Coconut Monkey Cornerclub

[Frag Maniac]

Yeah those vids confirm trail ratings are relative to the area you ride in. I'm not sure anyone where I live would call the trails in the first one black, maybe moderate blue. The 2nd looked like it had a few spots that might approach 4' high drops, but it's hard to tell from the lighting and camera angle. I would be more inclined to call both vids blue, the 2nd more advanced blue.

As for the guy shouting "rock garden", I had to chuckle a bit because anything you can pick a line between most rocks that fast is not what we'd call a rock garden. Even courses on the pro XC race circuits have more technical rock segments than that anymore, often times with sequential steep steps over boulders that need to be picked a line through carefully, and some pretty good pros often crash and hurt themselves after tiring from the pace. If you saw the XC races of the Olympics in Paris, you know what I mean.

Here we have a lot of places on bench trails with embedded rocks placed to keep snow melt runoff from eroding the trail, so you have to be on the constant lookout for them because they are placed here and there in the middle of flow trails in a dense forest, which are often difficult to see in time if going too fast. We also have a lot of places where there are good sized trees hugging either side of a trail, with a steep drop where you have to carefully ride fairly large roots or embedded rocks. Some of these such sections come just before a hairpin too, which is another tech feature common here. All the turns in those vides are rail berms by comparison.

The common denominator seems to be whether the trail is groomed with machines, or hand built with minimal impact, leaving as many natural features as possible. We also frequently have blow downs leaving fallen trees that block trails, so you can't afford to go too fast unless you know the trail conditions very well, which changes constantly. That said, I'm a firm believer in what you said about giving room to faster riders with more knowledge of and experience on a given trail, or a more suitable bike or fitter, younger rider. I never look to slow anyone's flow, or even disrespect hikers out there if it's a multi use trail.

I also think it's cool you have experienced riders helping those inexperienced learn the trails. In fact, I think Cali is a mecca for BMX riders with skills, and I think the culture we have here is sometimes a bit too hardcore and rogue, influencing the building of dangerously technical trails. One example is I often see fallen trees from 6" to 12" that almost look like their fat end has been deliberately cut flat and placed in such a way that you would get hurt really badly were you to run off the trail and smash into it.

Over 20 yrs ago I used to do rides with a guy that led rides in a forest where people would irresponsibly do target shooting in certain spots, and leave bullet shells, trash, and even couches. It looked like a dump, and I think that and the fact that mt biking wasn't as popular at the time is what led some trail users to do weird things like cut a bunch of saplings down and block the trails with them. It's hard to believe mt biking has gotten popular enough here to the point where those on bikes have the right of way over hikers on more technical trails, even in areas with new housing developments where a lot of us worried bikes would be banned.

Here's a video of a very skilled rider from Freehub Magazine, riding a double black trail in Bellingham called Chukanut Trail on an Orbea Occam LT. I would say this is our version of what you showed in your 2nd vid, a trail called double black, but has a fair bit of flow. Meaning I think both our states perhaps have some slightly overrated trails. The thing to keep in mind with ANY double black trail is it always looks easier than it is when a very skilled rider rides it.

BTW, I don't want to scare you away from Orbea, but I just saw a vid a guy did whom works in a bike shop in North Carolina as far as I know. He feels they have very good bikes, but their shop cut ties with them due to problems over a very damaged bike they expected the shop to accept a new rear triangle and wheel and sell, despite the contract saying Orbea would pick up the entire bike and take it back. It just seems odd a manufacturer that puts a lifetime warranty on their frames would behave this way.

Ibis compares better on support, but Orbea is miles ahead of them on offering customers personalized spec, and innovations like their quick adjust shock mount on the Occam LT that doesn't even require removal to change head and seat angle by .5 degree and raise/lower BB by several mm (less than 20 sec). This combined with being able to choose crank length means no constant pedal smacking. Ibis bikes are low BB though and they still use 175mm cranks. Orbea don't even charge for picking your own paint color.

 

[red_5ive]

Yeah those vids confirm trail ratings are relative to the area you ride in. I'm not sure anyone where I live would call the trails in the first one black, maybe moderate blue. The 2nd looked like it had a few spots that might approach 4' high drops, but it's hard to tell from the lighting and camera angle. I would be more inclined to call both vids blue, the 2nd more advanced blue.

