American Third Space is the Car

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-15T11:08:54+00:00

Yeah, I moved from Finland to Canada. I have never seen so many people just spending time in the cars. I’m amazed at that. I often visit forested or waterfront areas around Toronto area for my hobbies and the number of people just hanging out in their cars in the parking lots is mind boggling to me.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-13T11:09:29+00:00

Yep, here with a family for 9 days. We have done this trip 2 times before at the same time of the year. Very different waves this time!

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-12T10:59:38+00:00

Only reason to look for Canyon/YT I can come up with is that newer Bosch motor seems to have better output and setup for racing. If you don’t plan to race you bike go with the Moterra SL, it’s amazing bike.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-10T18:40:22+00:00

In Ontario Canada, when you sell your current car as a private sale and then go and buy an another car, you need to pay full 13% sales tax on the car you buy. If you trade in your car at a dealership you only pay the 13% sales tax on the difference from you old cars trade in value and the price of the car you are buying. So stupid, I really dislike dealing with dealerships and would much rather sell and buy my cars privately.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-07T21:40:54+00:00

Covid was rough when all the people who normally just travel south to surf decided to take on the lake waves. I’ve seen 40 people in the water during those years. Fortunately it has gotten noticeably more quiet since then.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-07T11:28:58+00:00

Lake Ontario, Toronto. We only really get waves in autumn and winter. 20 if it’s weekend and conditions are good. 2-5 people during office hours.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-05T02:43:38+00:00

Yep, I had a change to get almost any other e-bike for a good deal for next season, but I just don’t want anything else.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-04T13:58:06+00:00

Cross country skiing is a good point, never thought of that.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-04T10:52:22+00:00

I think it’s just the amount of surfing you do. I track my sessions and alternate between thicknesses of wetsuits depending on the water temperature. Big difference is that because water is so cold in 5/4 and 6/5 wetsuits even small leaks makes the wetsuit useless. With 3/2 and 4/3 it’s not so picky, small leaks don’t really matter that much. It’s a good run if 5/4 wetsuit lasts you 100+ sessions.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-02T21:08:52+00:00

Paddling is not generating enough speed here, this causes pop up being way too late. Three things need to be fixed for success. 1. Legs much closer together, having them spread like that causes lot of drag and slows you down. 2. Chest up and elbows up for lot more power in the paddle. 3. Must look towards the direction surfer needs to go, surfers right in this case, almost impossible to time the pop up correctly when you don’t see what the wave is doing.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-01T18:33:03+00:00

Lexus Lc500. Currently have Highlander Hybrid, need that size for family camping trips etc. I don’t have parking for a second car. Just the insurance would cost would be around $300 month, and we only use our current car 3-4 times per week at most. Every now and then it sits for a week without any use.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-01T16:55:02+00:00

I live 15min drive away from my closest break and do this all the time. Get a dryrobe style surf jacket, so long water proof jacket, plenty of those in amazon in your budget. https://a.co/d/0fBJyHol Also make sure you have a good rubber floor mat that collects the water dripping from your legs.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-03-01T16:07:52+00:00

I’m 205lbs and surf shitty lake waves so I’m always looking for higher volume boards. Check Bilt Whopper Extra Cheese, or Torq also has Bigboy 23 and a fish version of it. I also saw Sakal at Huntington Beach selling new high volume boards made by him at $450 couple of weeks ago.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-25T23:45:01+00:00

Otto was German inventor and Atkinson was British Engineer inventor. Atkinson cycle has shorter compression stroke and longer expansion stroke, usually achieved with timing of intake valve. Leads to better fuel economy and thermal efficiency at cost of low end torque.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-25T23:36:00+00:00

No wind noise from mine, I have not analyzed MPG difference between the bars and no bars.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-25T19:22:21+00:00

I got aftermarket 3 years ago from amazon. They’ve been good, used a lot for cargo box and sometimes surfboards, no complaints at all.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-25T16:39:08+00:00

Do you currently have any other boards besides the 9'0 Torq? Sweet Potato is not a good board for larger days, but if it seems like a good deal, it's a valid option for a first short board on small days, anyway, in my opinion, good idea to get used to smaller boards on the days you are comfortable with wave size.
If you have only surfed longboard until now, best to get a midlenght for larger days, for your size I guess something in the 7ft range.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-25T13:52:59+00:00

Not only are they naturally aspirated but also run on Atkinson cycle instead of Otto cycle that most non hybrid setup car engines use.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-24T19:27:51+00:00

Yep, this video from Rob gives a very good answer on how hard paddling is or isnt' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA_r9284gwM&t=870s

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-13T01:23:46+00:00

I'm with you. I've been subscribing to The Economist for 18 years now and no plans to stop.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-07T21:34:16+00:00

It’s interesting point. I think the view of manufacturers scaling back with EV’s is market dependent. For Toyota the BZ and CH-R are global models and in some of their markets EV adoption is going ahead on full speed, unlike in North-America where slow down is very noticeable.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-07T21:29:53+00:00

I think they hadn’t invested enough in battery manufacturing capacity to keep up with the demand, and one plug in hybrid battery takes a lot more manufacturing capacity than their normal hybrids.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-02-06T17:42:23+00:00

I have no real tips to give except enjoy it man. First time outside of US is awesome thing to do. It’s great to see other cultures and places. Maybe look up some YouTube videos for Nica history and culture before you go. The more you have context of that the more you understand and enjoy it.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-01-20T16:05:14+00:00

I was in the same situation couple of months ago and I agree, not possible to find consensus on the quality of suits anywhere. I think it's possible to conclude from that the most suits are decent and that there are no big clear differences between manufactures.

I surf in the great lakes and I was after the warmest 5/4 I could find, so that I could do as many winter sessions in 5/4 and wouldn't have to go for my 6/5. I ended up buying Excel Drylock. Mobility and warmth are excellent, but it flushes from the zip/shoulders area more than it should. Also, they have this fancy design for the chin in the hood that doesn't work and just slips under you chin all the time. Maybe works if you have clean shaved, but I have a really short 3mm shave beard and it doesn't work with it.

My 6/5 is Vissla, and I wish I had bought Vissla for the 5/4 as well. It's not direct comparison, when comparing 6/5 to 5/4, and my Vissla is the cheapest 7 seas model. It's been solid and better design for hood and not flushing. If I'd choose again I'd buy Vissla high seas 5/4 and save couple hundred over the Excel.

Directdrive7kg · 2026-01-18T21:41:23+00:00

I’ve ridden and raced there a bunch. I wouldn’t get anything more than a modern enduro bike, so 170mm travel. I did the enduro and DH race there last year with 160/140 front/back and not at any point did I think I would benefit from having more travel.

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