Mattlikesbikes

So I just ordered and returned two sets of the Specialized Recon3, be aware the toe box on them is HUGE/square. So I found that while they fit great there was all this dead air around my smaller toes. Very different than the more slipper fit of my past specialized shoes.

Does anyone have any 24mm shimano compatible spindle spacers? I have an XTR stages crank arm that I occasionally want to move to one my bikes with an XT crankset. But the arm thickness, where it hits the spindle, is thinner on the XTR meaning I either have to re space the BB to make it work, or throw a spacer between the arm and BB. I can order some spacers that will work, but don't need a 10 pack.

As we finish out our Barndo at our ranch, I am thinking it might be nice to add some better audio options.

It's a small apartment with a living-room/Kitchen open space. Then a big deck. There is a Samsung Frame TV on the wall in the living room area. 

Simplest would just be a bluetooth speaker on the console table under the TV and then a different speaker on the deck. Works well when the kids are watching TV and we are on the patio. But what about times when we want to have the same music playing inside and outside. Any suggestions there?

I'd like to avoid a bunch of Sonos equipment as it gets pretty pricey.

Anyone have experience with a decent amp/receiver I can put in the attic (conditioned space) that I can control with bluetooth? Then ceiling speakers in the apartment and then a second channel of speakers on the deck? I've had this setup but wired in the past. I just don't really want to run an A/B wired switch at this point.

Anyone here with experience with water softeners. More than just home owner stuff? I have a system at our ranch and I am looking at replacing/upgrading it, so looking for somebody to bounce ideas off or maybe hire.

https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/parents-challenge-austin-isds-mask-mandate-on-the-first-day-of-school/269-ee6e095e-51f5-4f31-a19b-8fdfb8bb4f98?fbclid=IwAR3t-vy_evjNlxoDnLwz08gbfwucYkThk0BxiaLM1gqG_hrYoWiqu7MxP4g

So the dad keeps saying that it is his decision to do what is right and best for his daughter. In what world is being LESS protective the right thing? Also, suspect that they had camera rolling and a print out of the Abbott order on hand as they rolled into the school. Like they were looking for a fight.

25 minutes ago, rugger said:

Cody's youngster hitting it should give you confidence. 

 

See that AntonioGG, shots fired.

17 hours ago, gotdurt said:

 "dab stats"

 

Dab stats are reserved for when you are mastering a trail. Not healthy to pay any attention to until you're further along on a particular trail. Same with anything Strava. Good for seeing if you are progressing (AFTER the ride, no live segments) but horrible for paying attention to or setting goals for on the ride.

So all the back and forth with John and his NM trip/BB issues and tools got me thinking about this tech tip. Back before Performance went out of business I picked up one of these clam shell tool kits. 

https://www.jensonusa.com/Foundation-Elite-Bike-Tool-Kit-2?pt_source=googleads&pt_medium=cpc&pt_campaign=shopping_us&pt_keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjwmeiIBhA6EiwA-uaeFeWOA8DQBado5YEz3OtF_Ma7WFPW2A5n2JH785HmLLY9qC2a7854yRoCvVYQAvD_BwE

Lots of different versions of the same thing available out there. 

Do I already own all these tools individually, yes. Are they high quality, no. Do I take this clam shell anytime I am doing something bigger than a single ride away from home, YES. Just last month I swapped some BB spacers on a buddies bike out in Colorado. He too thought he needed to install all three that came with the BB and had all kinds of issues as a result. 

EDIT: The cassette lockring tool needs a 1/2" ratchet, so I keep a 1/2 - 3/8 adapter in the case as I have a full ratchet set in the truck as well. I do use those giant tire levers all the time at home as well. I also carry a separate setup for handling any tubeless issues (valves, stems, tool, syringe, bottle of stans, tire boot, etc). After this recent trip, I need to throw a handfull of extra bolts in the open space (M3,4,5,6, torx disc, cleat, etc), I loosened the stem on my bike to turn the bars for the Colorado drive, but found the stem bolts vibrated out (WB cage bolts to the rescue).

9 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

I don't go to a lot of concerts anyways, but I went to the first one since at least January 2020 last night. David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) playing solo at Revival Cycles (customer motorbike shop on the east side). tickets were extremely limited and there were fewer than 50 people in the room, which is pretty small. proof of a Covid vaccine was required to enter and masks were mandatory for the whole evening. I read some nasty comments from his "fans" that were mad about the mask and vax requirements, but he's doing fine without those clowns at his shows.it was not difficult and everyone had a good time.

We just bought tickets for the Rolling Stones, our first concert in many years, and I am expecting it will get canceled (again). The Lollapalooza approach seems reasonable, but I am sure they can't make it work in Texas. Though maybe ACL can do it first and other stuff locally can follow. 