As for the guy shouting "rock garden", I had to chuckle a bit because anything you can pick a line between most rocks that fast is not what we'd call a rock garden. Even courses on the pro XC race circuits have more technical rock segments than that anymore, often times with sequential steep steps over boulders that need to be picked a line through carefully, and some pretty good pros often crash and hurt themselves after tiring from the pace. If you saw the XC races of the Olympics in Paris, you know what I mean.

Here we have a lot of places on bench trails with embedded rocks placed to keep snow melt runoff from eroding the trail, so you have to be on the constant lookout for them because they are placed here and there in the middle of flow trails in a dense forest, which are often difficult to see in time if going too fast. We also have a lot of places where there are good sized trees hugging either side of a trail, with a steep drop where you have to carefully ride fairly large roots or embedded rocks. Some of these such sections come just before a hairpin too, which is another tech feature common here. All the turns in those vides are rail berms by comparison.

The common denominator seems to be, is the trail groomed with machines, or hand built with minimal impact, leaving as many natural features as possible. We also frequently have blow downs leaving fallen trees that block trails, so you can't afford to go too fast unless you know the trail conditions very well, which changes constantly. That said, I'm a firm believer in what you said about giving room to faster riders with more knowledge of and experience on a given trail, or a more suitable bike or fitter, younger rider. I never look to slow anyone's flow, or even disrespect hikers out there if it's a multi use trail.

I also think it's cool you have experienced riders helping those inexperienced learn the trails. In fact, I think Cali is a mecca for BMX riders with skills, and I think the culture we have here is sometimes a bit too hardcore and rogue, influencing the building of dangerously technical trails. One example is I often see fallen trees from 6" to 12" that almost look like their fat end has been deliberately cut flat and placed in such a way that you would get hurt really badly were you to run off the trail and smash into it.

Over 20 yrs ago I used to do rides with a guy that led rides in a forest where people would irresponsibly do target shooting in certain spots, and leave bullet shells, trash, and even couches. It looked like a dump, and I think that and the fact that mt biking wasn't as popular at the time is what led some trail users to do weird things like cut a bunch of saplings down and block the trails with them. It's hard to believe mt biking has gotten popular enough here to the point where those on bikes have the right of way over hikers on more technical trails, even in areas with new housing developments where a lot of us worried bikes would be banned.

Here's a video of a very skilled rider from Freehub Magazine, riding a double black trail in Bellingham called Chukanut Trail on an Orbea Occam LT. I would say this is our version of what you showed in your 2nd vid, a trail called double black, but has a fair bit of flow. Meaning I think both our states perhaps have some slightly overrated trails. The thing to keep in mind with ANY double black trail is it always looks easier than it is when a very skilled rider rides it.

BTW, I don't want to scare you away from Orbea, but I just saw a vid a guy did whom works in a bike shop in North Carolina as far as I know. He feels they have very good bikes, but their shop cut ties with them due to problems over a very damaged bike they expected the shop to accept a new rear triangle and wheel and sell, despite the contract saying Orbea would pick up the entire bike and take it back. It just seems odd a manufacturer that puts a lifetime warranty on their frames would behave this way. Ibis is looking better all the time.

Yeah the 3 trails in the first video I posted I don't really consider to be Black Diamond. The Double D trail in particular is on the way up to the main trailhead. It's about a 2 minute run full speed, so myself and pretty much everybody else use it as a warm up. I do like Overdrive though, which in my opinion is on the edge of being arguably a Black Diamond. And that said, the video doesn't really give it justice as it is actually steeper than it appears at some points. But I also realize it really isn't that technical of a trail, and that's actually one reason why I like it cause it's flowy and you can get air fairly easily. That's as much as I care to ride anymore.

We have other areas out here like Vail Lake that have far more technical trails and have "real" rock beds, but they're further away. It's much easier to make the choice to hop on my bike and ride less than a mile to Greer Ranch vs loading all my gear into my truck and driving 20 miles to Vail, especially since I drive a V8 and gas being what it is. But yeah I get it, we don't have the climate and corresponding terrain out here in Southern Calif., and anything we do have that could be considered "foresty" is often protected land.

It's funny to think that riders are more welcoming in California considering the reputation Californians get lol. I do realize that's an earned reputation because even as a resident I don't enjoy the company of the common local folk out here for the most part. We often talk about moving out of state lol. The riders on the other hand are generally among the coolest people you'll encounter out here. Go figure.

