Banging my head with a hammer

I’m sure a lot of riders feel similarly. Two solutions I see working on this site:

1 Ride weekdays, nights and otherwise choose missions that people are less likely to inhabit.

2 Move toward less population density.


Both unlikely options for many riders, but it is what it is. Small, hiker-centric venues like Aliso don’t even register as a place I want to ride. The experience is not what registers to me as mountain biking.

When I find a good area or trail I ride this piss out of it, because things change. I saturated so hard on Aliso before it was toothless and overrun that I couldn’t care less if I ever rode there again. Not a sympathetic attitude, OP, but expecting stuff to stay great indefinitely is a setup for disappointment. Things change. I haven’t ridden my local trails in three years because of it. If I let it bother me I’d become homicidal, so I just do something else instead.
 
mike said:
I’m sure a lot of riders feel similarly. Two solutions I see working on this site:

1 Ride weekdays, nights and otherwise choose missions that people are less likely to inhabit.

2 Move toward less population density.


Both unlikely options for many riders, but it is what it is. Small, hiker-centric venues like Aliso don’t even register as a place I want to ride. The experience is not what registers to me as mountain biking.

When I find a good area or trail I ride this piss out of it, because things change. I saturated so hard on Aliso before it was toothless and overrun that I couldn’t care less if I ever rode there again. Not a sympathetic attitude, OP, but expecting stuff to stay great indefinitely is a setup for disappointment. Things change. I haven’t ridden my local trails in three years because of it. If I let it bother me I’d become homicidal, so I just do something else instead.
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I can sympathize with Uzzi and I agree with mike. Ever since I started this site nearly 10 years ago, OC has shared their frustration with trail congestion. With the addition of a new trail user albeit illegal eBikes on non motorized trails, you now have where the 405 and the 101 meet! :(
The last few weekends having seen a major uptick on my remote Golden Eagle trail! 40+ cars when a usual maybe two or three are at the trailhead.
Like mike, that’s why I play the Immigrant Song and I’m heading out of California. I just can’t take the congestion anymore.
I feel for you brothah!
 
None of that trail traffic up here.
I have seen some horse apples and cow pies, but that's about it.

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mike said:
I’m sure a lot of riders feel similarly. Two solutions I see working on this site:

1 Ride weekdays, nights and otherwise choose missions that people are less likely to inhabit.

2 Move toward less population density.


Both unlikely options for many riders, but it is what it is. Small, hiker-centric venues like Aliso don’t even register as a place I want to ride. The experience is not what registers to me as mountain biking.

When I find a good area or trail I ride this piss out of it, because things change. I saturated so hard on Aliso before it was toothless and overrun that I couldn’t care less if I ever rode there again. Not a sympathetic attitude, OP, but expecting stuff to stay great indefinitely is a setup for disappointment. Things change. I haven’t ridden my local trails in three years because of it. If I let it bother me I’d become homicidal, so I just do something else instead.
Click to expand...

I wish i had the luxury of going somewhere farther away. But with local trails close it makes it easy to get rides in. I loathe Aliso also. But it has some awesome downhills and with my son sports it fits into our busy schedule. Most OC trails are like this so i deal with the crap.

My original post was frustration over people who chose the use county parks and have no idea about rules AND etiquette. I wanted a general consensus of how to deal with these ppl in a respectful manner yet get the point across they are breaking rules.

I know it’s not easy to come to one overall conclusion. So I’m just going to ride and hold my tongue for the time being. But i think that things are coming to a head. Some of the repercussions can/will effect us in the long run.
 
Remember the good old days when the user conflicts involved a couple dozen riders per day encountering a half dozen horses per week? Aaah memories....

I’m at a loss for why we don’t have massive user education programs in the OC parks. Maybe the new trail direction rules will precipitate it. It just seems like a vigorous volunteer and ranger presence at trailheads would at least let people know that if they’re going to violate the rules, they’ll have to do it on their own conscience.

I know why we don’t have rider education at bike shops anymore, and same goes for the “bike” clubs. But I think the Parks dept. is setting itself up for trouble by continuously kicking the can and letting bad user behavior become the norm. Any one of the following could blow the whole thing up, even if we ever got the motor vehicles under control:

-Large organized groups without permits
-Filming by YouTube wannabe influencers (i.e. private commercial activity in a public amenity)
-drone flying over fire zones
-smoking of all substances
-generalized crowding

OC has an entire flipping mountain range that could be opened. There’s room out there to build ebike specific trails and everything else for everyone...
 
mike said:
I’m sure a lot of riders feel similarly. Two solutions I see working on this site:

1 Ride weekdays, nights and otherwise choose missions that people are less likely to inhabit.

2 Move toward less population density.

Small, hiker-centric venues like Aliso don’t even register as a place I want to ride. The experience is not what registers to me as mountain biking.
Click to expand...

Amen!!
 
uzziboy said:
I wish i had the luxury of going somewhere farther away. But with local trails close it makes it easy to get rides in. I loathe Aliso also. But it has some awesome downhills and with my son sports it fits into our busy schedule. Most OC trails are like this so i deal with the crap.

My original post was frustration over people who chose the use county parks and have no idea about rules AND etiquette. I wanted a general consensus of how to deal with these ppl in a respectful manner yet get the point across they are breaking rules.

I know it’s not easy to come to one overall conclusion. So I’m just going to ride and hold my tongue for the time being. But i think that things are coming to a head. Some of the repercussions can/will effect us in the long run.
Click to expand...
I understand your situation. It’s a real quagmire for lots of people.

I don’t know how productive it is for me to direct my disappointment at other trail users. As cathartic as it can be. Not to excuse them, but users will get away with whatever they can. Land managers set the stage for it.
 
herzalot said:
Well that's cryptic. Do tell...

Unless you just mean your new American flag, in which case - cool! Reminds me that I need a new one.
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da big hills said:
yes my old flag became tattered. It is going to the Boy Scouts who promise a proper end to its service
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FWIW - you can contact your congressperson and get a flag flown over the Capitol. They will also fly it on a specific day/in honor of a specific person if you request. Very nice quality.
https://www.aoc.gov/what-we-do/programs-ceremonies/capitol-flag-program

*note - that is not THE aoc :D

ps - rarely hit Aliso for the reasons mentioned in the original post
 
One less rider in the oc parks..
I wish I could ride..
One of my most memorable ride was counting coup with at least 500 others in the dark with the rain the mud flying in your face and the lights going up Black Star beautiful sight that not all get to see.. The sun coming up over the black star canyon
 
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