Editorial by Mauro Cottone published on July 2016 (# 54).
For some time, unfortunately, controversies and bans on mountain bikes on the trails have started to flock again. It seems to be back in the early 90s at the height of the first boom of the clawed wheels, when many administrations understood and appreciated the potential, also of tourist development of the territory, and others were influenced by the complaints of those who would like the paths all to itself and strictly to be covered on foot ...
Personally I find it paradoxical, with all the problems of traffi c, smog, parking and exponential growth of the cemented areas, that once again the problems of coexistence with cyclists are exaggeratedly emphasized, which, instead, are and must be considered a resource for the quality of life for all of us. Also for all those who do not particularly love us and would not like to see us pedaling on the roads or paths, but who then regularly move by car (therefore they pollute and create inconvenience), even to go and practice their passions or their sport! "When, however, I see a sort of" city park ", frequented on holidays also by many" pedestrians ", crowded with real hordes of" Sunday riders "(or presumed such) ready to do almost anything to make eating the dust of one's friends, a reflection spontaneously arises. More than anything else an exhortation: guys, maximum attention and respect for others too! Let's slow down among the people: a smile and a greeting are worth a thousand apologies and can prevent as many discussions ”. I wrote it right in the March editorial of 365, but it obviously didn't help, since some bike trails have recently been banned in the area I was referring to.
Which often, unfortunately, is the fastest, but also unjust solution, which has an administration to suppress the complaints, sometimes even shared, of those who feel “threatened” by the presence of bikes. In most cases, in truth it would only take a little common sense, on the part of everyone! But having said that, it must be admitted that in recent years the way of mountain biking has been radically changing and with it the speeds that can be reached downhill, especially with the latest generation All Mountain and Enduro bikes. There are paths, for example, that I have always done both uphill and downhill but which currently I no longer have the courage to face uphill, because I am aware that another biker could come down, or even a group in full brawl, at 40 or 50 km / h.
And I'm not talking about paths reserved for bikes in a bike park, but paths open to everyone and also very popular with pedestrians. So let's also put ourselves in the shoes of those who practice hiking, or simply want to take a walk in complete tranquility ... frankly, sometimes there is something to be afraid of. It must be realized that you cannot transform every path or dirt road near your home into a Special Stage or a Dh track. Because when those who have the authority intervene they do so in a clear way, without making a distinction between those who practice simple hiking, Xc, All Mounatin, Enduro or Dh and therefore everyone is the one who pays the consequences of a certain way of behaving! Even those who may have been mountain biking for a lifetime and have never caused problems or had anything to do with anyone. I am a biker who, like most, loves the descent but also the ascent and I am pissed off by the prohibitions on bikes on the trails, because I think I have the right, like a hiker on foot, to reach any "peak" ", Or try to get off any" cliff "with my bike and my strength.
And for this freedom I will always fight even at the cost of going against unjust rules and prohibitions. But always with the awareness that I am on a mountain or hill path open to everyone and I must therefore drive with due respect for the environment and, above all, maximum attention for others. In short, it is clear that if I go down a narrow path at forty an hour it is not the pedestrian who is standing in the middle of the path, it is I who am going on him! After that, like almost all of you 365 readers, I also love the rides in rider mode, or if you prefer "pilot".
Woe to say the opposite or to be ashamed of it. The thrill of pushing hard down a trail or a track with a full-face helmet fastened on your head and the adrenaline rushing up your back is priceless! But for this there are the races, on dedicated paths, the Bike Parks and the trails prepared and for the exclusive use of the bikes (on this issue we have a special with about thirty selected places) and in any case many less frequented areas where we can let off steam. freely ... but you must always use common sense! “Mountain biking is a beautiful sport that in Italy, unlike other places, we can still attend almost everywhere. It is up to us to use our heads when necessary and not to create enemies without reason ”.
