June Bug

Also this from Outside Online. What Happens When You Need a Rescue During a Pandemic

AB, Glad to hear the Pickle back gate is open! They do close it during non-working hours during the week, though, so be mindful of the time. Not sure what time they open it in the morning. Also, could you post the cut-through to the MoPac sidewalk again?

I may have posted this upthread, but San Marcos closed all of their river-front parks last week. I like big paper maps, and the City of Austin has a large format map (folds up small) of all bike routes in Austin, color rated relative to the amount of traffic & the type of bike infrastructure (if any). These "might" be found at your LBS, but call ahead to see if they have some in stock. Good for route planning purposes because it's easy to get an overview of the entire city. Online option at http://austintexas.gov/page/bicycle

We went to the bike fest in Sedona. Most of the riding was way beyond my skills, but we did a ride led by a famous pro racer (can't remember his name). There were various skill levels on this ride and almost all the riding is big ledgy drops followed by a punchy climb up an eroding fall line trail out of a wash, some mellow single track, repeat repeat repeat. One thing this guy noted was, if you're not adept at pulling up your front wheel, just roll the ledge. BUT, get low over the center of the bike, and then get lower, and get low some more, exactly like this. Still low and centered:

The 70 -79 bracket has fewer numbers in Austin because we're scared shitless and staying home. I've been out Thursday a week ago and the Thursday before that to grocery shop and that's it, other than outdoor exercise solo or with Mr. J B. Immediate family member (immunocompromised) 73-year-old, is in a hospital outside Atlanta, in an isolation room with a cough, fever, a spot on one lung waiting for the test result. This family member went out one time in 12 days to get a monthly infusion at a doc's recommendation. Hoping that it's "only" pneumonia.

Sometimes you're on the internet and find stuff like this cardboard thing. It's basically two tools: a serrated knife a screw like thing (like what you'd use to hang something on drywall) that joins pieces of cardboard together Then you or the kid or you and the kid make things, probably out of Amazon boxes. Could be fun and a great way to repurpose bike shipping boxes into...something. https://www.make.do/collections/all-products Heading out to the front porch to take down Christmas lights.

I have a gallon of this 30% for weed control; IIRC, I bought it at The Natural Gardener. I hate to use salt, because it's irreversible, but it does get the job done. A past co-worker gave me a tip on the efficient use of Round Up. Cut everything down to the point where there's only a leaf or two remaining on the target plant. Coat those leaves with Round Up; the plant will then suck the poison into the root system and the plant dies.

San Marcos, as of 11 pm, Tuesday, March 24: City to close river parks to protect public health

Friday, March 27 update: Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments are closing effective tomorrow, Saturday, March 28 Moab Hospital, health agencies, elected leaders plead for park closures They are asking for closure of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments. The article linked above notes that there were over 700 cars at Arches National Park this past weekend, and 90% were from out of state. I cannot fathom why any national park is still open to visitors at any level of access. Also an indicator of people not understanding the nature of contagious disease. Random info: Although Moab has a permanent population of around 5,000 people, visitation in a typical year is around 1 million.

On our first Chihuahuan Dirt Fest, two of our rides in BBRSP were led by Texas Parks and Wildlife bike cops. They were both incredibly strong; they carried a lot of heavy gear all day everyday while on patrol. I've also seen Highway Patrol bike patrol guys being trained, getting ready to head out from the Highway Patrol main hive on Guadalupe @ Koenig. There are Highway Patrol bike "troopers" who patrol the state capitol and the Governor's mansion.

Good to know! I've never heard a bad word about them. A family member gifted us a trip and the area where we're going (south central Utah) is definitely remote. I wanted to check it out without worrying about logistics on a first trip, then subsequent trips will be easier. There are also various moves afoot to start paving roads out there; I wanted to see it by bike before that happens. I do hope their business survives. I just checked the website for Arches National Park, on the outskirts of Moab. It's still open to the public but no one is collecting fees, the campgrounds, bookstore, visitor centers, are closed; no back country camping permits are being issued and there are no ranger-led activities. Fiery Furnace is closed. I guess you just drive around and look at stuff and hike, observing appropriate social distance. All visitor accommodations in Moab and Grand County are closed; I don't understand why they'd keep Arches open. The Moab BLM field office is closed, and BLM campgrounds are accepting no new reservations or new visitors. No word on dispersed camping. The very large Sand Flats camping area, by the Slickrock Trail trailhead, is managed in partnership with Grand County and BLM, as is the Sand Flats Recreation Area (Slickrock Trail). I can't find information on status. The BLM website for the Sand Flats Recreation Area (Slickrock Trail) shows no closure. However, because Grand County is closed to camping on state and private land, and BLM is closing their campsites to new visitation, I'd say it's likely closed or closed to new visitors.

There's a Corona Drive parallel to the 51st St. leg of your ride, east of I 35. It's not super pleasant riding, but there is a wide sidewalk on the south side of 290 Toll that can be used as part of a long loop. Traffic lights have lights with crosswalks that let you cross safely at major intersections (like 183), but you have to be super heads up to make sure that those making a right turn know that you're right there before you head into the cross walk. You can also ride back roads into Manor from the end of the Southern Walnut Creek trail where it ends at Lindell Lane. I "think" there's a way to get on the big 290 sidewalk in Manor, but now sure exactly how that works.

Dawn, It's Southern Walnut Creek Trail, the paved multi-use path. It begins in Govalle Park, on Bolm Road just off Airport and ends at Johnny Morris Road, although you can cross Johnny Morris, continue along a side walk, cross Decker Lane keep pedaling by Lake Walter E. Long, ending at Lindell Lane.

