All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Yeah, both my wife and I being from TX, St. Louis was a bit farther north than we wanted to be, and the midwest culture didn't really jive with my wife. It's actually a great town, and there's some good riding in that area. I still pay for my membership in the local MTB club just to support the trail building they do. I lived in a great spot, most of the new trails were in my area.

I'd definitely go back to Austin if I could live far out west and mostly telecommute. We started a small presence down there, but it never really took off. Seems like the Dallas area is a bigger hot spot for cheaper tech talent now.

 

Because, actually on that trip, THAT'S what I skipped ----- Tennessee entirely, that's right. The decision was going through Louisville I was heading toward Nashville and then out to STL and KCMO, but instead I hung out in Louisville (also a great idea, but the homeless population was surprising) longer, skipped TN, went to the ozarks instead of STL/KCMO, and then went out to OKC and Enid (holy flat), then down to TX. That's right - forgot I skipped TN on that trip. I went back later on my cannonball run though.

 

How is Louisville? Kentucky seems like a badass state but I have spent very little time there

 

He shouldn't have waited until 10:34 to look for breakfast. He's not himself when he's hungry.

 

Louisville is awesome. I went through again on the cannonball run, loved KY. Louisville is a cool place though, I parked up down by the river for a bit, hung out at the park, river walk, etc. got some food. Wish I could have stayed longer, drove around a bit it was a cool place.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that there are 3 smaller cities in NWA that are all connected, and the University of Arkansas is only 20 minutes to the south in Fayetteville. Bentonville is home to Walmart, but you also have Tyson Foods and JB Hunt trucking based in Rogers and Springdale. Although, due to Walmart being here, a lot of major product suppliers also maintain a local presence.

I'd say the only thing that is really inflated is housing, but that seems to be more a supply and demand thing. I consider it reasonable for what you get -- what I got for my money here is way better value than St. Louis as far as quality, and STL is not particularly expensive. Walmart salaries are not necessarily high, although maybe high for Arkansas in general. General services in the area are cheap, taxes are reasonable. Even with my excursions into the Ozarks and yearly trip to CO, I only put 6K miles a year on my truck since everything is so close, takes 10 minutes to get anywhere you need to go.

As far as transplants go, I'd say this area has more than its fair share. But the natives seem to welcome it -- it's given them access to better services and a higher standard of living.

The Ozarks are still fairly remote. They are not surrounded by big cities, and most of the people that do head into them from the nearby cities stay on the fringes. But a lot of homesteads exist, and a lot of the unpaved roads are county roads that are well-maintained. I've been on trips down there where I never saw another vehicle, most times only see a few. There are specific spots with river or trail access that are busier.

But don't come here, it sucks.

 

@GarlicFarts

Albuquerque . Ask any questions you have, I’ll answer - Born and raised native and never moving away. It’s home to me and even in the winter, you find yourself riding and enjoying the warmth the sun provides.

 

Game on buddy. I did a far amount of trail running/climbing there before kids hit the picture, but no riding.

 

I did a thing.

 

What kinda seat is that? It looks heavy but comfy

 

Definitely heavy.

$38 Velmia Trekking Bicycle Saddle - Comfortable Saddle for Men and Women - 3 Zone Concept - Waterproof Bicycle Seat with Ergonomic Design

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0845PVMNS?ie=UTF8

EDIT: I didn't weigh it, they claim 1.9#'s. Seems like a 2 pounder - which is a considerable % of the bike weight!

Really comfy for just putting around with the wife, campgrounds and such.

I have a very light Spank 160, which actually is decently comfortable that I swap on when I see one of you guys at a bike park.

 

I went through, it was a cool place. It's on the list of "maybe move here" once we get down to Austin. I don't think I'll have any luck getting my wife anywhere south that isn't Austin. From there, we can explore. Tucson, Albuquerque, El Paso, Houston maybe (my dog's favorite dog park is in Houston, it has a pool!), but I think first thing's first is cut the cord on the house and New England and just get down there.

My next gig I am definitely aiming for a work from home thing. Even up here, I would LOVE to get in the truck and head south to FL for a month just because. I'm going to look for something I can do with an internet connection.

I didn't spend a lot of time there. We hit up a dog park near a power station and then went to a brewery for dinner. The Station? The Union? Nexus maybe? That place was goooood. Couple people from the dog park recommended it.

I gotta build mine. I'm facing backwards though I think, I'm going to get bed stiffeners and use those as a base. I only have a shortbed though so I hope I can fit the bike straight on. Will have to be centered though so the bars don't stick out past a soft topper.

 

Just got back from my first time here: https://www.wmbcmtb.org/galbraith

I suck. Old, slow and unworthy.
That place is NUTS. Hell if I knew which trail I was on at the time. Seems easy then BAM very difficult.
Bike seems ok.
One bloody scrape and one gnarly bruise on the same leg.

Holy shit THAT WAS FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My area, like a number of places in North America, is going through a severe drought. Everything is dry, crispy, and our crops are failing.

It was nice to get out into the woods and see some green again. Hard to believe this is just a few miles from my house where it's so dry and dusty.

Got up at 5am to beat the heat this morning. Well worth it.

Tried to get out yesterday but melted down a pulley wheel and chewed up a fan belt on the way to the trailhead.... Spent the rest of the morning riding my road bike to pick up my wife's 4Runner at her work so I could go into town for parts and fix the ol rust bucket on the side of a gravel road.

 

Back from vacation! Myrtle beach is nice. South Carolina drivers are terrible.

Atlanta sucks donkey nuts. F that place.

that is all.

 

Got caught in some heavy downpours today. It was glorious.

Man I love this bike. Perfect for what I ride 90% of the time, and can easily handle way more than I could ever dish out.



Healthy forest friend. The glove was my feable attempt at scaling.

 

A) It's been dry as hell here too. WAY TOO dry.
B) Forgot to mention my damned seat came loose and was a'wobblin. GLAD I bought and brought the tool!
C) What kind of snake is that? And sweet BIKE!!!

 

Black rat snake

 

Different than our rat snakes. Cool!

 

When riding UCSC (Santa Cruz, CA), you turn the Strava off at the tanks.