bestbike85

What size?

Are you the original owner? You've only ridden 100 miles, but does the bike have more usage than that from someone previous? 

Any additional pics you can provide? 

Here’s the latest on my end. 

Even renting a house is as painful as kneeling on broken glass. It’s like these realtors just have someone they know waiting for these houses. New place, gone within a few hours. Trying to get me into an alleged “bidding war” for a house with shitty carpet, a dilapidated fence and no refrigerator? GTFO

Anyways, rant over. 

After losing out on a few houses, I’m about $600 deep in simply applications right now, but we have finally got them right where we want them. 3 offers today. 1 just east of 35 in RR. 1 with a RR address that backs up to the eastern part of Brushy Creek Park (think almost Champions park). 1 far north Leander, almost Liberty Hill, but right off of 183 with quick access south. 

We’re weighing our options tonight, but feel really good about the one on Brushy. I get back to riding Brushy straight from home 4 days a week and wife has a 4 mile commute. 

Shout out to @throet for putting in a word with a realtor friend of his to help me out. Unfortunately the way we approached the problem we were not able to use her on the contract, but she gave me awesome insights that I used to score all of these houses. 

Should be back in about 2.5 weeks. Party at red horn. Beers on y’all, because it’s going to cost me about 2.5k just to get a uhaul. 

14 hours ago, June Bug said:

Who is carrying Salsa these days now that BSS has closed?   Maybe The Peddler? Give us a ride review. Lots of folks are liking the Timberjack. 

I got this bike at pedal in Littleton Colorado (moved here last summer, but moving back to Austin in a few weeks). 

I have bought 2 salsa journeyman’s from AJ at peddler before though, so I know he’s carrying them or was last year. 

Anyway, just finished my first shakedown ride. This thing is a blast. It’s got a big reach, but the 35mm rise bars help with that, and salsa left a ton on the steerer tube to run lots of spacers to increase the stack, which makes for an incredibly comfortable ride. 

I read a few reviews about this frame being stiff, maybe too stiff, and I have to disagree. I sold a Diamondback carbon Sync’r before buying this, and that Sync'r was way more stiff and fatiguing than this, and the Sync’r was running 45mm internal wheels while this is only 40mm, and the bikes had the exact same tires and I’m running the same pressure (18r/15f). 

My chainstay is about 423-424 to get the tension right and it makes for a great rear end. When things get fast I actually like a little instability. Makes for a more playful experience. 

Overall I’m super happy with the bike and how it turned out. I haven’t ridden a SS in about 5 years since I was living in Houston, so this is pretty challenging for me with these big ups here in the Ken Caryl area, but I think this will be a blast in central Texas with the quick punchy ups and downs. Looking forward to being back in Texas in a few weeks with this thing. 

Middle Friday of every month my company gives us a “wellness day” off. 

My wellness day today was focused on picking up the new salsa timberjack SS and putting my touches on it. 

32x22 is the gearing

I guess it could always be worse. A friend of mine here in Denver is closing on a condo he is fired up about. 775 sq ft, 2 bed, 1 bath, built in the 50s, 1 old run down covered parking spot that has holes all across the roof, $225/month HOA, all at $452/sq ft. 
 

Yikes. 

6 hours ago, Shinerider said:

Yeah, I'm pretty pissed that it was canceled.  I feel they should have let people know of the risks and let people decide to take it or not.  I personally would take the risk, since I'm not even close to the risk category, and would rather take it than risk getting covid.  I have a higher likelihood of getting the disease than a damn clot.

Agree with you here 1 in a million+ are pretty good odds, especially if you don’t fall into the category of people that this was halted for.

Giving people the option to take it or not is the key. I have many friends and family not interested in it, and that’s OK too. Low risk, already had the virus (even some claim twice), whatever, that’s their decision. 

10 hours ago, CBaron said:

Yep, plane tickets are cheap.

-CJB

Touché

1 hour ago, CBaron said:

Travis, doesn't come around the forum too much.  But I don't think he'd mine me telling you they landed in Kerville, TX.

-CJB

Thanks. That’s a type of place I’m thinking about. Fortunately we have options. I’d prefer go east towards big farm land (think Marlin to Crockett) and find a new lifelong career and hang it up on the technology front, but that takes time and substantial effort. 

Step 1: get back to Texas 

Step 2: buy into big farmland

Step 3: knock up the wife

Only 1 of these is easy, to be honest. 

4 hours ago, sherpaxc said:

Fun topic.

