The Biking Thread

[washing machine]

So it goes, bune. So it goes.

[bune]

Went on a 68-mile ride this weekend, it was fully supported with rest stops every 15-ish miles. Left the house at 6:30 and the weather was great Made it to the first rest stop and it was sprinkling a little, but then about 5 miles later it started to rain. I was not prepared for rain, so I got soaked. Luckily it's July so it wasn't a cold rain, but no one likes water pooled in their shoes.

Nothing too exciting happened, and it was kind of boring as far as the actual ride went. There was one part where I missed the bottle cage and ran over my bottle when it dropped. I turned around to go get it and there were two riders coming up so I pointed at it and said "hazard!" (you know, being helpful) and they didn't even laugh. Of course this was around mile 50 or so so I get it.

My wife and son wanted to do the 20-mile version of the ride but they left the house right when the rain started and they weren't ready either so they both got soaked almost immediately. They turned around and decided that was it. So Sunday my wife and I did the 20-mile route because it was much nicer out. We made it to the furthest place on the route, right where the turnaround was, and a bee flew into my face. It got caught between my nose and my sunglasses and was trapped. What do bees do when trapped? Yeah. It stung me right where my nose meets my face, and that hurt like hell. It doubly hurt because I was mid-ride and sweating pretty well.

I told my wife we could finish the ride but she was worried it would swell up or something. It didn't. My nose hurts a little bit today but that's it.

[gardenparty]

about the 4th time I've excitedly attempted to view the bikini thread

[bune]

I mean, if you want I can help with that but I doubt you'll appreciate the results.

[washing machine]

My work is putting together a team for a charity ride to the Gulf, but we're only doing the 25-mile portion of it. There are 50 and 100 mile portions as well. I'm looking forward to it. PM me if you'd like the link to donate. The team so far is just me and the team captain.

[Norah]

what's the charity?

[washing machine]

what's the charity?

Autism Speaks

https://www.autismspeaks.org/

[washing machine]

I had a great ride yesterday into uncharted territory on my personal map. My only goal was to reach a certain destination without leaning on GPS. Once I got there, I meandered back. Ended up getting 12 miles in, finding a book I've been meaning to read, and treating myself to a refreshing mangonada in my new neighborhood. All on a patched tube that threatened to doom my ride from the start.

[Dev]

I am agonizing over whether to buy a trance or a reign

[bune]

they look like the exact same bike, what's the deciding factor here?

[Dev]

they look like the exact same bike, what's the deciding factor here?

Well, the reign is an enduro and the trance is more trail. the terrain where I am is hardcore so everyone says get the reign, but I like the trance better. it's faster and goes uphill better. now I am thinking I will get neither, because my life is too complicated atm. fml.

[Dev]

I am now negotiating on a used Trance 2.

[Dev]

Dev says:
Hello,

I am interested in the bike but live in ____. I would be willing to pick it up at 1700.00. Unfortunately I blew all my money surfing this summer and am on a strict budget...

4 hours ago
a says:
No man that’s way too low, not my problem you don’t have the money.

3 hours ago
Dev says:
Ok. I just wanted to make an offer. I am interested in the bike. Are you willing to negotiate on the price?

3 hours ago
a says:
I’m definitely firm on the price. Given the condition it’s in $2400 seems fair.

3 hours ago
Dev says:
Alright. Let me know if you change your mind. I will be going through _____ in a week I think.

3 hours ago
a says:
What’s the most you’d offer?

[Dev]

honestly i feel like the most i will pay is 1900$

[bune]

what year is it? I just did a cursory search and your price seems fair, depending. Are there extras?

[Dev]

what year is it? I just did a cursory search and your price seems fair, depending. Are there extras?

it's a 2017.

now i found a brand new one for 2750 so fuck him.

this is canadian money remember

[Dev]

and no. no extras.

[Dev]

this vid is the dif between the two bikes bune. im going trail. im psyched.

[Chris_H_2]

it was 65 degrees here yesterday, and so the family all went on a bike ride (15 miles through a forest along a river on a paved path - super picturesque). anyway, I followed my wife, who does not know how to shift properly. I never realized how frustrating that could be for me - the constant slow downs and loss of momentum. my wife tried to convince me that it’s better for her from an exercise perspective when she’s got more resistance up hill. but then I reminded her of all the times she’s not peddling on declines and losing that same resistance. she didn’t believe me.

[bune]

too right. imagine that with a 14 year old who doesn't shift out of the big ring in front - even on five mile long hills! - and complains about how it doesn't shift well. Yeah, when you cross-chain* your gears shit goes bad. Did not help my mood that he made it up every hill on the big ring without breaking a sweat. argh.

*cross chain is when you put the front and rear derailleurs into their furthest reaches, like the big in front and big in the back or little in the front and little in the back. this causes a lot of chain and tooth wear as your chain is in an angle and trying to work instead of a more-or-less straight line. it's less of an issue with a double front ring (more common lately) but he was on a touring setup so it had the two plus the 'granny gear' in the front.

it's a hard discussion to have mid-ride too because you want to help them make it easier on themselves but they're pushing hard and that makes one irritable and then that makes you irritable and then you don't talk to each other for a few minutes.