July Recap
Noah Davidson, Walnut Creek Pump Track
These summer months are staring to blend together if you know what I mean. It feels like it has been one long 100 degree day, and I can’t remember the last time I put in more than 13 miles that did not involve asphalt or gravel.
You would think the heat would have me indoors and working dilligently on the website and blog updates, but that is not the case at all. I’ve been riding, digging, and wrenching…
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Independence Day, Veloway
Freedom Loops
A nice little Veloway ride with Clint, Brooks, and Dusty for ‘Merica! We got a few laps in while the sounds of independence rang out across Circle C. I tacked on a few bonus miles and rode out to a nice vantage point by the tennis courts at Gorzycki Middle School where you can see a fair amount of South Austin, all the way out to Buda! This was a popular spot And was an awesome way to cap off the first ride of the month.
Crank N Drank
Tuesday night Crank N Drank routes have been shorter lately, and without Dusty bringing popsicles and Eric with his pressurized water tank and mister attachement the post ride hang out sessions would probably be shorter too! I’ve been helping on occasion to lead a group, but I am ready to get back to trying to hang with Group 2 again in the fall! Despite the heat, the turnout is still pushing 50 riders each Tuesday.
July 26th was a particularly special episode for me, but more on that in a moment…
Wednesday Night Groadie (S)Miles
I missed out on most of the gravel nights, but we got a good southie route in on July 6th…
DIRTY CHURCH
Every Sunday morning this summer despite an extreme drought, the Pump Track at Walnut Creek Metro Park receives a lot of love from a small but dedicated group of riders who come early to water and broom, which often involves carrying 5 gallon buckets full of water from the creek about 100’ away. The vibe is laid back and there is a lot of talent on display. Take a look at the full gallery and video edits below and then bring yourself to Church next Sunday.
It’s good for the soul…
Mary Moore Searight Update
Let’s get to the exciting news: Austin Ridge Riders have secured a grant from Athletic Brewing Company via their Two for the Trails program, which will be set aside for Mary Moore Searight Park in Southeast Austin. This was facilitated by a few community members, in particular ARR Trail Coordinator Cullen McMorrow who submitted a successful C.A.P.P. proposal to the City of Austin P.A.R.D. for future improvements including potential machince cut flow trail.
New Bike Day
Pinch me, I am dreaming! Prepare for a few words here…
My new Ibis Ripmo AF
Anyone who has spent time riding with me will tell you I loved complaining about my “too big for me” bike. The YT Jeffsy is a rad bike, and I am sure that for numerous riders it is a ticket to trail nirvana, but I am 5’ 7” tall and no bike manufacturer would have me on a large. Climbing and cornering is where the sizing problems came to the fore and caused me a lot of headache - and body aches - when I would inevitably crash.
Climbing was particularly frustrating as my position relative to the bottom bracket was all wrong. If I wanted the rear wheel to have traction I would need to adjust my weight more rearward which caused the front wheel to drift or lift. If I wanted to weight the front wheel, I would break traction and lose all my power and stall out. From the moment I bought the Jeffsy I knew it would be a temporary relationship, but it was the right bike at the right time - a time when bikes were not in stock. It was the right call. I progressed more than I ever would have on a $600 Trek hardtail, but the progression was slowing, and as early as November of last year I knew I wanted an Ibis Ripmo.
My YT Jeffsy - It was too big
Why the Ibis Ripmo? Simply put, for the price, it is constantly cited as the best value for a trail/enduro bike. If you are willing to go with the Aluminum frame the value is even deeper. I ride a ton of XC trail, but my heart and soul shreds the gnar when my better judgement is asleep, and so a bit more travel would be a bonus. At 160/147 Front/Rear travel, the Ripmo is in my sweet spot. Additionally, Ibis use the DW Link to bring some climbing efficiency to what is a super plush bike, and I was so sick of feeling like an idiot when climbing.
At the end of July the price of the Ripmo AF dropped considerably, So I found a deal online and reached out to Wes at Velorangutan to see if he would be able to match the price point and build spec, and then we built out from there. I was keen to give the DVO suspension that ships with the frame a shot, particularly since the fork was the top of the line Onyx D1 SC, essentially a single-crown version of the dual-crown race fork. We swapped out the Deore drivetrain for NGX, particularly because I would be using the carbon rear wheel and GX cassette from the Jeffsy, and then ditched the SLX brakes for Magura MT5.
A few days later Wes texted me to let me know he would be dropping the bike off that afternoon. It was Christmas in July, I felt like a total kid unable to contain my excitment or focus on anything of importance. At around 5pm, My Ibis Ripmo AF arrived, personally delivered by Wes, and with less than an hour till Crank N Drank! I did the worlds fastest seating position adjustment, and nothing else, and left to join the crew for the usual Tuesday night fun. Immediately things felt right. Cornering, climbing, all felt “normal” for the first time on a full suspension bike. I felt a little arrogant and vindicated that a year and a half of fretting my technique and seeming ineptitude in certain situations just might have had more to do with my equipment than I was letting myself beleive.
The suspension is so dang plush, it gobbles up everything, allowing me to carry so much more speed through rock gardens, and the Magura brakes are a dream. I never liked SRAM for brakes, especially my bottom of the barrel Guide T levers. Don’t skimp on brakes friends, especially if you like to point the bike downhill.
If there is a negative here, it is that I am going to have to work more for downhill stability. The oversized Jeffsy would do much of my job for me simply because it was a dump truck that would not trip over steep chunk. A smaller bike is more nimble, but also less stable which means that for the first time ever “Endo Valley” lived up to its name for me.. But don’t worry, I sacrificed my body to keep the bike safe and sound. Lesson learned, and my second trip through was clean.
I can’t say “thank you” enough to Wes and the crew at Velorangutan for making this happen. It would have been very easy for them to sell me the build off the floor, but they went above and beyond to build the bike i’ve been working towards for a year and a half now. Beyond this, Wes is a consistent presence at Crank N Drank on Tuesdays, and often leads a group, so it feels good to buy from a local bike shop that actually gets involved with the community. Plus the jersey looks so good.
I can’t wait for race season this year…
Ride Reels
I am taking another break from Ride Reels this month, but I have not taken any break from grabbing footage, so the regularly scheduled program will resume next month :)
Site Updates and Contributors
Updates are still going on behind the scenes with the website, and I have some exciting content in the works as well. Thanks to those of you who have reached out with interest in being a contributor!
If you enjoy writing and taking pictures, and would like to share your adventures here, please feel free to contact me! I can only witness so much of the scene, and it would be great to be able to feature other people’s experiences when possible.
