CBaron

I kinda get what you are saying. But this forum is new and it will take some time/intentionality for it to fill out and get traction (or it won't and then it will die). My suggestion is that its up to us 'early adopters' to get some of these places going. Thats why I went over to the Roadie Forum and started posting some stuff. I've been fairly surprised and pleased at how its gain a little momentum. Your only 1 lucky aquarium for sale post away from a runaway hit over here! Later, -CJB

Respect. Looking at that bike and then at that location, I feel that there is a bigger story here not being told. ;) -CJB

Dude, I've got 13 bikes under my care in my garage. I've got 20" wheel MTB, 24" wheel MTB, 26" wheel MTB & Tandem, multiple 29ers, 700c road bike, 700c gravel bike, and maybe something else I'm forgetting. The kid's bikes are not setup tubeless (nether are my drop bar bikes), and I do carry a tube for myself in (all) my seat bags. I COME PREPARED! Later, -CJB

Yep, in the end, I purchased bicycle tubes from PP at about $1.5 per. I bought about 30 qty in the differing variety of wheel sizes I have in my fleet. So far, Im not too impressed with Art's prices just yet. -CJB

The EB makes for some good DS training...just say'n. -CJB

Al- I appreciate and respect your plan to run this place a little moderated than the other site. Its not unlike how I ran the HH forum. However, I do think that since nearly 100% of your traffic has been populated from Mojo, getting off to this kind of start should not be a surprise. I do think some kind of "forum etiquette" sticky post would be wise. This would allow users to get an understanding for the climate around here. Additionally, I think its worth mentioning that Bartman didn't initiate the 'sophomoric banter' in that thread, it was actually the other poster (shrute?) who began that. Bartman had actually been pretty "inside the boundaries" up til that point. Thanks, -CJB

Well to be fair many of the hills mentioned (especially recently) in this thread are simply monsters that kick you in the teeth. Yaupon is pretty big too, but I'd put it on the lower side of the monster scale. Some of the one's that I go and look to ride are more so in the camp of "find a rhythm, breathe, get in an optimum gear, etc..". In this category, I'd put some of the rollers on 360, Far West from Mopac (or even beginning at Shoal Creek), my earlier suggestion up Rain Creek (south-bound), Parmer between 2243 & HWY 29. -CJB

Coler is a tough spot to feel "done" at. If I lived in Bentonville, Coker Park is enough to cause me to own a bigger travel FS bike. -CJB

I'll be there along with a few others in our crew. I'll be riding Bonty XR2 in 3.0". I was there last Fall and this tire worked fine for me. Another guy in our group rides the 2.3 XR2 on is 29er. But note, we are all hardtail riders who are use to picking good lines and "riding light". I've now done 10 laps at Lake Georgetown on my 3.0" XR2 and yet to flat. Therefore, my suggestion is to know your own range of what tire can/will work for you. But the terrain there doesn't necessitate an overly grippy tire (if you are use to riding some our loose over hardpack stuff) Later, -CJB

Since we are on the topic of hills....I think there is a group that leaves from Pourhouse on Jollyville around 6 or 6:30pm on Wednesdays to go do hills. I don't think they take the same route every time, but they regularly hit all the good stuff in the areas we've been mentioning. You can think of this ride like the old BSS Thur Hill-Rides led by our own Shredhead (& Sneezix). Chongo Loco- I group of us use to do workouts on the Quinlin Park Rd climb out of Steiner back in the day (pre-2002). Its a very nice climb, long and steady. But I was out there the other day and I don't think there's any ways I'd ride that now. Way too much development, traffic and texting. Now you mentioned Yaupon and its fine, but IMHO its a different animal than Quinlin Pk Rd. If your looking for something a tad more like, then check out my Strava link early in this thread. Its in Great Hills and contains a nice steady climb (over a mile) with a few little pitches. Later, -CJB

Holy crap that would be awesome!! Can you imagine actually contacting her and offering to pay here a 1-day appearance fee to heckle people in the middle of Thumper?!?

