CBaron

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

I bet you may have already looked through this, but just in case, I'm linking to it again. http://www.bikemojo.com/speak/14-austin-voodoo/100879-hey-bentonville-veterans-plan-my-trip-me.html There is a TON of good info in this thread! IMHO hitting The Back 40 may be a bit of a scheduling challenge for you considering the race that will be taking place while your there. But I'd strongly suggest Coler Park, Lake Atalanta, and (the drive) out to Mt Kessler. -CJB

JT- I've been (quietly) experimenting with some of the same things. We should get together and compare notes. How long and how strict have you been on Keto? -CJB

Good for you Eric for getting it done! I kept waiting for a truly "bad thing" to occur in your ride report. But thank goodness it never came. Yes, it sounded like a tough day, but you made it back in one piece. I do think I recall coming passed you while you were pulled off to the left of the trail? I seem to recall this might have been near the springs area on the southside. -CJB

For that, in my left jersey pocket, I carry a medium sized heavy duty zip bag. It contains money, ibuprofen, ID, my phone, and....a small oakley sunglass bag that I use to wipe my glasses. -CJB

Basics 101

I've been 1 part "forgotten about" this post, and 2 parts "avoiding the topic" of this post. Part of my impetus for starting this thread was the fact that the next day (Sat 25th) I was going to make a run at what I was calling an EB Prologue. It was to consist of parking at Camp Tejas and making a lap of LGT, then riding down Parmer and doing Peddler's Pass, then Deception proper (1/4 notch & DD). From there I'd jump back onto Parmer and head to WC for completion. It was my goal to cover that distance so that I could get an idea for the distance and time to completion. This would then give me an idea of what time I'd have to begin in order to start (the night before the EB) with this route as a Prologue to the EB. I was estimating it would be about 6.5 hrs and about 60-65 miles. I WAS WRONG! I ended up having one of my worst days on the bike that Saturday while attempting to do this "EB Prologue" ride. I won't go into the details again here, much of it is summarized on my Strava post. But I ended up having to pull the plug on my day and have my wife come pick me up at 7hrs, 50 miles, and an aborted run on Deception, which was punctuated by me having to lay down in the stream for recovery. https://www.strava.com/activities/1797161605 Now that I've got some distance between myself and that day, I'm not entirely sure what my plan is now. According to my calendar, upon a successful completion of the EB Prologue (on the 25th), I am suppose to be scheduled to do a nighttime LGT lap this coming Friday. However, at this moment, I really don't plan to do that. (Let me know if any of you have a hard-on for a Friday night LGT lap and I may possibly reconsider it) But I'm beginning to think that this ENTIRE idea, doing the EB Prologue beginning at midnight before the EB as a tribute to the Enchilda Buffet's 10 yr anniversary, may just have to be my White Whale for now. I also think I may have to give out a retraction of sorts to my....the EB is completely doable with grit and determination comments earlier in this (and the other EB post). Now, in all fairness, I do still believe that. But it does REQUIRE a qualification. There is a big difference between: Wow this is difficult, I've never ridden my bike this far, I'm tired & hungry and want to go home....versus.....holy shit I'm seeing stars, my body is feeling cold (and its 100* outside), and I can no longer pedal a bicycle. Knowing yourself as an athlete, rider, person will best help you to determine these differences and thus make smart decisions on going fwd or not. The EB is designed to lead rookies into deeper waters so that they can safely accomplish something bigger than what they may have ever done. Its not designed to lead someone to health issues or (semi) permanent damage. Later, -CJB

TGFL! Tender Gooches for Life.

I have a bandana that is the last thing I shove into my seat bag. Its primary use if to take up the additional space to prevent rattling. However, I've used it on MULTIPLE occasions for injuries out on the trail. Luckily for me, they've been 'other people's' injuries. But I had a riding buddy nearly sever off the tip of his finger via a disc rotor during a spectacular crash. My trusty bandana saved they day (and his finger)! -CJB

AntonioGG is pretty much on target. "Hold a Paceline" (or "comfortable in a paceline") is sort of a code word for most of the things that Antonio mentions. It essentially boils down to when you show up to a group ride of 40 ppl (the numbers on Saturday) and everyone heads out for 50-70 miles, at a very steady speed, in elbow-to-elbow proximity....you will not be a danger to yourself or those around you. I'm introducing my youngest son (9 yo) to road cycling. He's been darting around, hopping off curbs, and generally goofing off. I've had to tell him that in "this world" being steady, holding a smooth line and being predictable is the "cool way to ride". Its the difference from being a rally driver and an F1 driver. If any of you are out there and want to work on developing these kinds of aptitudes, then I'd very much recommend the Saturday morning BSS Parmer ride(s). There are 2 groups. The short-group does about 25 miles and is pretty much open to all abilities and levels. They usually have 4-8 riders. I've been meaning to bring my 15 yo son out there for some of his 1st real group rides. The long-group does about 35'ish and they usually contain some more experienced riders. I've seen this group vary from 6-20 riders. When I came back to road riding about 2 yrs ago, I jumped into their long-group rides about half dozen times to work on getting my "pack legs" back so that I could get comfy in a group again. I've now since moved on to this Bagel Ride as a next level up in pace/size/speed. The Bagel Ride group is very "civilized" in that the riders are experienced and are not there to prove anything. But that doesn't mean that its not fast and challenging. If we ever had enough people around here (this forum) that wanted to work on some of these basics, I'd be very willing to do a few basic rides to show/demonstrate some of these scenarios. There are a handful of do's & don'ts that can take you pretty far. AntonioGG summarizes a good bit of them above. Cheers -CJB

Glad to hear all went well (enough). When we completed our lap, it was noticeable the amount of cars that had left early. We got caught on the other side of the trail (just before the staircase) with a flat and fixed it in the rain. I was pleased with the amount of people that showed up today. I believe we had about 10-12 ppl and everyone was accounted for by the time we all left. No broken wrists this time either! Our group only did 1 lap because the precipitation made the rocks NASTY. But the first lap was all-in-all a big success. Since nobody got 2 laps in, there's a *chance* we may find another spot in the calendar to call a 2 lap pre-ride. Stay tuned.... Cheers, -CJB

Back when my TF MTB was stolen, I ended up riding my gravel bike at WC for about 6 weeks. I was coaching/leading my kid's MS & HS MTB club. I had to be out there with them. But they also didn't ride the chunky stuff, so it was no problem really. -CJB

Looks like things should be somewhat clear till about noon. See you guys out there at 8am -CJB