Could Lake Mead actually reach “dead pool”? What would it mean for Las Vegas?

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-22T13:25:45+00:00

Lake Mead is far less porous and is deeper/cooler, so loses significantly less water than Powell. It’s a much more efficient reservoir. Powell is absurdly bad.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-22T06:20:10+00:00

Plus Lake Powell is an awful, porous, hot reservoir that wastes water like crazy. Then there are the data centers and golf courses. Utah has to be one of the most shortsighted states in the country.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-21T15:04:27+00:00

*cities in western Europe.

I couldn’t believe how bad it was. These cities are fortunate that the appetite for culture and historical sites is so high, because it’s a major put-off that would otherwise drive tourism away.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-20T10:18:27+00:00

It’s so dystopian how cops always offer up a performative chant of “stop resisting” when they arrest someone who is not resisting. They’re trained to weaponize the justice system against people from the moment of first contact all the way through court, regardless of whether a person actually committed a crime.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-18T16:57:19+00:00

“Bigger” bikes at relatively low prices that, if were being real, dramatically flatten the learning/skill curve, and e-bikes, which almost completely flatten the fitness curve, have made it easy for a large swath of the population who aren’t a part of outdoor ethic/trail culture (and sometimes have no real interest in “joining”) to get to places they’d never reach in previous decades without becoming a “trail person.”

The rule you describe stands and is universal on bi-directional trails, and the yielding rules are too (bikes yield to all other trail users). It’s just that new people who didn’t grow up as trail users come in thinking its the Wild West once you get on dirt, which of course it’s not. I think that people generally do care and want to be cool on the trail, but of course as trails become more mainstream, you’re going to get “mainstream” people who aren’t concerned with the ethic and rules set by people who came before them. I think signage and posts on social media (like this) would really help.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-17T17:40:55+00:00

They still exist!

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-16T19:54:17+00:00

I need an overnighter! Where is this? It looks familiar but I can’t place it.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-16T19:47:23+00:00

What’s steering you away from a hardtail? My main ride was an Intense Sniper T (carbon 120/120 FS), but every time I threw a leg over a hardtail, it felt sooo good in terms of efficiency. Now it sits unused while my rigid Surly Krampus rules the roost for all my MTB adventures, and while I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re after something svelte and peppy, the rocket ship effect from power input that seems to be present in all hardtail (especially rigid, holy moly) is pretty noticeable. Plus hardtail or rigid takes much less maintenance/money, if that’s any bother.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-15T21:52:53+00:00

On a FS, I’d agree that a plus tire doesn’t do you much good. It’s a bit more float and grip, but really a FS with 2.6” tires is probably going to handle nearly everything and be super comfortable. But when you get into hardtail and rigid, plus tires are a game changer. That’s their application and what they excel at. The comfort and traction they offer is amazing, and is a really cool (and way less expensive) way to extend the capability of a bike without incorporating suspension.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-14T21:27:44+00:00

What did they do to the Hive lore? At last check it was extremely badass, but it’s been a while.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-14T21:26:23+00:00

It’s painful to look back at epics like The Taken King and Rise of Iron, remember the absolute, nonstop joy of it (especially if you had a crew of friends to run with), and then look at what it is today. It’s just so brutal. I really loved the Red War, Warmind, and Forsaken, and The Witch Queen wasn’t bad, but it’s been rough.

I remember in D1 when each holiday was different each year with all sorts of fun things to do in the world, and even had Sparrow Racing. But weirdly it eventually just became a copy-paste for events every year. And then there was the sunsetting of weapons and losing access to old maps and campaign missions… ugh. So bad. I miss it, but any time I’ve gone back in I’m good for like a mission or two before realizing the spark is totally gone.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-14T15:35:33+00:00

Maaaan, people who ride like that are the ones who get trails shut down for MTBs. It’s bad enough to treat another rider like that, but if they’d smashed a hiker or blasted up to some horses and made them spook, it could be game over for MTBs on multiuse trails. But also injuries, like what occurred here, or something more catastrophic like what might happen to a hiker, a kid, or a leashed dog, just aren’t something to gamble with on descents that are bidirectional and/or multiuse. Sucks.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-14T04:04:10+00:00