I'm still willing to try out an Orbea. My local bike shop is very customer service oriented, and they've been exceptional when it comes to working things out with bike companies. I'm sure you know all the horror stories with Specialized and their requirements for bike shops, but I've had absolutely zero issues. My Stumjumper has a flip chip which changes the geometry a couple of degrees. I encountered a defect with the linkage which turned out to be a problem with the yoke. It was just barely outside warranty and I didn't think Specialized would replace it, but the bike shop got it taken care of.

 

[Frag Maniac]

Yeah the cost of gas alone has me thinking Bellingham's Galbraith mt trails and Olympia's Capitol State Forest trails are the new Eastern Washington for me. They are both roughly 80+ mi away, but a WHOLE lot better than roughly twice that and going over a mt pass. I used to do epic rides in Eastern, Wa, but forest fires over the years have decimated the trails, leaving you with sun exposed climbs, and dry loose descents that can make you wash out. The closest trails I have other than that are 20 to 30 mi away, so you have quite a luxury with such a close spot with that good of trails.

There's a ride near an EW town (Twisp) called the Angel Staircase loop. It's only generally taken one direction, going up a trail that has two steep hike-e-bike sections. The trail tops out at just over 8000' and is the highest trail that allows mt bikes in the state. I've ridden it twice, once with a group, the 2nd time solo. It used to have a very technical section with good sized loose boulders you had to ride over. They were heavy enough not to shift, but sharp edged. You had to have just the right speed and line to ride them, and it was very difficult on the old 26er bikes. I rode it the 2nd time on my Intense Uzzi SL.

This guy's restored Uzzi SL looks just like mine did.

That boulder section on the Angel Staircase decent I'd found was worked on by a forest ranger crew whom broke the boulders down to scree size so equestrians could ride safely. I don't think this pic is of trail, but it looks close to what that trail section used to be like.

This is the view you're rewarded with when you get to the top of the exhausting climb to 8000'.

I was on the phone today with a guy that works for EVO, who's HQ store is here. Half of the 8 locations in fact are in the NW if you include the one in Whistler (closest one to you is Tahoe). He lives in Belligham and works for them remotely from his home. I was asking about Orbea bikes, but he said he didn't know much about them and that they won't be ordering anymore for a while. He suggested I look at Transition, whom are HQed in Bellingham. He said they have excellent frame support. The only ones that are affordable though are ones with heavy alu frames, and low end kits, making for a pretty heavy bike. Their alu Sentinel with roughly same travel as the Ripmo AF has a 10 lb frame! Then I realized the 8.25 lb Ripmo alu frame is not so heavy after all.

I'm going to play around a bit with Orbea's MyO bike option selector just to see what's possible. I told Seth the EVO guy, since the Occam SL and LT use the same frame, it might be interesting to see if I could spec a Fox 36 150mm on the Occam SL (comes with a Fox 34 140mm). Then I'd only have to buy the shock yoke for the LT, and probably an LT specific shock link. Then all I'd have to do to convert it to an LT is get the longer travel rear shock and a 160mm fork air shaft. I would likely have to pull off the Fox I-Line remote lockout system that comes with the SL, but this would be a far cheaper way to progress to longer travel than buying a whole new bike if I felt the need to.

Well, forget MyO, they only allow you to customize the kits on their top of the line bikes, and all the options of course are also in the top of the line range. The Occam LT is also back up to $5000 from the $3500 it was just at. Canyon's Spectral CF 7 though has dropped another $100 to $3200 now.

Correction, they allow MyO configuration on bikes that are not on sale. Apparently the ones on sale must be already mostly built and boxed is what I figure. However it seems you're limited to only Fox 34 fork options for the Occam SL, so no way to go Fox 36 150mm. EVO bikes had a sale on 2023 model Occam LTs (alu version) for $2600, but they're gone now.

 

[BeardyHat]

Wife went to start our car the other day only to discover the battery is probably dead. I popped the positive terminal cover open, as the sticker is hiding under there and it looks like our battery is just about to turn 4 in January, so it's about time for replacement, but boy if this stuff doesn't happen at the most inopportune times.

I'm going to go disassemble the terminals when it warms up here and clean things up with my wire brush to see if maybe it's just a connection issue. I could push start the car (or jump it with my other one) and get some charge from the alternator, but neither of us wants the anxiety of thinking about the car potentially leaving us stranded, so I guess I'll go spend the $230 on a battery later today most likely.

 

[Zloth]

`Tis the season for tires to get deflated, too.

 

[ZedClampet]

`Tis the season for tires to get deflated, too.

