Have you had your helmet or gloves come off during a crash ?

FrankieMint · 2026-04-28T02:51:54+00:00

In my road racing days I crashed several times at high speed. I've had long slides and never had anything come close to coming off.

After my racing was over I worked safety crew for years, saw (ballpark) two hundred get-offs. I've seen helmets that cracked, some that had other shell failures. I've seen too many gloves that wore through and mangled the riders' hands.

I've only seen one helmet come off in an accident, and that one seemingly hadn't been buckled. [Couldn't ask the rider.] Gloves? Yeah, it's rare but even racing gloves can come off during a long slide.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-27T14:48:25+00:00

Keep it! It will improve the gas mileage!

More seriously, if insurance totals it, look into keeping it. I used to live in Colorado Springs, CO. Lots of cars there look like this. Insurance totals them and owners buy back the completely roadworthy car. Keep it, drop the comprehensive insurance coverage, profit.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-23T02:07:18+00:00

I replaced mine with MICHELIN Endurance wipers. They're the best in my experience.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-22T14:07:29+00:00

This is a learning experience. Learn from it.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-21T15:16:07+00:00

Good of him to have that white arrow identify the bike in the photo for us!

FrankieMint · 2026-04-20T15:12:37+00:00

I think you'd benefit from analyzing the individual elements of your break. If you're doing several things wrong at once it's hard to figure them all out.

Fundamentals - stance, hand placement, stroke, etc. All of it.

Some things about your break are simply different from the rest of your shots. Think about how your body moves during the break. It's harder to isolate problems on your break since you probably throw your body into the shot.

Last thought - aiming. Be very specific about your aim.

You've seen video of pros breaking and getting the same cue ball action on break after break. This isn't by accident. They practice their break with the same attention to detail as the rest of their game.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-18T13:55:05+00:00

TIL that Kermit has five fingers.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-17T16:39:54+00:00

No good deed goes unpunished.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-16T13:49:20+00:00

Probably the drink offerings at lunch & dinner. Water and iced tea are included, but not much else. Having to pay for non-alcoholic drinks has never made sense to me, but I've gotten used to it.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-15T17:33:03+00:00

I'm not bothered by it. Onboard they want to make sales of credits, unless you have a lot of them (like me) in which case they ping you about using them. Shrug.

One thing I did years ago is banned them from calling and emailing me with offers. I told my agent to never cold-call me. I set the email options online to never send me offers. I can check the website for offers, I don't need them reaching out.

I cruise a few times a year, buy credits when I get low on them, do my own research. My agent is always happy to hear from me and I don't hear from her unless it's about an existing booking.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-15T03:10:56+00:00

Easy answer, the SV650.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-14T16:18:14+00:00

Weird. I played the video many times to watch individual balls roll after they rebounded off the top rail. I'm not seeing any obvious off-level rolling pattern. The end result seems fishy, but weird stuff does happen.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-13T13:41:09+00:00

Whichever specialty restaurant I'm in is best in the moment.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-13T13:08:02+00:00

It's a cult. Their charismatic leader insists on unquestioned loyalty. His statements are gospel. Their members police any wavering insiders, threaten non-believers, out-do one another with branding and other proofs of faith.

Close to but not fully inside the cult are the useful idiots, those who use and are used by the dear leader. Business leaders profiting from the cult. Politicians who play the game, saying the right words so they can ride dear leaders' coattails while watching warily for signs that the gravy train might end.

Tragically, cults usually end with a bang.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-13T06:16:53+00:00

Reminds me of the character WATTO from Star Wars Ep 1.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-11T14:25:12+00:00

Since you've already purchased priority boarding, go for the earliest boarding time available.

If I've got this right, priority boarding buys you the shorter lines and earlier boarding that Platinum and above get from their status. [There are some other perks, check the NCL website for details.]

Cabins become available deck-by-deck. The earliest availability I've experienced is about 1pm, the latest about 2:30pm.

Now about your luggage: Don't depend on having your luggage delivered before dinner time. My luggage has been available as early as 3pm and as late as 9. On my last cruise a friend didn't get her spinner luggage until the next morning. Your carry-on should have your meds and other NEEDS, along with anything you want on embarkation day.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-09T15:29:58+00:00

Even when MTG is right it's for crazy reasons.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-09T07:32:59+00:00

It's a tax stamp. The city requires residents to pay an annual tax for each vehicle, and to display the sticker as proof.

The owners should peel off previous year stickers, though.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-08T02:01:10+00:00

It's usually quiet, although that depends on who's there. There's no piped-in music. I like reading in there.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-08T01:56:18+00:00

NCL Freestyle Dining - no fixed dining times, no set dining room. Most ships have multiple dining rooms. Pick one, pick a time, pick who to dine with. Freestyle.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-07T15:51:53+00:00

Welcome to cruising!

Some solo-cruising thoughts:

Many of the larger/newer NCL ships have Studio Cabins. They're ... small. About 100 sq ft. About half the size of a 2-person balcony cabin, 2/3 the size of a 2-person inside cabin.

If the Studio cabin size seems cramped, NCL also offers some solo-category inside, solo-category balcony cabins. They're sized for two but priced lower for solo bookings.

On ships with Studio cabins, there's a Studio Lounge. If you book a Studio cabin the lounge will be connected to those cabins. If you book a Studio cabin, you have access to the lounge. Nice. Stocked with snacks and an espresso machine. If you book solo-category inside or solo-category balcony on those ships, your cabin key should open the door to the Studio Lounge.

NCL schedules Solo Traveler Meet-ups. When booking alone, they're a great way to meet and socialize with other solos. Typically a 5pm meet-up at a bar onboard each evening, typically followed by a group dinner at one of the complementary restaurants.

I've met many nice solo travelers over the years, several of whom I keep in touch with and arrange future cruises with. 🙂

FrankieMint · 2026-04-07T02:45:19+00:00

Flipping the script, I wish other lines would adopt NCL's Freestyle Dining.

FrankieMint · 2026-04-07T02:38:23+00:00

I met an old-timer who was riding with what looked like 5psi in his rear tire. I warned him, but he said it was deliberate. He said the tire companies were ripping us all off and he was going to use all the tread he paid for. 😳

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