We moved from Austin 5 years ago now.  Can't believe it has been that long.  We straight up cashed out and sold our SW Austin (Oak Hill) house for a hell of a lot more than what we paid for it.  Lady from California paid 30k over asking for cash.  I wonder what it would go for today.  

Bottom line, my wife and I are both teachers and we were house poor.  Between taxes, life, mortgage, and a kid we just couldn't get ahead.  I miss my riding buddies in Austin.  I get envious of all the trails.  But I got to move to a cool small town and pay off a house before I turned 40.  Yeah, the mtbing isn't Austin.  But you make due with the cards you're dealt with.  I wouldn't trade our decision at all.  Austin is great to visit.  

If you don’t mind me asking, where did you land? 

This is what I’m pushing the wife for. Why be a small fish in a big pond when we can just be a small fish in a small pond? Raise kids on acreage, have chickens and a few cows, and just escape the rat race. 

Even if our income growth flattens out much sooner than we expect because we’re away from the major metro, it’s still affordable for the life we want. 

4 hours ago, rockshins said:

The housing market is scary stuff for a millennial, got hit hard in the my early 20's with the financial crisis, lost my job and didn't have the ability to own a home at that point.  Fast forward to a year ago, finally debt free and looking to buy a house in an expensive city, got crazier from there. Wife has aging parents and was born and raised here, we are staying. Financially we can afford buying a house but not sure we want to enter the fray right now, not that it's going to get any better. We were hoping that things would slow down at some point, seems really nuts to pay these prices right now 

Hang tight, bud. I had a tough run at it myself finishing grad school in 2014 to enter the oil market and immediately get slapped in the dick with the 2015 downturn. Fortunately I was able to squeeze my way out simply due to knowing a few skills I learned working since I was young, but I was absolutely homeless through 2016 sleeping in my truck or on a random couch with my trusty wiener dog. 

I don’t think there will be much of a dip in the housing market, but I do think we will see a flattening of the curve here in the next 6-12 months once forbearance is exhausted for every type of situation and building materials stabilize. 

Late to this party it seems. 

In 2017 I had enough of tent camping for all of my life and was dating a gal (now my wife) who I wanted to make comfortable too. 

I found a killer deal on Craigslist for a Little guy 5 wide. It’s been a great purchase and I recommend a teardrop for people not wanting to deal with a huge camper but wanting a touch above a tent. 

As far as the gun goes, if you really want one you should train and she should too. As others have said, study reciprocity. You should be fine in most of the southeast and the mountain west, but make sure prior to departure. It is as good a time to be a gun owner as it is a bike owner. Technology has really advanced the last 10 years. Excellent options at all price ranges. 

A little update here. 

We had a lead on a house opportunity from an old co worker of my wife’s. Her and her husband are retiring next year and we could have the first spot in line to purchase. We went visit this weekend and came out with the same unknowns. 

Wife and I went back to the drawing board. What exactly do we want? Where do we want to be? What’s the future about? 

We’re going start a family here in the next 2 years and I ultimately want to raise my kids the way I was raised (not in a major city). So as of right now we’re calling an audible and probably going to more rural Texas.

My career even before covid was mostly remote, now it’s completely remote and there’s no sign of it going back. Wife has better opportunities in more rural places with less demand anyway. She’s from the greater Waco area, so I think we’re trying to head there. 

The goal is to get into a home in the next 18 months, then acquire 40+ acres within 5 years (somewhere even more rural). Waco as a home makes that more than achievable. 

This is still fluid, but I am all in about ditching the major cities. 

4 minutes ago, TheX said:

What about Liberty Hill, or even Burnett area? Are they getting worse also? 

We went to Liberty Hill and Bertram. While a bit more affordable (especially Bertram), there is nothing available. 

I would love to live in Burnett, Llano or even Marble Falls, but the wife is a Nurse Practitioner and has to actually show up to an office to see patients. A bit different than me dealing with people across the globe from the comfort of my house shoes. So she has ruled out those long commutes. 

8 hours ago, CBaron said:

If your fiscally sensible and have a only moderate level job, then Austin is no longer a place for you.  It just not...

Tell that to the wife who is accepting her dream job in Cedar Park. 

But in all reality, I’m just trying to come up with a game plan. I didn’t want to spend more than a 2-2.25 multiple on our household income, but it’s looking to be more like a 2.5-3 multiple to get anywhere. I hate to stretch like that, but it is the only option if we decide to buy.

Which brings me to another point. All signs point to not buying. This isn’t sustainable, and it seems to be happening everywhere (Dallas, Houston, Lafayette La, etc.). The bubble will pop eventually and things will normalize. I just hope that happens in the next 12-15 months so I can secure something summer 2022. 

