Ridenfool

The current loop is just over 13 miles. Not much trail has been added over the Summer, though the signage factor has gone up considerably. There is another mile that will come online in the Fall if all goes well. It will hopefully be on par with Black Trac and SofaKing for fun factor. Edit: There may be some new stuff on Black Trac since your last time out.

Went out bright and early this morning and moved the picnic table, water jug, and a trash can to the new location of Ventoso (sans)Vista rest stop. This tree should provide ample shade. The trail runs between the table and the post with the sign on the right. As I was wrapping this up it rained on me. Yay! Rocky Hill has received about 2.5 inches in the past week and more is expected this week. We should get some tight trails to ride for a while out of this. Come get some... in about a week. 😉

Haven't been feeling well this week, so have been slacking. Still, I created and installed 9 more signs marking the roads and the way "HOME" so riders can find the quick/easy way back using the ranch roads, if needed. Also, did some chainsaw work to clear a fallen tree on Lemonade. Looks like some ⛈️ in the forecast tonight and tomorrow, then again next week. Keeping fingers crossed that we get lots of it coming down nice and slow so it soaks in. Now, back to slacking in the AC and recovering from whatever germ or bug 🤧 tagged me over the past weekend. Happy trails!

I've just written to them for a longer hose for my Seral, with the idea of tucking the extra into the belt to help prevent jostling the magnet attachment. I've had it for a while and haven't been using it for the same reason. It comes loose too easily. It would be nice to have while building trail if I can figure a way to keep from dangling the hose all the time. Edit: It occurred to me that one of those retractable lanyards for a security badge might be adapted to reel in the loose end when stored.

Same for me. All I've seen are responsible adults old enough to have adequate disposable income riding trails on e-mtbs. The sort of people who enjoy the ride and to whom this offers a way back into their favored recreational pastime they wouldn't have otherwise. It seems like the last of the boomers and their kids are the target market for these bikes. I'm only talking about pedal-assist trail bikes. As opposed to throttle e-bikes being ridden by out-of-shape gamers, wheeled pedestrians, former bus riders, etc. Those are more of an urban demographic, and it would be good to see more of those in use as commuters, just not on trails. I try to avoid confusing the two classes as they seem like apples and oranges to me. Granted, riding parks in an urban environment is likely a much different ratio than the crowd that hits trails further afield. Such as comparing the cross section of users at urban parks like Walnut and those on improved bike paths to the riders at mtb-specific trails like RHR.

FWIW the Levo has a button that assists while walking the bike. Though it is placed in an unfortunate location so as to be of little practical use. Best wishes on beating the COVID into submission! I think there is a higher instance for those on vacay, something about Murphy not playing fair...

That sums it up nicely. Especially relating to the "feels like I have a flat tire" bit. 😳 I appreciate having the choice. When I'm having an off day and climbs are taking away from my enjoyment of the ride I can opt for a little help with the pain, extend a ride that I might have otherwise cut short, and focus on the bits that are fun to me. On days that I'm feeling my oats, the bike will be dialed down to effectively only compensate for the extra twenty pounds of weight being carried, and I charge the climbs with pedal power, get to experience the pain and sweat my ass off. Though, honestly, it also makes riding in the excessive heat somewhat more bearable as well, as I control my core temp more easily by opting for a little help rather than pushing harder than I should in those conditions. The pedal assist aspect offers options that I have found gets me onto the trail more often, riding longer distance, and knowing that no matter what, I'm going to have a good time. Choice is always better than no choice.

... and how many of them were on fire? 😁

There are always outliers to be found. Without statistical comparison an instance as you have referenced doesn't provide meaningful bearing on whether folks can or can't get a long lifetime out of the product. The sort of response you offer is commonly called "spreading FUD" (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) and is more of an emotional tactic than it is statistically representative. Most anti-electric (bike, car, etc.) arguments are based more in ego and emotion than they are in meaningful fact. For example, internal combustion engine vehicles catch on fire much more often percentage-wise than do electric cars. (or bikes for that matter) Showing a photo of one burning shouldn't prevent people from owning an ICE car as the statistical probability of a catastrophic fire is still very, very low. Same goes for the e-bikes. Though, granted, there is zero chance of a pedal bike catching fire. This exposure to fire when compared to an ICE vehicle is greatly reduced with a battery powered vehicle. Though some manufacturers have made poor choices that have led to greater risk exposure, such as the recent battery recalls for Chevy Bolt, Porche Taycan, etc. The knowledge of their (pouch) battery design lending itself to catastrophic failure existed and this potential problem was widely known before they began production. The outcome should reflect upon those engineers' specific choices more than upon the vehicle class. The same can be said of e-bikes. You buy the brands with lower quality components and you get what you pay for. This has been true about mountain bikes all along, has it not? Are you saying you believe that Trek, Giant, Specialized, etc. would put less effort in making their e-bikes reflect the high standards of quality their pedal bikes have earned over the years? There is no reason for the manufacturers to not use the same technology in e-bikes that is used in e-cars. Economies of scale indicate the same batteries, electronics, and similar firmware/software can easily be applied in all applications. I cobbled together a robust solar charging, lithium battery, BMS/Inverter system for my van from parts available on Amazon. This is a well-established industry and quality tech is easy to come by.

