Monoborracho

I received this in link in an email and couldn't believe it. I grew up in the area, went to school there, and we have a few BF50+ forum friends from Lubbock. I was there two weekends ago and considered taking my MTB but did not because of a snow forecast.

This is the kind of stuff that only happens in the big city, right? Wrong !!! And it was some earth, wood and grain whacko who allegedly did this. A greenpeace movement against bicycles !! This is really scarey to think about at 20+ mph.

https://www.lubbockonline.com/stories...20207074.shtml

NOS88

A sick and twisted individual.

BluesDawg

Glad they caught the psycho.
There is a state forestry area near my town that is a favorite place for nature lovers, mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, bird watchers, dog walkers etc. At one time one of the dog walkers complained to the Forestry Commission about the bike riders doing too much to clear trails, that it should be left more rugged. The Foresty guy told her that the bike riders come in, without being asked (but with permission), organize work parties, clean up trails, open new trails, report problems and generally make better conditions for all users. He said that he often has to ask other groups to pitch in a little and do a little work to keep things in good shape. As far as he was concerned the mountain bikers were the most welcome group out there. Then he told her that the only reason he allowed dogs in there was that one of the more active cyclists had talked him out of banning them as long as there were no problems. She hasn't complained since.

fifty5

There are some real sickos out there. It's amazing someone wasn't killed (decapitated).

Monoborracho

My understanding is that one man did get hurt, badly, almost bleeding to death because of it.

ticwanos

This is one of the scariest things I've read in a long time. Glad they caught the guy.

jppe

Wow. That's just pitiful. Great to hear they caught the guy. His Dad probably beat him when he was a kid because he just couldn't learn how to ride a bike.........He pleads not-guilty due to parental abuse.........

will dehne

Scary and sad. We have approximately 300 million people in the USA. There are bound to be some nut cases but I was hoping not on our trails.

badger1

+1 -- and, this particular sort of psycopathic idiocy is not confined to the States. We have it up here as well, in various forms: ranging from empty-eyed kids putting spiked planks across an MUP at night all the way to tree-spiking, piano-wire stringing, lab-burning self-styled 'activists' and/or 'environmentalists,' -- those who, as a result of some kind of genetic defect, presumably, were formed without the ability to perform even a basic moral calculus.

stapfam

Offroading and a few years ago I came round a fast corner to find Barbed wire across the trail at wheel height. Luckily some one else had found it and put a few leafy branches over it so it was spotted before we hit it. We tried to take the wire down but it was well and truly nailed into position. Then on my big ride last year- A farmer had cut trenches across the trail on a fast downhill. To slow the mad brain cyclists down that were a danger to other trail users- So he said. He found out how dangerous Cyclists can be when 6 of them confronted him at his farm and brought a successful prosecution against him for Blocking a bridleway. He got a $200 fine and a notice to correct the trail. The trenches are still there a year later.

Artkansas 

I especially glad that the news media in general didn't pick up on that, giving inspiration to others who are 3 spokes shy of a wheel.

Big Paulie

+1

freeranger

I don't understand how they can claim to value nature so much, and have such disregard for a human life. Protesting against bikes on trails is one thing, risking a life is another. Guess such an individual is too stupid or too lazy to follow procedures if they disagree with land usage, lots easier to maim and cripple those with whom he disagrees. That type of thing should tick off anyone and everyone who reads it. Hope they try him for attempted murder.

cheeseflavor

My thoughts exactly.

Steve

roccobike

As an avid off-roader, I am very concerned with this kind of lunacy. Apparently, some naturalists and preservationists do not understand that the mountain biker is their freind. All the mtb'rs I know are careful to leave wildlife alone, not disturb the environment beyond maintaining the trail and respect nature. That's why we ride single track. If we simply wanted to avoid cars, there are excellent MUPS to ride that offer way less risk and are much easier to traverse.
I guess some eco groups feel that public land is theirs alone to enjoy the way they want and are willing to perform criminal acts, at the felony level, to intimidate others in order to achieve their goal.

bkaapcke

the guy 'just loves nature'? He'll have very little of it in prison. bk

ramius

Environmental terrorism is not about the environment, it's a about terrorism.

This person was not trying to protect the environment, he just needed an excuse to live out a sick fantasy.

If you read the entire article, and do the math, you'll find that at worst he'll do about 9 years, max, if convicted on all counts. So he'll be back out there doing it again before I'm too old to ride. With a good lawyer, he might do a lot less. This is why we have so much of this going on- no deterent.

I used to think the peaceful, quiet solitude of our local rail trail was immune from anything more serious than a feral dog or occassional bear, and rode accordingly. Unfortunately I found some rather crude sexually explicit messages posted on a bullitin board, and a friend was accosted by someone in the same area last summer. So now in addition to the dog spray on the handlebars I am burdened with some other types of protection on my long rides there. Thankfully Virginia now allows CCW permits to carry in state parks now.

Unfortunate in the extreme, but to do otherwise would be unwise.

John E

I concur.

Pat

What is critical for most animals is habitat. As long as they have an appropriate habitat, they can often tolerate a fair amount of human activity in the area as long as they people do not actively molest the animals.

Actually, having recreational trails and bike trails through local wildlife habitat gives a certain protection to the habitat. You have a bunch of people who have a vest interest in the preservation of the habitat and that benefits the animals that use it.

This individual's zeal seems to far outstrip their knowledge of animal conservation.

2manybikes

There is a beautiful paved bike path in my area. The nicest one in the state. There are some places where it is very dark and not visible from a street. The kids make all kinds of booby traps, even though it is patrolled by the police. They hope to get someone riding without a good headlight. And they do get them. I know one of the victims.

Huge boulders in the path.
Broken bottles spread carfully across the path and the grass on both sides.
Logs.

The worst one was a small garden fence across the path, then a mound of dirt across the path, then a few big logs. Then a huge field of rocks bigger than baseballs. Finally a lot of broken glass. One right after another in the same location.

So I stop with a friend and we are moving some of the stuff and another cyclist comes along and complains to me about my bright headlight. He did not have any light.

Warlord

Just to let everyone know. Our trail terroist in Lubbock went before the Grand Jury on Feb. 21, 2007 and was indicted on two accounts of attempted aggravated assault. Since his capture our trails have been clear if hazards!

2manybikes

Do you know anything about the sentencing?

cc_rider

Indictment first. Then trial. Sentencing later.

Warlord

We got our ecoterroist to plead no contest to the charges. He was sentenced to 3 years probation and 600 hours of community service.

howsteepisit

Sad, that this is the sentence. Stringing wires across a MT bike trail is attempted murder. Seems to me that the US has become do divided politically that folks are feeling like their view of "nature" ( or the war in Iraq, or the Attorney General or u pick 'em issue) is the only correct view. Tolerance and compromise seem to be fading to a distant memory.