RidingAgain

It's like every few days now...

Shimano is ploughing money into their e-bike marketing effort too... https://www.shimano-steps.com/e-bikes/north-america/en/what-is-steps/mtb?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=mtb&utm_content=NeverStopRidingVideo&fbclid=IwAR3BrWwfeIUDxcuVy1mngrnBE7k7mftZvfU3bfz6foKeyqWCep5AeD2dGuM

Someone always trying to take advantage of a situation... https://www.kxan.com/investigations/lakefront-property-owners-surprised-they-dont-own-shoreline/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KXAN_News&fbclid=IwAR3kRmRikEtzuw8TEytOtFbbZFE4n6NTk2ImZVNaaosvYJWflAktAk53-GU

Fairly good review from e-Mountainbike website... And I also found this interesting... "It's finally here: The 2019 E-MOUNTAINBIKE Print Edition, our timeless annual issue! Consisting of around 240 (!) pages, the 2019 E-MOUNTAINBIKE Print Editon offers a ton of inspiration, buyers advice, and eMTB know-how as well as reviews of the hottest bikes of the year. Our premium magazine is aimed at experienced eMBers and beginners alike." Here's a link to the article... https://ebike-mtb.com/en/first-ride-review-2020-giant-reign-e-0-pro/

With this kind of slick marketing effort, it might not be long before e-bikes have their own market mainstream... https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/showcase/reign-e-pro

Maybe contact the folks at Spider Mountain... Maybe they can help.

Looks like there's some flat rideable area next to the road... Maybe space to make a trail on it. It's closer to the road than the current trail, but doesn't have the drop off factor.

Not really seeing anyone making a comment that would make them "...wussies...", mack_turtle. To me it seems they're just saying what they like and don't like. When we park at Circle C soccer field and ride to Slaughter Creek trail, because of the cars going fast my wife hates crossing the flat bridge section... And she's no wuss. After flying a fighter in WW2, my father was a commercial pilot for 35 years... Yet he could't walk out on to the balcony of hotels he was staying at if the room was above three or four stories... As he had a kind of vertigo thing going on. And he was certainly not a wuss. Perhaps you should try and not be so quick to pull the "...wussies..." trigger.

Came across this meme today...

Came across this article that left me thinking about the first time I thought a trail had flow. I was riding with a friend in Ocala State Park in Central Florida when we came across maybe a half mile or more of a slight downhill section of trial that wound through some pine trees and grass in a, well, flowy way. It was so cool to ride that we ended up doing it a few times before moving on. And this was back in maybe '96, so this trail I don't think would have been a mountain bike specific trail, just a trail used by hikers I guess. The thing about it for me was that it reminded me of surfing the face of a long easy to surf wave that just allowed you to kind of settle into a laid back carving flow as you rode it. To me, flow was/is more of a state of mind than a trail condition. Shoot, there are times when I get into a flow playing squash — maybe what is referred to as getting into the zone. Yeh, I think that's it... For me, flow kind of equals getting into the zone. But now we have flow trails, which kind of suggests that you can only get into a flow on these types of trails. Which I know from my own experience is not the case. Sure, technical sections can break up your "flow"... But I remember a couple of years ago really wanting to go for a ride one evening and needing to hustle a bit because of the late time. I did a twelve mile ride from the Brush Country road area, up the east side of Mopac, around through the Circle C soccer area, then back behind ATX bike shop area, then back down the east side of Mopac to home... In I think just under 65 minutes... Which for me was quite fast. And the route that I took has a bit of both technical and flow type trail, but I don't really remember how I rode it... I just kind of rode it in the flow. And that's what I enjoy most when riding... Kind of becoming one with the trail to the point of not really being sure how you rode through sections... You just did... And thoroughly enjoying doing it. For me, that's what flow is about. Here's the article that got me thinking about this... https://www.singletracks.com/blog/mtb-trails/4-reasons-why-you-should-be-a-fan-of-flow-trails/?fbclid=IwAR2k1U0OWjO241qvVJ_D7lGNdw_fhk-pgIla9F_TzvbfWYx_T6VOopZnK7E

And if you're not into DIY... There are retail alternatives... https://weburbanist.com/2012/10/15/bike-campers-12-mini-mobile-homes-for-nomadic-cyclists/

Here's an article on one... https://inhabitat.com/28-sq-ft-bicycle-caravan-is-a-portable-home-for-your-inner-bohemian/micro-gypsy-bicycle-caravan-2

This got me interested in seeing what else other folk might be coming up with... And, wow... The DIY stuff people come up with is always cool to see...

Saw this in a video on another thread (about Seattle trails)... I'd never heard of the brand, Spawn, so I looked up the website and gave the link below. https://spawncycles.com

I've been a tiny home advocate for many years now... But I can't see fitting 6'4" into this one.

Wow... That's a deep discount.

Thought I'd take a look at what's mtb kid-specific on YOUTUBE... Ages 8-11... Pretty incredible... I remember playing golf and watching kids tee off to narrow fairways with heavy bush out-of-bounds to the left and right. They just walked up, stuck the tee in the ground, placed the ball on it, took their stance, and hit the ball. Adults... They would take their time, looking very tentatively to the left and right.

This is normal in a crowded market... Splitting the pie up by repositioning things in the consumer's mind... Or at least trying to. But I think it's going to be a very tough ask given that the buyers of kid's bikes tend to be adults, with adult brand preferences being passed along to their kids; and that many of these already established brands have kid-specific products. Not sure how long TRAILCRAFT CYCLES has been around, but it's the first time I've come across an ad for their product. It's a niche marketing effort that's needed for sure. Anyone familiar with the brand? https://www.trailcraftcycles.com

SOLD!

Great input for sure. And I appreciate it. Especially on the Specialized bike that I posted the specs for.

Loving these geometry specs on the Stumpjumper 6fattie... Especially the long TT on the xxl.

I've got two pairs of Specialized road shoes for sale... Women's Trident Sport, 43.5/10.5... $30 Men's Expert Rd., 46/12.25... $40 Both in very good condition.

I'm selling this 11-speed, SRAM PG-1130, 11/42 cassette. Only ridden a few times so in excellent condition... $40.

Looks great.