Smyth, get strava. Trails will make more sense. It's not all about racing. Just my 2 cents.
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Smyth, get strava. Trails will make more sense. It's not all about racing. Just my 2 cents.
I think you are going a bit overboard with your claims, especially this one. I am fairly new to the sport. Maybe 12-15 months. I feel like I am now in the intermediate zone, perhaps blue/black depending on trail. There were lots of trails to get me started, and there is now a shitload for me to ride. I would say that intermediate trails are the norm, rather than the exception that you suggest. There is a great selection of trails for all abilities and Austin (and the parks/ranches within an hour) makes for a great place to make nice and steady progress. Sure there's some tough stuff out there, but there's lots of green to blue to blue/black.Quote:
Originally Posted by clsmyth
Telling an entire group to go fuck themselves is probably not the best way to find friendly people. But if you really do want to learn the trails you might want to swing back by on the 21st. At 1:00 the Bowie High School team is hosting a scavenger hunt. Student athletes will be available as guides. Starts at ATX bikes.Quote:
Originally Posted by clsmyth
As to mapping the trail, IMHO impossible. The SATN is really just an ever evolving hydra. I still get lost at least once a week, but you are never more than an 1/8 mile from civilization or a road.
@clsmyth - PM me if you want a guide for some trails. Yes - this is a serious offer to help you learn some local trails.
I have been on many group rides with many different groups. C&D is typical of many of them. Not necessarily newb friendly but not newb hostile either. It strongly depends on the skill / speed of the new rider. Unfortunately it is really hard for anyone to fairly rate their group level. Nobody wants to be in the Beginner / Slow group. Very few think they are Fast / Advanced group. So most people get in Intermediate group. That is usually way too much for anybody who has trouble knowing what group they should be in.
For a more laid back ride I would try the ARR rides (sundays and monthy - look on Meetup). Also check with Texas Cycle Werx for their rides. If you do the TCW ride make sure they are doing SATN and have a slower group. Those can get pretty advanced also. If someone knows if there are other group rides on the SATN - please post. Those are the only two I know of.
clsmyth, you bet I'm serious! I'll pm you but I'm thinking Friday afternoon. No drop ride.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Here is one example of a head on collision. There are other examples, this one just happens to be causing enough trouble that it is on my radar still. https://www.facebook.com/notes/dan-p...54609979233011Quote:
Originally Posted by cramsay3
Added - Before anybody starts flaming I give the guy that posted that credit for trying to make it into something positive. He didn't just complain. He tried to take his concerns and make constructive changes.
I stand corrected regarding head on collisions. What pissed me off was ninja reported everyone almost ran him over, like the group was nelegent. Inline skaters blow past me on the time on the Veloway. I don't post they are being reckless on forum. And if it's the guy out on the trail I think it was we even said howdy as we passed...While trying to run him over.Quote:
Originally Posted by cxagent
Yall are making this way too complicated:
ITS
FUCKING
BIKES, MANG
Seriously, the amount of butthurt is staggering; sack up people. The people defending C&D. . . just stop. You don't owe anyone an explanation. Organize your rides how you want and fuck the haters.
I do have some legit suggestions but I'll tie off with yall via other channels.
I find the "I had a flat and no one helped me" comments strange. I, and most of the people I ride with, always stop and ask if assistance is needed. But on group rides if I have a flat I always insist that they leave me behind. There will be other group rides for me at later dates, just not today. I don't want to negatively impact other's rides, especially on these relatively short rides.
For those aghast at this suggestion, know that I am very sure that it was made with tongue firmly in cheek!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ernest Borgniner
Until recently, I had no idea how common collisions were or how frequently they got reported. I'm not blaming anybody - just pointing out that what I/we think is rare can be more common than we know.Quote:
Originally Posted by cramsay3
There is a lot of stuff on mojo that pisses me off. Some of what I like pisses off somebody else. But that is the nature of Mojo. Like it or hate it, we users make Mojo what it is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Tip
Unless I'm way off here, technically ALL of these trails are bordered by roads. How lost can you get? You can here cars from practically any point in the system. Pick a direction, you'll get to a street eventually ;/
Well now I'm pissed that you are telling my how Mojo works. I'm off to go check my estrogen levels...Quote:
Originally Posted by cxagent
This thread really is odd because I imagine if we all met in the parking lot, we'd be drinking beers and talking bikes in short order. As it stands it looks like an "us" vs "them" situation which is a dynamic I've never experienced in the Austin MTB scene. I always get a "..you good?" question if I'm stopped on the trail and I've never ridden with a group that I thought was a bunch of pricks. When I run into some douchbag on the trail they are 9 times out of 10 from out of town (cough- Houston - Dallas - cough).Quote:
Originally Posted by clsmyth
I learned to ride in Austin just a few years ago and I used to think the Greenbelt was an impossible to navigate paradise. I've ridden out there solo and in groups and I still get lost and will continue to get lost because I like to explore. THAT is how I learn new trails. I get out and I get lost. I use my phone and GPS or I just ride until I hit a road and then work my way back. The vast majority of trails around here are not mapped for very, very good reasons. I ride solo and when I can keep up and find the right group, I ride with a group. The key is to find a group that rides a LITTLE above your level so you're always improving.