Yeah, I got one of those pumps that plugs into your car's outlet, whatever it's called these days. Used to be a cigarette lighter. Now it's just a circular hole. I bought one when all the gas stations decided they were going to start charging you to put air in your tires. Comes in handy during the rare camping trip, too.

Today is my 30th wedding anniversary. Also, it's snowing a little. Don't think it will amount to anything. Not having any kids in the house, snow doesn't really do anything for me anymore, but it's nice to open the curtains and watch it snow.

 

[red_5ive]

Yeah the cost of gas alone has me thinking Bellingham's Galbraith mt trails and Olympia's Capitol State Forest trails are the new Eastern Washington for me. They are both roughly 80+ mi away, but a WHOLE lot better than roughly twice that and going over a mt pass. I used to do epic rides in Eastern, Wa, but forest fires over the years have decimated the trails, leaving you with sun exposed climbs, and dry loose descents that can make you wash out. The closest trails I have other than that are 20 to 30 mi away, so you have quite a luxury with such a close spot with that good of trails.

There's a ride near an EW town (Twisp) called the Angel Staircase loop. It's only generally taken one direction, going up a trail that has two steep hike-e-bike sections. The trail tops out at just over 8000' and is the highest trail that allows mt bikes in the state. I've ridden it twice, once with a group, the 2nd time solo. It used to have a very technical section with good sized loose boulders you had to ride over. They were heavy enough not to shift, but sharp edged. You had to have just the right speed and line to ride them, and it was very difficult on the old 26er bikes. I rode it the 2nd time on my Intense Uzzi SL.

This guy's restored Uzzi SL looks just like mine did.

That boulder section on the Angel Staircase decent I'd found was worked on by a forest ranger crew whom broke the boulders down to scree size so equestrians could ride safely. I don't think this pic is of trail, but it looks close to what that trail section used to be like.

This is the view you're rewarded with when you get to the top of the exhausting climb to 8000'.

I was on the phone today with a guy that works for EVO, who's HQ store is here. Half of the 8 locations in fact are in the NW if you include the one in Whistler (closest one to you is Tahoe). He lives in Belligham and works for them remotely from his home. I was asking about Orbea bikes, but he said he didn't know much about them and that they won't be ordering anymore for a while. He suggested I look at Transition, whom are HQed in Bellingham. He said they have excellent frame support. The only ones that are affordable though are ones with heavy alu frames, and low end kits, making for a pretty heavy bike. Their alu Sentinel with roughly same travel as the Ripmo AF has a 10 lb frame! Then I realized the 8.25 lb Ripmo alu frame is not so heavy after all.

I'm going to play around a bit with Orbea's MyO bike option selector just to see what's possible. I told Seth the EVO guy, since the Occam SL and LT use the same frame, it might be interesting to see if I could spec a Fox 36 150mm on the Occam SL (comes with a Fox 34 140mm). Then I'd only have to buy the shock yoke for the LT, and probably an LT specific shock link. Then all I'd have to do to convert it to an LT is get the longer travel rear shock and a 160mm fork air shaft. I would likely have to pull off the Fox I-Line remote lockout system that comes with the SL, but this would be a far cheaper way to progress to longer travel than buying a whole new bike if I felt the need to.

Well, forget MyO, they only allow you to customize the kits on their top of the line bikes, and all the options of course are also in the top of the line range. The Occam LT is also back up to $5000 from the $3500 it was just at. Canyon's Spectral CF 7 though has dropped another $100 to $3200 now.

Correction, they allow MyO configuration on bikes that are not on sale. Apparently the ones on sale must be already mostly built and boxed is what I figure. However it seems you're limited to only Fox 34 fork options for the Occam SL, so no way to go Fox 36 150mm. EVO bikes had a sale on 2023 model Occam LTs (alu version) for $2600, but they're gone now.

That's a bit of a drive for your nearest trails. I'd go back to surfing if I had to make that kind of drive.

That's a beautiful shot! I'll never get a chance to experience that on a bike as I suffer from elevation sickness, which is tenfold if I exert myself, and has gotten worse as I've gotten older. I tried to do one of the lower elevation rides at Mammoth Lakes a few years ago, and I was heaving half way through and had to take my time. The trails vary in elevation from 8,000 to 11,000 "ish". I don't remember exactly what the elevation was on the trail, but according to Google it starts at around 9,000. Fortunately it's all downhill, but there's no view as it's all covered. And when I said "real" rock-beds, I meant man-made features lol. We're not going to get that kind of thing in Cali. And go ahead, you can say it, we're pampered down here lol.

