June Bug

Forest Service prepares to welcome e-bikes  Following national guidance, San Juan National Forest can allow the bikes for the first time. 

If you read the article, note that e-bikes are not allowed on Forest trails YET.  There's an entire evaluation process that has to take place, which means it probably won't be this year.  Even then, e-bikes will only be allowed on certain trails and prohibited on others. 

I'm confused though, because at least in the past, many Forest trails were open to motorcycles and four wheelers and e-bikes would certainly be eligible on those trails. 

1 hour ago, AustinBike said:

Need to look into their tools a bit more, they seem to have some real innovation.

Interesting side note:  I'm not familiar with these place names, but the company seems to be Slovenian.  They started out as an ironworks in the 18th century. The company's history is HERE. 

Bikepacking.com's Friday Debrief featured this possibly handy, but fairly expensive, tool: UNIOR SCREW GRABBING PLIERS.

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"As many of us have learned the hard way, there are a lot of imprecise tools out there (and bolts with shallow heads) making it easy to round out the recessed torx or hex rotor bolt or a stem bolt. Unior’s new 407/4DP Screw Grabbing Pliers offer a nice solution for loosening screws with stripped out heads."

Learn more HERE. 

That's it, that's all I know.  Drifted Cycles, a bike shop carrying Giant, in Leander. 

Driftedcycles.com

651 N US HWY 183, Suite 170 Leander

From Facebook: We’re excited, terrified, and proud to announce that Bicycle House will be opening its doors on Thursday, 3-31-2022. Schedule your service online, or swing by and say hi. We’re looking forward to sharing our vision with the Austin community.

https://www.bicyclehouseatx.com

Volunteer slots for the TMBRA Pace Bend Race are open on BikeReg.  Sweeps are needed for all races, course marshals, water handups, the usual. 

2022 Volunteer Sign-Up Pace Bend Race, Sat Apr 9 - Sun Apr 10, 2022
Spicewood, TX

EDIT: Not seeing any interest, so will put this into the pay it forward thread.

Seeing as how Tuesday, March 15th will be the 1st daylight savings time ride and imbibe for 2022, would anyone be interested in making it a gear exchange as well as riding, grilling and swilling?  I have a bunch of odds and ends that need a new home and it would be easier to start out in one spot. 

Some women's stuff: 

• size 9.5 women's Shimano mountain bike shoes
• Giro women's roadie shoes 9 or 9.5 + cleats & clipless pedals
• a pale blue women's CamelBak, worn but with some life still in it (no bladder)
• a pair of unused women's bike shorts, size XL

a green Ridge Riders "technical" (nylon) T shirt, guy size med

a non-technical black men's long sleeved cotton T-shirt (med?) from Kokopelli bike shop in Cortez, CO

the original drive train off my 13-year-old hardtail (some XTR)

some small seat bags sized to hold an inner tube, a few tools, CO2 cartridge 

some other odds and ends

A shout out to Austin Bike's roomy, oblong Roswheel top tube bag that still lives on my road bike, from a long-ago Ride 'n Imbibe gear exchange. 

I'll try to get some photos up this week, in case anyone would like to shout out for something ahead of time.  It will be easy for me to bring it over to WC. 

"There is still time to support our kids! Low-income children in our community are spending less time outside in truly natural settings. During critical early developmental years, they do not have the opportunity to develop a tangible connection to nature and the environment while gaining valuable skills and experiences that research shows lead to happier, heathier, and more productive outcomes. Child Inc provides gardens and playscapes in natural outdoor environments to provide children with educational experiences in natural settings leading to a lifelong respect for our food sources and the environment.

Support our mission with your donation during Amplify Austin’s Day of Giving."

Amplify Day of Giving: Child, Inc

You may be familiar with Flat Creek Crossing Ranch by Pedernales Falls as just a riding venue, but it's much more that that.  It's part of Child, Inc: 

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Flat Creek Family -- Amplify Austin's Day of Community Giving is  here...March 2nd to 3rd, from 6pm to 6pm. Child Inc has provided early learning and family support services for over 50 years helping over 45,000 low-income children ages birth to five with education, dental, nutrition, mental health and disabilities services providing a whole family 2-generational approach. Your donations will make a difference for our children in need.

