Ridenfool

Did go back for more on Sunday. Rode what I'm calling the "Fun Stuff" loop. Riding up Holdens Way, Corkscrew, Mini Me, Switchback, and Hard Boil. Then, turning left onto Black Trac behind the table at Crossroads Rest Stop. Also, picking up Rabbit Hole to get everything that is Sofa King Fun about these sections.

The Grind was hungry for a snack and as I bombed through that eroded notch at the bottom I heard/felt something, and milliseconds later as I engaged pedals for the ascent up the wood section there was a nasty noise and the cranks didn't turn. The Grind had turned my derailleur into a pretzel somehow. Ugh.

Fortunately, it was a short push up out of the hole, then over to a high point on Mini Me from where I was able to coast to the road and down to the cattle guard by the campground. Having a home court advantage made this not so bad. From there I could smell beer, as I had parked in the Campground. Due to the severe punishment incurred, twelve ounces of Real Ale's Devil's Backbone was prescribed, and seemed apropos.

A fun ride, except for the extra C-note to get a replacement derailleur on the way. I have aspirations of straightening the old one, if successful it might become a spare.

• EDIT: Gentle application of hammer and vice seems to have done a good job of getting derailleur cage and hanger back in line. Found I needed to order a new shift cable, and a pair of new wheels for the cage as the originals were badly bent in the carnage.

Plans are forming to mount an assault on whatever caused the damage, which will result in a little precision surgery on The Grind in order for other riders to avoid a similar fate.

Did a ride today, starting about 10:30. Finished around noon. It wasn't horrible, everything considered. Trails are dry and can be loose in the usual places.

I noticed that I really, really like riding in the shade quite a bit more than riding in the sun. Fortunately there is high shade to sun ratio at RHR.

Managed to go 14.7 miles this time. May or may not be back out tomorrow.

Good to know of a real world example.

Giving this further thought I can see how the heavier carcass of a motor vehicle tire might net better results with plugging than the thin carcass of a bicycle tire.

As for real world, in addition to the plugs, I carry a tube and patches should I be unable to make the tubeless setup work after a puncture. Same reasoning supports preferring carrying a hand pump over CO2 cartridges. The hand pump will never run out of air.

Another useful angle is running CushCore inserts. I have twice successfully ridden a mile or two back to the trailhead after a puncture that sealant didn't fix. I really love this solution overall. In both instances the tires were well worn and ready to be trashed, so no repair was made once back home. If I'd been further away I may have tried the plugs.

For contrast, I've run plugs for the life of the tire on cars and motorcycles with never a failure over tens of thousands of miles.  There have been many folk relate taking the precaution as mentioned above and it is certainly a good method. Though, I have never heard from anyone with personal experience of a plug failing once set well enough to hold air in the tire.

Plugs can be finicky. I've had to double-plug on occasion before getting a puncture sealed. There are plugs in my backpack, but I've not had a need to plug a bicycle tire, yet. (now, I've opened the door for Murphy to give me a visit)

I'd plug that tire and keep running sealant. But, it is easy enough to put a patch on the inside.

7 minutes ago, Albert said:

What time are you starting?  If I go out there, I want to ride everything.  😄

Today we started about 930.

For the big lap I'd start no later than that. (and check against the daily forecast temps for the hours you'll ride for verification)

This week is better, what with the Blue Norther blowing in to keep the high temps under the century mark.

Did another abbreviated ride today, adding in the three "L" trails to Saturday's ride. Lemonade, Loblolly, and Litterbox.

I mean, Y Knot* ride a little more while it is cool out? *Oh, yeah added that trail as well.

11.5 miles total. Started the ride on Holdens Way and finished before the temperature hit 90.

Then, sat in the shade up at the campground for a while shooting the bull before heading for the siren song of the air conditioning at home.

One guy I know, who owns over twenty mountain bikes, still thinks having three rings is important for him. As far as I know he has never ridden a 1X to compare.

He did finally get on board with a few 29ers in the stable, as a late adopter, so there is hope.

After a few weeks' absence I got back out there to take a ride. Got an early start at 9ish. Due to the heat and my lack of riding recently it seemed best to start early and make it an abbreviated lap. So, I only rode the hard stuff.

Skipped Kims Sandy Switch and Pams Picnic to start on Holdens Way, then continued up to the Crossroads Rest Stop and turned left onto Black Trac.

Found three trees down on Rabbit Hole and was able to move two of them on my own. Fortune smiled on me as I called a couple of riders clearing The Grind nearby to help with the third one.

Finished up with 7.5 miles total, as the temperature slithered into the 90s. Perfect timing. Visited more back at the van with the guys that helped me, while waiting for my bud who rode the full lap. Upon his return a few cold, refreshing beverages were imbibed and lies were shared until it got too hot to even sit in the shade.

It was a good day at the ranch. Trail conditions were about what you'd expect, dry, dusty, and loose in places, but overall very good. As always, the shaded trails were a joy to ride in the heat.

