@Ridenfool posted updates on new trails (Jan 19, 2022) being added the to Rocky Hill trails inventory.  

...and just like that, the 2022 TMBRA spring race series begins on Feb 19-20th at Rocky Hill  near Smithville, TX.  

Sat: Kids Kup and 1st time racers clinic

Sun: Races! 

Registration + race and event information

Because sometimes you find a surprise in the forecast: 

1 hour ago, AustinBike said:

Locks. Big ass locks. And insurance. Those are your best defenses.

Good point, AB.  100% agree. 

I posted the link to the article to emphasize how organized and "professional" these theft rings are.  It's not a chop shop model, breaking down the bike and selling parts on CraigsList.  It's a smash and grab, get the entire bike to Mexico and sell with zero fear of repercussions. 

Although we sometimes think of Mexico as the poor neighbor to the south, there are plenty of wealthy  people with discretionary cash wanting to buy high end road and mtn bikes and these rings are stealing enough bikes that the cumulative worth is hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars. 

True, there have been two prolific lone wolf burglars in Austin who eventually got caught.  One guy integrated himself into the cycling community and would use the information on fellow riders to steal their bikes. He stole a LOT of bikes, eventually got caught and did some time in the gray bar hotel. 

The second guy was the prolific cat burgler.  Literally, he stole around on little cat feet, while people were home asleep, and stole their bikes.  He was also arrested, but I don't know the disposition of his case. 

But these organized theft ring guys are different and could be gang affiliated or even some cartel **** since there's a Mexico connection and money to be made -- a relatively low risk, high return revenue stream.  Eeeesh. 

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. 

41 minutes ago, The Tip said:

Do you mean if it gets rescheduled again? The January 15th date has now been Covid Canceled. 

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. 

On 12/10/2021 at 5:24 PM, hurronnicane said:

That's an American Classic for sure! 

On 12/17/2021 at 10:04 PM, GFisher said:

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!

15 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

relevant https://www.pinkbike.com/news/not-so-fast-how-dropper-posts-created-steep-seat-tube-angles.html

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

2 hours ago, throet said:

Whatever happened to the art of just sliding your ass forward until the nose of the saddle is right up your taint? A little bob from the FS just makes it all the more rewarding! 

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.  

4 hours ago, bear said:

JB, for what you're talking about in my opinion it's a lot more about the physiological relationship between seated position and the crankset - however that comes together from the combination of saddle, saddle mount, seat tube angle & length, crank length, distance from saddle to h-bars, etc. etc., in comparison to the rider's physiology.

Hey, Bear.  Hope you and the missus are doing well!   Still in Raleigh?  This is a great reminder to get a good bike fit.  

2 hours ago, mack_turtle said:

I don't understand the question. when I am climbing, my butt is almost never on the saddle.

 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. 

Quote

Nulisch [shirtless jogger dude with pipe] was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony that carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison. He was booked and released on a $25,000 bond

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

2 hours ago, Charlie193 said:

Best not to overdo things, it’s probably time to Transition back to bike pictures.

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. 

34 minutes ago, ATXZJ said:

Features like that are strictly Forbidden.

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: 

Quote

"In New Mexico and across America, there are millions of acres of federal lands that have gone untapped for responsible outdoor recreation use.  This bipartisan legislation will make bike trails more accessible and safe across America and will provide a much needed boost to the growing outdoor recreation economy."

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. 

17 hours ago, ATXZJ said:

This thread is becoming very intense.

Yup, and people are TREKing everywhere to find specialized trails.  

On 11/29/2021 at 4:58 PM, GFisher said:

Glad to knock it off the bucket list after knowing about it for decades, but it isn't one of my favorite trail systems in the area.

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!