June Bug

Interesting outdoors open house with lots of large posters on easels with options for development at the park. If my BMX-dar and SKATE-dar are accurate, there were a LOT of BMX and skate park folks in attendance (hi, CMC!). It's an interesting property, just an old farm at the confluence of Walnut Creek with the Colorado, with farm fields in the extensive flat areas, and heavily wooded streamside. Also, for you geology and geology adjacent folks, there's a recently (this year!) abandoned oxbow on Walnut Creek. There are heavily wooded areas along the Colorado, but those areas have apparently flooded 6 times in the last year alone, so not prime for development. One non-bike related aspect was Colorado River access for boaters (and presumably) and people wanting to fish. As we were turning in to the park, I noticed a narrow sidewalk along the edge of FM 969. Driving out, we looked more carefully; it stops at Decker Lane. We turned NE on Decker Lane to see if it continued and it doesn't, even though there is an elementary school about two hundred yards from that intersection, with zero bike/pedestrian access.

He's not wrong that it's a project bike.

Thanks for this update. I hope Bike Farm has retained its wonderful eccentricity. I used to go by there on my previous commute route, got a flat fixed there once and have bought some Kali gloves. The previous location was a hidden gem situation a block off Lamar and had I not finally noticed it for some reason, I would never have known it was there, even riding past it probably 20 or 30 times. Was confused for a minute when I googled for the new address. Texas Bike Farm (same folks) is in Burnet. Bike Farm (austinbikefarm.com) is now at 5440 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756. Bunch of restaurants in this stretch of Burnet, but not a super bike-friendly location. However, it's in the middle of neighborhoods, condos and apartments with no bike shop close by or anywhere near that I'm aware of, so could be a very good move for them. It looks to be adjacent to Little Longhorn Saloon and almost across the street from Little Woodrow's...

Bump. I'll be attending. Some uppy-downie potential at the confluence of Walnut Creek at the Colorado River?

When you join IMBA and indicate Austin Ridge Riders (ARR) as your local chapter, you are automatically an ARR member. Membership link here. Scroll down to JOIN button. You also get a complimentary bike magazine subscription with your IMBA/ARR membership; Dirt Mag is one choice. And socks -- you get a pair of socks!

https://www.rei.com/s/revelate-cyber-deals Revelate frame bags for 40% off. https://reviews.mtbr.com/the-best-cyber-monday-deals-for-mountain-biking

Dirt Bicycle Components, an Austin based bike wheel company at 1914 Howard Lane, has 35% off for today (Dec. 2) ONLY. From the Facebook page for Dirt Bicycle Components: 35% off could take them from an aspirational carbon wheelset to wondering how you could get your furniture sold on Craigslist with cash in hand by midnight. They do have some aluminum wheelsets (boost) for more moderate prices.

Worked a bit with CharDog when he was laying out new trail at Pedernales Falls a few years back. The park folks designated a specific contour line (1100') for the trail to follow, basically a limestone outcrop. It's a rocky trail for a reason. If you moved in from the rocky edge of the outcrop (IIRC from about 15' to 30' or so), often there was nice flat dirt, typically without much vegetation. You'd put your trail there, right? But CharDog knew that's where water settles and stays after a rain, and takes a long time to dry. Any trail there would become a muddy mess after a rain. The rockier area close to the rim of the outcrop drains quickly and is good to go soon after a rain. Also, I really like Fiskars tools. They have a good page + video on trimming and pruning practices here. Most any ranch in the Hill Country will have oak trees. If you're not up to date, get informed about oak wilt, the safe time of year to work on oak trees and how to avoid spreading it via your trimming and pruning tools. No landowner will love you for introducing or spreading the scourge of oak wilt on their property. A & M oak wilt FAQ page <snip>

Why has no one mentioned Blue Grooves? Are they even still A Thing? Speaking of throwbacks, I was watching a true-crime show (murder porn) on Investigation Discovery channel where Velociraptor tire tracks (noted close to the murdered soon to be ex-wife's house!), were introduced at trial. The defendant's mountain bike had (cue scary music) Velociraptors. Also, currently: 29 x 2.35 Ikons in front and 2.3 Ikons in back.

Welcome, xl_cheese, and thanks for retaining the most perfect and my personal fave avatar + handle combo of all time!

