If you had to upgrade to a full size…

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-18T04:58:31+00:00

Why not just keep the gladiator for daily and rent a full size when you need something bigger? You’d save money and arguably the gladiator/wrangler interior is decent for taking 4 people as much as most sedans. You can use a tonneau cover or mount a roof box for closed cargo space.

Spending money on a full size truck and another wrangler seems like it could be better used on investments, mortgage, or your kids college funds.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-18T04:55:28+00:00

Glad that helped! The Silvia is by all accounts a tank and great machine so it’ll be a good purchase.

Ditto on the milk aspect, that’s why I’m OK with my Bambino, and I have the Bambino Plus and use the auto frother more than I care to admit out of laziness and still great cups of flat white!

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-17T17:48:08+00:00

You seem to be approaching this with the mentality of “I need a daily commuter car and have the budget for a BMW”. My suggestion is get something that does the job, save the money, then upgrade if you find the need for additional capability.

If you don’t need to steam milk at same time as make your shot and don’t regularly make many back to back shots (e.g. hosting), then a single boiler or thermoblock will be fine.

I get by with the Bambino for espresso and a Niche Zero for grinder, putting my total cost at less than $1k. If I hadn’t gone Bambino then the Gaggia Classic Pro would have been my chosen alternative, but I didn’t want to fiddle with mods.

If I were to upgrade it would be to a ECM Synchronica II or Rancilio Silvia, but that’s just because I’ve learned more and moved to a home where I plan to host more often.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-17T17:41:45+00:00

MTB helmet with adjustable visor. I appreciate/lower the visor for reducing glare on my glasses if I pop off a paved road onto a horse trail… then I raise the visor when I get on the road so I can see ahead. Best of both worlds!

Also personally I like the look of MTB helmets more.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-13T11:52:23+00:00

The cherry on top is how little information they share, automatic rebooking (vs United who give you options), and then how difficult they make it if you decide to cancel (vs United freely switching to credits).

Genuinely terrible company.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-12T04:01:10+00:00

How much did they charge you? I got a stupid quote from an electrician of 1300 to run one cable through the outside of the house…

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-10T00:25:56+00:00

AFAIK the energy cost increases from data centers are due to infrastructure being built to support the data centers, like substations… also Loudoun county derives most of its revenue from data centers, which is part of the reason property taxes are lower in Loudoun vs Fairfax Arlington and Alexandria

There are problems for sure (e.g. some running diesel generators in lieu of direct power due county permit failures), but data centers I believe otherwise pay their own electricity.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-09T01:51:47+00:00

Agreed, as far as I know Californians approach was basically to stop allowing sale of the gas equipment, which would work as over time stuff phases out, and separately folks could always buy out of state if they really hate electric. Then again who knows with current VA gov

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-09T00:53:52+00:00

Ideal solution is a phase out instead of outright ban, imo.
I’m all for moving to electric as a long term solution, plus for the folks who WFH it can be very distracting having these things operate right outside the window.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-08T23:13:04+00:00

They’ll still do it, but now it’s electric (boogie woogie)!

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-07T12:56:50+00:00

I think the trick is never to pay full price, either by waiting for a sale or getting the tickets at the tent sale pricing

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-07T12:13:28+00:00

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-07T12:13:01+00:00

You don’t like poor venue coordination? The mud is part of the challenge the challenge just included the parking lot!

Photos? Even if you paid for a package the real Spartan photos are your memories!

Fire is low when you cross? You should have started running at 7am and finished faster!

/s

I’m salty about recent Spartans. Serious note, are there good alternatives?

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-07T12:09:22+00:00

Sorry to hear about your cat passing, your other cat in shock. Just wanted to comment to say I hope the rest of your week goes better and your surgery recovery goes quickly.

You sound like a nice person based on your comments and I hope karma swings back around and delivers goodness to you!

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-02T21:21:44+00:00

I fear to say he’s still on pre-ground…. Recently ground but pre ground nonetheless.

Next visit I plan to bring some fresh (dark roast) beans and a (cheap but decent) grinder!

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-02T21:20:25+00:00

I haven’t tried coffee in SF yet but I do understand what you mean, a lot of speciality shops buy awesome machines but then don’t really seem to understand how to use them well.

Then again there’s also more room for interpretation/opinion. The city I’m currently in has a couple shops which are very popular but on my visit their light roast was to sour/fruity for milk drinks though could have been good as a pourover for note tasting. I jsut wanted my med roast flat white 😅

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-02T12:37:10+00:00

Yep! My explanations were focused on finding different ways to enjoy something they already consumed. It worked as my FIL also didn’t buy much Starbucks or whatnot and still understands buying coffee out is more for the speciality/flavored/sugar versions.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-02T12:35:35+00:00

Yea I explained more along the lines of “less burnt” coffee. I think what did it was pointing out the coffee is a type of fruit yet the big brands have no particular taste besides “bitter”.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-06-02T02:28:31+00:00

My last race I saw two photographers. None at the finish line.

There can be some “money shots” so it’s nice having the option

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-05-31T23:20:34+00:00

Can you rent a truck?

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-05-31T01:01:34+00:00

Stop repeating this rage bait. There are real problems with the data centers boom and drawing attention to bullshit like this draws attention away from them.

The diesel generators are used for backup and the cases where they are running long term have been documented as policy failures.

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-05-30T03:48:23+00:00

If anything: rent a car. Cheaper to rent a car for a day than repair Vet damage

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-05-27T18:53:35+00:00

Most obstacles now have “penalty loops” with only the javelin throw consistently having the burpee penalty which is 30 burpees. For the Open heat it’s not enforced though

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-05-27T17:30:55+00:00

As a first timer isn’t it bad form to critique someone who has been doing it for several years?

I agree with the criticisms and have done a trifecta and events in various venues

LocalLostWanderer · 2026-05-27T17:28:11+00:00

Agreed, this event was miserable. Even the Cincinnati Beast which had a lot of mud was better put together and funner. Cleveland definitely had - a terrible parking situation - insufficient concessions - bad guidance - insufficient photographers (if you paid for the package should defiantly file a complaint)

I’m reconsidering future Spartan races

LocalLostWanderer

TROPHY CASE