mack_turtle

Currently in the audiobook of The Peregrine by J.A. Baker. English birdwatcher's 1967 account of time spent observing peregrine falcons. The prose is so rich that it's like watching a very well-done nature film. Even better is the fact the Richard Attenborough is reading it to me.

I keep seeing Surons and their ilk around here. Where does that fit in? The last two I saw in Bauerle Ranch were not even wearing helmets and clearly didn't know how to control their bikes.

I have the smaller version of that and i love it. Sometimes I use it as an extra pocket and don't bother with the bladder. So comfy that In forget it's even there, water or not.

ended the year with a smile.

I need to finally pay for the whole thing and then just wait for shipping to come through. Based on recent experiences with shipping, global systems are run with the same kind of efficiency that Southwest Airlines has, so I'll get it some time in 2024. just kidding I need to treat inside tubes for anti-rust and assemble. hopefully the headtube and BB tube don't give me any grief. that internal dropper post port looks like it might force a tight bend, but I'll deal with it one way or another. That bend in the seat tube is super low, which should give me plenty of room for the long dropper post I bought in anticipation. I just hope the geometry holds true to my intentions.

I had to return to this discussion to alert you to this new technology: encasing your helment in a 1990s PC Mainboard box means that the obviously disintegrating aero plastic mold is just like new! bonus points if you noticed the hottest trend in curly-bar-bike freddom: steer-to-shift housing coming from your brifters: (I can't tell you how many times I've actually seen something like this roll into a bike shop.)

I've been out there twice. Fantastic terrain. with all the construction, I don't feel confident telling people that it's the same trail from one month to another.

Just waiting for the logo to be added, then shipment!

@CBaron I'm having two pairs of bottle mounts put on the downtube—above and below. It's the same as my current frame. I usually carry a hip pack with 1.5L or a 3L backpack. The top tube is super low and will be supported with a simple diagonal tube. More standover! I specified the seat tube bend to accommodate a 2.5" 29er tire with a 420mm minimum chainstay length, and located the bend to fit a 180mm dropper post. I currently have a 150x30.9 PNW Bachelor that will be replaced with the 180x31.6 OneUp that I bought on a Black Friday sale. That's part of the reason I didn't bother with a seat tube-mounted water bottle. It's unlikely that I'll need the CS tukt that far forward often, as the gear combo I like is usually in the 425-430mm realm. The reach measurement is at least 25mm long than what a currently have. Considering I need at least a 70mm stem for my Karate Monkey to fit me, that should work nicely with a stem no longer than 50mm. Think of it as a Middlechild or Nimble9 built around a 120mm for instead of 140-150, or a budget ersatz Sendero.

Wheel Building is a lot like crocheting, I suppose. Someone give me wheels to build to keep me busy until this blows over!

Change IS bad. We fear change. I kid. I like my handlebar low, and I think it's likely that many people have their handlebar in a position that is "comfortable" but not great for hard-charging terrain due to that height. However, body proportions and riding style vary greatly, so this fork is probably too short for anyone taller than me. YMMV and a grain of salt and all that. do what works for you. if anyone wants to come over and geek out in the garage about bike fitting, I'm usually here. (Note, I couldn't bend at the waist to touch my toes if someone commanded that I do so and put a gun to my head. Yet here I am with my grips optimized well below my saddle top. My new incoming frame has very different geometry, so we'll see how much things move around with that. )

Yeah, that steerer tube is going to be too short for most people. Most people also have their handlebar way too high, though. The height that works for me is the correct one.

Here's mine as of today. Main tubes are tacked together. needs more welds, some supports and gussets, and then paint. I might have it in time for my 41st in a few weeks!

We've had Pickles for much longer than expected. He's still available. Quite possibly the cuddliest dog I've ever met. He's about 15 pounds. He's house-trained but I can't promise that he'll stay out of mischief if you leave him alone for too long

SOLD! Upgrayyed my fork, so this Fox 34 Rhythm Elite is for sale. Boost spacing, 51mm offset, 120mm travel, can be extended to 140mm. Listed as a 27.5+ fork, but I've stuffed a 29x2.6 in there with a fender. Steerer tube is cut to hardcore length at just under 6.5". Includes an ASS sticker! $200 I bled the damper a few months ago and I've changed the bath oil and wiper seals at least years since I've owned it. Stanchions look short here because the fork was deflated. It's a full 120mm travel fork.

I could put these on my gravel bike.

Thank, but I currently have a 70mm and I want to try something longer to un-cramp myself.

Looking for a stem to hold me over while I wait for the new frame to arrive. I know it's taboo, but I need a 90mm or so stem (31.8 handlebar) for my cramped little old school bike to fit me. Who's got a graveyard pile of "long" stems to spare?

The Black Bibs.

@gotdurt's response from Elijah came less than 24 hours after I mentioned it. Typically, responses come to me 48 hours later. I'm not sure what to make if the thousands of Marino bikes on trails today, then. I didn't make any threats, just asked if they knew anything about this one bike that fell through the cracks, out of thousands of otherwise satisfied customers. Either this bad experience is a fluke, or Marino is running a massive conspiracy by creating social media pages full of fake customers and bikes that don't really exist to fool us into buying bikes. If Marino doesn't give me a frame that I pay for, I'll find a local fabricator to make me a custom tin foil hat instead. 😝

Limitless on Disney is really inspiring me. documentary where Chris Hemsworth explores the limits of the human body.

What's more offensive: the fact that I rode a skatepark on a this bike, or that I did it in bib shorts with children present? (Twin Six Standard Rando with 650x47 tires and eccentric BB for singlespeedin'.)

Random tires I need to clear out. I make no guarantees that these tires will seal up perfect on first try. I recommend mounting them dry first (that's not what she said!) to see if they have any punctures that need to be patched up. Full disclosure: I found most of these tires at the curb along with some other large items at an Austin residence. Someone didn't want them, but also knew they would be too useful to someone to throw them in the trash can. Conti X-King 29x2.2 missing a few lugs, as Conti tires do Maxxis Ikon 29x2.2 Kenda Flintridge Pro 700x40, seems to have a wobble in the casing that only matters if you look at it Vittoria Terreno Dry 700x40 Panaracer Graveling slick 700x38, tanwall. probably measures out to a 40mm tire WTB Nano 700x40, has some wear and at least two patches glued in it WTB Cross Boss 700x35 Schwalbe G-One 700x38? weird Euro sizing labels this a 28x1.5. wtf Schwalbe? it's a free tire. I'm in southwest Austin, not far from ATX Bikes. I can leave any tires that interest you outside my house, or meet up if it happens to match my schedule some day.

Marino sent me the BikeCAD file they were working on. I think it's perfect. I even have a name for it. I haven't put any money down yet, but it seems like it's happening. https://www.bikecad.ca/1669304824234 (disregard the brown box, I can't make that go away.)