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Given that SF is the closest destination with arid elevation and cooler temps in Aug, I ventured out on my own to spend 4 days riding. My goals were to check out as many of the riding regions as I could around SF, earn my descents, take in some great scenery, and enjoy some much needed solitude during this solo trip. I took the BMC Fourstroke but ditched the XC tires for something with beefier sidewalls, solid traction, but still decent rolling, which turned out to be Vittoria Agarro up front with Syerra out back (with Airliner light). With only 100mm rear travel and the proprietary BMC Autodrop post limited to 80mm, I sought out mostly blue lines. Since I've been getting myself back into excellent condition over the past 8 months, I had plenty left in the tank after each ride, which was fine as I was not trying to prove anything. Turns out the 6K of climbing - 5 rides over 4 days (rode Figure 8 a second day after Arroyo Hondo) - was quite satisfying. Next time I go back, I'll push a wee bit harder. Glorieta was my favorite area, with fast flowy groomed trails like Holy Mole to rugged, heavily forested trails like 30 Acres and Ruiz Canyon (even the long, lonely climb up Ruiz Road was oddly satisfying). Given all the options at Glorieta, I could see possibly spending a night in a tent or cabin, and riding two full days out there next trip.

https://www.kut.org/austin/2026-08-05/austin-city-council-signs-off-on-295-million-bond-proposal-for-parks-and-libraries Austin City Council signs off on $295 million bond proposal for parks and libraries The Austin City Council finalized on Tuesday a bond proposal totalling $295 million that could go to voters this November, choosing to move forward with funding for Austin’s parks and libraries over recommendations from city financial staff to wait two more years. City Council will vote whether to place the proposals on the ballot this Thursday. The council voted 8-3, with Mayor Kirk Watson and council members Marc Duchen and José Velásquez opposing the measure. The vote caps about two years of debate over whether Austin should ask voters to approve a tax increase to fund capital improvement projects after last fall’s defeat of Proposition Q. While city financial staff and Watson argued the city should wait until 2028, several council members on Tuesday said funding for deteriorating parks and libraries could not wait any longer, teeing up a final decision on Thursday. “This bond proposal is small enough that it doesn’t require a major burden on taxpayers,” Council Member Mike Siegel said. “As to the affordability argument, city parks and recreational facilities offer some of the best opportunities for healthy activity at no cost or very low cost.” City Council started planning for a 2026 bond election in 2024, forming a bond advisory task force. While staff at the time identified an estimated need for more than $4 billion, Austin’s Financial Services Department said in early 2026 that any bond election should be limited to $750 million because of the city’s financial outlook. As debate continued, some City Council members backed a smaller option under $400 million focused largely on parks and community facilities, while others, including Watson, sided with city financial staff and pushed to delay a bond election altogether. Those who opposed calling the election this year agree the city faces billions of dollars in capital needs. But they argued the decisive defeat of the city’s tax rate election less than a year ago showed voters weren’t ready to take on additional property taxes for infrastructure projects. If voters approve the entire proposal this fall, it would cost the homeowner of an average-valued house of about $495,000 about $40 more in property tax annually, though the actual impact would be less if the funding is spent over the next several years. What would the bond fund? On Tuesday, the Austin City Council voted to approve $260 million in parks funding and $35 million for city libraries. The $260 million in parks funding would go toward: $65.5 million for park buildings and facilities $65 million for parkland improvements $29.5 million to improve park infrastructure $65 million for four Austin pools $35 million for new parks and trails The $35 million in community facility funding would go toward: $20 million for Hampton Branch at Oak Hill Library renovation and expansion $15 million for a new library and public health center at Colony Park Though City Council approved the size and shape of the bond proposal on Tuesday, a separate vote Thursday will secure its spot on the November ballot and finalize any ballot language. Why council disagreed on timing After voters rejected Proposition Q, Watson pushed forward several proposals aimed at improving public trust in how City Hall manages taxpayer dollars. Among them was a “decision tree,” designed to help the city determine whether calling a bond election in 2026 would be financially prudent. Applying that framework, city financial staff determined previous bond programs had not yet reached what they consider program completion, defined as spending about 90% of bond funds. Based on that benchmark, they recommended waiting until 2028 to ask voters to approve another bond package. Watson agreed. “We have spent months earning the public’s confidence. We shouldn’t abandon that process because it becomes inconvenient. We shouldn’t weaken the trust we’ve worked so hard to rebuild, and that is why I’ll vote no today,” Watson said before the Tuesday vote. “Not because I’m against parks, not because I’m against investment, but because I’m for disciplined government.” Austin park advocates were quick to point out that the Parks Department had not received bond funding since 2018 and the entire $149 million dedicated then had already been allocated. “There are the pools, parks and green spaces that our communities love and depend on. And without real investment now, there are four pools at risk of becoming inoperable, and playgrounds that will go without the desperate need of repairs,” said Alyssa Vargas, advocacy manager at the Austin Parks Foundation, before Tuesday’s vote. “Our system faces $1.8 billion in unmet needs, and they grow every month that we delay.” Council Member Duchen, who voted against the bond Tuesday, expressed concern over the city’s recent inability to stick to a five- to six-year bond cycle, a standard in large cities across the country, according to city financial staff. “What isn’t helpful is when we feel a pressure so intense that we start to have ad hoc bond elections every two years,” Duchen said. “I don’t think that’s going to stop unless we have an incredibly strong public commitment to make systemic changes for how we approach bonds, and that’s why I’d like to challenge ourselves and our staff to figure out how we can resolve that.” What was left off? Dozens of Austinites testified at City Hall on Tuesday morning in support of a bond election. Most urged the City Council to fund parks, community facilities and transportation improvement projects, although $92 million in dedicated transportation funding was ultimately left out of the proposed bond package. “I think it would be a major step back to our mode shift, climate and Vision Zero goals to not include funding for active transport projects this year,” Amy De Luna testified. “We need to continue investing in roadway safety improvements, sidewalks, bikeways, urban trails, safe routes to school, lanes, driving, riding a bike, riding a scooter, walking or taking the bus.” Council Member Chito Vela said he would explore alternative financing tools to fund urgent transportation projects as the city contemplates a transportation bond package in the coming years.

