2020 - Year End Wrap-Up

NETT Trail by Avery, Tx

This last year was way off cycling-kilter. With the RUSA Permanent Program shut down (lack of acceptable insurance coverage) for most of the year, numerous projects eating away the time and then the Covid pandemic thing, it was a real flip-flop. I was riding several times a week, mostly shorter routes and also doing a lot of "recon" rides to locate new routes.
 

Even as funding (grants) were secured here in Avery and other towns along NETT (North East Texas Trail), little was being constructed or graded. Avery, Tx area NETT was the usual mess for weeks after a rain... several miles of mud holes on the way eastward. ATV traffic was tearing it up and leaving deep tread grooves for the water to puddle.
Throw in a farm tractor and a few 4x4's to conclude the rut-O-rama trail.

NETT - Detroit, Tx - Dec., 2020

NETT - Detroit, Tx - Feb., 2020

Not the case westward over by Detroit. Later in the year, contractors managed to lay down miles of road base as NETT passed thru Detroit town. It's my understanding that contractors first put in signage/fences by road crossings... then upgrade bridges.. followed by sectional Trail grading and road base... and finally someday they will lay down hard surface and upgrade Trail amenities. Hopefully, I'll see that before my bikes are all rusted out and tires flat!

RAT-1000 route across Texas

Also of interest was my "recon" of the RAT-1000 route across Texas. This is a lo-key "event" starting in Texarkana, Arkansas and following mostly gravel roads zig-zagging across northern Texas to the finish in Tucumcari, NM. I've done the leg work on the first few hundred miles of RAT, but the roads westward are a long way off. Part of RAT passes thru Avery. Unfortunately, it's early on and wouldn't offer a timely rest-stop here. It's a bike-packing event and riders use SPOT Trackers. You can ride anytime of the year, either direction, but the main start is in Texarkana every October. The RAT-1000 web site offers little help or information. One day I did manage to run into a RAT rider over by New Boston on his way west. Nice guy on a Salsa Cutthroat carbon bike-packing rig. He had to bail after 200 mi. due to achilles tendon pain.

 I always wanted to do some bike-packing stuff, but the lightweight equipment doesn't come cheap (esp. if you're just trying it out for a ride or two). Plus, my bikes aren't really very ideal for that type of riding and carrying equipment. Like in San Diego with the Stagecoach 400 event (which I never officially rode, but did ride the route several times), these events lead up to the big one... the annual Tour Divide ( Canada to Mexico - bike-packing). Bruce Phillips from O'side and Mikki Suva from Revolution Bike and a few others had stories about their exploits riding the Stagecoach 400 Event. 

Bill checking out Avery State Bank

Tying in with the RAT-1000 stuff, my buddy from San Marcos, Bill Stevenson, stopped by Avery in October for a few days on his way back to the West Coast. He was interested in the RAT and hit a few of the campgrounds along the RAT route on his way home. Had some nice pics and insight on car-camping along the route. Very interesting if we could get a bunch of riders together for a week or two of riding the RAT-1000.

Riding weather around Avery, Tx was OK during the Spring thru early Fall. Then the cool weather and rain moved in to finish off the year with crap riding weather. Seems the winds always blow around NE Texas... with very few days of great no-wind riding. Esp. when it's 35F in the morning and expected to reach 55 in the afternoon.. but the 15mph wind drops it all down and makes for a long day in the saddle.

A real mechanical tire gauge

I'm mainly using the Specialized Diverge gravel bike with the 650b/47mm tire wheelset. That seems to work well on the rougher chip-seal and some gravel riding. Just adjust the tire pressure as needed. Over the years I've went through several digital gauges of various makes and they will always plug up, either from chips of the rubber seal or from tire sealant. Yes, I take them apart and clean em up, but they all finally bite-the-bullet. Since I've opted for a regular mechanical gauge -Accu-Gage. Brass from 0-60psi. Basic, simple and works well. A little bulky to carry in the seat bag, however. 

 

- randorides

Revisit Tire Failure Again...Specialized To The Rescue?