 

To learn more about Child, Inc and to donate: Amplify Day of Giving: Child, Inc

Bicycle House is looking for a Service Specialist.   

I was going to suggest Austin Bolt Company on Rutland Dr., which has been bought by ServPro. 

RIP

Here's a Yelp review from April 2021: Austin Bolt used to be a "go-to" place if you needed a handful of fasteners. Now (post-Covid), they have bailed on their previous "customer-first" business model and only do wholesale accounts. Will-call and walk-up business is gone for retail customers. FastServ charges $20 shipping for web orders. Sayonara....

On 2/23/2022 at 7:53 AM, St.Bernardo said:

Think it's moving that direction.

Just noted some barnacles on the fork in the photo.  Might there be some attachment points for a bike rack on the rear triangle?  Can't quite tell from the photo. 

New bikes and rain?  Passé.  This bike may have unleashed the polar vortex: 

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From Rice University grad student Ulyana Horodykyj Pena: 

"Around this time last year, Texas experienced an intense and damaging Arctic blast of cold air. Texas, of all places! This week, the “polar vortex” is at it again, bringing snow, ice and incredibly cold temperatures, this time across the central and eastern US. So, what’s going on? How can Arctic air reach so far south?

It has to do with a counter-clockwise spinning mass of cold air that hovers above the Arctic called the “polar vortex”, which grows and shrinks with the changing seasons. When stable, it remains closer to the North Pole, constrained by a strong polar jet stream. When there is a large temperature difference between the warmer mid-latitudes and the polar region, the jet stream is strong and keeps the polar vortex stable. But when the difference is smaller, the jet stream weakens and gets more wavy. This can cause the polar vortex to “break off” and plunge towards the south, bringing cold Arctic air with it.

Is climate change and/or new bikes to blame? In a nutshell, yes. In particular, the loss of sea ice due to warming temperatures has led the highly reflective surface of ice [and new bikes]  to transform to a dark absorbing surface of water [and bike frames] instead. This change is warming the higher latitudes and reducing the temperature difference between the mid-latitude and polar regions. That, in turn, weakens and destabilizes the polar jet stream. Future climate change likely will further weaken the polar jet stream, bringing rise to more extreme and unusual weather patterns. Global warming. Climate change. These terms have helped us define, through time, the changes that we’re witnessing. Perhaps a more accurate descriptor now is 'climate destabilization.'"

10 hours ago, St.Bernardo said:

Never bought into the new bike and bad weather thing, but Damn.  Sorry y'all.

Is bikepacking in your future, because that bike...

Austin Ridge Riders' Pace Bend Race just popped up on the TMBRA calendar for April 9-10, 2022. 

No other details or link to Bike Reg yet.  

A facebook update from Bikepacking Roots. Bikepacking Roots is working to make the language of this act  be more specific to dirt routes (single track and 4-wheel drive roads) and exclude primarily gravel routes. 

"In refining this language, the BOLT Act will be more specific to dirt oriented, off-road bikepacking rather than paved or gravel trails. We recommended this change because we currently can create exceptional gravel and road routes without substantial land manager involvement, but singletrack routes require much more of land managers like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management."

Statement

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A few weeks ago we shared exciting news about the BOLT Act and now we’re excited to share that the bill is now in Committee in both the House and Senate.

If passed, the BOLT Act will mandate that federal land managers identify potential for new long distance bike trails. This could lead to support for restoration of existing long distance bike trails that need resurrection, completion of long distance trails that are in progress, and federal support for existing and new long distance trails.

