What does MORE do for the freeriding scene?

[grandma_is_wooting_again]

Bring up MORE among a group of "freeriders" and you will most likely hear complaints and rumors about how MORE shut down one trail and destroyed all the fun stuff at another trail and how MORE wants everything to be a spandex-clad cross-country wet dream.

I hear these complaints and I don't really know who to believe. I would like to think that our prominent off-road association will give a voice to an ever increasing amount of freeriders but I don't see the evidence in our trails.

So please give me some facts - what positive things has MORE done for the freeriding scene?

Are they working with parks to create TTF for our trails?

I am from Atlanta originally and our local chapter of SORBA worked to create an incredible freeride park just 40 minutes north of Atlanta - has MORE worked on getting anything like this done for us?

[jabberwocky]

Well, I'm not aware of MORE ever shutting down a FR trail. Generally when a FR trail is shut down its done by the park management. We seem to get the blame for a lot of stuff thats actually done by the park management though (usually against our wishes).

As for what MORE has done, we've worked wherever possible to keep existing stuff open and work to get new stuff built. I know we worked pretty hard to keep 495 from being plowed back when the land was transferred to the parks authority. L&C at Patapsco was kept open for almost 2 years through the efforts of the liaisons there (bikermiker and escatmore) while we attempted to get a skills area built (that one ended with no skills area and L&C being bulldozed by the park though. But definitely not for lack of effort on our part).

Honestly, the "what has MORE done for me" is kinda silly. MORE isn't a government agency, its just a group of individuals (all volunteers) trying to promote mountainbiking as a whole. If you want MORE to do something, the best way is to join, volunteer, and work to get what you want done.

[pirate]

Don't forget the TTF loop that was built at Rosaryville... If I'm not mistaken (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) MORE had EVERYTHING to do with that being built.

[grandma_is_wooting_again]

Don't forget the TTF loop that was built at Rosaryville... If I'm not mistaken (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) MORE had EVERYTHING to do with that being built.

I've just started riding there. Is the TTF loop still there?

[jabberwocky]

Don't forget the TTF loop that was built at Rosaryville... If I'm not mistaken (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) MORE had EVERYTHING to do with that being built.Thats another one, although it probably doesn't belong totally in the 'win' column since MD DNR got kinda pissed about it and came in and dumbed it down.

I've just started riding there. Is the TTF loop still there?Yup, its still there. Enter the trail by crossing the road (from the parking lot) and riding the loop for about a mile and a half. When you hit the field with the power lines, instead of re-entering the woods climb the hill to the top. You'll see the horseshoe log ride on your right at the top.

[pirate]

I've just started riding there. Is the TTF loop still there?

I think the loop is still there, but the park service ended up removing most of the cool stuff. It was pretty damn fun before they neutered it.

(again, someone please correct me if I'm wrong on the details)

[Dirt]

Certainly y'all know more about freeriding than I do. I can imagine that it is rather difficult in an area where the hills are just not that long. Often times it takes the form of stunts, skinnies and other "trail features" that get incorporated into existing train networks.

I've been impressed at what MORE has done with these. There are quite a few trail networks that have some decent stunts built into them or nearby. Rosaryville, Schaeffer and to an extent Wakefield (the berms in Phase III and 495 nearby). Though MORE can't take credit for building 495, I know a lot of people put a lot of effort into keeping it from being bulldozed.

As far as challenging terrain is concerned, there's quite a bit of great stuff available that is regularly ridden and often maintained by MORE. Much of it requires pedaling to the top... and isn't really great for shuttling, but there's a lot there.

The Freeride forum has grown a lot since it was added. I'm damn happy its here.

As a spandex-clad panty hampster, I'm happy to have people riding stunts and super techical challenging terrain so that I can point my camera at them. You guys are awesome.

Join up and make it even better. Nothing helps the cause of freeriding like working together towards a common goal.

Good to see you here.

Pete

[pirate]

Thats another one, although it probably doesn't belong totally in the 'win' column since MD DNR got kinda pissed about it and came in and dumbed it down.


I agree... I was just trying to point out that we DO try to work with the parks to build stuff like that.

