The Tip

Unfortunately I think that the most infectious thing we have to deal with is "stupid." Definitely a pandemic of that going on.

What a relevant video for me! I love my Trail Boss tool set. Works as good or better than it's designed to. Also enjoyed seeing that particular task they did. Very similar to two projects recently completed in the SATN. I haven't had a chance to see how either Bambi or Poke Eye Man's drainage solutions did with the most recent rain. I think it rained enough to put them to the test.

This is an excellent example of why everything is so messed up. Here this Business Insider magazine article is telling us the virus can live on a mask for seven days. Then it quotes a study from The Lancet as it's source. But now recently the CDC has refuted that published paper because it wasn't a verified study. So all our news and facts we get are basically just from an ever evolving rumor mill. But even if it COULD live on a mask for seven days, how does that justify not wearing one? If the virus is on the inside, great, all the better. It did it's job by preventing the wearer (who is already infected so it can't hurt them in a greater amount) from infecting someone else. And if the virus is on the outside, great, it did it's job not allowing that amount to be breathed in. So now take the mask off, wash it, and wash your hands. Why is this such a hard concept.?

The very small sampling on this thread shows how much things will change in America. It was an easy prediction to say that some companies will change to allow employees to work from home forever. But I think it will be even more than I initially thought. Commercial real estate is going to take a hit. There is going to be a glut of office space available. And retail space will also suffer through a glut with all the businesses going belly up.

The entrance to the trail to the trail loop Lawyer talk: This is at the entrance/exit of the Flow Trail loop: There are high consequences of fail on three of the gap jumps. Take a discovery ride down before you try to send it: The Starting Gate. 135 feet of drop in 2/3 mile on the Flow Trail: The first big feature. Gap on the left into a big berm, drop on the right into a smaller berm: The three features are signed. Even the blue bypasses need care to roll: Milton's Shortcut is designed for those wanting to do multiple runs of Flow Trail. It's all one way so sessioning features is not an option.

Ah! That makes sense. Too bad.

Well poop. It's set to "everyone" can see. Disappointing. I posted a ride yesterday too. Can you see the pictures on that ride? Maybe there are too many pictures on the one I just posted.

I went out to ride it this morning. I took pictures of all the new signage. Some of the old temporary ones are still up too. Also pictures of each feature. I comment on each picture. https://www.strava.com/activities/3634844619 It's interesting that Return trail is pretty beat in. You won't get lost. Interesting that Return looks pretty good because the Flow Trail itself is looking kind of shabby with vegetation growing on it. I'm sure that will change quickly though. I am compelled to give another warning. Please take a slow first run to look at the features. Then take Milton's Shortcut to Return and do a fast run your second time.

Look at Mack Turtle's screen shot. Leave the parking lot and ride the trail that parallels the paved road. I think if you make all right turns you can't miss it. The signed entrance to "The Flow Trails area" is about 75 yards up the jeep road (that you shouldn't ever ride) from the maintenance buildings.

Have they gotten new jobs yet? I hope they don't sue your company! 😉

I think the kids call that "duck face." VERY trendy!

Here's my ride of just the Flow Trails area. Has some pictures. https://www.strava.com/activities/3233028054#81375001325 Yes, the Starting Gate trail head is close to the park entrance but it definitely is not open now. That is an "in the future" project. Park at the regular parking lot and find your way over.

Quit wasting time working on turning technique. Go build more berms! 😉

The closest spot would be Mary Moore Searight. But it's not exactly in the center of the SATN. It does have some challenging stuff if you know where to find it. The center of the SATN universe is at ATX Bikes' parking lot. There's a new challenging trail, Aesthetics, right behind there. There are a few other challenging spots easily accessible from there too. Bowie Stonewall is about the most difficult trail in the SATN but it is not very long. E Spank is fun. It LOOKS more techy than it actually is. The Meridian Bowl has some techy options. But the SATN is mostly flowy stuff with small obstacles here and there. Also a lot more berms and jumps lately. All more or less connected too.

Have you been in every smoke filled room in the world? No? Then you cannot state the above as fact. I doubt there is one too, but the way things seem so orchestrated, there might very well be. Study history. Groups that want to enact change attempt to create chaos so that they can take power and "save" the population from itself.

Another example of a picture or video not doing justice to the pucker factor of a feature. I'm not quite sure of the purpose of the new mountain goat trail you discovered. It certainly is not an easy up return to the top of the drop. Just a techy challenge I suppose.

Some people ride single speed. They don't need gears. Some people ride hard tails. They don't need rear suspension. Some people ride rigids. They don't need suspension at all. Some people ride 26" wheel bikes. They don't need that extra rollover ability of a 29er. I'm not going to try and convince somebody they need a dropper post. I had years of great riding fun without one. All I can do is share the knowledge with them that a geared, full suspension, 29er, with a dropper post makes riding more fun for ME. I will never quit using any of those fun enhancing things Nothing on a bike is going to last forever. Tires and perhaps droppers are things that wear out the fastest. I'm not going to stop using tires just because one of them failed me at some point. Same with a dropper.

My friend, a life long motorcycle rider that sold his last one a couple of years ago, said he was going to get an ebike. I said be sure and get a helmet. He said he would just wear one of his motorcycle helmets. I laughed out loud at the imagery and told him to spend an extra eighty bucks at the bike store for a bicycle style helmet. I convinced him thank heavens.

Do you pay the doctor in one dollar bills? 😄

But we've lost LOTS of those liberty fights already. I was highly opposed to the seat belt mandate for your stated reasons. And the only person that LAW helps is the individual. It doesn't insure others safety. But requiring masks helps everyone's health. I'm good giving up some liberty for that. At least until a month or so after the infections, hospitalization, and deaths, flattens out. But open everything up. You want to go to a football game in the fall? Wear a required mask. Very small price to pay. But people are still going to get sick. Until they don't. The Spanish Flu just went away. No cure, no vaccine, it just stopped.

I totally don't get this. Why in the world would you resent someone for wearing a mask? It has zero impact on you. This represents the depths of stupidity to me. Is it a political thing? That is the only explanation I can think of. What makes way more sense is for her to yell at him for NOT wearing a mask. "You are trying to kill me" is something people could get very upset about.

Yup, one of my many sayings: "It's all new trail at night"

I was trying to NOT get angry at HEB today at Slaughter and Escarpment. 92% of the people had masks on. The non-mask wearers just don't understand that they are putting ME at risk. They should not have the right to put others at risk. Mandating masks is not an affront to my freedoms. And I am very much a personal freedom/rights kind of guy. They already tell us to wear seat belts under penalty of law. And that's to protect the individuals, not others. Maybe a better example would be they make us get our car inspected to make us safer, but also to make it safe for other drivers. Nobody protests those mandates. But, we can't do this shut down forever. Business has to open. The purpose of the shut down, as stated numerous times by numerous officials, was to "flatten the curve" not wait for a cure. People are still going to get sick. Now hopefully they (me too!) can be adequately cared for.

Go into any sports store or Walmart and look at the empty bike racks. Really amazing. I would guess that a percentage of the newbies will get hooked and continue to bike. I don't see why not. Not sure if y'all know this or not, but riding a bike is freakin' awesome!