June Bug

North Austin near Walnut Creek: Looking for a Surly Open Bar if anyone has one lying around unused. Would love to have something similar in carbon, but I don't think anyone makes one with that dramatic a bend. I have lots of bike related stuff that needs to go to a new home. Will post up when I have a bit of extra time.

Just came across this detailed article on a pipeline of high end mountain bikes stolen in Colorado being sold through Alexander's Bikes in Juarez via facebook. Report reveals pipeline of stolen Colorado bikes ending up in Mexico These are very sophisticated theft rings targeting bike shops in a way similar to the (literal) smash and grab at the Peddler. Targeted bikes stolen from individuals and bike shops in Texas are most certainly being fenced in Mexico. This really is big business with a huge payoff over time for the thieves.

Damn! Thanks for the update. I've edited the original title and post to reflect the cancellation.

Sorry folks, it's been cancelled!

Opie's! Did you have the tater tot casserole? It's to die for, literally, but you die happy.

I hope the city accommodates your suggestions, because it's very likely that some trail user (walkers/dog walkers/cyclists) will at some point cut or tear down the fencing, leading to more conflict and aggravation for the the contractor. In addition, unapproved social trails will be generated.

That's an American Classic for sure!

Sometimes you just want to Chuck everything and ride your bike!

Gene Hamilton, the Better Ride Clinic guy, has suffered with debilitating back pain and recommends this simple exercise: Mountain Biking and Back Pain: the Final Piece of the Puzzle This article has links to other exercises as well. Mountain Biking and Back Pain, The Final Piece of the Puzzle!

Interesting! The bike I "might" be getting comes with a dropper post.

Dude, that is so MOJO. T'aint a full suspension, it's a rigid hardtail and and not for super steep technical climbing and will have a fairly upright riding position. Anyway, the topic of my post may be a moot point because "Santa" may have ordered the HT w/ the 73.2 degree seat tube angle. We'll see what happens and I'll let y'all know. Hey, Bear. Hope you and the missus are doing well! Still in Raleigh? This is a great reminder to get a good bike fit. Let's say you're pedaling along for 20 minutes with a relatively mellow grade or for 10 minutes or much longer on a little steeper grade. Seated pedaling.

How much difference does seat tube angle make in ease and efficiency of climbing (grinding along climbing, not steep and technical climbing) and power to the pedal on a hardtail? Mostly for bike touring/dirt roads/mellow single track bike packing. One frame has a seat-tube angle of 73.2 degrees, and the other 75 degrees.

Not in our city, but a cyclist on a new paved connector trail (Mason Creek Trail) between Katy and somewhere else, was attacked by a jogger with a pipe. The cyclist had a helmet camera filming forward and back. He passed a jogger outbound, turned around at the path's end and on the way back passed the jogger again and that's when the jogger guy tried to stick a pipe in his spokes. Every article notes that the cyclist was riding a Specialized Roubaix! The rider managed to escape without injury and called police. Video shows shirtless Katy man attacking area cyclist with metal pipe.

December 18, 2021, 7:38 am Walnut Creek trails are surfable. According to LCRA Hydromet, the USGS stream gauge on Walnut Creek at Dessau Rd (downstream from the park) is currently 1,500 cfs and rising. Currently, it looks like 2" of rain have fallen since the rain event began around 4 am; sure seems like more though.

Due to COVID, the ARR Cranksgiving event rescheduled for Jan 15th has been cancelled.

Rescheduled! SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022 AT 10 AM Austin Ridge Riders' Reimer's Ranch Ride/Workday Since we couldn't have Cranksgiving this year, we're doing a "lite" version. Same things will be happening (learning about trail work, lunch, riding, raffle) at this one. Trail work from 10-12, ride from 12:30 to 3, then a late lunch and raffle. If you're not an ARR member, you're welcome to come. No charge for this event, but you will need to pay 5 dollars/person at the gate for the Ranch's land-use fee. Cash only! The event notes and more details are listed on the Bike Reg page. If you're coming PLEASE REGISTER so we can plan for lunch... Bike Reg link: http://www.bikereg.com/austin-ridge-riders-at-reimers-ranch

Well, it was a good way to Spark a discussion. But you're right. It would be nice to go ride in a Canyon and get out of the Surly mood.

I thought you'd "Revel" in riding it.

New Mexico is all over bike packing and bike recreation, so not surprised that they are promoting this as well as a Republican senator from WY. NM Senator Ben Ray Lujan in an IMBA press release: BOLT=Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act. This bipartisan bill has advanced enough that there was a Senate hearing by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Dec. 2. From Bikepacking.com: New Bolt Act Could Fund 20 Long-Distance Bike Trails in the US This article has a link to the full text of the bill. Many states are realizing the economic benefits of cycle specific tourism, especially for out of the way communities with depressed economies. Maybe more bills like this could create better guidelines to expedite the currently cumbersome process of creating new trails on BLM and Forest Service lands.

Yup, and people are TREKing everywhere to find specialized trails. It struck me as a grassroots "they did a lot with what they had" system. We enjoyed it but the locals were wisely finishing their rides by the time we started. The heat comes on strong early on a May morning. This may have been Memorial Day weekend maybe 14 years ago.

Definitely turned out to be the right call!

Rode there years ago and at the time, it's future seemed in doubt due to an iffy land status.

More detailed explanation posted on facebook: "Sadly, everyone, after a lot of deliberation and hope against hope, we've decided that the best move here is to cancel this year's Cranksgiving. It didn't rain much Thursday, as was predicted, and that would have been fine. But the % for Saturday has remained very steady at around 90%. Weather prediction isn't perfect, but barely more than 24 hours away from the event, it's probably pretty good at this point. All is not lost! We are putting together something in its place here after the first of the year. We have tons of awesome swag and we'll go a 'lite' Cranksgiving in the new year. Hate having to do this...but we all agreed that it's the best move. Stay tuned for more about what we're putting together for January. Refunds for those who registered and paid will be processed in the coming days. If you'd like to contribute your registration fee to ARR, that's most certainly welcome, so let me know if you'd like to do that. If I don't hear from you, we'll process your refund shortly."

Did Tucson's Fantasy Island trail system survive?

Posting this as a topic in case any of you stayed at a Comfort area B & B called Cielito Lindo while riding at Flat Rock Ranch. The owner was discovered to have been filming guests with a secret camera in the master bedroom. It's a felony. The owner has been arrested and the sheriff's office is looking to identify additional victims. And yes, how weird would it be to contact the Sheriff's Office and say, "So, yeah, um, we did stay there and we, uh...are we on camera?" knowing the Sheriff's Office has seen all the video. On the other hand, prison time for the perp... Post from the Kendall County Sheriff's Office today: