Editor,
Yowzers! Big dilemma in town these days. Two wheels vs. two wheels, cardio vs. combustion.
It's actually come down to physical confrontation and sometimes I can understand why.
I've been riding dirt bikes in this town for 33 years now, and over the past five or 10 years mountain biking has grown in a big way (can't blame people, it's a heck of a nice province we've got). Dirt bike riding is also getting big here too because of developments in and out of town. It's cramping both styles.
Anyway, recently a close friend of mine came over and showed me his new bike, and after close examination, I tried to con him into trading one of my dirt bikes for it. The thing had everything my bikes do except the engine (I think he was gonna cuff me). When he left, my son and I got to yakking about dirt bikes and mountain bikes, and the similarities. (We ride both.) then I got to thinking, (I don't do that often) about the character of people on both types of machines, and I kind of turned it into a math exam (points system).
Not long ago a couple of grown men on mountain bikes hauled a friend's 15-year-old kid off his dirt bike and threatened to slap the crap out of him (his dad's a big puppy too). Anyway, big zero for that one.
Two weeks ago, I went riding behind Valleycliffe (my son and I do not ride mountain bike trails). While we were unloading, two pretty women and their dog were walking up the road, it was very dusty, along came this goober, wide open, past all of us. I tried waving him down but the guy obliterated us. The ladies mistook me as a riding partner of his (sorry Linda). One fat zero for dirt bikes.
This spring I went for a visit up Ring Creek and along came six or eight mountain bikers and they were flying, the back end of my truck went in the ditch for that one. Add a zero for mountain bikes.There is no reason for dirt bikes to prove they have 50 horsepower between their legs by flying past mountain bikers in fifth gear wide open; most of them don't know what competition is. Try racing motocross, it's tough. Another zero here.
This is beginning to make me bitchy; let's look at the brighter side of it. My son and I were returning from a ride last fall and we came across cuties on mountain bikes. The one had derailleur problems, my kid broke out his tools and fixed it good enough to get her out. They were very appreciative. Mountain biking sure creates some fine butts. I sat back and enjoyed the scenery (mountains looked good too). No points; it was a courteous thing.
Over the years, my son's closest friend has helped him look after his bike, and taught him riding techniques on his mountain bike. They are both really good kids because of it. (Kick the crap out of them in the Test of Metal this year Phil.) This kid is going to be in the magazines someday. It's a friendship thing. No points here.
During the past few years, I've come to realize that a lot of people on dirt bikes have learned mechanical skills that they teach to offsprings and not-so mechanically inclined. A well-tuned machine usually carries a respectable straight up individual who is not out to offend any one person. It's a learning thing. No points. Anyway, I could keep writing, but it's time for me to do my nails, and I'm sure some of you are getting tired of this garbage I'm writing. My math sucks, so I don't know what the score is right now, but remember this people: those roads we use to get to our playgrounds were developed for logging first, they are not yours, nor are they mine.
Oh, by the way, to young Mr. Shemko, you are a very fortunate man, I'm jealous. Wasn't that one heck of a show!
Bart Collins
Squamish
Scouts stolen from
Editor,
I am writing this letter to you with great disappointment in the community.
I have just heard that our lockup for Scouts Canada Squamish group has been broken into again. This is the third time in three months that someone has cut off our lock and entered our area. This is costing a non-profit group money every time a lock is cut off. This time a vehicle has been stolen from the lockup.
Another has been broken into with stuff stolen from with inside. We as a group only ask for our registration cost for Scouts to keep the enrolment cost down for youth wishing to be involved with Scouts .
With all the breakins to our lockup, we now need to call a emergency group meeting to discuss renting a storage locker to store our tenting, camping equipment etc. This will cost us money and will cost our youth wishing to be involved in scouting more money next year. We already have a lot of youth that require assistants.
I am very disappointed in the people responsible for this. I hope the community, Mayor and council of Squamish can help us and all non-profit organization in Squamish in the future or their will be no further for Scouts in Squamish.
Geordie Elson, Group Chair
Scouts Canada, Squamish Group
A happy rider says thanks
Editor,
To all the people of Squamish, thank you for helping me and other people who had bikes stolen. I love my new bike. It is fantastic. Thank you Miss Penny.
A happy rider
Squamish
Editor's note: the writer is the boy for whom Chief readers raised money to replace his stolen bike.
