To Ride Or Not To Ride?

[Dixiechick]

This has been a very wet spring. With that in mind; How do you feel about parks closing due to weather? Do you think they should stay open or closed, and why?

[Kockroach]

I SAY LETS RIDE, GOBHILL WILL BE OPEN SATURDAY, SUNNY MID 50s

[trailrider]

i know some places want to keep the trails smooth but we are riding off road vehicles so i think they should stay open. it makes for more of a challenge which i consider a good time. they should keep the track closed and let it dry out for the riders that like to go fast.

besides who dosnt like a little mud

[Pooh]

/\ Ditto trailrider!! You have to have a little challenge because who wants to go fast all the time?!! No fun in that!! And the mud is fun!! Either playing in it or watching someone else play in it, makes for great picture's(especially when they win you a free hoodie, huh? hehe )!! LOL

[Dixiechick]

Personally, I appreciate these parks closing to protect the trails. I understand some of you wanting to ride in the mud and that is fine as long as it is done in designated areas.

I enjoy technical riding, however, I also enjoy riding on nicely groomed trails.

Bottom line, I feel parks should close or spend the time and money to repair the damage caused from one day of fun.

Just my humble opinion!

[clemzexp6969]

Part of the parks duty is to keep the trails maintained. if that means cleaning up ruts because people wanted to ride in the mud then they should be open on muddy days. Our atv's are called all terrain vehicles, not just on road vehicles. if you dont like the mud then you just get less time riding than we do. learn to like the mud and youll have a longer riding season. am i right or am i right lol.

[trailrider]

Apr 4, 2009 10:39:09 GMT -5 Pooh said:

/\ Ditto trailrider!! You have to have a little challenge because who wants to go fast all the time?!! No fun in that!! And the mud is fun!! Either playing in it or watching someone else play in it, makes for great picture's(especially when they win you a free hoodie, huh? hehe )!! LOL

you got that right Pooh

[Dixiechick]

Apr 4, 2009 19:44:51 GMT -5 clemzexp6969 said:

Part of the parks duty is to keep the trails maintained. if that means cleaning up ruts because people wanted to ride in the mud then they should be open on muddy days. Our atv's are called all terrain vehicles, not just on road vehicles. if you dont like the mud then you just get less time riding than we do. learn to like the mud and youll have a longer riding season. am i right or am i right lol.

I see your point, and your right, about your riding season being longer than mine since you like riding in the mud and I don't. I disagree with your suggestion that I should stay on a paved road just because I don't like taking my quad in the mud. Off-roading takes on many forms, playing in the mud is just one of them.

Allow me to play devils advocate. A good park will take the time and money to make improvements for our riding enjoyment, whatever style that may be. The more maintenance they have to do the more cost of admission at the gate. I don't feel that just because I favor a different riding style than you, that I should be penalized. I pay as much to ride in these parks as the mudders do. I don't feel I am getting my moneys worth when I have to navigate the enormous ruts left from a park allowing the trails to be rode on when the ground is too soft or wet.

To be clear, I have no problem with mudders enjoying this great sport in their own way, just don't tear up the trails for the rest of us.


DISCLAIMER: Please Remember, This Is Just A Good-Hearted, Healthy Debate And We All Have Our Opinions, Good Or Bad!

[gino]

I have to agree with Dixie on this one. Over the years I have seen one riding area after another close because of ecological damage, noise and litigation. This has happened all over the country, everywhere Iv'e lived. Now we are down to riding parks that are at best very limited in area so they are much more vulnerable to high impact usage. Natural terrain will always have normal drainage areas like swamps and mudholes to play in, so lets not damage the dry ground in extreme conditions so we can preserve these parks for the future.

[clemzexp6969]

a lot of parks around here have tracks for sport bikes and have special events for those bikes and those events cost money and take a toll on the parks as well. a lot of earth moving and ecological damage goes into making those tracks as well. i dont see any mudders getting upset that these parks arent making mud holes and accomodating to us, so why should mudders pay more so sport guys can have a track to run on. those tracks arent cheap to build either im sure in labor and machine costs. I could care less im just giving the opposite side of the argument. we all leave a footprint behind no matter how big or how small. i dont tow my four wheeler with a prius and i dont think anyone else does either, so were all making a pretty negative impact on the earth and on parks. if the parks dont want rutted out trails then the riding season around here would be pretty short during the middle of the year. if they did that then most of them probably would not survive because they wouldnt be making money. which would mean no one would be going riding. these parks, especially right now have to be open as much as they can so they can make money and survive. if you have places that close every time it rains like the gob hill, then you lose riders and what good is a park thats not open. they might as make the ground level and just have 300 acres of flat ground if they dont want it torn up. ok im done ranting and im glad we all have opinions on this. i dont have any problem with sport bikes and i only said something because i love the mud. we should be glad that there is high impact usage on the trails. that means we are all out there having fun.

[Dixiechick]

Thank goodness, Gob Hill is not alone in closing their gates when the ground is not firm enough to ride on. Most state run parks and some privately owned parks protect their investments by closing their gates as well.

I respect the right of mudders to play in the mud. Most parks have areas set up for that purpose alone just as most have tracks set up for the sport bikes. If all riders were to show caution during the wet season, I believe it would go a long way in helping to maintain these parks.

I ride all year long, and for the most part I get a lot of seat time, so if I can't ride because a park closed due to soggy conditions then I can respect that decision. Actually, those are the parks I am more likely to patronize because my riding enjoyment is enhanced by well maintained trials.