A note on a short film on mountain biking
Biketown will inspire you. I hope.
Early cyclists had macadam roads.
Developed by John Loudon McAdam in 1820, it was a new way of paving streets that didn’t involve the laying of bricks or large stones. Naturally, cyclists preferred the smoother pavement during the cycling craze of the 1890s, around when John Kemp Starley’s “safety bike” hit the streets.
Well, more and more people turned to cycling on public roads for the better half a century until some fellow cycopaths wondered what it’d be like to torpedo down the steep, off-road hills of Mt. Tamalpais in Marin County, California in the 1970s. As legend has it, these cyclists started modifying “Klunkers” to race down the sides of the mountain and the activity caught some steam, and publicity.
Eventually, as more and more riders got hooked to the thrill of shooting their steel steeds down hills, innovation came. Chro-mo frames. Lightweight components. Wider forks for wider, knobby tires. Additional clearance in the rear triangle for wider, knobby tires.
Voilá.
But off-road cyclists have had to learn the hard way that most times, unlike their roadie counterparts, they aren’t welcome on the lands they chose to ride.
And so, for the last three-ish decades, the question has been: How can we ensure mountain biking, one of the fastest growing and best1 sports in America, is a sanctioned activity for generations to come?
This is the central question in Biketown, a documentary produced by Freehub Magazine and released in August. The film premiered in Snowshoe, West Virginia — home of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup since 2019.
Of course, I’m biased; but I love the film.
It answers that question through the stories of a few, local trail building coalitions. Their passions for riding mountain bikes. Their love of building trails for friends, family and the community. Their obstacles and struggles in accomplishing that.
I’ll let you watch it for yourself, but here are some favorite quotes from the nearly 40-minute doc.
“Mountain biking has never been better. But we’ve really had to fight cloth to get the trail networks we’ve had and that’s been on the shoulders of people who have really done the hard work. We shouldn’t take that for granted. But we can build upon that.” Eric Brown, Executive Director, Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition.
“Just because you’re a partner, and you’re a partner I agree with, doesn’t mean that I can change the process and I can make it go any faster. There has to be some give and take. There has to be some willingness for compromise. But the first key is you have to be willing to work together.” Bill Conroy, District Ranger, Siusla National Forest, Hebo Ranger District.
“This is a story that can be told over and over. We’re creating an example of partnership that can be replicated, no matter where. I think biking will just continue to grow and I think it it will continue to grow here. I have faith in West Virginia.” Ken Gaitor, VP of Mountain Operations, Snowshoe Mountain.
“It not all about mountain biking. We love our community. We want to raise our families here; we want to be here. And we want other people to do the same.” Candice Sjogren, Director of Marketing, 30West Fitness and Rec.
Like what you’re reading so far? Please, please share Cycotherapy with your cycling buddies. I like to call them fellow cycopaths, but friends, buddies or pedal pushers will also work.
The answer to the question I posed above is simple, yet profound. The answer is found in two words Mr. Conroy uttered:
“Work together.”
Biketown has showed us this simple, profound idea has worked in many places around the country.
As a cyclist who happened to find his love of riding when he did so through the woods with friends, Biketown gives me hope for more partnerships between forest managers and trail builders in the future.
It also made me more grateful for the people who went before me to build and maintain the trails I ride now.
Thanks guys. You’re awesome. (And keep up the great work.)
Watch it here:
I know I have some trail builders reading this. Raise your hand in the comments so we can shower you with cycopathic love.
Many are saying mountain biking is considered to be the best sport in the nation, er, world — you read it here on Cycotherapy here first, folks.