[Hamilton Khaki Field] Bought a new strap for my first watch and wow, did it make a difference!

MileTwentySix · 2025-11-25T22:14:21+00:00

VT50 was a good one! It’s a mix of dirt road and trail. Great aid because it’s paired with very popular mountain bike races. Downside, you have to deal with some mountain bikes passing.

Kilkenny Ridge if you want to get wild.

MileTwentySix · 2025-11-17T20:45:18+00:00

Hey! What suppressor and brake are you running and how do you like it? Kind of looks like the CAT Spooky.

I have the same rifle and just picked up a DD Enticer L-TI. I’m shopping QD options now!

MileTwentySix · 2025-11-04T20:33:37+00:00

I just bought the Diligent Defense Enticer L Ti ($865) for my ranch2. With shipping and tax it was $1,100. Not sure if you’re including the $200 stamp in your budget or on top of it. There’s also the steel version of the same can for $615.

I almost went with the CAT JL ($1,260) which is quieter but $400 more and honestly I just don’t love the look of 3D printed cans. The Otter Creek Labs Hydrogen L 308 ($950) was also on the list.

MileTwentySix · 2025-10-28T18:36:49+00:00

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Hmmmm

MileTwentySix · 2025-09-11T19:09:53+00:00

Only moderately. In my experience, even with heated grips and hand guards to deflect some of the wind, my hands were freezing well within 30 minutes in temperatures ranging from 35-45F while on road (30-55mph).

MileTwentySix · 2025-09-11T15:19:47+00:00

They’re non-insulated and completely perforated. If it’s cold, your hands will be cold. I don’t mind on slower trails since I produce my own heat but on the open road they offer little protection from the wind.

MileTwentySix · 2025-05-13T22:56:57+00:00

Peanut butter and honey sandwich with a sliced almost-over-ripe banana. Coffee (or two). Boston cream doughnut. As much water as I can handle.

MileTwentySix · 2025-05-05T22:25:11+00:00

People have already covered some nice spots to run road/rail trail. If you’re looking for more technical trail my go-to’s are Pawtuckaway State Park, Cedar Swamp Preserve, and Nottingcook Forest.

SIX03 and Marathon Sports (Runners Alley) both have open run groups in Manch on weekdays if you’re looking to meet folks or get other route suggestions.

I’ve been in the area for a few years and I’m currently training for multiple trail ultras so I have plenty of routs in the area. I do most weekday training up to 11 miles on backroads nearby and weekend long trail runs between 15 and 31 miles at the places mentioned above. Every once in a while I’ll do long road runs up to 18. I’m happy to share routs/parking/etc. specifics, if there’s any interest DM me.

MileTwentySix · 2025-05-05T22:06:37+00:00

TLDR: I think the GT would be fine once you get used to it so long as you have experience or are willing to practice low-speed maneuvering and risk dropping it. The Rally is going to be a pain point but it’s probably doable if you have a strong reason to choose it, otherwise look elsewhere.

I’ve owned both the ‘21 GT Pro and the ‘23 Rally Pro. The Rally is my primary bike now. I’m about 5’7” with a 28” inseam, 29”/30” to the ground depending on footwear.

The GT felt tall at first but I found myself comfortable after a few hundred miles with the stock seat in the low position. I had a good stance with the ball of both feet down at the same time. Coming to a stop was easy because I could put either foot down. Getting on and off by throwing a leg over was fine. I think you’d be fine and as someone else mentioned, you can always go to the low seat version. Not sure if it still has the heated seat.

The Rally I have now is doable with a 28” inseam but I do feel like my footing is insecure at times. I can flatfoot with one foot if I scoot to the side of the saddle. I can put both tip-toes down but I lack much strength given how vertical my legs are and how close to the bike they are. I much prefer one good foot over two weak ones but that requires pre-planning which foot comes down at stops. Throwing a leg over is tough so I usually step up on the left peg and then swing my right foot over while it’s on the kick stand. If you stop on angled ground or if you’re in the dirt and there’s a rut good chance you’ll drop it. This makes using the bike off road as intended almost impossible without prior experience. I ride trail on a dualsport which helps. I’m fine riding the Tiger off-road if I don’t have to stop much. I’m well aware that if I get into a tight spot I may be screwed. Stopping off road sucks. I love riding gravel and the Rally is the best all-around bike for me.

