Ridenfool

You mean in how they can strip meat from bone before consuming it raw, right?

As for ever trying the pedals being peddled, I've only had the one set of flats as I'm a cheapskate when trying out new stuff and found a deal on Sunrace (I think) flats. They do have the concave surface and seem to be a largerish pedal. After having done research on what others had found, these features seemed like a good bet toward giving it a whirl and so far I'm happy with the choice. I might someday opt for a thinner pedal (top to bottom) to reduce pedal strikes a little more, but probably not until I have trashed the ones I have. Coming from a dirt bike and adventure bike background going back to the early 1970s, I have similar experience over the years with motorcycle foot pegs as RedRyder3141 mentioned. Of late, the Adventure crowd and trail/enduro/MX riders have seen new pedal designs on the market that provide a wider and/or longer platform, and some even pivot a few degrees to help accommodate braking and shifting duties. This data contributed in selecting a flat for MTB. Two similar user groups have each found how a larger platform provides better control and reduces strain and fatigue on the foot. I think the linked pedal that started this thread seems to be a bit over the top in how long they have made it. However, if someone is experiencing foot pain, that pedal might be the solution for them. Or, maybe they aren't wearing the right shoes and for about the same price could try changing that variable before replacing the pedal. Or, perhaps meet in the middle and select some other slightly longer or wider pedal from any of a number of brands. Choice is always better than no choice.

Precisely prepared presentation.

To peddle pedals preventing potentially painful podiatry problems.

Just saying that riding flats with more slippery soles than an engineered rock-climbing or skating sole you may not fully realize what the fuss is all about.

Flats with pins ridden without grippy-soled shoes could be dangerous at worse and disappointing at best. Much like clipless pedals and cleated shoes work together to make a functional system the shoes and pedals for flats together are what make it work.

I converted to flats after fifteen or so years of clipless riding. On like the third ride with flats my ass was saved when the front wheel dug into a root on a downhill, launching the bike ass over tea-kettle. I just walked over the bars and down the trail as the bike endoed behind me, bending the seat rails when it hit. Probably would have been uglier had I been clipped in. I've broken a wrist when nearly stationary and fell on the downhill side and couldn't get out quick enough. Flats give me more confidence than riding clipped in. I preferred skateboards over skates for similar reasons. You can't jump off of skates, nor while clipped in. Bought some previous year's model 5-Tens from their old stock on the mfg website, cheap. Will likely look at Ride Concepts next, if I ever wear them out. https://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-gear/first-look-ride-concepts-livewire-flat-pedal-mountain-bike-shoe/ One investment I made was to add lightweight shin guards to my armor, in the case of pedal strikes, but haven't had a hit yet. I was quite amazed at the grip of flats, which seem quite comparable to clipless, except when bunny-hopping and other vertical lifting pursuits. That sort of thing is a new technique I have yet to master on flats. As for foot pain, I've experienced it after long rides on flats, and while using clipless over the years. Mostly in the arch and usually not noticed until the day after the ride.

Well, you should have been posting interesting content instead of that silly guit-box and gym foolishness. What were you thinking?

Still wrapping it up. Replaced the failed HDD, then needed to reboot the ESXi host and the boot USB cratered. Should have most of it all back to normal tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Then I can plan when to take the hours off and go ride. Which probably means more rain. Sorry.

No, it was that nobody was posting anywhere on the forum at 0400 while I was babysitting an IT problem. I was on site for 22 hours and read the entire internet.

If you are a licensed electrician, the contract you enter into with the state when making application for that license will likely define the liability exposure to some extent. The fact that you do that sort of work for hire, and have done so in the past, would also provide some traction in a suit, even if the particular work performed was done without compensation. Generally speaking, if money (or other value) didn't exchange hands there was no commerce involved. The ability to bring a civil suit for work performed, particularly unskilled manual labor in trail building, would be difficult. Sorta like someone finding a bad potato and suing the migrant worker that dug it up. Unless there is clear evidence showing some intent to do harm existed. Then, it very likely could be brought as a civil or criminal suit for damages. Otherwise, I think it would be a tough row to hoe to sue any specific volunteer trail builder who was in no way compensated, was not licensed to perform the work in some way, and has never performed those services for a fee. Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and the above is merely an opinion from some guy on the internet. Probably best to contact an attorney to get a professional legal opinion,

See, the magic is still there.

Where's the MTB Gear and Accessory category? With that in mind I'm selecting new spectacles for riding, mowing, outdoor work, driving, and that sort of thing. Any feedback from y'all on the following products in that use scenario would be helpful: Wiley X Climate Control frames The Wiley X frames come with a removable dust seal that closes the gap between frame and face to reduce the amount of crap that gets in the eye, and are available as sunglasses and prescription glasses. Varilux X progressive lenses The Varilux X lenses have bold claims. I've tried progressives in the past and just hated how you cannot just move your eyes to see things through them. You generally have to move your head up or down and left or right. Because of this I have favored bifocals that give full peripheral vision and reading ability without sacrificing peripheral distance vision/causing tunnel vision. The Varilux X Series claim to be a vast improvement, leaps and bounds beyond progressives of just a few years ago. Anyone have experience riding with these products?

