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bear

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Everything posted by bear

  1. agreed. in this case i don't have to pay to play with it. ( I also needed iOS use experience I wasn't getting by personal choice, so, *shrug* )
  2. I realize it's more and more common for smartphones to accompany backwoods adventures, but i'm still of the opinion that a potentially critical device should be as simple and robust and purpose-designed as possible. I'm wary of things like the Defy because they don't seem to be functional at all without the smartphone, for interactive activities. At least with an InReach (even the Mini that I have) I can easily share prearrranged status and location with designated recipients (starting ride, still riding, need help but not emergency come when you can) in addition to the actual SOS capability, and of course the painfully harder ad-hoc messaging (think back to pre-smartphone mobile T9 messaging). I think I got my Mini for 200$ plus the 13/month plan. I would not be willing to trade off that "field" capability for a one-time $50 benefit. I've already used it a number of times for case 3. I'm not a complete luddite though, when my recent work-issued mobile phone needed replacing I switched from Android to *gasp* and iPhone 14 just so that the emergency sattelite connectivity would become available to me. I don't take that device outdoorsy but my imagination can see times when mobile networks and wifi may not be available and I need to communicate with someone important (not my job). :^)
  3. My upgrade (thanks to Mrs) is your opportunity. 2 yr old (original purchase Nov 2021), minor bezel scuffing, perfect condition otherwise. Battery endurance still 100% (20d+ with expensive sensors on limited use - e.g. PulseOx on-demand and using Sleep Mode at night). I've been typically charging every 10-14 days with pretty much daily activity use ~ 1-2 hours leveraging GPS. Can't speak to how much listening to music off device hits it as I've not used that. Never-used silicone band included (black), steel band included (black, sized for 7" wrist), scuffing on inner clasp from regular wear. OEM packaging and charge cable included. Will ship USPS Priority mail within 1 business day after payment received, electronic payment accepted via Paypal. Will only ship to US address.
  4. I have a personal goal to live beyond August 2065, this includes mountain biking ... under my own power if at all possible ... but I not signing any contracts on that.
  5. I saw that too, I'm curious to see how it ends up competing vs the InReach Mini. The Mini has a brutal but functional capability by itself that the Defy Link I don't think has ... but for majority of consumers I don't think they'd notice. For the peace of mind it gives Maria my Mini is totally worth the 12/month, but that price could be lower and maybe it will over time with the rising competition?
  6. if they're not noisy before the trip they will be after. I had to toss both rotor and pads after a recent trip to DC area because of comtamination picked up en-route. argh.
  7. It's like the habitable zone of earth is narrowing.
  8. your bike must have fit better ... i used to get seatstay wear on my inner knees from the bounce-around. wet/grimy rides sometimes were most "exfoliating."
  9. Happy Near Year's Eve Eve from Raleigh Beach on the River Neuse
  10. Not as lightweight/thing as the g-form but ... i think ... just a bit more protective? I got them for the combination of paranoid protection of knees for some trails, and for winter riding when I wanted a bit of added structure and warmth around my knees as my port-side has become quite grumpy when cold since I almost destroyed it single-speeding in the VT mountains a number of years ago (and, well, age, I guess). https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XVPFBGY I've done a number of rides beyond 20 miles with them without issue, some beyond 30. No signs of wear yet, but I've only had them for 4 months.
  11. Part 1 done; it's great when it comes together easily (as new parts often do). Took the opportunity to do a lazy-Bear's hub service on drive and bearings while it was torn down - I don't have a hub tool kit so I just pulled everything apart, pulled bearing seals, flush and lube ... all spins nice with very low drag (for a King). I really like the visual effect of the spoke reflection in the hub. I also appreciate the asym drilled rims bringing the spoke tension in more evenly DS-NDS.
  12. I received a do-it-yourself wheelset ... Stan's Flow Mk4 hoops and spokes to rebuild around my King hubs, for the hardtail. I think she's also trying to give me something to do this weekend of stupid cold and wet conditions while she's crocheting! And to keep us sane she'd also gotten one of these.
  13. ^^ that, precisely that. One thing that really got drilled into me during my visit is how much i've forgotten how to be a social animal IRL over the last couple years ... it's kind of nutty, and very sad, and I hesitate to imagine the wider ramifications.
