REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

MC: Surly NRA member. Downieville parking...

1015 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by GoGoGordo, Jun 16, 2009

kjbikes

Discussion Starter · Jun 15, 2009 (Edited)

Me: Wearing brown shorts and a blue shirt. Don't mind the mud, I just finished a lap on the best dirt I've ever seen on the DH. Sunrise was tacky beyond belief, not a spec of dust down Butcher and third... I was parked across the river on the frontage road right by a 12 Hour Parking sign.

You: Stomped on the brakes of your older red and gray Ford while driving down the frontage road to inquire "Can't You Cyclists Read Signs!?!?" then you proceed to educate (in an a$shole fashion) me on the amount of parking up the hill by the courthouse. Nevermind that while we had a decent amount of stuff behind the car, it was all well within our cars nicely marked parking spot (next to that 12 hour sign).

I was friendly, smiley, and tried to charm you and your lovely 'stache out of your Sunday funk. I noticed they went to 2h parking in town, that's cool, I admit we abused the 4h in the past - never going beyond our 4h mind you, but those spots aren't meant for shuttlers as we were learned from a surly resident last year (understandable). I also noticed your truck parked (outside of the parking spots) about where we were later. That's cool, you're local and can do that.

Mr. NRA member* you were kind of attractive in that manly I'm going to go cut down some trees and build myself a cabin in the woods kind of way. Can we get a shuttle from you next time? I can borrow a sweet DaKine tailgate pad and your truck will definitely make it up the hill to Packer Saddle a bit better than a '93 civic with 5 people, 4 bikes and a rocket box on top! I'll let you wear my trendy military hat if I can wear your NRA hat!

So should we be parking up the hill by the courthouse? Didn't even know there was parking up there?

*edit: I have no problems with the NRA. I admit I laughed a bit when I saw the hat in his truck later, but I'm from N. ID, unsurprisingly I probably have more NRA members in my family than there are in some towns on the Penninsula...

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MarkMass

· #2 · Jun 15, 2009

The past 2 years at Downieville were terrific. The riding was great this year, but there's been a change in the town. I had a group of kids asking me for money in front of the pizza shop this year. They thought it was a joke, but then they didn't get a nickel from me. I'm sure they would have taken the money if I handed some over and probably asked for more.

Times are tough, but stuff like that makes me want to stay away and go somewhere else. I'm not asking for them to kiss my ass, but I'm a tourist who's visiting to have fun (and spend money) and don't want to be pan handled.

I didn't go back to the pizza shop after that incident on friday and may not ever again. Maybe I should have told the shop owner, but then I didn't want to come across as a jerk. I decided to keep my mouth shut and spend my money elsewhere (i.e., we drove to Auburn to eat and get out of the rain).

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tburger

· #3 · Jun 15, 2009

I think they were just smart-a$$ kids with nothing better to do. They were giggling and asked me for a dollar. I said no. And one of them says "You're a d!ck for not giving me a dollar!". Whatever. I opted to restrain myself.

While we're commenting on the locals, I also have to add that the folks at the 76 station were great! Super friendly.

kj, what a bummer to run into people like that, but way to keep your cool :thumbsup:

MarkMass said:
The past 2 years at Downieville were terrific. The riding was great this year, but there's been a change in the town. I had a group of kids asking me for money in front of the pizza shop this year. They thought it was a joke, but then they didn't get a nickel from me. I'm sure they would have taken the money if I handed some over and probably asked for more.

Times are tough, but stuff like that makes me want to stay away and go somewhere else. I'm not asking for them to kiss my ass, but I'm a tourist who's visiting to have fun (and spend money) and don't want to be pan handled.

I didn't go back to the pizza shop after that incident on friday and may not ever again. Maybe I should have told the shop owner, but then I didn't want to come across as a jerk. I decided to keep my mouth shut and spend my money elsewhere (i.e., we drove to Auburn to eat and get out of the rain).

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K-max

· #4 · Jun 15, 2009

Do you think it was your smarmy attitude he was picking up on? ;-)

kjbikes said:
Me: Wearing brown shorts and a blue shirt. Don't mind the mud, I just finished a lap on the best dirt I've ever seen on the DH. Sunrise was tacky beyond belief, not a spec of dust down Butcher and third... I was parked across the river on the frontage road right by a 12 Hour Parking sign.

