There’s no way he’s passing on the solid line—he stays right of center. Once you see there isn't a streetcar for at least a mile behind you, just hop over onto the tracks to let them pass—then head back to your lane once they're gone or if a trolley shows up. It shouldn't be an issue.
I'm playing the long game here—just trying to make sure my cash doesn't vanish into thin air. Nothing else planned, though I am heading over to Canada this Thursday. Still debating whether to pick up some silver or just stick to gold. Unfortunately, I'll have to lock it all in the safe until we fully integrate with the European Union, but it is what it is. Probably going to be fine art. Do I really have a choice? Open to suggestions, obviously.
Gold. Finally scraped together some extra cash. -))
Should I jump in? The curve over the last few days looks pretty interesting. What’s the consensus? Any forecasts? How deep does this dip go before we see another rally?
Arthur Ross said:At the end of the day, is a hydration pack better or just sticking with panniers?
I'm no genius here. Personally, I lean toward a backpack—keeps the bike itself light—but I’ve never actually ridden with panniers, so take my word with a grain of salt.
Let me break it down for you: if you don't mind the extra weight on your spine or having a sweaty back—specifically the shoulders and lower back where the pack sits—then a backpack is fine.
If that sounds miserable to you (and honestly, catching a chill from a soaked shirt isn't great for your health), then stop overthinking the pannier situation. Just grab a decent aluminum rack and get some panniers—not necessarily the cheapest ones, but enough capacity to actually be useful. And a pro tip: don't regret buying undersized gear when you eventually decide to go on a longer trip.
That’s why our friend Draško is probably going to go big and grab the 65L setup—no regrets there. He can always leave the top bag at home for quick local rides and just use the side panniers.
brightranger43 said:It’s not about whether you cycle or not. well, if that counts, I’m actually raising the average here—I’m (almost) a professional reader. 😁 I think the regulars on this forum are a way more well-read crowd than most... if nothing else, they're busy reading and writing bike buying guides.
So, what would you actually read? Give me a genre so I can come up with something fancy enough to start with, yet fun and intellectual enough to keep you coming back for more...
I still maintain that out of 1,000 people aged 25 to 50, maybe one person reads three or more books—novels, poetry collections, whatever—per year. And don't even get me started on textbooks or professional reading.
The last few things I picked up were "The Picture of Dorian Gray"—loved it—followed by some history: "The Templars" and "A History of the USA" (there was a time when I knew every President and their term by heart; I just love the States), plus Hesse's "Journey to the East" was great too. I also finished "Etiquette"—old school stuff—and it was honestly too good.😂
I keep telling myself I'll finally get around to reading Kundera's "The Insufferable Lightness of Being," but I can't seem to find a copy, and heading to the library isn't exactly on my schedule. God, the laziness of youth.😢
Boredom and contemplation are my best friends lately.☕
brightranger43 said:final verdict: no, unless you're a literature major. yes, if you're prepping for a trivia night or a date with a librarian.😁
hehe, we could probably start a whole thread: what do cyclists actually read? ☕
😂 I think I actually met a librarian once—rare species, honestly. haha.
I don't read much myself—I mostly just wait for someone else to talk me into picking up a book. Back in the day, people actually devoured books; nowadays, it's all movies paired with a soundtrack.😉
I'm worried cyclists aren't big readers, but not because of the bikes—it's just that reading culture in America is pretty much non-existent these days.😢
quote from the link: That event is highly unlikely given the Federal Reserve’s negative interest rate policy and commitment to do whatever it takes to prevent deflation, including dropping $100 bills from helicopters. 😂
Mods, feel free to move this if I've picked the wrong sub—I'm trying to bridge this over to currency talk here. If every country just collectively decided to pull a disappearing act on their debts—basically refusing to pay back a cent—and cut off all incoming cash flow from other nations and banks to start from scratch, I assume their credibility would be tied strictly to whatever gold they have left to swap for digital tender. But what happens if a country burns through its entire gold reserve? Can they be bullied by other nations into producing everything themselves, essentially forcing them back into an 18th-century style existence until the economy stabilizes and they can rebuild through "natural" means? I’d expect riots and chaos, obviously, but theoretically, no country ever actually pays back its full debt anyway—so what’s the point of debt at all? We might as well just grab the cash, borrow until we hit the ceiling, build our infrastructure, and then go bankrupt and leave the bill to someone else. Of course, the trick would be avoiding selling off the land or energy assets to foreign monopolies—or letting anyone, local or otherwise, take control. ..I’m not as interested in the internal fallout within a single nation, but rather how these countries could continue to function, communicate, and trade goods with one another.