You don't know much about modern Lithium battery technology. If you are leaving a laptop on the charger full time and haven't set the Battery Management System to charge no more than 70%, then a Nickel-based Lithium battery will have a shortened lifespan. (Nickel-based are used in application where low weight is a preference) Vehicle power applications will likely have the BMS designed to avoid over-charging. Tesla cars use the 2170 and 18650 batteries (same as used in many laptops) and are expected to provide a million miles on the car over the lifespan of the battery pack. The Specialized warranty for their e-bike batteries is 300 charge cycles without significant degradation and also use the 2170 and 18650 cylindrical sizes. In other cases where a good BMS is not used it may be a matter of owner discipline to get full use from modern batteries by unplugging the charger once it indicates the device has been fully recharged if the BMS is unable to manage this on its own.

Went out today and cleaned up the new rest area location. Next, I rerouted that section of trail for the second time in two days. Now, all riders will be forced against their will to ride through the shade just before veering right to take the old climb-out on across the road and up, up and over the top. I moved the trail signs and map from the old location to the new. The picnic table and water jug should get moved down there soon. Also, met a couple visiting from Israel who rented a van in Oregon and have meandered down through California, across to Colorado and their journey led them to chose Rocky Hill as a stop while sampling the trails in the USA. We compared notes on other trails they had hit, like Moab, Phil's World, etc. Next on their schedule is a quick visit to Louisiana, then up to Bentonville, back down to Tyler State Park and eventually finishing up in Chicago. What a trip! I hope they have a great time.

It seems that Ventoso Vista is so nice that one of the land-owner's offspring has decided to build their retirement home there. Impact on the trail system should be minimal, but we will lose that rest stop. I'll miss stopping there to enjoy the breeze after the climbs on Black Trac. We'll be scouting for other shady spots to relocate the picnic table. I'll likely reroute the existing trail tomorrow, it will be an easy fix. The new trail, Rabbit Hole, will benefit from the change with an addition of ~15 feet of elevation for the new starting point. I call this a win-win situation. 😁 Edit: While out there cutting out the short loop up to the Ventoso Vista rest area I spotted a great shady spot nearby to relocate it.

Did a little more work on the next new section. Got in about 4 hours before giving in to the heat. Now sipping a Double Dale's Imperial IPA as a recovery drink. Seems to be working... Gonna call this latest one Rabbit Hole. It has the potential to be an awesome run with a downhill bias as it should drop about 70 feet in under a quarter mile. Just follow the White Rabbit, or Alice. (or Neo for that matter) Also added some spice to Litterbox by making an alternate line over the crest of the tall hump on final approach to Crossroads rest stop, where Black Trac begins.

This level of cruelty is excessive. 😛 I'm sure the shame you feel for perpetrating such taunts upon denizens of the air fryer 🥵 will affect your sleep in some way. 😁 Y'all have fun chillin' in the ⛰️🚴‍♂️🍺. Meanwhile, the oven has been pre-heated for your return. 😉

Took a ride here this morning. They really are overdue for a trim. Other than this the trails were in good shape, though there is a tree down on Roosevelt with an easy bypass to the left. By going round and round making a figure 8 of the back sections we racked up a 16 mile ride, saw the same hikers several times, and generally had a great time. Buescher has some nice trails, and with a little creativity you can get some distance out of them by riding each section in both directions to keep it fresh. I do recommend making as many passes on Roosevelt Cutoff coming from the road crossing end as it is mostly downhill, fast and flowy that way.

Took a spin around the loop on Saturday. Conditions are still dry, of course. The ride was a hoot, as it always is. I stopped to do some cleanup in a few spots, clearing dead-fall and a few face-slappers along the way. Temps ranged from the high 70s to the high 80s while I was there, and the humidity wasn't too bad as long as I was rolling. The perma-breeze at Ventoso Vista was getting started and I took a minute there to enjoy it and the view before rolling on down to the parking lot. There were three other vehicles there taking advantage of the cooler temps when I arrived at 0800. These riders were on the trail and clearing the spider webs before my ride, thankfully. Three more vehicles had arrived by the time I finished at 1000 or so. Come get some of that early morning goodness while supplies last! Operators are standing by! 😁

It would be nice to visit again on an MTB, the terrain is fabulous. Will be following this thread...