I really like Intense bikes. Intense HQ isn't too far from me, and only a couple of miles from my wife's office/studio. My LBS is also down the street from them. Interestingly enough, for as much as I'm in the area, I've yet to drop by their facility. No reason other than I just haven't gotten around to it.

 

[red_5ive]

Today is my 30th wedding anniversary.

Congrats!

Speaking of car stuff, that reminds me I need to take my truck in for transmission service. However, I installed a bottom plate a couple of years ago as a catalytic converter theft deterrent, which covers a good portion of the bottom of my truck. The plate uses hex security bolts, and last time I was down there I couldn't get one of them off due to how the nut is positioned within the chassis. What's ironic is, unless I can figure another way around it, I might have to use the same type of cutting tool to remove the catalytic converter plate cover that thieves use to remove the catalytic converter.

 

[ZedClampet]

Congrats!

Speaking of car stuff, that reminds me I need to take my truck in for transmission service. However, I installed a bottom plate a couple of years ago as a catalytic converter theft deterrent, which covers a good portion of the bottom of my truck. The plate uses hex security bolts, and last time I was down there I couldn't get one of them off due to how the nut is positioned within the chassis. What's ironic is, unless I can figure another way around it, I might have to use the same type of cutting tool to remove the catalytic converter plate cover that thieves use to remove the catalytic converter.

Without getting into the embarrassing details, I once created a disaster with epoxy putty that required significant deconstruction to fix.

 

[BeardyHat]

`Tis the season for tires to get deflated, too.

When it rains, it pours. After doing a test drive with my new battery, I noticed my tires being unusually loud, so I got out my pump and started filling them up. They were about 20ish PSI, so pretty low.

Unfortunately, I noticed a very large bubble in the sidewalk of one of my tires, which means two new tires. But they're about to turn 5 years old, so might as well do em all and anyway, now I have $800 worth of tires being installed on Monday. So that's $1050 spent on one car in the last week; thankfully I don't have a car payment.

Yeah, I got one of those pumps that plugs into your car's outlet, whatever it's called these days. Used to be a cigarette lighter. Now it's just a circular hole. I bought one when all the gas stations decided they were going to start charging you to put air in your tires. Comes in handy during the rare camping trip, too.

Today is my 30th wedding anniversary. Also, it's snowing a little. Don't think it will amount to anything. Not having any kids in the house, snow doesn't really do anything for me anymore, but it's nice to open the curtains and watch it snow.

Exactly the kind of pump I have!

Also congratulations!

 

[Frag Maniac]

That's a bit of a drive for your nearest trails. I'd go back to surfing if I had to make that kind of drive.

That's a beautiful shot! I'll never get a chance to experience that on a bike as I suffer from elevation sickness, which is tenfold if I exert myself, and has gotten worse as I've gotten older. I tried to do one of the lower elevation rides at Mammoth Lakes a few years ago, and I was heaving half way through and had to take my time. The trails vary in elevation from 8,000 to 11,000 "ish". I don't remember exactly what the elevation was on the trail, but according to Google it starts at around 9,000. Fortunately it's all downhill, but there's no view as it's all covered. And when I said "real" rock-beds, I meant man-made features lol. We're not going to get that kind of thing in Cali. And go ahead, you can say it, we're pampered down here lol.

I really like Intense bikes. Intense HQ isn't too far from me, and only a couple of miles from my wife's office/studio. My LBS is also down the street from them. Interestingly enough, for as much as I'm in the area, I've yet to drop by their facility. No reason other than I just haven't gotten around to it.

Yeah and the gas prices here don't help either. Cheapest I can get it is around $4.10 a gal. That's a bummer that you can't go high altitude. It sounds like the opposite of an illness a former neighbor of mine had where his red blood cells were small, Microcytic Anemia I think. When he was at high altitude it had far less effect on him though, so I imagine now he's maybe living somewhere like Denver or Santa Fe

I just went down to EVO today to look at their bikes and ask them about Orbea. This was after last night having seen an alu frame 2023 Occam LT with mostly SLX spec for $2600. I'm glad I didn't order it because their head shop tech that does their warranty work said they had to drop Orbea for the same kind of irresponsible business behavior I've been seeing reported about them on the net. He told me they love Santa Cruz bikes there, but they don't really have anything in what I'm looking for.

