Interview with Mike Van Abel

at Eurobike 2009

39,152(!)visitors, 6 % more than last year and 1,556 journalists from 36 countries have had a chance to overlook about 1,100 stands. It’s easy to count. There was at least one journalist at each stand all the time during the tradeshow. He or she experience at least a few new products, which were designed to bring him/her and the competitors to their knees. Even though we had a good time visiting (in a hurry) and talking with (at least 1,000) people, there is a risk. The biggest problem is the destructive amount of information. That’s why Eurobike 2009 literally boils journalists as well as visitors. In spite of the fact that each of us loves bikes and their equipment, when we leave a press park and come back to Poland we realize that we miss something among the parade of novelties. And I ask myself an essential question: Where are we all going to use it? The most important event in bike business across the globe had been squeezed into one tiny stand. DIMB booth had hosted IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel and couple of Europeans with trails in mind. We know about IMBA achievements in building and sharing bike trails in the USA. That’s why we have decided to ask what IMBA chief thought about the emerging European initiative?

bikeBoard: Why there are so many stands at Eurobike showing new MTB products and practically only one stand showing that mountain bikes need different trails than hikers or fourwheel transport?

Mike Van Abel, International Mountain Bicycling Association Executive Director: (After long break) This might be a question of culture. Here in Europe hiking trails have existed for ages. You must only find them and use. Or maybe Europeans do not know how much fun comes from riding on a trail designed for mountain bikes. You might be satisfied with what you already have. Wide gravel tracks or hiking trails. Honestly, I do not know what to think about this. But it is really interesting that for so long nobody in Europe had come with an idea to build trails designed for mountain bikes.

bB: Can you explain the difference?

MVA: At the beginning even in the USA nobody felt the need to build special trails for bikes. And what’s worse, in those times we haven’t had any trails. Those built by hikers were quickly closed to mountain bikers. All of a sudden we have been left with nothing. I don’t want to frighten you but that is quite possible that such thing is going to happen in Europe as well. You’ve already lost access to many trails. Yet mountain bikers are hungry for good quality trails. And they are too often finding them in illegal trails in protected lands which causes a problem. How to build good image and trust towards mountain bikers when meeting with land managers? It is not only them who think that mountain bikers are bad guys who do not obey rules and if they see trail they prefer ride around it. I, however, do (prefer TO ride)know that the source of the problem is completely different. Mountain bikes require different approach then simply to waymark a path. Waymarked hiking routes do not work for mountain bikes for many reasons. For example excessively steep trails erode quickly when used by mountain bikes. Roots and rocks get exposed, trail is destroyed and shortcuts are created. Yet in fact less steep, winding trails with obstacles are more exciting than those that go down the fall line.

bB: You have gathered here to set up European IMBA. Why is there need for such organization?

MVA: In an optimal way trail are build from scratch. There are many reasons for that and we often forget the most important thing. Creating trails legitimizes their users and give them control over its development and changes. We need land to build mountain biking trails. European organizations were inspired by IMBA, asked us for cooperation, because during many years of IMBA’s existence we have gained a lot of experience in how to get permission from owners and land managers. Which really means that we have learnt how to communicate with them effectively to gain such permit.

bB: Well, but regulations are considerably different [in Europe]…

MVA: Sure, but this is not only about knowledge of local regulations, it is also about people’s mindsets and rules of coexistence. We do have a lot of experience in fixing such a business. Regulations and applying for a permit are just a final step. First, you must convince people to take mountain bikers seriously!

bB: Is it possible to get such a permit in Poland? Nobody has done it in our country before.

MVA: Your neighbours have managed quite well. Tomas Kvasnicka from CeMBA(Czech Moun- tainbiking Association) has established the organization only two years ago. And he organized first meeting for the foresters only a year ago. Now he’s finalizing a huge project that by the way lies close to Polish border.

bB: What should we expect from IMBA Europe?

MVA: First of all we need to bring to the minds of government officials at all levels that mountain bikers are citizens in the true meaning of the word. We need to show that mountain biking is a respectable form of outdoor recreation performed by respectable people. Somebody has to start up professional lobby in Brussels acting on behalf of mountain bikers. Only this way we can eventually secure funds for new trails and support activities at the local level. Only in this way we can secure development of mountain biking.

Thanks for Milosz Kedracki from bikeBoard