https://austincurrent.org/2026/07/31/austin-election-bond-city-hall-council-taxes/ Without bond funding, park advocates warn Austin pools could close. Council votes Tuesday. Amid an ongoing budget crunch and a scorching summer that has compelled residents to cool off in city pools or shady public green spaces, Austin park advocates warn that if City Council does not call a bond election, some aging facilities could be at risk of closure. Austin City Council members are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a November bond election, which could total as much as $390 million, finally bringing a two-year planning process to a close. After months of reviewing and refining several bond scenarios developed by a city-appointed bond task force and city financial staff, council members are poised to make a final decision on whether to move forward with an election that could feature multiple bond propositions, including funding for parks and community facilities, such as libraries. The bond election has become a flashpoint at City Hall. Supporters argue calling an election is critical to address pressing capital needs, including improvements to parks and recreation facilities. Others contend delaying the election until 2028 is necessary to show voters the city is serious about demonstrating fiscal restraint following last fall’s failed tax rate election. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the election’s size and shape has led park supporters to sound the alarm on the urgent need for funding and the threat to city parks and pools if they don’t receive it. “Parks can’t wait till 2028,” said Alyssa Vargas, advocacy manager at the Austin Parks Foundation, who said parks currently have $1.8 billion in unmet needs. “It’s pretty critical that we receive what we can now.” The Austin Parks Foundation is advocating for a $250 million parks bond package, noting the department has not received bond-approved funding since 2018. “In 2018, we received $149 million in bond, and that went towards some really great projects that we’ve done across the city,” Vargas said. “We fully allocated and expended those dollars in a six-year cycle.” Pools with dried-up budgets Of particular concern are aging public pools across the city that are likely to require major improvements in the coming years. Several pools “are likely to go out of commission unless they get this bond funding,” Vargas said. One of the pools is South Austin’s Garrison Pool, which is south of Ben White Boulevard near the intersection of West Stassney Lane and Menchaca Road. Park advocates warn it could close if more funding is not secured. “It would be such a huge loss,” said Katherine Romans, who frequently uses the pool with her children as a respite during Austin’s sweltering summers. “This is a place where families come to host birthday parties, where neighbors gather, where folks come every day to do lap swimming, and to get a break from the intense heat,” she added. “To lose all of that would really be a gut punch to the community itself.” As an aging facility that has offered Austinites a break from the heat since the 1960s, what could start as a routine repair could uncover more extensive problems and drive up costs. Without funding for those larger improvements, the pool could eventually be forced to close, Vargas said. “As Austin experiences more and more hot summers, hotter and longer in terms of heat,” Romans said, “it’s really important for a human health and safety perspective to have places like Garrison Park Pool.” Ted Siff is the treasurer for Austin Outside, a coalition of nonprofits and businesses advocating for Austin’s parks. He said Garrison Pool is one example of many types of facilities across Austin’s park system with aging infrastructure at risk of shutting down for safety reasons. Places “that people rely on for their health, mental, physical or both, may not be accessible,” Siff said. “Millions of dollars worth of deferred maintenance money is in the park bond.” Decisions ahead City Council started planning for a 2026 bond election in 2024, when it formed a bond advisory task force. While staff at that time identified an estimated need of more than $4 billion, Austin’s financial services department said in early 2026 that any bond election should be limited to $750 million. Since then, City Council members have thrown support behind a smaller option, about half the cost that prioritizes park funding, while other council members have favored delaying a bond election altogether. In November 2025, voters soundly rejected Proposition Q, the measure that would have raised property taxes to pay for city services. The defeat was widely viewed as a sign of eroding public trust in how City Hall manages taxpayer dollars. In one effort to build trust back, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson pushed forward a “decision tree” to help determine whether calling a bond election would be financially prudent. Using that framework, city financial staff determined previous bond programs had not yet reached what they consider program completion, defined as spending about 90% of bond funds. Based on that criterion, they recommended the election take place in two years. Watson agreed.

