Saturday the work day on Mudflaps came together.   Somehow I ended up as the MTBR bell-ringer for this event, which brought a few much more experienced people out of the woodwork to assist with permits from the Rangers who oversee the Tonto National Forest, knowledge of how to build up waterbars, access to tools, and connections to the MBAA and Missing Link riders.   All told we had about 20 people show up, a few I knew, a few I did not but had likely been in some of the same events, even a few parents with their teenage kids who raced in some of the local series. This was my first rail work day, and I learned a lot from a few of the guys about how to improve a trail.   That we just thought it up and did it goes to show that anyone can make a difference.

Big thanks to all those that came out, but especially to Scotty Mac for doing all the admin and leadership, and to James (Maadjurguer) and Chris (Clockwork) for jumping in with me on MTBR to get the ball rolling on this.

It was a casual environment, but different from most volunteer activities where people shuffle about generally picking their asses.   Here everyone set about some aspect of the project, and while not killing themselves, worked with a sense of purpose.   It was very impressive how much was accomplished in about 4 hours.   Mudflaps went from a washed-out doubletrack that had become barely challenging to a flowing singletrack bordered by rocks and cholla that preserved a natural feel. I went back out on Saturday night with the Heckler and Kila just to climb the hill again and check out our work.   It wasn’t so much harder, albeit a little, as it was much better…if felt like a trail again.   The waterbars made of embedded rocks ramped over with dirt served as outstanding jumps on the bomb back down, and the cholla added a nice incentive to keep it under control.

We got mostly good comments from passersby – bikers and hikers.   A few people just put their heads down and cranked through us, one douchebag said he didn’t need to do trail work for his mbaa points cause he will win his races.   Some of the people working with us were very capable racers – its about your attitude, not your clothes or your speed.

I really can’t explain how positive this experience made me feel – Hawes is out my door, I’ve ridden it so many times over the 8 yrs I’ve lived here I kinda take for granted what a fun trail it is.   This week I rode Hawes 4 times, which for me is very unusual – I prefer Somo, Hawes is typically only once a week for me.   I just really wanted to be on “my trail” this week.   I’m planning to bring some small tools on some of my long no-destination rides in the future, and fix a few things for a few minutes here and there.   I understand a lot better now the sense of pride and ownership others take in “their” trails, and realize that if you don’t pitch in then these trails just degrade over time.   This rambling is probably sounding hokey to those of you who never did trail work (like me up til last weekend), or quaint to those of you who do it all the time.     But I never expected to be so pumped about my bike-week like this when I didn’t do anything epic or nail any cool trials and my wrenching was a total failure.