LB Houston

I cranked up the GPS again and headed for a new place in Irving - LB Houston Nature Trails. It was Saturday morning, the day after the Texas Rangers won the ALCS, I was at the game, and this morning it was cloudy and looked like rain. I began my ride at 8:00 AM and I was first at the trail. You know what that means - I did spider web patrol. Luckly, there aren't as many webs this time of year. I do not like all those webs clinging to me. But...

According to DORBA there are 7.5 miles of trails here. My garmin agreed - if you say on the main trail and don't take any of the bypass'. This trail had a couple of features which are a little unusual. First, the dead car, you don't see that too often on a MTB trail. The car is something of a surprise as you round a corner. I immediately wondered how in the world it ended up here. There has to be a story behind this. It is a pleasant diversion and worth a stop to check it out.

Next, there is a stand alone skills area. See saws, wooden turns, and a large whoop-t-do are parts of the skilz (their spelling) or fun area. I must admit I have never been a big fan of see saws. I did, however, play on them for awhile. Link for all the photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28201157@N08/sets/72157625104509725/

The trail itself is what I would qualify as a beginner/intermediate trail is fun. It has a technical loop, several fair sized dips, and many roots. There are no creek crossings which I found disappointing. The trail surface is dirt, no rocks or sand. All in all, I had a good time and will be going back.

I did also discover a concrete pathway next to the trail. If you are interested in putting in some straight line miles without worrying about traffic this is the place to do it. There were lots of bikes, joggers, and walkers on this "trail" while I was there. I never did find the name but I did ride it from end to end and my estimate is for a length of 7 miles. I will post the GPS stuff along with the LB Houston coordinates. For this Saturday morning I was able to log about 30 miles by combining LB Houston and the concrete path.

On a personal note I have added swimming into my weekly routine for aerobic exercise. I really don't like swimming much, fir me it is the equivalent of a treadmill in the water but in the winter time it has the advantage of being inside. It's not cold here yet but it is coming.

GPS
LB Houston  32°51.993  96°55.363

Concrete Path  32°51.758  96°55.536  or  32°54.969  96°56.441

See you on the trails.

Later

How to choose a mountain bike.

Just as there are many makes of automobiles, TV's, and cell phones there are many makes of mountain bikes. How to select the one that is just right for you? That is the answer I will be helping you with in this post. I will be the first to say I don't know everything, I don't know you, but I do know some of the questions to ask and facts to point out to make a selection easier.

Let's begin by defining what it is you will be doing with your bike. I read somewhere that no more than 25% of all fat tire bikes are used on trails. The majority of them are used to get back and forth to school, work, or just to tool around on. Bike requirements are very different depending upon it's use. If you plan on going out on the trails as often as you can it would probably be best to buy a good name brand bike with heavier components. Let's face it, the trails are tough on brakes, shifters, and forks. If you do plan to be a trail rider you might want to consider going out to one of the local trails and ask around. There is nothing like a personal recommendation to bolster confidence. If you see more of one brand than another that can also be a good sign. While we are on the topic of how you will use your bike it might be a good idea to talk about the difference between a hardtail and a fully suspended bike (FS). By way of definition a hardtail has a suspended front fork while an FS bike has additional suspension for the rear. If you are new to MTB I would suggest a hardtail to begin with. It is cheaper and easier to maintain.

One of the most important factors in deciding upon a bike is cost. As a general rule of thumb buy as much bike as you can afford. There are exceptions to that. Let me relate my tale of bike acquisition as an example. I began biking after a knee surgery. I had not ridden a bike in years but wanted to keep up my exercise regime. I put out the word among my friends and co-workers that I was interested in buying a used bike. Not long after the word went out I was the proud owner of a $20.00 non-name brand bike. A cheap set of tires and a friend supplied (free) tune up and I was ready to roll. As time went on I found myself enjoying biking more and more. I then discovered MTB and I was hooked. After a year and a half on the $20.00 bike I bought a new one.