AustinMTB: For the past several years, I have been attending and organizing a lot of meetings on behalf of Austin Ridge Riders, to advocate for mountain biking in the Austin area. We have goals like 1) More miles of legal natural surface trail 2) more "bike park" facilities (skills zones, pump tracks, jump parks, bicycle playgrounds, etc.) 3) continued access to existing trails (staying on good side with City and being available to diffuse complaints by hikers, neighbors etc. when they occasionally come up); 4) alliances with other biking groups; etc. I asked Hill Abell (former IMBA President and Bicycle Sport Shop owner) several years ago how to be more plugged in to local government and connected with other non-profits so that the mountain biking community is heard, and one of his suggestions was joining Austin Outside. Austin Outside is an umbrella group of non-profits, professionals (like landscape architects, planners, and engineers), etc. https://www.austinoutside.org/members . After a while, I became chair of the Austin Outside Trails and Active Transportation Committee. Regular attendees include representatives of Travis County Parks Foundation, Austin Parks Foundation, Red Line Parkway Initiative, Shoal Creek Conservancy, and others. There is also a Parks and Open Space Committee, and I attend their meetings as well. I have invited speakers like the following to speak for 15-20 min on Trails and Active Transportation topics: Blair Alley, Smart City Policy Group Erin Rushing, P.L.A., OZTB Consulting and Design (NW Arkansas) Erick Hetzel, State Parks Trails Coordinator, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Sarah S. Bentley, Project Manager, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, (Active Middle Schools research project, including biking to school) Emilee Gear, Active Transportation Planner, Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources Eileen McGinnis, Parents Climate Community, Kidical Mass Bike Ride Organizer One of the big topics in local government right now is whether City of Austin is going to do a bond election this November. As you may recall, voters rejected Proposition Q last year: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-11-05/austin-tx-prop-q-failed-election-results-explained because it seemed like another tax increase in the midst of too much spending by the City. In view of that, Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Marc Duchen are firmly against having a bond election this November. I strongly believe in fiscal responsibility as well, so I'm pretty sympathetic to that position. There are a lot of areas of spending that probably do need to be cut. Over the last two years, the Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) has heard many presentations from City officials and the general public. HOWEVER, from the Austin Ridge Riders perspective, I think it's fair to say we support funding of PARKS and TRAILS. I've been down to City Hall several times to show support for Parks and Trails funding, both in front of the BEATF and the City Council. Both Bolm District Park (with Bentonville style bike park amenities) and Walter E. Long Park (which includes MTB-specific XC trail in the vision plan) Friends of Walter E Long Metro Park have been listed as priorities by Austin Parks and Recreation. (See Parkland Improvements & Infrastructure Programs - Sept 10, 2025 - Presentation to BEATF ). The current direction on City Council is to reduce the bond ask from $750 million down to $390 million, and focus the bond priorities more narrowly: "The proposed bond package, which would go before voters in November if approved by council, would direct $250 million to parks, $92 million to transportation projects." https://austinparks.org/blog/2026-austin-bond-election-a-summer-standstill-and-what-it-means-for-our-parks/ https://austincurrent.org/2026/05/29/austin-bond-election-delay-prop-q/ https://thedailytexan.com/2026/06/15/city-council-advances-2026-bond-issue-for-july-presentation/ https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-city-council-debates-390m-bond-for-november-ballot-or-delay-to-2028 In related news, Council Member Krista Laine (for NW Austin) has expressed support for biking connectivity and trails. https://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?p=4922&hilit=trails#p4922 . I will be talking with her office this Friday. Apparently, she attended a few RLAG rides back around Covid! A council member who is down with MTB! If any of y'all would like to talk about advocacy, I'm open to discuss. Thanks!! Cullen Vice President, Austin Ridge Riders Board Member, Bike Texas Board Member, David Phillips Foundation Committee Chair, Austin Outside

