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Your bike, just like you, needs a wash after it plays in the dirt.

Yet, bike wash stations at local trails can be all too rare.  Why then are bike wash stations an important part of the infrastructure for urban trails?  What styles of bike wash stations are there?  How do you get one?
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Get your sponges out and suds up as we dive into bike wash stations!

In part 1 of this series, we discussed what active and passive recreational uses were and how they are defined.

As we discussed, to be a passive use, the activity would have to meet 3 criteria:

1. Have no greater impact than other passive uses
2. Use the same recreational facilities as other passive uses
3. Can occur with other passive activities and users simultaneously

As point #2 illustrates, it’s not only the activity, but the infrastructure of that recreational use that would be a factor in determining if an activity could be considered passive or active.  The example used in the previous article was that of a football field and a multi-use trail.

However, if we have a trail, in this case multi-use, could an activity come along might not be passive use?  And where does mountain biking, as an activity, fit in with the idea of active and passive use?

That will be some of the questions we will answer in this second part.

In the discussion of scientific instruments and measuring devices, there are two major categories: active sensors and passive sensors.  Active sensors use some kind of directed energy, whether that be light waves, sound waves or kinetic means to measure properties about an item.   Passive sensors do not emit any energy, but measure the observed item's own emitted energy, again, light waves, sound waves or kinetic means to measure properties of that item.

Some types of instruments can be in either passive or active types. Microscopes can be passively viewing or, like an electron microscope, they can actively view.  Sonar on ships and submarines can do the same, passively listening for other vessels or sending out a “ping” to listen for the echo.

​But when talking about active or passive recreational uses, what is being referred to?  How can one activity be referred to as “active use” and a seemingly similar activity be referred to as “passive use”.  How does this understanding of active and passive recreational use affect mountain biking in urban areas?

This article is bit longer than the post.  But there was a lot of ground to cover.

​On May 8th, 2018 the Hopkins, MN Center for the Arts hosted and interesting group.  Calling themselves Conserve Lone Lake Park, they hosted a meeting on why the citizens of neighboring Minnetonka should be opposed to the proposal for mountain biking trails in Lone Lake Park.

One of the strange things about urban mountain biking is that it’s not completely codified.  That is, while we have techniques or methods we know that work, there is always room for new (and sometimes) better ideas.  While there are a certain range of user management techniques, for instance, some group or location could create something new that would be added to the menagerie or even replace an existing technique.

One of these new methods is currently arising in Minnesota, one that seems to address situations applicable across the country.  This new method is walk-through kiosks.

The state of New Jersey urban trails have been added to the trails inventory.

The Garden State has some wonderful  mountain biking.  Don't let the seemingly low amounts of urban mountain biking fool you.  There are several geographic reasons that New Jersey seems like it is lacking in the urban mountain biking department.  Southern New Jersey has tonnes of mountain biking, though little of  it inside city limits.  If we defined "urban" as X miles from a city, New Jersey's stock would definitely increase.  

In honor of adding of New Jersey state trails, we have to have The Boss (Bruce Springsteen), because, of course we do, for your listening pleasure:

The state of New York urban trails have been added to the trails inventory.

New York has a shocking amount of mountain biking in places you would least expect,  from Highbridge in Fort George Hill (North Harlem) to  Shale Pit Loop (Albany).   It should be noted that a lot of upstate New York trails are outside of towns and cities, meaning they don't qualify to be included in an urban mountain biking inventory.  

In honor of adding of New York state trails, here is a New York themed song for your listening pleasure:

With City MTB off this week, down in Indianapolis, Indiana, here are two great podcasts related to mountain biking that you should add to your feed.

Hosted by Brent Hiller, Frontlines  MTB is  a podcast for "for the people that truly make mountain biking happen" as Brent says.    While there are some guests that represent companies or organizations, the vast majority of guests are people just working on their local trails with a story to tell or an idea to share.  As a result, Frontlines MTB has been able to tackle subjects without bluster or overly opinionated  dialog.  Its a fun and civil  discourse.  More often than not, his guests offer their help to others that might face the same issues.

The Gravel Lot is a podcast hosted by  Doug McClintock and Jon Wolery who both live in   Cincinnati, OH.  They discuss the intersection of different biking types and how the various tribes can help each other.  Their focus tends to be talking about the Southern Ohio/Northern Kentucky scene.  While that might seem like a drawback, not a positive, the fact is it gives them a unique perspective.  If you from a part of the country where gaining access and trails feels like an endless slog, their perspectives on access in a place that has embraced mountain biking is not only inspiring, it also will give you ideas on how  to bring people together in your community.   

Side note here:  Episode 12 is one you need to bring your "Sophie's Choice" sized Kleenex box to.  Amanda Batty is interviewed and she talks about her being a sexual assault survivor.  It  will  break you down to your base molecular structure.  If you just listen to one episode, listen to that one.

Nothing is more inspiring than seeing something that is both cool and obtainable.  “Cool” and “obtainable” certainly describe Gnomewood, a beginner skills practice area.

The focus of Gnomewood is really an entire family with children, not just adults.  Parents can bring little ones and either help them learn skills, set back and watch or join the rug rats on a tour of loops.  While it’s easy to focus on the cutesy gnome decoration that gives the skills area its name, don’t lose sight of the fact that all of the typical on-trail features are available and sized for everything from 12” to 29” wheels.
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Here is great overview video:

If you want to learn more about Gnomewood, including an overview of the layout and closeups of features and associate infrastructure, COMBO has a great page with tons of neat pictures.
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Could you or your bike club build your version of Gnomewood?

Other than where one falls on the “how much do press fit bottom brackets suck” scale, no subject is probably as controversial in mountain biking right now as e-bikes and specifically e-MTBs. 

​There are a range of viewpoints on the subject, but most seem to fall into one of two categories:

• e-MTBs are a net positive for mountain biking.  They bring in new customers, they are good for older folks and they allow those with some health conditions to ride.
• e-MTBs are a net negative for mountain biking.  They disrupt existing users more than they bring in users, they are for the lazy and if we want to talk about riders with health conditions, let’s talk about adaptive MTBs.