June Bug

Hard pass from me! I think I'll just run through the sprinkler. In another era of my life, I loved to go to hot springs. My ex and I were on spring break in AZ, and decided to go find Strawberry Hot Springs on the Verde River. Getting there was an adventure in itself. There was an extensive "living in vans down by the river" scene and as we were wading across the river a guy told us the hot springs was "pretty mondo." So yes, it was a kind of a human slurry, with people tripping on acid and whatnot. We soaked and went home without becoming infected, high or diseased but it was probably a very close call. I cannot even imagine what is growing in Campbell's Hole, Twin Falls or wherever else has water right now, including e. coli at the least. Also, a perfect set up for the growth of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), courtesy of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba. Each summer, it's not unusual for a kid or two to get it swimming in a Texas lake. It likes to grow in warm shallow water. Wonder what the indigenous scene was like at Barton Springs in, say, 1500, B.C. Was it considered a neutral zone where small bands from different tribes could intermingle, hang out and soak in small pools of icy water? I'd like to think so. A wee bit of respite from the heat on Monday, with a northerly breeze and the possibility of a high under 100 degrees! Have a nice weekend!

Also Kermit: "It's not easy being green." This. I see throttling back access as a way to address this.

Ned looks awkward in that photo because it's pre-dropper post, and old time geometry with handle bars much lower relative to the seat -- a set up not that far removed from road racing.

It's straight up Qanon crazy.

One more thing: It was 105 in the shade yesterday afternoon and the folks manning the reservation stations at the various trail heads were there through the heat of the day. As Austin Bike noted in his other BCGB thread, Be. Nice. to those folks. It's a thankless job in many ways.

Note: Austin will continue to sprawl with no proportional increase in public space/open space/parks, so user demand for these resources will only increase. My sense is that the City of Austin has not developed a master management plan to address these issues and is using more of an ad hoc approach, but I hope I'm wrong. I have no quarrel with a reservation system. There's a damn pandemic going on and city resources are stretched thin. Every call to the city to deal with drunkenness, injury due to poor choices, fights, ODs, whatever bad thing is happening on BCGB just puts more stress on that system, so limiting access seems to be a sane response. Also, if the reservation systems means a better user experience FOR YOU when you ARE on the trails, win win, right? Timely reminder!

Upthread I noted that folks were posting that reservations were required only after 10:30 AM. However, when I looked on line, I couldn't find any reference to reservation hours on any of the numerous articles I read. Any word on that?

'Roided up performative screaming as agitprop is Jones' brand. That particular location was just a backdrop.

Many construction guys use this now. It's a light weight nylon brim, neck shade that fits over a hard hat. Amazon has you covered: Full Brim + Neck Sunshade Actually, I'm liking this better, made out of Lexan: MSA 697410 Sun Shield for V-Gard and Topgard Full-Brim Hard Hats

Very stout chinstrap.

I bought a Da Brim several years ago and no longer use it. It's heavy and cumbersome and tends to get caught a bit in the wind. However, it does work very well for it's intended purpose -- to shade the face and neck. I've thought about fashioning something similar but much lighter from corplast for commutes around town. Edited to add: I bought it at the recumbent store. For some/many/all of you, that will drive a stake through the heart of the whole thing.

This makes me cringe because the complete lack of situational awareness puts a woman in a very vulnerable space if she should have the misfortune to encounter a predator.

I think I'll just go with the whip.

It was just a matter of time. We all knew this day was coming. Introducing the New Easton EA70 Gravel Dropper Post

I was riding along Shoal Creek between 7th and 6th St last week. The sidewalk is narrow there with a rock face on the west side and a several drop directly into the creek on the east. Barely enough room for two people to pass and I would be passing on the "drop directly into the creek side," so a little concerned about passing a woman who was jogging with ear buds in. Yelled, rang the damn bell, got right beside her and yelled top volume directly into her ear (bud) that I was trying to pass and she never heard me. She was chuffing along like a damn freight train and I'm not sure she really processed me when I finally passed her. Oblivion doesn't quite capture her state.

Yup, the lady I quoted upthread isn't wrong! Zipped over to WC even though things looked ominous, because the temps fell a little and there was a (relatively) cool breeze. Started with a half Inner Log, whole Outer Log and a full Inner Log and headed home when it began to thunder. A few drops fell, then eventually enough to get the pavement wet, barely, and that was it. This is consistent weather pattern; it seems our area up here is in a rain shadow of sorts. I've often watched a sure fire line of thunderstorms break apart and leave us dry.

It sure looks like some showers area headed for WC, but one never knows. This is an actual post from NextDoor Gracywoods, July 26, (my neighborhood just south of WC):

Back in the day, roller blading groups would stop in the middle of the Veloway by the benches, just after that blind turn, to high five each other for completing a lap... ETA: haven't been there for many years, but sounds as though roller blading is still a thing.

This seems to perfectly capture the current zeitgeist: (cartoon credit: F Minus by Tony Carrillo)

Sunday, Aug. 2 12:32 pm Little isolated thunder cell has popped up out of nowhere. Raining in the Walnut Creek neighborhood now.

Ooooh, where is that?

It's going to be hot tomorrow, but fortunately, also really humid!

I'm really liking Revelate Designs Feed Bags handlebar bags. Various companies make something similar. They can hold a liter bottle of water and have these little net bags around the periphery for misc items. When you don't need them for water, they have a cavernous amount of storage, because, well, there's a liter's worth of space in there. I have the Revelate Designs Gas Tank. It's well made but holds very little and it's expensive. Revelate does make a larger one, but again, $$$$. Roswheel makes very inexpensive top-tube bags. I have one that AB brought to an R & I bike gear exchange and still use it on my road bike. It's spacious and holds a cell phone on top. I had to modify it a bit, because it tends to flop side to side. It works a bit better if your top tube is flattish. Roswheel Cell Phone Top Tube Bag on Amazon for ~ $10.

Here's an article from the Bangor Daily News about deer flies. Could be helpful for mountain bikers (wear light clothes and a hat!), and has some information about the behavior of the wee beasts. 9 ways to repel deer flies Another article claimed that treating clothes and hats with permethrin was a useful repellent.

All bikes need a bell these days! As shown on that bike a combo of a long steerer tube and an angled stem raise the handlebar to a comfy height. Looks like a nice commuter/mild adventure bike.