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Topics - Draggon

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1
Rants and Raves / IMBA Subaru Discount
« on: March 01, 2019, 07:34:01 AM »
'Mornin', all - just wondering if anyone here has taken advantage of the IMBA Subaru discount.  If so, did you find it worthwhile?  Any other comments in retrospect?


TIA
Draggon

2
Brown County State Park / Found: Nice Bike Light on Walnut
« on: September 24, 2018, 05:06:41 PM »
Was hiking Walnut on Sunday and found a pretty nice, intact and working bike light.  Anyone lose or know someone that lost one out there?

4
Rants and Raves / Totally OT - Drumming Up Support for Local Talent
« on: July 05, 2014, 12:19:45 PM »
Okay, this is a bit of a shameless plug, but it's worth a try to drum up more support for this amazing young local talent...

My daughter has learned and subsequently taught dance at a local Indianapolis dance school for the last 13 years. The network of dancers and their families associated with this school have become pretty close over the years resulting in many lasting friendships.

One of the dancers - Valerie Rockey - reached college age and went to IU for a year or so, but then decided to head to LA last fall to try to further her dance career. Recently, she auditioned for the new season of "So You Think You Can Dance!":



She ended up with a "ticket" for Hollywood Week (where they whittle it down to just 20 contestants).

On last week's show (6/25/2014), the show pruned it down from 150 dancers with tickets to just 20 (10 guys, 10 gals) who will be contestants on this year's show. Valerie made it!

On this past Wednesday's show (7/2/2014), Valerie (& Zack) did a tap number that was simply remarkable:



Here's a cute little 1-min video from the show featuring Valerie:



Valerie and her family are good people. I've known her since she was about 6 years old and have watched her get better and better over the years. On the show, she's so unique, talented and her enthusiasm is so contagious. Please give her a shot and see if you agree... :)

You can follow Valerie's SYTYCD arc on Facebook (I know, I know) here:

https://www.facebook.com/Dance11Valerie

Valerie is really representing Indy well, please check it out and send your votes her way!  The show airs on Wednesdays at 8E/7C with voting open from the show's conclusion until 10am (E?) the next day.

Thanks!

Ron

5
Brown County State Park / Death at BCSP today :(
« on: July 26, 2013, 07:04:22 PM »
Link:  http://www.browncountyindiana.com/index.php?id=14475

Happened between the parking lot connector and the turn-off to Green Valley.  Trail was closed down by officers who sent tired bikers all the way back around North Tower to leave the park.  (just stating a fact - not saying they shouldn't have done so)

Condolences to anyone who knew the poor (as yet unidentified) guy...   :'(

Edit - they've released the rider's name:  Phillip Hunter, 58, Indianapolis

6
Rants and Raves / Is it just me or...
« on: October 23, 2012, 11:48:41 AM »
... do we all experience "one of those days"?

I've been riding BCSP once or twice a week all summer gearing up for my Breakdown goal, so I've gotten pretty decent at riding the place.  I still fear Schooner, so I never go down there, but I've ridden Walnut all year with little issue.

Sunday I go out, and I'm just not feeling especially focused or balanced on the technical stuff.  First noticed on the log hop on Green Valley where I nearly ditched it to the right but managed to stay upright.

Next, I'm crossing the stream on the way to Aynes just before the old foundation and the bike suddenly disappear out from under me and I'm kneeling on the ground.

Then I'm navigating the notched log on Walnut and landing especially roughly on the other side, but managed to keep stay upright with some small body-bike bumps.

Next, I'm climbing the first rocky tech section on Walnut (north to south), I hit a rock wrong and teeter over the very steep hill to the right.  Managed to get my feet spread and catch some dirt to prevent a long downhill slide.

Then on the way back on Walnut (south to north), I managed the gnarly technical root nicely, pull the bike to the right and proceed to not get my weight back in time for the next exposed root thus plummeting off my bike (more of a side-o than an end-o fortunately), but landing hard on my arm and leg on the roots.

This combined with multiple near misses along the way made for a highly unusual ride for me.  Reminiscent of my beginner days where if I wasn't sporting some major bumps and bruises, I hadn't been riding.  My legs and arm are going to be sporting some good color in a couple more days.