If no money changes hands, nor any other consideration of value is taken as payment for the work that you do, then, you would be a volunteer on a project approved by the owner's representative. Like mack_turtle says, any risk/responsibility would be on the shoulders of those managing the property.

Maxta

Next! (echo ... echo ... echo)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Austin,+TX/Cortez,+Colorado+81321/@33.7902941,-105.1643453,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x8644b599a0cc032f:0x5d9b464bd469d57a!2m2!1d-97.7430608!2d30.267153!1m5!1m1!1s0x87396f97719cc121:0x5ab0790925832f47!2m2!1d-108.5859265!2d37.3488827 https://www.mtbproject.com/directory/8013812/cortez The combination of Cortez, Delores, and Mancos offer a variety of trails and altitudes to choose from. Other nearby attractions include Mesa Verde National Park and Canyon of the Ancients National Monument (which has MTB trails and FS roads from which some of the historic sites can be accessed) Phil's World is a really fun trail that is now being expanded significantly. Lots of good eats and drinks in town. Durango is about an hour East with more fun to be had. A visit to Ska Brewery in Durango is a pleasant diversion, my fave is their Steel Toe Milk Stout.

This doesn't make Woody a goat, does it?

Probably shouldn't mention the "A" word around the Wookie as he suffers from PASD, (Post Aquarium Sales Disorder), and doing so could trigger flashbacks, or some sort of a relapse at a moment's notice. Which he may then take out on the kids. 🐐🐐🐐

EDIT: Doh! Is there an echo in here? In order to make up for my redundancy ... http://www.sdmb.org/trails/ https://www.visittucson.org/things-to-do/biking/mountain http://tucsonmtb.com/modules.php?name=Forums

You have to admit that the Simpson's character and the Mojo character do live up to the style associated with the name. Whether or not a forum needs or will accept such "look at me" humor delivered in this way is the question. The patter isn't particularly creative, nor is it even all that funny most of the time. Anyone can toss out that kind of stuff on occasion and get a chuckle. It is all about timing and how crudeness plays in such contrast to the norm. That is when the delivery works best. When it becomes a permanent persona without any artfulness in crafting the delivery it loses this effect of timing and contrast that would otherwise carry it into the giggle zone. More often than not I feel a little sorry for Bartman for having posted them. Meh. I could take it or leave it and in no way feel Al's decision was inappropriate. With more craftsmanship such humor could add something to a forum. The mojo Bart doesn't have the direction the Simpsons' Bart does to craft the role into the sort of thing that can skate that thin line and continue to be creative, fresh, and amusing. With the Mojo Bart it is more like opening a spigot. Delivery is on or off and that is the extent of any creative aspect. More important to me is how Al takes the time to create a forum that makes it easy to find what I'm looking for with well defined groups and the flexibility to effect change as needed to build a place where riders can share the sport and all the things we relate to it. Having a new forum that grows with those that use it is a welcome addition to the Austin MTB picture. This is the more important aspect that I keep in mind. Austin Voodoo is a sub-group of a sub-group and there really hasn't been any effort made by the owner/admins to shape the content into a more useful form. It has been fun and I love the place, it is just that I find this place is a pretty nicely presented addition for local flavor. With this in mind, I have seen some forums that have an "anything goes" section to let people run off the rails any way they want. Often there is a splash page defining this aspect that folks must accept the consequences if they venture into those uncharted waters. When someone gets out of bounds in the other areas they are restricted to only posting in the place where people would go to find that sort of thing. Just a thought. Keep up the good work Al. I'm liking the new place.

I heard clips of "Miiiiiiiiiiiiiike!" on Dudley and Bob / KLBJ-FM this morning as they discussed the viral video and Wilco in general. My take, hopefully this might scare some folks away from moving to the Austin area ...

Where the hell is everyone? There's nothing to keep me amused at 0400, as I work into the wee hours watching a remote engineer trying to fix our hyperconverged storage array. We are into the 18th hour now, started Sunday morning. I won't be late for work on Monday, cuz I'm already here! You slackers are probably sleeping, dreaming peaceful dreams of dry trails and goats 🐐 and aquariums 🐟 and bacon. 🥓🥓 Ummmmmmm baaaaacon. Meanwhile I'm freezing in this empty office, borrowing some gal's sweater that was hanging on the coat rack, sippin hot tea and trying not to fall asleep as they need me to enter a password every hour or two. Just wanted to say how disappointing it is when there's no new content for me to read here.

"What's better than beer and doughnuts, ay? Free beer and doughnuts." - Bob and Doug McKenzie

Still, even with that strong evidence it could be a fake. There's no goat. Nor any aquarium.