First Real Dirt-Bike-y Adventure

"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff) 02/08/2019 at 18:20 • Filed to: None

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Found an unmarked trail about a mile from my house and decided to see where it went. After a couple hundred yards of rocky single track through a moderately wooded area, it opened up to a power line access trail.

It rained all night and into this morning, so the ground was very soft and muddy. I should probably have aired the tires down a bit, the bike was very squirrely in this stuff at street PSI despite the brand new tires. I managed to not dump it though, traversing about 3 miles of this mucky path.

One thing they don’t tell you about this kind of riding, it is physically exhausting. my arms, shoulders and hands ache just from a half hour of riding. And it was quite terrifying because I’m not used to the feeling of the bike slipping and sliding under me. If that happens on pavement, bad stuff is about to happen. But on slippery mud, it’s evidently status quo. I have to learn to not fight the bars as much and let the front tire find its own path a bit more.

AestheticsInMotion > atfsgeoff 02/08/2019 at 19:52

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Sounds like a blast. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > atfsgeoff 02/08/2019 at 20:00

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Dirt bike riding is lots of fun and teaches you good balance on two wheels. I’ll caution you about riding on power line access roads. That’s often an easement across private property and it’s illegal to ride there without permission. 

atfsgeoff > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/08/2019 at 20:07

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I could not see any no trespassing signs anywhere along the trail leading up to the power lines, so I’m assuming it’s alright to ride as long as I’m not being obnoxious. I did see a couple of hikers who waved hello to me as we passed each other at a safe slow speed, I was only doing about 5.

Oh, and this particular trail is also adjacent to an interstate highway, so there's only private property on one side of it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > atfsgeoff 02/08/2019 at 21:32

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Yeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh and you’ve got a 250 correct? The physical load is even worse on a 650 or the bigger adventure bikes. I was hurting for days after my first day of trail riding on the KLR.

atfsgeoff > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/08/2019 at 21:51

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Oh I bet! I gotta start doing a daily regimen of pushups and situps to get in better shape if I ever hope to do more than 10 miles of this kind of crap.

This is the entire reason I got a sub-300lb 250 instead of the bigger 650 thumpers or even heavier ADV bikes. I would undoubtedly have dumped an Africa Twin or Super Tenere several times on that same trail, if I even got past the technical single track.

TheRealBicycleBuck > atfsgeoff 02/09/2019 at 06:17

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I did some digging for you. Several posts in the discussion below say it’s illegal and one quotes the statute. At least one says he was ticketed for it  

https://www.nc4x4.com/forum/threads/power-line-trails.43986/

atfsgeoff > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/09/2019 at 09:16

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That forum is concerned with North Carolina , as is the cited statute . I’m in Pennsylvania.

TheRealBicycleBuck > atfsgeoff 02/09/2019 at 10:38

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I thought you were in NC. Here’s some guidance on trails in PA:  https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/WhatToDo/ATVRiding/RidingRulesandEnforcement/Pages/default.aspx

Fuckkinja > atfsgeoff 02/09/2019 at 11:04

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Dunlop mx11 tires on my woods bike.  When in doubt throttle out. Unfortunately our trails are all frozen. I’m glad somebody is able to get out exploring.

atfsgeoff > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/09/2019 at 11:10

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Funny thing, Pennsylvania does not include dirt bikes or dual sport motorcycles in its definition of ATV, and as such motorcycles of ANY type are not allowed at all on state designated ATV trails. Basically here in PA, you have to just roll where you’re not upsetting anyone.

I am careful to not go anywhere that has “No Trespassing” or “No Motorized Vehicles” signs posted.

TheRealBicycleBuck > atfsgeoff 02/09/2019 at 11:49

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I’m somewhat sensitive about the issue. A friend of mine has people cross his property all the time because a creek runs through it and they feel like they have a “right” to access the creek. The thing is that they don’t realize that they are boxing themselves in. The creek narrows and the water gets deep, so they end up stuck and the only way out is up steep embankments and across his land.

In Louisiana there are lots of conflicts over powerline trails. ATVs and motorcycles tear up the trails and make it impossible for the powerline companies to access the towers by truck. There are even more fights over river bottom access by ATVs which led to new legislation banning their use along designated scenic waterways.

I enjoy riding, but I don’t own anythung  at the moment because I don’t have access to property where riding is explicitly allowed. That’s the key for me. If it isn’t marked as a public access trail, then by default, it isn’t. Err on the side of caution and don’t assume you have permission. Instead, figure out who owns the trail and ask if you can ride there. 

atfsgeoff > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/09/2019 at 12:27

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According to the County Assessment office, most of that land I went on is owned by the city. The strip close to the end where I turned around because I saw houses in the distance, belongs to a company that owns the parcel for commercial usage pursuant to transmission towers. The company itself is not even based there, they are in a different county altogether.

TheRealBicycleBuck > atfsgeoff 02/09/2019 at 12:33

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Sounds like you’re on the right track. A quick call to the city on Monday will either get you permission or let you know where you aren’t supposed to ride. 

atfsgeoff > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/09/2019 at 12:43

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The trail begins in a public reservoir park that is explicitly open to the public and does not prohibit motor vehicles , so I think I’m good at least to the transmission tower parcel. I may contact the company that owns that parcel just to see if they mind if I putz around there once or twice a month.

TheRealBicycleBuck > atfsgeoff 02/09/2019 at 13:05

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And if you’re wrong, it’s a ticket when you get caught . Why not make the call?

atfsgeoff > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/09/2019 at 13:45

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In Pennsylvania, I can only be cited for trespassing if 1. there are posted signs, or 2. I am asked to leave by a property owner or representative of the property owner and I refuse.

Essentially, if the city has a problem with it, they can post signs or send someone over to tell me to quit it, but unless and until they do so, I am not legally trespassing. Same actually goes for open, unfenced and unsigned private property as well, but I don’t want to be a dick to them.

I pay thousands of dollars of taxes to the city every year so I don’t feel bad about using city owned land to have a bit of fun at no expense or disturbance to others though.

TheRealBicycleBuck > atfsgeoff 02/09/2019 at 17:52

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I would take issue if someone were riding trails that were intended for other purposes. Motorcycles and ATVs do a lot more damage than mountain bikes or just walking. That’s why I always check before riding. My last ride was on private property and we were careful to stay in designated areas. 

atfsgeoff > TheRealBicycleBuck 02/09/2019 at 18:35

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Turns out my dad and his friend have been hiking, biking and 4-wheeling on that power line trail for decades. No issues with adjacent land owners since the early 80s, and dad’s friend used to BE one of those land owners, so he knows them all as neighbors.