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Simple solution. I called ATX Bikes and told them about this thread and this problem. They called their property manager. The property manager didn't know about it. They said they would contact the security company and tell them that anybody with a mountain bike is welcome to use the parking lot behind ATX "as a clubhouse" if they want to. They did remind us to respect the Austin Diagnostic Clinic's parking lot and not park there. I think we MTBers have been doing pretty good with that. Crank and Drank lives!

I predict it will start trending and we'll see a 140 mm trail bike with that name within the year.

I've held off on making an announcement on this because we are essentially still in a beta format. However, this thread and topic seems on point, therefore I figured it might prove useful to some of you who are contemplating custom builds and want to play around a bit. I've been working for this company for the past few years and we recently brought on @Teamsloan to help us move things fwd. You can create a profile and then save build lists, set pricing searches for specific parts, and share your builds with others. Later on I may give it its own thread, but for now feel free to jump in and you can give feedback in our forums. https://cyclingbuilder.com/ Thanks, CJB

Hence the ex?

I bet more than 2 saw you.

As of 20 hours ago I had no idea this thing even existed.

Never give up.

I’ve seen both Fox and bobcat at Walnut. Last bobcat I saw about 2 years ago on church hill was freakin huge. Odd he was out midday during summer. Probably spooked from his usual hideout. There was a fox hanging in inner log loop I’d see regularly on weekday morning rides until they started construction on the sidewalk/NWC trail. Crappy Pic below. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nice air over the jump! The sign of mastery is when you make something hard look easy. You guys make it look easy and I'm sure it's not. Well done!

They are creepy that way...

It's been quiet over here, so I thought a little stoke video to get the weekend started was in order! I helped my buddy Alex film some good friends out at Walnut creek. I was the lead camera and he was the chase camera. Let me know what yall think! I'm always down to ride, so if anyone is onewheel-curious , just hit me up, I'd be glad to meet up with you and bring an extra board for you to ride. We can start on flat ground first 😁

Many people regret buying bikes with SRAM brakes. If that's the only holdup, remove and sell the SRAM brakes before you even ride the bike so you can sell them as "brand new" takeoffs and use the funds for some proper Shimano brakes.

Never on a fork, those are expensive. Drive train components (individual) are relatively cheap and don't all need to match beyond vendor (Shimano XT derailleur works fine with an SLX shifter...) Brakes are a tough one, but if you have experience and a bleed kit you can usually upgrade cheaply.

I have caught all kinds of wildlife on game cameras on Austin area mtb trails. When I reported the more unusual ones to whoever I though appropriate, I generally get the same answer - 'Yes we know about those. But please, Please, PLEASE don't tell or show anyone. If you do, there will be a public outcry to destroy it/them. Just look at the coyotes." When I had a picture of a cougar I went to the TPWD web site and looked for what TPWD said about where the cougar were. I recall a Texas map that showed them in every county around Travis, but not in Travis County. Hmmm, so the wild animals get to the county line and stop to think "I need to go around this county". Yeah. Right. Now I find a somewhat similar map that shows cougar mortalities instead of sightings - https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_br_w7000_0232.pdf That map shows cougar mortality only in one adjacent county to the northwest.

This sounds a lot more exciting than R&I, where real cops tend to ignore the beer swilling going on.

I’m going to do an upgrade sometime over the next 12 months, and I keep looking over all options and demoing when I get a chance. Some things are weighted heavier than others, and I’m debating if I'm going about this the right way. I suppose I’m not really willing to budge on wheel size and the suspension/dropper I have in mind, but a ton of flexibility on drive train, brakes, cockpit and even an aluminum bike is fine in my book. There’s also just building it up completely how I want over time, which I’ve never done but It seems like I can get everything I want in the ballpark of my budget. Where do you compromise? What’s the most acceptable thing to be willing to upgrade/change immediately (or over time) from your experience? Just build it up completely for nearly the same costs, but a bit more time and effort with exactly what you want?

A buddy and I headed South today and rode the awesome trail system that is SATN. We finished the ride around 9pm and pulled out our chairs to chat for a few minutes. No beer was consumed (which was a first) and we were parked directly behind ATX bikes away from the medical place. A security guard in a little white truck rolled up on us and told us we had to leave. He wasn’t a total dick but he said unless you work or shop at one of the stores, the property manager didn’t want anyone hanging around. We were getting ready to bail any way so it was not a big deal but he might go full mall cop if he’s around at the next Crank and Drank. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Better solution!

Just as amazing!

I ain't skeered of Cougars, they never bother guys my age.

For those folks who don't like Shimano drive-trains, is this based on the older 9 speed stuff? Did you ever use the shadow rear deraillers, or specifically the 11 speed clutch deraillers? IMO it isn't as cut and dry as the breaks, and preference between Shimano and SRAM drive-trains are largely personal preferences now, unlike a couple of generations ago when SRAM was clearly better.

