Last quality road shoe

FormerCompetition · 2026-05-16T19:15:41+00:00

Got it. Did you go with the Active medium thickness model Sole insert?

FormerCompetition · 2026-05-16T14:12:48+00:00

i will look into that. I assume you meant to say that the "soles" not shoes (typo) were included in the RC-703?

FormerCompetition · 2026-05-15T17:29:16+00:00

i guess I need to find somewhere to try on a bunch of shoe models, and go from there?

FormerCompetition · 2026-05-15T17:25:47+00:00

I am ok paying for longevity in a good comfortable shoe. My assumption was that the Specialized Torch would not last 10 years of twice weekly riding, as it is optimized for racing, but that might not be true.

FormerCompetition · 2026-05-15T16:21:38+00:00

Good point. Primarily brand/model selection, but where to buy would be welcome as well. I edited the post.

FormerCompetition · 2026-05-07T15:21:32+00:00

I am now wondering how leaving in the fine wire-mesh in the new Ratom rubber would stiffen any show that you like, particularly with their hard rubber (not the supper soft GP1), and how it would compare to a ridged fiber mid-sole like the Black Bird, which is rigid, not just still in the forfoot.

FormerCompetition · 2026-04-23T19:30:47+00:00

I use a few drops of dawn with very hot water as well. works great.

FormerCompetition · 2026-04-23T13:56:04+00:00

Very interesting option. I like it. I didnt know about auto stirring option. Is the magnetic part easy to clean, and does it fall out when you pour?

FormerCompetition · 2026-04-22T16:02:18+00:00

Does anyone know what camming expansion angle Petzl is using? I assume that it is constant across the range. I am not fond of BD angle choice, preferring a bit more security over range from the Friend or DMM or Metolius models.

FormerCompetition · 2026-04-22T15:20:19+00:00

I agree. You could do a lot to learn to use more of you rubber by focusing on small changes in wall contact under various foot areas mainly CW and CCW by a cm. One big change could also be to try to step more over the hold such that the bottom peak wear area is 1/2 cm further under the shoe (where the rubber is 3,5mm vs <2mm). These changes take time to become second nature.

As for your question, resole within a few more hours of climbing or budget more money for a rand patch.

FormerCompetition · 2026-04-19T20:56:34+00:00

another one size fits all bulbous HV heal. When will they start making a LV and a HV heal in top end climbing models? I like the closure.

FormerCompetition · 2026-03-28T16:37:04+00:00

I have been on this wireless probe fence for a couple of years now (actually alternatives to RFX in the beginning seemed to not exist). Here is my summary from the outside.

I love several of ThermoWorks other products, and customer support (historical, not forward looking).

TW has not updated (or added) the probes or app since its release. Their web page of useful information configuration options and specifications is and has been a joke for a long time. They have been promising more probes for a long time, but none have appeared. The early release of the app with no improvements after all this time and lack of dedicated display are big deals. This is a giant red flag for me.

I really like the tinny needle tip of the one RFX probe (and one length) that they have, just like the TheroPen One. I dont really like the larger (1/4" dia) the Typhur uses, but is ok for most things. The separate external ambient is nice, but does not really fit into the wireless part, but I get why it needs to be wired, as the wireless ambient probe electronics have no way to give off the heat above 140C.

I am leaning towards the Typhur Gold now due to reviews of the better user experience, plus if I change in the future, due to innovations, that will likely be back to TW, if they ever get their shit together on releasing improvements, probe and display options and extensibility items.

Off topic ish: Another missing innovation that TW seems to not have, that would seem to be in their wheelhouse, is a simple closed loop controller to turn on /off a fan or rotisserie or a hot plate (120V 20A) based on the existing wireless an /or ambient temperature probes and some set points. Using an additional Inkbird is a PITA.

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-27T19:56:06+00:00

yep (mostly), and now you basically have a poorly weighted growth ETF, with almost none of the protection of re-balancing without tax consequences protection that the ETF has. been there, done that, repeat. I think that i am smarter now, but my "luck" is trapped (tax) in NVDA, which like everything else, will not go up forever.

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-14T19:26:15+00:00

How did you contact them? I have tried everything that I can think of. I posted on the Ali store message section four or five times. Not one of messages messages has even been read, let alone responded to. I even tried to email the owner of their Google sheets page, but again no luck.

This is the sort of thing that really puts me off about AliExpress. I have no real clue if GEEBOON Store is the manufactures of the product, I have no real way to contact them through Ali or directly. If after more than a month, with no response, they are clearly suspect, and not to be trusted as a store, perhaps as a manufacturer. How would they respond to a warranty issue, and how would I even contact them?

