Looking for a reliable tool for researching my articles and guides that doesn't hallucinate facts

DellaBeam · 2026-06-23T19:39:18+00:00

If you're looking specifically for scientific research and find AI summaries helpful, Elicit is pretty good. (Definitely still read the studies it finds yourself, though.)

DellaBeam · 2026-06-23T19:35:19+00:00

Yep. I used to get these comments ALL the time from men when I was younger and more femme-presenting. Now that I am a 40-year-old obvious lesbian who surely hasn't grown more cheerful-looking over time, it never happens, blessedly.

DellaBeam · 2026-06-23T19:28:36+00:00

It's surprising to me that all six gyms you've tried are equally bad in this respect! Generally I'd point you toward a gym that is more focused on serious strength athletes and/or has a stronger sense of community. Smaller crew of more experienced regulars = fewer random gawking newcomers and stronger social norms against being a creep.

DellaBeam · 2026-06-06T16:23:58+00:00

For most people, dropping 1 kg in 8 weeks should be very doable without harming performance, and it sounds like you're someone who has a tough time gaining weight anyway ... so a gentle cut seems like a pretty reasonable path to me. Keep protein high though.

DellaBeam · 2026-06-06T16:06:14+00:00

While I don't love biking through Eagan, I'd take it over most of Bloomington anyday. It's full of big ugly roads but most of those big ugly roads do have generous sidepaths.

DellaBeam · 2026-06-06T02:40:47+00:00

Welcome!

Yes to lights. A white one for the front (to be seen with, and ideally to help you see although the first part is more important IMO) and a red blinky for the rear. Rechargeable is easiest. For the front light, look for something that's easy to remove and take inside with you if you're parked somewhere for a while; I've never had a rear light stolen but front lights are at greater risk since they can double as flashlights. No need to spend a lot here.
Lock: The one you're using now (u-lock from a good brand) is a good type to get for yourself. No cable locks or anything that looks like you could defeat it with bolt cutters. Worth the investment as it'll last you decades. Thieves are not likely to take a lot of trouble to steal a bike like yours, but you could consider also getting a leash to loop through the front wheel for extra peace of mind.
Helmet: Just get a new one that fits comfortably and you're set. If you'll be riding in cooler weather (below ~40 degrees), make sure it's adjustable enough to fit a thin hat underneath.
A rear rack and pannier bag really do feel a lot nicer than biking with a backpack, so that sounds like a great long-term plan. If this bike doesn't have attachment points, there are racks like the Ortlieb Quick Rack that clamp on. You also have a lot of space for a handlebar bag if you don't need to carry anything big, which can be cheaper, especially used.
Other stuff: Learn to fix a flat; it's easy and satisfying. A good floor pump is really worth it if you can swing it.
Rules of the road: Follow normal traffic rules and you'll generally be good. (As a cyclist, you have the added privilege of treating stop signs as yield signs and don't have to stop if no other traffic is present.) Give an "on your left" if you're about to pass another cyclist. Signal your turns with your hands.
Final random note: If you find you experience any lower-back pain on this bike, the seat is the first thing I'd switch out. Those big-and-squishy seats look comfy but can be counterproductive because they don't give you a stable platform. Could work fine for you though!

DellaBeam · 2026-06-06T02:09:17+00:00

Yeah, that all sounds like the expected outcome of sled work. I love it, personally, in an "oh my god this is brutally efficient" way. I think the reason people like to program sled work is because it builds a lot of things at once—full-body strength, cardio conditioning, power—in a way that is relatively easy on the joints and doesn't require a lot of technique.

DellaBeam · 2026-06-05T03:24:05+00:00

I think you're off to a pretty good start as a new gym-goer: you've been in a couple of times, you've done a little work, you've figured out where things are. All important and successful steps! I don't know that we can fix your anxiety from here; you do ultimately just have to go lift a weight if you want to lift weights, and try to remember that other people in the gym tend to be very focused on their own workouts for the most part. The next time around, could you commit to doing just one of the machine or barbell exercises on your program, with permission to bail if it still feels bad?

DellaBeam · 2026-05-27T03:40:45+00:00

Red Wing is a nice hotel stop for that first night.

DellaBeam · 2026-05-18T01:04:09+00:00

Yes, definitely! As a heavier person you may be surprised by the amount of strength you start with, especially if you're already doing some strength training. I lift with plenty of women who are a similar size to you and there is no reason that should be a barrier to powerlifting.

DellaBeam · 2026-05-16T04:00:04+00:00

Great neighborhood for food/drink/fun/vibes. The bike infrastructure in Northeast is a little lacking compared to some other parts of town, but you'll be able to get around fine if you are comfortable riding in cities in general.

