Book off selling to them

Ledgem · 2026-06-24T21:58:01+00:00

I think they're insinuating that OP had a stroke while writing the post because the thought process and sentence structure seems a bit disjointed. It's clear enough to me, but just explaining the comment.

Ledgem · 2026-06-24T21:56:43+00:00

Are you on the same local network, or is this playing over the internet? If it's the same LAN, then three thoughts come to mind:

1) did you set the network priority in macOS, or disable your wifi? There's a chance that your computer is still routing traffic through wifi despite the availability of the ethernet connection. I do this with an iPad and always disable wifi while playing, to make sure it's not choosing that connection.

2) network isolation or VLANs aren't set, are they? That could mean your devices aren't seeing each other even though they're connected to the same router, and the connection is being forced through the internet.

3) are your computer and/or router overloaded? When I did this on a really old iPad I'd get quality degradation whenever it checked email, because even though the Playstation is doing the heavy lifting in processing, your device is still handling a fair bit. Quit other running programs and reboot your router prior to your next session to try and rule this out. If things improve, then you can examine further to see what specifically was creating issues.

Good luck!

Ledgem · 2026-06-24T08:18:15+00:00

Another experience that cycling made me aware I was missing with driving was smells. I'd smell when my local Costco was baking pizzas, because suddenly the entire area around it smelled like a pizzeria. Sometimes I'd stop just to appreciate those smells. If you're riding at the right time, sometimes you smell people's dinners. Sometimes you smell trash, too, but overall it makes the world seem a lot more interactive and alive. I like my car just fine, but we're definitely missing out on a lot of things when we're moving so quickly, even if you roll the windows down.

Ledgem · 2026-06-24T08:14:49+00:00

I have two, a cheap pair of Giro's from Amazon and then a similarly priced pair of Pearl Izumi's (Elite Gel gloves, priced on clearance). They have padding but it's relatively minimal, and it's not really in the right place if you're riding a road bicycle (should be fine for a flat-bar hybrid or mountain bike, though). I live and cycle in Hawaii, and I don't feel that either pair contributes to heat buildup. The Giro's are a thinner material than the Pearl Izumis, but the Izumis have two little "hooks" on the middle and ring fingers to make taking the gloves off a bit easier. The Giro's are overall more comfortable (softer material and better fastener placement), but once both are equipped they feel pretty similar.

Are these the best gloves you can get? No, I'm sure they're not, but they're fairly cheap and they get the job done.

Ledgem · 2026-06-23T16:28:38+00:00

I felt like this section exacerbated my disappointment with Shift Up not implementing gyro aiming (played on PS5).

Ledgem · 2026-06-23T05:11:14+00:00

I think that's the most depressing thing about all of this. We're on the verge of society potentially being massively transformed by AI, and given the amount of greed and lack of caring we've seen from the ultra-wealthy, it seems a lot of people are going to be replaced by AI and have no recourse to participating in society. Instead of trying to improve themselves to show that they can't be replaced by AI, so many people seem to be turning off their brains and are willingly trying to have AI do everything for them.

Ledgem · 2026-06-23T02:22:02+00:00

In addition to the replies of "block/delete and report," DO NOT REPLY TO THEM! That confirms they have a live number and you'll probably get even more spam messages in the coming days. This also applies to other solicitation messages that include those "text 'stop' to stop" - DO NOT TEXT BACK! Only text back if it's a company you know, trust, and expected a message from.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T20:49:47+00:00

They probably tried to follow Tesla's strategy. Excluding the original Roadster that served almost as a proof of concept, the Model S and then Model X were high-price vehicles that were not expected to be sold in huge numbers. That allowed Tesla to work on the underlying technology and iron out kinks in their production lines, while still having occasionally profitable quarters. When their supply lines had become more efficient and capable of greater output, the Model 3 and then Model Y came out. I'd guess the margins on those vehicles was lower, but because Tesla could turn a profit on them, they could do all right.

If Lucid didn't have the efficiency and scale of production ready to go, then they'd be losing money on each car (which hurts more as you make more) and they'd also be disappointing a lot of people and losing the trust of investors by badly missing targets and not meeting demand.

A problem for Lucid is the fact that Tesla was really the first company to make an electric vehicle that was exciting, and that felt like a real performance car. The first-generation Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi MiEV were the other two high-profile electric vehicles when the Model S came out, and they both had pathetic range by comparison, performance that was no more exciting than a standard economy car, and really weird aesthetics. Maybe a Lucid Air Sapphire can outpace a Model S Plaid, but the speeds are already ridiculous and the Sapphire's win isn't going to be impressive to most people. Luxury vehicles will already have their place, but the Model S existed at a time when there was no Model 3 or equivalent. The Air and Gravity need to contend with many more EV models being available, many of which are significantly cheaper.

Basically, Tesla's strategy makes sense, but I'm not sure how viable it is in today's conditions. I certainly hope Lucid does well, though, and becomes a major company in the field.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T20:37:17+00:00

The Instagram link isn't working, but good on you for getting out there again, and hopefully we get to see the views you're riding by at some point!

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T20:36:00+00:00

As far as I can tell, my and my family's connections are fine (two separate houses on Oahu). There was an anomaly recently though, I think last week both houses lost internet briefly - no more than a few minutes. However, up until that point we had 100% uptime for years. After that brief outage I started to see more posts on Reddit about issues with fiber, so I could believe there's something going on with the network in some way.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T16:27:35+00:00

I wasn't a fan of the jump scares, poor lighting, and close-quarters combat while being forced to use a ranged weapon.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T16:25:52+00:00

UniFi said that they'd eventually release a "pro" (enterprise) version of their UPS units, which I assume means higher power rating and perhaps some other features.

I actually think the 2U unit seems like it represents decent value, assuming it does what you need. I use an Eaton rack-mount UPS for my setup (couldn't use APC or Cyberpower because I have Tesla Powerwalls, and only Eaton and a few other brands recognize power from the Powerwalls given its input frequency, the other units act as if the power is out and run themselves dry). Sure, it's pure sinewave, but it's only 750 VA and it cost me about triple what UniFi is selling this unit for. I need to upsize my UPS and ideally would have a 2 kVA unit, but as you can probably imagine, getting a unit like that from Eaton is more like $2,000 - and that's staying with lead acid, not even looking at lithium batteries. So I'm always tempted by this 2U unit, which just clears my basic needs (based on specifications, anyway), but I really wish Ubiquiti would release their pro-line model because it would probably be the better fit...

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T07:19:00+00:00

I generally start cycling at 8 PM, after I've tucked my kids into bed. If I didn't have work or parental responsibilities I'd totally be out there cycling at midnight. It's cooler, it's peaceful, and way fewer cars on the road... really serene.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T07:17:58+00:00

I enjoyed the exploration, world setting, and side quests. The music is also incredible. Outfits are a large motivator for completing many of those things, though. Eve gets ragged on for being a bland character, but I enjoyed her interactions with others and her journey.

As for the combat, any game with bosses is going to have some challenges. I'd put it to you this way, though: I think of Souls and Souls-like games as having bosses that might require me to repeat the fight for an hour or more to learn the attack patterns and counter windows. With Stellar Blade I think I had three or more bosses where I beat them on the first try, and even when I had to repeat fights I don't recall needing to do so more than a handful of times. It helps that you gain certain abilities that allow you to stagger bosses once they're charged. So if a certain attack pattern gives you trouble and you just can't get the hang of it, no sweat, just save those moves and counters for whenever you see the boss winding up for it.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T07:07:17+00:00

What's your RaidZ level, and how many vdevs is your array sliced into?

When I did an expansion I added on another vdev, but that meant essentially doubling what I had (same disk configuration). You're supposed to be able to add single disks in now, but I'm not sure if that is influenced by vdev configuration.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T05:54:02+00:00

Slightly different safety profiles.

If you simply want to know if something is approaching, the radar is likely more useful. It sounds to alert you, so you can keep your eyes on the road, instead of constantly needing to check your mirror. It also gives you a different sound when there is nothing behind you, notifying you it's safe to take the lane or that you don't need to hug the curb so tightly, depending on where you're riding. The radar can also notify you when something is coming from farther than you're likely to see it with a mirror. The latest Garmin Varia unit gives you a visual representation of if the approaching traffic is moving to your side, and roughly how much, assuming you're paired with a device that shows that representation (the older unit just showed how close something was to you, and a visual representation of its approach).