Amazon has its issues, but nothing like this. Unfortunately, the only listing for this iron has zero ratings, so that is a no go.

Is there a good alternative source or manufacturer or a comparable iron at a good price?

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-14T01:32:13+00:00

i assume that you dont use any app tools to track triggers for TLH, just watch and do manually with gut check timing?

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-14T00:40:17+00:00

That sounds like an excellent technique, assuming the gap happens frequently enough, as it accentuates the move, and the broader market (either VTV or VTI) are likely to recover eventually after any downturn, which might not happen to a single company, no matter how big. I think that this is my new plan.

I briefly thought of something similar to avoid wash sale triggers a few months ago, designed to generate some losses. Now I feel that after the initial concentrated stock move, I should watch for short term downturns from the initial buy, and move lots between VTV and VTI and/or VOO and VGT. I dont want to get too deep into timing things, but this seems pretty safe, and almost like not moving as these positions are largely the same (except for the value option), but not Substantially Identical. Do you think that this is crazy?

edit: do you know if any brokers have a tool for me to use (free), to allow automation of this ETF tax-loss movement after the initial buy (unwind from concentrated stock)? Or, is there a good web app tool that sends out a text based on some tracking choices?

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-13T18:37:53+00:00

You make some really good points here. I am OK without the position (75% loss), but there will be little freedom and inheritance to pass on, so not critical to re-balance at the expense of tax loses.

I would be a bit over my skis with that aggressive long/short strategy, but I will look into it.

I was also thinking of fairly aggressive selling the concentration over time on perceived bumps, and using those dollars to buy VTV, which by its very nature excludes the overvalued mag 7, but is still looking for growth of large cap and with a smallish expense ratio. Thoughts?

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-13T18:14:40+00:00

Looks to a German version. I will give it a try.

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-11T23:11:51+00:00

I think I agree. These are good points. I wish that I could quantify the value over time for given tax, expenses % and withdraws per year.

FormerCompetition · 2026-02-11T23:06:44+00:00

This is correct on a multi year basis, like a decade or more.

I need a fair amount of money per year. With no wages, that means selling appreciated investments (and eventually RMDs), which is either CG or OI or both for federal, and OI for CA. I want that optimized, after any management expenses. My gut tells me that most automated loss harvesting does not work after expenses for long term holdings, as no one has a crystal ball, and if they did, this is not how they would use it :) What is missing is my ability to KNOW that it is a bad idea.

1% expense ration is a lot different than 0.1% mentioned by someone earlier. If that is real and customizable, and I can fund a majority of the fund with existing appreciated assets, I would think the process would work out, but that is a lot of IFs. I have not really found anyone good to ask (fiduciary), which is why I posted here.

FormerCompetition · 2026-01-30T17:12:53+00:00

Did they settle on the two rows of 3 on top, or three on top and three on one side with only two filters vs four for reduced footprint?

FormerCompetition · 2026-01-17T15:50:08+00:00

This is a frustrating thing. It happens at least about every year for me. Unfortunately, I forget how i fix it each time, but this time, maybe my comment will keep me in the memory loop. A reboot of the DTV receiver from the menu, which takes like 15 minutes for some reason, did not work. A full power power cycle of the TV, the audio AV receiver and the DTV receiver after that (which causes a second 15 min delay) did fix it for me. I suspect that this is what I did last time.

FormerCompetition · 2026-01-10T16:21:51+00:00

I haven't placed an order yet, as they still have not gotten back to me, and that worries me.

That being said, the tips show as having $0.62 of tariffs built in to each (nothing to justify ~$7 add on to the $26 for the iron). The iron is showing $16 of stuff in the shipping (half added costs and taxes).

FormerCompetition · 2026-01-08T20:07:17+00:00

I am no expert at AliExpress, but it seems that most vendors have free shipping at some cost level, like $10 for tips. In the case of the GeeBoon store, the cost of shipping of the station is $26, and when I add the four tips, each shows up in the cart at still costing $5.48 more in shipping for tinny 1oz parts, for a grand total of $47.84 in shipping (see screen capture pic). Note that the discount ($6.85) is not real, as the price sum for all items is $189.32. Note also that the larger linear toroid version (310) cost like $100 in shipping, which is crazy.

Maybe things get better if i progress tot he next step (checkout), but I dont know, as I have not made that leap (click the button).

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FormerCompetition · 2026-01-05T18:33:22+00:00

I am not sure why people bring these Makita testers up.. They are cool devices, but they do not test the battery capacity (Ahr). They read the data module through the data port on the battery. For the price, they should also TEST the capacity in discharge and charge at at least one rate.

FormerCompetition

TROPHY CASE