[tuba_transport]

Bring up MORE among a group of "freeriders" and you will most likely hear complaints and rumors about how MORE shut down one trail and destroyed all the fun stuff at another trail and how MORE wants everything to be a spandex-clad cross-country wet dream.

The trails that MORE shut down which were "freeride" would have been stuff the Parks Management, almost always county government, has insisted be shut off. MORE is a volunteer group which advocates for ALL mountain biking and spends thousands of man hours on trail work to make happen.

A good example is Accotink park which gets stuff blocked off all the time. And YES MORE did do some of that blocking. Not because we don't enjoy technical riding, but because we have no choice. If we don't work the trails as the Park Management wishes than the relationship goes south and we lose access. Mountain bike access is a privilege not a right.

Trust me when I tell you there are an overwhelming number of MORE folk who freeride and wish for MUCH more opportunities. And we work towards that goal. But when we put the trails on government land we are at the whim of the government bureaucracy.

Personally I would love to see drops, doubles, step ups, and the like all over the place. My daily driver is a 37lbs 6" full suspension bike which requires a drive all the way to Frederick to fully appreciate. I want more stuff right here in DC. But it takes a Land Manager willing to let it happen.

[brcire]

I've just started riding there. Is the TTF loop still there?

The TTF loop AKA inner loop is still there. Without going into the events that happened or pointing fingers, many of the TTFs remain - yes some were dumbed down, some were removed. Alot was learned in the process on both sides. Hopefully, that will lead to the creation of TTFs, freeride parks, stacked/leveled parks, etc.

Join the group and work with us to advocate for more trails and TTFs. Our membership number and trailwork hours show that we are a strong voice and we can work to influence area parks and forests to open trails, convince them that TTFs and multi-use trails can coexist.

Enter the trail by crossing the road (from the parking lot) and riding the loop for about a mile and a half. When you hit the field with the power lines, instead of re-entering the woods climb the hill to the top. You'll see the horseshoe log ride on your right at the top.

That's the short way. It starts at the top of Barking Dog (occassionally :D) Hill. Big tree on right with pink polka dot tape - trail opens on right with a log to go over, follow that there are some log overs and then you come out on some doubletrack follow the most worn path up the gravel hill. At the top the trail goes left take the water bar logs up and follow it down. Have fun!

Of course, get on the Shed Shuttlerun thread and make plans with them. Of course, just go to the Shed and ride. Those TTFs are all natural. :D:D

[BikerMiker]

MORE (meaning us goofballs out in the woods) is constantly working to educate land managers about increased skill riding areas. I worked for years on one at Patapsco and I'm not done yet.

MORE was instrumental in the development of MD Park Service's TTF Manual that is official policy. We are working to interpret that document even though it's been out a year. Slow steps for volunteers it seems.

So, if you want something, get involved. I did 10 years ago and I don't EVER think 'what can MORE do for me?' I'm always looking to do things that will benefit MORE and my riding desires and the riding desires of those I don't even know.

We are MORE. MORE is a word, we are the riders. We do stuff legally and it is hard in MD.

Welcome. Time to get busy...

mike

[kn0bby8]

Whats TTF?

[pirate]

Whats TTF?

Stands for Technical Trail Feature, and includes things like skinnies, drops, jumps, etc.

[skijim668]

So please give me some facts - what positive things has MORE done for the freeriding scene?

Are they working with parks to create TTF for our trails?


Check out the upper rock creek plan that Joe Fritsch is working on.

If you want a park.Get involved.A meeting with 100 riders would have way more urgency than a meeting with 10 riders.

If you dont participate your a spectator. Theres lots of "sit back and see what happens" types.This doesnt make any contribution to the sport.

If every freerider were totally involved we'd have 10 parks by now.

If the FR advocacy fails, try again and again until someone actually listens.This post is not intended as a talking down to thing.Just explaining.

[Jackson]

Whats TTF?

It stands for Technical Trail Feature.

How various land managers, users, user groups, etc., interpret what exactly that means can vary.

