RidingAgain

Yesterday I carried out my first hub service on a older 26" wheel. One of Shimano's loose ball bearing hubs. Taking it apart was easy enough. I first took a look at a diagram of it I found online, then watched a video on how to do it. Great... But when I put it all back together... I encountered a little problem... Tightening the cups so that they were not overtightened on the bearings. Understanding how ball bearings work, I just hand tightened the cups until there was a little pressure against the bearings, then I hand tightened the nuts (spacers in between), then used a wrench and socket to tighten further. Thing is, as I tightened the nuts, the cups kept getting tightened also, which meant more pressure of the bearings, which is not what you want. I kept trying to figure out what I was doing wrong and drew a blank. Then back to good 'ol Youtube... And RJ The Bike Guy (his voice is a bit of a teeth grinder, but he's very helpful with older bike stuff fixes). Simple fix that just eluded me...

About two weeks ago I was working at my garage and needed to get something in my apartment, so I just jumped on my bike to quickly ride over to it (my garage is maybe 100 yds away from my apt). I live on the second floor, so I rode my bike down the passageway of the ground floor to the second set of steps that are next to my apt... Only to have a big dog rush me as I got to the steps. My apt faces a large somewhat private open lawn area where folks are allowed to walk their dogs — on leash. There is a fenced, a no-leash area, but it's at the other end of the complex. Thing is, the owner of this dog, who lives in my building, has decided that rules don't apply to him... So he takes his dog to the area that my apt looks out onto and allows it off-leash — and to do its crap without picking it up (no green baggie for him). And this guy is a strapping, healthy young man... Meaning... Well able to take his dog out for a proper run, in the designated area. When his dog rushed me he quickly said, "Oh, he doesn't like bikes...", with a kind of it's not his problem disposition as he said it. I guess in his mind I was the problem. And this fella still does the same thing. Having grown up with big dogs, they don't frighten me. And I know how to conduct myself when one rushes me, so I wasn't disturbed by it. But there are older folk who live there that might have reacted differently and the situation ended badly. And the same goes for dog encounters on trails. People need to be responsible handling themselves and their dogs... With proper regard for other trail users.

Okay, someone just posted this... It shows that the park on one side of the river is off-leash, but on the other side isn't. But the speaking on the websites I went to that were for dog activities in Austin didn't make that clear.

So the more I'm looking into this the more it seems that there isn't an official designation by COA regarding just what of Walnut Creek Park is officially off-leash. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right place. Additionally... I'm seeing a few dog-focused websites that treat Walnut Creek Park as a park that's all for off-leash dogs. One doesn't even mention mountain biking as an activity that the park is for... I can see why many who use Walnut Creek Park for their dogs may think that mtb is the problem.

Someone presented this COA map, and said that 200 of the 300 acres of Walnut are off-leash. https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=b85e1f2c46a44e51bf6253a4dc684950&fbclid=IwAR0kMi5nDFwnATKHcBgcc2gQz5H1McGRE0wzT97hg9lvvo1oenGX4hZFoBU

Someone said on a FB comment that a large portion of Walnut Creek is off-leash... I thought I'd read differently... Just wondering what is the true story.

Just saw this on craigslist... https://austin.craigslist.org/bik/d/austin-babboe-big-cargo-trike/7128616527.html

A trail is organic (caveat... except for trails like Slaughter Creek)... Trails go through seasons of change. And that's an aspect of being a trail user... Being out in an environment than can, and often does change. Just don't mess with the sections my wife likes... That's trouble.

In need of a 690-710 mm handlebar. Nothing fancy... Just for a build I’m doing for a 5’ 4” kid. I can pay cash or barter stuff. What do you have? Thanks.