Sorry to disturb our collective slumber... I'm awaiting a parts kit that won't show till Tue. Another dropper post ~160mm length might could work, too. I do have access to a fixed post. Fwiw, the lower bushing broke (cap separated from the ring), so the guide pins are floating. Thanks.

I'm assuming that you've already taken your friendly MX lap around Emma Long and I'd love to hear your take. But IMHO its much more defiicult that 1/4 Notch. After all, 1/4 Notch was given that monikor for a reason. 🙂 Double Down might be more comparable but even then, City Park is unique in many ways. As someone who owns an enduro bike and has frequently (in the past) ridden out there on both types of 2 wheeled machines, if you are a competent dirt bike rider then its not too bad. I've always loved riding the super tech MTB stuff, so I found that 35HP with 12" of suspension and bike luggy tires made CP feel much more easy than pedaling around a 2.2" wide tire on a hardtail MTB with 80mm of suspension like we all did back in the day. All that said, in the moto world, City Park is the crazy insane stuff that only seasoned technical riders choose to ride (at least thats how that community views it). YMMV Cheers, CJB

Yeah, I was not recommending a motorcycle at WC. Although I have seen several over the years...

John, I'm gonna take the counter to telling someone to go ride his borrowed motorcycle at Walnut Creek or unmentionable trails. 😉 As far as the rain advice goes for CP, you'd know better than me b/c I haven't ridden it wet in over a decade. Like you said, though, it was pretty good back then. I guess not anymore.

NEED FOLKS TO DO THIS SURVEY !! https://www.lowercoloradowrap.org/ The main thing to comment on is to extend the lakeside hike & bike trail all the way to Webberville, maybe even Bastrop. It’s a big ask, but it’ll never happen unless local governments buy more land or easement rights along the Eastern Colorado River. On behalf of Austin Ridge Riders, I have attended a couple of the in-person meetings. There are folks who want to improve/protect the river itself (let's call them the River People); the Anti-Gentrification NIMBYs (who seem to want zero changes that might encourage more people to move further east); and then there are the Trail People. We need to make sure that there are plenty of voices in the survey focused on a long-distance riverside trail. Imagine: Lady Bird Lake hike & bike trail is continued all the way to Webberville or even Bastrop (but with separated bike and hike paths in key locations, or perhaps the whole way). Bolm District Park is built out with the bike park facilities in the vision plan (pump & jump track, skills loop, concrete skate/bmx park, etc.) The Treviño Park vision plan gets implemented, with trails.