Lived in Austin for about 4 years. Wife and I moved to south west Denver July 30, 2020. Life throws a few curve balls and we are coming back to the greater Austin area in the next few months. 

We visited Austin for 4 days this past weekend in an effort to find housing and gather our thoughts as to what we really want out of our move back to Austin. 

Man was I wrong. This is unbelievable. Homes appraised for 400k are listed for 450k and selling for 500k. Every single cookie cutter neighborhood up in Leander is completely sold out. We showed up at a development off of N Baghdad in Leander. 220 home sites and not a single slab was poured yet. Every single one was sold. We even went over to Hutto and the 2 we visited said nothing would be available until 2022.

We both grew up modestly well outside of any major city, and we want to maintain that modest lifestyle for ourselves and our future kids. 

I come here to discuss how, on many different fronts. 

How do people simply purchase these homes? I hear the excuse from realtors that say “Thanks Facebook, apple, google”, but not everyone works for big tech. How do plumbers afford these houses? How about civil engineers? How does a family that comprises of a police officer and a nurse afford a 600k home? How about school teachers? 

How is this sustainable?

How did it even get to this level? 

I’ve been scratching my head for a few days now about this. 

My wife and I have zero debt and nice stable incomes, but I can’t for the life of me think that over spending by 25-40% is a good investment. How does everyone else think that it is? 

Lastly, anyone here work in real estate and want to offer some tips/input? 

Thanks for letting me rant here. 

Looking forward to riding bikes in Austin again in 2021. 

5 hours ago, TheX said:

and commitment to keep 98% of the 150 workers.

Man it would suck to be one of those 3 people. 

I don’t have Monday beers often, but I got shit done today with work so why not. Also making meatball subs. 

1. Denver beer company graham cracker porter is another all time favorite. It is not a porter, but it is an excellent brown ale. 

2. This is that beer with a hint of PB. Excellent also. 

3. Mini keg is for this weekends trip to Crested Butte. 

40 minutes ago, ATXZJ said:

Recent brown recommended by @Chief

Pretty good. Kinda like a smokey boddington 

12% will kick my dick in the dirt at this point! 5 years ago when I was deep in the craft craft beer scene I would knock back 3-4 10%+ beers in a night.

Not no mo. 

One of my all time favorite browns, and I’m a brown connoisseur. 
 

On 11/19/2020 at 6:47 PM, ATXZJ said:

Bells killing it again with their seasonals

I love the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas every year when I buy every Christmas ale I see. 
 

Anchor Christmas ale happens every year, as does St Arnold’s. The rest are whatever comes across my vision. 

The staple in this family for tonight. 
 

What kinna bike we talking? 

Non bike related.

Franzetti Jewelers off of Kerbey Lane. 

Mid 2019 I was searching for a jeweler to piece together family diamonds for my now wife’s wedding band and engagement ring (wedding band diamonds from her grandmother, engagement ring diamonds from my grandmother). The experience working with Bobby was incredible. He priced things to the penny (tax included) on a small calculator as we sat there discussing the project to give me accurate numbers, allowed me to customize ever piece of the rings with him and gave honest recommendations regardless of the cost of the work and materials.

The experience with him compared to 4 other places I shopped at in Austin and Houston left me amazed. After 20 minutes with him I left all diamonds and rings with him, and gave a deposit without questioning anything else. Rings came out perfect.

Fast forward to last month, the wedding comes and goes and we’re on our way to the mini honeymoon, she looks at her wedding band (comprised of 11 0.3-0.35 carat diamonds from her grandmothers wedding band), and one of the diamonds is gone. Of course she cries and whatnot, especially being she’s had that ring on her hand for less than 24 hours at that moment. I contact Bobby immediately, sent pictures and communicate everything clearly. He asks us to mail it in (not living in Austin right now). I mailed in to him the day after we got home from said mini-moon. Within 2 weeks it was shipped back to us, with a replacement diamond and all prongs were fully reinforced. He noted that the diamond most likely cracked and came loose, hinting that it wasn’t really his fault, but he  still took care of it for us. 

Franzetti Jewelers has a lifetime customer in me, and I recommend you spend money at this quirky Austin jewelry shop too. 

4 hours ago, Cafeend said:

Yes that! so it is not a thing anymore? I learned a lot about the trails and found some cool little segments from it. 

It’s there, but you have to enable it. That said, definitely not the traffic it use to be.