Got an email from Lifetime Fitness earlier this week... Said based on the results of the survey then sent out about a two week ago they have decided to open the gym near me... And will be conducting vigorous environment cleaning... My response... Sorry... Nope. Here's the email... I hope you and your family have remained safe and healthy during this time away. Based on encouraging member feedback, we are pleased to announce Life Time Austin South will reopen on Thursday, May 21 at 5am. To give you an opportunity to experience the changes we’ve made as outlined below, we are providing you complimentary access to the club May 21 through May 24. On May 25, 2020, we will charge pro-rated dues for the remainder of May. If you still have a dues credit on your membership account for the period from March 17 to March 31, 2020, we will apply that credit toward your pro-rated May dues payment and a portion of your June dues payment as applicable. Your health and safety is our highest priority, and we have taken extensive safety measures including: ENHANCED CLEANING Team members equipped with disinfectant spray bottles and towels for regular cleaning of all high-touch surfaces with hospital grade disinfectant. Comprehensive deep cleaning and disinfecting processes in the club each evening. Hand sanitizing and cleaning stations throughout the club that provide disinfecting products for members to apply before and after using equipment. SOCIAL DISTANCING: Signage facilitating increased spacing between fitness floor equipment, in locker rooms, and throughout various areas of the club. Requiring reservations for group fitness classes to regulate class sizes, and schedules adjusted to allow for thorough cleaning between classes. Reservations required for all ages in the child center/Kids Academy (where available) to help kids practice social distancing and allow for additional cleaning; dedicating other areas of the club for smaller group sizes. ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS: Masks and temperature checks for all team members. Guidance for members to adhere to health and social distancing requirements. Initially limiting some amenities and services to promote safety. In accordance with governmental orders, showers will be temporarily unavailable. For more information regarding our cleaning and safety protocols watch this video or visit https://mylt.life/safety. With everyone’s health and safety in mind, please uphold the following prior to visiting the club: Stay home if you’re feeling ill. Bring your own water as refill stations may be unavailable at this time for safety. Bring and wear a mask if you choose. Masks also will be available to members for a nominal fee. Reserve your studio, yoga or cycle class, as all classes will be reservation-only via the website or app so we can ensure ample space. Reserve your kids for Kids Academy classes where available – all ages are now required to ensure safety and small groups. If you wish to schedule other services, visit the website for available services and amenities. Limit your visit to just those on your membership as no guests will initially be allowed. Please let me know if you have any questions about our opening plans or preparations.

Never too old to learn my stubborn uncle used to say. Maybe one day I'll even learn to get over that curb without having to use my feet down technique.

I have eight old bikes that I've been sitting on for the last year or two. Just about to sell a small 2000 Giant Iguana for $200 to a mom who wants it for her 5"4" tall, 12 year old son. It was an apartment porch sitter and I tore down the entire bike, along with a 100mm travel Judy fork that I bought about a year ago from Yellowbike. Upgraded the drive to full Deore 3 x 9 (also took apart shifters and serviced them, and derailleurs). Cranks are TruVativ Blaze though. They are what I have in the shorter 170mm length range. Brakes are Tektro V-brakes. Rims will probably be Alex, and the tires I'll have to see what's available. All new cables too, and even found a short Giant stem in my parts box. My only shortfall is with the handlebar... I have one that's around 680mm, which I think is fine for a 5'4" rider, but I'd like to find something a little wider... So if anyone has one in the 700mm range I'd be happy to buy it or barter for it, thanks. All in all, I think this will be a great starter bike for the kid, and I've tried to keep the price down. I'll have maybe ten hours in the service and build when I'm finished, and then I have another bike to build for someone... An old Gary Fisher that I found. Happy times doing this and seeing newbies get out on the trails.

This stuff works for me. Too much alcohol in the regular deodorants. https://schmidts.com/?_ga=2.214956375.159476993.1589992399-1018687886.1589992399&_gac=1.220450476.1589992399.EAIaIQobChMIrJTMme_C6QIV0cDACh2fPwapEAQYAyABEgJCvfD_BwE

As usual... Check out the comments below the articles... Lots of interesting feedback.

Here are some online articles about it... https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/gear/a32567204/strava-free-subscriber/ https://cyclingtips.com/2020/05/strava-shake-up-major-changes-for-paid-and-free-users/ https://www.bikeradar.com/news/strava-leaderboards-routes-subscription/ This one is pretty detailed... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/05/strava-cuts-off-leaderboard-for-free-users-reduces-3rd-party-apps-for-all-and-more.html

Got an email from Strava about changes to their service... See here... https://www.strava.com/subscription?utm_campaign=founders_letter&utm_source=strava&utm_medium=email&%24web_only=true&%243p=e_it&%24original_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.strava.com%2Fsubscription%2F%3Futm_campaign%3Dfounders_letter%26utm_source%3Dstrava%26utm_medium%3Demail%26%24web_only%3Dtrue&_branch_match_id=776906402518333131

