The Tip

Wear elbow pads while you're learning. Those slow-mo fall overs are not as annoying when you don't hurt yourself.

Mack also, wait until you see the new kiosk. It has a big wooden map on it that is all up to date. They will eventually put a map box on it for stacks of paper maps. And there's always Strava Global Heatmap. It will be perfectly accurate: https://www.strava.com/heatmap#14.00/-98.12754/30.36104/gray/ride

Mack, Trailforks is wrong about Greenway. The part where it shows it coming into the parking lot is wrong two different ways. The direction is wrong of course, but also that particular part listed as Greenway, is not Greenway. It's the connector to the beginning of Sikeway at the three way intersection depicted on your screen shot. The Strava segment (see my ride) for that bit is "Parking lot to split." And at that split, it is left to the Greenway start, or right to the beginning of Sikeway. (correctly listed on Trailforks) Tony 😄, I am not upset at all. Very calm. Just put off that you would not believe what I am saying. Even now, you say, "if it is truly a mono-directional trail system," even after my post that I said I just called the park to confirm the fact. (That is IF I really called 🙄) But I didn't even call just to confirm. I mostly called just to ask where that fact is stated and where we can post a sign. "

Did you look at my Strava ride?

Well now I am confused. I just looked up their history. Founded in 2011 and all they've ever made or sold is sealant. It doesn't matter to me what people use though. It works and it lasts for awhile so I'll tell people I'm sold on them.... ...at least until I do the Berryman's sealant experiment!

Thanks for making me question my "opinion" about the park. Y'all are probably right. I guess I haven't learned a thing about Reimer's in the 60-70 hours of work I've done out there. The park employees I've worked with probably don't know anything either. (sheez) BUT SERIOUSLY, I just called the park to tell them there might be confusion on this topic. He said, "Really? But there's arrows on all the new signs! And "Do Not Enter" signs as well." We decided that a more in your face notice will be put on the NEW COOL KIOSK that has just recently been installed at the mountain biking parking lot trail head that will more forcefully educate the public.

All Reimers single track is directional. That is one of the appeals of the place. Even Greenway is directional and your route is going the wrong way on it. Here's a ride where I pretty much did it all. https://www.strava.com/activities/4896896756 I repeated "13 Jumps," which is part of Fenceline, for two reasons. First because it's fun. Second to include Cardosa's Climb in my "do it all" routing. Fortunately Cardosa's Climb puts you at the top of 13 Jumps. Here's the rest of the park's trails. These are mostly multi-use trails that are well suited for gravel bikes. Most all are bi-directional. https://www.strava.com/activities/4909465930 And the Flow Trails area is not all about getting big air. There is a route down that keeps wheels on the ground the whole time. That elevation drop can be enjoyed in several different ways and by several different skill levels of bikers. Actually I could see a gravel bike having fun doing it. The Travis County parks people are gung ho on mountain bikes. So refreshing to deal with a government entity that "gets it."

Why that opinion on Orange Seal? Interesting that you then say the product you use is US made, like it matters, and I agree (every little bit helps). Orange Seal is about as local a product that there is since their home office is in Cedar Park.

I so agree. I forget what homeless "solution" was proposed that I saw, but the money allocated, divided by the number of estimated homeless, came out to something like $100,000 per person. That was on top of everything else being spent on the problem. Yes, a very efficient use of our money (HUGE eyeroll!) And your point about accountability is right on. What private sector company would allow employees to continue to cause the company massive liability insurance payouts? They would fire the problem employee, retrain the remaining ones so it didn't happen again, and continue on. They wouldn't reduce their work force by 15%, as the company was getting busier by the way, as the solution.

Thank you for "saking" for the argument notyal! Well presented response...for a commie!😉 The 2/1000 is more a less just a number pulled out of a hat by the Save Austin Now people that instigated the petition. But it's based on Texas and national average. The 2/1000 is BELOW both of those averages by the way. It's just a benchmark to force council's budgeting. And there's not a "defined number of BS in Art welding Exhibit Coordinators per capita" because there isn't a strangely motivated national movement to take money away from that "essential" (laughs into sleeve) service like there is for police departments. Part of the proposition will require "add an additional 40 hours of police training each year on topics such as active shooter scenarios, critical thinking, and defensive tactics;" THIS actually addresses what is the problem we see with policemen. At least about the bad policemen that have done stupid things that are giving the entire profession a bad reputation. Anyone that thinks having less policemen is going to help any portion of the population is crazy.