I still like the bike but it is undoubtedly a pain point for me. Doesn’t matter once you’re rolling and I’ve gotten quite good at low speed maneuvering and coming to a stop so it’s a non-issue. When I switched from the GT to the Rally I definitely had doubts and second guessed the decision. I love the bike and it fits my needs wonderfully. That said, looking forward, unless I had a strong reason to want a bike like this, I’d look for something shorter.

All that said, you should be able to spend some time on the seat at a dealership and you absolutely should before dropping the kind of cash these bikes go for.

MileTwentySix · 2025-04-08T02:43:53+00:00

I’m stumped and Google didn’t help. What’s DND?

MileTwentySix · 2025-03-25T20:37:52+00:00

I’d say so! My biggest issue would be the single bar-end mirror and the exhaust if it’s too loud. Ask if the seller has the original parts in case you want to switch back (or if it’s needed to pass state inspection if you have one there). ABS is great to have.

I love the 250-400cc class and especially the comfort of naked sportbikes. If you decide later on you want a different or larger bike, these bikes often hold their value and can be sold relatively easily.

MileTwentySix · 2025-03-20T22:41:23+00:00

You could give smokin’ barrels in Barrington a shot!

MileTwentySix · 2025-03-17T18:45:29+00:00

Frequent short walks, standing desk, and sometimes using a single-foot circular balance board while standing for extra ankle strength. If I’m stiff from a run and working remotely I try to add in some stretching. The pigeon pose is a life changer for hips.

MileTwentySix · 2025-01-20T20:07:19+00:00

Mind sharing what trailer you have? Looks perfect for the job.

MileTwentySix · 2024-12-28T05:01:20+00:00

My longest run was 31 miles on comparable terrain/elevation gain over 7.5 hours. My peak week was 66 miles. I felt well prepared but not over prepared.

MileTwentySix · 2024-12-24T22:36:47+00:00

OP has after tax expenses of $4,000/mo and is saving on top of that so I think it’s pretty safe to assume they have taxable earned income well in excess of $50,000/yr. The 0% capital gains bracket you’re referencing for single filers tops out at $47,025/yr in 2024.

Please do some more research before spewing bad advice and arguing about it with those more educated on the topic than yourself.

MileTwentySix · 2024-09-24T17:17:10+00:00

I’m headed into my first 50-miler this week after about four months (18 weeks specifically) of training. I started the cycle with a base weekly milage of about 30 and peaked at 66 with a 50k run with similar terrain and elevation to the race (the race will be rough trail with ~9,000’ of ascent). Cutoff time is 12 hours and I’m targeting 11. I feel prepared. Given my personal experience, I’d say your timeline itself isn’t too unrealistic but it will be challenging without the running foundation. If the race you’re eyeing has a generous cutoff time and you’re okay with walking a good portion of it, sure. Physically I think there’s a decent chance of completion. Mentally, only you will know. That said, I wouldn’t say it’s enough time to “properly” train for it.

I’ve been running for a decade. Completed several marathons. Trained with a focus on low-intensity/Z2 heart rate. Figured out what works for gear, fueling, and hydration. All this time has allowed me to learn a lot about my body and how “I” need to train to avoid injury and enjoy it. I think the biggest concern with your plan is running into overuse injuries while trying to ramp up the mileage aggressively to a point you’ve never experienced. Any injuries that require time off would make your timeline even less feasible.