You: Stomped on the brakes of your older red and gray Ford while driving down the frontage road to inquire "Can't You Cyclists Read Signs!?!?" then you proceed to educate (in an a$shole fashion) me on the amount of parking up the hill by the courthouse. Nevermind that while we had a decent amount of stuff behind the car, it was all well within our cars nicely marked parking spot (next to that 12 hour sign).

I was friendly, smiley, and tried to charm you and your lovely 'stache out of your Sunday funk. I noticed they went to 2h parking in town, that's cool, I admit we abused the 4h in the past - never going beyond our 4h mind you, but those spots aren't meant for shuttlers as we were learned from a surly resident last year (understandable). I also noticed your truck parked (outside of the parking spots) about where we were later. That's cool, you're local and can do that.

Mr. NRA member you were kind of attractive in that manly I'm going to go cut down some trees and build myself a cabin in the woods kind of way. Can we get a shuttle from you next time? I can borrow a sweet DaKine tailgate pad and your truck will definitely make it up the hill to Packer Saddle a bit better than a '93 civic with 5 people, 4 bikes and a rocket box on top! I'll let you wear my trendy military hat if I can wear your NRA hat!

So should we be parking up the hill by the courthouse? Didn't even know there was parking up there?

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kjbikes

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 16, 2009

Yeah. I meant I was trying to smarm him out of his bad mood, not charm. My bad. I had just told the ranger on Butcher it was a biker-only trail, brushed some hikers off of Third, and skidded all of the corners on First so I had to keep representing for the mtb'ers! ;-)

No K-Max. I was friendly. I tried to have a conversation with him but he was just pissed and angry. Maybe some biker didn't get out of his way when he drove across the bridge, who knows? I told him I had no idea there was parking up there. He told me there signs post all over the "damn town" listing the visitor's center and a few other places. While my post was a joke and full of sarcasm, I was hoping a Dville local would post up and clarify if people aren't supposed to be parking where we were.

I didn't post this thread up in the hopes to start a discussion on how Dville is going to poo and the people are jerks b/c it's not. Every year the town adds amenities for the bikers, the shops do more, and people are just so nice. I treasure that place and do everything I can to improve biker - non-biker relations. I have no idea what is up with the kids in front of the pizza place but I'm sad they got between MarkMass and his tasty pie.

KJ

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SinglePivot

· #6 · Jun 16, 2009

I wouldn't let a couple of punk kids ruin your day. What else are they going to do in a small town?

-Sp

PS, if you hand me money, I'll take it.

MarkMass said:
The past 2 years at Downieville were terrific. The riding was great this year, but there's been a change in the town. I had a group of kids asking me for money in front of the pizza shop this year. They thought it was a joke, but then they didn't get a nickel from me. I'm sure they would have taken the money if I handed some over and probably asked for more.

Times are tough, but stuff like that makes me want to stay away and go somewhere else. I'm not asking for them to kiss my ass, but I'm a tourist who's visiting to have fun (and spend money) and don't want to be pan handled.

I didn't go back to the pizza shop after that incident on friday and may not ever again. Maybe I should have told the shop owner, but then I didn't want to come across as a jerk. I decided to keep my mouth shut and spend my money elsewhere (i.e., we drove to Auburn to eat and get out of the rain).

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otis24

· #7 · Jun 16, 2009

kjbikes said:
I also noticed your truck parked (outside of the parking spots) about where we were later. That's cool, you're local and can do that.

You should've issued him a ticket.

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velocipus

· #8 · Jun 16, 2009

Fishing, moto-ing and mtnbiking all in the same trip... Downieville is pretty much the coolest little town in California despite angry locals, ********, tweekers, and punk kids.
I don't care if I feel welcome or not in Dville. I grew up in a tourist town, I know what it's like. I gets old having all of the out of towners taking over your town every weekend. Only the biz owners care about how much money you're spending in town.

Think of how boring that town must be for a teenage kid. If they're just not into biking, hunting, fishing, hiking they're screwed! i would have handed each of them a penny and told them not to spend it all in one place. They're just looking for cheap entertainment.

The pizza at the pizza place ain't that great, but I'll continue to eat it because they let me park in their lot while I'm dicking around town (I asked if it was o.k.)

kj, you did right by keeping your head in the face of an irritated local. If not for you he may have got in a fist fight with one of his buddies after a few shots and lost pool game. Instead they got to sit around and commiserate about how the town has gone to hell. I write from experience.

edit: btw kj. there are signs "all over town" I saw them posted at the gas station AND near the visitor center. The pizza place has someting in the window that says "ask us about free all day parking." Two places and a clue... guess that qualifies as all over town?

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