June Bug

My favorite place on the planet! McPhee Reservoir has some kind of formal status as a national recreation area, so camping is allowed only at the few developed designated campgrounds. House Creek Campground, info HERE. McPhee Campground is on the other side of the lake. There's nothing rustic about these campgrounds - they are developed and there will for sure be a fair number of RVs. Not cheap, check the web sites but it looks like "standard" campsites are $26/night. We drove to House Creek Campground one time just to check it out and there was hardly any shade. A really nice private campground that does have some tent camping right by the Dolores River is Dolores River RV Resort. Lots of big trees, lovely. Looks like a tent site would be $32/night, but the campground does have WiFi, so there's that. I just called the Tres Rios Public Lands Office (combined Bureau of Land Management + San Juan National Forest) just outside of Dolores, and confirmed that there is still dispersed camping all along Boggy Draw Road, which is by the extensive Boggy Draw Trail System, many many miles of mellow single track in the Ponderosa Pines, just a mile or two above Dolores. The super mega everything map for all SW CO singletrack is put out by biglooptrails.com/colorado-trails They seem to be doing a good job of creating new editions to stay current on all the new trails being added to both Phil's World and Boggy Draw. You can get a digital version as well, but I'd recommend the paper option for your personal sanity and the great overview. If you're in north Austin (Walnut Creek area) I'll be glad to share my maps with you. Just PM me if you'd like to meet up. We're retired, so mostly open schedule.

Monster (over 200,000 acres burned and hardly contained) and extremely dangerous fire burning between Las Vegas and north and west of Mora (Calf Creek/Hermits Creek Fire). I'd assume that you can't access Angel Fire on 518, then turning onto Hwy 434 at Mora, but who knows what conditions will be in a few weeks. There is also the Cooks Peak Fire burning east of Angel Fire, but it's possibly close to containment. Re: Yes to Phil's World but if it's warmish in Cortez, and you have riders with you that aren't so much into the tech, don't overlook Boggy Draw trail system 9 miles north of Cortez and just above Dolores -- over a 1,000 ft higher in elevation. Boggy Draw has a lot of mellow cruising in the Ponderosa pines; it's a huge trail system now. If for some reason it's on the coolish side, there's Sand Canyon trails down McElmo Canyon west of Cortez. Lots of nice red rock, just like in Utah. That's the great thing about that area. Lots of variation in elevation. If it's hot go high. Too cool? Get down in the canyons. Kokopelli Bike and Board is the local shop in Cortez and they now have a little shop in Dolores across the street from a brew pub. They have great Phil's World t shirts and will likely have the master map to all the trails in that general area. Enjoy. We'll be in that area mid summer.

Gave the Spearfish a nice bath and got it over to Bike House. Dodged multiple bullets. Turns out a brake bleed did the trick and if I need to replace the brakes in the future, there is ongoing SRAM compatibility between the brakes and the shifters; they will play nicely on the handlebars. I asked about a creak, and a likely culprit is a plastic spacer in the press fit bottom bracket. Will replace with a metal spacer when the time comes. Really nice shop; turns out there a time slot available just when I dropped by with the bike, so very quick turnaround, like I was home for less than 15 minutes quick when they called for me to pick it up. It's easy to miss the shop the first time. It's on the west side of Burnet, next to what used to be the light bulb shop, and still has the big lightbulb on top.

Thanks for the feedback, AB! Yes, Mr. JB attempted to bleed the first set of Avids, which was a frustrating and ultimately unsuccessful exercise. Last Oct. when we were in Colorado, a small, recently opened bike shop bled the brakes for me. The repair area was a bike stand behind the front desk and the mechanic/owner/sales guy had two syringes of brake fluid, one in each hand. Effortless for him, while he carried on a conversation with Mr. JB about bike stuff. Kokopelli Bike & Board Dolores, across the street from Dolores River Brewery

I've had two sets of Avid Elixers on two different bikes. The first set worked flawlessly for many, many years until front and rear decided to die simultaneously. Pffffft! Having them rebuilt at a bike shop cost more than buying a new set of Shimanos, so Deore hydraulics are now on that bike. Now I'm five (six?) years into another set of Elixers on another bike and the rear brake died last night at Walnut. Oddly, can't find any fluid leaking anywhere, but the brake lever was almost at the handlebar. Anyone used REI Gateway for bike repairs? Alternately, may try Bike House. Either way, *off to give the Salsa Spearfish a nice bath first* Will probably go with Shimano XT for replacements.

The rain shower was so short that I only realized it when I saw the back patio was wet; it was not a deep "soaking" rain. I suspect it will be fine late this afternoon and evening.

Know before you go: April 28, 2022 Reveille Peak Ranch posted on facebook a few minutes ago: "Still not happy…because of a fire on an adjacent property, trails are closed this morning. We’ll post an update when they are open. Thanks for your patience!"

I've heard a lot of good things about the trails at Ridgeway State Park.

and So, exactly parallel and 100% germane to this discussion. Are you going au naturel or artificial light?

Indeed. What's the location?

The yellow text on blue background has some Slava Ukraini vibe, so there's that.

That's the problem right there. How would you navigate from the end of the SWCT over to north WC?

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.

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. 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: 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....

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:

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