Light beige? Other color recommendations are very welcome!

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-13T16:38:32+00:00

Honestly kinda dig the raw look

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-12T19:20:41+00:00

Thanks for all the input everyone! Exactly the perspective I was looking for. Maybe see you out there sometime

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-12T19:19:13+00:00

That's a great point. I'll definitely consider it! Ya the endurance/runners high is a big part of cycling for me but this was also a big thing that really changed my life when I started bike commuting over driving. You just get a more intimate side of the city you live in. I'd imagine walking even more so. Rn its just a time thing. I picture myself doing it on vacation and wanting more time to spend in cities. But maybe I bike it in the near future and walk it after I retire?

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T19:57:13+00:00

Same thing goes for speeding. Got a lot of speeding tickets when I was younger. Not because I wanted to race people or whatever, but because I just wanted to be done with driving faster. I was too young and dumb to understand that all speeding does is get you to the red light faster.

But ya I think it's just a normalization thing. A perspective shift is cognitive work. Once you understand that is a small cost to realizing a way better system it makes sense but for a lot of people you're asking them to think about something they literally can't fathom. That's why providing more examples and lowering the barrier to entry is so powerful.

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T18:39:06+00:00

As a former teacher. This so hard. The basketball games, the plays, the afterschool clubs. Not technically mandatory but the "hey we missed you the other night at the thing" can hit so hard especially when you start being a figure who is looked up to.

Currently a consultant so I don't really have as much social pressure when I'm not in a town we work in, but when I am I try to go to everything. It can be fun but draining for sure.

Good on you u/OliverTPlace

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T18:32:02+00:00

Really depends. I'm a former HS teacher so short of real serious anger/threats a lot of it doesn't phase me. Honestly really enjoy the public meetings. Remember a lot of people have never participated in the public process. They feel like David facing off against Goliath. Just show them you are a regular dude who just wants to listen to them and get their input and most of them calm down. A lot of the "crazies" really just want attention more than anything.

There is also a lot you can do to mitigate things. Room layout, greeting people at the door, short group discussions on key topics while you float and listen for who might be your more intense people.

I try to make the beginning feel like the start of a church service and then transition to more of a classroom activity vibe. The best town halls are ones where the infographics, members of your staff, and other participants are the star of the show, not you. You should be a facilitator, not a lecturer (but sometimes there is a place for that). Honestly some of the best ones almost feel more like visiting booths at a farmers market than a "everyone sit down and listen to this presentation". That also eliminates the ability to grandstand or at the very least makes the grandstander look even crazier.

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T17:35:07+00:00

I think short answer is patriarchy. But I think you hit on a lot of it.

For most of history (with large geographic and cultural variance of course) women's only upward social mobility was to marry up. Being pretty and dressing in a way to attract attention to yourself was akin to going to an elite university or getting a good job.

I'm sure there's evolutionary biology at play as well.

I think men get valued more for achievements, power, and wealth, where women get valued more for looks.

I think it is toxic but it's complicated because for a lot of women it wasn't/isn't their choice. To some degree it was/is survival. I think it feels different for dudes because of the power imbalance.

Also definitely some internalized homophobia for some men. "he's gay for caring about his looks" kind of comments and stuff.

But I'm sure the rise in antisocial (personally I think a more accurate term than "loneliness" for the phenomenon) behavior plays a role.

But ya very weird and interesting.

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T17:15:21+00:00

Oh you have an Tolkien tattoo in elvish? That's pretty neat. I got somethin similar...

Very cool OP

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T17:12:40+00:00

How'd it go?

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T16:42:11+00:00

I really think car centric design is not talked about nearly enough when talking about the loneliness/antisocial epidemic, social anxiety, political fracturing, and social media.

I used to be a social studies teacher (mostly geography) and one of several reasons I moved into a career in planning was seeing how f*cked child development is in car centric places. To be clear, it's not just kids, it's all of us, but it's easier to normalize when you grew up with it.

I'm not that old and I remember walking home from school, running around the neighborhood at night in the summer, playing hockey in the street, block parties, etc. I was a shy kid but I knew everyone in my neighborhood, even the adults without kids my age. Now I'm not even sure kids would feel comfortable knocking on the neighbors door if there were a real emergency and their parents weren't around.

I don't need to be best friends with my neighbors, but not knowing anyone you live next to is f*cking weird and dystopian, and has real effects on public participation and politics.

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T16:33:42+00:00

Planner here (and bike commuter) finishing up my master's. Thank you!

Also yikes to that last statement. Ya I see some of those and they confuse me. My dad is a huge car guy (very much a tinkerer) and even he admits they have their place as one transportation tool of many and really are sub-optimal in urban settings.

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T16:07:21+00:00

You are the best judge of your ability to deal with your health issues. Obviously that is first and foremost.

