Barry

After 6700 miles, the 5010 was way overdue for a bearing change. So this was the scene this weekend during the rain: Since these tools get used twice a year at most, I fairly went cheap with pretty much everything. I ebay'd my press kit. The lead screw was a little thinner than expected, but it all worked flawlessly and I recommend it. You can configure it any number of ways to press in our out bearings under various scenarios. I Amazon'd the slide hammer. It was a blast to use, and works great for the medium size and larger bearings. But for some reason I couldn't get the smaller bearings to pull out with the hammer. I eventually broke the smallest collet trying to get it tight enough to pull out. But the press was configurable enough that I was able to press out those small bearings without issue.

I bought and ran their 10-48 XD cassette with my Shimano 11 speed set up for about 3 months. At 304 grams, the thing is crazy light, and it's a work of art. And the install is dramatically easier than the E13 version. But...after about 3 months (1500-1600 miles, give or take) the thing started creaking like mad in everything but the 48t cog. But Garbaruk is a great company, and offered to send me a new one, free of charge or shipping. I asked for them to send the 10-46 version, and they did. But it never showed. They never sent the tracking number, and it seems that it was lost or stolen at some point. But they're a great company, and offered to send me another new one, free of charge or shipping. And they sent a tracking number. So now I have a used and creaky 10-48, and a new in box 10-46. But I'm currently running my heavyish E13 9-46 which I also wrangled out of E13 free of charge...

Looks like some of us will have plenty of time to get into irrational conflating arguments tomorrow when Austin initiates a Shelter in Place order. Austin American-Statesman: Coronavirus shelter-in-place will be issued Tuesday for Austin and Travis County. https://www.statesman.com/news/20200323/coronavirus-shelter-in-place-orders-being-prepared-for-austin-travis-county

Open ear or bone conducting headphones work really well and allow you to hear what's going on around you. You can go really expensive, but these work really well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081Q9T6BP/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_PBIDEbWF2G49T

Yeah! Brimstone is Texas in a glass. It smells like a brush clearing fire while riding at RPR or FRR.

This is what barrel proof bourbon, rye and Islay malts are for.

This is true. But regardless of physical limitations, everyone has a responsibility to be cognizant of their surroundings. Hell, I think it was on the DeathMarch, we came across a blind hiking group deep in the GB. They had a guide and it was a super easy trail interaction. At least they weren't looking at their phones.

Trails were in good shape yesterday, and we didn't get apreciable rain last night. Today's afternoon forecast has been all over the place though. A few hours ago it was 55% at 4pm, now it's 15%. But so long as there is no rain, I'll be out there. I'll see you from a responsible distance if you're there!

Yeah man, not at all. Like others have said, so long as you're not oblivious to your surroundings, all is good. Indeed trail running is more compatible with MTB than hiking. Or as many "hikers" do in public parks, slowly stroll through the trail while looking at their phone.

Oh, I'd gladly give them $5. But it's pretty frustrating that they were closed for dsy use while the outer lot was nearly empty.

It seemed especially stupid when I noticed the Pedernales Falls Rd. parking lot only had 3 cars.

"What Pace Bend race," asked Covid-19.

EMF Scientist are kind of Unbelievable, to pun an old song. They're very much akin to the many scientist (in non-biology fields) who are "skeptical" of evolution, which has been hilariously rebutted by "Steves." But go ahead with your aluminum foil hat. Because "so far the apparent risk from non-ionizing radiation from radiofrequency devices appears to be little to none..." https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/scientists-sign-petition-warning-about-emf/

Yeah, even for day use. No matter. Flat Creek Xing Ranch appears to be fully open again. Just pay them and park there and ride a bit of both. Ride over to Pedernales and ignore the permit required sign.

I didn't watch their video. But I guess this thing is specifically marketed specifically to the "fire road climb -> downhill run" segment that has been discussed.

There's ugly and there's ugly, and then there's this. Yikes. And the "MX" branding with a dual crown fork? That's just...hilarious. I'll give it to them, that's good trolling.

It's best now to call or use the online reservation with any TX state park. Even freakin' Pedernales was closed for capacity this weekend.

I haven't. I bet my wife would dig it though. There are a few flavors I can't personally handle... these flavors are hops (IPAs), juniper (gin), and anise/licorice (...in drinks anyway, like absinthe or ouzo, but I can tolerate anise in small amounts in sausage or sauce).

Not my thing, but I did get a can of Slow & Low once just to check it out. Not because I'm a big fan of bottled (can'd, in this case) cocktails, but because I'm a huge fan of Cooper Spirits' other efforts. Mostly they're known for keeping Alberta rye from being blended and proofed down to Canadian rubbish. They (like WhistlePig and a couple others) rescue Alberta distilled whisky from this fate, and sell it to us. These are some of my real goods (apocalypse ready) from Cooper Spirits:

So it's hippies then!

I've been stopping for the past two years to block b-lines at The Puzzler. Almost every time I go, the low b-line is open. But every time I leave it, it's closed. Two weeks ago I spent quite a while gathering extra sticks for the low b-line. Like I said before, because fuck 'em. I imagine they feel the same about me, and probably threw a shit-ton of my sticks between the trees. The thing that I don't understand though--why this particular spot? Why ride the DD with all that entails, but constantly make b-lines around The Puzzler?

I don't want to overstate it, the trails are very ridable. They just don't see the volume of use that a Walnut or Brushy sees, so that means more face-slappers and sticks on the ground. I assume the regulars who live nearby are doing whatever maintenance gets done.

Yeah, the trails on the heatmap are pretty okay. I'd say there kind of like a not-very-much ridden Peddler's Pass before all the berm work started, or maybe like some of the SATN trals, but more overgrown. If I lived real close, I'd probably ride them a bit. I've been twice now as part of a much larger ride and for that purpose, they're pretty okay.

Early report sounds like it was a bit hasty. She said Inner Log was absolutely perfect and completely dry--but then one small section at the end was really pretty bad. And then Outer Log was perfect. Edit: she ended up giving up on it. Her tires were kinda packed from that one spot. Think I'll roll over to 4C instead.

Early report is that the Log Loops are dry...