If a new bike is the way you are going I suggest several things. First, do your research. Google mountain bikes and read the reviews on various bikes. Decide a price range that is right for you. If you are not sure biking is for you get into it cheaply. Do as I did, ask around for a used bike. Second, visit a local bike store (LBS). Most stores allow test rides and the importance of a test ride can not be over estimated. If you are going to spend several hours on a bike make sure it feels comfortable. When I bought my last bike I test rode two bikes and the minute I set on the second one I knew that was the one. It just felt right.

Notice I am suggesting a LBS rather than a large department store? As a general rule the LBS will give you more bike for your money. The Walmarts of the world will give you a cheaper price but remember, you get what you pay for. If your bike breaks often it isn't much of a bargain. As importantly is repair of the bike. Sooner or later it will break - guaranteed. If you are out on the trails it will happen more often than if you are just riding the streets - Duh - but it will happen. Here is a shameless plug for the LBS where I bought my bike http://www.bicyclesinc.com/ Good shop and they give free maintenance for as long as you own the bike. That is a deal. Be sure, if you wreck your bike and break stuff it won't be covered but the routine stuff is. It has saved me a bunch of money on tune ups and adjustments. Won't get that at Walmart.

So far then - decide your use for the bike, pick a price range, do some research, find an LBS, and, take a test ride. So what else is left?

One thing for sure. Have your LBS person fit the bike to you. Yes, that is important. Getting the most out of you and your bike means making sure it is adjusted specifically to you. The seat height, the position of the handlebars, and even the size of the grips can make a big difference in your performance and comfort. Have a professional set you up, it is worth it. Did you know bikes come in different sizes? I'm not talking about the tire size - 26 inch or 29 inch, I am talking about frame size. Generally speaking, the size of the frame is dictated by the height of the rider. Your LBS professional can get you in the right size bike.

Well, enough for now. Feel free to argue with me on any point or to drop me an email at marshall212@yahoo.com

Later

What's Up With Another Blog?

Well, what is up with another blog? First of all, it's mine. My goal is to provide information about (1) jogging and mountain bike (MTB) trails in Dallas/Fort worth, (2) descriptions of other trails I have been or will go on as I travel, (3) just general stuff. What you won't find here is the ranting and raving that seems to have taken over many posts. I will evaluate the trails and greenways I bike or jog on so the reader can make an evaluation regarding the available areas in the DFW metroplex and parts of Texas.

When I began to get into jogging anf biking I found it was kinda difficult to obtain realistic reviews on trails around me. I hope this will make it easier for others to find parks, trails, greenways, rails to trails etc to j or b on.

A bit about me and my stuff. I have a mountain bike - a Trek 6000. I started with a Trek 4300 but found I needed a heavier bike for some of the stuff I do. For complete description of my bike click here;
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain_hardtail/6_series/6000/
I like this bike very much and can recommend it if you are looking. My jogging shoes are Mizuno's and if you are new to jogging I highly recommend going to a running store to be fitted. There really is a difference.

To track distances, speed, and heart rate I use a Garmin Forerunner 305. Won't win any beauty contests but works well. See it at: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=349&ra=true. It uses a chest strap to monitor heart rates and the unti itself straps on your wrist.

For software I use a web based program to track all my workouts - http://www.mapmyrun.com/ I know it says run in the title but it does track biking as well as other forms of exercise. It is not waterproof so swimmimg must be entered manually. Iphone has an ap for mapmyrun.com and it does work pretty well but I have had problems with my iPhone battery running out before I'm finished.

More and more I find myself enjoying biking over jogging. I haven't given up jogging, especially before work in the mornings, but whenever I can I do bike. I am not a purist or a weight nazi. I enjoy off road biking (we really don't have mountains in North Texas), crusing on county roads with little traffic, and state parks. The one area I stay away from is street biking in the city. Too dangerous for me. I would rather hit a tree that a 2000 Ford F-150.

Finally, a great source for trail conditions in North Texas is http://www.dorba.org/ The Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association does a wonderful job of keeping posted conditions up to date for many tails in and around the metroplex. Check'em out and if you are from the DFW area please join. When I discovered them I joined and I think it's important that we support our sport.

My next posts will start the process of evaluating the trails etc I ride or run on. I may occasionally throw in some other stuff so stay tuned. I appreciate hearing from anyone out there. I do travel some and I would love to hear about other trails and where to rent bikes in your area.

Later