Mountain Bike Trail Building, “Dirty” Work, and a New Terrestrial Politics

Abstract

Dirt is evoked to signify many important facets of mountain bike culture including its emergence, history and everyday forms of practice and affect. These significations are also drawn upon to frame the sport's (sub)cultural and counter-ideological affiliations. In this article we examine how both the practice of mountain biking and, specifically, mountain bike trail building, raises questions over the object and latent function of dirt, hinting at the way that abjection can, under certain circumstances, be a source of intrigue and pleasure. In doing so, we suggest a re-symbolization of our relationship with dirt via a consideration of the terrestrial.

Temporal Ontology in Ecology

“…… So yeah, you've got to look at the ground and look after the dirt. (Paul's emphasis) While Paul's reflections offer a more focused consideration on the significance of "dirt", we are drawn to the temporality that underscores such assertions (Cherrington and Black 2020a). Notably, Paul's "shaping" of the landscape was one predicated on a temporal assessment ("last for 10 years") of both the ground and the environment.…”

“…Equally, Harry referred to a "pond", which was located around a former mine, "where the miners used to wash". Together, these assessments reveal how the trail builders' actions were not simply concerned with "producing" a long-lasting trail but were also tied to an intimate knowledge of the area (it's mining past), which revealed a largely unknown, yet "man-made", suitability for constructing "natural" trails (Black and Cherrington 2020;Cherrington and Black 2020a).…”

“…Importantly, the temporal significance of Duncan's remarks -one which openly acknowledges his/our immortality -is redirected to ensuring that one "looks after" the environment they encompass. Consequently, for Duncan, dirt and the natural environment are transformed into something that is both banal, but also, strangely, life-affirming (Cherrington and Black 2020a). At its most basic, we can consider Duncan's remarks as presenting an intimate -and temporal -co-dependence between himself and the natural environment.…”

“…Elsewhere, it was evident that the temporal framing adopted by the trail builders was one which required an appreciation of the quality of dirt (Cherrington and Black 2020a). Here, an attitude of patience and care that accounted for the messy, contingent and temporally diverse aspects of dirt's biotic growth and development was presented:…”

Dirt Jumps are Matter Carefully Placed, Maintained, and Governed

“…; a mountain bike publication has adopted Dirt as their namesake; another magazine, Dig, the practice of building in dirt; others focus on specific kinds of dirt such as Clay Division and The Loam Wolf. In these worlds, dirt is celebrated, sought out, and categorized (Cherrington & Black, 2020a). 'Good dirt' (such as clay) is used as a final finish on a trail, whereas 'bad dirt' (such as rocky spoil, landfill, or soil with organic matter) is used as fill, hidden under the top surface.…”