I'm gonna take the counter on the rain comment. Back in the day I remember CP being the trail for riding post rain, I even remember being caught in a storm mid-lap and finishing with no issue. But the last time I tried it (~1-2 days post rain) is was a sopping goopy mess. Definitely not easily rideable. I actually found that WC was more rideable than CP after rain, sadly. There are other trails, non-mentionables, that are better post rain. And, depending on how well you pick your route, the greenbelt is amazingly resilient in some cases. But that is ONLY for people that really know how the trail reacts to rain. If you aren't aggressively monitoring both rainfall patterns and routes, then stay away from BCGB after rain.

City Park aka Emma Long is more ledgy with less embedded rock like Brushy Creek. The ledge heights range up to 6' (probably. I haven't ridden there in a while) depending on the line you take. Unfortunately, lesser skilled riders have blazed paths around ledgy areas, which then become ledgy, then those ledges got ridden around, ad infinitum, creating 20-foot wide "singletrack". These ledges are a large part of why trials riders like the park. As far as riding after rain, yeah, it's the best trail in Austin after rain.

So my friend recently invited me to go riding on his dirtbike at Emma Long. I used to ride dirtbikes in another state right up until kids and a knee injury pushed me into MTBs. Looking at the videos of Emma Long, it seems like it's on par with 1/4 notch? Or is it more like Double Down/ Deception? Trying to guage how out classed I'll be. Also, I think I read that it's ok to ride after rains? Yea/ Nay?

yea... was the last hold out with my posse of moto-heads... that changed as we were at PACE and was to be the only one without an e-bike. To my surprise... there with a big red bow... a new Levo with a card on it. A gift from my kid sister and nephew... they had secretly worked with my bud and TJ's. have to admit... it is a hoot... not the same, but fast and fun. now if I ride alone.. I'll take the Hightower ... but with a group of e-dudes it is a conga line through the trees.

Next weekend, there is an event for running (AM)/ biking (PM) in Georgetown. I ran a 5K with the same organization late last year and it was really well organized. Looking forward to trying one of their bike events. https://www.tejastrails.com/edge

Hit me up if you get to Salida this summer - I'm up there much of the year these days. I've ridden the Crest 30+ times - to be fair, it doesn't get any easier as you get older. I've got the whole thing divided into 45 min segments -- makes it mentally easier. Always a fun day out!

Good strategy. Out here it is now almost 50/50 on bike vs. e-bike and it feels like the shops are primarily selling e-bikes, so the regular bike base is stagnant to shrinking. But with 2-3000 feet of climbing, it's reasonable to consider a motor. I swapped from 32x50 to 30x50 and it was a nice little upgrade. My hardtail is 32x42 is a bit of a push on most trails. I think you'll find the lighter bike with the more aggressive gearing will be a significant upgrade for you. I think you'll do fine on Monarch Crest with your new bike, a lightweight XC bike should do fine.

At 67 years old and with much younger friends getting into eBikes, it would have been logical for what should be my last bike purchase to be an eBike. Instead, I decided on a lightweight, performance-oriented race bike. Monarch Crest is a true test, and the one time I rode it (27 mi with more climbing than I ever expected given the elevation we started at), I was on an 11-spd with 30X42 being my lowest gearing. I was in pretty good shape, but it was sheer punishment on the climbs. This bike will definitely help, and I may even try to get back to Salida in Aug or Sep this year to test it out. I'll definitely swap out the 34t chainring for a 30t though to give me the full advantage that I need, i.e. 30X52 = 19% efficiency gain over the 30X42 that I've been riding for the last 9 years. So I guess that I'm viewing this as my form of an eBike, and at 24lb, it will be SUPER fun to rocket around on.

