“So are you riding in Dr. Knob’s Malevolent Team Challenge
on October 10th?”
It’s a question I’ve asked a lot of folks as the date draws
near. Some respond with an enthusiastic “YES,
can’t wait!”, but many give me an automatic response… “No, I’m not a racer, I
just enjoy riding for fun.”
That’s disappointing, let me share why.
Whether the trails you enjoy riding are privately held or on
public land, the monetary burden of maintaining these trails often falls to
local volunteer groups who have embraced the effort of maintaining and improving
the trail systems to the benefit of all.
Though their time is given freely, tools, materials, insurance, and
requisite permits/fees are not. That
money has to come from somewhere. With
government budgets under the scrutiny of the public eye, that money must often be
generated by private groups who care enough to see the trails thrive.
Here in Ohio, revenue is commonly the result of
participation in our local races. 331
Racing and the OMBC both host races on private/public trail systems with
proceeds from the race fees returning to the venues to be used by the local
advocates. Your race dollars are going
back into the trails you are gliding across, administered by the folks who care
the most about them.
In the case of Vulture’s Knob, we toe a very tight financial
line. Unlike public lands that have the
ability to include rider liability into their overall insurance policies,
funded by a large tax base, this property must stand alone and pay for its
participants each season. We generate
income through two primary revenue streams; donations and race
participation. Donations yield about $1500.00
a year, leaving a gap of approximately $8500.00 annually to cover insurance,
utilities, maintenance, and any improvements we wish to make to the trail
system. That’s no small potatoes.
I implore you, re-define your perspective on what it means
to participate in your local races.
Some race to set performance goals, push physical limits,
and compete; it’s about going fast and we welcome that.
There is, however, another relevant perspective; racing is
an element of community participation and support. It’s part of a movement to support your trail
systems, creating a sense of advocacy, ownership, and contribution to a larger
goal. Race participants are the
financial backbone of many of our trails, creating recreational opportunities
for all to enjoy, from cradle to grave. Regardless
of whether you stand upon the podium or just finish with a smile, race
participants are stewards of our trails.
For us, it’s about giving back to something you believe in. Vulture’s Knob allows us to share our love of
mountain biking with others in a way that is unique, special, and is held
tightly in our hearts.
“So are you riding in Dr. Knob’s Malevolent Team Challenge
on October 10th?”
I hope you will join us?