Then I went to the other side (one side is service, the other sales, and they are completely separated). A guy came out who lives out on the peninsula, very educated about many mtb brands, some of whom he'd worked for, including Pivot. His opinion after I told him I want an all mt bike as close to 30 lb as possible, without being too expensive, was going with a last yr's model Transition Smuggler, which are on 33% off closeout right now. So I'm considering the Transition Smuggler that has 130mm rear and 140mm front travel, they have a GX build with Fox 34 fork and Fox X shock with reservoir, for $4000, and a size Med weighs 31 lbs.

Transition are also HQed here right up in Bellingham, but EVO says they'd have to special order it and I would not be able to return or exchange it for an XL if it's too small TT. What I don't get about this bike is it has a very long 480 reach in size large, but the effective top tube length is only 617. I'm seeing some bikes with 475 reach that have a 630 TT!

So I will call Transition tomorrow, partly to ask why they only have a size Med Smuggler in their demo fleet, and partly to ask how many they have left in Large in Espresso color, because damned if I'm going to ride the Orchid one, that is basically Fuchsia, and too close to hot pink!

 

[Frindis]

This cracked me up.:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PathOfExile2/comments/1h6c5qw/the_moment_i_realized

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/PathOfExile2/comments/1h6c5qw/the_moment_i_realized/

 

[red_5ive]

This cracked me up.:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PathOfExile2/comments/1h6c5qw/the_moment_i_realized

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/PathOfExile2/comments/1h6c5qw/the_moment_i_realized/

Not fair. Where did you find that pic of me?

 

[Frag Maniac]

I went kind of bonkers on some closeout items, all bike related. First to arrive is this nice little torque wrench/tool kit I got off Amazon. It's rated at 1-26 Nm/10-231 in.lb, and the certificate it came with says it averages within .5% accuracy across 5Nm, 15Nm, and 26Nm tests, WAY more accurate than the industry standard 3% tolerance. Click is 43-88db depending on torque.

I really like the case it came in, as it has steel pin hinges vs the flex plastic common in blow molded cases, and the latches are steel clamps that hold nice and tight. I'm not a huge fan of the matte black oxide phosphate coating on the sockets, wrench shaft, and bits (socket part only), as I prefer black chrome, but you can't get black chrome tools at this price, and I will only use this kit indoors.

It has a button behind the wrench head that allows you to easily slip on/off your sockets/bits, and the button itself is just plastic (the only part of the wrench that is), but I agree with one reviewer that it would likely only be compromised were you to drop the tool on a hard floor, and that is not something you want to do with ANY torque wrench. It will just remind me to handle it with care.

A QR code on the butt end of the wrench takes you to a URL with torque settings for various sizes and hardness ratings of bolts, nuts, etc, but Park Tool has a more appropriate extensive bible of various types of bike fasteners listed by brand of the components they pertain to. Nice though that etoolab appropriately warns you to store the wrench at the lowest setting when not in use.

In testing, even at the lowest 1 Nm setting, I put the 1/4 to 3/8 adapter and the largest 15mm 3/8 drive socket on, and held it tight while applying torque. I then heard a very audible click, which is plenty loud enough even at the lowest setting, so their claim of loud clicks seems accurate. It gets a 4.5/5 star rating, but a few have mentioned feint or no clicks, thankfully I haven't had that problem.

They have a 52 piece kit without the not so great multitool, but has more bits, including a 10mm hex. I'll likely have no need for a 10mm hex. I tighten my cassette lockring and pedals just good and tight, as they self tighten while riding. The included 1/4" drive 8mm hex bit is useless for 8mm fittings on a bike, as 1/4" isn't big enough for crank bolt torque. A mere $4 fix I will show later.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D49XD1SJ/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

I will show each other item as it arrives.

BTW, I'm starting to realize e MTBs that are lighter weight may have a smaller batteries and less powerful motors, but they don't need as powerful a motor or as high amp hour battery due to less weight. So it's very much a power to weight ratio thing. Last time I rode when I got back to my car I saw a guy on a full suspension Intense eMTB with a rack on the back and stuffed paniers on each side of it, and a handlebar rack with a stuffed bag. He did a trail route on it, saying he was just testing the bike and the paniers it came with, which were just stuffed with lightweight things to billow them as he was only checking their water resistance.

This bike is an alu 27.5er, but weighs a whopping 67 lbs as equipped. It has a Shimano E7000 motor with 504Wh battery.

