New Bike Day, and I didn't die! This was the first serious ride on my new BMC Twostroke hardtail MTB. As there is no fool like an old fool, I immediately attempted to shred the gnar, only to have the gnar shred back! I last rode the River Trail seven years ago on my Tricross and actually posted a decent time. My time today was not so good, part of it being spent upside down. Maybe I ought to spend some time on honest, internationally renown Kansas gravel before challenging the tree roots inches from the river's edge. Despite my excessive ardor, the ride went well. Everything held together save for the computer mount, and I managed to fix that on the fly (though I need to carry an appropriately small hex key for it -- the one on the Alien tool is too short). Most of the ride was on the Hudson and Linear Trails. The levy repairs are finally done, though the ribbon cutting is actually next Sunday. The trail is open all the way around again, so I rode all the way to Claflin, then backtracked to ride through Northeast Park. I then rode the gravel out and through the cattle pens. Big MTB tires shrug off what makes even gravel bike tires skittish. My lovely, pristine new bike was filthy by the end, so hosing it down was not optional!