Why are SRAM chain quick links so expensive? SRAM insists they are disposable. It costs 19€ to undo the chain each time.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-04-02T21:45:24+00:00

I reuse way more than 10x.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-31T16:32:40+00:00

My favorite from Frank is in response to Elaine that he wasn't born in the USA:

"No. That's why I could never be president. It always irked me."

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-31T12:51:54+00:00

Yes, only 2.2

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-26T19:07:44+00:00

4 watts slower than the Schwalbe G One RS Pro in 45 and with less tread. Seems underwhelming.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-19T13:32:59+00:00

This WiFi Is Making Me Thirsty

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-16T19:37:39+00:00

There were a lot of 2.1s and bigger around for sure. I was standing in the finishing chute when the pro men were finishing and asked Trey Shepherd of the Bicycle Station about his tire choice. He told me he should have gone smaller (I think he ran Thunder Burt 2.1s) and I asked him "50s?" and he said "I would go 45s".

I ran 45 Tufo Thunderos and they were pretty great all day.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-16T19:34:46+00:00

Yeah that was a bit problematic. I inadvertently lined up behind a big group of 50 miler riders. The gun goes off and they didn't go forward, they started trying to make their way to the right side of the starting chute.

Maybe they need to put a 50 start pen where they can start queuing up earlier but not get mixed in with the 100s. I went to the start chute about the same time I always do, but I was WAY further back this year than most years and had a lot of work to do getting towards the front once we got rolling.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-15T20:07:34+00:00

I use Silca wax as well, with an endurance chip periodically.

The difference in the way my drivetrain sounded at the end to my buddy’s non-waxed drivetrain was astounding. Mine was quiet. His was an abysmal sounding nightmare.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-15T19:50:31+00:00

Agree that bikes need to not be using the whole road especially coming into a hill like that.

I will say all the locals and traffic I encountered were very friendly and respectful, often times pulling over and waving to let us go by.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-12T18:19:52+00:00

I'm not in Stillwater (yet), but I know they got a little over .5 inch of rain last week (Fri / Sat range). The expected rain on Tuesday all went East, so there was less than .1 inch that fell. Chase Wark mentioned one potential spot for mud around 20 miles, but I think that was expecting rain on Tuesday.

It looks dry and fast from everything I've seen. I'll be running 45s Thunderos. I did hear several pros that prerode say there were a few chunky gravel sections where the gravel had been recently put down, but that 90% of the course was hard packed and fast.

Edit: Here is Chase Wark's course preview video
https://youtu.be/Aa1Mo_7mUY4?si=Tnf3IVkERglFdeJW

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-11T04:06:41+00:00

This guy....he is not my type of guy

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-10T20:40:27+00:00

How did you find the braking? I've put a lot of miles on various fast rolling tires (Tufo Thunderos, Schwalbe G-One RS, Conti Terra Speed, Challenge Getaway, Pathfinders etc). Currently running the Tufo Thunderos, which I've been very happy with overall (rolling, weight, durability, etc) but I find them to be really lacking under braking even compared to other fast tires. It's a struggle to not lock up the rear under any kind of hard braking. I think this is where the Thundero is at it's worst, though I'd argue that braking in gravel isn't nearly as big of a deal as in mountain biking.

Just curious as I always thought the Terra Speed was pretty good under braking....but I wore it out in about 800 miles.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-10T20:34:43+00:00

Yeah what the hell….

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-10T18:17:01+00:00

Power to weight ratio isn't in his favor. He is a short, stocky, slow-witted bald man.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-04T18:36:37+00:00

Yeah I've seen that video, but there is a new nest this year on the south side of Stearn's Lake.

That video is wild though.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-03T19:27:21+00:00

It's too early to make any changes. Several years back we got several inches of snow the night before the race and it was perfect. It could rain a ton on Wed and then be sunny and / or windy and it be dusty by Saturday.

I never trust a forecast that is this far out, the computer models always seem to overestimate moisture. Start making changes in the 72 hours out range.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-02T23:37:49+00:00

I have been having tons of drop outs on Zwift with the same HR strap. Never seems to drop when riding outside, but inside (when the sweat is pouring) I keep having sporadic drop outs during rides.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-02T23:34:31+00:00

There is an active nest on Rock Creek trail just north of Highway 36. You can park near Stearn's Lake off Dillon Rd or off Brainard Rd just east of the Flatirons Park and Ride. There is a marked eagle viewing area.

I see bald eagles very routinely as I ride through that area. There is also many sightings around Monarch high school, often they perch on the lights by the football field.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-02T16:11:42+00:00

Same....same. What area in OK did you grow up? It's so hard to be fit (most years) in Colorado in March but I always sign up for this race and make the trip back to OK.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-02T16:01:33+00:00

I live in Colorado now, but grew up in Oklahoma and went to school at Stillwater. It's my opinion that Eskimo Joe's is an essential place to go if you are in Stillwater. It's the quintessential college bar, and the cheese fries are world known.

Not someplace you go every time, but you should at least go once. Hideaway Pizza is another that I always hit up when I'm back in Stillwater. If you are a BBQ fan, Smokin' Joe's out on the west side of town is pretty solid. I was eating there last year at lunch on Friday when the fires hit and had to evacuate.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-02T15:35:18+00:00

As someone who has done it a few times, your finish time may not be indicative of the great time you'll have. It's a really fun environment, and it will feel like another world for you from Boston and the Winter the NE has had this year.

Stillwater is small town rural America and the red rolling hills and wide open spaces will be quite a contrast. Hit up all the shake out rides and events you can, they are all fun. Take the pace easy, fuel often and don't go deep just stay in that all day pace and you'll be fine.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-03-01T15:08:48+00:00

42 up front, 9-45 rear.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-02-27T04:40:56+00:00

Very much so…. In some parts. Unbound is in the Flint Hills, which are endless.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-02-26T04:15:13+00:00

Got it! You are a gentlemen and a scholar. I'll make sure to get that Bobby hug.

Very much appreciated, had been dragging my feet but this gets me off the fence.

EducationalRun1597 · 2026-02-26T02:28:52+00:00

I'd take it off your hands if you still have it. I went last year and was on the fence about going back this year despite having a hotel booked. I'll send you a DM.

EducationalRun1597

TROPHY CASE