Reason 22: Whats the Cape Epic got to do with the Trail Crew

The Cape Epic's a race, not a trail ride. So what does a race have to do with the Stumpjumper Trail Crew? Well firstly, its not really a race. Sure, for the top 100 riders it is, and the event receives massive international media coverage. For the other 1100 riders, the event is about finishing, about camaraderie, about the experience, and most importantly, about riding mountain bikes. Most of the race is on private land and the trails are closed after the race. In fact, GPS tracks are banned to prevent trespassing on land! This speaks volumes about the need for a trail crew perspective on the race. By participating as a Stumpjumper Trail Crew, one can provide a perspective on the notions of land access, trail stewardship, of responsible use, and to identify those routes which should become part of a larger cycling trail network. The challenge is not to have 1100 people racing across a trail once a year. Rather, it should be about opening these areas to responsible access for all. It should always be an ideal, of making sure that raceways also become trails.