June Bug

Reveille Peak Ranch.

Looking forward to your trip report!

But where will you sit while waiting for the fork to arrive?

Is this for neighborhood residents only?

This, exactly this, because ppl also do this on facebook. Like, "Here's a picture of ME on MY BIKE on this AWESOME INCREDIBLY INVITING TRAIL/GRAVEL RIDE" with no identifying location. Pretty typical on the Texas Bikepacking page on fb, as well as the Texas gravel page. Then people ask, and then someone finally posts a route with a Ride With GPS link. To be completely fair, the thread title doesn't imply that one should provide this info and living rooms, driveways, garages are exempt, of course.

We have very shallow sandy soil over limestone. I fear the root system for the red oak in the front yard, where the soil is shallower, may have frozen. It shows zero signs of life, while the tree in back is leafing out. I do have some Medina and I'll mix some up and apply it. The punting pole bamboo has frozen and died back to the ground twice in past years. I'm hoping there is something still alive in the root stub this time around.

List of losses from Freeze Week: large fig tree pomegranate very large rambling rose 3 lantanas 12' foot punting pole bamboo (a clumping bamboo) red oak in front yard (red oak in back yard has leafed out) small rosemary bush

Noticed it starting to sprout up at Walnut this afternoon.

The Mineral Wells Trailway (rail trail) is as flat as can be and great for cycling. Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway State parks are suggesting reservations for overnight and day use. More popular parks are full up for spring already, at least on weekends. Lake Georgetown is a great suggestion -- a good hike and the Corps of Engineers campgrounds are always well maintained. Inks Lake State Park, ~ an hour from Austin -- 9 miles of hiking trails, according to their web site. Also Colorado Bend State Park. The website says 35 miles of hiking/biking trails.

Yes, it's a series of shots. So sorry to hear of this; I've heard the shots are no fun.

So...a little Hans und Franz action?

If the next skill you want to learn is how to refine pumping your bike, pinkbike has a good write up w/illustrations on the science of how the whole thing works. How to pump your bike, according to physics

Posted on Bikepacking.com in 2018. Lots of info. Bikepacking Big Bend: The Other Side of Nowhere

Paging Spicewookie! Also, only the Cliff Bar filled with chocolate hazlenut butter has got it going on.

New style vertical bike storage stand. Good for road/gravel bikes or mtn bikes w/ narrow-ish wheels (2.1"?) getbikenook.com

2021 Salsa Timberjack gets new geometry and 9 builds

I was staying at my bro & SiL's for a few days and she had some peanut butter powder in the pantry, so I tried it. It's like when one of Mr. JB's grand nephews tried Coke Zero for the first time: "It's just like Coke but without the taste."

Texas Hill Country Overnighter This was just posted on Bikepacking.com. It's a overnight ride that includes an overnight stop at Castell for supper and camping at the nearby Leifeste Campground. The ride starts at a campground on a private ranch on FM 16 between F-burg and Llano. I'll note that four years ago we did two rides starting at Castell and had planned to camp at Leifeste Campground. It was October -- I think this must have been just after the three-day Columbus Day weekend -- and the place was completely beat up; portapotties were overflowing. It was so unappealing we went to the Castell Store and found a little cottage rental with no kitchen. So -- we had beds to sleep in but we used our camping set up and cooked outside. Anyway, Leifeste Campground is right on the banks of the Llano, so a lovely setting. They are Leifeste Campground in Castell on facebook and the phone is 254-717-3305. Sounds like they have some electrical hookups now and call ahead to check on reservations. UPDATE: Leifeste Campground has gotten some love since we were there last. Sounds much better now.

I phoned Peddler's awhile back and was told that AJ was aware of it. A follow up call is probably in order from someone actively using the trail.

Dog attack at Walnut Creek today. The rider put the bike between himself and the dog and the dog bit the tires. Apparently two other people were possibly bitten. This pic is from this KVUE article: 2 people treated after ‘possible’ dog attack on north Austin park trail

DST this year (2021) -- March 14, 2021

Posted on Facebook today by Cycling Progression: Upcoming Pivot Demo out at Reveille Peak Ranch on Saturday March 13th. We will have the new Trail 429 on the rig! Pivot now uses a reservation based system on their website and there will be two waves of riders that head out to the trails, one at 9am and the second at 1pm. The bikes are prepped with suspension set and pedals attached waiting you to show up at your scheduled time. You are welcome to bring your own pedals which Pivot will install for you when you arrive. Be aware that the registration link will be closed 24hrs before the demo starts so please sign up early. Also, remember that there is a day use fee at RPR that you will have to pay as well as signing the waiver. Make sure to pack your usual things to ride, safety items, water, food, etc., along with a credit card and valid ID. Pivot Demo sign-up linky HERE.

I recommend: NOT taking bikes = no worries about theft and the constant hassle of bike wrangling when they aren't in use. If you are in a mtn biking destination area, there will be quality bikes for rent. E-bikes and cruisers will be available for rent in more developed areas and you can cruise around as a fam. Just pack a bag with shoes, helmet and gloves and you're set. Thread drift: Rainbow Rim Trail shout out! Note: Spring Break is too early in the year (cold, snow) for the Kaibab Plateau, North Rim. But still, because there are vacations to come and this can be done in summer. The trail outside the national park on the north rim of the Grand Canyon is the Rainbow Rim Trail. We were there maybe 12 years ago and I loved it. More miles have been added for a total of 22 miles one way. It's a very, very long slog to get to the North Rim area and requires being self contained, although the National Park North Rim is relatively close by and has some services. It's not an overly technical trail, but it's a trail at 7,700' on the west edge of the Kaibab Plateau and there's close to 1,800' of cumulative climbing. It's character is that it contours the rim, so you ride out onto one of five points with spectacular views of the Canyon, then ride back into the Ponderosa pines and contour around a drainage, then back out onto the next point with some pinyons, sage and more gobsmacking views. This Trail Forks page shows clearly how the trail is laid out: Rainbow Rim Trail. They rate the trail as Intermediate in difficulty, with a physical rating of Moderate. We camped roughly in the middle, and did an out and back to each end; it was 18 miles end to end at that point and I don't recall that out & back for each segment was that stressful. Although this isn't wilderness and is carved up by numerous logging roads, I've never been in a place in the lower 48 that felt so "out there" remote and I don't know why exactly. We were getting close to camp finishing up the second segment at dusk. Mr. June Bug was riding slightly ahead of me and I got major "I'm being followed by a mountain lion" paranoia. No sighting, but again, just that kind of place. Camping was dispersed -- you just found your spot and set up anywhere, nothing developed, no services. Things have likely gotten more formal in the intervening years since what amazing place hasn't been discovered, trashed, and formalized w/ rules and regs. I very much want to go back. We may do this as a tour with Western Spirit this summer and let them handle logistics. Their four or so photos show a good sampler. The Arizona trail is close by, goes all the way from the North Rim to the Utah border, so that's another riding option. For example, AZ Trail, Passage 40, South Kaibab I hope I've convinced someone to go this summer. You get the Grand Canyon experience without the crowds and can ride a lovely trail that won't beat you up!

Good to know. The live oaks I've seen look terrible -- all the leaves frost bit and brown. I hope the leaf exchange proceeds normally. We'll watch for red bud trees and mountain mahogany -- they usually bloom first. I rode by a huge magnolia tree this afternoon; it looked perfect -- seemingly not affected at all.

People who activate the turn signal while they are turning are a low-grade annoyance.