I'm nursing a back injury this week. I was planning to do the Bagel Ride and go with the long group. Not so sure at moment. I've been contemplating taking it down a notch and doing the Parmer BSS shop ride instead. I haven't ridden all week do to my back but I'm hoping to commute to work by bike tomorrow as a test ride. -CJB

So you're saying you gotta loose your sausage in order to get into a tutu? -CJB

To keep this thread going.... (I wish this could be broken off into its own unique post. Maybe beginning with Tree Magnet's question) Here are a few good videos about road riding, group riding and general riding safety when on the road. This is a pretty good video on how to save energy when in a group ride. This is very necessary for rookie pack riders because you'll almost always be over-matched at first. But it also goes hand-in-hand with learning safe 'pack skills' because they are almost one in the same. I wish this video had more than just 3 riders shown because it would make the skills (and need for safety) much more obvious. My personal add here is to be VERY CAREFUL when in a side ways echelon to not overlap wheels. [it can be done by experienced riders, but it always increases risk dramatically] General Road Riding Tips: [I do wish they'd mention that when standing up while road riding, your bike will move back about 4-5" and thus when in a pack can create problems)

Well done. I think Yaupon is harder than South End of Rain Creek. I don't live near there anymore, but I have a loop in GH (Rain Creek to Lost Horizon CCW) that I use for hill repeats (and fitness tests). Its not pleasant, but it can be a good way to get a nice 1.5'ish hour workout at night after my kids have gone off to bed. https://www.strava.com/activities/1303872523 Later, -CJB

Now don't hold me to this one because its been at least 4-5 yrs since I've driven it, although I have done it about 3x's. But I recall this one being a solid 12hr drive (same for Taos). The difference is that with the time change, you seem to get an hour back (but loose that advantage on the way back home). YMMV. And just for reference on these types of trips, I usually drive about 75+/- and stop minimally. And just to contribute something more than a random outa-date driving time...here is a link to a website that I like to visit. Its a grass-roots racing site showing numerous organized events around the state. The first link is to a big ride in Santa Fe: http://nm-es.weebly.com/santa-fe-big-friggin-loop.html This ride is a monster, but I bet it could be broken up into bite-sized segments. Here is a link to the main NM page: http://nm-es.weebly.com Later, -CJB

I made it there last Fall in 8hrs, never drove faster than 80 mph. -CJB

Sorry bro but your going to have to put on some spandex and learn to swim....all the really hot 'cycling' chix are into Triathlon. -CJB

With 4 days total, you could pull off Bentonville. If you packed it tight you could ride every day. But I think I'd try to ride 2.5. Day 1- Drive to Bentonville, settle in, eat well and get good nights rest Day2- Ride Slaughter Pen 1-3, Coler Park, and some other systems all with in riding distance Day3- Ride Back 40 and as much of the "inside 40" stuff that you can mange (I've done 7+ hrs of riding all in that same system) Day4- Get up early drive a little south towards Fayetteville and ride Mt Kessler. Jump in the car and head home. (I've got all of these routes/days laid out in my Strava record from last Sept 17') Later, -CJB

Yep, this is the route I hinted at it my prior post. Its safe, fun and has some decent rollers in it. -CJB

For me, if I'm leading a Veggie Buffet ride, I usually just go across the river under the Mopac bridge and then take the access road all the way down to Barton Springs Mall. Then make a right onto 360. ....if I was riding solo, then I'd cross over town lake and the same spot, but once onto the access road, I'd take a right into Rolling Wood and zig zag through the hills over to West Lake High where I'd hop out onto 360. This has a bit less traffic complexity and you also get more hills. -CJB

Nice riding. Last Monday (Labor Day), when on the night before, the weather looked like it was going to be crappy, I considered abandoning the LGT ride-call for a Vegetarian Buffet call. I'd have done it on road bikes at a very civilized, but faster pace. If there was any interest in something like this, then I could be up for making it happen. Later, CJB

You may have already thought about this, but the flex could be coming from different locations....or a little bit of all the locations. I owed an Odyssey van with a 2" receiver hitch and when I loaded it up (w/3-4 bikes) the hitch mount itself flexed uncomfortably. But when I put the same rack on my truck receive hitch it doesn't flex near as much. -CJB

I bought my son a used GP Hero4+ of an MX forum recently for $75. We may be interested if you end up selling yours. My son fancies himself a burgeoning filmographer. Later, -CJB

Thats a new and interesting idea. I've never considered only doing a leg of LGT, but in some ways that could make sense. I actually "like" the section from CB to Tejas too. Since I've now begun to miss some of my benchmarks that would lead me to fulfilling the original scheme, I've become hesitant to post up other things that "I should/could/plan to do". But now that we are on the subject, I've considered simply adding in Deception to my regular EB day. After Thumper when everyone goes back East towards WC....I'd simply go West (I've got a nice clean route) and drop into Deception at Staked Plains and ride it backwards. Pop back out onto Parmer and continue East to WC. I checked the results from last year and if I added in an additional 1.5'ish hours then I'd still be completing the EB in the top 30. Right now, I'm sorta beginning to focus in on the Bentonville Epic Rides event that I've signed up for. So who knows what I really end up doing. I had hoped for some kind of 10 yr anniversary EB challenge but.... Later, -CJB