On 8/13/2021 at 10:10 AM, AntonioGG said:

TNG dealt with some awesome questions on a lot of episodes which is what I really enjoyed.  I also love the original series for what it stands for and that includes the ridiculous aliens (there's a documentary about Nimoy that talks about the ears and the costume makers which is pretty interesting).  It's a snapshot of the times but at the time also revolutionary.  DS9 has it's sci fi elements but it's largely the--not geo...but spaceo?--political element of it.  It also has 2 of my most hated characters of anything I've ever watched...and the worst one is not a Cardassian IMO!  I do like Avery Brooks too, ever since Spenser for Hire.  He brings that theatrical style to Sisco that William Shatner brought to Kirk.

I'm not sure which one it is, but my favorite is the one with the ewoks.

36 minutes ago, AntonioGG said:

That article doesn't mention % of the 203 vaccinated vs not.  If numbers from other cases hold, I'd expect 40 of those were breakthrough, and the rest were unvaccinated. It would be interesting and useful data. 

Says 90% vaccinated, as it was a requirement for entry.

also 0.05% not .5%. I like them odds.

Yep. Should only be 2-4mm of space between spindle end and edge of the crank, before you tighten it down. Remove a spacer.

Dumb trainer and a big ass box fan is all you need. I rode mine for a couple months with a back brace, post compression fracture. 

2 minutes ago, bestbike85 said:

This is the type of fear mongering that is unbelievable to me. The survival rate of this disease is astronomically high, regardless of your vaccination status, but people want to say that if you catch it is it likely your death bed. Strange, extremely polarizing times we live in. 

I agree, too much emphasis on this thing will kill YOU. But I see two big problems with dialing down the rhetoric.

1. It may not kill you, but if you get Covid, there is a VERY high likelyhood that unless you are cautious enough, you will continue to the spread of covid and it WILL KILL SOMEBODY on your contamination branch.

2. Too many people are grasping on to the low mortality as justification for not giving Covid enough respect. I'll be fine. But see point 1 above. 

Just now, mack_turtle said:

I love that school districts are giving Abbot the finger and doing what's right.

Yep. Dallas, Houston, and Austin. I assume the domino effect of those three mega districts will bring a wave of smaller districts following.

I'm just done with being nice and civil. We've got a friend, a doctor, who recently started posting stuff on FB telling folks to show grace to people who have chosen not to get the vaccine. My response, oh hell no. If you want to skip the vaccine, then you MUST recognize and accept the ramifications of your choice. You cannot skip the vaccine and ALSO skip masking and being triple safe - staying home. If you are so scared of what could be in the vaccine, then stay home. 

I made the point to him that the unvaccinated and still out there without a mask folks are the whole reason Delta and Delta + are getting out of hand. He made a BS comment about viruses just mutate. Yeah well, not without a population of people to spread them...

14 minutes ago, AustinBike said:

Going to also get some new bolts when I get back home because these are probably getting close to being worthless, which is possibly related to how they came loose.

 

I need to do the same. I am on borrowed time on at least one set.

Per above, I keep a tool and a spare Shimano crank arm nut in my pack. You lose one once on a ride and it just makes sense to keep an extra.

5 minutes ago, rugger said:

I'm amazed the pics are still here. Back in the day you wouldn't whisper the word "*****" without wrath of the admins. 

 

Nobody said a name...

3 hours ago, Lacch said:

Google maps shows these trails (see pic)... I've hiked them, but never taken a bike there. Thanks for the tip on Irving and Hazel Memorial Trail, i'll check it out!

 

 

 

The trails in that area are not official/legal trails. While folks use them, they are not sanctioned and you won't find much support in this forum for discussing them.

That said, they are also not beginner friendly so I would steer clear anyway.

There are no official MTB trails at Bull Creek. The official hiking trails are full of steps and ledges that are a hassle for even experienced riders. They are also a mess to navigate. I would look elsewhere. There is a very short loop near him that is very beginner friendly, but I suspect would get really old, really fast. I take my 8yo out there to practice.

This is off of Segment 7 of the CT, headed down to Gold Hill, between Frisco and Breck. Right around 7am, squeezing in a ride before family activities the rest of the day.

13 hours ago, CBaron said:

If you're cool with that, it might not be a bad solution for me.  He's getting close to needing to move up to a new bike and I've already begun exploring those options for him.  Worst case, it may be 6-9 months and then I'd hope to have him up onto a 27.5 (or 29

 

I can loan for a couple weeks. It's coming off one of the bikes I ride with some regularity. 

44 minutes ago, CBaron said:

I'm heading out with my youngest son to ride South Boundary in about 2 weeks.  He's grown so much that I need to adjust his bike fit for a ride that long.  I'm hoping to find a 27.2 stack post of some kind.  I figured these things would be plentiful, but I'm also happy to pay $$ if its needed.

Thanks,
CJB

I can loan you a moots ti setback.

2 hours ago, AustinBike said:

DT Swiss 240’s we’re my go-to wheel choice, they are sound as well.

I've got King and DT240 SS wheels and i9 classic hubs. Big fan of the DT, super easy to service. Like the sound of the i9, but again, prefer the others for maintenance.