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Right place right time photo at Brushy.

Texas Madrone (Arbutus xalapensis) Texas Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

Can we make this an ever lasting rule beyond just race day?

I just paid $15 to purchase an "Ignore Topics" plugin for the forum, which I have installed. You'll now see an "Ignore this topic" button near the top of the page when viewing any topics. If you click this button and confirm, you'll no longer see the topic at the forum level or in search results. You can manage your Ignored Topics here: https://austinmountainbiking.com/index.php?/settings/ignoredtopics/ ..Al

Who would have thought that we have not one but TWO bikes parks with lift/shuttle service less than 2 hours from Austin? Put that on the Austin MTB resume along with the work going on at Peddlers and things are really looking great! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, it's crazy what's about to happen. Who would have thought we could get a machine built flow trail for mountain bikes in the middle of a City park. The machines start digging next Monday. There's a big volunteer day on the 27th.

Here's the finished bike... A labor of love, working on these builds helps me learn about building up bikes. It also gives me a chance to go and spend time with the folks at Yellowbike — and support them financially, something I enjoy doing. It also gives me the opportunity to go searching for old things, and gives me the joy of finding what I need and bringing each part back into good working condition, and then repurpose them... Which is something that I learned as a young kid from my mom and step-dad who used to go hunting for 100+ year old antique furniture and restore what they found (thanks mom and Uncle Deryck, for teaching me the value of doing this). All parts on the bike were taken apart, cleaned/service before being used. And then... It's great to see the smile on the face of a person who gets what they wanted for a price that makes them very happy. With the added benefit of being able to get them enjoying the outdoors riding their new old bike. Here's the specs breakdown... 2007 Diamondback Sorrento frame bought used from Yellowbike as a whole bike for $25, taken apart, kept frame (checked hanger was straight) and brakes, then good parts cleaned up and donated back to Yellowbike. 2001 Rock Shox 100mm travel Judy TT (not a recalled one — checked serial #) taken off a K2 bike bought from Yellowbike used for $20, frame was cracked but fork was good, took other parts off cleaned them up and donated back to Yellowbike, took fork apart and fully serviced. 26" Ritchey Vantage Sport (w/Shimano LX-level hub, I think) front and Giant rear with inhouse hub (including skewers) bought used rims from Yellowbike for $20, trued both, cleaned up (including braking surface with steel wool). WTB WeirWolf 2.3 tire on front, IRC Freedom Cross Trailbear 2.25 on rear (lightly used, had these in my parts bin). Sidepull (V-brakes/lever) brakes that came with the factory Diamondback build, brand unknown (cost included in bike purchase). Kona stem, 90mm, bought used from Yellowbike for around $3. Cane Creek/Aheadset threadless headset that came with the K2 bike bought at Yellowbike. Kore Mega used handlebar (thanks mack_turtle), around 740mm. 1x9 drive includes... Used Shimano Deore 9-speed right/rear shifter, Shimano LX 9-speed rear derailleur, Shimano 32T chainring, Shimano Deore Hollowtech cranks, Shimano Hollowtech/Octolink BB bought from Yellowbike for around $40... Used Shimano Deore-level 11/34T cassette, Sram chain, new bashguard (can't remember brand), used generic plastic pedals, all had in my bin. Jagwire shifter/brake cables and housing bought new from Yellowbike for $10. Planetbike bottle holder, came on K2 bike bought from Yellowbike. Seatpost quick release collar/clamp bought used from Yellowbike for a $1. Syncros M 3.0 saddle (had in parts bin) painted plastic guards red to match bike color scheme. Cannondale C3 seatpost bought used from Yellowbike for $5. DIY Chain tensioner (made from stuff in parts bin). And finally... SNAFU lock-on grips, bought from, yes, Walmart, for just $10.

That's pretty tone-deaf. It's common these days for the mtb media to write stuff that assumes that everyone have money coming out of their ears. I have written a few of these types of articles and I always categorize "first bikes" as less than $1500, and strive to find a recommendation under $1K. I mean, you can buy a carbon fiber 26" hardtail with crappy components for $400 and then put $600 worth of components one it over the next six months and at least end up with a passable XC bike. I've been mountain biking for over a decade (not that long, I know) and I don't think the custom-built hardtail with a boutique rear hub would cost more than $2000 if I had to start all over.

