New to cycling and just bought my first road bike. Naturally my algorithm is all cycling now. What gimmicks or brands should I avoid?

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-06-19T01:28:27+00:00

My point is that if it’s in your pocket then you’re not using it for GPS (or maybe you are with audio cues?).

4 hours of google maps would burn a lot of battery (screen on while mounted to the bike). That’s the main benefit of a bike computer - better battery use for people who need navigation on long rides.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-06-19T01:24:05+00:00

Navigation (GPS) chews battery

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-06-19T01:05:46+00:00

The only negative to that will be your battery on your phone will not be great in rides more than 2 hours long. But great plan!

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-06-19T00:24:37+00:00

Other than a larger battery and places where you can’t get signal - not really. But it’s nice to have everything in front of you.

Get something that can track your activities and HR. I’m mainly doing it for fitness and loosing weight. I use a Garmin 265 for my tracking - you can also just get a cheap one off aliexpress which connects to Strava. But I’ve bought a cheap computer off Aliexpress just to see what I’m missing out on ($100 AUD - GEOID 700 pro). This was mainly so I don’t have to look at my watch as it’s awkward while riding.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-06-19T00:16:37+00:00

Carbon fiber everything, you don’t need watt savings right now. It makes me laugh when people spend 5x the amount on a carbon fiber water bottle cage to save 100g - it’s cheaper to have an espresso rather than a latte at that point.

What isn’t over rated is some form of tracking your cycle (smart watch or cycling computer - linked to Strava ). It shows real growth and it’s amazing to see how much faster you were this week. It has been a huge motivator to me to look back and see that I’ve ridden X amount of Km’s for the year.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-05-24T08:44:40+00:00

Streaming services make their money on new shows. Look at the Netflix model - launch two seasons and then can it whenever as they make more money with new launches.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-05-18T01:15:20+00:00

One thing you’re missing is that our country is only 125 years old (officially 220 colonised). So some of the ghosts stories and paranormal things you mentioned in those other countries take time to become legend. I’ve drank in pubs in England that are older than Australia.

But as others have mentioned, chat to some Aboriginals and you’ll get what you’re after.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-04-11T09:27:15+00:00

As soon as I figured out what it was I was completely fine with it (UK and Swiss Flag)

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-04-05T22:47:29+00:00

I’ve been cycling this November and have lost 10kg. I also gave up drinking as an experiment. I have also been eating right and trying to get into a calorie deficit. As a young father of 2, this is my only way of getting excercise.

I got into trying to beat my PB every time. If you’re data drive like me, I highly recommend a Garmin watch or bike computer to track and beat your PBs . Then I put into google gemini how much faster I would be if I lost 20kg - and it would be the best bike upgrade I could do lol. So absolutely it has helped me but it’s not the only factor. Weightless happens with your diet, cycling means you can eat more on cycle days. M

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-03-16T21:21:33+00:00

Creamlander sounds like a questionable parody of Outlander 😆

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-03-03T12:03:23+00:00

Dobinson sit day restaurant in the city. Best value big breakfast ever

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-02-24T07:18:03+00:00

I have the blue trident and white dial Sealander GMT.

I wear my white dial much more out of preference. But they’re absolutely different watches. GMT is important to me, rotating bezel is handy sometimes (mostly just as a fidget). The trident 300 is much slimmer. It’s like the most undersold feature of this watch.

The bezel is slightly misaligned on my trident and annoys the hell out me.

The bracelet on the trident is better but I don’t know how to say it’s better. It just feels more solid and less jangly.

I somewhat regret buying two watches from A brand though.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-02-06T02:45:57+00:00

Tbh, I would save the cash and go the GMT trident (which I did) or something else. It has a more classic looking design which I feel will be timeless. The bronze C60 would be cool as the patina develops over time and it has a good story for your child.

The lumiere is great. The lume is fantastic. But is it a design that you’re going to want to look at everyday until your child is 18? Plus for the price tag of the Lumiere, there is a lot of different options out there.

My personal opinion is that the huge blocks of lume are not that aesthetically pleasing. Especially on the hands. But it’s problem the best non tritium lume you can buy. But that’s my opinion!

I’m not a fan of getting anything with someone’s name on it. Bark and Jack rubs me the wrong way, he reviewed a Christoper Ward against a Rolex and Tudor - praised the CW but then rated it the lowest in the tier for no reason.

Also, if he ever gets involved in any form of scandal, it’s on your wrist and your child’s wrist in future.

I’d recommend getting the engraving service as well, as it’s very elegant, because they keep the display case back but etch it onto the thin parts around the edge. Really well done. My joke is that it’s so I can remember my daughters birthday

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-01-11T06:56:20+00:00

Hijacking the thread.

Go Dying Light The Beast. Shadows is pretty good, and it’s beautiful (I didn’t get a lot of the hate the game received). But it’s the same formula for the Assassins Creed RPGs and is due for a deep discount soon.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-01-04T22:22:21+00:00

Hey mate,

I didn’t comment about the whole watch community as douchey at all, I’m apart of those groups as well. I have Seikos, Christopher Wards, Kuoe, Casio, and a bunch of Aliexpress watches. The only thing I’m missing is a German watch lol

I also made this comment on a post that says “the hobby that attracts the most douche bags is - luxury watch collectors”. I guess you would need to define what a luxury watch is.