I hate to say it for fear of sounding like a masochist, but I still enjoyed the ride.  Just got really frustrated with myself and what little skill I thought I'd built up this year.

7
Brown County State Park / Breakdown... literally... :(
« on: October 14, 2012, 06:43:17 PM »
Was feeling great on my first breakdown getting past the cabin.  Had just sampled one of Kirk's famous hamburgers (yUMmY!) which I'd heard about from some of the longer riders but had figured was one of those "bigfoot"-type stories.  Upon leaving the sag and heading down the road, I started hearing a tink - tink - tink sound from the rear of the bike.  Ignored it for a bit, but finally looked down at the back wheel and saw it wobbling noticeably as it rolled.  I stopped the bike and found THREE broken spokes (verified as FOUR after getting back to the north gate and taking an even closer look).  The were all on the same side of the wheel and were sequential.  Ride done...   :'(

Thing is - I have no idea how it happened or how long they'd been that way!  I had not wrecked or hit anything especially hard, but there they were.  Scary thing is I'd just gotten done bombing down that gravel road to get to the sag...  yikes!

Enough whining - I'd like to give a big shout out THANKS to Tony from BGI North who went above and beyond the call of duty by driving me from the Yellowood sag all the way around to the cabin to pick up my son who had a rear hub going out on him and then all the way back around to the north gate.  I had no idea it was that far on the road to get from point A to point B!

Disappointing to say the least.  I had really put a lot of riding time in getting ready for my first 60+ miler at the BCBD.

Ah well - met some nice folks and had a darned fine 38 mile ride.  Thanks for splitting the storms around us whoever managed that!  :)

8
Tech Bench / Looking for Recommendations
« on: June 11, 2012, 06:43:09 PM »
Who would be your go-to person/shop in the Indy area for starting a mountain bike purchasing adventure?

I've been riding for about 7 years and still very much enjoy my 2005 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 120 that I had no idea what I was doing when I bought it.  However, my 18yo son is outgrowing his smallish Trek pretty badly.  His performance is suffering, and I can see why - we switched bikes for a short time a couple of weeks ago at BCSP and ugh...  He LOVED my bike.  I didn't like his much.

I'm looking for someone knowledgeable that likes to discuss fit (expert fitter a plus), style, components, etc.  Custom is not out of the question, but I'd need a lot of hand-holding there.

Ideally I'd find a bike that I like even better than my current Specialized.

So, if you're inclined, please "sell" your expert to me....   :)

9
Brown County State Park / Tech Tips for HP
« on: October 01, 2011, 10:35:05 AM »
I've been riding out at BCSP for several years, but I still struggle with two locations on the HP climb.

The first is the "uphill switchback over the double-roots between the trees" which I've managed to clear maybe 6 times in the years that it's been out there.  I managed it again Friday, but only through sheer will.

The second is the biggest rock garden area before the super-tight switchback.  Again, I've managed to clear it maybe 10% of the time, but it's got my number.  Ironically, when I do clear it, it seems easy enough - it's usually in a lowish gear and following the "curves" of the feature at a slowish pace.  Some tell me there's a line on the left along the top of the rocks, but I can't see it.

Neither of these is much problem going downhill though I've had some hairy moments with the rooty switchback!   :o

This is probably a loaded question, but does anyone have any pro tips for increasing my success on these two features?

FWIW, I ride a Specialized FS Stumpjumper.

10
Brown County State Park / BCSP GoogleEarth Maps
« on: October 01, 2011, 10:24:52 AM »
Any way to get my hands on the GoogleEarth files for the BCSP maps as depicted in the "Green Valley Info & Map" thread?

I downloaded the GE files from browncountymountainbiking.com, but they are outdated and have a bunch of double-line errors (no offense to whoever put them out there, they just mess with my engineering mind).

Tech question - what causes the double-line & loopy errors?  I'm assuming this map was created by someone riding their bike with a GPS unit on it.  Is GPS really prone to that much error? (I have never used GPS, but had it in my mind that it was pretty darned accurate).

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