Originally Posted by
kidwoo
I'd differ with the significantly change part. It's already been going on for 4 years. There are only two scenarios that class 1 ebikes change anything, greater uphill speeds which are still lower than an regular mtb going downhill, and on the flats. No ebike is going to go faster than what a regular bike has been doing on good descents, anywhere. I do agree with you on one thing, the wilderness society and their horsey friends will probably win this one, it was a bit of dumbass mistake on the TNF's part. I know the people that did the planning and I'm a little surprised they didn't see this happening.
The trail maintenance and rescue nonsense is just that. It's a slippery slope/red herring or whatever you want to call it. The outdoors have been commoditized, no new device changes that. Instagram has been the source of far more maintenance and rescue burden than anything.
You can thank your boomer tree hugger friends for campgrounds and roads that close for no reason that you used to drive on to get to the 'real' camping. Fuck those geriatrics. We're not dealing with LA asthma and rivers catching on fire anymore like when they were in their 20s. They need to learn when to quit. They're arguments have transformed from 'save things' to 'we just don't approve.' It's not the same thing.