Hi Mojos,

A crack team of South Austin riders would like to invite you to The Big Southie, a fun ride linking the various trails in the South Austin Trail Network.

https://thebigsouthie.wordpress.com/

If you didn't click the link, go back. It has all the info you need.

Date: 3/7 (rain date 4/4)

Time: 9AM rollout

Where: Dick Nichols parking lot.

Route: Consists of three loops about 15-20 miles each. You can ride the loops in any order or only do the ones you want. GPX files are posted on the site and maps will be available soon.

This is a self supported RIDE not a RACE. There is no registration and no awards (although there might be some finisher swag). Our goal is for everyone to have fun and learn some new trail.

We HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY encourage you to join a ride call to learn the routes. The trails are not well marked by the city and we will not be flagging the entire route. GPX files and maps are great but they are not a substitute for a pre-ride. Ride calls will be posted to the site and to Mojo.

We also need volunteers (non-riders welcome)! Anyone interested in helping, please email thebigsouthie@gmail.com. We will find you a job!

Thanks!
The Big Southie Team

Few other points:

If it rains within 3-4 days of a pre-ride or the event, expect a cancellation. We have a rain date set for 4/4 if we need to use it. That being said, DO NOT ride any muddy trails. Takes most trails 3-4 days to dry out, others even longer.

The Gnorth/Moe loop is mentioned on the site but the .gpx file is TBD. Trying to come up with the best route.

We are trying to have a ride call this weekend but depends on the weather/scheduling for ride leaders.

Anything else, please email us directly thebigsouthie@gmail.com

I'm in for this, although I suppose I should look at the actual loops first.

Probably in for this, assuming it is all singlespeedable, right? What is the approximate amount of climbing?

AB - totally singlespeed-able. There are some climbs but they are not too nasty. Probably 1500' max over 50 miles. South Austin is pretty flat.

Damn, that's too bad, but I'll ride it anyway.

If you want more, you can do always do repeats.

I have a Tomicog you can put on your bike if you want to make it more difficult by riding fixed.

My urban bike has a fixed gear option, I just have to flip the wheel, but that is not for me. Just want climbing, it keeps me in shape and I have some goals for this year.

looks to be a good upcoming weekend for pre-riding

Hey guys, if you are experiencing some issues with the site, don't fret. We are cleaning up some of the gpx files and maps. Hoping to have everything finalized by tomorrow evening then we can start ride calls.

Agree weather is looking to be awesome.

Thank you so much for organizing this!!! Looking forward for the pre-ride this weekend!

I dont strava or garmin and can't get either route file to work in googs irf. Any pointers?

I don't know what to do with the .fit file.

When I open the gpx file of the other loop in google earth I have to make sure I only check the middle box "Create KML LineStrings" or it crashes.

Hey Guys, we took all the files down and will repost within 24-48 hours. We are also going to have a google map for old-school navigators.

Right now, we have description of each route so you can get a feel for what you'll be riding.

As for ride calls, we are trying to have one this weekend but no promises. Need to make sure we can have a ride leader present. We are a small team . . . trying to work around family/job schedules.

To that end, we are looking to deputize a few other ride leaders. To "apply" just join a pre-ride. After learning the route from one of us, if you feel comfortable, we can send you out as a leader on future rides. This will give us flexibility to do different loops at the same time or accommodate different riders speeds.

Alright! After a few early stumbles, we are back in business. The site has been updated with GPX and KML files. A google map is also available. Working on a printable map of each loop in JPEG (or similar format).

High probably of a ride call this weekend, we have a ride leader lined up for Sat and maybe one for Sunday. Working out last minute details and will post soon.

Feel free to forward this to any of your non-mojo friends . . . more the merrier!

Originally Posted by Austin Bike

Damn, that's too bad, but I'll ride it anyway.

Lol

BooYAH! This thing has really shaped up in the last couple of days. The fantastic routes have been nailed down pretty well now.
So LET'S DO IT!

Join us at 9 am Saturday 2/7. Dick Nichols (the center of the South Austin Trail Network universe) parking lot. Depending on trail conditions we will do some loops. What we will be riding are the core routes. We won't do the "appendages" this time, rather just the more complicated connecting trails. So no loops that include the Green Belt, or Stephenson, or Bauerle Ranch, or Slaughter Creek trail (which is closed (close? ) right now anyway). So just the guts. We will however be pointing out those points that depart to the appendages, ie, "here's where you go off and come back from the Green Belt" etc.

This means we will be looping back to Dick Nichols two times before finishing after the third loop. Not exactly sure, but I think the longest loop will be eight miles, maybe a total of 19-20 miles total for the day. So even this preliminary ride is a "bite off what you can chew" type thing. If you quit after one, no problem. Two, no problem. Finish all three, no problem.

Please say here if you are coming. Just to give us an idea of numbers. Of course you shy no posting folks are welcome to show up too. We know you will! That's okay. The more people we can get educated to these routes the better.

Thanks Tip, for leading the ride call. Site has been updated as well: https://thebigsouthie.wordpress.com/ride-calls-2/

Too late in the week for me to change my Sat plans, but I'd like to join in on the next one.