  14. John, I "ran with" your link out of paranoia ... plus it was on 50% off sale since there's a new version, no problems so far on the return trip but good to have "suspenders" to go with "the belt" as it were. Dang, it make me a little sad to leave, so many more people to see (again) and meet (anew) and trails to ride (both categories) unridden. Hopefully it won't be such a gap before I get a chance to come back. I may try for a different part of year though because my allergies did NOT forget their Texas association and within days of being back in town Cedar had my number. Didn't stop me but man I could do without. So, maybe next time, I try ... April or May sometime? Then again, more places to go, so where should the next trip be ... Tucson ? Denver ? Ten Sleep ? Hmmm. Then there's OCONUS ... (a bear can dream) So remember kids, follow the rules #1 - Go To The Trail Head #2 - See rule #1
  15. Assuming you're who I think you are, I agree! Was good to have a few minutes during your SS journey - thanks for your "un-needed" support. @Chongo Loco - you are TOO RIGHT! After I thought about it, the odds of me fubaring something through stupid action after 100+ miles of trail was near certainty! I'm just thankful that it only slowed me down a little. End total for the 8 day run was 8 rides, 136 miles, 12952 ft up. Took 2 trips to one venue to not screw it up. Just to keep things saucy the battery in my car died, so Sunday after the ride there was another round of true OG Mojo support as Nando & Matt schemed on the best way for me to get the replacement and made it possible and it worked out. Now I just need to recover and handle a few days of not biking. Probably my body will appreciate the down time while i'm attending this silly tech conference. Cheers all, until next round!
  16. Apparently the rules have changed. Used to be that it required a new bike purchase to call the rain but today all it took was a bit of drive-train replacement and *whammo* - sorry about that kids, wasn't the plan, but it was necessary after shredding the cassette, chain, & derailleur last night. Still, had a good time last night with Nando, hope to try that trail again before I leave town ... nothing is impossible ... not going into likelihood though. So, rest up, and maybe look for a less rain enhanced activity on the morrow. (and no, 'riding' around in the car today doesn't count correctly, but it doesn't stop me from "i" tonight)
  17. Okay, today's total becomes: 6 rides, 97 miles, 10693 ft up after adding 2 rides. Morning Session I connected up with John and Matt, we had a good tour of Ninja - albeit with more moisture than we'd liked - so not as much playing with the wooden features as maybe properly treated (but the visit isn't over). Still, was a great morning run with great company followed by a fine Belgian style WIT and snacks at Red Horn. Evening session with Nando was well anticipated and started out well enough - playing with marbles so to say - but in the end led to a little bike carnage and not as much riding as intended. Still, the hard work to that point of the ride was well worth the time, and the end DH run on lights through the winding night and drops between the juniper was great. Followed up with snacks, beverages, great conversation, and a fun barkeep at Waterloo. Would have been nice to get away this week without any bike carnage, especially one of the spare parts I didn't bring (cassette), however it looks like we have a line for replacement in hand so tomorrow all will be right as rain (just like the rain and hail that's going to fall) so the adventure WILL continue. And with neigh- onto 100 miles of Austin trail *something* had to break, right? ps. both my chain and my cassette are FUBAR; it's possible my derailleur and hanger are also but it's too late to care ... and I have spares for those so I don't care right now.
  18. Nice day out with Dewayne yesterday, rolled out and headed over thru neighborhood wiggles and connections over to Crgstal Falls trail, had a whoopy-fun ride there, wiggled our way back, and chilled out. Naturally we stopped at the Good Lot and it was good, I think it could be "correct" to have stops like that in middle of many rides. Trail conditions on the falls were perfect, some neighborhood connectors were damp & black but not surprised. Nothing problematic though. I followed it up with a very late getting down at Radio Coffee & Beer, hopefully that was enough of a recharge for today! Trip Total: 4 rides, 73 miles, 7869 ft up.
  19. So what's plan B for today, John's urban? Inquiring animals want to know. If not, just have to try again next week (if I can tear myself away from vendor supplied bbq and brews downtown).
