June Bug

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.

Got a light shower in the WC area early this evening (Saturday, July 24) maybe a tenth of an inch.

It just keeps going on. Also, when you think you're halfway through, you're really only maybe a third or a quarter through. Fun way to do a virtual opening, though.

Brushy Creek Regional Trail Phase V (virtual) Ribbon Cutting I was ready for this video to be over about halfway through and *somebody* does not hit her note at the end, but whatevs. Apparently, it adds on a mile near Round Rock.

Another spot that's a chronic issue is the north end of the Southern Walnut Creek Multi-use Path where Daffan Lane Ts into Decker Lane (1377), and the path continues on the other side of Decker Lane. Decker Lane sounds innocuous, but it's a four-lane highway, and traffic from the south comes over a hill at 60-70 mph -- so your basic death trap for cyclists and pedestrians trying to cross. A crossing light has been promised at some point, but I haven't been on the multi-use path since March. Any updates on that?

Well yes, but it's sad when others are just not as pumped up as they should be.

Definitely copperhead.

Mr. JB was out on a r**die ride this morning with a riding buddy and had a serious mechanical (derailleur fell off) so I got a rescue call to pick him up on Howard Ln. From N. Lamar, I went over Yaeger for a block, crossed I 35 and headed east on Tech Ridge, which turns into Harris Ridge Blvd at Parmer, continued on and turned right on E. Howard Ln. They were almost all the way to 130 on Howard Lane. The point being that crossing I 35 and onto Tech Ridge, there is sidewalk (which is wide enough for at least one bike) and/or bike lanes all the way to and along Howard Ln. There was one spot where I think the sidewalk along Harris Ridge Blvd was only on the east side of the street. Also, Harris Branch Parkway crosses Howard and I'm thinking that a big loop could be done from the end of the Southern WC Path, over on Harris Branch Parkway, and then back on Howard. The downside is that this is in no way scenic and it is not shady, but if you want to get in some miles, the infrastructure, for the most part is there. Parts of the sidewalk along Howard Ln. are not being mowed, but there is a bike lane. Also, surprisingly little traffic.

A relative in the extended family with a very mild case of the 'Rona lost his sense of smell completely for about 36 hours. My only experience with deer flies was Palo Duro Canyon, in late spring. We had applied DEET liberally, including spraying our clothes and they were biting us on the bum through our shorts as we were riding.

Nice ride from Braker/Parkfield down Shoal Creek this morning to the main library to drop off some books that were checked out at the end of Feb; before the libraries closed. One is Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of how Humans Navigate the World. Noteworthy: the use of GPS to navigate allows the part of the brain activated in wayfinding and navigation to atrophy. Anyway, recommended read. For any City of Austin library users, one can put a book on hold and pick it up curbside at some locations. Also hit up Trader Joe's, which is about a block away from the downtown library, so weight of cargo increased slightly on the return trip. The sun stayed behind a nice cloud bank to the east until almost the end of the ride. Got home about 11 am and had a nice collapse.

Thread for ride reports and this and that on urban/commuting/path rides. I've been getting out early some mornings, combining a ride with an errand, using some different routes than usual, usually from 15 to 20 miles. Nice way to start the day.

More visitors = more revenue and they like that a lot. Let them know at the entrance station how much you enjoy the trails and the new trail in particular.

Not exactly a freeze warning, but you want to get our your wool socks and mittens. There's a cooling trend in the 10-day forecast! I'm looking at you -- Tuesday, 7/21 -- with a high of 92!

Some of those cooler states don't want us. New Mexico state parks are currently closed to out-of-state visitors.