One last point to end the thread. It appears, Ed, that you are, to a large degree, somewhat typical of a certain type of hiker.

Quoting from http://www.mbosc.org/Impacts/summary.html

"5.3 Social Impacts of Mountain Biking

Recreation conflict is a more complex phenomena than simply a case of "one activity versus another". There are a number of reasons which are usually given for disapproving of mountain bikes in off-road (track) settings. From consideration of all the studies and references available, these subjective reasons can generally be summarised as:

· Perceptions of greater environmental impacts and damage from mountain biking.

· Safety hazards of fast and silent mountain bikes.

· Attitudes that mountain biking is an inappropriate activity in the environment.

· Perceptions that mountain bikes encroach upon walking opportunities.

· Perceptions that mountain bikers are less interested in the setting and environment.

· A general dislike of mountain bikes and what they are perceived to represent.

In summary, these reasons can categorised as:

· Perceptions of environmental impacts.

· Perceptions of safety hazards.

· Perceptions that mountain biking is "inappropriate". "

However, the paper then goes on to point out that, in the main, these are PERCEPTUAL rather than ACTUAL issues.