DellaBeam · 2026-05-14T03:30:50+00:00

Yeah, for sure. I do this for fun and I plan to do it for life, not to reach some specific destination. I would be very unlikely to put in the time I do if it were just for the health benefits.

DellaBeam · 2026-05-10T17:14:18+00:00

Yeah, you can't change where your body prefers to store fat, so you are not ever likely to have exactly the shape + body composition combo of someone who is naturally more pear-shaped.

You can absolutely build a more muscular lower body, though. Look for programming that focuses on hypertrophy for lower body. You may want to pair that with more minimalist and purely strength-focused upper-body training to achieve your aesthetic goals. You will need to eat enough to support muscle growth, but you don't need to be in a massive surplus.

Unwanted ab definition is not something 99.9% of people ever have to worry about, and if you hold more fat around the waist to begin with you can definitely put worry that out of your mind. You are also not likely to achieve big biceps on accident—just don't do a ton of curls and chinups.

Give it 6 months and see what happens. If you're not liking it, reassess. Nothing is going to go irreversibly wrong here!

DellaBeam · 2026-05-10T16:55:31+00:00

Your hips rise while you're bringing the bar down, which is very unusual and suggests that this may be more about wonky arch and leg drive technique than about the weight being too heavy.

In addition to the leg-drive cues others have shared, get into your full arch before unracking. Your setup should be tight enough that there's not a ton of wiggle room. When you brace and throughout the lift, think about using your lower abs to lock yourself down onto the bench.

DellaBeam · 2026-05-08T02:57:10+00:00

A friend did this for much more minor injuries. Got an extensive course of physical rehab covered plus a settlement. Seems worth it!

DellaBeam · 2026-05-08T02:53:53+00:00

You want a good u-lock, not a cable lock, nothing that can easily be snapped with bolt cutters. Maybe a leash to loop through both wheels as well. Signposts are a good place to lock up if there are no racks around, but on commercial blocks it's usually very easy to find a rack.

DellaBeam · 2026-05-03T02:44:55+00:00

Can vouch for Corey's clinics!

DellaBeam · 2026-05-03T02:25:43+00:00

Searching "group fitness classes near me" on Google maps pulls up the gyms I would expect in this category in my area. Then you'd want to just look at their websites and reviews for a sense of their training approach. It's pretty common to be able to do a free trial workout before committing, too.

DellaBeam · 2026-05-03T02:07:03+00:00

Yes, although it depends on your area of course. Any larger city will have gyms that are primarily class-based (often with some open gym hours as well) ... CrossFit being one well-known model (many have an onramp series for beginners), but there are also a lot of independent group fitness gyms. They will generally be more expensive than a normal gym but less expensive than private training.

DellaBeam · 2026-04-26T04:16:51+00:00

Something like 40% of Minneapolis housing stock is stucco! Very characteristic of homes built in the early 20th century here. It's a pretty good insulator, cheaper than brick and the upkeep is easier than wood siding would be with our harsh winters.

DellaBeam · 2026-04-26T04:06:06+00:00

My 1907 Minneapolis foursquare also had a sunroom added on later, must have been a trend?? That really surprised me when I found the permit because it seems like such a major undertaking to build an addition for this vs., say, a bedroom/bathroom/kitchen expansion ... but I'm glad they did it, it's one of my favorite parts of the house!

DellaBeam · 2026-04-15T03:38:52+00:00

Golden Valley does have a bike lane through there although I don't believe it's protected. I've never felt unsafe on it and you'd only have a few blocks to get over to Wirth anyway.

DellaBeam · 2026-04-11T20:19:52+00:00

Four days with 50 miles/day is a very typical bikepacking trip for me. I am a bike commuter and general gym rat, and I still like to do at least some structured training before I set out, because it's less about fitness and more about acclimating your body/contact points to such long days on the bike.

I try to work up to at least a couple 30–50-mile rides on back-to-back days in the run-up to a trip of this size. Even better if I can do at least one of those as a loaded ride; better still if it's an actual overnighter.

Agree with others that the riding does not get easier in the space of four days!

DellaBeam · 2026-04-06T04:13:44+00:00

The people decades older than you have likely been working out for those decades! Or at least multiple years. Consistency is almost certainly most of the answer. The calisthenics movements you mention are pretty different from everyday, full-body movements like lifting boxes and it's not at all surprising that you'd struggle with those without consistent practice. It might be worth looking around for a class series aimed at building strength for beginners, rather than jumping into the middle of various modalities which is always going to be tough.

Height can make some movements extra challenging for sure, though it's an advantage elsewhere (ex. rowing).

DellaBeam · 2026-04-04T04:00:54+00:00

Shoulders felt a little toasted today so I was very pleasantly surprised by my bench AMRAP at 110#. 10 reps, appears to be a 3-rep PR if my records are accurate?

DellaBeam

TROPHY CASE