The Tip

I don't know if it's real or not, but whatever it is, it's now covering even the streets here in South Austin.

Covid-wise I am not worried about this event. We've been camping a lot this year and we have never felt unsafe. Camping is not issue. I have also participated in group rides. Even doing post ride imbibing in a group circle. We just insure more spacing. So there will be a pretty big circle around the communal fire. But it should work. We just have to be ever diligent about spacing I have yet to read anything about any super spreader OUTDOOR events.

We were on the trails above Bull Creek a year or so ago and there was a group of maybe 8 or 10 people running their trucks on the trails up there. It was very interesting to watch. I've also seen a group that has an area right next to the Mary Moore Searight parking lot. They race against each other.

Yup, it's a thang bro. 😄 Like Andy said, I would guess at least 75% of the booked sites are for the event. That's why I encourage folks that are on the fence to book now and decide later. You can always pass along your reservation to someone that has decided later on to go if you find you can't so it wouldn't even cost the $10 cancellation fee.

And that, to me, and I'm just debating and not calling anyone out, is a poor argument. You resent them for having more fun than you. "I worked to get up here to enjoy this fun down hill run and THEY didn't!" But they are not degrading your experience at all. You are not having to listen to their motors. You are not getting rooster tail flotsam thrown in your face. They are not rutting out your trail for future use. The only problem you are having is that "it's not fair." And again, I argue that the same resentment probably occurred when the hard tail rider scoffed at the "new fancy" suspension bikes, that made the trails easier. "Hell, ANYone could ride these trails on THOSE things!" I use to be ambiguous about them, but the more I have thought about it, I've decided I'm okay with them. I don't want to be the "stay off my lawn" guy, (lol) that resents the new thing. Logically I can't come up with valid arguments against them.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232570/availability Look at the link. You can book from there Cherokee Drive and Camp Loop are the roads in the Dana Peak camping area

Just to voice my vote. I am fine with no throttle e-bikes. When I eventually get one I hope I'm still riding it when I'm 85. They don't make noise, they are no worse towards tread degradation on the trails, they only go as fast on trails as the rider's skill allows, and they let an aging demographic still have fun. I think the biggest argument against them is, "I worked hard for that KOM. I don't want someone to beat me using technology." And that's not a strong argument. I am now able to do lots more on my 29" full suspension, dropper posted, carbon, geared bike, than I was able to on my 26" steel rigid. Don't hate me because of that!

I would think so. Dana Peak 254-698-4282 But they are closed for the winter. I haven't been able to get a hold of them.

Cool. Are you planning on camping?

I really miss going to the Desert Fests in Big Bend. So much fun. Ride, socialize in the evening, repeat the next day. But I don't miss the 16 hour round trip drive to get there! So a group of us are replicating that experience at Dana Peak on Friday April 9th to Sunday April 11th. We already have 25, mostly SATN riders, that have reservations for either an RV site or a tent site. There are three Friday RV sites left and five Saturday spots left. There are also lots of tent sites available. Just like the Desert Fest, here's an opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. Grab a spot now, decide later if you can go or not. It only costs $10 to cancel https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232570/availability Or, just plan on coming out for some day riding. Most of the folks that are planning on coming have never been to Dana Peak. So it would be great if those that have been there would come out to lead a group.

1/2/2021 Talked to a family on Rudolph today at 2 pm. Tall guy with a vandyke beard, woman, and baby in a stroller. Discussed our problem. He said he runs that trail all the time. "I'll keep an eye out." I go up the trail and find three blockages. Not that they did it, but interesting that they didn't clear those easy to clear things. But I know that hikers rarely do any sort of trail maintenance at all.

I remember a group of us Austin riders laughing out loud once on a ride in Big Bend Ranch State Park during the Desert Fest. Someone from Houston was whining, "The trails are so ROCKY here." 😄

LOL. I use to laugh pretty hard at his Cornell stuff. Cornell is sort of the poor step child of the Ivy League. So his bluster about it was just funny. Ed Helms gave the commencement speech one year.

Cool. I graduated from Cornell in 1979. I was just a roadie back then of course. I just watched some YouTube mountain biking at Greek Peak. Nice that there's that option there now.

Video is too long. Didn't watch to the end. What happens?

Yup. It sucks not being able to read a text, or a ride app, without them. They fit in the same little bag with my phone.

Yes, my current goal is to never set a goal again.

Tube, four allen wrenches, multi tool, three CO2s (two 16s, one 25) with dispenser, and tire levers, are all in a water bottle in the frame rack. I put hook holes in the bottle so a small bungee keeps it secure in the rack at all times. Weighs 27 ounces total. Hydration pack has a folding saw, a couple of energy bars, a preloaded bacon plug tool (in an easy to get to strap compartment) a small towel (to clean reading glasses and for first aid), a couple of bandages, and a small roll of trail flagging tape (to mark hazards). I altered an under saddle bag to clip to my hydration pack's shoulder strap. It's just big enough to carry my phone in. Much more accessible to take pictures and answer (if I want to. Don't call me when I'm on a ride!) than when it was in my hydration pack.

Celis Brewery, Austin’s first brewery in nearly a century, brewed their first batch of beer on March 19, 1992 and became the fastest-growing microbrewery in the U.S. by 1995. The brewpub scene erupted in Austin with HB 1425 passing in September 1993. This allowed bars and restaurants to brew/sell beer on site. Billy Forrester, instrumental in the passing of the law, opened Texas’ first brewpub, Waterloo Brewing, in December of 1993. Soon after, you could also visit The Bitter End Bistro and Brewery, along with Copper Tank Brewing Co, which both won an array of medals at the Great American Beer Festival. In addition, Lovejoys Tap Room and Brewery joined the brewpub scene, becoming a long lasting local favorite, only closing it’s doors because of the rising rent at its Sixth Street location. Live Oak Brewing Company opened in 1997 by two homebrewers and continues to be a staple in the Austin beer scene. Each played an integral part in what we come to love about the Austin beer scene…..trailblazing!

The wife just got back. She cleared three things on Rudolph

I forgot to post from my Monday afternoon ride. 2 pm, Rudolph had four things across the trail. First one was near Davis entrance. A log perfectly perpendicular to the trail. There was also more elephant activity in the same elephant activity area. A big tree pulled down to block the trail. A tree bigger and taller than something a normal person could pull down by themselves. Very strange. Bambi was clear at 5 pm

I believe all of what he said. The fact that he said, "We had no supply issues all year," was huge. And yes, the number of businesses the pandemic has helped is small. But there certainly are some that are reaping huge benefits.

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Any firewood left? If so, which streets? We had a friend on Pinehurst who's house was demolished. We've gone to see it. Seems like all those lots are cleaned up.