AustinBike

I have noticed a distinct difference between 2019 and 2004-2010. Anybody remember how back then someone was breaking a frame once a week? Seems like the industry got its act together and we have better bikes. Chuck and Seth notwithstanding.

Didn't you just rebuild that one? Maybe this is why you cannot have nice things.

How tall are you? I have a Vassago hardtail (medium that skews a bit towards large). Happy to ride with you some time and bring it along if you want an extended HT demo. Retired now so pretty much any weekday would work.

I am still old school, 700, 710 and 720 on my 3 bikes. I don't get the whole wide bar thing. I believe 800's do give *some* people more leverage, but for many, spreading your arms out that far actually gives you less leverage, it really comes down to your "wingspan" as to whether or not it will benefit you. If we are going to have a discussion about bar width, it only makes sense if we are going to include a fingertip to fingertip measurement, their height and possibly their cockpit height as well. So much of this is dependent on geometry of the overall situation. Without that data we're back to the 26" vs. 29" discussion with no indication of the relative advantage based on the rider. And for the record I am 5' 11" and I'll measure my wingspan once my wife wakes up. If you know what I mean.

Thought that was you, but we were hauling - there was beer in our future!

That's what she said

The guys doing AC work in Texas get my respect. 120F+ in most of those attics in the heat of the summer working on AC units that have died.

Looks like rain has departed. Even if it is pavement, we'll be able to ride!

Costco also sells some kind of neck bandana thing that is supposed to keep you cool. Wife bought one and never really used it, I am going to ask her where it is and give it a try.

Taken on the east side earlier this week.....

Having taken a million or so pictures of riders going over things, I have found that the secret to making things look real is the positioning of the cameraman. The more that you are under them, the more realistic it becomes. Otherwise, the vertical definition is lost in the picture and you look like you are going over a curb. Congrats on the feature, my cajones still have me going around both of those. I prefer to have my wheels on the ground for some strange reason.

Putting plans together to get out of dodge for as couple weeks in August. Wife keeps telling me that if the Texas weather is like it has been for June she might decide to cancel and just ride it out here. So I am actually cheering for a couple 100+ days in July to help convince her that a trip is in order.

Dawn, I have a decent loop that goes from Oskar Blues to WC, over to Balcones Park and then back. ~10 miles or so, either on dedicated bike paths or mostly on roads with bike lanes.

Yeah, I'll get my riding in tonight, got the women's World Cup going on right now and can't pry myself from the TV.

I am pretty confident that Plan A is going to be off the table based on the current downpour....

Rainus interruptus. Heavy sprinkling on the way turned around. If it clears up in the next hour (like the radar shows) I might head back via the streets and poke around a bit.

Heading there now, I'll give everyone an update this afternoon.

you are correct on YBP being closed, will toss them in my trunk

Anyone need 25.4mm stems? Heading to yellow bike today to drop them off if nobody wants them.

Yep, everyone is different. I gave up on skiing because I can't stand the cold after 25 years in Texas.

I can bring a table if we are at WC

I was a holdout for a long time because the early 29ers had crap geometry. A couple of generations of learnings and getting things dialed in made all the difference. In 2007 I was a skeptic and by 2012 I was a believer, but a lot happened in those 5 years. Geometry changed, I didn’t, they came around to me, not the other way around.

I typically do an early (half) lap and a longer lap once everyone shows up, so having extra water and ice in the car could help out in that situation as a refueling.

Yeah, I have not mastered the leaving the pack behind but I need to get on that. Every ride has enough tools to fix any major issue but at WC you're never too far out (unlike the GB) so I just need to suck it up and start risking it a little more.

I will be riding as well. This is no different than altitude training, getting your body in sync with the environment.