The Tip

I took pictures of both entrances, the Self Storage driveway and the brush blocked jeep track, on the 1826 side yesterday. Neither entrance is posted with a no trespassing sign. I'm pretty sure there are no postings on the Slaughter Ln. side either. So I am going to continue to use that cut through until they do put up signs. I can't think of what other trails we would be jeopardizing by doing so. I am certain that the jeep track is on the storage companies property. The brush blocking might be done by the homeowners that butt up against the jeep track acting on their own volition.

WRONG! Check now. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. That moist sheen is going to be gone in an hour. No weather station in the area got more than .01 inch. Ride while you can!

I have to say that I'm giggling and laughing out there a lot. I'm going to ride out there at 10 am Saturday morning if it rains less than a 1/4" in the morning. It was fine this afternoon so that amount won't hurt it at all. I'm parking on Espina in front of the elementary school. I probably will be there two hours or so.

And don't forget the wild and unabandoned trampolining that happened there. And yes, Strava is having a hard time distinguishing between the runs. They are just too close and too similar to each other.

This is not a bandit trail system. So far we have permission from the landowners. I have shared maps with the landowners that they were very appreciative of. But again, I am torn about talking about this area. I want to share the information with the mountain bike community, but I don't want it to get overused, and possible shut down from that overuse. Hopefully the homeowners will appreciate that they have a fantastic and unique facility and will tolerate we riders. People pay premiums to live on golf courses with golfers literally in their backyard all day long. Loud, beer drinking, cussing-at-their-bad-shot golfers. But even non-golfers pay that extra amount to live in a house on a golf course. Same situation at some ski resorts. Crossing fingers that this will be the case here.

By the way, the cross trails were not part of the original vision. But they started appearing organically so steps were taken to make the mergers safer than they were. The real education here is that there ARE cross trails so be aware at the intersections. No matter what direction you are going.

I hope my post didn't imply that the downhill rider was absolved from all responsibilities. I just want to emphasize that these trails allow you to go fast and that everyone should show extra cautions. Everyone. This area is not unlike all downhill facilities, be it skiing or mountain biking. They all have converging trails. This is not a new thing. I've seen lots of hikers on Rim Shot, but speed is not a problem there. I have yet to see one out on the fast trails. They are not as forest-y or pretty on that exposed slope. Again, even when parking a car there, be pleasant and wave to passersby when next to your car. Fortunately the two best parking places are not next to any houses. And don't try and talk to any kids out there! Yesterday there was a group of five of them, all about eight years old? I had passed their Walmart mountain bikes on kickstands at the end of Dam Straight then encountered them at the beginning of Rim Shot. I said, "Hey, I saw some cool mountain bikes up there. Are they yours?" One kid muttered something affirmative, and they started to run off. I said, "Do you ride these trails out here?" One of the girls started shouting STRANGER DANGER! At first I laughed because I thought she was just being funny, but then I thought, geez, was that for real? I'm pretty sure she didn't see my ankle monitor so I don't get it. (yes, I'm kidding about the monitor! Geez, et tu Brute?) But please please please, remember that we are guests there.

The Meridian Bowl. Or Meridian Mountain. Or Little Spider Mountain. Call it what you want, but this is a special area, unlike anything in the SATN and pretty much unlike anything else in town. If you want to see if a lift assisted area is appealing to you, as in doing the same downhill trails over and over, then the Meridian Bowl would be a nice low commitment test run. The side benefit is that the climbing will make you a stronger rider. There are cross trails now that intersect the seven main trails. The good thing is that there are now untold combinations to get down the hill. It literally will take hours to ride everything, every way. But the bad is that the intersections can be potentially dangerous. An effort has been made to insure good sight lines, but a greater effort will have to be made to LOOK and use those sight lines. The area needs some rules to insure it's continued accessibility to us: -Be respectful to the homeowners. Thank them if you see them. Be pleasant. Don't give anyone any reason to turn against us. -Local rule: Yield to downhill riders at all times. Especially intersections. It will be very difficult for the downhill rider to stop when they are flying over a ledge at 20 mph! -Take those earbuds out while there. Sight lines are good, "Rider!" shouted by the downhilling guy is better. Be able to hear that. -Assume someone is coming downhill at all times. -Most trails are designed as downhill only. If you are riding uphill on anything other than Ski Lift and Up or Down, assume a rider going 20 mph is coming at you head on and be ready to bail. -Take care your first time down a run. Some big ledges pop up quickly. I'm concerned about someone getting hurt and making a stink about it. The liability thing is a big reason land owners deny access to their lands. Of course an HOA has insurance as there is a much greater risk of some kid drowning in a pool then dying on a trail. But still it's a worry. So if you do get hurt, suffer in silence! lol I was torn whether to post this or not. The area does not need promoting. One reason I have always pimped the SATN is to get enough wheels on all the trails to keep the vegetation beat back. That is not going to be a problem here. So my two concerns for the area are in conflict. Those being the need to promote safe use of the area but at the same time hoping that overuse does not cause access problems in the future. Did I mention the being respectful to the homeowners thing yet?

