June Bug

SKRATCH is what I use when it's hot, but sometimes it's just too much salt when what I need is more carb. SKRATCH has some great gel blocks but they're pricey. Maybe I'll just add some sugar to the SKRATCH mix. How to make your own homemade sports drink Then I came across another article that notes the importance of combining maltodextrine and fructose, along w/ electrolyte replacement in any sports drink. So anyway, osmolality. Just google "osmolality and sports drinks" You'll learn about blood plasma and gastric emptying.

Don't know how it would be trying to find camping (campground or dispersed) near Aspen in the summer. Could be crazy busy. Hipcamp could be an option. Forest service campground spots are usually reserved through Recreation.gov

When you say Glorieta, did you mean the camp that is an off-shoot of Camp Eagle -- Glorieta Adventure Camps? It's relatively close to Santa Fe. They've developed a serious amount of single track (15 mi or so) and at least in the past and according to trailforks, it is open for public riding by using a specific trailhead. Here's the trailforks link: Glorieta Adventure Camps Mountain Biking Trails

I've been to Bisbee many, many years ago. Still recall it as a charming place to visit.

This seems like a good spot to plop down pictures of loaded bikes: Rigs of the 2021 Tour Divide Grand Depart = June 11

The Moistening continues: Tuesday morning, June 8, and it is, of course, raining.

Could be worth checking out SW flights to Grand Junction.

Bit by bit, y'all. The first 17 miles (Phase 1) are open. Completion of the upper section projected to be end of July 2021. COPMOBA: Plunge into Phase 1 of Palisade Plunge

Yup, $49 one way from Austin to Bentonville on Allegiant Air. Bergstrom = AUS Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport = XNA

Yup, pouring right now (10:40 am, Thursday). My backyard is suddenly looking very jungle-ish.

And just like that, high winds and heavy rain starting at @ 8:20 pm, Wednesday, in the Walnut 'hood.

Have you ever been to Butler Park Pitch and Putt? Fun!

6:10 pm, Sunday, May 30 Pouring rain happening in the WC area. Again.

Well if the original sign were to be used, I had to google, and it's a brilliant use of Tosser: noun British slang -- stupid or despicable person Which led down the fun rabbit hole of British slang and American English equivalents and incorrect adoption of British slang from Americans watching too much BBC w/out subtitles. I'm so tempted right now to investigate what it would cost to have a sign printed up...

Looking like a few tenths shy of 2 inches just fell. There is another potential wave of rain later tonight. Monday or Tuesday might be good. Hydromet shows the current creek level @ 7.65' Very likely.

The last few years we've been going to SW Colorado by way of Albuquerque, up to Bernalillo and then to Aztec, NM via the awesome Hwy 550. However, we may go through Angel Fire this time, so this would work well.

7:04 pm Friday, May 28th Well gosh darn! Frog Strangler #2 currently underway in the Walnut Creek area. This is a seriously violent thunderstorm; it's raining upside down and backwards, intense wind.

Thanks for posting this, AB. Will make a nice break on the long drive to Colorado!

Do you have a rain gauge? Curious to know how much actually came down.

Monday, May 24, 6:22 pm Good grief. After a hiatus from the rain that lasted a few hours, a major frog strangler just passed over Walnut Creek neighborhood.

An "Everesting on a bike" search returned an incredible number of results. It's a thing!

My new neighbors across the street and one over bought the house this winter or late last fall. It was surrounded by big gorgeous shade trees, easily as tall or taller than the second story. Every single one of those trees is dead, in both front and back yards. There are either four or five trees; I can't imagine the cost to have them removed and sad that they've lost their lovely summer shade. If any of you drive down Braker Lane between Parkfield and Bittern on your way to Walnut Creek, you'll see scores of dead shade trees. We're having dead fig, pomegranate, ligustrum and rambling rose removed mid June. The big punting pole bamboo (a clumping bamboo) died back as well, but it's putting up shoots like it's done the last two times we've had winters with really hard freezes.

The mental adjustment was already happening on my one short ride! There is one "princess and the pea" gear interval right in the middle, but again, it's simply an adjustment to something new after 13 years of the same drive train. Shop's currently open noon to 6 pm on weekdays: mwbicycles.info/ He has a wealth of information and has great shop rates on repairs.

Awhile back someone posted about a Box One "deal" on an 11 sp. drive train. I ordered it and the box sat unopened for many months, until the big chain ring (triple crankset) died on my commuter bike a few months ago. Lurched along on two chain rings until last Friday. Took the box o' new parts (derailleur, cassette, shifter, chain) to Monkey Wrench and they got it done. No replacement bottom brackets were available so Ulysses (mechanic) worked his magic. Bike is pedaling noticeably smoother and shifting works well. Have to remember there's only one chain ring up front, though. The set up is now 2008 (?) titanium Fly Team mountain bike from Bikes Direct, original 29er wheelset (old-school quick release skewers) with narrow commuter tires, MRP rigid carbon fork, Surly Terminal Bar handle bars, original cranks/bottom bracket and new drive train from Box One. All good. Great for commuting + rail trail/bike path/gravel road, credit card touring. Also, sad news, Monkey Wrench is closing its doors at the end of July. Another instance of a long-term viable shop being made unviable by rising rents in Austin.

The Palisade Plunge is still in the process of construction. If you are headed that way this summer or fall, check here for current status: facebook.com/PalisadePlunge/