True story.
On Sunday, Dave, Jeff, and I were reconning the last portion of Outer Limits, the new line that will terminate right across the road from the big trees on Trust Me. We were pretty excited because Dave had been able to find what is probably the one way to get off the ridge without an elevator.
We’d ribboned about half-a-mile of the line and were headed back down. We hadn’t told anyone where we were going, and we were off the beaten path to say the least. So we were shocked to see Jon Jennings following the flagging and picking up limbs.
Dave said, “The ribbons were still hot and Jennings was already clearing the line.”
True story.
About a week ago, the Sunday after the windstorm, Proper Cycle Werks was hosting a ride for beginner women. Without being asked or prompted in any way, 10 guys showed up with handsaws and spread out over the lower trails, cutting out everything they could so that the girls would still be able to have their ride.
True story.
The recent windstorm brought down dozens of trees across the trails. More than 30 volunteers came out to remove 60 to 75 trees during a seven-day period. One week after a very damaging storm, it was like nothing had happened and we were back in business.
It’s about the culture.
Growlers has always been more than a little different, not only because we’ve always been responsible for doing everything ourselves - whether it’s building trail, building a bike park, hosting an event, assembling a loaner fleet, or putting out stickers, shirts, and hats - but also because we know each other, like each other, and ride, build, and party together.
The people who have been around for a while understand that simply having a lot of riders come out doesn’t mean much. It’s the connection between those riders that makes us who we are. If we lose that, everything changes.
We have had a lot of new people riding at Growlers lately. All of us are responsible for communicating to them what it means to be part of a community. It’s pretty easy - you stop to talk to people when you see them on trail; you come to an event and hit the after-party; you show up for build days; and you step up when we need you.
That’s how it works at Growlers. Don’t let it go.
This is why GGR has become my clan over the last ten years.