It has to be said that the author only attended the Meet & Ride on Saturday, so missed half of the program. There was, for example, Andreas Boldt from Pro Natura, well known in the ride cosmos, who explained that coexistence on existing paths is the most environmentally friendly approach, because disentanglement, if achieved through additional paths, means more land consumption and habitat fragmentation.

The presentation by Michael Roschi, President of Swiss Hiking Trails (and mountain bikers), who explained how the construction and maintenance of hiking trails and other footpaths are financed, would also have been instructive. This is all the more a good example because the article on cycle paths is a copy of the article on hiking trails and it would actually be obvious to fund mountain bike infrastructure in the same way as hiking and access routes - especially as the paths are the same in many places.

Although the cantons have a mandate under the federal decree to provide recreational cycling infrastructure - which includes mountain bike trails and routes - it is by no means the case that these are seen everywhere as a public task with corresponding funding. Andy Stalder, President of IMBA Switzerland, emphasizes to Ride: "The financing of publicly accessible (MTB) infrastructure for construction and maintenance cannot be the sole responsibility of private organizations. But beware, he who pays the piper calls the tune!"

Adaptive mountain bikers and beginners in focus

Adaptive mountain bikers, i.e. cyclists who are unable to walk or have other limitations, will have a special appearance on both days. IMBA Switzerland has taken on this group and their needs, and the Swiss Bikepark Foundation has been supporting them for some time. In a specially produced film, one woman and three men show what they need to have fun on the trails. Two of them will be present on both days in Thun to provide further insights.

A major topic is "needs-based trails". This would actually go without saying, but it doesn't seem to be the case everywhere. In discussions, several attendees expressed the realization that more easy trails are needed for occasional bikers and beginners. The needs of adaptive mountain bikers should also be included. Andy Stalder takes the concept even further: "An MTB infrastructure that meets demand can only be created with the involvement of the various user groups. The needs not only include the needs of mountain bikers, but also those of other recreational users, landowners and nature."

The Goldiwheel Trail near the event location shows how this works, but also how complex it can be when the needs of beginners and experts are combined on one route. The main line in the middle is always rollable and of a relatively low level of difficulty - although even this might be too challenging for beginners in places - there are jumps and other elements for the more experienced on the left and right.

Andy Stalder considers this concept to be a decisive innovation, in that the less experienced biker does not have to ride a detour to avoid having to jump or perform similar stunts, but the expert rider can swerve to the side for her airtime. It's also important that a route doesn't start with an obstacle that forces some people to dismount straight away and signals: "Are you sure you can do this?"

Are women the better ambassadors?

One last point stood out on Saturday: Although many women now ride mountain bikes and are also involved in the industry and community at various levels, there are still too few, according to the majority male panelists. Stalder himself points out that it would be good for the image of mountain biking if more women were active in it. Tenor: A group of female mountain bikers is more appealing to other trail users than a group of male trail riders. The participants do not discuss how closely this is linked to riding style and appearance. However, it is not a bold thesis that women are generally perceived as less threatening and aggressive than men.

When asked by Ride whether there is a connection between the call for more easy trails and more women in the saddle, Andy Stalder replies: "More women in biking will be a consequence of easier trails and will help biking gain wider acceptance in society."

How to build a women's bike community is demonstrated by Babs Hunziker. A mechanics course for women nine years ago turned into rides, small events, riding technique courses for ever better riders and training for ever younger girls. Even boys are allowed to ride with the little ones. The decisive ingredient for this development is that there are legal trails for every level or that they have been created at the same time as the community has grown. Yes, Babs is Ramon Hunziker's wife and therefore related to the Flying Metal Crew, which is building one trail after another on Lake Thun. But that doesn't weaken the argument. It's not just a case of "no community, no trails", but also "no trails, no community".