Mountain Cyclist – Sept. 1999
Lead Stories
...by Tamara Clark-Shear and Jim Owen, pictures by Ray Alley
Finally, there's another park within Santa Clara County where a mountain bike enthusiast can ride! Almaden Quicksilver County Park opened up 10 miles of trails to mountain bikes on Monday, July 19. On July 24 and 25, ROMP, along with the county parks and local equestrians, held trail education stations and took an introductory ride through the park, receiving lots of positive feedback with only a few negative responses from some trail users who did not like the change. Many thanks to ROMP volunteers John and Karen Morgan, Chuck Reed, Jane Hall, Bill Salefski, Jackie Cunningham, Rick Brusuelas, Bob Kain, Ray Alley and Jim Owen for two days of successful education.
This use is on a temporary basis only through April 2000 when the Santa Clara County Parks Department is expected to respond back to the Board of Supervisors with the results of the pilot project. Please remember to ride responsibly and to take time to educate others about trail etiquette, and spread the word that this is an opportunity to not be lost on carelessness. Be especially aware of the horses in this park; many of the horses and riders in this park are unfamiliar with bikes, so please follow the guidelines described in the article at left.
As a reminder, the Hacienda entrance on Almaden Road is the only entrance for mountain bikes. Entrance at McAbee and Mockingbird is not allowed, even if you walk your bike in. If you have any questions regarding multi-use at the park, call Tamara Clark-Shear, Santa Clara County Parks Department Public Information Officer, at 408-358-3741 x131 or tamara.shear@mail.prk.co.santa-clara.ca.us.
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(part 3 in a series of 3)
The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) has developed a set of rules of the trail as a step toward forwarding its mission of promoting environmentally sound and socially responsible mountain bicycling. This came about because thousands of miles of dirt trails have been closed to mountain bicyclists, at least partially due to the irresponsible riding habits of a few riders. ROMP, a member club of IMBA, agrees that every rider must do their part to maintain trail access by observing the following rules for safe and responsible riding:
- Ride on open trails only.
- Leave no trace.
- Control your bicycle.
- Always yield trail.
- Never spook animals.
- Plan ahead.
Two months ago, we covered the first two rules in detail. Last month, we discuss the third and fourth. This month we will cover the last two.
Never spook animals. Animals in the vicinity of the trail may be startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement, or a loud noise. This can be dangerous for you, others, and the animals. Give animals extra room and time to adjust to you. Along with being dangerous, disturbing wildlife, including running cattle, is a serious offense. Leave gates as you found them, or as they are marked.
Horses are a special case: they are prey animals with a very strong flight instinct. A cold wind or a falling leaf may be enough to cause a horse to spook. When passing a horse, use special care and follow directions from the horseback rider; ask the rider if you are uncertain what to do. If the horse appears to be nervous, don't pass it. Talk to the horse and rider; the horse will recognize the sound as a human voice and understand that you are a person, not some mechanical beast of prey. Even on wide fire roads, be ready to stop if needed, being careful not to make a lot of mechanical noises, such as by locking up your brakes or you will risk spooking the horse.
Plan ahead. Know your equipment, your ability, and the area in which you are riding and prepare accordingly. Be self-sufficient at all times. Keep your equipment in good repair and carry the basic tools needed to fix minor problems (flat tires, broken chains, loose bolts, etc.). Carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. It may be hot and sunny in the valley, but cold and wet on local ridges. A well-executed trip is a satisfaction to you and not a burden or offense to others. And of course, always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.
All of these rules can be summarized as respect: respect for other riders, other trail users, and for the environment. We live in a crowded region with lots of people looking to use the open spaces. Respect the lands, the other users of the lands, and yourself and your skills. Please help keep our trails open by setting a good example of environmentally sound and socially responsible off-road cycling.
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...by Jim Lauth
ROMP's member picnic will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 12 PM at Steven's Creek County Park (adjacent to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve). All ROMP members and other interested bikers and friends are invited to join in an afternoon of socialization and fun. Rides of varying levels will be held, schwag will be given away, and a barbecue lunch will be catered.
Cost of the picnic is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, and $3 for kids. To get to the park, take I-280 to the Foothill Expressway/Boulevard exit. Head south on Foothill, continuing past Steven's Creek Boulevard onto Steven's Canyon Road. The park will be on your left. After entering the park, drive past the first left (the main parking lot) and take the second left. Drive up this road to the Villa Maria group picnic area. Parking will be on the right. More directions and a map are available at the Santa Clara County Parks website.
The picnic is a great place to chat with some of those folks you may have met on a ride but were panting too much to talk to, so come out and join the fun!
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