The above hits on the main problems... 1... How communication is carried out. And... 2... Different perspectives and experience See... Hating when someone preaches to you is a result of both of the above points. Look at a TED talk... People sit there and love to be preached at. And of course, people sitting in a religious setting also love to be preached at. What's the common factor between both? Those people chose the what, when, and where related to them sitting and listening to the preaching. This is the intrinsic essence of "...I will consume information when I am damn well ready. Most people feel like this so if you want them to listen, they have to want to listen." Why do people get out and ride trails? Because they want to. Anyone ever encountered a closed trail? How'd you feel about it? Someone else exercising some type of authority over you (your choice). Have you ever seen tire marks going around the closed trail chain? Those tire marks tell you that some people chose to — I want to say ignore, but it's more than ignore — reject the authority of those who closed the trail. Have you ever been one of those people ("...that guy...")? And how about illegal trails... Ever ride on them? As I said above... This is the intrinsic essence of "...I will consume information when I am damn well ready. Most people feel like this so if you want them to listen, they have to want to listen." If though, a rider chose to ride around a closed trail chain and ride the trail... And as soon as this person began riding the trail after circumventing the closed sign they hit a land mine that blew up their front tire (a very little land mine), what do you think their reaction would be? You think their "...I will consume information when I am damn well ready..." disposition/attitude would immediately change? I'm thinking yes, as they would immediately want to know more about the whole matter right away. Meaning... Their attention has been gained. 1... How communication is carried out. 2... Different perspectives and experience. Both are dependent upon what gets the attention of the target market you are trying to communicate with. And a person riding a trail is riding a trail... Because they want to. So what is the individual driver for the trail rider? And what is the common factor related to each individual trail rider? They... WANT... to ride the trail. This is the underlying driver... The underlying common base touchpoint for all trail riders... Shoot, for all trail users. The WANT to ride/use the trail. And when they are actually using the trail... They do not WANT to stop what they WANT to be doing, in order to "...consume information..." that seems to hinder — or worse, stop — them from doing what they WANT to be doing. That why we all break laws. "...JUST DO IT...". Yep... Blame Nike for this attitude. Well, not really, but you get my drift... All around us is the promotion of doing whatever makes you feel good. And fk everything else. All day... Every day... 24/7... 365 days a year... Year after year... We're now bombarded with messaging that tells us to do whatever makes you feel good... And fk everything else. Well... Except when a COVID-19 virus hits the fan. Then maybe things change some... For a short time at least... Then it's back to the norm. And there it is... "...the norm..."... The answer to the problem. What is "...the norm..." for trail users... Specifically... Trail riders? See... There's... "...what they WANT to be doing..."... And then there's "...the norm...". Now not everyone WANTS to be confined by "...the norm..."... But some do. And many others who think/say they don't want to be confined by "...the norm...", actually do, but just don't want to look like they do — they want a bit of the James Dean rebel swagger thing (albeit he was under the thumb of the Hollywood mob... but a blind eye can be turned to that little factoid). Then there are the few who really are rebels, the truly anarchy leaning few who don't really care about "...the norm...". Why? Because they associate "...the norm..." with established authority... Which it for all intents and purposes, is. Anyway... So there you have it... There's... "...what they WANT to be doing..."... And then there's "...the norm...". And most people... In one way or another... And to one degree or another... WANT to be doing "...the norm...". Whether you WANT to believe it or not... Mountain bike riders are as much about "...the norm..." as tiddlywinks players. For most people... It's all about "...the norm...". But why do some ride mountain bikes, and other play tiddlywinks? Packaging. Different people like different packaging. And so now we have... "...what they WANT to be doing..."... Then there's "...the norm..."... And now there's "...packaging...". And they are all related to... Their attention has been gained. 1... How communication is carried out... And... 2... Different perspectives and experience... Is all about... "...packaging...". And regarding to context of this sub-discuss that The Tip brought up... Trail users not using the trail properly, and not wanting to listen to advice on how to do so... It's all a matter of... "...packaging...". What Tree Magnet was referring to when he/she (not sure) said, "...But we both know how unlikely it is for this to happen...", and then went on to give examples of why he/she said this... Tree Magnet was speaking about "...packaging..." problems. Last Saturday I spent around six hours speaking to three different people between 2pm and 1am... Maybe four of those hours discussing spiritual matters from a POV of my Christian belief. How did this happen? I was outside my garage working on a bike build and these three people — who I know — just stopped to talk to me. They came to me... I didn't invite them to... They just came by their own choice. And two of them came specifically to speak with me about spiritual matters as they have done so in the past with me. They knew what they were coming to speak to me about. Here I am... Obviously working on a bicycle that's on a bike stand... And they want to talk to me about spiritual matters. Why? Because they WANTED to... And... They knew where to FIND that which would meet their need. Are you getting the picture? You plant a seed... You water the seed you planted... You reap what the watered seed produces. BUT... It is the will contained within the seed that causes the seed to do what it is meant to do. You can plant the seed, you can water the seed, and you can even be ready to reap what you think should be produced... But without the inner will of the seed to do so... The seed won't grow and produce what you desire. What I'm speaking about is what is referred to in business as the "...marketing mix..."... At least, that what it used to be referred to back in the day. Not really sure what new fangled wording is used these days. Regardless... It would mean the same thing... All the various matters that need to be properly addressed in order for the desired result to be obtained. Anyone with me so far? Anyone stayed the seemingly long-winded course of this comment of mine? Marketing 101... Know how to present the product... Keep the attention of the target market... And then... Close the interaction in your favor. How do you get someone on the opposite sidewalk to come to you? Do you shout at them to come across... Or do you go get them and bring them across? In my experience... Unless it's a COVID-19 deal... The more successful way is to go get them and bring them across. Which would mean... In the context of proper trail use by trail users... You need to go to where they are... Most open/ready/acceptable... To agree to you bringing them across to your side of the road. Now then... What are the what, when and where regarding that being accomplished?