  20. Dunno what you're talking about, it was bone dry at the ranch. (Actually, mostly was ok but for low hanging cloud. 90% of mess I picked up was from low down and near parking field. No pb&j that I saw. Still, probably not good for a crowd. Still, going with the flow here and based on hydromet and noaa rain totals it was tossup between trying RHR & Pace Bend; ended up going RHR since that'd leave me possibly better set for return to N-Austin trail for R&I should that come together (which clearly, not, at this point). Wasn't raining, didn't look like it had just done so either, but certainly morning dew or ambient moisture was a thing as the top surface of the grass and shrubs in the open a bit moist. Under cover, nada, just not as much cover there as one would like? Today, just some mist hanging in the air ... just ... hanging ... so glad I had my big shields in front of my eyes. In motion kept clear enough for fair vision and good protection. Not much wheel kick at all honestly, just ending coming down back into the field. {shrug} Didn't get as much miles as i'd have liked, and honestly I had in mind to ping-pong some of the trail to add but with the hanging mist I just wasn't into it. What-evs, tomorrow comes with fresh options. I would have loved to play on the built features but as I was riding magically through a cloud, solo, chose not to. The added whoop-dips before & after Wall are a great addition. I think it's great the place is back "on" and getting some love, I hope that it continues to do so. SOO, many memories tied up with RHR brought back today. 6 hour events, 24 hour events with chunky peanut butter jamming everyone up, or the drunks shouting "do a trick" at the top of the hill before the reg building, bunny hopping my first rattlesnake - much to the consternation of those following me, Torture Test. You get it, or you don't, i'm not going maudlin here. Ended the ride with a classic cool beverage to recharge a bit, then worked my way back to town and found a post ride snack at an old standby that i'm happy is still standing and jeepers but have we missed that brisket! The Mrs is working up recipes to try, now that we have a smoker, but we haven't gotten "there" yet. Trip Total: 3 rides, 49 miles, 5190 ft up. (and dang-nab it I SHOULD have backtracked some trail just to hit that number) Hopefully Wed will be better for trail time.
  21. Mother gives and she takes, Sunday was beauty, Monday ... iffy, so while there had been Plan A involving more dirt wisdom yielded to Plan B so urban it was. Met up centrally and John bonus-surprise Dawn (!) kept us out of trouble and we had a good tour roaming down Shoal Creek and around the lake. We enjoyed intermittent sun with strong rain punctuation, cowering under the bridges when available. I gawked quite a bit at how much the city has so crazily changed, but there's still a bunch of things just as I left them so thanks for that. Today, looks like clouds are blowing through but it'll be a nice day, just going to roll my dice on where I can nab some more wheel time before this afternoon's shenanigans ... whatever those turn out to be. Trip Total: 2 rides, 36 miles, 3536 ft up.
  22. And there was a couple days and nights in transit and then there was a great GB tour just like the Dr. ordered. Stupid rain all the way across Louisiana tested RainX to the extreme but eventually got out of the way. GB was all that I fondly remembered, and i'm likely to hit it again later this week to get the fully-dry trail experience again as it was just a touch on the moist side Sunday. Still, no complaints from me. Only problem I had was forgetting to stuff icewater in my camelbak, i'm blaming "road fatigue" but between driving 1400 miles to get here and crappy sleep once the ride was done I was TOTALLY COOKED. Just pounded beverages & electrolytes to recover (and yes I had that and multiple tabs on the ride). Clearly i've just been gone too long! Rounded out with a nice recovery at Pinthouse and then some more recovery later thanks to Nando & Rocio! Trip Total: 1 ride, 16.2 miles, 2249 ft up.
  23. You're kind of mental in your advancing years. Still, i'd ride with you.
  24. Thanks all ... good inputs so far ... was going to ask where start for Ninja was but then I noticed a brewery close by? Duh. Ridenfool ... I did see the renewal activity out there (here and on FB) and it's on the radar, we'll see what happens. CJB, it was '12 last I visited (yesss, too long) and my memory is most foggy, but it was short and likely only got CP and GB. You've had a ton of new stuff arise since then and I plan on getting a good sampler this round. I noticed the SATN stuff on MtbPrj & TrailForks, in case I'm at ends for a ride buddy one weekday can you suggest a good route or message me one? I'm eyeing the 30 & 40 milers on MtbPrj as possible guides. FYI, one of my favored longer trail rides here in NC that's (kind of) close to home is a variation of Uwharrie Full Tour from mtbproject. Doesn't have as much fun tech as some but is honest trail with some lovely downhill sections and climbs that make you earn the flow.
  25. I have a REALLY OLD Garmin 705 computer if anyone is interested. Works perfectly. Still makes sounds and charges and everything. I think I still have combined street/topo map card for it too. It looks so quaint compared to current hardware.
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