We have been working with @imba_us and @adventurecycling in communicating with the Congressional committee staff involved in refining the BOLT Act language. BPR, with support from IMBA and ACA, have specifically recommended refining the language used to define “long-distance trails” in the context of the BOLT Act to those that:

Are primarily dirt/natural surface (short connectors on pavement/improved roads are acceptable)

Are generally 80+ miles in length on Federally-managed lands

Are composed of generally consistent types of trail (i.e., primarily singletrack, or primarily 4x4 roads)

May be used for mountain biking and/or bikepacking (multi-day trips)

In refining this language, the BOLT Act will be more specific to dirt oriented, off-road bikepacking rather than paved or gravel trails. We recommended this change because we currently can create exceptional gravel and road routes without substantial land manager involvement, but singletrack routes require much more of land managers like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Learn more and join us in advocating for the BOLT Act by visiting the BOLT Act news on our website. Link in Bio.

#BOLTAct #longdistancetrails #bikepacking #bikepacker #adventurecycling

More details on the BOLT Act Updates and Announcement page on BikepackingRoots.org

This is fantastic!  This area is  across  Hwy 183 from the Y.  With the new pedestrian bridge over 183,  this would be accessible by bike from the Southern Walnut Creek Multi-Use Path, or, if coming from the west, using the bike lanes on 51st street. 

Sorry I missed your post.  Did you find a bike shipping box?  I have one taking up space in my foyer.   North Austin area. 

Bicycle House: New bike shop going in on Burnet, north of the Burnet/Koenig intersection, just past Lamar Middle School.  Sales, repair, bike fit and will carry Giant, Liv, Scott and BMC.   Not open yet, although they'll do consults on finding a bike. 

James Balentine and Thomas Miller are the principals, sounds like lots of solid experience, if anyone has come across them at Jack and Adams, Mellow Johnny's or the mtn bike/bmx race scene. 

Bicycle House - Who we are

On 1/29/2022 at 9:22 AM, TAF said:

I think the whole thing is a part of the 'Big Loop' concept

Correct. 

I do a regular Tuesday morning social ride on the Southern Walnut Creek Multi-Use Path, out and back. A guy (Ted Siff) involved with promoting this project is going to talk to our group  tomorrow morning if things are dry.  I'll see if I can post a copy of the PDF of the current status of the Grand Loop. 

My current pet peeve.  All iterations, north and south, of the Walnut Creek Multi-Use path have problems with mud/sand washing onto the path every damn time it rains. EVERY. TIME. 

Somehow, the design doesn't require the contractor to address drainage issues.  Ridge Riders have spent  many hours of volunteer labor trying to address these drainage issues within the park.  There are also problems further along the paved path, both north and south of Metric.  It's a mess. 

This was posted to facebook today (Sunday, Jan 30, 2022) by Ronan O'Connor, Austin Ridge Riders Brushy Creek Trail Steward.

#brushycreek Major Improvements News. This is a long post, but please read all of it so you know the ultimate goal when you see small changes over the next year.

The new trail "The Bowl" should be open next week, thanks to the 50 people that came out and helped work on it yesterday. It will become the new lower entrance to Rim and Bob Ross. I'm just waiting for a final walk through by the county before i can open it.

The Bowl is the first step in improving saftey at Brushy by reducing pedestrian/ bicycle conflicts.

The biggest part of this project will be connecting several trails to make a 9-10 mile loop so mtb'ers won't have to get on and off the concrete BCRT to access trails.

The loop will be:

1. Start at 1/4 notch

2. Double Down

3. Bob Ross

4. Rim Trail (lollipop route)

5. The Bowl (from the intersection of Bob Ross/Rim to the jeep Road)

6. New currently unnamed trail (from the jeep road to the intersection of picnix/Double Down)

7. Picnix

8. Picnic.

The new connector trails will create more out and back options as well. You could ride

1. Picnic

2. New unamed trail

3. The Bowl

4. Rim

5. Bob Ross

6. Jeep Road

7. New unamed trail

8. Picnic.

All without touching the concrete

There are several other things happening during this project.

1. 1/4 notch will have a loop option. Halfway down the 1/4 Notch Bailout there will a new trail to the right that will lead to the " Cattle Trail" in the open feild near the start of 1/4 Notch. You will still be able to go to the end of the Bailout and access the BCRT or Picnic.