Bottom line: what happens to global trade, the economy, and food supplies if everyone's debt is wiped clean, no new debt is allowed, and central banks lose their role as the primary medium for money transfer and control?
Thanks for bearing with me. I'm a total newbie here, even though I've been lurking for ages...
Exactly. But you can't just pull the sponge off. When you're taking it off, press from the inside out on the part of the glasses closer to your temple than your nose. I think that’s enough of an explanation for anyone trying to get into the routine of swapping lenses. Putting new ones in is always the reverse—it’s always the reverse. You press down from the outside (where the flies hit) toward the narrower end. Go ahead, give it a shot right now. ;-))
Listen up, kids—here’s a prime example of what you absolutely should NOT be wearing.
Kate Roberts10 said:Here’s the official female cyclist uniform for when it hits -5 degrees—basically jeans over thick tights, plus extra socks, boots, an undershirt, a long-sleeve tee, a sweater or just a regular shirt, a coat, a scarf, and a hat. Oh, and I'm wearing those gardening gloves I picked up at Walmart—they actually do the job, at least my fingers aren't frozen solid. 9.3 miles One way is fine—I can handle it without much trouble.
🙂😲🙂
Now this—this is a prime example.
brightranger43 said:No, no—this is what an actual women's cycling outfit looks like. 😁 Just some Dri-FIT tops and underwear—nothing fancy. Thermal ski pants—honestly, they've been my top two best investments over the last couple of years. They have that extra padding around the knees, which is a lifesaver, and the price is actually reasonable for once. Picked up some winter running tights for biking from Walmart—the ones with the windstop layer and reflective strips. A short-sleeve base layer for skiing—honestly, that’s probably the smartest investment you'll make. 😉 ...gloves. The Peak brand Gore-Tex—the one with the fleece lining—actually holds up. If it’s freezing like it was last night around 8 PM, you're going to need it... brrr. Gloves—either some short ones for summer or those thin, seamless running gloves with the windstop tech people keep talking about—or maybe just grab those cheap ones from Walmart. Some padded accessory for around the eye area—I can't even remember what it's called—but it came with my ski goggles and I've been using it ever since. Works like a charm. 😁 Clear glasses—because sometimes you just want to look smart without actually seeing anything through them.
☕
I don't really get the whole clear lens thing—not that I'm an expert or anything—but aren't tinted lenses more of a summer staple? 😉
Picked up some orange-tinted ones at Walmart—they’ve got this foam padding around the eyes... honestly, it's the first time I haven't been "crying" while riding my bike. It's freezing out today, too. The only real issue is they start fogging up when I'm stopped at red lights. But once I'm actually moving, they're perfect. Finally won't have frozen eyes this winter... 😍
I probably have those exact same ones—honestly, best cycling purchase I've ever made. Mine don't fog up. Just wipe the lenses with a cloth. Switching between the three lenses is easy once you figure out where to press. Wind protection. Great visibility. UV protection. They're awesome.
darkraven16 said:The Mudifaj crew isn't all that—not the guys from the Brooklyn side or the ones over in Queens—you’re better off looking for the Kuntić or Šušković types out near the foothills of the Appalachians. 😁
I live right near Mount Rainier—honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. Sure, I’m light as a feather—and my Merida weighs about 26 pounds. 😍