The city of Portland, Oregon, is often thought of as being pretty damn bike friendly, but it turns out that might not apply to mountain biking. The truth is that there are very few places to find legal trails in or near the city itself, and the now closed River View Natural Area was the only real option for city dwellers who didn't want to drive out of town. That zone was closed down this month due to a familiar concern - the environmental impact of bikes - but while none of Portland's mountain bikers are out to harm mother nature, the story isn't as simple as the city looking to protect the area... I'm told that local cyclists had been working with the city for a couple of years to come up with a game plan regarding trail maintenance and the impact of mountain biking, and it sounds like the complete closure comes as a shock to every one involved except the city. The battle for trails might not be over, though, as local riders are howling at the outcome and planned a protest ride as a response. Now, I'm obviously not exactly an impartial observer to all of this, but the choices made by many local councils often seem a bit rash when you consider that ol' Mother Nature can turn everything upside down with a good storm or (heaven forbid) natural disaster, quickly erasing a foot-wide path through the forest. I've always been of the opinion that we're not really in charge, and that the over-protection of land that people could be enjoying is a real shame. I've taken a lot of heat for that view, and I know that it doesn't apply to every situation, but it's surely relevant to a lot of them. Here's hoping a solution is soon found to Portland's woes.