Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/962346
24 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com This Is Who We Are By Ciaran Wilcox Over the past few months it seems as though the number of dirt bike thefts has increased by monumen- tal proportions from an already unacceptable number. Everything from perfectly restored vintage bikes to kids' bikes to current model year bikes have fallen victim to theft and it seems as if nothing is safe. Bikes are stolen from locked sheds and garages and trailers despite efforts to secure one's highly coveted possession and all that it represents. These are not just dirt bikes — they are symbolic of a lifestyle that many simply cannot understand and the devastation of theft impacts the entire community. While we suffer through these continual losses, we are also seeing increased public displays of brandish riding on city streets and highways. Grown adults are riding recklessly on the streets without helmets or protective gear, evading police. This only serves to cast a bad light on the sport and does not represent who we are. Is there a connection or is it a coincidence? That is the problem that needs to be solved. When the news segments covering the mass congregations of off road vehicles refer to them as "dirt bike riders," it is an affront to who we are. This behavior is contrary to who we are. What most do not see is that who we are is a large community of responsible riders, family, supporters and sponsors who appreciate the value that off road riding adds to our lives. This inherent bond runs through all formats of the sport from recreational to professional levels making us a family. We hold a common set of beliefs which keeps our moral compass headed in the right direction. We are there to support our off road family through the highs and lows. We instill the integrity of doing the right thing at all times to our peers and children. We appreciate and have respect for what our lives have to offer and the lessons to be gained from the sport. We welcome newcomers into the family without an afterthought. It is so difficult to accept the dishonesty, violation of your home and possessions and the overall lack of respect for another person's property that comes with a theft because it is so far from who we are. We value the opportunity to utilize established land and trails for good-natured riding and appreciate the beauty of our surroundings. We have respect for the open areas that remain available for riding and do not degrade the properties made available to us. It would not be a sport labeled as "off road riding" if it