I'm using this forum to vent on those people that oppose this proposition. A proposition that shouldn't even have to be voted on. Forcing our ridiculous council to insure our safety. Those opposed to this proposition are using an obvious scare tactic; "If you give all the money to the police then there won't be any left for fire protection." Unfortunately the fire fighters union is about to buy into this nonsense. Nonsense because WHY does more money for the police mean denying money for other ESSENTIAL services like the fire department? There are LOTS more, not so essential, places that money could be redirected from. I did a very quick study of city positions that exist to get an idea of how many NON-essential type jobs there are. http://austintexas.gov/hr/jobdesc/job_title_pay.cfm?title=A There are a multitude of jobs listed on each page. Pages are divided by alphabet. Here are some candidates that possibly could be cut WAY before the fire department's. And these are just from the "E" page. There is a page for every letter of the alphabet. Employee Relations Environmental related (27 hourly positions!) Equal Employment and Housing Equity and Inclusion department Exhibit Coordinator. (Must have a BS in art) Those are just some that jump out, from the E page. I'm not "anti" any of those things. I'm sure that all those departments do stuff that are good (mild eye roll) but I'm also 100% sure that there is a lot of fat that could be trimmed if required to do so to meet budgets. And don't get me started on why in the hell Soros is donating $500,000 to defeat this issue. Seriously, what the hell? Thanks for letting me vent.

Orange Seal Endurance has worked for me. I'm always amazed to see it spurting out, then stopping. But it's $36 for 32 ounces now. 4 oz to set up a tire, that's $4.50. Then repeat in four or five months. Jeez. That's why I too was intrigued by Mack Turtle's Berryman's recommendation. I looked it up and found some good reviews on it for mountain biking tire applications. $33 for a gallon on Amazon. That's only $1 a tire, and that's if it's not cut with water as Mack suggests. That's probably as cheap as you can manufacture your own. I guess you could get an old tire and experiment with it. Get it set up with Berryman's and poke it with an ice pick. Yeah, somebody do that!

Crank and Drank is alive and well. 17 mile route planned for tonight. Bring lights to finish 6 pm behind ATX Bikes.

The outfitter lost me at, "including how to use the throttle."

I checked in and got the "404 Not Found" thing. I am sad if it's gone forever. I used the SATN thread as a reference every now and then.

Optimist eh? At my age I don't even buy green bananas.

I bought some at Performance for $40 as they went out of biz. Too narrow so I cut slits in them. Very comfortable now and the slits have never increased in size.

I've found it to be a given in the 95+ heat that I consume a liter an hour on rides.

Strava is like my brain. I only use a small portion of it's abilities.

I just found out the company I buy my yardsticks from won't be making them any longer.

"Fully rigid was *generally* great for climbing, but the descent was punishing. Imagine Rocky Hill Ranch - loose rocks, sand, pine needles, with an elevation like Lakeway. All of the way up I keep thinking "this is gonna be so much fun to bomb down" but then when I started the descent, from the top, I REALLY wished I had my FS carbon bike." I talk about being able to "harvest" the effort put into a climb with a fun downhill run payoff. I dislike having to work going up and then work going down too. That's why I sing Phil's World's praises. EVERY climb had a great payoff. After I realized this during my ride, I started looking forwards to a climb, knowing that a big smile would soon be plastered to my face. Also I feel your pain with having to choose a travel bike. I have been taking my third string bike on our trips to not worry as much if it gets stolen. I did take the first string bike to Moab where we were riding every day on "real" trail. That was worth the risk for the return. I took a tarp to cover it to keep it out of sight as another layer of protection.

Made me laugh. I just watched a "Big Bang" where i is talking to Amy: "If I had to make a list of things that made me comfortable, making lists would be at the top."

Heck of a bruise. Take a picture of it daily. You'll be amazed at the different colors it will turn. Speaking from experience here.

We kayaked at Silver Springs, a Florida state park that use to be a privately owned "attraction." The rhesus monkeys were brought in by the operator for something to see on the glass bottom boat river ride. He put them on what was to be monkey island. He didn't know this species knows how to swim! So now they are all around the area, but still not easy to see. We got lucky. The manatee was asleep. It would slowly come up to breathe then go back down. I learned that alligators can live in crystal clear water. I thought that interesting. We had mountain biked at Santos Trails in the morning and found out about Silver Springs from a brochure. We hadn't planned to go there but were so glad we did.

How's the bike? Sorry, someone has to say it each time!