CBaron

FYI- I was glancing through DM Strava route linked above and wanted to mention that I do not plan to go inside the park. Unless things have changed with the options/availability, I plan to stage outside of the park to the right before you get to the guard gate (as it was in the early years of the event). I believe on Google maps its called Russel Park Trail Head https://goo.gl/maps/i2CNHhupWLym2v126 Thanks CJB

This is from @DesertNomad recent reply in the previous years thread. I'm bringing it over here so people can be aware of this route option for tomorrow. If you look at the photo below, you can see that after the dam there is an option to drop off and circle around to the left. I believe it drops into some single track and winds around a bit. Then climbs back up to add some more climbing to the potential lap. This is part of the 2021 official DS lap. (I plan to at least ride it on my first lap). There is a link to what I believe is Desert Nomad's official(?) DS lap in his quote further below. If you are coming out tomorrow, start hydrating today. Its going to be a warm one out there. Come prepared. See you all at 7:45am. Cheers, CJB

Yeah, I see that as a near-term-play....my long term strategy is to grow old with grandkids around, riding bikes and enjoying a big crazy rowdy family. Besides, I'm gonna need the prodigy to take care of me when I'm old and broken down from riding MTB too much. Cheers, CJB

I'm assuming its safe to say that 11 spd will not work for you application? I've got an older spare X1 11spd you could borrow until something arrived. Later, CJB

I understand the desire and even benefit from Life360'ing your kid....but is damn sure prohibits "kids from being kids" these days. We've got our son(s) on find-my-friends, and I rarely want to check it. I truly TRULY want my boys out being boys....let them get in over their head in places, let them stretch their boundaries, push some limits (when nobody is watching). I like feral, wild-at-heart kids, that are more unconstrained. Let natural consequences dictate their boundaries...not mommy with the all-knowing watchful eye. Father of 3 boys. Cheers, CJB

That is awesome! You should have used some shag carpet so that you could actually get some grip with your toes! -CJB

We are parking and starting at Russell Park. Has anything changed there? Thanks CJB

Yes, there is a fairly big parking lot just outside of the entrance gate. We usually park towards the right side of the lot (I believe there may be a little culdesac type area). My usual spot is also CB but the parking is very minimal there. Cheers, CJB

Hello all, I say its time to get this party started again! Every year that I've done the Dragon Slayer, I've also led an 'unofficial' Dragon Slayer (2 lap) pre-ride on Labor Day. So here I am once again planning to jump into the DS this year, so I figured I'd try to keep this tradition going. Honestly my fitness is not really 2-lap worthy right now. But whether it be 1 lap or 2, it would still be a nice day of training and trail beta come Monday, September 6th. DETAILS: Location: Lake Georgetown Trail (LGT) Time: Monday, 7:45am meet, 8am rollout. Place: Russel Park parking lot, Georgetown Pace: Steady tempo for 2 clockwise laps I have cut-n-pasted the info from previous years below and I strongly suggest reading it. Technically, this is not really a 'group ride'.....but rather an individual ride while with others. Please come prepared to be self sufficient. The weather forecast is looking to be unseasonally warm. Know your limits and ride smart. All that said, this ride has always been a good day out on the bike. Its perfectly timed ahead of the DS event (and others EB & Rattler) to learn about yourself, your plan, your fitness, the trail, etc.. If you have any questions or comments feel free to post them up! See you all on Monday, -CJB

Right now, I don't have any expectations set yet. I'm just now coming off my low-point in my fitness. I'd be using this day as a nice training ride with a hope that I'm not completely riding by myself. I'd guess that the pacing would be not unlike it was for me the 1st year. Here's my Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1168514299 I could see us doing a 3:15 lap #1 and then a 3:30 lap #2 (+/- each)...but that might be a bit over reaching for where my fitness is right now. Like I said, I've not really thought about it much....

