GFisher

Meanwhile Brewing Shadow Gate Schwartzbier. Pretty tasty. Had never heard of this place but it was the only brewery open on Monday on the way back into town from riding the eastern trails (Lake Bryan and Beuscher State Park). This is a solid place.

Probably somewhere that shouldn't be promoted.

Yep. I would play with it a bit before I yanked and returned it (deflate a bit/play with bead/over inflate a bit/ bounce-rotate it on the ground, etc) to try to get it to seat, but yeah, sometimes they are defective (especially if you bought it off ebay).

Recently I just decided to cut the tire off, which wasn't as easy as I thought it would be but it worked. Temperature has to be a factor, next time I will try to heat it up a bit with a blow dryer.

Please keep it legal cowboys... 🤠

I'm not sure I will totally write off BLORA, I will just try to get some recent beta and make sure it is good shape. Worst case I'd bail to Dana Peak (which exceeded my expectations).

Probably my most painful COVID loss (so far anyway) is Cap City Comedy. You get on the mailing list and get free tickets (usually Wed or Thur). We would go a few times a month, almost every week in winter. Have a couple ABW cans and maybe some chips and salsa and be home by 10. I will miss that place,

Went out to the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area last Friday. I hadn't been in probably 20 years. called ahead to make sure they were open. The parking area was really well maintained. The trails didn't look like they had been ridden in months. Way more cow and deer tracks than tire tracks. Was still marked well and fairly clear, but a fair amount of small branches down (and a couple big ones) had to stop twice to pull little sticks out of the rear D. It wasn't really enjoyable. They want you to call the office when you leave so they know if anyone is still out there (which is cool), I asked if maybe it had been closed for hunting for a couple months or something and the lady said no, it is just that not many people had riding since COVID. Seems like the exact opposite of every other trail. Maybe it is just too far under the radar (not on MTB Project and little info on Trailforks). Bailed after doing the intermediate loop, I could see the 'expert' stuff was in even rougher shape as I passed it a few times). I started on the green loop but lost the trail in some spots so bailed on that too. Went over to the Miller Springs area, there is some tight, steep fun stuff on the hillside as you come in off FM439 (not mapped) . Overall very flat and smooth, would be good for a beginner, cross bike or if you just happen to be in the area. The gate getting back there next to the spillway seems designed to keep bikes out, but bikes are allowed. With some effort you can finagle your bike through the slats. Went to the Nature Center on the north side first but it looks like some of the trails are hiking only so I went to the southern trailhead. Some pretty cool cliffs and caves back by the spring and historic bridge. I enjoyed it much more than BLORA but it was still only about a 4 out of 10, would have gone to Dana Peak but time was running short. Good brewery in downtown Belton - Bold Republic Brewing - for a good pint and decent pizza before heading home. The brewery and short ride at Miller Springs helped save the day as BLORA was a bust in my mind. I'd recommend getting some recent trail conditions before heading out. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7048275/miller-springs-nature-center-tennessee-valley-tour

I believe so, maybe even Texas from what I gather. The adjoining B Side was a good spot too (both on the swankier end) but great for their time back in the 90's. There was a fire at one point and that was the bitter end so to speak. Recognized now as the oldest brewpub in Texas, The Bitter End is one of the Warehouse District's anchors. It has a reputation not only for producing good beers but also for experimentation, often brewing once-only batches or beers only for special events. Style guidelines are also stretched a bit, like their recent Noble Weiss.

It was awesome. Bitter End as well.

Still my favorite crawfish etouffee of all time. That place was a trainwreck as far as the husband/wife and employer/employee relationships though.

Yep that is the one. It was definitely an old school vibe/setup.

Not bike related but there was a neighborhood Ace Hardware store super close by that was awesome for quick things in the middle of a project. Of course the big L and HDepot came along and their days were numbered. Now getting 2 bolts or a paintbrush takes an hour+.

Totally. It sucked when they opened stores here and had to start charging tax though, their advantage pretty much went away. I also want to say they could sell Shimano stuff cheaper than what an LBS had to pay at one point, but my memory may be slightly off.

Supergo was the shit! At the end of the year they used to buy all the remaining Specialized stock and blow it out the door. Pickup up a 1999 SWorks hardtail for $1099 or so (retail was like $2350 - dealer cost was like $1600) and a 2000 SWorks road bike for $1950 (retail $3250), each one came with a swag bundle too (like a cycle computer, camelback, etc) only catch was you had to have someone physically pay in the store , then they could ship it. Had a connection each time that I floated some cash for their time. For the hardtail I literally was about to fly into LAX, spend the weekend in Santa Monica (and visit that store) then fly home and still save a few hundy less than I could get it locally, but a buddy was about to head to San Diego for an ailing relative so he hooked me up.

I remember it as Austin Bowl O Rama. Ad plays at the end of this clip. It was still there in the mid 80's for sure. I think the building may have been vacant for awhile. I remember when BSS moved in they said they used some of the old wood from the lanes to build the work benches.

Yeah, BSS Lamar can definitely skew your perceptions I think. It used to be a bowling alley.

I haven't done the 'Tour' but rode it back in late 90's. Stayed in a BandB in Aspen and then rode back the same way. I hear Star /Taylor Pass is a good alternative one direction. Epic back up there at 12700ft+ it got cold and rainy and we were not prepared (white cotton socks, fingerless gloves, shorts, light wind jacket). Rained the whole way back, V-brakes fried, cleats packed with mud, crashed once. It was tough, I think about 25 miles of climbing from the CB side up but only about 15 miles from the Aspen side. Some nasty chunk hike a bike at the top***. Be prepared, but it is an awesome ride for sure. ***probably all rideable on a modern rig

I know there isn't much out there to begin with but how much is closed off? Is it still worth a visit for an easy spin?

You already blow through the Goodyear tires, at least on the back?

Indeed. I saw 3 other people on the trails in about 4 hours and they were all on the front half. Sublime.

My Octopus Teacher. Awesome watch on Netflix.

Good old Rocky Hill. Hadn't been out there in a few years. Still plenty of sweet singletrack in the deep woods but the clear-cutting and gravel operations continue to expand. Hurts to see.

You have to wonder when out of state stuff becomes available here.... https://www.cspdailynews.com/beverages/north-american-breweries-changes-name-reorganizes https://isitbigbeer.com/brand/florida-ice-and-farm-company The Budweiser 'InBev' portfolio is frighteningly large these days. Same with Heinekin.