Ridenfool

Just so you know, delivery is expected on Saturday ... 🌧️

Okay, it is raining out there like a cow pissing on a flat rock and I feel I may have had a hand (or foot, as it were) in bringing this on. All I did was order some pedals. This reaction on the part of Murphy/Trail Gods/Mother Nature/whatever seems a little over the top. Especially considering how much prime trail time has been lost to weather this Fall/Winter so far. Just the same, I feel like I should apologize.

Another way to look at it is that the numbers really don't mean anything. Achieving repeatable results is more about whether the reading on the pump is consistent. If you find that 100psi indicated is what works for you, airing it back up to a 100 reading on the same pump should provide consistency. Regardless of whether the actual pressure is 95 or 105 you are able to duplicate what you have determined to work for you based upon the reading on that pump.

As I understand it you only lose pressure when attaching the pump. When removing the pump the Schroeder valve is closed before the seal breaks and what is heard escaping is only the pressure remaining in the pump's hose.

I ignored the results of the gopher mound tests and went out today in hopes it had been long enough to dry somewhat. It wasn't. Had so much accumulation of mud, leaves, rocks and pine needles that my front wheel was stopped before I made it to Water 1. The chain wouldn't stay on the NW ring, I turned around and headed for the water hose to get it off the bike before it became concrete.

I aim for a buttery smooth ride. When I'm out of shape, like now, I can run less pressure as I'm not hitting things as hard as I would were I in more optimal condition. Keeping an eye on the o-rings is a consistent feedback mechanism. As my physical conditioning improves I'll likely be adding air to keep me in that 90% or so travel use range. Carrying a shock pump adds weight on every ride. Carrying more weight increases the level of workout, thus, leading to better conditioning. Or, so I keep telling myself every time I hoist that heavy pack onto my back.

I always seem to end up using significantly lower fork air pressure than recommended for my weight. The shock recommendation is often enough pretty close, though the mfg spec may be for 20% sag and I prefer 25-30% for most of my riding. As a general rule, after initial sag setting, I'll set the o-ring on fork and shock on each ride to monitor whether I've used most of the travel (90%?) at some point. If that is not the case, I'll lower the pressure some to dial it in to better make use of all that the suspension offers for my riding style/location.

IN Will also be using the Smile.Amazon link for all Amazon purchases to send some monetary love to ARR.

Can a person join ARR, and/or get on an email notification list for club news/events/etc. without having a Facebook account?

To clarify, my comment wasn't intended to imply the decision was not a good one, I'm only lamenting how more and more of the things I might like to more easily access are only found on Facebook now. I've never had any interest in being somebody's product that they can sell for a profit. That's just me. It wasn't meant as judgement toward ARR's decision. I understand the burden that running multiple sites places on volunteers.

I've never used Facebook. Any company or organization that only uses that medium will likely not reach me with their shared info.

Decided to haul the missus around shopping today. Also realized last night that I had only booked 5 nights instead of the 6 intended, which works out well as tomorrow will be verrrrrrrrry cold anyway and I'm happier getting on the road a day early. Thanks all for the suggestions of Lake Atalanta and Hobbs. Next time!

🤣🤣🤣

Optionally, visitors can get a room or camp outside the park in Study Butte, Terlingua, or Lajitas. Then buy the state park pass at the Barton Warnock Center and start their BBRSP rides from the trail head there.

The front finally got to Bentonville late yesterday. The accumulation on the weather.gov site indicates between 2 and 2.5 inches fell overnight in the 72712 area. There must have been a lot of folks getting new bikes here. In anticipation for this eventuality, I spoke with the people at Phat Tire yesterday about any trails that can be ridden after a rain and they pointed me toward some of the Northernmost trail heads in the Back 40, all the while strongly cautioning about just how slick the embedded rocks will be until they have dried. Considering it will be overcast with a high of only 61F I think I'll err on the side of caution. There's enough options on things to see and do here other than visiting a local Urgent Care, or taking part in rescue operations, ... as the victim. 😨 Rescue crews are so often less concerned about the bike than the person and I can't take the chance the bike may be left behind. My thanks on this trip go out to Hammer Nutrition for Recoverite and to Floyd's of Leadville for the CBD RecoveryProtein powder. Which, when a scoop of each mixed with water was ingested immediately after a ride, left my legs fairly fresh for the next day.