Hey everyone, just wanted to take a minute to talk about Bandera Bike Park. Lots of trail work happening there, and the place needs everyone's support to make it into something great for the Texas mountain biking scene! the place has great potential, but seems to have a tarnished reputation/history within the Texas riding community. Building a bike park and multiple trails to satisfy everyone is a GIANT undertaking. lots of labor, time, and money have already been invested to bring Bandera Bike park to where it currently stands. Myself, and the Bandera Dig crew have been working hard recently to add new trails to the park for all of you! here is a map of Bandera Bike park. as of this last weekend, ive designed 6 new trails at bandera. Trails 1-3 are ready for tires (not at all finished but totally rideable from top to bottom), the 4th trail is being worked on, and trails 5 and 6 have only been flagged. these are all .7-1.0 mile, 2-6 minute descents! varying difficulty. from moderate blue to advanced black BBP has - 12 miles of XC singletrack 5-6 jump lines and now 6 *upcoming* enduro lines -and more will continue to be added In summary - Lets try as a community to give BBP a fresh start give support to make it into something awesome! Everyone in the San Antonio and surrounding areas would surely love more options for good mountain biking close to home please let me know of any suggestions anyone has that would encourage more support for Bandera Bike Park THANKS!

$3k carbon hardtail is being touted for 1st timers???? I predict that the type of person that spends $3k on their first bike, is the same type of person that will let it hang in their garage unridden, used as wall-art to tell all their friends about how cool of a fancy MTB they own. I've not looked in a long time, but I bet $1200 would get something pretty dang 'nice & rideable' from BSS (hardtail). But heck when I was coaching my kids Middle & HS MTB club, I was regularly finding $300-400 CL bikes that were very adequate for a newb rider to get their feet wet. Later, -CJB

Just saw and article on KXAN about this new park in Williamson County. It has just broken ground on the first phase, which was initially 1000 acres, but they are now considering adding 350 acres to the project. They mentioned miles of hiking trails (which caught my attention). I didn't know anything about this until now. 1300+ acres?? sounds like the potential for a lot of trails for those nasty dirt bag mountain bikers to me... https://communityimpact.com/austin/georgetown/parks-recreation/2019/04/12/river-ranch-county-park-to-grow-by-350-acres-pending-williamson-county-commissioners-approval/

I was tired of the crap at the other place. Thanks to *almost* everyone for making this place fun and non-shitty.

I found an envelope today at Brushy. Inside was a document of specific value. Initials were TM with a Cat Mt address. If yours ping me and I'll return to you. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

No Hayduke back then! Times are a changin', though and Cortez seems a little more prosperous. Make no mistake, though, there are definitely some retrograde and Sovereign Citizen types still around, although many new people are moving in. My sense is that Dolores/Mancos/Cortez are in the process of being "discovered". When I left 20 years ago, the Californians were moving in here and there. Now it's retirees and younger people who can't afford Durango. All these communities are really pushing the mountain biking angle. For towns that depend on tourism, getting people to stay over for one more night, or any night, is a very big deal. Although just in the initial stages, there is a plan or a pedestrian/bike path from Cortez to the entrance to Mesa Verde NP on the south side of the highway, which would also provide access to Phil's World and the fair grounds. Recreational opportunities are amazing, there's a lake (McPhee Reservoir) and a golf course and housing prices, although high, are not yet stratospheric. It's nice for year around, because you can zip up into the mountains in the summer, and down into some amazing red rock country in McElmo Canyon just west of Cortez when it's on the cool side. I lived there for many years and was never clear on how the majority of people supported themselves. A surprising number of people commuted to Durango and Shiprock/Farmington for their jobs and I'm sure still do. There's no great internet, no diversified economy and it's prone to economic depression, but so beautiful.

Ill bite. This is my beater bike that I built for a total of about 20 bucks and 2 x 6 pack trades. This was my first foray into single speeds and got me addicted. Its now been on loaner to 2 of my friends who were in need of bike. Had most of the parts laying around in my parts bin and the rest I either traded for or found at YBP.

Oh... the trail route and direction are already awesome silly.

I just had a strange thought. Now, I don't know all the details regarding the whole distributor and minimum pricing rules, so let me know if I'm way off. Here's my understanding. Local shops have to buy from a distributor (QBP). QBP sets a minimum price that shops must follow. Bike manufacturers and foreign internet shops can buy directly from the component companies, which is why you can ALWAYS find the same part at a fraction of the cost online. Now that Walmart is a bike manufacturing company, and they are already kings of distribution, will they be able to sell good bikes parts online or even in the store at a competitive price as the foreign online retailers? Will I be able to go down to Wallyworld and pick up a new XTR chain and a pack of hotdogs?

Looks super long to me. Cool budget build though. Nice to see people breathing some life back into old bikes that may otherwise wind up in a junk pile somewhere.

TM, as in Team Meatweapons? We shred Cat Mountainj/Brushy all the time. Please return my envelope containing a document of specific value!

Bad ass. One more thing about those brake posts- it's possible for the brake arm fixing bolts to get stuck to the post, so the post will thread out if you have to remove the brake. If you still can, apply some heavy thread locker to those posts and/ or tighten the crap out of them.