[allroy]

First off thanks for asking for yourself and not just accepting what you hear. Lot's of good information posted already, so I'd just like to reiterate that MORE did not close the trails you are speaking about. In most cases the only reason they survived as long as the did was because of fellow MORE members sticking up for them even though they were illegally built, because they enjoy that type of riding or see the value in it. Final decision is DNR and at the end of the day access for all mountain bikes ended up being in jeopardy, DNR made the decision on what to do. Being on land DNR is responsible for there's not much you can do without lots of education, even more motivated members and working through legal channels. We are only as good as our members. If more people that enjoy freeriding join the club and want to help work towards that goal, that is great and we'd probably see faster progress. If you have any questions or would like to know how you could help, send me an email and we can talk.

-Jason

[camp]

Check out the upper rock creek plan that Joe Fritsch is working on.Here (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12751)and here (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13205) is Joe's info. These are our best, soonest chance to do something.

[Dirt]

So please give me some facts - what positive things has MORE done for the freeriding scene??
Welcome. I mean that sincerely. I say that up front, because this post is gonna make me sound like an ass. I don't mean it to sound that way.

Many years ago I built and rode illegal trails. They got plowed and I built more. This was back when I was riding BMX... you know... back in the days where turning 18 actually had a good chance of clearing my Juvi record. I finally asked a local guy who ran a local shop what he was doing to help the BMX scene. He turned it right around on me and asked me what I was doing to help the BMX scene. I didn't have an answer. It got me motivated though. I started working with this guys group and we built two really good, legal BMX tracks and a skate park in the town where I grew up. It was damn cool.

I don't mean this in a confrontational way. What kind of stuff have you been doing? I honestly don't know what the Freeride scene is like. Is there an organized group or groups that are working to build legal trails? Ride Monkey used to have a pretty cohesive group of people for the area.

Again, I don't mean to be a bastid about this. I'm just curious.

Thanks for logging in and asking. It is much appreciated.

Pete

[tombowti]

. . .I don't mean this in a confrontational way. What kind of stuff have you been doing?. . . Pete

along those lines. . .

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country

John Kennedy 1961

[Dirt]

along those lines. . .

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country

John Kennedy 1961
Serious cred to Grandma is Wooting again for coming and asking and seeing what can be done. There are tons of people who don't. Hell, I didn't until I got busted for building illegal stuff one too many times.

JFK was a good guy, but he couldn't ride for shite. ;)

[JFritsch]

MORE has been slowly convincing parks to allow TTFs (technical trail features) or freeride ellements. As mentioned the Upper Rock Creek trail plan does have a "bicycle challenege area" which is to start construction in 2010 or 2011. I hope you'll come out and help!

The other thing I've been floating is tring to get 3 or 4 pump tracks built around Montgomery County. Two things needed to accomplish this are 1) a ground swell of support and 2) fund raising. The more interest and political push the less the pull the build nothing/extreme enviormentalists will have. The more money raised the more likely and quickly we could get this done. How much a pump track would cost in Motgomery County I don't exactly know, but it would be more than else where do to red tape. Still, I assume $10, 000 to $20,000 would build a very nice pump track.

Right now between family, working for legal places to ride (be it dirt, paved or jumping) and trying to actually ride and race myself I'm stretched very thin and haven't had the time to follow up on the pump track idea. End the end if the money is raised and we hit a couple of meetings I thing we can turn something around in about a year.

Joe Fritsch

[camp]

The other thing I've been floating is tring to get 3 or 4 pump tracks built around Montgomery County. ......Joe FritschI'll be happy to come to your meeting and talk about the huge success our 3000 sq' pump track has become. Photos, videos, testimonials from town officials, etc.

Ours was $5000, half of which was paid/raised by the bikers.

http://chambersburgpumptrack.blogspot.com/

One of the first things many council members and Park Directors said was "...it isn't big enough...." and "... we need to build another one at...."

[JFritsch]

Larry it would be very useful to have you at a meeting. I'll let you know when we get to that stage!

The things that have stopped (so far) a BMX track at the Soccer Plex are

1) Exposed dirt is bad for the enviorment
2) It's an eye sore (I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder!)

The other issue is that any project over 3000 sq feet causes natural resources to get involved and in the words of a park manager they do not think reasonably.

As for erosion that issue can be dealt this via something called poly pavement.
http://www.polypavement.com/

Found out about it from a guy at this site: http://www.russconstructionllc.com/exerscapes/

and where is he located? BEATHESDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!