BUMP I'm not fully committed to this right now, but I would like to gather what the interest might be? Every year, I've done the Dragon Slayer, I've put on this unofficial pre-ride on Labor Day.....well I'm sorta thinking about do DS again. @Barry @knifezilla @512 Can we get the OG gang back together on Monday? ?????? Later, CJB

2 months since the last update. Anyone have some recent trail beta? Next weekend is Memorial Weekend and historically (during the years I've done the Dragon Slayer) Labor Day has been an "Unofficial DS Pre-Ride" day... Later, CJB

Nice find. Thats a good place to start for a rider looking for low-cost modern-enough bike. You've been getting some very good advice in this thread (and prior). But I generally recommend trying to get into something at a comfortable price point until you (she) has proven to be committed to the sport. The reason you are bummed for not buying more bike for yourself is because you've established that you are going to fully use it enough to justify that bigger expense. I say this as something who's owned a bike shop, and worked at 3 others prior, you are in the minority. The odds were more likely that your bike was going to hang in your garage as wall-art. IMHO your wife sorta needs to prove the same. My suggestion is to pick a reasonable price point for your budget and then buy something used. This way if her interest is short lived then you can always get most of your money back in the sale of her bike. If you go new, you would be taking a pretty noticeable depreciation hit on that sale. If a FS is in your budget range, then go for it. But I really don't think that's completely necessary. Ya'll are just getting started in this, look how much you've recently learned (discovered) with just tire pressure. There are many more of these nuggets yet to learn. They can very well improve the riding experience for you and her. Most of the riding population started off on hardtails. Some of us still choose to ride them. Buy FS if your budget allows, but her being a rookie rider should not be the reason for that choice. In fact, some people would say she SHOULD start of on a hard tail for a variety of reason. Congrats on getting the bike bug....and having a wife show even THIS much interest in it. Who knows where this can/will take you?! Cheers, CJB

Ok thanks, good to know. Spotty enough to where I think the SATN trails might actually be ok. -CJB

Thanks, one of my buddy's down there said the same. Rained near his office S of downtown, but not much by his house off Davis -CJB

Same question here. Rain? What are conditions? Thanks CJB

What do things look like down there? I heard we had a good bit of rain? THanks CJB

I think you win! THIS...is what this thread should be filled with. -CJB

Is this the trail-end of Hermosa Creek (and subsequent TH for Jones Creek)? -CJB

Onza all the way! I also had onza pedals too. -CJB

Cool thread... Here are my easy to reach photos. I know I can get a little earlier with the MTB and much earlier back to my 11 yr old BMX days. This is my very first MTB race while at TX Tech in Fall of 94', I ended up winning the 3 race series and I still have the 'chainring trophy' on my bookshelf. I made a few friends at that race that I still ride with to this day. 2nd time to Lajitas (Desert Classic 1995). This was my 2nd race ever and believe it was at Flat Creek Ranch 1995. This was back when XC rode very technical stuff on skinny @ss 26er tires, 63mm travel Mag21's were "long travel", and the Expert Class (Cat 1) raced a mind-blowing 3 laps for about 20 miles(!!!) LOL

If you're cool with that, it might not be a bad solution for me. He's getting close to needing to move up to a new bike and I've already begun exploring those options for him. Worst case, it may be 6-9 months and then I'd hope to have him up onto a 27.5 (or 29) Honestly, I'd take any amount. He's currently got zero so anything will help. I'd guess 12-15mm would be ideal. I can just see that he's 'sitting on top of his BB' when pedaling. Especially now that he's got taller (and his legs are so much longer). Cheers, CJB

I'm heading out with my youngest son to ride South Boundary in about 2 weeks. He's grown so much that I need to adjust his bike fit for a ride that long. I'm hoping to find a 27.2 stack post of some kind. I figured these things would be plentiful, but I'm also happy to pay $$ if its needed. Thanks, CJB

Me and @Teamsloan attended OB there 2 yrs ago. It rained from start to finish! It was an absolute muddy mess. Everyone tried to make the best of it, but no getting around how much rain (and cold) we had that weekend. But yes, BV is a great place to go for most any riding reasons. Cheers, CJB

Yep I turned @Barry on to EIE with the purchase of my i39 rims (wheels) for my Stache about 2.5 yrs ago. I just checked yesterday and I've got 3300 off-road miles on them and THEY"VE NEVER EVEN NEEDED TRUEING. I've also covered over 200 mi at LGT on them (and race pace). Early on my biggest concern was smashing the side wall of the rim on our local rock strewn trails. These rims are sooooo wide that they leave a lot of material exposed. Additionally, they are pretty damn light....that translates into thin walled rims. So far, no problems, but I can see abrasion marls from rocks and such. Lastly, my plan reqarding warranty and durability was that I would simply buy another rim (and have it relaced locally) if I ever had an issue. $700 wheels....+ a future $225 rim (and $50 labor) would still only equal sub-$1k for the wheel set in case of needed replacement on my part. Now, considering how much use I've had with them, I'd happily replace one of the rims with no ill-thoughts towards longevity if I toasted one.