Ok, but here's the thing. In 9 years, 3 bikes and 5 drive trains I have never needed one of these. What am I doing right/wrong that my chain stays on? I always see hack videos of people making these things yet I've never understood the need.

Any chance of putting out horse fly catchers in that area just north of Wylewood Rd.? https://www.pestwiki.com/horse-fly-trap-effective/

No, I was mistaken. My bad, I apologize.

Agreed. That road already sees too much traffic. Hopefully, this MIGHT have people exiting going to wyoming springs vs. brushy/hairy

Just before Thanksgiving a large group of us went to Hill Country State Natural Area to camp and ride. Because of the extraordinary amount of rain they had received, the trails were almost all closed but the ranger suggested we try the Bandera Bike Park. So we rode from the State Natural Area to the bike park on the road and checked out the bike park. It definitely has a ton of potential. Lots of topography! We lean more towards cross country and while there was some, we spent a lot of time trying to find trails that they told were out there. I hope they get more trail built and get a little signage going. I would happily go back there. This photo is from the top of one of the big hills.

Custom built my steel SS last year for 1100, but put a cheap wheelset on it at first. Just bought a new wheelset and a replaced my fork internals for 700 total. Easily doable.

yeah, I'm trying to juggle cat Mtn, bandera, racing, bike park season is about to start, my day job, and life as usual so I've been super busy lately. and awesome what youre making happen over there at brushy! you know I'm always happy to help when I can. I'll hit you up yes, the entire north side of the property is still undergoing complete cedar tree removal. lots more potential on the backside of the ridge I am already building on the face of. I am also doing all of the GPS mapping for the place, and will continue to add to the place for the foreseeable future at this point. I believe the place will be badass with more time and a lot more work! we will get the trails on trail forks and mtb project

Yup... I think the trail will remain. Rumor is that they found caves on the property so they had to put in more greenspace/ parks than originally planned. https://communityimpact.com/local-news/austin/round-rock-pflugerville-hutto/news/housing-real-estate/2019/01/04/residential-development-sauls-ranch-to-include-80-100-homes-in-round-rock/

Housing development going in. My hope is that the route down from the end of Wyoming springs is still there in the end.

Hell, all 5 of my bikes COMBINED aren't $3000. Then again, last one I bought brand new fully loaded bike was mid 90's rocky mountain element RACE with 80mm travel...🤣

Yeah, and if anyone wants to tag along, it would probably be next Monday

$1300 got my 14yo a very nice new bike at BSS. $150 more and it would have been a step up. I still wish I'd done that. My youngest got a CL bike $800 for a 25lbs race hardtail. $300-400 gets you a very nice bike...but with companies like Marin, the entry point for even new bikes is pretty low for pretty decent quality these days!

Sounds like a great day for a birthday party. Keeping fingers crossed on the weather and hoping that nobody suffers a bout of newbikitus between now and then.

Already using it. I was so stoked to find it that I kept asking myself “...why didn’t I see that before today?” Now if we can just get people to stop falling into the trap of discussions that have no value, we’d be getting somewhere. Al - I will investigate how to be a paid supporter of this site. You provide value my man. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am the motor and I run on alcohol. I don't recognize the trail or the sign pictured above but I did go to the Derek Zoolander school for kids who don't read good.

Does anyone else miss the polish dogs from Costco? They removed them from the menu sometime ago but I still miss them.

Is there a way to go beyond the "ignore posts" feature to include a "ignore threads" feature? I can ignore individual posts on a thread from a particular user, but I still see the threads that the ignored user posts. They don't need to be blocked from the site (yet). But I would like to block them from my experience on the site. 🙂 If not, no worries. I just wanted to know if it was a possibility.

I'm still offended over how many times RA called hot dogs "shitty food". Sure, the Great Value franks from Walmart are not going to give the same flavor and mouthfeel of, say, a Hebrew National, but don't hate on people because they can't afford a premium frank. A well cooked Great Value weiner on a upgraded bun can be pretty enjoyable with the proper condiments. However, to mack turtle's point, there is only so much lipstick you can put on a pig - unless of course that lipstick is chili and cheese, but at that point, is the hotdog or the chili really the star of the dish? But we all know they are best on a grill

Got this thing rolling today, it has a wheelie button.

Wait a minute - I think I missed the most important points of the 'what to expect' post Where are the beer handups? Where are the spectators holding dollar bills for the racers to grab? Where do the hecklers wait? Is there a limit to number of water balloons the hecklers can use?

Wife and i are looking at a tandem this weekend, so there may be another group in the tandem race. We'll see how it fits.

It is truly a wonderful thing.

Was this the Williamson County park that decided to favor development for equestrian trails and infrastructure and not allow mountain bikes?