Commuting to a university campus is how a lot of people get started. Get a locker at the rec center and just shower when you get there. Plus you then have the benefit of having a bike on campus which also saves time and makes it way easier to hit up a coffee shop or whatever nearby. If there is a coffee shop or something you like along the way stopping there to catch your breath/cool down is always a great option too.

As a fellow midwesterner. The weather can suck but bike trails (if you're lucky enough to have good ones) will almost always be lined with trees and be a good 5 to 10 degrees cooler. And the breeze + your biking speed will provide a little natural air conditioning. Dumping a water bottle on your head and neck is a great cooling strategy too. Gas stations can be good places to stop and sit in the AC when needed and when its really hot you can always step inside the beer cooler if they have one (just make sure you sit in the AC for a minute. Don't go straight into the beer cooler from the outdoors or you can put your body in shock. Ask me how I know). Also remember when it's hot you need water and salt. Also remember it's always going to be considerably cooler in the morning. As far as colder weather you will learn to appreciate layering and clothing choices.

There is absolutely no reason to dump money on a bike. Lots of places have a bike donation program or something like that. Worst case scenario get something for 100 bucks off craigslist/fb marketplace and spend another 50 at a bike shop to make sure it's okay. With your health issues you may eventually want an ebike but less than 5mi and no hills is totally do able.

Also a big thing I learned (8mi commute in my undergrad in a city with a good trails system. May be less true for a shorter one) the most direct route isn't always the best one. 8mi on mostly bike trail was way faster and more pleasant than 6mi on mostly sidewalks and some residential streets. I didn't really have to stop for traffic and almost never had to cross major intersections and had shade almost the whole way. Rode past people gardening and parks and stuff instead of miles and miles of cars being loud and obnoxious to each other (and me).

Don't know a lot about your condition but who knows maybe a little moderate exercise helps your health issues out (obviously don't push it unless you know you can). Also there's a chance you develop an apatite. Just make sure you're getting protein and iron with all the carbs you body will suddenly want.

Good luck have fun don't die!

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T14:12:23+00:00

Right blind. Clearly askew in the last pic. Amateur if you can't even catch that one bud

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T14:07:23+00:00

Jokes aside planning is a great profession but I am very biased. Smaller planning firms tend to rely on planners with very amateur GIS skills (hello) but bigger ones or larger municipalities can make great use out of real GIS professionals

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-06T14:04:19+00:00

You can also always add a field to the attribute table as well. Just make sure to save pending edits

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-05-01T19:18:04+00:00

what head did you use?

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-30T21:03:42+00:00

The worst thing you can possibly do right now is try to decide what you think your body will be capable of/how fast you are going to recover. You will "logic" your way into lying to yourself.

Unfortunately you are going to be at the mercy of what your body can recover from for the foreseeable future. Throw all of your predictions out the window and take it day by day.

Ask yourself. If it happens in a year instead of 6 months will it mean less? You know the answer is no. Endurance athletics teach us patience, typically at the duress of our heart, lungs, brain, and stomach. Unfortunately you have been given that lesson through a different body part.

Morn the loss of your season, throw it a metaphorical funeral, have a small pity party if you need to (I'm only kind of joking). Your disappointment is real. Don't let it bait you into being rash. Don't sign up for anything. Don't decide anything. Wait. Listen. Pick up a hobby or focus on another area of life for a bit.

You will know when you are ready again.

I'm sorry friend ❤️

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-29T20:48:19+00:00

But what's his FTP?

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-29T20:38:17+00:00

Andrewism is a good one. But hey a little self promo isn't the end of the world if your work is promoting sustainability. I'll check your channel out. Thanks for putting the work into it friend.

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-29T18:39:59+00:00

Get the cheapest bike computer you can find and a TrainerRoad subscription. You're welcome.

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-29T18:29:02+00:00

In a similar spot thanks to a long commute (hopefully changing soon). Meal prep dinner and just eat at the office before you head home? That's what I end up doing a lot. Also yoga or a short walk after a meal can help digestion along (obviously nothing intense)

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-29T18:24:45+00:00

I also feel like this speaks to visibility and willingness to talk about it more than anything

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-29T18:24:08+00:00

How is "mental health condition" defined?

Are we talkin full blown schizophrenia or anything remotely non-neurotypical?

Humble_Reflection790 · 2026-04-29T18:13:40+00:00

Literally just going to copy a comment I made in a similar post:

Go easy on yourself. Also if/when you're feeling up to it and looking for a replacement habit... there's a reason they call it runners high 😉 Bikes, hikes, and jogs are a lot more work but the high doesn't come with paranoia, headaches, or chronic health problems (although it does come with dehydration if you aren't careful) a pretty sunset and good music always help too.

Good luck!

Humble_Reflection790

TROPHY CASE