throet

Couldn't agree more. I can't imagine trying to manual a bike with the seat at an optimal peddling height. Suppose it depends on what riding style you prefer, but I prefer fun and flicky.

Or perhaps the rocker-recliner? Do manuals in an instant without even trying!

Would you say that otherwise you were a well conditioned endurance athlete at the time? I'm only asking because there are other things that can wipe you out during an event like that, including inability to handle high volumes of waste (lactic acid) from too much anaerobic output over an extended period. In other words, if you're huffing and puffing to recover from every considerable climb, then you are probably doomed to feeling like shit regardless of the nutrition / hydration level. This stuff scares me a bit because for an untrained person like me and especially at my advanced age, it seems easy to get yourself into trouble by getting shit out of balance. I know others are stating that a big part of it is just being willing to do whatever it takes to finish, but I can say with certainty that if I start feeling like shit at 1.5 laps at DS, I'm done. I don't need to be that guy you see staggering across the finish line with muscles seizing up and eyes rolling back.

I've ridden CP, RPR, Brushy, PB, and FCC plenty of times without a dropper, but why would you want to if you don't have to? If your only reason is truly to drop weight from what is already an ultra-light bike, then that is really not a good reason, IMHO.

Barry do you generally follow the Hammer guidelines as well? I've been trying to figure all of this stuff out on my own, but they sort of spell out for you through their various published guidelines.

I've been trying to understand this stuff myself and it is mind boggling. Clearly fat is a key source of energy, either directly by breaking it down and generating ATP molecules (lipolysis) or by converting it to glucose/glycogen (gluconeogenesis) when needed. Theoretically the latter will take place only when glucose levels are low and glycogen stores are depleted. I have read, as you imply, that fat will be used directly for energy under sustained, less strenuous activities (<=65% of aerobic capacity). In an endurance event the requires a good bit of anaerobic output combined with periods of high-intensity aerobic output though I would think you have to maintain enough glucose / glycogen to fuel your muscles throughout. I'm sure some fat is getting burned as well across these events, but I just don't know how or when it comes into play. Training is critical not only to improve athletic ability but also to improve energy efficiency, i.e. stronger muscles can store more glycogen and keeping your anaerobic-to-aerobic ratio lower means muscles consume less energy to perform the same amount of work. Even then, glycogen will eventually be depleted if you're not consuming glucose in some form throughout the event. That's my take anyway, based on what I've read. Hopefully the experts who've excelled in these events will chime in with their real-world knowledge. I'm going to do 2 laps at DS which will likely take me between 7-8 hours to complete. I need to figure out whether to periodically munch on trail mix and honey stingers, possibly with a light meal at the turn, or just power my way through with gels, blocks, powders, and other crap specially formulated for these types of events.

Let me know if there's going to be more work scheduled out there. Happy to help if I can but I didn't see the post for this morning's work until it was too late. I'm signed up for 2 laps at DS, and for me that will be a significant achievement. Last time I rode out there I felt like I had something left in the tank after a single lap, but not enough to have finished a complete second lap. I'm compiling some of the tips that were posted last year and again this year, but mostly I'm just trying to drop a few pounds and get as strong as I possibly can ahead of the race, which falls shortly after my 60th birthday. I'm going to start practice laps out there Labor Day weekend, either at the scheduled pre-ride on Monday or possibly on Sat or Sun. I might even do a lap Sat and then another one on Mon. The forecast is for low humidity that weekend, for whatever that's worth.

Yeah thought about that afterwards. For you youngsters, you can find the history of the NFL on Wikipedia to understand the role that the AFL played.

I've been jumping back over occasionally to see if there's anything in play, and it looks like as of this morning the bots are back in action. There still appears to be quite a contingent of folks over there resisting the movement. Hard to tell if it's for sentimental reasons or just the idea of maintaining a historical archive or perhaps even just resistance to change. Personally I like change when it is for the better, and this is definitely better, so far. For those committed to the change, my question is, should we: 1) Make a compelling case for the holdouts to join us over here? 2) Establish solidarity in resisting any effort from the holdouts to lure us back? 3) Just let it be and become the AFL of Austin MTB Forums?

I don't ever actually "change" mine. Just top off with 2-3 ounces every 4 months or so. With new tires I start out with about 4oz per tire. This method has worked for me, but others may have varying opinions on the topic.

BikeRadar did a really nice job with their recent comparison. Stan's came out on top, which is what I've been using. Tried the orange seal too for a while, and it seems to work fine as well. The Stans seems to last longer. You can get an injector tube for the Stan's, but I just use my empty Orange Seal container with valve tube, and top it off from my big Stan's container. I've heard rumors that you shouldn't mix the two, but I have and haven't had any bad experience as a result.

Look forward to seeing you join us out there soon.

Here's my Strava from this morning (including to and from my house). We rode part of Picnic, then 1/4 Notch W-E, then Peddlers. Those guys split and then I rode Rim and Snail to finish things off. Definitely a casual pace but we'll likely pick it up once the weather cools. https://www.strava.com/activities/1794321994

This has been an informal group ride generally starting from the YMCA or the 183A overpass at 7:30AM. We mix up the routes using combinations of Snail, Rim, Picnic, Deception, and Peddlers. Definitely not a beginner friendly ride, but comfortable pace with a few stops over a couple of hours. Message me if you're interested in more details.

It was great getting the Fri morning ride back on track today. Still missing #Morris, but #Cafeend joined me and #Chief this morning. Those guys both have to go to work though, while I get to fix omelets for me and my wife and then take a nap. I'm going to post this up in the Ride Calls section as a regular Fri morning thing in case others are interested.

Chief and I are meeting at 7:30 under the 183A bridge. Meet us there. I'll text you as well.

That's a fair question - wish I knew. I'm starting to see CTE in my future! If Cheif's riding in the morning, I'll get him to check that spot out with me. I'd like to believe that particular cedar is posing a legitimate threat to other riders too, but maybe it's just me.

Yep that works. You can also click on the timestamp showing the last post, and it will take you to the end of the thread. Within the threads I noticed there is a bookmark showing you where the unread posts begin. All very nice features.

Something ain't right when the Brushy Creek thread falls to page 2! Fixed. Just rode Double Down end to end for the first time since probably May. Had to stop a few times to catch my breath, but it actually felt really good getting my ass kicked. EDIT: There's a low hanging cedar branch that clipped my helmet really hard! It's right at the beginning of that climb that is around the bend after descending from Ray's Collarbone. Just as I was accelerating to get up that climb - BAM! I went back to see if I could somehow bend it back off the trail but that was a no go. Not sure how it got to the state it is in, but I've ridden that section of trail hundreds of times without ever even noticing it. Oh and I actually learned at the doctor's office that I'm an inch shorter than I used to be; so no, I'm not getting taller.

That's a great idea! I thought I was the only one who liked riding with no socks.

Much improved! Thanks for putting forth the effort. Please advise if you are incurring costs that need to be spread around.

This is a great edit. I also love the stuff Sam puts out on his own channel. He is a really unique character, equally loaded with skills, knowledge, and high jinks.