First I must define pig as some have been taking exception to that phrase being used to describe their bike. Let it be known that pig is not meant to be derogatory, rather it’s just easier to say pig than, big huge monster bike with over 5 inches of travel front and back. However, now I can see why downhillers/freeriders/anyone with a pig, gets very defensive when people mention their bikes.
Allow me to explain. Recently I decided to bite the bullet, and the bank account to buy a pig from *HYPERLINK “http://www.corsacycles.com/”Corsa Cycles. Let me tell you it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Dave, Troy and Easy helped me pick out the perfect bike and now with their fancy new digs in Squamish Station, they’re always ready to step up to any scenario. However, there was one thing they didn’t prepare me for. I wasn’t prepared for the unanimous reaction from “the people” once I decided to hop on the plush bandwagon and become a member of the 5 & 5 club.
The people: “Oh, you’re one of THOSE now.”Me: “Excuse me? Those?The people: “A Shuttler. You know one of those lazy bastards who drive their bikes to the top of Diamond Head, rip up the trail then drive back to your North Van. home never once helping on a trail maintenance day.”Me: “Oh one of those.”
Well how do you like them apples. It seems without even trying that I’m thrown bike first into another battle in Squamish. I’m just Thankful there’s nary a woodchip to be seen. No, this battle is between the cardio freaks who bike up, and the lazy bastards who drive up. The main problem is that wording exactly. “Lazy bastards” It’s assumed that shuttlers are in fact lazy and therefore never give back and maintain the trails. While this may be true in some circumstances, generally the car droppers I know all have their own trails, and they’re first with the coffee and a safety meeting when a maintenance day is announced. But of course, like anything there are the bad apples who ruin the bunch.
Voila’ a solution.Well, if not a solution, at least it’s a step to recognizing the problem.
Do these shuttle tourists even know about maintenance days? Well they won’t have that excuse for long now that you’re armed with this!
Just print this page, photocopy the cupon like flyer and keep a couple copies in your camel pack. Then when you come upon a truck parked at the top of a grueling climb. Take a moment from your cursing of their gasoline guts, and politely place one of these informational flyers on their windshield.
If nothing else, it will give them one less excuse to not come out to a maintenance day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So you’ve decided to shuttle. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” Hey there, First, apologies for resorting to a windshield flyer. But rest assured that this is not an offer to loose weight, learn a trade, or change religions.
It is however, an offer to close the ever widening gap between those that shuttle (AKA: car drop) and those that peddle their bikes up the hill.
Either way we’re both lucky enough to enjoy some of the most incredible mountain bike trails around. Unfortunately, trails don’t fix themselves.
It is here that a request be made.Please, enjoy your day on our world class trails. Then a couple times a season, give a little back and get involved in a maintenance day. WHERE & WHEN? Just phone one of the bike shops (Corsa, Tantalus) there are people fixing up the trails every day, and they would love some help.
So rip it up, Just help put it back when you’re done.
Deal?Cool.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bryan lives, loves and freerides in Squamish, Deja W
(04.thirteenth.01) Man, I take a couple weeks off from ranting about local politics and look what happens… The following is pent up frustration unleashed… It’s a bumpy ride, hang on. “That boy just bottles it up, then BAM” – unknown George W. Bush scares the hell out of me.Each and every time that ignorant embodiment of all that is inbred America flashes his shit eating grin, my brain and body immediately prepare itself for what is surely the end of the world.
Ever since he lost the election, yet assumed power, I have been convinced that our days are limited. But even though he scares the be-jeezus out of me, he also makes me laugh. I mean come on, kicking known Russian spy’s out of the country – how funny is that! “Eeeek it’s the red threat!” Now you can almost hear his pea brain trying to figure out a way to go to war with China. Word has it, his aids were quick to point out that “they’re little, yellow and different” isn’t a good enough reason… We’ll see.
So it is whenever I have the opportunity to talk with Americans, I ask their opinion on the subject. After subtle defending, they’re quick to agree that their leader leaves much to be desired. Then the conversation inevitably leads into how great Canada is. You guys are so nice, everything’s so green and you don’t have a lunatic leading you into imminent destruction.. Oh no?
It is here that, depending on how much time we have, I continue to tell them, things are just as crazy up here. Only instead of George Dub-ya Bush Vs the red threat, we have Corinne Dub-ya Lonsdale Vs the green threat.
Up until now I’ve given our Mayor and Council the benefit of the doubt. Seriously, I’ve tried very hard to look at each argument from both sides, and for the most part I feel I’ve succeeded. Mostly, I’ve taken it easy on them because Corinne has an amazing ability to play the victim. After each and every conversation with her I’m left thinking, yeah, I can see why she did this, she was a victim in it all, and we’re being too hard. Well that washed the first dozen times, no more.
Now I am convinced without a shadow of a doubt that our Mayor and Council (with the obvious exception of Shelly and Raj) have an agenda. And that agenda is to effectively destroy Squamish’s potential. Estimated reaction to previous statement 10% – no they’re not 10% who cares 80% thanks for pointing out the obvious once again Bryan.
It is upsetting though. I mean all this time I’ve been trying to be nice. As they continue to wage the war on tourism I’ve been cutting them serious slack. From the disbanding of the parks and rec. board, and the turfing of the Economic development officer; to the whole woodchip fiasco, there was no end to their embarrassing actions. But now their sneaky, underhanded ways have simply gone too far (again).
Yes I’m talking about the departure of District administrator Grant McRadu. Not so much his leaving but rather Mayor and Council’s explanation which, if I may summarize. “He left, and it’s none of your business!”So it’s come to that eh? Mayor and council have become so comfortable with their shifty backroom dealings they know they can get away with anything. Because they don’t care enough about their constituents to explain their actions we can only go by the word on the street which is Grant opposed the woodchip location. And as our mayor a council have repeatedly shown, Squamish is at war, and opposing views are a sign of weakness.
Ha – an image just came into my head which I think sums up our council nicely. It’s a school yard where a young Corinne, surrounded by Wendy, Paul and the other cronies, have Squamish cornered and pushing our shoulder they say “Yeah, what are you gonna do about it?”
Now that’s an interesting question. What are we going to do about it? Wait another year and hope they don’t do more damage? Have them impeached? – Wait a second? I saw Wendy with a red jacket the other day, and Corinne has been seen more than once red in the face. They’re COMMIES! George, get up here quick, we’ve got some live ones up here.
Bryan swings at the end of his rope in Squamish.He also finds McCarthyism very funny.