My humble (but strongly held) opinions: Yes to IMBA guide! Before all else, understand sustainable trail building; apply the IMBA solutions always. If you do that, that trail will still be there to enjoy in 5, 10, 15 years and onward. a) Decide what kind of trail (or loop) you are building and stick to that -- internal consistency. If you are building a beginner loop, stick to that -- consistent beginner characteristics throughout, ditto intermediate, advanced. Don't build crappy, half assed switchbacks. b) Alternately, (my preference) you can create a flow-ish trail and include alternate challenge lines. Or you can build a more challenging loop with mellow by passes. This will allow more people to use the trail and decide when they are ready for more of a challenge (or not) and takes care of endless whingeing* about cheater lines. Anyway, look at the terrain and set your vision first. You're not wrong to go about it either way. Also, this: As we've traveled around mountain biking, and as recently as this week, we run into families with younger kids looking for a safe-ish place to ride. Everybody has a mountain bike of some description, maybe Dad is the instigator with a high-end bike and mom and kids have low-end but functional bikes and and they need maybe a two- or three or even five-mile loop that is easy for the little guys but still moderately interesting and enjoyable. When people go out and have a great experience on a trail, especially with their kids, then they are more likely to want to expand that experience and at some point, maybe want to grow more into the sport. Sometimes mom and dad are both hammerheads but the grommits are little -- like five or six years old. Same dealio. This comes strongly to mind because awhile back when ARR had the TMBRA race at Reimers, we set up a little loop for kids - 100 yards or so long, it wound around with little dips here and there, went thither and yon through clumps of trees, and there were little kids riding it over and over because it was "just right" for their skills in terms of challenge, length and their bikes. It was so fun to watch. *whinge (informal, British): complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way

After riding with a group every Tuesday morning on the Southern Walnut Creek Multi-Use Path, I'm in the "wider is better" camp -- and would prefer to see 12 ft width, minimum -- 14-16 ft wide would be even better. The Southern Walnut Creek path is heavily used by cyclists and is curvy in may places with limited sight lines. The bat-out-of-hell riders (singly and in groups) are scary and this path will only get more use as time goes by. The limited sight lines mean that walkers and even other cyclists are definitely vulnerable to being mowed down. I was introduced to the wider paved paths in Atlanta. They're awesome.

Texas Highways article: Tracking Time on the Caprock Canyon Trailway The 64-mile trail system crosses 46 bridges and rolls over farms and brushy ranchlands, passes through Clarity Tunnel, and follows Quitaque Canyon before climbing up and over the Caprock Escarpment

Giro (size Small) is my go to. Tried a Bontrager r**d helmet I found at REI and it was 95% okay, but that last 5% where I couldn't get it to stop slipping down my forehead was the deal breaker. Also, REI is not currently carrying Giro, so just asked Joe @ Monkey Wrench to order me a new Giro r**die helmet.

Fixed! In my original post, I actually processed a mental picture, mentally said Flat Creek, and wrote Flat Rock. It happens. cxagent, any possibility of camping on Friday night at Reimers?

Thread drift. Like continental drift, but faster. Anyway, thanks for keeping us up to date about Reimers.

So you did do Monk's Crossing to the Tunnel?

I rode the path Sunday, just to check out the post-big-rain aftermath. The erosion control fabric did it's job. There is even grass sprouting here and there. Based on the time I saw the work and the onset of the rain, the erosion control fabric was laid down just before the start of the rain. Perfect timing to get the grass seed a very nice soaking. In retrospect, the low water crossing always has a ton of mud that settles out. I assumed it was from high water flowing over; now I'm wondering if it at least some of it was washing down from the sides of the paved path. We'll see with future high water events.

Loves me some Cranksgiving. I've volunteered at quite a few. Two (three?) at Pace Bend, one at Flat Creek/Pedernales and did we have one before at Reimers?

"Real men use rocks."

The huge rocks used for stepping stones can form a nice standing wave at certain water levels. There's always a debris line on the shore after a big flush. Interesting to check out after a big rain event.

CharDog (Charlie Riou) and Cullen Mc were at WC this afternoon (Saturday, Oct. 26) assessing damage and doing cleanup and repair after the storm; CharDog has been posting a few photos on FB. There was a storm surge of from 6' to 9' on main Walnut Creek, but the armoring at Root Drop and at the main creek crossing held up well. According to Charlie's facebook post, WALNUT CREEK WAS NOT RIDABLE TODAY AND REALLY NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL DAY TO DRY OUT. Keep in mind that tires rolling through soft spots on the trail create a depression that holds water during the next rain, leading to a muddy area that eventually requires repair. That next rain will likely happen mid week.

Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I can find it, but I'm always on my commuter bike with narrow-ish tires at 60 psi and usually loaded up with magazines to donate to the library, so not too compatible with techy. May be inspired to ride my mtn bike some time, though. I've never ridden any of the Balcones Dist. Park trails.

Rode the paved path yesterday afternoon to go to the library on Amherst. There was regrading going on to create a drainage on the side of the path; everything was blocked off on the new section from the fork with the path by the creek. A track-hoe was at work and the crew wouldn't let me go around it, so I had to ride up the old creekside path and go up the steep slope by Duval. Will be interesting to see how regrading the dirt fared with the rain.

I live a block north of Braker off Swearingen, so about 5 blocks south of WC. Closer to three inches of rain at my house by the time it was all done -- a regular frog strangler during some of it. We got a flash flood alert on the phone. Walnut Creek between MoPac and I 35 got hosed last night. When it gets colder, no matter how windy it is, it takes much, much longer for trails to dry out than it does with toasty temps.