CBaron

Welp, here's the answer....pouring down rain at my house near Parmer & Metric. I'd say the pre-ride is off for tomorrow. And I just got finished stans'ing up my brand new carbon wheels! :( Later, -CJB

[Thumbs Down] Thanks for letting me know There are 3 of us who are/have been planning to get out there regularly over the next week(s) to keep the trail in ready condition. But if anyone goes out there and finds something, please report back. With the soft soil, it wouldn't take much to create a mess out there. There are already a few (pretty minor) spots where gravity is beginning to make a few 'leaning trees' lean more. At some point they will have to be address too. Thanks, -CJB

I left town early this morning and just got back. I heard the weather was pretty good today? But you are correct, if we get much of any rain between now and 3pm tomorrow, then the ride will be called off. When I was out there on Thursday, the ground is saturated and rocks are slickery. I REALLY don't want to take people through that trail in those conditions. If it gets called, I may turn it into an afternoon Thumper hike. People could get a chance to see most of the trail(s), check out the markings and maybe help with some basic trail work. Thanks, -CJB

**UPDATE** I've updated the info below to reflect the new plan for a Thumper EB Pre-Ride for this coming Sunday (10/28). Most everything is the same as last time, except I need for it to begin earlier (1pm meet time) Thanks, -CJB ____________________________________________________________ Hello all, So the basic Thumper route for the EB has been marked. Later this evening you should be able to find more info and detail (w/photos) over on the EB Facebook page. But I'm not on FB so I'm going to post up my ride call(s) here. Due to family obligations and leaving town, I'm planning to do the Thumper EB pre-ride this coming Sunday. The plans are as follows: Meeting location: BB Rovers on Jollyville. Meeting time: 1pm (w/roll out at 1:15) Route Plans: Leave BB Rovers and ride over to Thumper for a civilized lap. We will do our best to stop at some of the "confusion spots" and give insight into the route. But I can't 100% say that this is a 'no drop ride'; it nearly impossible to pull that off at Thumper. Be fully prepared to be self-sufficient, even though we won't plan to go fast. I'm also planning to do some more markings and trail adjustments during this ride. *NOTE* after the Thumper lap, then we can make a decision to ride over to make a lap at St Eds. All things going normal, I fully plan to make this happen. Thus, if you're not familiar with St Eds then this could be good for you too. Extra: Bring at tail light at least. Last years ride was about 4.5hrs door to door. So we could possibly be coming back through the neighborhood at dusk. Plan accordingly for water & food. Last years Strava route: (the starting point & ending points were different....and I myself road from home) This can give you a basic idea of the Thumper-St Eds ride/distance/time https://www.strava.com/activities/1197925764 If you have any questions or comments, then please post them up. Thanks, -CJB

To keep this thread updated... I learned last night that we've got a kid's swim meet on Sunday morning, so Sunday afternoon will be the Thumper pre-ride. I'm still working out the details of start time and such. But, I'd like to target 3-4pm'ish. Due to the late afternoon start I think we'd leave from somewhere up on Jollyville (thus avoiding Spcwd Sprngs) and I'm unsure about St Ed's. I'd like to, but I also want us to be safe. Stay tuned, but tomorrow afternoon I'll have the details laid out in its own thread. Thanks, -CJB

(I'm hoping to ride my road bike halfway to SA early Saturday AM) But if we can't pull of the Thumper pre-ride Sunday, then we can just keep trying Monday-Tuesday (preferable)-Wed-Thur.... -CJB

Well, I don't think it wills uprise anyone that we won't be pulling of a Thumper Thursday ride tomorrow. But I just needed to come here and state it. That said, I've also recently discovered that I will be spending the entire day Saturday in San Antonio. Thus, a Thumper EB Pre-ride will need to take place on Sunday. Please stay tuned for the ride call details. (it will likely be afternoon, but I'm going to see if I could pull of AM instead) Post up if it matter to you. Thanks -CJB

Thats terrible. The copy editor (if thats such a thing there) should get walked-out. -CJB

