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