Hey June Bug,

I have a Salsa Big Mama with a dropper and 2 rings up front. Just a day or so ago I was considering making the transition to a 1X drivetrain in the hope that I might take it out more often. Great minds and all that.

Riding a bike with 1X was a game changer for me in reducing the mental overhead for keeping up with which ring I'm on. See an approaching hill and there is only one shifter to think about when time is short.

You may want to try the Gripshifter first, as it is less costly, but, consider the convenience of no left shifter at all while riding and that may sway your decision in that direction.

Your efforts are appreciated, and, if it bears fruit,

you may be considered both a gentleman and a squalor.

There is a technical term that describes that particular condition you shared.

"Soup sandwich" 🥵

Never give Murphy a reason to act. 😏

I've countless memories of things like that.

1 hour ago, AntonioGG said:

You forgot the biggest difference maker and why it’s better to ride in the hotter part of the day but with lower RH:  evaporation.

it’s not about it being yucky/gross if you’re dripping in hot sweat.  That’s a symptom of the problem, not the effect.  @quixoft beat me to it above.
 

those of  you that ride in baggies instead of close fitting technical clothing have yet something else going against you.

Well, no, that is the point folks should better understand. When the air temp is high enough the evaporation does not carry heat away from the body. There is no reduction in body temperature from the process.

Here's a reference I found in a search:   Link to Article

"Temperature

Elevated ambient temperatures affect the body’s ability to dissipate heat. Heat flows from a warmer body to a cooler one by means of conduction, convection, or radiation. If the surrounding air is warmer than the body, heat transfers into and accumulates within it. The body responds by increasing skin temperature, which may reverse the transfer and aid in heat dissipation, but the body has its limitations.

Air Velocity

Air velocity affects both evaporative cooling and convective heat transfer. When the air temperature is less than skin temperature (approximately 35 C or 95 F at rest), increased air velocity increases sweat evaporation and the removal of heat from the body. However, if the air temperature is significantly above skin temperature, then air movement in fact increases the rate of heat transfer from the air to the body, the same mechanism that makes a convection oven effective."

There are many other studies on what elevated body temperature can do to organs and mental processes, and none of it is very nice.

I am in agreement on covering skin in hot weather to reduce further heat gain from sunlight on the skin. There's a reason that people who live in the desert essentially walk around wearing a white tent.

I've found Columbia's Omni-Freeze Zero long sleeve to be particularly effective and keep an arsenal of them.

I rode RHR both the Saturday and Sunday before last weekend. Full laps each day, starting mid morning and finishing in temps of about 90ish (heat index higher). The following Monday afternoon I was throwing up, feeling awful, and now after over a week since I still feel drained.

It isn't worth the risk to health to macho up against this foe. Being unable to dissipate the heat will take you down.

Air temperatures above 92 do not remove the heat from the body via conduction, convection, nor radiation. It is really bad juju to be stewing in your own juices.

Tesla is actually prohibited by the Texas Auto Dealers Association's lobby-created statutes from conducting sales and marketing like that at their showrooms in Texas.

All manufacturers are prohibited from owning a dealership (discussing price, having sales, displaying pricing, etc.) in Texas, thus forcing car buyers to suffer through the painful time-consuming process and hounding by salesfolk they experience at all other privately owned dealerships stealerships.

Even in states where they are allowed to, Tesla doesn't play dat. Tesla sales are conducted via their website. An online purchase made at your leisure. They have bragged about how you can buy a Tesla in under two minutes, rubbing the nose of the usual, horrid auto sales critters in it.

At the last annual meeting Elon did say that at sometime in the future they may consider advertising. May. They have never paid for advertising up to now.

I think you have little to be concerned about. 🙂

If you have some time on the way back to Austin after riding at Rocky Hill you can now take a Tesla for a test drive at Buc-ee's in Bastrop.

They have at least one of each model to select from, and Beaver Nuggets in the store to enjoy afterwards. What a treat after a ride in the pines!

Most importantly, when volunteering to trim trail ALWAYS cut the branch flush with the trunk or flush with the ground and NEVER, NEVER cut diagonally as this will leave a spear.

This happened because someone "just helping out" wasn't educated about this.

Please spread the word about how dangerous this innocent mistake can be and watch for and fix any diagonal cuttings you find that can result in injuries like this.

18 hours ago, Albert said:

What time did you start?  I'd like to get out there and get an early ride in.  Is everything connected at the moment in an obvious fashion?  I'd like to see all the new stuff you and others have added over the past several months.

Thanks!

I went out at ~09:30. Trying to balance low temp with higher humidity. Wrapped up around noon, but most would finish earlier as they won't be stopping to lop branches along the way.

All the latest stuff was added into the existing sections. When you come to a road the trail should be directly across it in most cases.