The only three people to complete the Iditabike this year completed the last 400 (!) miles together and finished together as co-finishers. Talk about a bonding experience. An Interview with Jill Matindale: Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000 Champion

BikeJames.com Some free stuff, some comprehensive training programs for sale. He's mountain bike specific.

I'll leave one last note here and then sign off this thread. The "Spanish Flu" didn't originate in Spain. Let's say that History.com is a legit site, but this information is available in other places: Why was it called the Spanish Flu?

I'd facepalm but I CAN'T TOUCH MY DAMN FACE.

The paper is dated January 27. WHO (World Health Organization) didn't apply the COVID-19 designation until February 11; the headline obviously refers to a virus happening in China. We're way down the road on this horror show and there's zero excuse for not being accurate about its official name now, especially from the bully pulpit of the presidency. You might, of course, feel different if you were an Asian person getting blow back about it from pig ignorant asshole who thinks you automatically have CV 19 and it gives them the right to treat you horribly.

Random stuff from the internet: DudeIWantThat.com TReGo Detachable Front Wheel Bike Trolley And while we're on the topic of Leaps of Faith, guac and MSM, I started thinking about how refusing to self isolate is a form of Russian Roulette. We did a nice ride yesterday evening from the Parkfield/Braker area down Shoal Creek, gawked at the landslide that blocks the trail on the way to Pease Park and rode home. We heard an owl, waved (from a appropriate distance) at other cyclists and walkers, saw gorgeous trees, felt good when we got home around 7:30. A Durango friend posted on facebook that San Juan County, CO (Silverton) has closed the backcountry to XC skiing. They cannot risk extremely limited resources going to help someone in trouble in the backcountry and (understandably) they don't want outsiders bringing them The Corona. I'd give WC at least a few more days to dry out. After a rough patch at Christmas, a Peloton exercise bike is starting to look pretty good.

This is the explanation I heard from a science doctor-y person. It has to do with the size of the virus in microns. The N-95 mask has larger pores than a single virus. The analogy was to think of five big guys trying to get through a single door at the same time. They can't do it. In the same way, multiple virus particles can't get through one pore in the mask. The N-95 mask is not 100% effective, but it is definitely much, much more protective than nothing or a little surgical mask. Asking front line medical personnel to treat patients with an active CV 19 infection without PPE is criminal. Some of them will die. Some of them have already died. We at the start of this. What happens when these people are too ill to work at the same time the health care system is overwhelmed with patients in desperate need? Korea has an ingenious "telephone booth" testing set up that 100% protects those administering the COVID-19 test.

Damn! This is great/not so good news! I don't really "need" another bike. This information will gnaw at my brain like a beaver on meth. OK, gotta go! *googles Salsa website* Update: OK, so I went to the Salsa website and OH! MY! GAWD! They have a single speed gravel bike called The Stormchaser. Then somehow I got distracted by watching old SNL The Californian skits. So, back to Salsa now.

Gravel bikes = drop bars, which makes me sad. Still ride my road bike a little, but for several reasons, prefer/need a flat handle bar.

I saw a Twilight Zone as a kid that scared me for years. Some kids discover a portal to another universe in the wall in their bedroom when their little dog accidentally goes through it. Yesterday, Mr. JB discovered A Million Ways to Die in the West. It was great watching on the side while surfing the internet on the laptop. Some broad humor, some raunchy humor, some satire, lots of silliness. The owner or the mustache store dies in the end, but the protagonist sheep farmer gets the girl he should be with rather than the one who left him for the mustache store owner after the bad guy husband of the girl he gets in the end is killed by a bullet dipped in rattlesnake venom, a trick the protagonist learned when captured by Apaches but he speaks fluent Apache so it's all cool, and the girl he originally wanted wants him back but NO! he's gonna stay with...anyway. Key line: "Somebody always dies at the fair..." Old episode of Fargo popped up on the DVR and we've got quite a bit of Better Call Saul queued up. Mr. JB discovered Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (zippy! singing! dancing! perky protagonist!) and (last night) Dispatches from Elsewhere (weird and somewhat existential). Today we're gonna solve how to get Amazon Prime on TV and I'm gonna binge watch Bosch. We've also got a 1,000 piece jig saw puzzle of a floral arrangement that is only 20" x 26" completed, so the pieces are each about the size of a thumbnail. Its a great time for organizing, purging (throwing out and giving away whatever), garage reorganization except when the non-cleaning/purging spouse is home, it's harder, as in, Oh hells no, I've had that ______ (T shirt, Monopoly, cooler with no lid, 8 track cassettes, Walkman, all grade school homework) since 19___ or 20___ and no WAY it's going to _______ (Goodwill, trash, recycling). Alternatively, just make lists about doing that stuff; you don't have to actually DO it. I have two books to finish (Wayfinding and Trump's Generals) and another to start (Endurance). Austin public libraries are closed, so no worries on returns.

Wheatsville on Guadalupe has excellent fresh guac.

Yes, I truly fear our entire economy will be in tatters by the time this is over and it's devastating for the tourism economy in places like Moab. We drove through Moab a few years ago, it was an absolute crush of traffic with more motels being built at the north end of town. I'd guess the economy of Moab is probably 98% tourism these days and it's somewhat seasonal. It can get pretty damn cold there in the winter. I had the experience of driving through Moab more than once before it was "discovered," which more or less coincided with Raiders of the Lost Ark and the explosion of the climbing scene. It was a dusty little nothing of a cattle ranching town in the middle of nowhere, with a little boom during the long past uranium mining years. Hope it doesn't go back to that. However, if the COVID-19 crisis resolves a bit by summer and people are back to travelling, places like Moab will revive, but at a reduced level. Western Spirit Cycling Adventures, based out of Moab, still has active trip departures after April 18, with the caveat that things could change on short notice.