So your personal best is three endos. Fine and good, but what is the KOM amount on that segment? You can do it!

So it's true. You do always remember your first.

Oh, your route back is much more interesting and fun. I was just giving the "other shortest route" way. PS, lol, I see we crossed paths yesterday on Stroller Roller. "Beautiful day"

That is the shortest way. That's how you approach the Slaughter Creek gate from the north. If you don't want to repeat trail then when you exit your Slaughter Creek ride you can turn south on to the single track that continues along 1826. Then turn left onto Spruce Canyon. Continue until it intersects with LaCrosse. Enter the Hielscher Greenbelt at the swimming pool. Travel eastward on one of three trails there. Phoenix North (very muddy and impassable right now by the way), Phoenix South, or Digo's Shortcut (next to the houses). This comes out at another part of LaCrosse. Continue straight, or go up LaCrosse to Escarpment and down back to Circle C.

I rode past some newly poured concrete that was part of the Violet Crown Trail a couple of days ago. The city had a guy sitting in a truck guarding it until it was dry enough to not screw up. Not exactly watching paint dry but a hell of a job to have anyway. But at least the powers that be realized the level of stupid out there and tried to prevent harm to the new concrete.

I have saved as favorites three Strava rides where the rider attempted to do all of the SATN. Here is one: https://www.strava.com/activities/1677023345 "behind ATX Bikes" is Circle C Metro park. The gravel trail around the soccer fields is where you most likely rode before. The playground is on it. There are three trails that go under Mopac into the Veloway single track trails. More flowy fun stuff. Not much tech, not much elevation. There are also several dining options in the shopping center there.

I know I'm the SATN pimp, but...the SATN has lots of kid friendly stuff. I put your kid's skills a little above my wife's. We can do pretty much as many miles as we want. Sure, she has to walk every now and then, but not a lot. Start behind ATX Bikes. Slaughter Creek is running right now and is very scenic. All of that is prettier and "away from civilization" as many state parks are.

People are amazing. This is a picture from under the Lynnbrook bridge at the end of "Over the River and Through the Woods" in Bauerle Ranch. A perfectly good armored crossing ignored to get one's bike all muddied up. Very strange. This is not a "look how ruined the trail is" picture. It's more of an illustration of how poor people's powers of observation are. Speaking of Bauerle; there is an interesting thing happening on the north side of the loop. There is new tread developing where folks are cutting several of the corners. Not big reroutes, just new, faster lines. I'm assuming this is happening because more people are choosing to ride Bauerle in a clockwise direction as opposed to counterclockwise. I know I do this now. Making the north side a downhill run is a lot of fun. I used the little short cuts yesterday and it makes it much faster. So I get it. I'm not condemning the fact that it's happening. Just observing how different uses affects things. When I use to slowly climb that trail I would have never thought to cut the corners any. Train Spotting, the trail up from Canterbury to get to Mary Moore, is very passable now. Mary Moore Searight continues to entertain me greatly.