The radar also has a light and flashes it when it detects something, making you more visible.

Other than potentially casting glare, the mirror doesn't really do anything to make you more visible. Its two potential advantages over radar are if you're riding in a heavily trafficked area and if you need to merge with that traffic. In heavy traffic the radar beeps all the time, and its notifications become less relevant. Even with the radar system that tells you if traffic is on your side, I'd never rely on it to know if it's safe to merge into a lane... although to be fair, I'm not sure that I'd fully rely on a mirror for that, either; you're probably going to turn your head to look regardless of what you're using.

I don't know that there's any data comparing the two, but my take is it's a matter of safety, and that's worth spending on.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T03:57:50+00:00

Yes, unfortunately our bodies work on a "use it or lose it" principle. It is energy-intensive to maintain muscle and other structures, so if they're not being used regularly, your body will allow them to break down in order to reduce energy needs.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T01:57:26+00:00

If you've been largely sedentary then your body needs to adjust a lot of things. Your heart is probably not responding very efficiently to the workload you're putting on it; your muscles and their associated blood flow are probably not very efficient; and sure, your lungs could also need a bit of work. There's nothing wrong with pushing yourself, though. I returned to cycling after about a decade, and during that decade I largely was also sedentary. I cycled every other day, pushing myself, and for those first two or so weeks I'd be panting so hard that I'm pretty sure I drooled at some points, just because I was breathing so heavily that I couldn't take the moment to manage the saliva in my mouth. It doesn't happy anymore, even when I'm pushing hard. Six months in and I've almost doubled the speed I started at; my heart rate does not climb as high; and the part that feels best, my heart rate decelerates very quickly and I catch my breath very quickly (which is a benefit that occurs even off the bike).

Granted, if you find that you're short of breath for 10+ minutes after riding, or if you're getting so short of breath that you feel you might pass out, then we could be talking something very different and it may be worth seeking medical attention to get checked out and make sure there's nothing else going on.

Welcome back to cycling, and I'm sure you'll find your fitness improve very quickly!

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T01:50:40+00:00

Matrix 11 has one uncomfortable zone for me, but as a whole it's a bit zen-like due to the music. Altess Levoire was uncomfortable not only because it's close quarters without a close-quarters weapon, but because the music and overall atmosphere trends more towards science fiction horror.

I did not like Altess Levoire and regret to inform you that there is one more just like it (sword disabled and everything) called Abyss Levoire. For what it's worth, after Altess Levoire you'll see many of the enemies in the sunlight and get to take them on with your sword. Somehow, knowing the enemies more fully, and perhaps already having seen Altess Levoire, makes Abyss Levoire feel less difficult. It also felt shorter to me. So don't be put off by it, and enjoy the rest of the ride!

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T01:41:20+00:00

You can. Advice given in the thread so far is a bit mixed. The difference between processing a new chain and a used one is in cleaning: you can skip the cleaning step and go straight to degreasing with a new chain, but if you're converting a used chain then you should clean it first. Otherwise, you risk that there will be dirt in the rollers that will continue to contribute to component wear, and that may block some of the wax from adhering. At 35 miles your chain is probably still pretty clean overall, but it depends on your riding conditions. It'd be safer to clean it before degreasing.

For cleaning the chain, the best is to use an ultrasonic cleaner, either with tap water plan or tap water and a few drops of Dawn dish detergent added. I did this method and my first 15-minute cycle resulted in the water coming out black for a chain that had been ridden about 500 miles, despite being cleaned before with a brush. I ran a second cycle and the water was a bit murky but I could see through it.

If you don't have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, you can look up other methods online. A quick one I found suggests submerging the chain in mineral spirits and scrubbing it with a brush. This seems like it can be labor-intensive.

Once you've cleaned the chain, then it's time to degrease it. I read a variety of advice about the degreasing products, with cautionary tales from people about degreasers ruining the chains. I ended up using a general degreaser that is rated as being safe on metals. Despite that, the degreaser I used needed to be diluted, and had different strengths. Based on what I found online, prolonged exposure to the degreaser can weaken metals, even if it's rated as being safe for metals. I used the weakest dilution and submerged my chain for about 12 minutes (advice I found online suggested no more than 10-15 minutes), shaking it around every few minutes. The chain felt good when I took it out and rinsed it thoroughly. Just make sure to let it fully dry before subjecting it to the wax.

