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Today is my wife's birthday. We just got her home from another hospital visit last night. After she got done with rehab for the brain injury, she was on different meds for her AFib (bad valve). Three nights ago, I woke up and she was in serious distress. Another call to 911, and they were able to get her stable enough to transport her to Austin North Heart Hospital. Her BP was 68/40 when they got here. She's back home, and her only child (Christopher) will be here this afternoon. Going to be a great day. We're waiting to see if her old records have a clear picture of her bad valve. If it's a tri-fold valve, it's a simple through the leg procedure to replace it. If it's a bi-fold, then it means rib splitting. Hoping for the tri-fold. Don't mean to over-share. Just a really happy day. Every day we wake up is a gift.

No better way to commemorate Black History Month than to reflect on the historical significance of American Blues. Without these pioneers there would be no Rock & Roll, no Rhythm & Blues. What began as a spiritual journey where music became an outlet for the unimaginable agony and grief inflicted through slavery, the soulful sounds of the south emerged and ultimately captured the hearts of many who followed. Even well after the Emancipation Proclamation, early blues pioneers, like other blacks, were still subjected to unlawful discrimination and hate. Still, they performed to the delight of audiences across the country, spawning new genres of music that later brought us Motown, Elvis, and even the "British Invasion" of Rock & Roll. For all of us who are able to rejoice to the sounds of so much music that was born out of pain and suffering, let's never forget where it came from and how it has helped substitute caring and love over hate and violence. Progress Matters!

The old lady is getting one for a retirement present. We’re heading out this summer and I’d rather bike than hike. Kick her in the head if you see her on the GB.

Thanks for sharing. The more "real" stories that are told about symptoms of different things the better.

I couldn't find a separate dedicated Spider Mountain thread, so I'll start here with this item. The January print issue of Texas Highways showcases an article titled 13 Things To Do In 2020 and biking at Spider Mountain made the list. That page is "Choose Your Adventure at Lake Buchanan" and the print version features two large photos of Spider Mountain, one showing people on the lift and the other a mountain biker w/ bike looking out over Lake Buchanan and the first part of the text highlights Spider Mountain. To see the online version (which doesn't show pics of mountain bikers) just click on the link above and scroll down. Text is the same. This is kind of a big deal and should get Spider Mountain lots of attention.

100% truth. Was able to stop into the National Museum of African American History in DC last summer, and they had a whole floor dedicated to musicians. Place is a must see for sure.

My youngest was born with a leaky valve and had to do invasive at 13 to repair it. I can totally relate to what you're going through man. Birthday vibes headed your way from dirty south austin😎

This just came up on my YouTube feed. Says a lot when somebody credible like Rich comes down from Bentonville and makes these kind of statements about Spider Mtn. This post was about his Pivot build but I suspect there will be a follow-up video on his riding experience at Spider Mtn. "Spider Mountain was LEGIT! I had an absolute blast and it was well worth the drive down from Bentonville. The runs are by no means the longest, but I bombed down, jumped back on the lift, and bombed back down again more times than I can count. The trail building is top notch, the diversity is killer and I'm excited to get mama bear down there to shred. Word on the street is that more trail is in the works and I can't wait. Our setup at the Thunderbird Lodge was awesome! The entire production team (3 dudes) has plenty of room in Cottage 25. Two rooms with two queen beds in each, in addition to two super comfy futons in the living space. The full kitchen was a must since we didn't have time to travel out much for food and the breakfast bar became the perfect production studio. We're already planning a return trip and I'll keep everyone posted on when it'll be...might even invite some subscribers out to shred!"

So the lesson I took from this is that IPAs can help you survive an embolism. Glad you're home and enjoying a cold one. 🍻 I've also had to go to the ER 2x for what turned out to be spontaneous reflux triggered panic attacks. Had the left arm burning pain and everything. Now I don't wonder how the two things can get confused!

F@cking hell man! I'm having a panic attack just reading "lights out".....but stoked that you here and still here typing it. Hang in there Thomas. Real Ale on us when you are ready.

