Bart

I do like all the different blingy ano color options Hope has

Im a big fan of Magura. I had the fancy SL's on my Scott Spark I recently sold. Kickass brake feel and I never had any bleed issues. My new Giant Trance has Sram which I cant get used to, so I'll be swapping soon.

10 hours ago, AntonioGG said:

"I just want to get the fuck out of this trail I don't care if I finish!" is one of my favorite EB quotes ever.

 

I bet the high traffic is a problem everywhere.  St. Ed's is nuts.

 "NO PARKING"?  "IDGAF I'll park right next to the parking sign and 1ft into Old Spicewood Springs Rd and I'll ride my skateboard with my off leash dog on the road."

 

It's nuts!

I know it. I rode SATN last Sat early am for the 1st time in a while and could not believe how many peeps with strollers, double strollers, dogs with 20ft leash, no leash, toddlers on trails,berry pickers and bird watchers. Quite a shitshow navigating thru, but oh well, I'm sure everyone's loosing their minds. I just ring a bell and say, Howdy. 

Haven't been back there in at least a yr. 

I don't know, somehow we made it bombing down Forest Ridge on hardtails with crappy brakes and wire bead tires in the early 90's

Go ride Emma, Thumper and back GB regularly. Surely you'll get better

I did this with some Synchro wheels that came on my Scott Spark which are DT350 hubs. I went by MJ's and was surprises he had all the caps and a XD driver in stock. it's a real confusing nightmare with all the different spacing caps and drivers for different hubs over the yrs.

8 hours ago, 4fun said:

? For you I9 peeps. I just ordered an HG freehub for my torch hub so I can run a different cassette than SRAM. I figured while I got it taken apart I might as well put some new bearings in the hub. All my go to websites seem to be sold out of mtb torch bearing kits, and since the new freehub i ordered is complete with bearings I really only need half the kit. So here’s my question. Is the 61804 bearing the same as a 6804 and the 61903 the same as a 6903? The dimensions seem to match.

I'll betcha I9 would know

I pretty much ride the NW Austin area trails alot off 360, and those techy trails can stretch a 12 sp. chain quick, especially when your grinding away in that big cog most of the time. My new Trance came with an Eagle chain and that didn't last too long. 

Devo wore Bell lids? Are we not men? 

2 hours ago, AustinBike said:

OK, before everyone starts getting all worked up about the latest guidance from City of Austin regarding a face covering, here is some clarification relative to outside activities.

In the written order, they specifically say that face coverings should be worn if you are in public and you CANNOT maintain a 6 foot separation with others. It does not say that you need to wear one when biking, running or exercising outside.

Mayor Adler also posted a video address last night on Facebook. At roughly the 10 minute mark he clarifies it further stating that you do NOT need to wear a face covering when you are exercising IF you are able to maintain your distance.

I know in my neighborhood there are a lot of people going off the deep end demanding masks everywhere at all times. Clearly, it is not a bad thing to go above and beyond and wear a mask if it makes you feel more comfortable, but in terms of mandating masks on people who are running or biking, the city is taking a stance that this is not required at this point. 

Be safe.

I'm glad that's clarified as I had a lady yell at me as I was climbing Far West yesterday on my bike to, "you need to wear a mask"... 

13 hours ago, AntonioGG said:

They should tow them.  That'd fix things up.  I've seen on Old Spicewood Springs going W to E right after the parking lot, after the turn when it starts going down (semi blind turn):  dude skateboarding (not like using the road to go places, just using it as a place to practice moves), lady in a bikini with full tires with + more parked on the road with the door open.  Dude half parked on the road completely oblivious with the door open flicking me off when I gave a friendly super short honk, people with loose dogs on the road.  People parking as far out as the 2nd water crossing from the west...I could go on and on. Add that to the Fast and Furious usual suspects and it's a recipe for a tragedy.

I haven't ridden St Ed's in a 2yrs or so, mainly cause its scary riding Spicewood with traffic, but now with less cars Ive been venturing that way. Is that chunky climb up actually non dab doable now? Last time I was over there it was  a lot of non makeable drops going up. 

I gotta say as much as I hate not being able to ride trails, the round town rides have been awesome as there's very low traffic. I've been mixing in East of Austin gravel loops with some trails and hills on my Focus CX bike. I bring my bandana for stops. Early am is really weird without cars. 