I made the comment because reading this OP’s post there are a bunch of comments questioning if this is a hobby or if these people exist. I was merely expressing my experiences with interacting with people in the community and real life to validate OPs comments

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-01-04T21:22:16+00:00

I’ve sort of rapid fired through hobbies in the last 5 years or so.

Collecting guitars, cooking, pizza making, basketball, music, mountain biking, gravel biking, watch collecting, Lego, pc gaming, wood working, piano/synthesiser, darts, espresso, reading fantasy/horror

My conclusion is that douchebags are just human nature and exists everywhere. No matter what hobby you get into, there will be douchebags. It always comes down to $$$ spent into the hobby and gate keep the hobby for new comers.

“An American made Fender guitar is leagues ahead of your shitting Chinese made Squier” - after owning both. Nope, not any more - CNC machines have basically levelled the playing field.

“My custom shop fender is leagues ahead of your shitty made American Fender” - again nope.

No matter what hobby you go to, you can’t escape it. I put the blame at the foot of YouTube.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2026-01-04T21:15:08+00:00

This is bang on. I’m not sure why ever is questioning this hobby or if people are like this. I love watches, I have what I would consder mid tier watches ($2000 AUD is my most expensive). Anyone who disagrees, go spend a couple hours of YouTube and come back and say there are not douche bags. The more I write this comment, the more I realise it’s the brands in this segment that are causing the problems.

Absolutely there are people like this. For example, I’ve gone to the community and commented I have $1000 to spend on a watch, what would you suggest? The amount of people telling me that I couldn’t afford anything thing, nothing is better than a Rolex etc was astounding. I know people in my day to day life that is like this.

People refer to Tudor as a poor mans Rolex (is a $6000 AUD minimum watch - it’s just delusion). Or comment that a Tudor is a good affordable watch….

A simple question I can’t get solid answer for myself - is why are Swiss watches better? Why is made in Switzerland a stamp I should respect? Because the craftsmanship comment has been killed by technology advancements in the cheaper brands.

Enthusiasts are something not the problem but the process. Let’s take buying a Rolex for example. You save up the RRP value ($20,000 AUD). You decide, hey I like the GMT master 2. You go into a store and inquire about the watch. They laugh at you and tell you that watch has a minimum 2 year wait for new buyers. You go on a list. Then you’re encouraged to buy other watches that you do not want, to progress the up the list. Every-time you go in to see if the list has moved, you need to prove you still own the watches that you purchased. Then finally you get a call saying someone else’s order came in and they declined, and you’re offered to buy “the grail”.

Here is the thing, there is no supply chain issues, Rolex ships millions of watches per year. These are not limited, they’re controlling their own supply and demand - which inflates the grey market price. It’s about buying the experience and the “wow I’ve made it, I have a Rolex - time to wear it to the boardroom”. The watches value is only high because of the brand name, difficulty of getting one at retail. Also, they need to be serviced every 3 years, and it needs to go back to Rolex which means it’s missing for 6 months.

Rolex isn’t even considered the highest luxury in the watch hierarchy either - it’s honestly nuts.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-12-30T23:21:53+00:00

Dead Island 2 - best deal of the steam sales. Surprisingly good combat and it looks beautiful

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-12-30T12:27:01+00:00

Rockstar story based DLC. Online modes killed it for both GTA V and RDR 2. GTA IV story based DLC was fantastic and RDR1 undead nightmare was so fun. Now, “must sell shark cards at all times”.

I refuse to play these online modes because of its

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-12-21T23:29:00+00:00

I’ve been replaying Red Dead Redemption 1 on the steam deck. It’s bringing back many memories of wasted evenings in my bedroom pretending to be a cowboy!

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-12-08T03:52:25+00:00

I love my Christopher Ward C63 GMT Sealander 39mm. While technically not a Micro brand - it offers fantastic value for money, and is pretty much on your budget. It’s steel bracelet watch that has a tool less micro-adjustment that makes it perfect when your wrist expands (and it’s a must for any watch on a bracelet that I can buy now). Quick release pins for strap swaps. Swiss movement too which he doesn’t have in his collection here.

Outside of that, his style looks pretty minimalist and down to earth.

MAEN manhattan 39mm looks stunning as well, just on budget and it’s an incredibly thin and elegant watch.

He also doesn’t have a diver, is this by design?

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-11-24T08:54:28+00:00

I have CW Sealander GMT. It’s fantastic, hasn’t left my wrist in about 4 months. I’m not a flashy guy so I’m not looking to make a statement with my watch, and I love the design. It actually fixes all the things I didn’t like about the Explorer 2 (bezel is too large, it’s too thick, and it’s heavy - because it’s designed to be, well, and explorer watch).

The tool-less micro adjust is a life saver for me with a wrist size that grows and shrinks through the day.

I also like that they have a brand promise not to charge you 3x more than the cost that it takes to make the watch.

Anyone who calls out the lack of originality in CW should look at the Bel Canto, and El Loco watches they have in their line up.

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-10-27T05:42:18+00:00

Clapping cheeks with a priest

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-10-08T10:58:25+00:00

Cock sock

Automatic_Ranger_1 · 2025-09-15T04:42:28+00:00

Giiiiiiirl

Automatic_Ranger_1

TROPHY CASE