2. Large cedar fence chicane's will be placed at the end of the jeep road and the 1/4 Notch Bailout. This is been done to stop people entering the BCRT at high speed, which happens all the time and causes lots of conflicts with people using the BCRT. The chicanes are going to be big and easy to ride through, but you will have to slow down. They will be highly visible so people won't be surprised and ride into them.

3. The trail next to the pipe rail fence inbetween the jeep road and short trail leading to Rim (the one where you cross the creek at the end and can get air coming out of the creek) has been closed. This trail was unsanctioned and caused many conflicts when mtb'ers jumped out of the creek onto the BCRT. Pedestrians and runners haven been hit by mtb'ers in this spot. I know everyone liked the jump out of the creek (myself inculded), but in the grand scheme closing it is a small concession to create two loops at Brushy.

4. The short trail from the BCRT to the intersection of Rim and Bob Ross will be closed and replaced by The Bowl. It will remain open until The Bowl is approved by the county.

5. The kiosk maps will be updated to show the new trails.

6. The Map kiosk near the entrance to Rim will be relocated to either the intersection of The Bowl and the jeep road or the intersection of The Bowl/Bob Ross/Rim.

7. The intersection of the jeep road and the BCRT will be improved to have better visibility and reduce mud been tracked onto the BCRT.

8. The intersecton of Picnic/Double Down/ BCRT will be improved to stop mud getting onto the BCRT. These improvements will included a chicane and fencing.

Once everything has been completed we will have, a safer trail system, fewer bike/pedestrian conflicts, more continuous dirt to ride, and more route options.

There is alot of work to be done, so if you see a build day please come and help (no trail building experience required). If you see us working on the trail please stop give us a hand for a few minutes. If every rider stopped and helped for 10 minutes it would be a HUGE help.

My mind edits this to Propane Hygiene every time I see this thread title. 

FWIW: Fezzari's La Sal is getting huge positive reviews and is an Editor's Choice Bike of the Year from Bike Rumor and Bike Mag.  Fezzari La Sal

With the loss of trails when part of the Rocky Hill property was sold, Paul Uhl reports that a lot of new fun, flow-y, bermy trail is still being built and will be ready for race day. 

What is the saddle currently on the stationary bike that she likes? 

Alternately, put the harder saddle on there that is comfy for you and get a gel saddle cover for her use. 

Semi tech-ish.  I had posted on the Pay it Forward thread looking for a Surly Open Bar or similar.  After making my own spread sheet with information on 7 handlebars, I ended up just ordering another Open Bar through The Peddler since I know that works for me.  @mack_turtle posted a link to an amazing carbon bar from Carver, but the sweep wasn't quite enough. 

Of course, Bikepacking.com just posted a page with a long discussion of  comfort-oriented (alt) handlebars with a list of all available handlebars, noting width, sweep, rise and clamp for each one along with a photo.  Most photos are the bars installed on a bike; some are just the bar.   You can check them out here: LIST OF COMFORT MTB HANDLEBARS (ALT BARS)

Osprey was bought by a company called Helen of Troy in December, so hopefully that won't change things. 

From the Cortez paper, Dec. 10, 2021:  The Osprey Packs story: Its roots, success, sale and its future in Cortez

I have a "thing" for Osprey.  I lived a few blocks away when they moved into a dilapidated building in Dolores in 1974 and set up all their operations in house,  and hired and trained Navajo seamstresses to sew all of their packs.  

Osprey history

Fast forward a few decades and we just closed on a lot in Cortez last week not too far from their current headquarters in Cortez (9 miles from Dolores). 

I give the company huge props for staying in Cortez.  It's not near any transportation corridor in an area with a  depressed economy in the best of times, dependent mostly on tourism, some ranching, Forest Service, and now retirees and others moving into the area who have been priced out of Durango and all the other mountain towns.   But maybe Osprey was prescient,  since the  area (Cortez/Dolores/Mancos) is getting "discovered."  Although Osprey moved production overseas at one point, they still provide good jobs at company headquarters. 

Sadly, real estate prices in the area exploded in the last year, so living there is no longer feasible for a lot of people.  "Exploded" meaning equal to or more expensive than Austin.