No I'm not just talking about paying your membership dues to IMBA and your local IMBA affiliate (e.g. MORE). You all do that, right? ;-) I'm talking about getting out there and volunteering for an actual honest-to-goodness trail maintenance day.
Ok...I'm no saint here. Truth be told, yesterday was the first time I ever did a trail maintenance day...and I've been riding for years.
So what got me out there yesterday? Guilt. I tell you what, it's a powerful motivator.
You see, there's this trail I ride all the time...Colt's Neck...it's close to my house and work so it's a great escape for after work rides. There are many better and more challenging trail systems in the area, but this little gem in the heart of Reston, VA, I consider to be my home court (so to speak). I guess I've ridden this trail about 60 or 70 times, maybe even more, so I figured it was about time I paid the piper (or however that saying goes).
I learned several things on my inaugural work day:
- Trail maintenance is both an art and a science: you don't just start raking and shoveling any old place. You have to think about the flow of the ride (the art), and at the same time consider that water will follow the path of least resistance (the science).
Apply systems thinking: The best trail masters have a
systems based approach to their planning. In other words, it's not just
about the actual work on the trail, but you have to take into
consideration how the water will run off of a hill and how moving
branches away from a channel at a higher elevation may increase or
decrease the flow of water toward your trail. Then what do you do with
it? Do you create a channel along the trail, or send it across the
trail perpendicularly? How do you make sure that it doesn't carve a
groove too deep to cross successfully? Is there a way to make the
solution both safe and fun at the same time?- Mountain bikers that ride past you while you are doing trail work and they are having fun feel guilty as hell when they see you. We should capitalize on this. There should be signs that you stake out on either side of the trail that read, "Trail work sponsored by MORE. You don't have to feel guilty, become a member now - better yet, pick up a shovel." Self promotion and public shaming all kill two birds with one stone style.
- You will look at the trail in a whole new light: Maybe even a bit like a dog marking it's territory. "That's right damnit...I did that." But, not just for this trail. Armed with a little bit of knowledge I'll likely be critiquing poorly made trails for years to come. Oh...this could be dangerous - especially 'cause I still don't know shit about building trails.
The bottom line here is that you just have to get out there and bite the bullet once in a while. I know you're busy traveling, kids, husband/wife that won't give you the get out of jail free card often enough, whatever it is suck it up and give it a try one time. You'll feel better I promise.
Here's my suggestion. Decide which trail you consider to be your home trail and just do one day a year at that trail. That's it. Not so bad is it? Now get out there and learn something!
Oh...and sorry for the shitty photos. Too busy with the trail work and all. And, thanks to trail master DT for leading the crew.
