Mattlikesbikes

Just now, mack_turtle said:

How fat? 26x4" true fat bike-fat?I don't think it happens often, but there are at least two trailers STUFFED with donated bikes. I haven't looked in there for a while to find out. It would be worth visiting. They always seems swamped and probably won't be able to help you over the phone.

Doesn't need to be true fat, just looking to avoid the 90's frames that max out at 2.2. Ideal would be 2.5-2.8". I'll go check on it tomorrow. 

I was given an e bike, which I tried to regift to my mom but she never rode it. So now I am looking for a large 26 or 27.5" frame and ideally a fork that I can move these parts to. Nothing fancy, burly is best. Plan is to attach my bob trailer and use it to haul trail building stuff. So if you have an old frame hanging out in the attic, send it my way.

Or Nolte - are there ever fat tire frames at yellow bike?

Rode Rocky Hill in college, 2000 ish, then when I moved here in 2006 I think I rode WC first, but second was a we don't name trail in the 360 area. I ride that trail weekly still.

33 minutes ago, AustinBike said:

I am stunned, that in the world of 50T cassettes that anyone would believe that 2X gives you better range. To those guys it is the princess and the pea at this point in my head. I'd almost say that 1X is a bigger improvement than dropper posts. Almost. 

You say better range, but I think the only thing that 50t may give you is a lighter/simplified setup. It may seem better to you to have one less mechanical derailleur or one less chainring worth of weight, but it doesn't change your range. 1x gives a less smooth range, and for some people they may find that 2x or 3x gives them more usable gear ratios. I think "Better" is going to be user specific.

On 6/10/2023 at 7:31 PM, June Bug said:

A fatality was reported this past week at Brushy Creek. 

AJ Camp posted this on facebook on June 8:  "From what I was told by my fireman buddy (just wasn't on shift but it was his station that responded), a man and his child roughly 10 yrs old were riding Picnic when he fell and was struck by a punji stick just below armpit height. He apparently removed the stick/spear from his wound and then later when emergency services tried to help him he was combative - was a big guy so was hard to calm down. He was probably in some type of shock. He passed later - don't know if in transit or at hospital, but I head - at the hospital." 

 

I just got an email - I believe this was a friend of mine, Jared Crecelius. His wife said he died mountain biking on June 2. 

Jared was a really nice guy. Left behind two kids and a wife. He was a realtor in NW Austin/CP. Over the years he helped us buy and sell multiple times as well working with a number of our friends. When an obituary is posted I'll link it here.

I will add to the above about cutting flush with the trunk. If you cannot cut it flush and it's fairly long, leave it for the next person with the right equipment. Also, if you ever receive a large puncture wound, do everything you can to NOT remove the object. Remain still and calm and call for immediate help. 

1 hour ago, June Bug said:

Work on the extension to Manor is underway from the north end of the Southern Walnut Creek Multi-use Path at Daffan Lane.  

When construction was underway on the now completed Southern Walnut Creek Path, we went with a group of friends on multiple trips to ride mtn bikes through the construction zone on Sundays to explore and chart progress.

I made a joking reference on Facebook about an overview of the route and construction corridor (there may be an existing rough two-track) and noted it would be fun to explore on a mtn bike. 

Pretty quickly, a City of Austin rep posted up, "Please don't do that..."

I agree with them, don't do that. Wanna explore future trails, go for it. But once the work has started it's a liability for the contractor and city for riders to enter construction areas. 

On 5/22/2023 at 11:52 AM, June Bug said:

REI Gateway has a "garage sale" area in the corner of the store.  Each item has a little tag with the reason for the return, and sometimes it's trivial. I have to practice discipline by not buying stuff I don't really need, even if it's a killer deal. 

Not always a killer deal - ALWAYS get your phone out and check prices. I've found sometimes the stuff on the shelf is a year or more old and the new old stock price is the same or lower than the marked down original price. Buyer Be Smart.

I'll trade you a case of XX. I've got the 38s smooth version and was thinking about getting an aggressive and larger set for occasional rides.

If you want LBS I would talk to Wes at Velorangutan. 

At the very least, please consider commenting that there are effectively no proposed improvements west of Shoal Creek and that's just silly. With TxDOT making improvements slowly along 360, now is the time for the city to also put in improvements along 360. Jollyville is a heavily travel the bike route and yet woefully unsafe.

13 minutes ago, Kyle said:

I know it's not advised, but I've soldered to the ends of an 18650 a bunch of times and I'm still alive.  I used low temp solder, a big tip, RA flux, and just tried to get it done as fast as possible.

I tracked one down with the wrong connector, but it looks like I can pop the pins out of both and try that route first. But yeah, for something that is well held, no stress on the solder, seems doable without welds

Anyone mess with lithium battery packs? I've got a Cycliq rear light/camera combo and while the battery is somewhat easy to remove I cannot find an off the shelf replacement. It's an 18650 3200mA with a PHR3 connector on it. I've had large battery packs built but cannot find somebody to do a single cell. I assume (have not pulled apart) that it is welded vs soldered, so that takes it out of my equipment available.

Let me know. Beer or cash in it.

3 minutes ago, Bart said:

Is the Northern WC bike path that sorta ends at Johnny Morris actually going to connect with the new bike path going under 35?

Yes. That is my largest project. It's going to take 4-6 years 

7 minutes ago, Chongo Loco said:

Yeah, well those are the same people that said yes to putting traffic islands down the shoulders of shoal creek Blvd. then they put trees in the island that you had to go into traffic to avoid. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean better…no matter who’s in law came up with it. 🙄

Sadly, two different initiatives that clash - traffic calming and the street trees program. Use the 311 app, snap a pic and GPS and report any trees in the way or that need trimming. Different from the people that design, the people that maintain are more than happy to cut stuff back to city standard spacing off lanes. BUT there are not a lot of them and they only really know about places people complain about. 

It's not just Austin Energy who is behind on basic system improvements. The City overall is WAY behind on bike/ped infrastructure. There is so much to do, and lots of appetite for the improvements, but not a lot of appetite for the cost (financial and loss of traffic lane space or loss of ROW/property edges to expand ROW). There is a really good team at ATD and public works focused on getting more and safer bike infrastructure in. There just are not enough of them to make it happen quick enough.

If you are in Districts 6 or 10 (and some parts of 7) - email your council person asking them to push for more bike and sidewalk spending in your district. Places like Jollyville Rd, McNeil, Old Spicewood, 360, Parmer Ln - places with a lot of existing bike traffic - are not getting the funding priority. 

10 minutes ago, AntonioGG said:

This will pay off big time in the long run.  Where I live (close to McNeil/Spicewood Springs US183 intersection) we have bus stops that drop you in a slip lane island with no sidewalks in all but one direction until now.  These are some of the most used bus stops and walking paths in the NW and you used to have to walk in dirt/grass and off-camber culvert sections where you could.

In related news, I just recently rode on Exposition blvd for the first time in years.  The last time I had ridden it, there was construction and the entitled and aggressive driving just scared me off even though it has mostly good bike lines.  They've since added traffic calming measures (as simple as a raised island at pedestrian crossings) and it's shocking how much difference this has made. These are not bumps/cushions but just a narrowing of the area.  Goes to show how many people have no idea where the edges of their gigantic cars are.

Personal opinion (not COA) I strongly dislike the pedestrian island as a traffic calming measure. It's ATD's new go-to but I'm not a fan of potentially pausing pedestrians in an area we already know has a speed issue. I get the point, just not in love with the execution.

On 2/16/2023 at 9:59 AM, mack_turtle said:

My office overlooks the creek where that trail will go under I-35. The trail will go behind the Girl Scouts office building at some point, if my understanding is correct. It's a long way from being done. I don't see anything down there except some very advanced "camping" spots.

I'm the COA project manager for the next 9 miles of NWCT. We are in the process of finalizing a purchase on Cedarbrook, near the current end of 2A, so we will be able to build a bridge across WC. The design of that project (Oakbrook/Cedarbrook to IH35) will be at 35% this summer, so possibly starting construction late 2024. We should be in construction on the other side of IH35, going east to Peggotty place sooner than that. The only problem - IH35 Crossing - is in TxDOT's court. For this crowd it should be NBD - just bandit ride under IH35. But for the All Ages crowd, it will be a few years, as TxDOT is 100% replacing IH35 over WC - that project is through design but is un funded as I understand. 

The odd ball level of infrastructure you saw south of 71 near Velocity - that is the new Austin Transportation Dept. requirements in real life. As of last year, almost any new road has to have a certain level of bike and ped support, even if it doesn't yet connect to anything. So a random intersection looks like it belongs in a more populated area. Good news is when the developer builds out Velocity or similar neighborhood they will have to continue to the bike/ped support. But for now it looks out of place.

It does and it doesn't. My FS SS is about 30#. I've got it geared well and can climb anything all day long. Am I more nimble on my rigid 21# SS, sure. 

End of the day I think you could get that bike lighter, but it might not matter. It not being the right bike is firmly affixed in your head, which is understandable.

Just now, mack_turtle said:

I don't know what that means, but none of the parts on this bike are particularly heavy. the 7 pound, 3 ounce frame, however, is quite a bit heavier than anything I've ever owned, and I had a ROS9 at one point.

I've got a steel SS that's 21#. Probably a 4# frame. Rigid carbon fork but nothing else strangely light. Even with a suspension fork and 3# of extra frame, you've still got a few lbs of extra you could lose.

If you have a 30# SS, the 7lb frame is only a little of the problem.

1 minute ago, zrx24 said:

Well, this explains the viewing tower at the top of Jester.

Usually, viewing towers of that sort are used to show view of a two story home.  Most likely that parcel is being marketed for a single residence.  Many of the stringent regulations related to commercial development (e.g. multi-family residential) would not come into play, so permitting "should" be less complicated.  Those parcels are now owned by BCP I, LLC, according to TCAD's website.

 

Regardless, its looking like the Jester/Buda trail network is about to be bisected in the "near" future.  That would be terribly unfortunate.

A few months ago while riding over there I bumped into the property owner as he was putting up that tower. In its site development plan it's platted for multiple lots, but he was hoping it would get bought by a single buyer who would put a single property on it. However the price he's asking and the fact that it is only accessible via an easement through the apartment complex makes me question the likelihood of that. I don't see someone spending that much money to then have to drive in and out of an apartment complex every time they leave their house. 

Interestingly the same guy owns the area near slice of pie which is also in the process of significant cedar removal to open it up. That one he's expecting to go commercial.

I think he's a little late to the real estate party and may not see the level of fervor he would have seen if he had been marketing these harder a year ago.

For the pie parcel I'm just mad they keep stacking cedar cuts across the trail, seriously just stack that s*** 3 ft further over.

Anyone have a vinyl transfer printer in town? I've got a bunch of small projects, and one I'd like to do asap. Just need someone for a limited (5) run of 4x5 decals.

10 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

If money was no concern, I'd switch to Hope brakes for serviceability.

I've rebuilt so many hopes. The best is when somebody retires some Hopes because they are giving up on them and for $20 in seals and some time you can make them like new.

Anyone around here with COA Development Services? I'd like to start a project but need an off the record consult for a couple questions.

2 hours ago, WLemke said:

How long have you been running pool noodles? It was my understanding that open cell foam absorbs sealant, making the sealant useless. Is this not your experience? 

Pool noodles are closed cell foam, otherwise they would not float. Its all the closed/sealed off bubbles that make the bouncy.  But I'm not turning my nose up at the $100 pricetag for legit inserts. I run RImpact on my carbon wheels.

I'm running pool noodles on my XC bike and my kids bike. Both were already setup tubeless before I started, so the initial seal of the tire was done. I've had them on my XC bike for a couple months now and have not added juice to them. That said, I have no idea if they would seal right now or not. I do think all the texture on the noodle (both original edge and cut edge) probably create spaces for sealant to settle vs running like juice on the inside of the tire.  SO it probably does reduce effectiveness or require more juice to stay working.