You won’t know how good it feels to ride something you have built if you don’t pick a spade up once in a while.

An issue of global importance but of local sensitivity. If you choose to poach tracks consider that local riders and builders share localities with locals and (legal or illegal) the landowners. They have relationships built on trust – some riders honour the no weekend uplift rule when the local residents want some peace and quiet. There’s the neighbourood scene to consider – how much do you put back into your local trails?

There’s the national scene – should I really be tramping into someone else’s backyard without even asking? I’ve witnessed no end of rude, obnoxious, clueless twats on my tracks this summer – to them I say FUCK YOU – not because of riding the tracks but simply because I’ve seen no end of them ride past me in big gangs without even a polite “hello” to the person raking out a corner.
And if you do poach, have respect not only for the builder but the trail too. In the US there is far much more trail respect in terms of no corner cutting or ramp building.

If you are local and ride local tracks offer a hand in summer maintenance, better still add to the network with your own ideas. Just remember once your track is made it’s out there for all to enjoy. For takers of the world consider the locals have relationships built with residents that operates 365 days of the year not just a selfish weekend away.