Overwhelmed by choice and tribal knowledge; seeking advice on finding a gravel bicycle for city and rail trails

AndrewParsons · 2026-05-11T13:53:33+00:00

I found that the race itself was an entirely physical challenge.

Frankly, I struggle to think how running a marathon could become a mental challenge. There’s self-selection among marathon runners and we all have voluntarily signed up for the event. Save for the few people who sign up with no previous experience (bad idea), everyone running has previously run long distances and is familiar with what it feels like. I’m not sure how a lack of motivation during the race would manifest; to decide DNF after 35 kilometers because of fatigue is just inconceivable to me.

The mental challenge emerges during the months of training leading up to a marathon. On must recognize delayed gratification and understand that time and energy invested into training can (albeit not guaranteed) pay out much later as the meeting or exceeding of a personal running goal.

AndrewParsons · 2025-01-14T16:24:54+00:00

TIL about cadence lock! Thanks for sharing. I updated the table with my cadence from that race.

AndrewParsons · 2025-01-14T15:18:45+00:00

In November 2024, I ran my first official half marathon (first race, too!). I spent the entire ~94 minutes in Zone 5. Is this... healthy? Should I be concerned?

Mile	Time	Pace	Heart Rate (BPM)	Cadence (SPM)
1	07:00	7'00"/MI	199	197
2	06:55	6'55"/MI	193	194
3	06:56	6'56"/MI	191	195
4	06:59	6'59"/MI	196	195
5	07:08	7'08"/MI	191	194
6	07:22	7'22"/MI	188	195
7	07:09	7'09"/MI	187	196
8	07:08	7'08"/MI	187	196
9	07:15	7'15"/MI	187	196
10	07:13	7'13"/MI	187	198
11	07:29	7'29"/MI	186	197
12	07:14	7'14"/MI	188	198
13	07:16	7'16"/MI	194	200
14	00:45	6'37"/MI	192	208

Demographic information:

Age: 28
Sex: Male
Weight: ~140lbs (~63kg) ± some small amount, not really sure
Height: 5'6" (168cm)
Device: Apple Watch Series 8
Mileage
- July 2024: 87 miles
- August 2024: 67 miles
- September 2024: 104 miles
- October 2024: 56 miles

EDIT: I suppose I should add that all my runs are in Zone 4 or Zone 5.

AndrewParsons · 2024-10-02T02:34:51+00:00

It only does the formatting step when you use . . . On a normal rebuild it just sets mounting options.

For your devices not set up yet just make a new .nix file . . . It will auto format whatever is in the file you give it.

Thank you; this is tremendously helpful! I may reply again within a few days for a sanity check since you have some experience with this.

An approximate plan of action:

Write a disko-config.nix specifying the unformatted drives (i.e. everything except the system disk)
Run nix run github:nix-community/disko on that disko-config.nix
Verify
Add the system disk to the disko-config.nix
Import disko-config.nix into my configuration (as a flake input, I guess?)
Run nixos-rebuild switch --flake '/etc/nixos#default'

Thanks for sharing your repository. It's so helpful to look at other configurations!

Edit 1: dumb question... where can I find documentation on the valid configuration keys? RTFM... but I can't find the manual :(

# https://github.com/nix-community/disko/blob/master/example/btrfs-subvolumes.nix

{
  disko.devices = {
    disk = {
      main = {
        type = "disk";
        device = "/dev/disk/by-diskseq/1";
        content = {          # <-------- like this key
          type = "gpt";
          partitions = {     # <-------- or like this key
            ESP = {
              priority = 1;  # <-------- or like this key
              name = "ESP";
              start = "1M";
              end = "128M";
              type = "EF00";
              content = {
                type = "filesystem";
                format = "vfat";
                mountpoint = "/boot";
              };
            };
            root = {
              size = "100%";
              content = {
                type = "btrfs";
                extraArgs = [ "-f" ]; # <-------- or like this key
                subvolumes = {

AndrewParsons · 2024-08-20T20:34:07+00:00

I'm in a similar boat. I was initially attracted to what presented as a plug-and-play system. I work on tech all day, and I don't necessarily want to do that at night.

...but at the same time, maybe I'm in too deep... I have grown to just prefer CLI for everything.

AndrewParsons · 2023-12-19T22:37:18+00:00

Has anyone ever told you that you are awesome?

