Leaderboard

There are only two rules. Ride and Imbibe. And in fact, either one is optional.

Here we go: This Thursday I will be leading a Thumper EB Pre-Ride. We will meet at 5:30pm and roll out shortly afterwards. Its a short 10 min spin over to the trail head. You might bring a light just in case. Considering weekday traffic on Old Spicewood, we will probably only do the Thumper trail. 5:30pm- Meet at BB Rovers -12636 Research Blvd B101, Austin, TX 78759 Reply back with any questions or comments. If you hate Thumper and plan to do the EB, and you don't show up for the pre-rides, then you have nobody to blame but yourself. 🙂 Cheers, CJB

I've been using the Dakine for about a year now. Camo one so you cant spot me. What I like about the pack is the bladder is seperate from the main pocket. So I can easily access and fill or remove. Nice pockets inside the main zipper area. Expandable. The bladder is made by the same company who makes them for Osprey , so quality. Also the bladder has a baffle in the center so the liquid doesnt slosh side to side like other products do. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

I run the Osprey Savu with 2 bottles. Small 10oz bottles for short rides, and larger 20oz bottles for longer rides. Can also pull the bottles out and tuck in the bottle holders for a standard hip pack. No complaints here. Think I caught it on sale on Amazon for $39.95. Great bargain at that price.

Last iteration. Some good overall feedback and a good reception of it when introduced last night. Thanks for the help Group Mountain Bike Ride Guidelines. Rule #1, Have Fun! Bring enough water so the group doesn’t worry about you dying! Have a helmet and eye protection too. Bring lights if the ride might go past sundown. Having at least two is good in case one fails. Have your bike mechanically ready before the ride, allowing a timely start, and to have no issues on the ride. Enough sealant to stop a puncture, or loose saddle, or low tire pressure, etc. Be self-supporting out on the trail. Patches, tube, pump or charges, and a phone app to find your way home in an emergency. Repeat call outs for turns (left, right). Make sure the person behind you is doing it too. Don’t lose the person behind you. The SWEEP should shout out “clear” when making the turn to alert the leader to the positions of the group. Repeat warning and educational shouts from the riders in front of you. Just because you heard the leader doesn’t mean the person behind you did. “Head!” or “Challenge coming” or “Walkers/Riders up” are things that the entire group need to know. The leader needs to hear the sweep say, “cleared’ when the “Challenges” have been passed. If you can’t see the person in front of you, yell out “WHICH WAY?!” to alert them that the chain of riders has broken. That person will then shout, “We’ve lost some” so the leader will slow down to allow a catch up. TELL someone if you are dropping from the group so the group doesn’t wait or go looking for you. If you fail to clear a feature, get you and your bike off the trail so people behind you won’t have to stop. Reenter the chain as soon as possible. If you are the only one failing to clear features consider dropping back further in the group. If stopped for a mechanical problem, send everyone that is not helping you on their way. “I’m good. I have what I need.” As the sweep, listen for the leader asking, “are we good to go?” Respond, “Ride on, good to go.” If you have to stop for anything, shout out, “Stopping!” Don’t get rear ended. Don’t be possessive of your place in line. If there is a gap in front of you, and a rider constantly on your rear wheel, let them pass. This prevents the chain of riders from breaking. A group stop is an opportunity to let someone get in front of you too, but mostly remain in the same order you stopped in when rolling again. Acknowledge other trail users with “Thank you” or ‘how’s it going?” or “pretty dog” etc. as you pass them. Present mountain bikers as a good community. Groups can be intimidating to hikers. Mitigate that feeling for them. The sweep will say, “I’m the last one” to those being passed. Remember bikers yield to walkers and horses. Be polite always! YOU are responsible for crossing roads safely. DO NOT blindly follow someone into a road! Obey all traffic laws. This is not the time for ear buds. Be social! More importantly, you need to be able to hear what the group is doing. Be aware of all your bodily functions and know there is someone right on your rear wheel! -FOR RIDES THAT HAVE MULTIPLE GROUPS: Try to use a ride app on your solo rides before the group ride so you know what your general speed is out ON THE TRAILS. This helps you know what group you should be in. When on a multi-group ride, if you are holding up a faster group, drop back to the next fastest group. Don’t be too much of a drag for your group. This takes self-awareness. Don’t be “that guy.” Group Ride Etiquette.docx

What always gets people with Thumper is where the trail crosses itself. When I’m in there I have to tell myself that despite how close I think I am to the end, I still have a long way to go. It’s not until I hit those switchbacks climbing back up that I can finally crack a smile. It’s like rhyme of the ancient mountain bike down there...” houses, houses everywhere, but no exit in sight”. The only way out of Thumper is to finish it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do opposites attract? Maybe.

I just went from a flat 760 to a 30mm rise 740. *For me* it was a great decision, but I'm old with a damaged back.

The new wheels in their happy place, Slaughter Pens, Bentonville, AR.

Ssssshhhhh, they're sleeping after a hard day on the trails.

so good on many levels

Rickles is always music to my ears. Especially anything from the 70s when the gloves were off.

I'm probably "that person that is in the wrong group". I'm trying to push myself a bit more lately so I usually jump onto the tail of the huge fast group. Notice that I jump on "the tail". I know my place. I know I won't keep up the whole time, but I've been keeping up a bit longer each time. My point is that it is ok to be in the wrong group as long as you don't get in the way of ones that are in the right group. Also...I like Tree Magnet's suggestion. Just mention a couple of trail etiquette items before each ride. Not the whole list. Do it before listing the route. If others are like me, they get distracted after about the third trail name that sounds familiar but have no idea where it is.

Don't worry, The Rules are for roadies.