Yep, this is what I was thinking too. It wouldn't be the end of the world for everyone to have to be "self supported" for the ride. -CBJ

Thanks Brian, I ended up having a pretty good day. I rode more in my 3 days in Bentonville, than in the entire previous 3 weeks leading up to the event. I had even contacted the race director about moving my entry fee to next years race. But everything came out better than anticipated. -CJB

I've been gone for 4 days and just got back into town last night. But based on my backyard dirt (which is less than a mile from WC as crow flies) it looks better than it did here: Later in that thread Teamsloan when out there and said it would be hero dirt the next day. Thus based on my ad-hoc analysis, I'd bet WC could be OK at the moment. Prolly soft in the usual spots. This is best I can do. Later, -CJB

I've been nursing back issues for about 3 weeks now. But I just got back this evening from 3 days of riding in Bentonville and looks like I'm back on the mend! I need to get into work tomorrow and check my calendar but I'm CONSIDERING a Thumper Thurs ride this week. If that doesn't work (and maybe even if it does), I may be able to pull off another Thumper pre-ride this coming weekend too. If I can do a weekend ride, it will be either Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. I'm just putting all this out there so people can start to get a picture for what may transpire... Later, -CJB

Coconino? Nice bike, you don't see those very often! -CJB

I live 50% closer to WC than Teamsloan and the dirt in my backyard is very soft (I wouldn't let the dogs out back this morning). That said, my yard has not been proven to be the litmus test for trail conditions, YMMV. -CJB

Anthony- whats their motive for doing that? -CJB

I took a strong look at it when it went up for sale. But I've just got too many other bike things going on at moment (kids bikes, extra bikes, bike trips, new shoes, etc..) -CJB

This isn't going to help much, but I was on a strong ramp-up to some quality fitness when I jacked up my back about 3 weeks ago. My original plan was to compete in the Bentonville Race this coming weekend and then parlay that into the EB....which would then set me up for the DS. Now...I've barely ridden in 2.5 weeks and I'm not even sure I can be healthy enough to ride any amounts of distance at Bentonville this weekend. Suffice to say my plans are shot to hell. But to answer your underlying question....Theres not much I can do about it (weather or my back ailment), but to make the best of the situations. Given these conditions, I'd be out riding my gravel bike in the rain if necessary. Or with the sporadic weather, I'd be trying to hit some hills during a window (1-2 hrs) of reprieve from the rain. Worst case, I'd be trying to ride a trainer indoors (but I don't even own one). Overall, if I can't build any appreciable fitness prior to the EB, then I (assuming I'm healthy) will just show up and soft pedal the whole event. Its really only the hills that will SUCK! 😉 Later, CJB

It would be nice to get a boots-on-ground report. Because I dropped by there last night at 8pm and couldn't even make it to the .6 intersection due to stretches of standing water along the trail. I abandoned and did an urban MTB ride after that, but I'd love to hear its better (good?) now. Thanks, -CJB

This is exactly correct and a great formula. I'll also add that once you get past the dam, no matter which choice you made (turn around there or not) you'd still have to go through 'a tough section of trail'. Therefore if you should just keep going forward! -CJB

@Barry, et al, if we end up at WC and condition don't support riding it....then I'm not opposed to hopping onto the bike path and heading over to "other places". 😉 (it will just be my back that will limit my effort, output and distance...) -CJB

And if you want another comparable ass-kicker, then look towards the bottom of your map at Addirondack. Riding up that from Spcwd is a strong climb! Sometimes I choose to use that as a cut-up to Mesa when I'm time constrained and need to get back over to Shoal Creek. -CJB

Me too. My issue is that I've been nursing some significant back problems for a week. I've not ridden since I saw you at your house last week. I could be a little flexible, but I was thinking about the regular 4:30 start time. -CJB

Plans are made to be broken. If WC is good to go, then I'm going to show up. -CJB

Huh?! -CJB

Photos? I'd love to see these imperfections. -CJB