Yeah, I think if I had been in that situation I would have done the same. I've walked up that hill a few times recently carrying tools in order to reach my van parked at Ventoso Vista at the end of a work day. It is brutal in the heat. From the gate you crossed back up to the picnic table is about 70-80 feet in elevation. The caution tape was news to me yesterday as well. Since seeing it, I've learned the landowner has plans to build a house or cabin there. I'm reconsidering putting more time on some fabulous trails I've started just below there until I get a better idea of their plans so I can route things to better accommodate their use of the proposed structure. Currently, the area within the tape blocks access and parking for key points for doing the trail work. Years ago I rerouted a trail at the request of the owner over their plans for a cabin that never materialized. It worked out well in the end as that was what became Corkscrew many years later. I'm going to try to learn more about this and then design accordingly.

Holden's Way is a great addition by Paul. Initially it was two parts, but on the map I just made that entire section Holden's Way from the T in the campground to Corkscrew, and shortened Grey's Way to only be the rooty climb that connects to Fat Chuck's Demise. (probably should take down the "Part 2" sign now) At Ventoso Vista, rather than hop the fence (private road), just take the Wellhead Road from the rest stop to Grey's Highway road and then go right. That'll get you back to the parking lot on double track. Putting in more HOME signs with arrows is on the list of things to do. Were you in the Tesla? I'm a huge fan of everything Elon.

Got a ride in yesterday morning. Starting at 0900 and riding 13 miles so as to be comfortably sipping suds by 1100 under a shade tree in the parking lot. Taking advantage of the cold snap that dropped temps marginally for a couple of days. Forecast shows we're back to busting 100 again and still I'm headed back out for a repeat on Sunday with plans to finish a lap just as it gets to about 90F. The conditions are dry and some of the turns are getting a little silty without moisture to tighten things up. The shade from the trees while riding and the breeze at Ventoso Vista rest stop are the saving graces for riding in the Summer at Rocky Hill. Paul's new berms on Karaway are well placed and will be perfect once they get some rain on them. I've also been plugging away on other improvements and maintenance a little at a time.

Paul put in another couple of berms on Karaway in the wee hours of dawn, well before the oven finished pre-heating. This was his last act of attrition prior to abandoning us to the whims of the the air fryer that is Central Texas 🥵 while he luxuriates in the mountainous clime 🥶 of Angel Fire for the next couple of months. Best wishes on the retreat to the Land of Enchantment, amigo.

Did an early ride today, starting at 8:30. Trail surface is dry and there will be some dust kicked up, so, spacing between riders is a good idea if you don't want dust in your diet. All the shade from the trees make this ride not too bad, even when starting at 87F and finishing up in the mid 90s. I recorded a new "Recommended Route" and will be uploading it to MTBProject and Trailforks. It will be called Plan B - A Figure 8 and is achieved by riding the upper trails in a clockwise direction. Do this by getting on Litterbox, going right, behind the picnic table at Crossroads Rest Stop (formerly Water 1). This way is Litterbox, Y-Knot, Loblolly, Lemonade, Tristy, and comes back to Crossroads Rest Stop on Karaway. Reverse to how most folks ride it. Be cautious of oncoming traffic when riding this as a clockwise section. Then, finish the ride by picking up Black Trac behind the picnic table and follow the normal loop back to the parking lot. It was a hoot riding this way. Like finding more new trail! Y'all come get some shade while it is hot out!

May be time to charge the lights and do night rides at 0400 in the morn. 🤷‍♂️

Oh, how I long for that chilly feeling of those highs in the 90s days once more. 😏 Today I managed to get in a couple of hours of trail work by starting as the sun came up and leaving once my clothes were saturated, by about 0830. If this can be repeated a few days a week perhaps some progress can be made on a project or two over the Summer after all.

Cleared a fallen tree on Loblolly yesterday. As I was wrapping that up I met two riders from Dripping Springs who had come to Rocky Hill to ride under the shade of the Pines and get off the open Limestone trails that usually cook them on that side of Austin. They gave me an idea for the next route I'll share with MTBProject and Trailforks. I'll test ride it and record it soon, if it works out. It was clearly the Ford of July in the parking lot. Four pickups and my van all bearing the marque. Getting ready to head out at dawn to get some work done before the oven gets up to temperature.