Yes Another STRAVA Thread

Same old song and dance.......

Just like there were d*ckhead riders before Strava....there were trail access issues before Strava.

Going too fast on multi-use trails has always been an issue.....even before there was an internet and cell phones.

Nor Cal has always been way too anti-bike.....so it is no surprise that they did that. It was a ticking time bomb, Strava or no Strava....it was gonna happen there eventually.

All the POV action cams can play just as much of a part in the whole game....talk about ego's. Check me out on my video riding this trail. Yes, that was posted up on VitalMtb....a website that supports and encourages users to post up videos. You really think all the videos of the guys riding above Lake Elsinore are legal trails? It goes both ways.
 
C'mon now J, that argument "there were jerks before blah blah..." doesn't hold water and you know it. We are talking volume - both in numbers and in "shouting." STRAVA's tag line is "prove it." Well, telling stories of how a rider was going really fast on a trail is way different than showing proof in terms of numbers of riders and the speeds they are traveling. Prove it indeed.

And I agree with you on the videos. The "look at me" obsession as I ride illegal trails is probably not going to help anyone's cause when the grumpy hikers want to shut out bikes. All I'm asking is for STRAVA users to think of someone other than themselves when using the tool. Shut the damn things off when riding in areas where "proof" of your encroachment and or speeds is likely to be used against us all.

Perhaps this feature works to address my concerns:
Stay Private
Control your privacy settings with ease. Any location or activity can be marked as private and hidden from view.

This is not about you J, or Faust, Danimal or probably anybody on IMTB. It's about those who flaunt their "defiance" into a body of evidence to be used against us all.

EDIT:
I hadn't looked at the STRAVA website in about 6 months. It looks like they've removed the "Prove it" campaign and slogan. A step in the right direction.
 
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I'd say the issue isn't folks going fast, it's lack of concern, respect and consideration of other user groups.
And that Strava just confirmed the complaints.
Always try to be polite and considerate of others. On and off the trails.

On another note;
Strava...ebikes....
Rode Whiting on Tuesday and the fastest guy of the day had a time of 3:07 up mustard. Next closest for overall was 4+.
Thinking E-Bike! sure enough by the next day it was deleted, I'm assuming by Strava. Think that would put them about 20 m/h. too fast for wilderness trails. (Unless of course it's me going down and shredding the berms, 'cause I'm allowed, they are not! :cool:)


And WTF am I doing up at this hour!!! would rather be asleeppppppppp......:sleep:
 
We participate in and love a rapidly growing sport. We've moved up to the #2 position for trail users on public lands. To complicate matters, we often travel much faster than the other users and many among us still need to learn to "just get along." Starva has helped provide evidence that we and other users already know and I'm sure it encourages some people to go too hard or make harebrained decisions, but with or without Strava, this problem has been brewing and will continue. We face it and fight it in So. Cal. all the time.

So, how do we make it better? First and foremost, observe the rules of the trails posted on IMBA's site. Use common sense, be courteous and be an ambassador for our sport. We need to be the good guys, take the high road and demonstrate a willingness to share trails and a firmness that fights trail closures that discriminate against our group vigorously--get engaged with STC, IMBA, SCV Trail Users and sites like this and participate in local and state level meetings to make your voice heard.

Yes, we like to go faster than your average hiker and sometimes a lot faster. We aren't interested in 10 or 15mph speed limits everywhere. We want to go fast and we should own that and be candid about it. There are places and times to slow down and there are places where we want to bomb it. Hikers and equestrians will use this and our numbers to argue that we should not be on "their" trails. We need to point out that those are our (taxpayer) trails that should be open to any and all non-motorized vehicles and be firm that we seek safe and equal access for ALL trail users. I see a day when, due to the increasing number of trail users, not enough trails to support users, and our speed differential, that some areas will be forced to try novel methods to protect all users. For example, I could see some trails being horse/hiker Monday, Wednesday and Friday and MTB Tue, Thur and Sat. We need to think creatively, be diplomatic and vigorously defend our rights to use shared trails. Most of all, be engaged and use your voice and dollars to gain and keep access...Ride On!
 
Sorry, late to the party on this one...

Strava had little to nothing to do with this small trail closure in a tiny park. The city, Los Altos Hills, in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Palo Alto, is uber rich (average home $4M+), heavily equestrian, and seriously anti-mountain bike. They would have banned us if we were using string and tin cans to record our rides!

AKAKTM- I think you´re on to something there. In Santa Cruz County the local advocacy group, MBOSC, has been using some of those methods to get new trails opened; and in a few years they´ll be opening San Vincente Redwoods, which will have 41 miles of trails--18 of them bike ONLY. Boom.
 
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@Slug !
Thanks so much 1) for joining imtbtrails and 2) for well written good info!
Please continue to contribute and I sincerely hope we ride soon!
Thanks!
Mikie
 
herzalot said:
C'mon now J, that argument "there were jerks before blah blah..." doesn't hold water and you know it. We are talking volume - both in numbers and in "shouting." STRAVA's tag line is "prove it." Well, telling stories of how a rider was going really fast on a trail is way different than showing proof in terms of numbers of riders and the speeds they are traveling. Prove it indeed.

And I agree with you on the videos. The "look at me" obsession as I ride illegal trails is probably not going to help anyone's cause when the grumpy hikers want to shut out bikes. All I'm asking is for STRAVA users to think of someone other than themselves when using the tool. Shut the damn things off when riding in areas where "proof" of your encroachment and or speeds is likely to be used against us all.

Perhaps this feature works to address my concerns:
Stay Private
Control your privacy settings with ease. Any location or activity can be marked as private and hidden from view.

This is not about you J, or Faust, Danimal or probably anybody on IMTB. It's about those who flaunt their "defiance" into a body of evidence to be used against us all.

EDIT:
I hadn't looked at the STRAVA website in about 6 months. It looks like they've removed the "Prove it" campaign and slogan. A step in the right direction.
Click to expand...
Agreed,
I figured everyone would have the privacy setting on. I only need my friends to see me beating their times. :)
Really all you need to do is ride within the bikes limits. I mean your stopping ability better match your field of view.
 
Oh man... When I was a kid, I used to count my pedal strokes on the road bike. 74 per minute was my ideal cadence at the time. No computer necessary. Now, I put the Garmin on the bike the night before, and I bought a phone with a big enough battery to go all day... Just in case. :whistling:
 
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