Use at your Own Risk

I had an interesting ride on the Braamfontein Spruit yesterday morning - As I approached the teeter totter bridge constructed by us, the M&B MTB Club, I saw a mountain biker lying on the ground. The usual group of do-gooders had formed around him and I could hear everyone muttering loudly about how bad this new bridge was and how many accidents “IT” had caused. The group of “do-gooders” were stating “THEY” should remove this bridge and “THEY” should erect another bridge. An easier bridge?

This leads me to the question, who are the “THEY” people? Are “THEY” the guys that get their hands dirty and try to improve the trails, are “THEY” the guys that put their own personal time and money where their mouth’s are and get out there and do it instead of talking and complaining about, or are “THEY” the guys that ruin the sport for everyone else and cause fun riders to have accidents because they can’t make up their own minds about where their skill levels lie. I personally feel it is the former, but that is for you to decide!

As I stood there defending myself to the “mob” I got told by the injured rider’s son that “My Dad has done 2 Epics and he never fell there!” The relevance of this statement is somewhat lost on me as hundreds of riders, including countless epic finishers and just plain weekend warriors, have managed to ride across the bridge every single day without incident or injury , his dad might not have made it across the bridge but hey at least he has two epic finishers t-shirts to be proud of! The fact of the matter is the accident happened on a relatively simple teeter totter bridge and riders are now looking to blame “me” for building it. Do not read into this, that I don’t care about the fact that someone fell on a bridge or fell anywhere. I will be the first to jump off my bike and help a rider in need, my objection lies in the fact that we are blamed for someone else’s negligent and/or careless actions. It cannot be emphasised enough that each rider is responsible for their own well being. If you stretch your limits and come short, accept it and take responsibility for your own actions. Perhaps it was your day to fall, perhaps the mountain biking gods where looking to claim another victim or perhaps you just weren’t concentrating, or perhaps it was just an accident. The fact is you find yourself on the ground with only yourself to blame, and hopefully, with only a minor injury and a bruised ego!

This incident reminds me of the 1989 Kevin Costner movie “Field of Dreams” where a voice narrates to Kevin’s character “If you build it they will come!” and it is true. “They” will come and try it even if they can’t actually ride it! Put a challenge in front of someone and most people jump at it, especially when you throw peer pressure into the equation. We have all been through it and some of us have scars to show for it! The important thing is to realise the choice is always yours and if you back out because you don’t think you can do it you might be labelled a “woesie” for the rest of the ride but it sure beats starring up at the ceiling from your hospital bed for the next week. Do not attempt something that exceeds your personal skill level, and if you do, remember that you need to take responsibility for it.

A bridge, or any other obstacle which may be more difficult than what you can handle, should be seen as a future challenge and your inability to tackle the obstacle successfully due to your skill level does entitle you to remove, or force the removal of something that is probably providing thrills and enjoyment to other more experienced riders. Every rider has the option to use the easier route of getting their feet wet and crossing through the Spruit, or even walking across the teeter totter bridge. The erection of the bridge has not prevented the use of the Spruit from the usual fun riders and if you are not ready to tackle an obstacle rather wait until YOU feel ready and able to attempt it. Or build your own baby bridge that serves your skill level! ?

This incident brings up a very controversial issue of “use at your own risk” where it seems that nobody wants to accept responsibility for their own actions. A few of the more prominent mountain bike clubs in Johannesburg took it upon themselves to “take ownership” of certain areas of the Spruit by cleaning-up the area and making it a better riding venue. Sure, some of the stuff is advanced but at the end of the day we all enjoy the sport at different levels and are all looking to improve. Any improvements made by the various clubs do not prevent the enjoyment of the Spruit by different levels of riders. By adding obstacles which might heighten your senses due to the risk involved provides a better riding experience and gives you a sense of achievement when riding something you thought you couldn’t.

These challenges are what attract us to high risk sports like mountain biking. No-one is forcing you to ride out of your comfort zone if you don’t want to. As mountain bikers we find these challenges in many areas and in many forms, they don’t have to be man made to be dangerous. If you ride into a tree at high speed, do you shout and scream at Mother Nature because that tree just happened to jump out in front of you?

Mountain Biking is a dangerous sport and we take our lives into our OWN hands every time we go out on our bikes. We have a sense of responsibility towards riding buddies and other trail users but we can’t tell them how to ride and control the way they do ride. We can only and will always be there to help clean up their mess, because we know they are there to clean up ours.

I have been mountain biking for 12 years, I have fallen off countless times, I have broken 7 helmets and 2 vertebrae and I know that each time I have only had myself to blame, whether it be in a race or in the parking lot getting ready to go out on the trail. I accept responsibility for my own actions and I don’t look around pointing fingers. If my years of riding have taught me anything it is that I ride because I enjoy it and I like to take a few calculated risks, but the fact of the matter is I always ride at my “OWN RISK”.

So for all the guys complaining I suggest that instead of wasting time complaining be constructive and build an alternative bridge so Mountain bikers have the option of using the already tried and tested erected teeter totter bridge and/or a bridge which you feel is easier and more appropriate for persons of your skill level. Get involved with your local clubs, stop finding blame and see where you can help improve the sport so we can churn out a few more Olympic hopefuls.

Written by: Richard Beswick

The recently constructed Teeter Rotter Bridge