Well, it isn't an either/or as I plan to ride both. Tomorrow has nicer temps. So, I'm gonna save Coler for Wednesday. That'll give me all the time I need there, I can ride till I can't pedal back up to The Hub for any more. Hoping to sample each route down from The Hub at least once, and maybe pick up some of the other trails in the preserve. I may have Blowing Springs all to myself today while everyone is tearing into their turkey. Also want to sample the trails by Bella Vista Lake, which are reported to be worth the stop. Afternoon Edit: I rode everything Blowing Springs had to offer. It was a lot of fun and in the end felt like there was a lot more downhill than uphill, defying physics. Next, went around the corner to Bella Vista Lake and rode Smugglers, Wonderland, and returned on Sally. These are worth the stop for what might look like not much trail. Huckers will love Wonderland, I just rolled it and had a good time, except for the grueling climb to get to it. Once there, those so inclined can do repeats easily enough as it is a lollipop. Only had about 9 miles for the day at that point, so hit the Kum & Go for a chicken and waffle sandwich because Xmas (nothing else open), and somehow came to the brilliant conclusion that I should give Coler a whirl. Oscar's let me know I was done for the day by the time I got to The Hub. Considered Rock Soft, but decided to take Fire Line down, rolling all the tabletops as I'm just not comfortable jumping on flats yet. Then backtracked on Oscar's around to the lot, packed it up and headed for the house. Day 2 was a success!

Oz trails are dry today and tomorrow. Only 8 hours or so down the road ...

Larlev, this VRBO is efficiency-size, perfect for two, and looks to have been recently remodeled. It comes well-equipped with pretty much any appliance or utility you need. Stocking the fridge is all that's needed. A Wal-Mart Neighborhood Store is a couple of blocks away. 5 minute walk to downtown for coffee, food, pubs, and Phat Tire bike shop. All American trailhead is three blocks to the East, and Coler is a short ride to the West.

Day 1 on the trails was a blast. Chalked up about fifteen miles that included All American, Peak a Boo, Rocking Horse, Tiger, several parts of Black Apple Creek, Tristan (Oz's brother trail to RHR's TrisCross, also named after a Tristan), Red Barn, last part of Ozone, Urban, Seed Tick Shuffle, Tatamagouche (I'm calling it Tendergoochie), Medusa, Armadillo's Last Stand, then Razorback interstate back to downtown. Air conditioned riding all day long with a start at 42F and high of 54F at the end. Wrapped it up with Green pork curry (excellent) at Thai Cuisine on SE 14th St for Christmas Eve dinner, followed by a Steel Toe Milk Stout I had brought along. Sampled a Coffee Stout at Onyx Coffee Lab yesterday that was pretty tasty as well. Christmas day will be either Coler or Blowing Springs, probably gonna have to flip a coin. Then the other one on Day 3. Thanks to people in the area getting lots of bikes and accessories from Santa there is forecast over an inch of rain on Thursday, then the temps head for the basement, so that will probably be all the riding I'll get to do while here.

This thread is getting long ... ... maybe someone should gas up the chopper?

If you're bound to or from Bentonville for biking, and have a hungering hankerin' hollowin' out your innards you might find rural epicurean euphoria in Eufaula with an exit for With a name like that I had to stop. Had the BLT, of course. 😋

I didn't get up to the North end, but it has a few green trails that might be gentle. There's miles of paved park road and a lot of retired Corp of Engineers asphalt roads, but the COE roads aren't on the park map.

I've been watching Bentonville Trail Porn on the computer at work ALL DAY today. Fortunately the IT department is pretty lenient about this sort of thing. Oh, and ... I-am-the-IT-department Departing tomorrow to spend the holidays riding in Wonderland (AKA Area 51l) and other NWA trails.

A welcome distraction if you are passing through, or in the area and want to ride. A 15+ mile loop netted 2000' of ups and downs, some windy trail, some tech, some connectors on decaying retired Corp of Engineers park road (kinda reminded me of the Madrone at Canyon Lake in this respect). A longer loop would easily be possible and the park literature indicates 50 miles of trail exist. There is a lot of signage, some of which didn't match the park trail map, and, there were some spots that didn't have signs and could use a marker. TrailForks is your friend. Water was available from taps at several places along the way. The park is shared with hikers and equestrian users, though some of the horse trails run parallel to purpose built MTB trail where the critters aren't allowed. I didn't see any sign of horses, but there are sections with grazing cattle that were unfazed by my passing. Several restrooms have showers and some of the facilities are heated (which was nice for a December ride). I'd hit it again if I found myself in the area.

I've known enough Austin riders who have accepted the fact that the riding here is pretty much always going to be a grunt. To the point that they think that any riding that isn't a grunt, isn't riding. Too bad for them. My experience is that riding the Limestone makes Austin riders better equipped to enjoy less threatening trails. This doesn't make a flowy trail worse, it just means that a rider most familiar with Austin trails can experience the things that MOST OTHER MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDERS enjoy as a matter of course every time they ride. That is the sweet, sugar-coated stuff MTB dreams are made of. Particularly when the trails have been crafted specifically for the mountain biker to make the most of. This is the biggest reason that I travel to ride in other places. To try out something new and different. The folks who think they don't like smooth, flowy trail can save their vacation time and disposable income for other things. And, I won't have to listen to them whine while enjoying all the other trails the world has to offer. I'll be driving to Bentonville on Sunday for a week of exploration that I fully expect to enjoy until I can't enjoy any more of it. HO HO HO Your Flowage May Vary