Brian-Lopes

Here's more from Team Robot... My verbose response was too long. And yes, my other user name is Brian Lopes. I keep it real: What we're really talking about here isn't trail construction or road use or discovery passes or regrowth periods. What we're talking about is a) liability and b) environmental absolutism. Land managers have no reason whatsoever, under current legal precedent, to stick their necks out for mountain bikers. If I owned land, I would NEVER let anyone else ride there because if they got hurt I would lose my land and everything else I own. As for the environment, PHeller is right, if the simple facts were observed, mountain bikes would be welcomed with open arms almost everywhere. But the facts simply don't matter. Most environmentalists want to stop any trail building of any sort ever anywhere, and mountain bikes are the new kids on the block and we are the easiest target. I can tell you anecdotal evidence all day long about trails and roots and erosions and streams and regrowth, but if you put me toe to toe with a well-versed environmentalist who wants to make sure I can never have fun, he will win 10 times out of 10. And he doesn't even have to win to stop progress, he just has to petition and delay and slow down trail building. Timberline Bike Park is three years behind schedule because "the friends of Mount Hood" have jack knived the agenda because of squirrels and marmots and salmon, even though you drive a four lane super highway up to Timberline.

Being Brian Lopes is serious business. Dream on Voreis. You wouldn't survive one day in my world.