Thanks to you and everybody else for the great vibes! I am home and resting comfortably. You are absolutely correct that as disappointed as I am to once again be on the sideline, I am truly counting my blessing knowing how these things sometimes end up! Recovery is a lengthy process that requires careful management due to the dangers of anti-coagulation meds. Additionally, deeper diagnostics are required to determine whether the clots were provoked (by injury, surgery, etc) or unprovoked (caused by underlying disease such as cancer). Regarding symptoms, this was a true lesson learned for me and something that everybody needs to take to heart. I had just finished an hour-and-a-half MTB ride last Fri afternoon. I felt a bit sluggish during my ride but nothing too terrible - no chest pain and no shortness of breath. My wife and I were heading out to grab a bite to eat after my ride and I felt a sudden burning sensation right in the middle of my chest. It felt like heartburn but it seemed odd given that I hadn't eaten since well before my ride. It only lasted a few minutes. Within a short time though, while sitting at the restaurant, I started feeling pain with every deep breath and felt a little light headed. Again thought that was odd, but I had no trouble breathing, no fever or sweating, no nausea, etc. So I just continued eating and eventually ordered a second beer. The breathing pain subsided, I'm sure in part to having consumed a couple of IPAs, and I just quit thinking about it. The next day (Sat) though I had a constant dull pain that was distinctly on the left side of my chest. I've had two chest pain "false alarms" in the past that resulted in overnight stays, hefty hospital bills, and a lot of regret after getting discharged with just "chest wall pain" both times. This time was a bit different and I knew it, but I still convinced myself that I didn't need to go the ER because I "cried wolf" twice before. I decided that instead of going to the ER I would just take it easy and monitor my symptoms. The same constant dull pain continued into Sunday. I put on my Dr. Google hat and consulted with my wife, Dr. WebMD. We went around and around on all the possibilities but I ultimately decided that instead of going to the ER I would just go see a doctor first thing Monday morning since I was stable (very easy to make appointments online with BS&W BTW - even for specialists). I got an early AM appointment with a Cardio and laid awake most of the night playing Dr. Google. The Cardio very quickly picked up on the symptoms I described and immediately ordered a D-Dimer blood test to see if my body was breaking down clots (along with some other tests to rule out other nasty stuff). She said herself that she would be surprised if I had a Pulmonary Embolism because I presented in such great shape. Turns out I did have a PE, but it was small and made its way down to the lower lobe in my left lung. The problem though, and the danger that I failed to recognize is that the clot likely broke off from a large clot that was still in my leg. So I was still at great risk of much bigger problems had the rest of that clot moved through my heart and into a lung. The burning sensation I felt initially was likely the clot that passed through my heart and into my lung. The lungs apparently serve like a fishing net when it comes to clots, but if they get hung up in the larger vessels that are close to the heart, it's easily "lights out". I was lucky this time and will not hesitate going to the ER if this scenario ever repeats itself.

No. He's on mojo. Just visit him there. His brand of whatever is everywhere these days and it's tedious rather than amusing. I block it on twitter and fb; it's refreshing that he's not here.

Myself and at least one other rider. Pretty much just displayed the survey results. #1 was trails. Will be some ADA, mulch, and use of existing single track. No plans/design yet.

I've found the Avery Ranch Urgent Care over next to Deception to be good and reasonably priced. I've been there more than I'd necessarily like!

Just a reminder that urgent care CLINICS (not ERs) are an excellent option when something mysterious is going on but you don't want to go to an ER. You can't swing a (metaphorical) cat without hitting one in Austin these days. Reasonable price, good docs (my experience so far). Very little, if any, wait time, although I think they shut down around 10 or 11 at night. Good way to screen with relatively minimal financial risk.

Where did you get this?! I would buy and drink all of them.

This guy is gonna be here in August. Hopefully will be able to make the show.

"and it was well worth the drive down from Bentonville." Wow. That's a solid endorsement.

Best wishes on her recovery. Sounds like you're doing a great job fulfilling your role as a caregiver. I've come to learn how important that is and how much I appreciate my wife for all she does!