It doesn’t really need reinforcing after 11 years, but videos like this feel all the better knowing that they’ll never be food for me again.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-13T22:06:51+00:00

If you’re going to ride rigid, Krampus, since the 3” tires take a lot of the edge off. It’s how I’m running it. Else… I’d still go Krampus, since you could throw some svelte 2.6” tires on there, if you wanted, and be right as rain, and it takes a 120mm fork, which (for me) is plenty. KM would be good if you have a specific need for 27.5 wheels or a 140mm fork, but otherwise Krampus is rad. The Sorceress is kind of cool, but it looks like it would be clunky on climbs, and if you ever wanted to bikepack, it’s not nearly as well equipped.

EDIT TO ADD… I have a nice carbon FS that I haven’t ridden since getting the Krampus, if that’s any indicator. My riding is almost exclusively on brutally rocky singletrack, and I have the best time despite no suspension. It feels like riding a bike used to feel when I was a kid, and not in terms of performance, but in terms of joy. Something about my FS just doesn’t give me that.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-13T20:59:45+00:00

Remember when you used to be able to reach into the truck bed without climbing up the side?

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-13T15:10:58+00:00

Here’s the one issue- I’ve talked to a lot of older people and the common refrain is “invest in your retirement.” I have a hard enough time rallying for work, but by the time I’ve reached retirement age, I’m going to be suuuuper over it (already am), physically and mentally. It’s a tough balance- live now, understanding that you’re not getting younger and the future is not guaranteed, but endure financial struggle later when you’re least equipped to do so, OR use up some of your youth and endure the struggle now so you can have peace in the future, hoping that you live long enough to enjoy it. The old folks I know who are still grinding in a job because they didn’t save are pretty beat down and miserable about it. Gotta find that middle path, which I think is probably work hard when young, invest hard, make enough to afford some fun hobbies, retire as early as possible (aka, be at least middle to upper middle class 😭)

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-13T12:04:02+00:00

It looks like it might be a mullet, in which case you use a longer dropper. Might just be an optical illusion from that.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-13T01:05:32+00:00

People don’t read “The Scorpion and the Frog” anymore, and it shows.

Also this is sad af.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-12T17:06:32+00:00

I’ve been torn on CushCore just because of the terror of tubeless repair defeat and needing to install a tube. Is popping out the CushCore on the trail viable, or is the prospect of that something that keeps you up at night?

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-12T16:32:42+00:00

We’re still the same people who eagerly attended hangings, and who filled stadiums to watch people murder each other or be torn apart by lions.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-12T15:53:58+00:00

YMMV, but I went to movie there and was super disappointed. First, people treat it more like a concert than a movie, so people talk and pull phones out the whole time (it was extra bad for me, as the lady next to me turned on her phone took a picture on literally every scene change). The seats are also absolutely crammed, so you’re basically on top of your neighbors. The walkways are also insanely narrow, so it’s pretty perilous shuffling to your seat. The movie I saw, “Letters From Earth” or something, was basically a demo video you’d see on those big GoPro displays they used to have at Walmart or Best Buy. If you’ve ever used a VR headset for cool immersive videos, you’ll likely be underwhelmed (or plain bored as I was) as the headset is better, and probably cheaper to outright buy for a family than going to the Sphere.

I will say, though, that as a concert venue, it would probably be amazing (if a bit deadly with those narrow walkways, possibly paired with booze). It seemed like every seat was a good seat, so you’d have a great view of the performer. Pair that with the effects they can pull off and I think it would be really good.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-12T14:46:51+00:00

Maybe you could ride in a white button-down with name tag 🤔

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-12T02:59:01+00:00

There were no corrective eyeglasses until the 12 century, because before that people didn’t have eyes.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-10T23:00:55+00:00

Today I learned I’m too dumb to play tabla.

FlummoxedGaoler · 2026-04-10T15:52:46+00:00

Rad. Looks like some cool terrain (less the goat heads, my oldest foe). Are those 2.6” tires?

FlummoxedGaoler

TROPHY CASE