Glad to hear you are back on the right path. Heart/circulatory stuff is never fun. Was flying from LAX to ORD this afternoon and the alert came on "is there a doctor on the plane..." Interestingly, there was a convention in Chicago and the plane was full of cardiologists, so everything worked out. I have to be more careful based on my cholesterol. My cardiologist has me on a strict regimen, and since I moved to CA the post ride beers have dropped substantially, it's different out here. Stay healthy and remember that the key is being able to ride again tomorrow.

Congrats on the new bike! Glad to hear you’re back riding again- it’s amazing how fast you can start feeling really shit if forced to be inactive, without adding anything else in life being stressful. Once you start feeling like you’re rotting it can be tough to escape that feeling. Hope you’re fitness keeps coming back!

Found a Marin 24/26 Riftzone Jr frameset on ebay as NOS. The older version seems to be better for trail and xc riding than the new overly built kids bikes. I have daughters and they wanted a pink bike so I rattlecanned it. This is one of those builds we do to satisfy our own bicycle obsession. The kids don't really care as much. I found some non boost NOS hubs on ebay for like 20 bucks then handbuilt the wheels.

Well first, glad to see this site is still here and that at least there is still some activity brewing periodically. Second, most of us have a story to tell and mine isn't all that special but perhaps can provide encouragement to anybody struggling the way I have over the past 3 years. After my second episode of pulmonary emboli, learning of a dilated ascending aorta, and dealing with MAJOR stresses on the job, I had all but abandoned the sport I had grown to love after taking it up in my early fifties. Instead of that evening ride to decompress after work, I was drinking anywhere from 2-3 beers plus 4-5 whiskies per night. I was making trips to the store just to get candy bars. And the cycle was worsening, as these escapes only temporarily removed me from the stressful situation at work. Bottom line, I had fallen into depression, maybe not so deep to be classified as such clinically, but I was definitely on a downward spiral. I quit my gym workouts too and put on 30lbs of mostly belly fat. I was totally out of shape and attempted MTB rides became punishment instead of pleasure. Then in January, just over 3 months ago, I ended up back in the hospital after overdoing it on an MTB ride. I felt like I was coughing up blood and thought maybe I was having another PE. They thought I was having or had a heart attack in the ER because my troponin levels were very high, generally a marker that heart muscle is being damaged. After 3 days in the hospital and many, many tests, including a full Right-Left Hearth Cath, they concluded that my ticker was just fine and that my aorta hadn't dilated any further since my last hospitalization in 2024. My attitude while in the hospital a few months ago shifted from "let's just let this be the one and get things over with", to "let's knock this shit off and get back to living". Since I was discharged on Jan 14, I have not had a drop of alcohol, have started regular gym workouts again, have gone back to a very healthy diet, have dropped almost 20 pounds so far, and most importantly, am starting to feel like a beast again on the bike, with regular rides and progressive improvements even at 67. I've also set boundaries at work and that are making it easier to cope and that should get me through to retirement, which has been planned for Sep 2027 when I become pension eligible. Honestly though, with the new outlook and balance in my life, I could possibly work until 70 using my ample PTO wisely. BTW, sorry about the rain but I rewarded myself with a new bike. Part of my new vision is to prepare myself for 70+ XC racing. I had been looking at the Canyon Lux and Pivot Mach SL but couldn't find a reasonably priced build with SRAM Transmission and Carbon Wheels. Then suddenly an ad pops up on my feed from Contender bikes, selling a top-line, brand-new 2024 BMC Fourstroke 01 One - an $11K build for under $6K. The spec and geo are perfect for me. @AntonioGG will I see you at Warda - haha? Looking to give it an inaugural run in Cat2 60+ next month!

Sounds like a good R&I, sorry to miss it. Will try to hit one in the fall when I am in Austin.

Not quite a pump track, but saw this is new at O. P. Schnabel Park:

Another one for San Antonio