[pct-l] Bicycle Usage Proposal

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Joel,

When discussing expanded use of the PCT there’s always concern about where
it will stop.  If bikes are allowed soon there will develop the “PCT
Cycle-Cross Race”.  Next will come motorcycles and the “PCT Motocross Race”.
Ridicules?  Each additional step towards mechanizing the PCT (semi) supports
expansion to the next step.



A practical difficulty arising from cycles, of either type, is peculiar
damage caused by wheels.  Whereas footprints – particularly pack/saddle
animal prints – cause some damage to the trail tread surface, the damage is
spotty.  Wheel damage tends to be one, long, more-or-less continuous,
relatively narrow, groove which absolutely begs water to follow and create
an erosion path.  Where I live – and perform trail maintenance – in the
rainy Pacific NW the problem is particularly bad.



Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09


On Sat, Sep 18, 2010 at 7:52 AM, Joel Fisler <pct at fisler.ch> wrote:

> I totally disagree with the two postings.
>
> First of all, if you crash all the time and break your bones then you might
> be better off hiking. But making this a general rule for everyone is wrong.
> Furthermore you are confusing mountain biking with road cycling. Mountain
> biking on a paved road does not make sense at all. I am a mountain biker and
> I try to avoid roads (even fire roads) as much as I can because for me the
> nice thing about mountain biking is that I can be AWAY from roads and cars
> and everything.
>
> Second: Personally I would love to do the PCT with the bike. Its an ideal
> trail, its usually not too steep, wide enough and smooth for bikes and you
> could bike for weeks and weeks. I am totally for that. In fact, I dont
> understand why in the US so many trails are off-limits for mountain bikes.
> In Europe you are usually allowed to bike on all the trails e.g. in the
> Alps. Using common sense (dont pass hikers with 20mph, be courteous etc.)
> avoids conflicts with hikers and I personally never had any problems or
> arguments with hikers. Why the need for all those regulations? Isnt the US
> all about freedom and non-regulation? Why having trails for horses or hikers
> only, for bikers, for people with dogs etc. Why not allow everyone use the
> trails?
>
> Anyway, thanks for the link, I'll try to promote it where I can :-)
>
> Bye
> Joel
>
>
>
> On 18.09.2010, at 08:25, Melanie Clarke wrote:
>
> > tree root, rock etc.  Let's preserve our pristine trails for hiking.  The
> > trail is no place for a bike!!!
> >
>
>
> ___________________________________________
> Joël Fisler - joel at fisler.ch - http://blog.fisler.ch
>
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