Posts by Richard Wright3

If you consider having kids a fundamental part of marriage, then thirty is probably the upper limit, in my opinion. If that isn't the goal, however, the timeline matters much less; you could tie the knot at fifty and it wouldn't change the equation.

John Palmer4 said:Hey everyone.
I could use some advice or even just a quick suggestion. Ever since I mounted a child seat to my bike and started using it for the morning commute, my pannier space has basically vanished. Right now, I’m stuck hauling everything in a backpack, and frankly, it’s a pain.
I haven't had much luck finding decent front-wheel racks. I might even be open to something along the lines of

but I can't find any bags designed to clip onto that setup. 🤷

Does anyone have an idea, even if it's just a DIY improvisation?

solutions

1

2 http://www.bikenbeer.com/?p=209

3

Jeffrey Hall5 said:Look, Douglas Fox, quit playing the intellectual. You want to order a carbon fiber frame or some high-end component from overseas? Stop overthinking it. Just look at the price tag, call US Customs, and ask them point-blank: "If I buy this item for X amount, what am I looking at in terms of duties and fees?" It isn't exactly rocket science, is it?

Well, when you're dealing with US Customs, it actually is that complicated. The question remains valid.

jadetiger962 said:Naturally, you’re looking at a two or three-week wait. If you’re in a massive rush, you could always grab some basic gear from $500 or whatever they have over at the Nike in the industrial district. I swung by recently and, predictably, they still have them sitting there. Ask the staff if you can haggle a discount; they might be tired of seeing them just 😁

Hikers with a pass get a 10% discount there, but honestly, for that kind of money, you could hire a personal assistant to carry all your gear and run ahead of you 😁

goldenotter52 said:Come on, guys... I'm curious what you think about these bags from that site over in Europe http://www.crosso.pl/pages/en/products/panniers/classic/classic-big.php

Those are being shipped from halfway across the world. $183 By the time they actually hit your doorstep, the total cost will likely have nearly doubled due to shipping and fees. 😢 I wouldn't recommend buying them solely based on that sticker price. If you really need them, I could just rent them to you. 🤷

jadetiger962 said:Who actually needs panniers? These look pretty decent on Craigslist, though you really ought to inspect them in person first:

http://www.craigslist.org/bicycle-panniers-ad-589692

I used to own those exact ones, and I wouldn't recommend them. 😁

Panniers like these are meant for city riding—think commuting or quick errands—or maybe a single day out where you just pack a camera, a sandwich, and some water. I’ve tried using them on multi-day trips myself, but only by hauling an extra hiking backpack on top of the bag, which isn't ideal.



They’re great for short stints; they're rigid, well-padded, and honestly, they look sharp. But for actual long-distance touring? Not so much. At least, if we're talking about true touring here.

goldenotter52 said:Ah, just as I suspected...

Look, my definition of quality is pretty much the same as yours: they don't need to be magic, they just need to be waterproof and reliable enough that I can ride with them for years without a single headache. My hard limit for panniers is $150. Anything beyond that is just overkill. 😁

I dealt with this exact same headache when I was hunting for panniers. I couldn't find anything decent locally; everything stocked in US shops seemed to start at the $200 mark. $100 Eventually, I ended up ordering these from a boutique shop overseas.

http://www.crosso.pl/pages/en/produc...lassic-big.php

In the end, they actually cost me more than expected, so I wouldn't recommend that route. The bags themselves are top-tier—tough Cordura on the outside, PVC lining with sealed seams on the inside, all that good stuff.
The ones jadetiger962 mentioned seem alright, though. I'll let you decide if they're worth it.

jadetiger962 As stated by:
Anything worth its salt usually comes with a hefty price tag. I was browsing through the Nike over at the Labor district recently, looking at some higher-end waterproof bins for... $500 Roughly, I think it was... $250 I mean, fair enough, but I actually picked up the exact same stuff online for about a third of the price.

Nike is pricey—I know that much from buying hiking gear. I honestly wonder if they even carry something as basic as a toolbox there.

jadetiger962 said:I have similar thoughts to these guys:

Check out this link for those black components. It’s basically the standard setup you'd find at a Trek Bicycle shop if you were looking to spec out a new ride.

These are the newer models with that extra front pocket, but I paid the same amount for them—about 65 bucks for the pair, plus shipping, sales tax, and all that good stuff.

So, what was the final damage on all of them?

The selection of high-quality storage bins here in the States is actually quite overwhelming, though I ended up having to order some specific ones from overseas anyway. Then again, "quality" is such a subjective term; it really just depends on your own standards.

The issue lies in my posture. From a side profile, my head and neck create this awkward angle against my torso; my head sits too far forward from where it ought to be. It’s causing constant tension in my neck and shoulders. I’m fairly tall—about 6'1"—and I spend a massive amount of time hunched over a computer. I'm in my mid-30s.
Can this actually be fixed? Should I look into specific exercises, or perhaps an orthopedic pillow?