbers on registered bike. Thought to be guilty because I own bikes, the offender in question wasn’t caught by the police but sorted by some of us locals who explained the heat others were getting and how it would go his way unless he stopped, which he did.

I cant imagine not be involved with bikes, with riding and the (mostly) amazing people that our sport brings together on a whole. I love the excitement that the sport brings when riding also when people stop and you see it in their eyes, hear it in their voice and their laughter. I still don’t sleep the night before most rides especially the bigger ones and never the night before a race, excited, nervous, worried everything wil be ok be it everyone will enjoy the ride to I hope my bike is prepared. I love it

The hassles and crap that goes into organising a ride or OBTs day to day running at times leaves me saying and thinking why bother as some are quick to point out anything you haven’t done perfectly as we all know hind site is 20 20 vision. There are many reasons we do it but for me today seeing the passion in your post makes it all worth while

Cheers Jim

TB

+1

hatto

Jim,

I read all the posts and I didn’t feel that you were personally attacking anyone directly, and I don’t know if anyone felt that you did.

I do agree we need to be careful with what we post in the public arena.

We as riders don’t need to give other interest groups that aren’t in our favour any amunition for arguements on track closures.

Having said that alot of “single trail” is simply overgrown old tracks and roads that aren’t maintained anymore, however the appearance still isn’t necessarily good, and appearance matters.

It’s the sort of discussion that was had that makes people think about what we do. We don’t all have all the answers, however we all have some answers and combined we may have all the answers.

My 2 cents worth.

Adam.