Freedom Riders: Movie Teaser

 I got to agree... I'll reserve full judgement until I see the film. Their website claims they don't condone illegal trail building, but the marketing thus far is a total glorification of it. I love DH as much as anyone, but cutting trails in wildnerss is wrong on so many levels. Shredding the gnar anywhere you please is not a god-given right, and neither is freedom when your freedom means taking away someone else's. Ride your fancy boinger bike at the ski-hill or on designated tracks. Travel around the world and you will realize that the US is unique in that we have more open space and pristine wildnerness than almost anywhere I have been. If you open our national forests up in the name of 'freedom' you will end up with a massive resource grab and nothing left for future generations.

 Though I wish it were different I have to agree with you. If you want to see more and better trails open up, I think we need to change the way we look at things.

 I think that when you guys see the film, you will "feel" the turmoil and struggle that we went through. These guys went to the forest service first. The Forest Service's generic answer if you, me, or anyone else asked "land managers" if we could build a usable and sustainable trail was always-NO! I helped build a network of trails one mountain range West of the Tetons that was illegal at first but has since been adopted by the Forest Service. This phenomenon is increasing amongst land managers as mountain bikers may actually get the OK to ride in US National Parks. This movie shows the progression and the reason to work with land managers. I went to our travel plan meetings for our trails in the Big Holes and 3 years after those meetings and continuing to ride these trails illegally they actually got official forest service recognition. This prior precedent example means you can go to your local land manager and say, "hey, look at what they are doing in the Teton National Forest. How can we work together to provide trails for a large and growing user group who actually cares for the land." It may not be instantaneous but it does get the ball rolling. You will want to start a club or group with a list of members who will unify and show the Forest Service that your group wants to cooperate. We are just an example for success. I can't say that if you do what we did you will have DH trails all over your forest service land. You will have to plan, design, and engineer trails in feasible areas that do the least amount of damage to the resource as well as pick an area with easy access to your target user group. Good luck.

 I completely understand that, I'm more talking about trails that are built by 12 year old kids that are just a complete death trap, then they freak out because it got torn down. I applaud the trail builders for their work and hope that others can follow in their footsteps.

 well i hope everyone getting inspired by this are the responsible type of people, unfortunately theirs also dirtbags and hudloms that just dont give a damn about property. and the whole thing doesnt just happen with a pick and shovel, all other permits and environmentals stuffs goes in it too. and i have the feeling that the guys who made the video are also doing this for publicity and exposure, which is good, but, they picked a bad way to show it.

 This kind of attitude is the reason they are so strict.

 i was just meesin around i didnt mean it.

 Alright, just....yeah. Don't do that.