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Ridenfool

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Ridenfool last won the day on March 8

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  1. At least the wars fought over oil rich lands did no harm to the people and environment of Vietnam, the Middle East, Afghanistan (pipeline ROW), etc., right? Nor has there ever been any displacement of people or destruction of water supplies due to drilling. Thank goodness. Lithium, fortunately, can be found on every continent and in seawater. Nobody will be fighting over it, nor does it create toxic by-products when used. Batteries produced today are expected to last for a million vehicle miles. But, they are just getting started, and will make better ones in the future. Article on Cobalt in Lithium batteries: https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/reducing-reliance-cobalt-lithium-ion-batteries From the EPA Website: https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths Click the link for more EV myths being busted, and colorful charts that present the supporting data graphically. Excerpt from above: Myth #2: Electric vehicles are worse for the climate than gasoline cars because of battery manufacturing. FACT: The greenhouse gas emissions associated with an electric vehicle over its lifetime are typically lower than those from an average gasoline-powered vehicle, even when accounting for manufacturing. Some studies have shown that making a typical EV can create more carbon pollution than making a gasoline car. This is because of the additional energy required to manufacture an EV’s battery. Still, over the lifetime of the vehicle, total GHG emissions associated with manufacturing, charging, and driving an EV are typically lower than the total GHGs associated with a gasoline car. That’s because EVs have zero tailpipe emissions and are typically responsible for significantly fewer GHGs during operation (see Myth 1 above). For example, researchers at Argonne National Laboratory estimated emissions for both a gasoline car and an EV with a 300-mile electric range. In their estimates, while GHG emissions from EV manufacturing and end-of-life are higher (shown in orange below), total GHGs for the EV are still lower than those for the gasoline car. Estimates shown2 from GREET 2 2021 are intended to be illustrative only. Estimates represent model year 2020. Emissions will vary based on assumptions about the specific vehicles being compared, EV battery size and chemistry, vehicle lifetimes, and the electricity grid used to recharge the EV, among other factors. Above, the blue bar represents emissions associated with the battery. The orange bars encompass the rest of the vehicle manufacturing (e.g., extracting materials, manufacturing and assembling other parts, and vehicle assembly) and end-of-life (recycling or disposal). The gray bars represent upstream emissions associated with producing gasoline or electricity (U.S. mix), and the yellow bar shows tailpipe emissions during vehicle operations. Recycling EV batteries can reduce the emissions associated with making an EV by reducing the need for new materials. While some challenges exist today, research is ongoing to improve the process and rate of EV battery recycling. For more information on EV battery development and recycling, visit: U.S. Department of Energy’s ReCell Center National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries, 2021-2030 (pdf) (June 2021, report published by the Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries)
  2. I think most of the "battery materials mining is eco-unfriendly" stories are written by oil companies. Consider how fossil fuels are mined to provide the power to mine the oil, transport the oil, refine the oil, and then continuously mined to provide fuel that is burned and cannot be recycled for the life of a gas/diesel powered vehicle. Battery materials are only mined to create the first battery, after which 98% of the battery can be recycled into new batteries. As the supply of produced batteries grows, the mining needs will eventually be reduced. This is the part of the story rarely shared. As for the e-bike, I regret purchasing one with a 500 Ah battery. The most utility will be derived from having a larger capacity battery. Also, for extended trips a second battery can be carried along if necessary. Most are very easy to swap out. Batteries are very pricey though.
  3. The new section is finished and has been knitted into Rabbit Hole. As with any new section, it will need some wheels to define it and help pack the surface down. Hint: When you see the bridge at the bottom of the steep downhill run, aim for it and avoid braking so gravity can carry you up to the bench cut on the other side. Think "The Wall" sort of attack strategy. Enjoy!
  4. Put wheels on the new section yesterday. It is going to be a fun romp to test a rider's skills, but needs a little fine tuning before the debut. So, it's back to work with the Pick Mattock and McLeod. Conditions were excellent on the loop, though still loose in places as it has been dry. There was none of the rain as expected last night, so it will remain dry this weekend with the air conditioning working well outside. Perfect temperatures for riding, as well as for slinging dirt with implements of destruction. If I get back out there to work today the new section could be cut into the loop for the weekend. We'll see how it goes.