Wow, have never seen a Ringtail. While riding through WC a few yrs ago a Red Tail flew right over our head and grabbed a Dove we spooked up. It was kinda surreal.  

On 4/2/2020 at 6:07 PM, The Tip said:

I have never had a bad encounter with a hiker yet. But if I DO, I have my response ready. If I hear something like you did I will respond, "Actually mountain bikers built this trail. But we don't mind sharing the trails we built with hikers like you. Let's just get along."

On 4/3/2020 at 4:18 PM, June Bug said:

I thought this afternoon might be a good time to return a library book (Trump and His Generals), because it's a nice ride on the Northern Walnut Creek Multi-Use Path to the library on Amherst and it had stopped raining.  The libraries are all closed but book drop, right? Lots of folks on the path but not crowded.  I took a raincoat.  

The library is closed closed.  The book drops are taped shut with signs about NOT trying to open them or push the doors open and for heaven's sake don't  leave you damn books by the door or under the book drop.  So...closed.  Really closed.  Shut.  Austin Public Library is also forgiving fines and extending checked out books for a month.  

 I was almost to the Metric bridge coming home and it started barely sprinkling, and continued to sprinkle, but really cooling off and looking ominous. Put on the raincoat, same all the way home.  Got the garage door closed, went in the house and now it's pouring, dark outside and thunder rumbling in the distance.  Cozy.

Partly read:    Wayfinding: The Science and Mystery of How Humans Navigate the World

On deck:     

• Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Tale of Destruction
• Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
• The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon   Kevin Fedarko is an amazing writer so I don't quite understand why it's taken 3.5 years to work my way through his book, but this is a good time to wrap it up. 

 

I got caught half way thru Thumper when the sky opened up. First ride back there in about a yr and lemme tell you that was scary af trying to get out during a deluge. I had to ride all the way back to 51st area in the cold rain. 3.5hr ordeal. I got home and hopped in my hot shower with a beer with all my gear on and had a creepy laugh 

I was riding a lap at my fave trail in NW Austin this am and came up on a dad with his 3 kids, I ring my bell way before approaching and he literally yanks the kids way off the trail and kinda has a deer in the headlights look at me as I said Good Morning as I passed, and his reply was, you shouldn't be on these trails on a mtb….I could tell they prolly just moved here from somewhere fancy so I just said, yall be careful and watch for snakes, I saw a Rattler yesterday crossing the trail.   

My last several rides quit auto synching to Strava off my Wahoo Element. Just wondering if the virus killed it.🤢

 I've been running the Terravail Cannonballs in a 38 tubeless. Nice riding tire. Light and supple casing.

I actually raced the Lajitas Desert Classic in like 95 on a GT Zascar with a purple Manitou fork. It was the yr they raced the course in reverse and we had to go down the big climb. That was the stiffest bike ever made and Im pretty sure that's why I have lower back pain.

Ive been building a house in-between Boerne and Sisterdale for the last 3 months and drive thru Devils Backbone area daily. Everyday I think, omg if somebody had some of this land to build some kickass mtb trails on...

I for some reason realized I have never changed my cabin air filter in my 20 yr old Tacoma so I pulled it out this am and it was completely clogged with yellow dust!

I moved to Austin in 05 from Houston and never had any allergy issues until Cedar Fever hit me hard the following yr. So bad I lost hearing in 1 ear from sinus snot slinging hell. Went to a specialist and got some type of steroid shot which fixed me right up within a couple days and have never had any issues since.  

Just be nice and say "ahoy", make eye contact and if they don't acknowledge, mention the Rattler you just hopped in the trail back there.

Love me some Saints but once you go Magura its just nex level kickass

19 hours ago, AustinBike said:

I will probably use it some of the time, but my daily ride goes around the lake, passing under pleasant valley into Guerrero park. Then over the Montopolis bridge.

Just found out that a new brewery opened up on Caesar Chavez, which might be nice for a mid-ride beer. Planning to check it out soon.

I do that loop several times a week also. I drop down that trail to Secret Beach and ride the trail along the river up to the dam. Pretty fun. The new brewery is called Central Machine Works. We stopped in last weekend on our round town beer ride. Place is Awe$ome!