951 E-XPLORE

Shop the 951 E-Xplore eMTB and related Electric Mountain Bikes, accessories, and more for sale online or at an authorized dealer. If you have questions, call (951) 307-9211 or chat online.

intensecycles.com

 

[ZedClampet]

Got my covid and flu shots yesterday. Was fairly certain I wouldn't have a reaction to Covid this time since it has been about 18 months since my last vaccine, and you tend to only have reactions if you have immunity, which I was assuming was gone, but it knocked me on my arse. Was under 3 heavy blankets in the bed and refused to get up until my bladder forced me to. Was still out of it a bit until this afternoon.

They wanted to give me two other vaccines at the same time, but I declined.

 

[COLGeek]

Got my covid and flu shots yesterday. Was fairly certain I wouldn't have a reaction to Covid this time since it has been about 18 months since my last vaccine, and you tend to only have reactions if you have immunity, which I was assuming was gone, but it knocked me on my arse. Was under 3 heavy blankets in the bed and refused to get up until my bladder forced me to. Was still out of it a bit until this afternoon.

They wanted to give me two other vaccines at the same time, but I declined.

My first booster did that. Sucked.

Since, they have been non-events.

I get my boosters each birthday (23 September) since COVID boosters started. Flu at same time.

 

[ZedClampet]

My first booster did that. Sucked.

Since, they have been non-events.

I get my boosters each birthday (23 September) since COVID boosters started. Flu at same time.

I guess this was my fourth booster if I remember correctly. They've all been bad.

 

[ZedClampet]

I just wrote my letter of resignation as moderator of that sports site. If I never have to read another thing those man-children write, it will be too soon.

 

[BeardyHat]

I went kind of bonkers on some closeout items, all bike related. First to arrive is this nice little torque wrench/tool kit I got off Amazon. It's rated at 1-26 Nm/10-231 in.lb, and the certificate it came with says it averages within .5% accuracy across 5Nm, 15Nm, and 26Nm tests, WAY more accurate than the industry standard 3% tolerance. Click is 43-88db depending on torque.

This is dumb, but reminds me of something that happened to me. Doing brakes on one of my cars, I misread a torque spec as ft lbs, rather than in lbs and it took me entirely too long to realize why my bolts kept snapping.

This bike is an alu 27.5er, but weighs a whopping 67 lbs as equipped. It has a Shimano E7000 motor with 504Wh battery.

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I know nothing about bikes, but mine looks kind of similar and has a Shimano motor on it. It's pretty neat.

Got my covid and flu shots yesterday. Was fairly certain I wouldn't have a reaction to Covid this time since it has been about 18 months since my last vaccine, and you tend to only have reactions if you have immunity, which I was assuming was gone, but it knocked me on my arse. Was under 3 heavy blankets in the bed and refused to get up until my bladder forced me to. Was still out of it a bit until this afternoon.

They wanted to give me two other vaccines at the same time, but I declined.

They always knock me on my butt too. At the doctor not too long ago for my youngest, they were giving flu and COVID shots, so I figured I'd jump in line and grab one while I was there. Standing in line, I quickly got back out when I realized I couldn't be in bed all day the next day.

I just wrote my letter of resignation as moderator of that sports site. If I never have to read another thing those man-children write, it will be too soon.

What happened? 😆

 

[ZedClampet]

What happened? 😆

They are just toxically abusive to one another, and I can't do anything about it. All I'm allowed to do is get rid of political or religious posts. You would think it's a middle school playground with all the appropriate levels of wit. If they want to cyberbully each other, gang up on new users, etc. that's fine. I just don't want anything to do with it. Picture the worst of reddit and multiply it by a thousand.

 

[Zloth]

Was under 3 heavy blankets in the bed and refused to get up until my bladder forced me to. Was still out of it a bit until this afternoon.

COVID shots do that to me every time. I'm stuck in bed for a day with a fever. The next day, the fever is gone. I'm still pretty wiped out, but at least I can play some of the more zen'ish computer games. Pneumonia shot did the same thing to me. But flu shots? I feel like I could have one every day and be just fine.

 

[Frag Maniac]

This is dumb, but reminds me of something that happened to me. Doing brakes on one of my cars, I misread a torque spec as ft lbs, rather than in lbs and it took me entirely too long to realize why my bolts kept snapping.

I know nothing about bikes, but mine looks kind of similar and has a Shimano motor on it. It's pretty neat.

In.lb vs ft.lb is a realistic problem though, and something you don't have to worry about with Nm.