Specialized Pathfinder Pros...650x47

After a thousand miles on the 650b with a set of Panaracers 1.90 on, the rear developed a small glass cut and thus a similar "bump". I was riding away from home when the rear tire suddenly started to rub the chain-stay. Upon further investigation, it was small piece of glass that had entered the outer casing in the center tread. Same-oh stuff.

I limped home and put on the 700cc wheelset with the old stock Specialized Trigger Pros 38mm on. Those suckers wear like steel...in fact, I could see some cord showing on the rear! Hey, maybe Specialized is making a 650b version of those tires? After some online research, they do have a similar tread pattern in their Pathfinder Pro 47. 

I searched around and finally ordered a set of those Specialized Pathfinder Pro 47 for the 650 wheels.At the same time I found some 47mm for my 700c wheelset: Specialized Sawtooth 47! Ordered those too. Also ordered some Orange rim tape, it was cheap and stuck better than the Stans I had tried before ( Gorilla tape sticks super... but is thick and if you ever take off the tire, it will pull loose on the edges and requires lots of time to totally remove the "glue" left on the rim.)

Pathfinders installed on Diverge gravel bike

 650b - I took off all the old tape from the front wheel, cleaned alcohol and installed the 25mm wide Orange Rim Tape. At the same time, I replaced the stem with the nice Versa Valve stem. These were recommended by my buddy, John in Carlsbad, CA. These stems sealed much better do to the various grommets that come with each set to fit various rim cross-sections. The rear rim tape was good so I left all as was. Put in 4oz of Orange Endurance Sealant per. (I write the date/amount on each tire with white permanent ink.)

Pathfinder Pros 47went on nicely and inflation was efficient with the Booster. I'll ride them a while over various road/trail conditions and report back. Using 35/40psi for road work...30/35 for trails.

 

Old stock TriggerPro 38s

700c - Keeping with the tough stock Specialized tire mantra, I did install the new Sawtooth 42 on the stock Diverge rims. No problem with the stock tape or the older stems. (I'll replace them both next time around (for sure, stems with the nice fitting and solid Orange Seal Versa Valve Stem set (come in various colors for the show-time crew). Install was a breeze. 

After some online research on pricing and delivery, I did order all items mentioned above from Competitive Cyclists. I had ordered items in the past and their prices were in line with Amazon competitors. ( I am lacking, so far, any Texas connections for bikes or components and
still relying on past sources.

New Sawtooth 700x42

 

 

more lateron...
randorides

Panaracer 650b Install

Several months back, the rear WTB Byway 650b tire developed a "bump, bump..bump" while riding. Upon examination, it seemed the tire carcass was breaking down and slowly leaking air thru the tread? Time to put on the Panaracers 1.90 I've had for a while as a back-up set.

650b Conversion With WTB Byway 47mm Tires Video

I cut off the rear tire and saved the Gorilla Tape seal job. The front tire was sealed real good and took 30 minutes to carefully remove while saving the tape work for the new tire. I wiped down the rims with a damp cloth and slicked up things.

Panaracers 650b x 1.90 tires, Orange Sealant, air Booster

Time to put on the new Panaracers. From my experience, getting the tubeless tires to seal can  
really easy... OR a hellva chore. I waxed up the tire bead well with a old candle. This would allow the bead to slide outward on the tape and enhance the sealing to the rim. I tried the hand pump to no avail on either wheel. No amount of squeezing would help.

I had chucked my old 2-liter cola bottle inflater from the last install. I sort of worked, but I always wondered when the sides would blow, even with the excess of duct tape wrapped around & around. I could make one out of PVC pipe or finally buy something safe. Didn't have any 3" OR 4" pipe lying around so checked the internet for inflater reviews. Didn't need a pump with it, so there were several that seemed to work well via reviews. I ordered out a Schwalbe Tire Booster which had the best price with free shipping. Came in 2-days without Amazon Prime from Planet Bike. Reading the enclosed info... same China company that makes AIRSHOT!

Panaracers on Diverge after test ride.

