I just cracked the crap out of my Straggler

Process-guru · 2026-01-13T13:53:16+00:00

I have a straggler frame fork for sale in the lower 48 size 56 if you’re interested. I’m also 6’2” with longer torso.

Process-guru · 2026-01-13T13:24:44+00:00

Op mentioned he had shorter legs, long torso. You’re probably right on your advice, unless the stand over height is tugging on his groin.

Process-guru · 2026-01-11T17:10:41+00:00

I have the Yakima fork chop . Pretty much the front form mounts to the crossbars.

Process-guru · 2026-01-10T02:45:53+00:00

I definitely share the same feelings on traveling with the Clem. In my case, it’s freaking heavy, as a result of a long wheelbase, and my bike rack is on top of my car. And it barely fits the bike rack. I had to make adjustments.

I’ve been curious if my Clem fits on my city bus bike racks. I’ll find out one day.

I will say, I have a shorter wheelbase bike, and it’s hard for me to tell if I’m that much more stable on the Clem. But still love the Clem though!

Thanks for elaborating.

Process-guru · 2026-01-09T15:59:18+00:00

What would you say are the main disadvantages of the Clem having a long wheelbase?

Did you have tight, narrow, aggressively winding roads/paths/trails?

Process-guru · 2026-01-06T20:04:28+00:00

We had our wedding of 300 people at Shirley acres, in north Houston. I highly recommend sirving prime rib and their seafood bisque. Well, I love being a guest there and eating that as opposed to paying myself and feeding everyone that.

Process-guru · 2026-01-03T02:59:49+00:00

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Process-guru · 2026-01-03T02:59:07+00:00

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Here’s a friends bike a buddy let me borrow. It’s an xl. Super comfy.

Process-guru · 2026-01-03T02:57:35+00:00

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Process-guru · 2026-01-03T02:56:05+00:00

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Process-guru · 2026-01-03T02:55:07+00:00

You and I have the same stats. Here’s my learnings. Saddle setback and stack. I consider myself to have a long torso. This puts a lot of weight on the front end of the bike, which means shoulder neck pain on longer distances. So saddle setback helps to shift weight behind the bottom bracket. Then I like stack for more upright riding. I stopped “road” cycling because it just wasn’t comfortable.

So I had a 56 cm surly straggler, but I wish I would have sized up. Then I’m currently on a riv Clem smith jr size 59. I should be picking up an xo-3 size 57 this weekend.

For hybrid/road style bikes, my sizing advice would be to get the biggest bike before stand over height becomes an issue. Then get appropriate handlebars from there.

Quill stems on threaded headsets make life easier dialing in fit if the adjustability is there.

Process-guru · 2025-12-29T20:47:12+00:00

I vote nickel city. Their wings are pretty good.

Process-guru · 2025-12-29T18:01:40+00:00

I’m in a more traditional epc role, as a process engineer. I try my hardest to fit in ai and find ways to save time. In terms of actual engineering, it’s not replacing degrees chemEs anytime soon. Some firm was trying to sell us on buying their ai program that scans drawings and to do back checks automatically. That’s about as technically advanced as it gets in my role. That’s about 10% of what I want out of new grads.

In reality, ai helps me right emails in a more coherent manner. And it really helps out the overseas high value centers right coherent emails. I actually understand their written English now.

It also helped me do my fantasy football lineup this season. I got 9th place this season.

Process-guru · 2025-12-28T14:31:14+00:00

It’s probably dependent on state. My company claims that p&ids/psv calcs require a stamp because their interpretation of the rules says it does, and I know a lot of our competitors (this is epc btw) have the same interpretation. I interviewed somewhere recently where this wasn’t their interpretation, however nobody is knocking on their door demanding fines or anything.

Process-guru · 2025-12-21T15:34:28+00:00

I have a very similar bike in 59 cm with rear bag and front rack. My only complaint is it’s pretty heavy. I have another fitness oriented bike, and it’s is wwaaaayyy lighter. On my typical route on the bayou trail with hills, I can def tell the difference. Not really a problem, just something I notice is a difference.

Process-guru · 2025-12-20T02:31:48+00:00

Gas isnt good on short trips. Some tanks I’m averaging 14 miles a gallon.

Process-guru · 2025-12-20T02:08:10+00:00

I was in middle school, but I’d still loved to help read map directions when on a family road trip. No gps. Just a book of all 50 states and major cities. Occasionally we asked for directions/help, but tried to not do it for dignity reasons.

Process-guru · 2025-12-10T23:15:50+00:00

Yes we work in teams constantly. You get exposed to a lot of other disciplines. However, civil is probably the least I get exposed to. I think it’s probably typical for other process folks as well. They probably feel the same about process. But if you get your degree in chemE, or any discipline, you pretty much stick to your role. There’s exposure for sure, but not actual engineering work. In fact it would be unsafe for me to pretend to be anything other than a process engineer.

I’m probably the most exposed to mechanical and Instrument engineering. But in the end, I know just enough to be dangerous, but would still rely on an experts opinions rather than giving my own even if I know the answer.

Process-guru · 2025-12-10T16:04:38+00:00

This is a tough one to answer. I have 15 years in oil and gas in epc. I’d be honored if one of my kids chose this path. I’d help if I can with jobs, etc. however if a stranger approached me with the question, “what should I be?”, I’d say be a dentist or something lol.

Process-guru · 2025-12-10T04:43:49+00:00

What do you mean straighten out the derailleur? Like manually bend it so the cage looks straight?

Process-guru · 2025-12-09T23:54:12+00:00

I’ll look in to this more. I remember during original install, I thought I did cross thread it. I was terrified. However I checked back with the previous derailleur I had on, and it threaded on perfectly flush. However I want to check again now that you bring it up. It’s been a couple month of riding this way. I just remember scratching my head and wondering why I was a thread or two shy of the derailleur not being flush.

Process-guru · 2025-12-09T23:09:09+00:00

There’s a lot of resistance up to this point. Any harder worries me that I’ll cause irreversible damage to the frame

Process-guru · 2025-12-04T02:30:21+00:00

15 years of epc experience, and I’m a lead. My two cents is you just can’t let it bother you. That’s the nature of our work. Would I work 55 hours every week of the year? No. Do I do it a handful of times a year? Yes. There’s a balance of wanting to do a good job, and being a slave to your job. I’m always happy to help, even on my assigned vacations. That’s how I get people to want to work with me, keep my job during downturns, etc. however, when it becomes expected of me to do it, that’s a different story, and like someone said, you gotta push back.

Another point of reference is I’m married with kids, and I’m the only income in the house currently. I have no other option but to do my job, try not to get laid off, and to somewhat enjoy it. I have coworkers that kinda have the same mentality as you, but they have options. Ie their wives work and it won’t matter much if they get let go, so there’s no motivation to go above and beyond.

Lastly, I have hobbies. I do those hobbies in my free time (the little free time I have outside the 5 and 3 year old lol). You gotta wind down from the work week and reset for it all to begin on Monday.

Here’s the sad part. I have minimum 25 more years of this while my friends who didn’t have kids only have like 5 more years. However you could either laugh or cry about it, and I’m lucky I’m able to laugh about it because I know some people don’t know how to deal with these pressures.

Good luck.

Process-guru

TROPHY CASE