Did you see the October 2002 issue of Bicycling Magazine that shows the mountain biker grinding up the delicate face of an ancient and rare rock formation? I attached it for your reference.

This kind of thing really saddens me.

I know that today's Bicycling rags have gone the route of ski magazines - everything has to be extreme. All photos have to show big air or guys jumping off cliffs or doing some other over-the-top risky technique.

However, when I see pics of bikers obviously doing serious damage to the environment, it is really irritating. What you can't see from this rough scan is the spin-out of dirt and rock under this bike-boob's rear tire chewing away at a formation that has instilled wonderment since man stepped foot in Europe.

Of course, every time anyone or anything takes a step or bikes, there is impact on the land, but I think that we, as stewards of the environment are obligated to be selective with our impact so as to do the least damage possible.

Well what does one say to this. It has always been my opinion that asphalt roadways to whatever extent, office parks, strip malls etc. do more damage than my bikes tires. Also the herd of cattle that we have here does far more damage than my bikes tires. For that matter so do the deer.
There are hundreds mre examples that can be given, but come on, is anyone going to stop development, or convince the wildlife to stop moving around, or only do it in designated area's?
How about jet engine aircraft, or cruise ships, or multi passenger busses? Why not pick on things that are actually damaging?

I have to agree with Hunter. We can't shrink wrap the earth.

I think there are a couple of points that you and hunter maybe missing.
1 Pick your place to play. Some places are more fragle than others at the same time being extremely pretty. It seems we could if not try to preserve them at least not tear them apart.
2 We could slow to almost stop growth and that would be good for all of us. We might have less money, but more pleasure.

Joe

I doubt very much you would see a bear up there tearing the dirt up. I think the photo is a very unfortunate example of Mtn Biking Extremism. It is a pity too because someone will use that picture to pursue closing wildernesses and trails to mtn bikers. The key to preservation of rights to the wilderness is responsible riding. I mean if I wanted to keep riding my bike I would likely not pick linclolns lap in the Lincoln Memorial to do my "Extreme" riding. I would likely be able to find a place whch had less impact. Granted erosion will eventually take the hoodoo in that picture out in a thousand years or so. However, if a mountain biker (of which I am one) or a hiker or a horseback rider speeds the process up a year or two multiplied by all the recreational users who do that, then noone can enjoy it anymore. Just for the record, a hiker would probably do pretty much the same damage as the biker is doing, but I'm afraid the biker will get the worse press for this picture. I don't advocate shrink wrapping everything, but I do think there are spots which should be preserved which might be delicate or sensitive to use.

Do you have information about this area? What leads you to believe it is ancient and rare? Quite a bit of the extreme riding you see in the Kranked videos, and what not, are done in man made areas like huge gravel pits. Personally, I think Bicycling magazine is a cheese rag anyway - a good form of protest would be not to buy it.

I'm no geologist - but that pillar doesn't look man-made to me.

I think we do owe a duty of care to areas of beauty and wilderness . Quarries are great places for extreme riding - elsewhere we need to preserve for the future - I'm not saying don't ride elsewhere, but do ride responsibly.


Richard.

I was a bit unclear, I wasn't implying that it was man made. Rather, I like information. Along with the picture let's have a link about the structure this guy is riding on or the park he's in. What are the laws concerning such things like in Europe? They are quite strict here, though difficult to enforce.

I would. Its A) Manmade B) Professionally Maintained and C) Simply a statue. To paraphrase the immortal words of Zaphod Bebblebrox, he was "Just this guy, yanno?"

Gimmie a break, manking despite its overinflated opinion of itself is a blink in the span of eons the universe consists of.

I agree Mike... I've been out on the trails in the past and see this type of mis-use first hand, both MTB and Motocross. I live in So Ca...and I am saddened because many open spaces are abused without regard. Various non-riding groups are pushing to close open grounds for fear of this type of distruction. It's always just a few that ruin it for everyone else. I, for one am the first one to get in somebodies face...when I see someone abusing their freedoms with their tread. I would hope that others that feel like I, would do the same. Otherwise, the few that help to distroy without regard will be the few that help to limit all our rights.

It is beautiful because it is natural and rare. You could say that, by him making it more rare, he could be making it more beautiful.

But, why not appreciate what is abundant as much as what is rare?

I'm still trying to figure out where all those perfectly acceptable 7
and 8speed bikes went the ones we could still be riding.........

