This letter is concerning the state of trail building and mountain bike development in the region and, most likely, will strike some nerves. For that, I apologize.
For many years, the COTA (Central Oregon Trail Alliance) has done an incredible job of building, maintaining and promoting the mountain bike trails in this region. This is the work of a handful of very dedicated people and the volunteers they have been able to mobilize. The area would not be the excellent biking destination it is today without these folks, and as a former cross country racer and dedicated rider, my hat is off to these people. There is no doubt that their efforts have directly influenced the economy of Bend.
That said, there is an issue on the horizon which is starting to cause grumbling and dissention among riders where it doesn’t have to exist. And that is in the developing freeride style of biking. I am also a freerider and trail builder. While freeride mountain biking has been around for some time now (one look at the photos in any bike magazine will make that obvious,) it is a relatively new phenomenon to the Bend area. There are, however, a growing number of very accomplished riders in this area. This type of riding is growing in popularity, and while it has taken some time, the local riders are beginning to become organized. This type of riding, which can be available to all ability levels, does take a large amount of construction work to become sustainable. And the riders are willing to do this work: Witness the Lair, the Whoops trails, the Slalom Loop at Phil’s trailhead, the now-defunct Powers Road area and several “hidden stashes” including the upcoming inclusion of the Cline Buttes downhill and dirt jump trails. These riders are also willing to travel to ride new exciting locations. That means there is the potential for this style of riding to be a benefit to the entire community.
The issue is the typical problem associated with new ideas being enacted by large, existing organizations. What has worked so well in the past is no longer appropriate. While COTA has years of successful trail building skills, these skills and techniques do not appropriately address the needs of freeriding. This inappropriateness is visible in the need to rebuild areas of the Lair already, the lack of smooth flow in the Whoops trails, even in the unfortunately incorrect geometry of most of the built berms on the more high-speed sections of trail everywhere in the trail system.
COTA volunteers are usually directed in their building efforts by the people who have, for years, built the trail system. This is great; however, it has resulted in miles upon miles of very similar trails. Freeride not only provides the opportunity for a bit of diversity, it requires different building techniques. Fortunately, there are riders in the area who do this sort of riding and building. While the COTA volunteer system works to get shovels in the dirt (again, the original Lair build day is a great example), the guidance for the volunteers should come from folks experienced with this type of riding if the efforts are to be worthwhile. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to currently be the case. There are many sources of information available addressing the specialized requirements of freeriding, as well as local riders who have been building freeride trails in this area for years. COTA has the “strength” in its volunteers; the freeriders have the knowledge of how these
areas need to be shaped to be usable, safe and fun. If COTA and these riders can meld, this sort of riding can increase the destination value of Bend considerably. If not, the issues cited above will become a black eye (however well-intended) for this style of riding, which will impact not just the trails, but the possible benefits to the town economy as well.
Local Rider
This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2008.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
Dude you need to crawl back in your hole or change your tactics. Until you put up a substantial amount of money to hire professional trail builders this is what you get. Money talks and BS walks. The current system works quite well. Bend has a magnificent trail system that is second to non. We enjoy manicured trails and a large number of them to boot. Your complaint will fall of deaf ears because it’s down right ridiculous. If you have any constructive input you should go to a COTA meeting and put your money where your mouth is instead of complaining in the internet. Quit your whining and volunteer to help.
Freeriders earned a place at the COTA table years ago. That’s why the Lair and many other freeride areas exist at all. COTA’s approach has always been about continually improving upon existing trails, as well as building new ones. When some of us started riding mountain bikes in Bend fire roads and deer trails were the best thing going. Get involved and make a difference – change doesn’t happen overnight, and taking action is always more effective than sitting around grumbling! Ride on, amigo.
The Bendites are the problem. The smugginess that lingers in the air from all the spandex and matching socks to jersey on an afternoon ride at the Phil’s (hardtail) mix of trail is just sad. COTA is about to be woken up and bitch slapped. Why are we building new trails when we aren’t even maintaining the existing trails. There is tons of overgrown manzinita on trails around here, yet we build more new trails….hmm, that’s kind of a mystery. “Local Rider” was a little long winded but has it right on that we need a more diverse mix of trails. And don’t get me started on the roadies.
Oh, so in your world MTB riders only wear baggie shorts and cotton socks? Come on, it’s your divisive “us vs them” attitude that’s the problem. The trails are a direct reflection of those who contribute to making them what they are.
If you’ve never come out and actually helped build or maintain the trails you have absolutely no right to complain. If that’s the case you’re just another whiny freeloader.
Put up or shut up!
Thanks for the complements on our trail building skills (I think). The Central Oregon Trail Alliance is proud of the amazing trail system our volunteers have built over the years, and we learn something new every year.We welcome your input, skills and sweat any time you’d like to join us, whether your a mountain biker, free rider or daring unicyclist. You can sign up to volunteer at http://www.cotamtb.com
Kent Howes, President, Trail Builder
Central Oregon Trail Alliance
cota is great sam , kent, lev sure there great but it is the builder who is on his own i hate they arent affiliated with cota but they stand in the middle of the trail when you come down the hill. they say there working but all there doing is closing trail sections so they can ride them alone, REALLY LAME!