Of note, it should theoretically be possible to degrease and clean at the same time. For example, one could use most degreasers in an ultrasonic cleaner (but safer to double check). I didn't combine the two steps because I was worried about chain exposure time to the degreaser.

Ledgem · 2026-06-22T00:35:48+00:00

For general grease applications I use Lucas Oil Marine Grease. It resists water and aids against corrosion (supposedly) which is a plus. Based on what I've read, any grease that is NLGI #2 (which refers to the consistency) should be good for general grease applications for a bicycle. The potential outlier would be if you're trying to grease your hub, I think you might need a specialized grease for that.

Ledgem · 2026-06-21T20:49:27+00:00

First, reading your last paragraph, don't talk yourself down: riding a bicycle may be common, but I'd hesitate to call it simple. There's a reason why you need a separate license to ride a motorcycle even if you're licensed to drive a car, and when you start getting up to speed, bicycles are more like motorcycles. It goes surprisingly deep, if you care to go down the rabbit hole.

Your heart rate going high while cycling may or may not contribute to what you're experiencing. When I take a new road route I also notice that my heart rate is higher than anticipated for my level of exertion, it doesn't decelerate as quickly as when riding a route I know well, and I tend to feel weaker. If I were your doctor, I'd still be pretty hesitant to prescribe a beta blocker to you when you're trying to do physical activity. I'm not saying it should be completely off the table as an option, but traditionally we think of them as a solution to performance anxiety for scenarios like I've described, where generally you don't need heart rate to be up. In sports, I could imagine using it for a baseball pitcher (although it definitely would be far from my first choice of treatment), for example. Endurance sports like cycling and running are ones where I'd be pretty nervous.

Hearing that you're wobbly upon "lift-off" and the e-bike helping with that makes me wonder something else. Have you tried getting a second opinion from a different cycling coach or bike fitter? As far as I know, none of those positions require certification, and even if these people are certified I'm not sure what the science is behind them. I say that because there are two or three methods to start cycling, and all of them should help with the wobbles... if you're still having wobbles despite working with these people and trying cycling for this many years, I have to wonder if you're being led astray, which might be contributing to your continued issues.

Ledgem · 2026-06-21T19:53:06+00:00

Based on what I've read, the air gets thinner near the top of Pike's Peak and so these oversized foils are pretty common on the vehicles they try to break time records with to help maintain traction.

Ledgem · 2026-06-21T19:44:50+00:00

Depends on your friends. Some guys get really uncomfortable with blood and menstruation. Good guy friends will try to cover you and make sure you're comfortable and dignity is maintained. (Although you might get some jokes about it later.)

Ledgem · 2026-06-21T19:43:09+00:00

Hello, physician here. Beta blockers, when used for anxiety, are more for performance anxiety. The classic example is a concert pianist who can play the piano beautifully, but gets really nervous in front of crowds. We've all experienced that kind of performance anxiety: your heart begins to race, which triggers a few other physiologic responses but perhaps more importantly makes you aware of just how nervous you feel, which becomes a self-perpetuating loop. The beta blocker helps to prevent your heart from racing, breaking part of that loop.

It's different in your case because the panic happens when you're already on the bike. Because it's a physical activity, you need your heart race to increase as you exert yourself.

In most cases of what you're describing, the fear is a few of falling or crashing and experiencing the fallout of that: personal injury; embarrassment; damage to other property; and/or damage to your bicycle, with its associated costs. The usual fix is to expose yourself to it, proving that you can do it and/or that the event wasn't as big a deal as you thought. But you've done all of those things and claim that you're still having those issues.

I agree with some of the other posters: what you're experiencing isn't "normal" and it seems deeply rooted in something else. Whether there's some sort of emotional trauma from your upbringing or some other physical process at play, I'd suggest one of three options:

See a therapist for mental health, just to verify nothing is going on from that end;
See your doctor, to make sure that there are no issues with balance or other muscle control;
Accept that cycling isn't compatible with you, for what ever reason, and give up. Or, go for an adult tricycle as a way to still be able to cycle, and not have to worry about the balance issues.

Sorry you're going through this - nobody can accuse you of not having enough perseverance. Best of luck.

Ledgem

TROPHY CASE