June Bug

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.

Good job, Seth. The BikeReg link (below) now shows the event is "Not Available".

They are charging an entry fee; is there any indication they have a permit from City of Austin? If they have a permit, all good. If not...

The Peddlers folks are aware of the hole/cave in. As they are clearing trees from the trail and addressing other maintenance issues, they will address the hole issue. Not sure if they are posting trail work times; you'd have to contact them.

Did the Southern Walnut Creek Path this morning with our Tuesday roadie group -- first group ride with these folks in a year. Dry and in good shape. There are a few spots with sand on the trail, but nothing problematic. Work is continuing on installation of the light at Decker Lane.

We rode there on Saturday evening and had to turn around where the path crosses under Metric. From there west, it was ice; each of us almost went down, so we turned around and went back.

This! I stick my arm out straight and POINT with my index finger, like "I AM TURNING IN THIS DIRECTION!" and hold that for awhile. There's no question in anyone's mind what I'm getting ready to do. The bent left arm used to signal a right turn is from the days when cars had no turn indicators, or seat belts, or intermittent windshield wipers, or safety head rests, or clickers that unlocked your car door, or heated seats, or nav units, or safety glass in windshields, or AC, or electric windows and so forth. The engine compartment held an engine, a battery, a distributor cap and a few other things. It was very spacious in there.

Thanks! I'll put it on the list for a weekend getaway!

Thanks! ACOE campgrounds are typically very nice. Is Miller Springs Nature Center confirmed for mountain biking? All the online reviews refer to hiking and trail running.

Where did you camp? Is there an RV park or some type of tent camping?

So, 8.5-hour drive or just fly non stop from Austin to Bentonville with Allegiant, starting July 2nd through mid August. Austin to Bentonville departs Friday at 4:03 pm and lands at 5:26 pm at Northwest Arkansas Nat'l Airport. Bentonville to Austin departs Monday at 6:11 pm and arrives in Austin at 7:40 pm. 2 new nonstop routes embark from Austin airport to tourist hotspots Sad that this option is for summer only. It would be a much better trip in the fall. If doing a weekend blitz trip, where could one rent good bikes?

BSS sign was still up on the Guadalupe location yesterday (Friday), Feb. 12.

Cedars seem especially vulnerable to the ice load; lots of branches down. I have an ancient and probably partially dead hackberry on the fenceline, but so far it hasn't fallen over or dropped any branches.

I realized too late to offer input that the city land being developed as a soccer stadium off Braker would have been put to good use as a mega, super developed dog park. It could have paid for itself by selling passes. I've noted before that population density is increasing at warp speed in north Austin. Big multi-story apartment complexes are springing up off Kramer, Braker and Burnet, on Tech Ridge, along North Lamar and many residents are dog owners. Walnut Creek is the closest park unless they want to go to Balcones District Park.