Your definition of "slow" and that of the group appear to be quite a bit different. Averaging 7 mph on new trails around here in the dark after only having started riding mountain bikes is not easy but it's a hell-uva-lot easier than averaging 10 mph! Whatever, now you know.
clsmyth - I hope you don't hold hard feelings for the way it went down. Get out there and explore the trails and don't alienate all the guys that DO know the trails. Find a group that rides your speed and hit it. Simple as that IMO.
I like group rides from time to time, but if they are too big, they suck. The C&D is big and will most likely get bigger in the spring when days get longer. The only time I went on a C&D, without realizing that there had even been a split, I found myself in the fast group sort of by accident. I smoked a pretty big bowl on my way there, so maybe I just missed the announcement, but I'm pretty sure there was none and I just followed the wrong person. I still had a good time, but it was more about pushing my aerobic threshold than have a fun social ride. I've also, done a few TCW rides and a couple other large group rides in SATN, and I think that's part of the nature of the trail. It's fast and not a lot of places you would naturally stop and regroup (like technical features). As someone who has been at the front, middle, and back of such groups, the leaders really have no clue what is going on 5, 10, 15, or especially 25 riders back.
When you are in a group that size, you sort of get in a herd mentality. The only thing that matters is to keep up with the herd. Someone gets a flat, fuck it, why should we both get eaten by the lions (aka lost)? Killphil, I think the C&D I went on may have been the one you flatted on. I remember someone flatting early on, and someone else telling people down the line "So-so flatted, but we got it and we'll just take off on our own" or something to that affect. Maybe my recollection is off (As I mentioned, I was pretty high). If so, I'm sorry for not offering help. If not, it could explain why no one stopped to help.
I've also been on a group ride where the whole group was held up by one guy that got 5 flats, kept putting in patched up tubes that obviously weren't patched, and didn't have the right tools to remove his bolt on axle. This was when AustinBike used to lead weekend BCGB rides. I think that was the last one he called. As he said (and I'm paraphrasing), it just stops being fun to be a ride leader when you are expected to be even semi-responsible for anyone with an internet connection and a bike who shows up.
In conclusion to this thesis, huge groups rides are impossible to make everyone happy.
I'd find that comment strange too if it was what I actually said. Guy in question is self sufficient and fixed the flat himself. What was annoying was that everyone just rode by giving the impression of "sucks for you, see ya later." And that's all it was......annoying. Nobody is obligated to help. I was merely providing an example of one case where the group was less than hospitable. I'm not making it out to be the end of the world because it's not.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Tip
That's what I was thinking! Good way to get land managers to start fencing off the grey area stuff. NOOOOOO!Quote:
Originally Posted by GFYO
Also, really missing the opportunity to join in this Lord of the Flies stuff. I hope the rumors scare people off. Show up for a ARR ride during daylight, please.
Practical note: groups fewer than 10 is a good idea.
I still find your comment strange and definitely an outlier to any experience I have ever had on the bike. When you say " I had a buddy" it sounds like anecdotal bullshit, but since he chimed in and said it happened I believe it. I still find it strange that 15 riders would pass by a rider on the trail wordlessly.Quote:
Originally Posted by ninjammin
This part I can tell you is not true. Some of these trails are in a gray area in terms of whether they should exist. Drawing unnecessary attention to them is a bad thing. People who have been riding here a long time (longer than me) have seen good trails come and go for less than logical reasons and can get justifiably defensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by clsmyth
He and I were honestly surprised too. I've generally had great experiences with other riders around town. Stuff gets weird in big groups though. Again, minor issue and not the end of the world.Quote:
Originally Posted by GFYO
Maps and signs tend to attract hikers and dog walkers, case in point is Baurele. Those are well marked and trail joggers, dog walkers are all over that system.Quote:
Originally Posted by clsmyth
Quote:
Originally Posted by clsmyth
This isn't some cool kids club and having that attitude isn't going to get you far in making friends. There should be more communication about expectations from both sides (damn you for making me come back to basics) but that is the truth. Trails are hidden or kept quiet to reduce friction with residents and land owners. Just asking the caving community and look back to the brouhaha around Whirlpool.