The Return of "Coyote vs. ACME"

Maybe.  Perhaps.  Seems likely.  Article at Living Life Fearless.

Suspended sentence?  I'm still waiting to hear the release date.

UPDATE: Looks like it'll be released sometime 2026.  Details at... Sports Illustrated?

Two Innovations? for the MTB World

Both articles over at Singletracks online mag that caught my eye:

• 32" Wheels – I'll let somebody else try'em first.  29" is already pretty big for these woods trails.
• E-biker runs out of juice, stranded for 30 hours – This is everybody's big fear around e-bikes, what everybody talks about.  First time I've heard of it actually happening though.  Me, my fuel supply is good for (weights self, grabs gut, shakes head) two or three weeks' run-time.

With that, I'm sort of recovered from the Santos trip and the FCEM trailer & radio testing in Tate's Hell.  More on the radio testing soon.

 

Two Graphics for This Evening

Found at various sources around the web earlier today.

Don't be on the red stripes.  (Been there, done that; would not recommend without a robust seasonal plan.)  Elsewhere no guarantees either, but hey, you place your bets & you take your chances.

Note caption at lower right and choose wisely, friends.  "Oooh, horsies!" is not a viable transportation plan for the mid-21st Century, as much as some might wish it.

Santos Fat Tire Fest 2025, Success!

I've been trying to get to this post for TWO WEEKS NOW but life kept getting in the way!  Yeah, the Santos FTF was great this year.  The trails for the 50 mile Epic ride on Saturday were well marked and in great shape.  We had a little sprinkle blow through just after I'd passed about the 33 mile mark – just enough to settle the dust and make the rest of the ride pleasant.  Saw lots of friends.  It's funny, after four years there are people you meet up with, just there.

Also, I have to give a shout out to the Shimano tent for a quick consult on my hydraulic brakes.

Tried an HF radio connection with the Franklin County EOC.  I was running the QRP FT-817nd with a big five watts; the FCEM director was running the FT-450d with 100 watts.  I could hear her, but she could just barely hear me.  Maybe the ionosphere will be better next year, or maybe I'll just bring a 100 watt radio and knock it out of the park.  Anyway, it was a fun try.

The Thursday night band, The Klunkers, was great.  100% mountain bike-certified, if you recognize the name.  Friday night... some loud jam band, no great thing.  Then Saturday night was a real treat with Ravon Steely Rhoden Band playing a bunch of Caribbean stuff that everyone knew, everything from serious reggae to... more pop tunes.  You had to be there to appreciate it.  The jello shots may have helped the party along.

I'm leaving a lot of stuff out, but you get the general ideal.  Anyway, great time, will be back next year.

Yes, the 50 Mile Epic Finisher's Medal doubles as a beer opener.

Urban Noise Article at the BBC

How our noisy world is seriously damaging our health

It's short and not particularly quantitative, but it is informative.  Go and read.  More later.

One for Today

Hint: Check the date.

Still a little behind the curve and life in general – even though today was a raging success.  More later.

Placeholder for a Busy Week

More later, but here's an "I'm ok" placeholder.  The Santos Fat Tire Festival went well, no serious crashes for any of the 900 riders, including me.  Which is some kind of miracle.

Yep, more later.

Is the Cost of MTB Injuries Worth the Risk?

Just asking for a friend.  No, actually, asking for me and for many other bikers.  The entire topic is explored in this article over at Singletracks online magazine.

Look, I've long described what I do as "hiking on wheels."  It's about getting into and seeing the backwoods with enough speed so as to not get bogged down in the flying insects.  Even so, I've had my share of injuries.  All this stunt riding, just not my thing, and it never has been.  Increasingly though I'm seeing various ramps and jumps and weird bone-benders being built, and I have to wonder why, and how much of a diversion it is of volunteer hours and funds from, you know, actually maintaining rideable trails.  I don't begrudge some people their fun, but when a simple bridge over a ravine is needed but a complex ramp is what gets built, eh, Houston we got a problem.

Anyway, go read the article and mull it over.

Not me, not my thing.  Never has been.