When I first saw that picture I was jealous. Jealous of having a great activity to share with the entire family. Very cool

I'm not talking about trail maintenance. I guess it's better at raking leaves. But this is about making new trail. Like through grasslands. Those big tufts of vegetation are very difficult to remove with the "light weight" Mcleod. Chop chop chop scrape chop is about how it goes. With a mattock its "whoosh" done! But even just scraping the easy grass off, down to the dirt. is easier with the mattock. I will run two 4" wide lines to break it up, then smooth it out with my boot. Believe me, I have used my Mcleod a lot in the past. So what I'm telling you is not based on a one or two time use of it. Or 20. lol So even on what a Mcleod is supposedly better for I disagree that it's better. And then there is all the other things that the mattock does that it was designed for. Like removing rocks. The leverage action of the mattock is superior to the Mcleod. The Mcleod usually bends when you try the same thing. And then there's shaping dirt, like bench cutting. No contest. Now you have me all worked up. I hope it rains soon so I can stop riding and get out there and have some real fun! (sigh) It's a sickness, yes?

Fiskar's lifetime warranty is a very good selling point. A better selling point would be to fortify the handle better so that they wouldn't break ALL THE TIME. I have purchased three of these saws. They have now sent me twelve saws total to replace those three broken saws. All broken at the exact same spot. They even sent me two of a different model to try. They don't carry them at Home Depot. The blade would slide out from the handle instead of unfolding. I thought, "that might be the solution." But the blade was so thin it literally broke the first time I used it. Fiskars use to use wood on their folding saws. I wish they would again. My mattock would be the next most used tool in my arsenal. I hardly ever take my Mcleod out because the mattock can do the same thing. Can't say the reverse. Lastly would be my steel toed boots. It's hard to explain how much has been accomplished with the kicking, stomping, smoothing, and just "walking hard" I have done with my boots. I am mad at my loppers. I snapped the handles together over a month ago and whacked my finger with it somehow. My finger is still swollen and hard to bend.

This is another good entry in my bullet point "Why Trails are Good" list. -Trails are such a valued amenity that some douchy HOAs actually charge admission to use them. And to Mack Turtle; this would not work in Sunset Valley. That lady wants it all to herself no matter what the revenue. And Ha!, like Sunset Valley needs it anyway

Trail conditions are good enough to ride. Be smart of course, but ride while you can. I'm going to say that a jewel in our SATN crown is the Meridian Bowl. It is dry and ready. I suppose it's because there is not a lot of tree cover and it's on a hill. Dries faster. There are now seven trails there. One of the new ones is called Up or Down. It can be ridden uphill, unlike four of the other ones that have ledges too high to get up. At least too high for most of us mere mortals to ride up! Now all we need out there is a lift chair. But that would be crazy here in Texas.

What I have observed is that it only takes ONE adamantly opposed person to be the driving force. Then her neighbors seem reluctant to "cross" the vocal one and just remain silent. A very interesting phenomena. Sharing my list of advantages to urban trails again so anyone that is up against an "anti" group can use for ammo: Mountain Bikers and Urban trails are GOOD -Homeless Camps. They are discouraged by our presence and move on. We can monitor them for city if asked. -Bad Guys Discouraged by our presence We will report suspicious activity Why fear “access” to the back of your house? The street is closer and they can use the street to back up a van! -Wildfire help Would report smoke or flame Trails are natural fire breaks Trails provide access deep into the woods for fire fighters To repeat, less homeless camps, that have caused wildfires. -Trails increase property values Cities and developers pay millions of dollars to build this exact amenity. Just like swimming pools and soccer fields. People pay high prices to have a house with golfers practically in their backyard. What’s the difference between these two activities? -Mountain Bikers are the most active trail maintenance group Keeps trails open for all user groups Most mountain bikers will pick up trash, not generate it. Work days remove invasive plant species that could enter homeowner’s yards if allowed to spread. -The Maintained trails are for more than just mountain bikers Great place to walk dogs (mountain bikers have been known to find lost dogs too!) Nature trails for children

That is disappointing. Were these the homeowners along Yellow Rose Trail? That group was present at a Violet Crown Trail routing discussion several years ago. They totally lost any sort of credence in my mind when a lady jumped up and almost screamed, "I don't want the value of my home to increase (when presented with the fact that urban trails do that) because my property taxes are too high now!" We've already heard that "kills wildlife" thing. Ridiculous of course. This just proves to me that the anti-trail homeowners just make things up. I'm sure I heard some out right lies from the Sunset Valley people in our presentations there. Perhaps we could try and find and recruit sympathetic to our cause homeowners prior to any of these meetings. It would be great if we could find, if not an actual biker, at least a biker that knows someone that lives along the route that could refute some of the dumb accusations that these vehement anti folks make.