Yeah as much as I love the look of those bikes, I can't imagine myself loading a 67 lb bike in and out of my car. They actually warrant loading them into the back of a pickup or van with a ramp. That's the way I see a lot of people transport them.

I did a bike packing trip once that was just a two day ride. I mounted a rack on the back, and strapped my bivy to it, then I took my ultra light down bag and strapped it to my handlebar. The bivy and bag are both half zip, and the bag is 800 fill down, so they're both light and small. I had to hike-a-bike a short, steep, loose section of trail to get up on the ridge I camped at, which was roughly the halfway point. I'd driven near the camp spot the day before and hiked up and stashed a 2 liter collapsible bottle of water.

It was pretty cool camping there, no sound but the wind and the footsteps of a deer that came near. I can't imagine trying to push a 67 lb bike up that steep, loose section. I imagine those types of bikes would be more suitable for less rugged trails just in case you have problems with traction or battery drain. It would still be cool to take an excursion on them, but I wonder how you'd recharge the battery for anything more than a one day long ride. I guess it depends how steep of terrain you're on, but you'd no doubt have to use the motor a lot on any climbs, steep or not.

 

[BeardyHat]

They are just toxically abusive to one another, and I can't do anything about it. All I'm allowed to do is get rid of political or religious posts. You would think it's a middle school playground with all the appropriate levels of wit. If they want to cyberbully each other, gang up on new users, etc. that's fine. I just don't want anything to do with it. Picture the worst of reddit and multiply it by a thousand.

Exactly the reason I left Reddit, but like to hang out here. So many people take everything in bad faith and become immediately combative, it's tiring.

In.lb vs ft.lb is a realistic problem though, and something you don't have to worry about with Nm.

Yeah as much as I love the look of those bikes, I can't imagine myself loading a 67 lb bike in and out of my car. They actually warrant loading them into the back of a pickup or van with a ramp. That's the way I see a lot of people transport them.

I did a bike packing trip once that was just a two day ride. I mounted a rack on the back, and strapped my bivy to it, then I took my ultra light down bag and strapped it to my handlebar. The bivy and bag are both half zip, and the bag is 800 fill down, so they're both light and small. I had to hike-a-bike a short, steep, loose section of trail to get up on the ridge I camped at, which was roughly the halfway point. I'd driven near the camp spot the day before and hiked up and stashed a 2 liter collapsible bottle of water.

It was pretty cool camping there, no sound but the wind and the footsteps of a deer that came near. I can't imagine trying to push a 67 lb bike up that steep, loose section. I imagine those types of bikes would be more suitable for less rugged trails just in case you have problems with traction or battery drain. It would still be cool to take an excursion on them, but I wonder how you'd recharge the battery for anything more than a one day long ride. I guess it depends how steep of terrain you're on, but you'd no doubt have to use the motor a lot on any climbs, steep or not.

I should probably use the Nm, but my brain just defaults to the Ft/In instead.

I would worry about battery on a long trip too, though my bike is just a road/cruiser style and I try to keep the electric assist off most of the time so I feel like I'm actually getting some more exercise.

 

[ZedClampet]

What's the most frustrating job-hunting experience you've had?

When I was in my mid twenties I applied for a job at an electronics repair facility that did warranty work for PC manufacturers. I did the interview, which I thought went well, and then the guy handed me a test, looked at his watch, and told me I had 30 minutes.

Now today, as an old man with documented memory and brain fog problems, I'm an absolute moron. I demonstrate that every day, but in my twenties, that was not the case, and I finished the test, which was just a bunch of puzzle questions, in a little over 10 minutes, and I was fairly certain I hadn't missed anything. I thought, "Hell yeah, I got this job for sure."

The guy was very surprised when I told him I was done. He graded it and said, "You would be really bored here."

And that was it. He wouldn't hire me.

If I went and applied again tomorrow, he'd look at me and say, "Sir, you appear to be an ignoramus," and I would say, "So do I get the job, then?"

 

[Pifanjr]

What's the most frustrating job-hunting experience you've had?

I understand it's (become) very commonplace when applying for a software developer job, but I detest take-home assignments. If I have 5 years of experience on my resume, why do I need to spend another couple of hours of my free time doing a basic assignment to show that I'm capable? And even if someone doesn't have any experience at all, I don't think it's appropriate to expect several hours of unpaid work just to assess if someone is capable.

Luckily, I've only had one potential employer ask me for one. They also pushed me to show some of the code I'd written, but I can hardly share code I've written for another employer and I don't think software developers should need a portfolio.