I don't compromise on the frame or suspension, after that brakes are important and I agree with everyone else on Shimano brakes, they just work better and are easier to bleed. Too many issues with Sram brakes over the years. You can for sure save money building from the frame up, just takes time and detective work.

Ive had numerous bikes over the last 30 years of riding (holy shit that doesnt seem possible 😞 ) The ones Ive regretted is where I bought the bike and thought I'd adapt to a frame geo or size and over time that bike turned out to be one that wasnt so good for me. Might have been a good deal money wise but not riding wise. So wont compromise any more on frame size or geometry. Same with fork,, I dont need to latest greatest or very best but they are so pricey that I try and buy with a nicely specd fork or shock. I know how I like the cockpit setup and those parts are affordable and easy to come by so doesnt matter to much to me as Ill end up swapping bars and drivechain out Brakes must not be SRAM , has to be XTs or SLX , Shifting must not be Shimano, must be SRAM but easy to buy and swap.. Dont care about cranks, pedals. Stems and bars , dont care because I have enough laying around that I like. When I feel the itch to buy I just change things around a bit and that scratches the need

I'll just continue to note: They look fun as shit!

I appreciate that! All these bruises must be paying off 🤣

Been thinking about doing another one but I'm lacking the room, too many bicycles.

I love those CBs! I've wanted to get a CB350F just to work on it, then sell it. My HS buddy's dad used to do that for fun and actually made money buying and restoring old off-road bikes then selling them.

Same. I thought a jaguarundi was similar to a jackelope. About 20 years ago I stopped at an old gas station somewhere between Dallas and Austin that had one hanging from the wall. I went inside to pay and a lady was ahead of me. She was very interested. When she started asking questions, the guy behind the counter gave me the "shhh, don't say anything" look. When she asked if they hopped or ran, and the guy replied "a little of both" it was all I could do to hold it in.

Really fun video. And it looks like a significant progression of skills--both recording and riding--since the earlier videos.

For a fact!

Nope: +1 for forks and brakes, get what you want I am not interested in carbon Sure, why not if the price is right: I have a preference on drive trains, but I can adapt Droppers can be added easily and inexpensively Tires wear out and need to be replaced I couldn't tell you the difference in rims/hubs/spokes I like the idea of building from scratch, that's basically what my FS is. Except I bought it as a complete but parts bin basket case and over 8 years have replaced everything on it except for the shock and handlebars. I'd do it from scratch but worried about acquiring everything in a reasonably short period

If a complete bike is being sold for 35-40% off, i'd compromise a little on spec and upgrade components down the line. An LBS selling a 2+ y/o bike for 20% off is not even worth the drive. In my experience, building from scratch is always the best option

Ditto. Jaguarundi:

Very interesting. I don't think I've ever seen a security car roll through there. I also have never seen a car back-up after seeing the group either. Maybe I'm blindish. I would have said to the security guy that I was shopping at ATX Bikes earlier and the guys said it would be fine for us to sit here after our ride. But then say, "cool" and pack up and leave and would get hold of ATX the next day. Since ATX has frequently set up their tent to encourage us hanging out after a CnD, then I would bet they might put a call in to the security to say leave their customers alone please. Orrrrr, to paraphrase our north Austin brethren, (sigh) The CnD is dead. 😉

We have a neighbor in Dripping Springs that caught a jaguarundi on his game camera. The photo was not perfect but I was convinced. The tail and short legs are really distinctive.

Got this 81 CB650 a few years ago, unhipstered it and fixed a bodged head gasket job from the previous owner. It took about 150 miles of putting around town for me to figure out I didn't need to be riding a motorcycle around Austin. I enjoyed working on it a lot more than riding it.

Neighbors here in Gracywoods have reported seeing one (maybe a mom coyote) that hangs out by Lincolnshire, in the heavily wooded area south of the Walnut Creek detention dam (now with concrete sidewalk). In my 'hood near Braker/Swearingen, there are opossums, raccoons, skunks and coyotes wandering around at night. I've smelled skunk on several occasions. I too love to see an ocelot or a jaguarundi! Even a bobcat would be awesome; they have incredibly cute ears. Mountain lion in the wild? Not so much.

Walnut was perfect this morning. Other than the poison ivy I brought back with me.

This seems plausible to me considering the marching outwards of growth due to urban sprawl. I've heard on occasion of sightings out there and also near Steiner Ranch [insert comments about 40 yr old women here]. Later, CJB

Sigh, my days of being attacked by a cougar are long gone

I had over 40 years and 800,000 street miles...and a LOT of track days. The Panigale was a great bike. It died with 10,000 miles on it at 7 months old.