Beaverhead-Deerlodge N.F. Comment Period about to End

I got an email from Greg Beardslee yesterday, I'll just post it here.

"Dear bike riders,

The Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest is having a forest plan comment period until March 31, 2008. All mountain bike riders in Montana need to weigh in on this controversial plan. As it sits right now, it will damage mountain bike access in many locations, and greatly affect the future economic opportunities of Beaverhead County. Attached is the text from our talking points for letter writing. Please read and act while the opportunity exists.

This forest plan has national implications as well, being the first in the nation to blanketly ban bikes in recommended wilderness, that send a clear signal that the forest service can create defacto wilderness and exclude bikes. This situation may be repeated across the state, and possibly into other states. Bicyclists need to send the message that they must be considered fairly in the plan evaluation process. Unfortunately, we have been ignored by the Beaverhead Deerlodge so far. We believe that they want to accommodate us, but even when we spell it out, they seem to want to hear it again from others."

It seems to me that this is the year that we need to collectively get our asses in gear and finally pull our own weight as one of the major trail user groups in Montana. For the seven years I've lived here I've seen and ridden with many cyclists who are passionate about cycling but do little to improve our appearance with the general public and with trail authorities. I;m not singling any one person or group of this, I'll be the first to admit that I've not done as much as I could- all I'm saying is that if we don't start to act like we care NOW we could very easily give up our fantastic trails very soon.

Here's a few things that we can do:

• Write a letter as described above
• Do lots of little bits of trail maintenance, like clearing some brush, replacing rocks, blocking off switchback-cutting trails. There's almost always an opportunity to do this every ride.
• STOP, smile and talk to other trail users. You're not in a race when you're doing an after-work ride, why act like it? Hikers and horsers are out there doing the same thing as you, just at a different pace.
• Practice some self-policing of our ranks. If you see someone locking up his rear wheel and skidding, tell him (politely, of course) that he's being, well, an idiot. Maybe find a nicer word. Pick a less-kind word if he scares a family out hiking. I can't f@#$ing stand that.
• Be active in the bike community.
  
• Get someone new into mountain biking. Even though I've been doing this for 16 years, my favorite rides are with noobs. Their excitement is infectious!

That's enough with the soapbox tonight. Let's all make the riding here only improve...ok?

-DNA