WLemke

4 minutes ago, rugger said:

Chainless isn't a feature, more of a sections of trail (an there is a subtitle "Chainless" - in the video and he's embedded it with the timestamp - so it should start on Chainless. The most notable portion is when it 90 downhill, off camber on a slab at the end. I assume the reference is riding it W to E (opposite of the video). Making that 90 uphill that is tough to ride...though the very top before the Cradle has always been tough. Hell, I built that shite I haven't have ridden all of DD in quite a while. 

Geeze. I didn’t click on the video link before posting. Don’t I look stupid. Thanks. 

1 hour ago, Kobra Kai MTB Guy said:

Is anyone able to get up Chainless nowadays (W to E)?  It's almost unrecognizable in this video.  I sessioned all the harder lines on the east end of DD today and I couldn't even get close on that one.  The run up is just so eroded now.

 

 

What is the time stamp for “chainless” in the video? I’m really bad with the feature names. 

11 minutes ago, Kyle said:

Make sure you research what you need to do to ensure it heals with full function.

I broke my pinky one joint up.  I went to an ortho and an occupational therapist and followed their rehab steps with maximum overkill.  When it was fully healed I only had ~90% range of motion, which they told me was an unusually good result.

So don't assume it's just going to heal normally by itself.

The hand specialist ortho I went to was really good if you want his info.

Thanks. It’s a non-displaced fracture so there is nothing an ortho can do for me that urgent care hasn’t already done. I’ve broken my wrist in the past so I’m familiar with various exercises to get range of motion back in my fingers. 

Just a simple splint. I wasn’t given a timeline at the urgent clinic but was told to go see an ortho for a proper diagnosis. Honestly, I’ll probably skip that since it’s so minor. Google tells me 4 weeks so I’ll give it 1 week before I start some light road biking and 2 weeks before I start testing the water on the MTB again. 
 

Just now, AustinBike said:

Ouch! Were you wearing full finger gloves?

I was! They even have little rubber pads on the back of the fingers but at a certain speed even those won’t save you. 

I was riding double down this weekend and got a little too close to a tree. My pinky got sandwiched between the handle bar and a tree. Finished out the ride and went about my day but woke up the next day to a very bruised pinky. Went and got an x-ray and turns out I had a small fracture.

Just now, 4fun said:

@WLemke Isn’t the VPP and level link the same suspension platform. I think I even remember that there was some kind of legal battle over it 6-8 yrs ago. With the new generation of SC’s VPP it is not as visually apparent. 

It’s my understanding that the patent covering VPP expired and DB created their own VPP offshoot. I don’t have the knowledge to articulate how they differ but I do know that while they share a lot of similarities, there are some slight differences. 
 

I have a 2022 Bronson with the MX wheelset. So far it’s been a great bike. Compared to my previous 29er, I can definitely maneuver the bike around tight turns a little easier due to the 27.5 in the back, but still get all the benefits of the 29er’s roll over angle in the front. The VPP seems to do a good job at hiding the fact that you’re pedaling a 150mm bike. I also feel the VPP has a much more plush bottom stroke compared to my previous bike with DW Link which was a bit more jarring closer to the end of it’s travel. 
 

I’ve rented an SB130 in Colorado and had absolutely no complaints. Yeti has that bike dialed in so well. Honestly, there really isn’t much to say that isn’t already known about this bike.
 

Never ridden a Hightower but I will say the new Matte Evergreen color way is amazing. 
 

As @ATXZJ said, you can’t go wrong with any of them. Both SC and Yeti have a much better suspension platform than DB’s level link so whatever you go with will be quite the upgrade. 

I use a cheap $30 presta chuck off Amazon for my air compressor. It’s been going strong for 7 years. 
 

I can’t find the exact one I bought but it was something like this.

7 minutes ago, horncpa said:

Maybe someone misunderstood when someone else said that Snail was “straight fire” or “lit”

No Cap

On 4/3/2022 at 7:47 AM, Mattlikesbikes said:

I think you are getting close but not mandatory yet. Some of the guys I ride with are down in the 13-14psi range. 

That said, it doesn't hurt to run them. I picked up some Rimpact for fairly cheap front Hunt Bikes online and have been happy. Alternatively, I built a jig and a bunch of my bikes are running pool noodle rim protectors.

How long have you been running pool noodles? It was my understanding that open cell foam absorbs sealant, making the sealant useless. Is this not your experience? 

1 minute ago, June Bug said:

Sorry I missed your post.  Did you find a bike shipping box?  I have one taking up space in my foyer.   North Austin area. 

Box was acquired and the bike is on its way to its new owner. Thanks for the offer though!

Found a new owner for my Ripmo. Need to ship it back to its home state of California. 

Looks like Walnut only got .12” of rain yesterday which begs the age old question, “Is the R&I dead?”.  @Barry @CBaron How’s the dirt around your house looking?

I may have bought a new bike today. In unrelated news, anyone looking to buy a medium Ripmo V2?

Anyone got a nut status? GTG or no?

Anyone have a DT Swiss 3 pawl ring nut removal tool that I could use? 
 

21 minutes ago, TAF said:

Not a single bag of dog crap, either!

@Barry has been speaking directly to the dogs lately, bypassing the owners. His focus has been on being off leash west of the creek. I’m sure he can bring up this issue with them as well. 

2 hours ago, TAF said:

The trails at Walnut have really gone to shit -- so much over-use. It was worth the extra drive up to Cedar Park -- 90 min ride without seeing a soul, and a good crowd at Red Horn after.

I guess it’s subjective. With all the trail work that has gone on in 2021, I think that 80% of the changes are awesome. Windy is a great example of some positive changes. 
 

For the 20%, yeah, shit. One example that comes to mind is the sanitizing done at the end of BMX. I personally feel it was unnecessary. 
 

At the end of the day, the good far outweighs the bad. Most of Walnut is beginner friendly anyways. For an advanced rider, the changes made, in my opinion, have not dumbed the trails down, but have made them more fun to go fast. 

@throetStill on for 9am? Meet under 183?

Just now, throet said:

I know some of you guys like to start really early, but I'm planning to get around 9am tomorrow if anybody is interested.

I took off work tomorrow. In. 

8 hours ago, throet said:

Hey guys what would be the consensus on start time if we were to try and formalize this ride series? Keep in mind that time change is coming soon, and would enable a little earlier start for those who need it. 
@Chief @Cafeend @Morris @WLemke @bestbike85 @TAF @Albert @skinned elbows

I slept in this morning but do plan to go out around 9:30 or 10 if anybody is interested today. 

I’ve got a daily stand up at 10am so the earlier we start, the longer I can ride. 

8 hours ago, TAF said:

Does this ride still happen - if so, where do you start from?

It happens sporadically. @throet will usually blow the horn and we’ll assemble under the 183 bridge on the concrete trail. 

3 minutes ago, AntonioGG said:

I tried flats after many years of clipless and nearly killed myself because I tried to twist my feet off the pedals. Regarding loose or tight, the caveat with loose is that they take more rotation to release vs tighter.

Good point! I probably shouldn’t be giving advice on SPDs. I am on team crank bros. 

There isn’t a big tip or trick. only thing I can think of is that if you use SPDs, set them the the loosest setting while you get used to it. 
 

Really though, It’s all about muscle memory. Over the next few months you’ll be re-wiring your brain to instinctively twist your foot off the pedal instead of sliding it off. It takes time so just stick with it and I guarantee you’ll be dabbing just as fast with clipless pedals as you did with flats.