COUNTYWIDE : Samaritans on Bikes Patrol Dusty Trails

On a hot Sunday morning, mountain biking enthusiasts Darice Bayer and Dan Gantka set off from Newbury Park on an eight-hour trek over miles of dusty trails in the Santa Monica Mountains.

They were not out for a pleasure trip but to offer directions and first aid to people on the trails.

They are part of an effort to repair the reputation of mountain cyclists whose image has suffered because of a few inconsiderate riders, said Ross Blasman, administrative coordinator of the group, the Concerned Offroad Bicyclist Assn.

“I want to help make sure the trails stay open for everybody,� Bayer said. “This is also a good image for mountain bikers. We’re not just riding gonzo-style downhill.�

Gantka agreed. “You meet all different sorts of people on the trails, and this is our chance to teach them how to use the parks. And you usually can find a person who has skinned their knee,� he said.

The cyclists, who wear bright yellow jerseys, promote etiquette among the hikers, bikers and equestrians who use the trails, an effort endorsed by the national and state parks departments in the Santa Monica Mountains, Blasman said.

“We’re trying to alleviate the hard feelings between the groups that use the park trails,� he said. “Bicyclists are the new kids on the block. We have the ability to go faster more quietly and as a result there have been some problems between the user groups.�

One of the problems, Blasman said, was bicyclists spooking horses on the trail.

“As volunteers, we get off of our bikes and walk them past the horses, and we try to let other cyclists know that they should do the same thing,� he said.

The volunteer bike unit, started in January, 1988, now has 40 members, who are chosen after they complete a rigorous test ride that ends with a steep uphill climb.

The volunteers are trained to be representatives of the national and state park systems. The National Park Service equips each rider with a two-way radio to use to call for help.

The cyclists ride an eight-hour shift about once a month and patrol much of the Santa Monica Mountains, including Point Mugu State Park, Malibu State Park and Cheeseboro Canyon.

The volunteers, who have had extensive first-aid training by the American Red Cross, wear packs filled with bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes and other supplies.

The group’s presence on the mountain trails has helped ease tensions between park users, said Jean Bray, spokeswoman for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area.

“It’s wonderful having them here,� she said. “They do a lot of good deeds.