Got schooled on trail etiquette near Algonquin last fall

I was ripping through a muddy section on our club's loop near Algonquin Park and this older guy on a Honda 450 just waved me down. He said I was tearing up the trail for everyone else by gunning it through the soft spots. Told me to walk it or take the bypass next time, even pointed out 30 feet of ruts I carved out in 5 seconds flat. I was annoyed at first but then I rode behind him for an hour and saw how he picked lines to keep the trail solid. Why do so many of us think fast and loud equals responsible riding?

2 comments

2 Comments

joseph_hart19d ago

You ever been the guy who had to learn this the hard way? I was the same way a few years back, thought blasting through mud was just part of the fun. Then I followed a vet on a Klr through some nasty stuff near Hockley Valley, he barely left a mark while I was digging ruts like a backhoe. Had to eat some humble pie, but now I take the bypass or walk it when its wet. It's just smarter for keeping the trails open for everyone.

faith_thomas19d ago

Tbh, "had to eat some humble pie" is the part that really hits home for me. It's funny how that whole mindset of "go hard or go home" leaks into so many parts of life, not just riding. I see it with people at the gym too, guys who refuse to lower the weight on a bar because their ego gets in the way, then they blow out a shoulder and can't train for months. Same deal with the mud thing, you're not just wrecking the trail for others, you're teaching yourself that pushing through is always the right call when sometimes the smarter move is to just back off and do it differently.