Sliding dropouts, no tensioner needed. 8-speed is not recommended for N/W but I know for a fact that it works because I had to run that as I was going through the whole debug on the creak. Normally use a 9-speed and that works on N/W chains.

Yeah, you can still find the SLX 675's, but the Zee comes with the ring and a BB for $99. The 675's are about $95 with no BB and (apparently) no ring. So the extra weight of the Zee gives me an extra BB and a new ring - for less money. It's primarily a cost thing because this is my commuter/bar bike. Primarily ridden on the streets and on the hike and bike trail. If I were worried about climbing over technical features I'd be a little more concerned about component weight.

If you're using a single rear cog, just about any chain will work. The admonition to only use ten speed chains is for shifting and chain retention.

Yes. I can sign pay dirt forms too.

My man!

Not waiting on you guys dude - making sure my blood stays doubly thin with a Real Heavy as we speak!

So does that mean there is a larger clot still around somewhere? Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

uhm don't order that one! NOS crank puller / bolt the plastic black cap IS NOT INCLUDED! BOLT ONLY!

Admitted: I'd run up Enchanted Rock if that was required to slide back down. That would definitely take a toll on the aesthetics though. I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to aeseticism, but I think of what Chuck Palanuik had to say about bulldozing challenges and risks, even the ones we create for no reason other than to overcome them, like putting a motor on a recreational bicycle: "People had been working for so many years to make the world a safe, organized place. nobody realized how boring it would become. with the whole world property-lined and speed-limited and zoned and taxed and regulated, with everyone tested and registered and addressed and recorded. nobody had left much room for adventure, except maybe the kind you could buy. on a roller coaster. at a movie. still, it would always be that kind of faux excitement. you know the dinosaurs aren't going to eat the kids. the test audiences have outvoted any chance of even a major faux disaster. and because there's no possibility of real disaster, real risk, we're left with no chance for real salvation. real elation. real excitement. Joy. Discovery. Invention. the laws that keep us safe, these same laws condemn us to boredom. without access to true chaos, we'll never have true peace."

MTB:weightlifting::e-MTB::

If i were able to blow big cash on an e-bike, I'd buy one of these, make it as stealth as possible and just play dumb.

If the RaceFace NEXT piece is compatible I can probably let you have it. I just found out I have the dreaded pedal insert problem that apparently plagues RaceFace carbon cranks and since I’m not the original owner, I’m SOL. I need to see if they’ll do anything for me at all first.

So I've had some really good rides over the past week and was thinking I'd be making a final post on my successful recovery. However I now find myself in a hospital bed with a pulmonary embolism. They found a clot in my leg as well and are concluding that was the origin of the one that made its way to my lung. Just can't catch an f'n break!

Total community killer. It is not productive, and calling people old that many times should have consequences.

Not sure about that s particular situation, but I see a lot of unlocked bikes left on cars. Bike thieves suck, but I would never leave a bike in the back of a truck without a substantial lock on it because I know people suck.

I installed a Nukeproof ARD Friday night and tested in on BCGB Saturday. Under $50 and shipping from CRC was fast! Only slightly harder to fit the tire than any other install I've done. The included special valves are really nice. I dropped my pressure from my usual 26/28 F/R to 20/22. Proceeded to session all the troublesome ledgy climbs I encountered until I cleaned them or gave up in exhaustion. Attempted every ledge up HOL multiple times before turning off toward Dumptruck. Loads more traction with the lower pressure! Finally got a plugable puncture attempting a stupid up-ledge near the old Ewok bridge area. From now on, that's a down-ledge only. Pretty sure I would have punctured some long before that without the inserts.

One of the nice things about cooler weather is being able to take the dog to work with me. She is an awesome little companion.

Sheesh... I feel bad now. I had kinda written off the replacement since he was having the issues posted above. I was about to send him a follow up today to see what was up and searched for the last email to reply to, only to discover that just a few days after I posted above, he apparently sent me an email that I did not see... with this photo and a request for approval before finishing... Hopefully we can still pick up where we left off...