  5. Coming soon to a Rabbit Hole near you... A keen eye might make out the yellow handle of a McLeod at the top, for scale. This was a real bench to cut. 😅💦
  6. Rumor has it the surface is loosening up as it drys out. 🤷‍♂️ I wouldn't know as I haven't ridden in a couple of weeks after twisting my knee while heading out to work on a new section. That didn't stop me, as I worked about four hours before heading home that day. This was when I came to the realization that I could no longer walk without a cane. Even then, I couldn't go very far. After giving my mangled knees (prior injuries) a long rest I've now been back out to bring this latest creation to life, A small addition to Rabbit Hole that I expect will be worth the pain and suffering that goes into creating it. There is a long bench cut going in on a hillside that is too steep to walk across. This will add some exposure. Coming into it there is a fast downhill section that will net enough momentum to carry a rider up to that bench cut. The exit is a short, steep downhill that will add velocity to the more gradual climb that brings you back onto the existing trail. With any luck this section will come online in another couple of weeks and add a little more to the overall length of the loop. It looked like everyone had a great time at yesterday's TMBRA race. Special thanks go out to Raymond and the folks at 602 Brewing in Bastrop for donating three kegs of their finely crafted brews. It was liberally applied for medicinal purposes as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever for the riders, supporters, and anyone else who felt it would ease their suffering. 🍻🍺
  7. Recently had that conversation about not pushing limits with some friends. Emphasizing how I'm in it for the long haul, and hope that they buy into that too. I'd rather be riding slow with them in ten or fifteen years than any of us be missing from the picture. It is tough for them to not play "chase the rabbit" when they ride. I'm glad you found out before having a blow-out. Because knowledge is power, there's no reason to be depressed. It is merely an opportunity to review your priorities now that you have new data. I think you will like an e-bike. It fits nicely into the plan to avoid breaking stuff internally that we will need to carry on, while riding at the pace that tickles our fancy.
  8. Got in a lap after Saturday's rain. Conditions were just about perfect today. Now, I'm a little biased, but Rocky Hill has never been such a hoot to ride as it is now. So many technical challenges along the way to spice up all the zipping through the woods. Added together, it is so much fun. And, it is getting better as we add little things like bridges and berms to help add to the flow. Come get some, you know you want to. (Only, not this weekend. My new shock arrives Friday, so naturally, there is another quarter to half an inch in the forecast across Sat and Sun)
  9. You're probably okay Apnea-wise. As long as you are getting a restful sleep and there are no points where you stop breathing for extended periods. The prominent cause of Apnea is when a back-sleeper's muscles relax and the jaw follows gravity. Then, the soft tissues weighted by the jawbone closes the airway. CPAP inflates the airway, opening it so breathing doesn't stop and no O2 starvation occurs. (CPAP= Constant Positive Airway Pressure) Of course, if the snoring is bad enough there could be other health repercussions due to injury by blunt force trauma from the missus.
  10. Kudos to those who dedicate themselves to maintaining a high fitness level and enjoying their Acoustic bikes. These riders are at the top level of mtb riders, and always have been in the minority of the overall number of riders. However, the "different blend of the population" mentioned above is actually the majority of riders when considering who are the mtb-riding public the manufacturers are selling to. Price parity will be the deciding factor for many when it comes time to buy. For a new rider, or, an existing rider that wants to ride more and finds it tough to maintain the fitness required, they are likely to find an electric Class 1 alternative within their budget. This effect of price reduction will only improve over time as economies of scale contribute to lowering the costs to manufacture. An e-mtb offers a wider range of users the joys we all love about riding trails. To most, this would be considered a good thing to have more people enjoying trails, and I hope the trend to acceptance by those who take umbrage toward e-mtb riders can become easier as more of their friends make the shift. The growing trend of e-mtb adoption and new Class 1 model offerings from every manufacturer who wants to stay in business indicates a potential for inevitability of e-mtb sales eventually outpacing standard bike sales. At least among the crowd who purchase bikes by size and fit to their body. This is a transition, which is occurring due to a disruptive technology being introduced. Much like the conversion from flip-phone to smart phone; chemical camera to digital; cathode-ray TV to flat screen; or horse and buggy to automobile. The list of examples for technology disruptions is very, very long, and they all have in common an exponential growth curve. Happy trails
  11. Yeah, and it may be my fault. This started after buying a new 2022 Fox shock on sale and then sending it in to be upgraded to a 2024 version as a courtesy replacement they offer. It has been raining pretty much ever since I put it in the mail to Fox. Please forgive me. It seems unproductive to speculate upon what might happen once I receive the replacement. 😲
  12. As expected, RHR received over an inch of rain overnight and will likely not be much fun to ride for a couple of days at least.
  13. Today they were great. Only a couple of damp spots, and the usual dips with drainage (clear water). The section of Karaway that suffers most in the wet is rerouted temporarily. It was a really nice surface to ride on today. Tomorrow should be the same, until the rain arrives mid-late afternoon.
  14. Rumor confirmed. Paul did some excellent work on adding a couple of bridges and Rabbit Hole is rockin' again. So, naturally (in the literal sense) there is over an inch of rain in the forecast for overnight Friday/early Saturday.
  15. There is a rumor circulating that Rabbit Hole has been opened back up. I'm gonna go investigate this afternoon and find out for sure...
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