Two weeks ago I took a drive with the wife up north and saw this trail... I think it's connected to the Santa Rita housing development, but what made it interesting was that it's on the side of somewhat steep hill, and its switchback layout. I'd say it's about a two to three story elevation drop. Just interesting to see that the developers cut it... If it does belong to the development.

The frame is a 1998 Trek 8900... Haven't measured, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have the newer specs.

I've always wondered about this bit of design by Cannondale... Where the crown bracket connection to the Lefty strut is much further out in front of the steerer tube than on regular forks. What do you think this does to the whole cockpit set up of the bike it's on, and the ride influence... Longer wheel base for sure, but what else?

Just wondered what exactly is going on with this Mavic hub... The long non-drive side axle seems odd.

Reading through mtb articles, I can't help but notice how many trail building businesses are being referenced. I think this is great... For a number of reasons... But one in particular that may not get so much consideration... Job creation. Often when you read about new trails being build, especially in urban areas, there is a lot of attention on how much it will help local businesses. Food joints, bars, bike shops... The thinking is that all benefit. But how about the small trail building business, and the people that they employ? It might not be huge, and these businesses may also be doing other stuff to stay busy and meet bills... But they are providing employment... And that, in my book, is great. In Jamaica I once had an old hippie friend ask me what I thought was the best thing about my business. I thought for a bit and then said "...Sunglasses... My sunglass stands are like CocaCola machines... I sell a ton of sunglasses." He looked at me and said "...That's great... But what about the employment you give people? The salaries you pay them help them take care of their daily living needs... And maybe more than them too." I never forgot that... People being employed is a crucial aspect of any economy's success — from an individual POV, through family, through neighborhood and beyond. And those who are able to provide employment are also crucial to it. Maybe next time our city manager considers local trails... Someone perhaps remind him or her about the jobs trail building businesses help provide their local community with. https://www.singletracks.com/trail-advocacy/ed-sutton-explains-the-art-and-science-of-trail-building/?fbclid=IwAR3YaBbB-F5nWOHWAihN0iZRC5aPDaAS9aO6aOYyAeuL69IlCFpTjGTJ_2g

Since I've gone 1x... First with a 32t and now with a 30t, I've been easily spinning out on flat, easy trail. And on SATN trails, except for the short sections of uphill, I find myself only using maybe three high gears most of the time. It's been making me think about going back to a 2x... But then do I really want the possibility of more speed, especially given the crowds on the trails.

Social distancing while riding...