What the picture doesn't show is that the guy rolled 400 miles out of town in his SUV while guzzling 2 cases of rolling rock bottles.........

That was after he cashed his check at the bank drive-up lane and stopped off at another drive-up for fast food on the way out of town.

"It's all up to what you value" - George Harrison

When I saw the picture in the magazine I remarked, "Wherever that is, that picture isn't likely to do cycling any good."

I want to know if the photographer asked the rider to do that a few times, just so he could get the best shot for the article.


?

There is a "step lightly" motto out there. Like don't leave trash or camp fire sites laying around in the forest. Sure they're not hurting anything, but it's the principle. I believe the Boy Scouts follow this belief. And the last time I heard they were good conservative Christians, in theory. Of course I have know many who were very liberal, but my point is that it isn't just environmentalists and liberals who believe in being gentle with nature. Cause you can't put it back.

Clay

In the UK we have a few "honeypot" routes for hikers, which suffer extreme erosion from the sheer number of people walking.
We are pretty restricted as to where we can legally ride bikes off-road. Any rock-formation like that would be off limits, unless a bridle path ran across it.
In the US there are a few places like Moab which attract thousands of bikers, but there are also vast areas of public land which are not national parks, and get very few visitors. They are just as pretty as the parks, but access is more difficult.

This is stupid! What does it mean? Try drinking two cases of beer during a 400mi trip, dumbass. I guarantee you wont make it to your destination. You assume EVERYTHING you said in this quip. Jesus...all the guy is doing is riding a bike. If that landform is so sacred I'm sure the local authorites will be all over that guy as soon as they catch wind of this travesty. Get off it--He's not dumping toxic waste in the river or tagging Stonehenge.

True that.


d

"a good runner leaves no tracks" lao-tzu

Oh, definitely. I like to pick up a few of the more egregious bits of trash I find on trails. just slip it into my Blowfish. it might be a token effort, but I believe in leaving a place like that better than I found it.

where did I get this? I suppose it was the Scouts. although I was only in it for the camping, and I only got to the second rank out of I don't even remember how many -- after two years. h*ll of an organisation, though. (mamet reference, eh.)

had this t-shirt once, with a block-cut of a leopard or somesuch and the caption, "Tread Lightly On The Earth." loved that one.

--alex.

Bicycle Magazine describes the area on page 21 of the October 2002 issue as:

"Circue de Moureze; Roussillon, France. Cycling through this natural limestone formation is like riding on the moon - but more surreal. The landscape is filled with precarious drop-offs, castles and rock formations with names such as The Sphinx, The Death's Head and The Young Ladies... WATCH FOR: Evolution among the rocks. The oldest known European human skull was found here."

hmmm, do off road cars do any damage? How about tanks, bombs, airplane accidents and acid rain? You think a glacier from an ice age ever knocked over an 'ancient and rare rock formation'? Or a meteorite? A tornado? I don't think the biker adds his fair share of destruction but that's just MHO.

What you didn't see is the next MTBiker come flying down the hill and crashing directly into the 'ancient and rare rock formation' and knocking it over.

As a member of the “off-road” cycling community I personally believe “we” would greatly benefit from an image of being at the forefront of environmental stewardship. The awesome splendor; majesty and grandeur of pristine wilderness preserved in our national park system is a compelling magnet that entices; and lures primal urges from within. It has been this way for generations. Those who quibble about the degree or magnitude of impact may have lost the spirit and intent of what is at issue.

I personally ask each and every one of my fellow cyclist to Please endeavor to set a sterling example of a keen awareness for the values other park users hold dear (a.k.a. hikers and all other “naturalist”). Should cyclist collectively ignore their stewardship responsibilities, I truly fear the voices of outrage will rise up with the thundering wail of a multitude of banshees. This is a undeniable given against any and all who would threaten the legacy of the priceless natural wonders with our park systems which truly belong to absolutely no one other than our children’s; children’s children.

Wide tires will not do much damage to a rock surface. He just have to be careful to not knock down columns there.

I hear the rock climbers do some damage while knocking the steel hooks into a rock. But they also change the technique to save environment.

Is it known how this cyclist got to this area? Was he cycling there from home or driving a car? If he drives there with bike on car-rack, he may find next time a fuelling station at the spot.

Good one, Alexey!:thumbup: