AustinMTB: For the past several years, I have been attending and organizing a lot of meetings on behalf of Austin Ridge Riders, to advocate for mountain biking in the Austin area.  We have goals like 1) More miles of legal natural surface trail 2) more "bike park" facilities (skills zones, pump tracks, jump parks, bicycle playgrounds, etc.) 3) continued access to existing trails (staying on good side with City and being available to diffuse complaints by hikers, neighbors etc. when they occasionally come up); 4) alliances with other biking groups; etc.  I asked Hill Abell (former IMBA President and Bicycle Sport Shop owner) several years ago how to be more plugged in to local government and connected with other non-profits so that the mountain biking community is heard, and one of his suggestions was joining Austin Outside.  Austin Outside is an umbrella group of non-profits, professionals (like landscape architects, planners, and engineers), etc.   https://www.austinoutside.org/members . After a while, I became chair of the Austin Outside Trails and Active Transportation Committee.  Regular attendees include representatives of Travis County Parks Foundation, Austin Parks Foundation, Red Line Parkway Initiative, Shoal Creek Conservancy, and others.  There is also a Parks and Open Space Committee, and I attend their meetings as well.  I have invited speakers like the following to speak for 15-20 min on Trails and Active Transportation topics:    Blair Alley, Smart City Policy Group  Erin Rushing, P.L.A., OZTB Consulting and Design (NW Arkansas)  Erick Hetzel, State Parks Trails Coordinator, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department  Sarah S. Bentley, Project Manager, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, (Active Middle Schools research project, including biking to school)  Emilee Gear, Active Transportation Planner, Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources  Eileen McGinnis, Parents Climate Community, Kidical Mass Bike Ride Organizer   One of the big topics in local government right now is whether City of Austin is going to do a bond election this November.  As you may recall, voters rejected Proposition Q last year: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-11-05/austin-tx-prop-q-failed-election-results-explained because it seemed like another tax increase in the midst of too much spending by the City.  In view of that, Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Marc Duchen are firmly against having a bond election this November.    I strongly believe in fiscal responsibility as well, so I'm pretty sympathetic to that position.  There are a lot of areas of spending that probably do need to be cut.  Over the last two years, the Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) has heard many presentations from City officials and the general public.   HOWEVER, from the Austin Ridge Riders perspective, I think it's fair to say we support funding of PARKS and TRAILS.  I've been down to City Hall several times to show support for Parks and Trails funding, both in front of the BEATF and the City Council.   Both Bolm District Park (with Bentonville style bike park amenities) and Walter E. Long Park (which includes MTB-specific XC trail in the vision plan) Friends of Walter E Long Metro Park have been listed as priorities by Austin Parks and Recreation. (See Parkland Improvements & Infrastructure Programs - Sept 10, 2025 - Presentation to BEATF ). The current direction on City Council is to reduce the bond ask from $750 million down to $390 million, and focus the bond priorities more narrowly: "The proposed bond package, which would go before voters in November if approved by council, would direct $250 million to parks, $92 million to transportation projects." https://austinparks.org/blog/2026-austin-bond-election-a-summer-standstill-and-what-it-means-for-our-parks/ https://austincurrent.org/2026/05/29/austin-bond-election-delay-prop-q/ https://thedailytexan.com/2026/06/15/city-council-advances-2026-bond-issue-for-july-presentation/ https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-city-council-debates-390m-bond-for-november-ballot-or-delay-to-2028 In related news, Council Member Krista Laine (for NW Austin) has expressed support for biking connectivity and trails. https://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?p=4922&hilit=trails#p4922 .  I will be talking with her office this Friday.  Apparently, she attended a few RLAG rides back around Covid!  A council member who is down with MTB!  If any of y'all would like to talk about advocacy, I'm open to discuss.  Thanks!! Cullen Vice President, Austin Ridge Riders Board Member, Bike Texas Board Member, David Phillips Foundation Committee Chair, Austin Outside    

Sorry to disturb our collective slumber...  I'm awaiting a parts kit that won't show till Tue.  Another dropper post ~160mm length might could work, too.  I do have access to a fixed post.  Fwiw, the lower bushing broke (cap separated from the ring), so the guide pins are floating.  Thanks.

I'm assuming that you've already taken your friendly MX lap around Emma Long and I'd love to hear your take.  But IMHO its much more defiicult that 1/4 Notch.  After all, 1/4 Notch was given that monikor for a reason. 🙂   Double Down might be more comparable but even then, City Park is unique in many ways.   As someone who owns an enduro bike and has frequently (in the past) ridden out there on both types of 2 wheeled machines, if you are a competent dirt bike rider then its not too bad.  I've always loved riding the super tech MTB stuff, so I found that 35HP with 12" of suspension and bike luggy tires made CP feel much more easy than pedaling around a 2.2" wide tire on a hardtail MTB with 80mm of suspension like we all did back in the day.   All that said, in the moto world, City Park is the crazy insane stuff that only seasoned technical riders choose to ride (at least thats how that community views it).  YMMV Cheers, CJB    

Yeah, I was not recommending a motorcycle at WC. Although I have seen several over the years...

John, I'm gonna take the counter to telling someone to go ride his borrowed motorcycle at Walnut Creek or unmentionable trails.  😉 As far as the rain advice goes for CP, you'd know better than me b/c I haven't ridden it wet in over a decade.  Like you said, though, it was pretty good back then.  I guess not anymore.