Exceptions:

• There is a fork near the end of Holdens Way, take Corkscrew to the right. If you stay on Holdens Way you hit the road and are off the main loop.
• At the Crossroads Rest Stop (Formerly Water 1) take Karaway to the right. This intersection has six directions to choose from. All ways other than Karaway will make a shorter loop.
• After you finish Lemonade and are going downhill following the West Fenceline watch for Loblolly on the left. The trail bending into Loblolly is fairly obvious, but it is easy to fixate on the green deer blind further down and keep following the jeep road.
• Rabbit Hole is optional. Look for the sign on the right on Sofa King a little ways after crossing the road and doing the short climb. Sofa King begins as you make a hard right around the picnic table and the tree at Ventosa Vista Rest Stop, shortly after completing the switchbacks on Black Trac.

Keep Trailforks or MTB Project handy to confirm.

Let me know when and I'd be happy to ride along if I'm free.

The trail surface is absolutely perfect, and the shade from the trees is a welcome respite from the advancing temperature.

Rode an abbreviated loop today, skipping Kim's, Pam's, Rabbit Hole, and Home Stretch. About 13 miles was enough for me. It was 90F when I finished, happy to have gotten an early start.

Did take the tools with me and got a little more trimming done as I went.

Come get some of this shaded riding. An early start is recommended. (that way someone else clears the trail of spider webs before I get there)

Thanks mack_turtle! They no longer listed the 29 sizes for the e-Mazza, but ...

I Snagged 3 Vittoria e-Agarro in 29x2.35 at that price to meet the $50 order requirement for free shipping. https://www.rei.com/product/199709/vittoria-e-agarro-tire

Rocky Hill got about 3/4 inch of rain overnight. Very likely to be sloppy out there today.

About five miles away as the crow flies we got hammered with 4.4 inches of rain and some hail last night, so, it could have been a lot worse at Rocky Hill if that cell had scooched over that way just a tad.

Yesterday, I did a partial lap with some tools and cleaned up several trouble spots, opened up sight lines in key places, and fixed a hastily crafted reroute so as to flow better. Was planning on riding those changes today and will now be putting that off for a while as rain is forecast through Wednesday of this week. Might go do some dirt work instead if the weather allows.

Edit for an Update: A local rider went out there this morning and reported the clay as being "ungodly" 😳

2 hours ago, The Tip said:

I think I'm going to start using, 'bike bike." 

"The ebike was broken so I took my bike bike."

You could follow the winding trail of woeful nomenclature Iced Tea has endured. 

I always thought that "UNsweetened Tea" was an abundance of unnecessary syllables. There is either Tea, or, there is Sweet Tea. It isn't as if the sugar has to be taken out, is it?

To follow your example to conclusion, unsweetened tea would then be "Tea Tea."

Which does actually describe what it becomes eventually and has half the syllables. Win win!

For further reference there is "unleaded gas," as if they have to remove the additive to create it. It is just gas without the lead having been put into it.

So, with this human tendency toward misnomers of excessive proportion firmly in mind I offer what is obvious and seemingly inevitable,

"the unelectric bike."

/s     (a notation to inform the sarcastically challenged)

I rode a lap yesterday and went out again today with loppers and folding saw to clear some of the more annoying growth.

Had to call it quits as the cumulative wear and tear from yesterday and today had brought my riding prowess down to 'soup-sandwich' status. So 16.8 miles yesterday and 14.1 today. That is enough, I think.

The trail has some overgrown bits that are offset with lots of flowers topping off the tall grass, and this makes for a nice ride. Nearly all the wet spots have almost dried up.

There was rain in the forecast later today and once it heard I don't plan to ride tomorrow it cancelled and has been downgraded to "cloudy" instead.

Now, it's off to the rain closet, and then I have big plans that include collapsing on the couch for the rest of the day.

Took a lap today to see how things are and get locations for the fallen trees.

After a successful recon mission I went all lumberjack on the downed trees to have a clear loop for the long weekend.

The trails were in fine shape. A handful of gooey spots, but nothing sticking to the tires and they should continue to dry out over the next few days.

There was some blood loss. I could tell because when I swatted the mosquitos they left red spots. I didn't have any problems with them while riding, but when stopped and/or working on trail they zeroed in on me. Taking precautions with spray, witchcraft, or other deterrent would be prudent.

Forecast is looking good for the Holiday weekend.

Come get some in the Lost Pines.

I stumbled across a little perspective last weekend.

Paul Uhl's son, Tristan, won the three lap expert class on Sunday at Warda with an average lap time of 34:32.4. Then, he borrowed an ebike to race in the ebike class for two laps, for last event of the day. His average lap time on the ebike was 32:01.2 (and he was flying on the ebike when I saw him come up the hill before Mule Trace). He was only ~90 seconds faster around the course on the ebike and he was the fastest rider there that day. Riding the ebike provided a gain of only 10 seconds per mile.

This supports my experience. I've found my average speed when riding a familiar trail on the ebike is about the same as I used to see when I was younger, and riding without the assist. Only, now I can again go the distance when riding with folks and plan longer distance when riding solo than I had been. To me, planning rides to go for shorter distances was a disappointment for me.

Riding an ebike ain't about being faster. Getting the most from each ride as I get older (also 64) is what ticks all the boxes for me. The more time I can spend flowing through the woods, the happier I am. YMMV