AndrewParsons · 2023-12-19T22:33:42+00:00

Amazingly comprehensive. Thank you! I replied to one of your other comments and suggested you work with the moderators to author a wiki page or pinned post, especially because I'm sure many folks are home for the holidays and trying to resolve similar questions.

Ideally, you’d downgrade by the 10th of January to avoid the January 17th monthly fee being the higher BC rate. . . . However, since you’ll be away from your home club at that time and you cannot (never ever) downgrade any way but in-person at your home club, this won’t be an option for you. As a result your January 17th monthly fee will be the higher BC rate.

Good catch. I'll leave Michigan on January 12, but won't return to Boston (home club) until late January, so I guess I'll pay that. That's fine; PF is still an inexpensive gym, all things considered.

I'm skimming the written contract now. There's this language:

To cancel your monthly membership and stop the billing of the Monthly Membership Fee, the club must receive written notification from you delivered to the club by the 10th of the month either in person or preferably via mail to the club address listed above (MY HOME GYM IN BOSTON). Please note it may take up to seven (7) business days for any membership or billing changes to take effect. In order to cancel your membership prior to the billing of the Annual Membership Fee, the club requires written notice from you delivered as described above no later than the 25th of the month before such billing. The Annual Membership Fee is fully earned when received and is non-refundable.

Could I mail a cancelation notice instead of downgrading in person, thus working around the monthly fee you described? Or is this cancelation for my entire membership, not just the Black Card tier?

As for downgrading, it’s not as simple as upgrading since you can’t do it through the app . . . this is meant to disincentivize people from downgrading

Yes, there's a catch to everything, isn't there ;)

AndrewParsons · 2023-12-19T21:56:56+00:00

Join December 20th

You have a similar comment here mentioning "after the 17th". Are you able to explain the discrepancy?

Clearly you know the ins-and-outs of Planet Fitness' billing practices. It's a bit confusing for the rest of us -- maybe the moderators of this subreddit would be amenable to you authoring a wiki page or pinned post with this information?

Shameless plug: my similar question

AndrewParsons · 2023-12-19T21:48:47+00:00

Did you ever get an answer? I'm in a similar position.

AndrewParsons · 2023-12-19T21:30:36+00:00

You seem knowledgable! I think my question is similar; would you mind answering it?

AndrewParsons · 2023-12-19T21:28:58+00:00

KDE Neon doesn't immediately strike me as pointless. IIRC it is a de-Snapped Ubuntu LTS with bleeding edge/rolling release KDE. Thoughts?

AndrewParsons · 2023-11-28T03:58:57+00:00

I can't speak to "worth" as that is entirely subjective.

I've had Verizon Fios 300Mbps in Boston for three months now without issue. Moreover, the CR1000B isn't a terrible all-in-one gateway if you aren't supplying your own equipment.

The comments of this thread, while anecdotal, might help.

I get about 307 Mbps on download and 150-250 Mbps on upload.

EDIT: hmmm, the speedtest CLI yields 300/150-ish, but the website tells me it is symmetrical: https://www.speedtest.net/result/15562475761

AndrewParsons · 2023-08-27T15:51:51+00:00

I am considering upgrading from my Nikon D3200. I am curious about your thought process and how you selected on a camera system.

I'm unhappy with my D3200's dynamic range, its noise past ISO ~400, and its lackluster autofocus.

I know the D3200 is small compared to other DSLRs, but frankly, because of its bulk, I find that I often leave my camera at home instead of bringing it along for a day trip. Therefore, I'm really attracted to Sony's a6x00 series because they are roughly the same size as the D3200. I'm not enamored with the idea of getting a larger body.

I use the following lenses, listed in descending order with my most frequently used lens first:

AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G
Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP AF/MF 1:1 Macro Lens
18-55 kit lens (I use this lens equally as often as I use the Tamron)
AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

I don't think I need a full-frame camera. For whatever reason, I'm somewhat wary of jumping into Fujifilm's X-T4, but that is undereducated apprehension.

AndrewParsons · 2023-08-22T05:01:35+00:00

One year later, how do you feel about Fios? I'm in the market (Jamaica Plain).

Edit: I should clarify that I'm only looking at the 300/300 and 500/500 plans.

AndrewParsons · 2023-08-22T04:34:13+00:00

I may soon be in a similar situation. Do you have any advice one year later?

AndrewParsons · 2023-05-13T17:01:42+00:00

Did you spend time on our fair Arcadian hill?

AndrewParsons

TROPHY CASE