I pumped up the Booster to 120psi (goes to 160psi) and let 'er rip. Pop, POP and sealed right up. Same with the other wheel. I pulled the Booster and pumped up by hand next. No problem. Orange Endurance Sealant was next... 4oz per wheel. Cleaned up the inner valve stem and put in the clean valve. Aired them up to 60psi and sloshed the sealant around. ( Always write the date and amount of sealant added on the sidewall of each tire with permanent marker.)

Since this is a different complete wheelset from the 700 wheels, the front brake rotor aligned perfectly. The rear needed a reset to spin freely. After cleaning up the bike (esp. the brake rotors and pads with brake cleaner), it was time for a road test after dropping the tire pressure down to 40psi. Weather was crappy, with high easterly winds, 50 degrees and rain spitting as I headed out and around town. All was well. I'll check the tire pressure in the morning to confirm the super seal. Also next long ride to adjust the tire pressure for these slightly wider 1.90 tires.

-randorides 

Graceland To Detroit: Sunny Day

Quick route follows Hwy. 82 to Detroit

Nice sunny Sunday... lo-traffic day... time to ride west. Initially, this rando route started at the local Avery 7-11/Shamrock Station and followed Hwy. 82 over to Detroit. Only one place in Detroit open most of the day and that was the Git-N-Go store/station. The mileage was a little short of the required 62.1 miles for RUSA certification. The Ms. suggested starting at the Family Dollar store in Avery instead. Good enough to surpass the 100km spec. The store opens up at 0800 daily, so OK in the shorter winter days.

Another later start, but the weather was warm and minimal clothing necessary. Gal at the Dollar Store looked around for something healthy for proof of start... mini Milky Way pieces for $1. good to go. Hah, hah! Rode westward on Hwy. 82 to the next door dog barking and getting excited as usual.

Brisk headwind and lo-traffic as expected all the way to Clarksville, where the route loops around the town before straightening out to a more NW direction. Just after passing the Bagwell turn, the bike lane nearly disappears for two miles, replaced by an additional vehicle lane. Fortunately, traffic swings wide seeing my rear Cygolite SuperPro blinkie... but the rumble strip dominates what little bike lane there is left. The lane suddenly widens and becomes smooth again on a short gradual downhill before Detroit.

Daytime visible Hotshot light works well

North East Texas Trail comes down from Bagwell and passes thru Detroit town. I detoured a bit and rode the Trail into town to the big "Welcome To Detroit" sign at the park. Next stop was the only place open today: Git-N-Go store/station. Friendly lady behind the counter asked about where I was riding, etc. Several customers pumping gas and buying take out pizza. Got my choc sandwich and rode over to the next door construction site for a break. Large commercial building for some business. Only construction around here. Tried to entice several small dogs to partake in my sandwich, but they wouldn't have any of it!

Before leaving town, took a photo tour of the local shops and school. Riding back east was a whole lot easier with the increasing tailwind. I was flying along now on the flats and the short hills were no match either. Made a longish photo stop at the two Roadside Memorials for William Becknell, "Founder Of The Santa Fe Trail". Interesting history of his family home here and cemetery. Made an additional stop at a isolated horse corral. Horse was a little spooky and didn't offer any photo ops! On eastward.

Decided to check out Clarksville town in lieu of doing the loop around town again. Quiet on a Sunday afternoon. Stopped at a burned out old mansion along Main St. where several kids were playing around.

Not a good idea to follow road into the smoke~!

Zip right along thru Annona, where I noticed lots of white smoke off to the south. Pulled into Liquor Store lot to check it out. Mmmm, looks interesting, I'll need to take a closer look. Rode over to the next road and turned toward the smoky fire. Grass/hay bale fire was evident as I proceeded down the smoky road. Crap, this stuff was getting real heavy, so I made a hasty retreat back to Hwy. 82. Not a good idea!

With the tailwind pushing me along, made the short trip back to Avery in short order. Chatted with the Family Dollar gal, now leaving work at 3:00 PM. Picked up 2 fruit bars (TIP: always get something for the Ms after a ride) and rode home. Nice day in the saddle with a few new sights recorded.


Graceland To Detroit Video



- randorides