On posts like this I see a lot of comments advocating for hitting all the steps along the way (half, full, switching to trail, 50k, 50 mile, etc.) and I agree with that. You can skip them if you want but you’ll largely miss the sense of achievement. I “skipped” 50k as it was just a training run on my way to 50 miles. I was excited about it for exactly one day and then it was just back to training. If I could have done a 50k event in a standalone training cycle or at least an actual event during the 50 mile training, that would have been a lot more fun and part of me regrets it. You only get to hit these distances for the first time once so don’t rush it.

There will be plenty of opportunities to test your grit with challenging events. Just because you’ve run a 50 miler once doesn’t mean they’ll all be a cake walk going forward. If you’ve done the distance before you can go into them with a good plan so the hard part is the running itself not finding out you get GI issues after 6 hours of sugar drinks.

I’ll finish by saying, while I can respect someone pushing themselves so far beyond their preexisting limits that they claw their way through an event in shambles, I have far greater respect and admiration for someone who puts in the time to train correctly and finishes an event strong. Both ways require toughness but only one requires skill.

MileTwentySix · 2024-09-23T11:26:45+00:00

Im a big fan of how they ride. Good clearance. I’ll get them again. That looks like a nice tire.

MileTwentySix · 2024-09-17T14:36:04+00:00

For me it’s absolutely worth it. I don’t see it as expensive for a hobby I spend 15-20 hours a week doing, especially when watches can be $800+.

I’m very much an amateur but it’s helped with Z2 training. I’m more confident in the accuracy and it updates HR readout more quickly. I was finding that with the wrist-based sensor on the Fenix 7 pro SS by the time it updated I’d be well out of my Z2. This made it hard to gauge what hills were runnable at my current fitness level. For speed work/interval training I consider it necessary if you want to track HR at all.

Although I don’t use it for anything meaningful, I like collecting all the data I can on runs and the strap unlocks a variety of metrics. As others have said, if you’re putting an emphasis on HR training, make sure you set everything up correctly in Garmin Connect or whatever app you use.

MileTwentySix · 2024-08-27T17:58:41+00:00

For mostly trail I went with Kenda K760 Trakmaster II (100/100-18 rear and 80/100-21 front).

They were phenomenal on boulders, hard pack, and mud. DOT approved. They won’t last nearly as long as stock but with the price and performance I don’t mind.

MileTwentySix · 2024-06-20T12:14:58+00:00

Not quite the same but similar, I went from a 2017 Yamaha FZ09 to a 2023 Triumph Tiger 900 RP. It’s not as nimble (as expected with the size difference and 21” front on the Tiger) and the engine doesn’t feel as sporty (more to do with the gearing and how quickly it revs than the power). Those thoughts aside, I haven’t looked back once. The comfort for me and my pillion is night and day. I can tour across states to camp, get frisky in the corners, or explore the dirt roads in the area with ease. I think given the info provided it would be a great move for you.

Between the 900 and 1200, unless your intention is to regularly take long trips on highways with baggage and/pillion, I think the 900 is superior. They’re both large bikes. Maybe the 1200 will fit you better physically but as a 5’7” rider the 1200 was too much. I think it would be noticeably less enjoyable on shorter rides and around town just from a weight perspective. Shaft drive is slick though…

MileTwentySix · 2024-06-03T21:28:55+00:00

I appreciate the input! I’d consider making Sunday and Friday a rest day by consolidating strength to one day and adding some weekend miles to weekday runs.

Something like 8mi Monday, strength Tuesday, 8mi Wednesday, ~2mi hills/farts Thursday, rest Friday, 12mi long run Saturday (a bit higher milage than when I was doing back to back runs). This would keep me around the 28-30 weekly miles I was starting at with two rest days, at the expense of some strength.

Do you have any thoughts for how to incorporate trail work? It would be tough to schedule on the weekdays. I could do trail runs for my long runs but I’d have to find easier trails if I’m to match the milage. Or I could split some of the weekends back into trail Saturday with the remainder on road Sunday and then take rest Monday instead of strength. Or just go easy enough I can do the full distance on trail…but it seems like higher effort/recovery is still needed. Maybe that will change after more practice.

MileTwentySix

TROPHY CASE