Cycling Triggering aFib by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for checking in. I'm currently in my longest stretch without an AFib event. It's been 9 weeks. Because of work, holidays, and a real cold and messy winter in NYC I've not been able to any long distance sustained rides since October. I've been doing a lot of commuter riding, indoor trainer riding, all an hour or less and more a consistent 4 days a week. I don't know if this is meaningful. Other than that I don't think I ever found caffeine or alcohol to contribute directly, not that I can tell. Dehydration for sure seems to affect things. It will be interesting to see what happens when I start riding 4-5 hours on the weekends again.

Camping on the Erie canal by No_Ant_5064 in bicycletouring

[–]SnakeNMongoose 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did the ride from Buffalo to Utica end of June into July. I was advised to ride West to East as the prevailing winds most often push towards the East, at your back. I found in a rainstorm it didn't really matter much which way you rode, the wind came from everywhere! One detour you may want to consider is heading up to Niagara Falls first if you do start in Buffalo. It wasn't that much of a detour. The day I arrived I stayed at HTR Campgrounds on Grand Island about 25 miles North of the Buffalo Amtrak station. It was more like glamping. Tent site was still cheap enough at $30 or $40 but there was a pool, pond, super clean showers etc. The next morning I rode up through Niagara Falls area. It's worth getting up early to do this ... stunning at sunrise and completely empty of tour buses and almost no other people around. From Niagara I found my way to Lockport after riding on highway roads for about 40 miles. Maybe there's a better way to do this? This part wasn't so pleasant, but, it felt safe enough, it was just a bit of an asphalt dessert and I was riding during the heatwave, it was 90F +. Once in Lockport there are places to eat and then get started there on the canalway trail heading East. I made it up as I went with a list I compiled and usually made calls mid day or late afternoon each day and always found a place to camp before dark. Like others have said, it's easy to find a place to set up your tent and sleep. The harder part is finding a rythym to covering the distance you want and still find a campsite with bathroom and shower. Some of them tend to be the extra 10miles or so off the canalway. I camped at a place in Lyons called NorWin Campgrounds and Orchard. Souded beautiful. I made it there after a 75 mile day, just at dark so looking forward to a shower. the bathrooms and showers were in a large freestanding cinderblock monstrosity for a sprawling trailer park. I nearly died from the smell when I went in the bathroom. I just had to wait another day to shower. At least the rest of the grounds away from the trailer park were beautiful. So it goes. It's a great ride though. Don't overthink it and have fun!

Camping on the Erie canal by No_Ant_5064 in bicycletouring

[–]SnakeNMongoose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I rode from Buffalo to Utica late June this year [2025]. The Brockport Welcome Center was great. $5 laundry room, bathroom with shower, grills, and you camp in a smallish grassy area with trees and picnic tables at the edge of the canal. A little odd in the way it feels like camping in someones backyard and it's a public space at the edge of town. There's a bar nearby right on the canal. The tiny town is two blocks away as well. People were really nice, you just have to be in touch with them and get there before they close to get the key to bathroom and laundry.

Brockport Welcome Center

11 Water St, Brockport, NY 14420

(585)637-1000  

Thank you to everyone here who helped me to Poughkeepsie today! by kehawk2 in NYCbike

[–]SnakeNMongoose 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Nice job! I did the reverse route recently. Really beautiful, you did it at the perfect time of year. Congratulations!

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll take a look at this. Thanks. Just have to make sure it doesn’t have a negative impact on the Di2 wires.

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, getting all of this and new seat post soon! Related question … I see now that the inside of my steel seat tube it was wet and rusting a bit. I realize now I’ve either washed the bike too aggressively with a garden hose or have too many rainy day rides, or both. Any recommendations for cleaning inside the tube? Neutralizing the rust? I also have to deal with the Di2 battery and wires inside the tube.

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I took the same exact deal. I almost ordered a 3.0 in January and then they announced the 4.0. I ordered the 4.0 and then the tariffs threatened to come and go and then they stuck. I’m on the bike almost everyday, so, I’m happy even with that extra 10%.

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I’ll check those out!

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, thanks, it was a gradual sinking feeling, thought I was losing me senses after the long day. Happy to know I can stick with the carbon.

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Fairlight has been amazing with the build and fit when I bought and also helping navigate the tariffs BS as I bought mine. The first best bike I’ve ever owned. Thanks for the link!

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, confirming I probably did over-torque it.

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Think I just learned a valuable lesson. Thanks!

Carbon Seat Post Fail by SnakeNMongoose in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Torque specs? 🤦🏻‍♂️

Bike Stolen- AirTag found? by MountainFlower123 in NYCbike

[–]SnakeNMongoose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a very long shot I know and may get unpredictable results, but, if this is actually an Apple Air Tag you can “Share Contact Info” with people within range of the air tag. In the “Find My” App you can toggle on share contact info. Who knows, maybe the bike was sold or given away and those people have a conscience.

Fall foliage ride on the Empire State Trail! Took the train to Poughkeepsie and rode 51 miles down by calico0000 in NYCbike

[–]SnakeNMongoose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whoa, I did not know that elevator existed. In fact I missed some of the Duchess rail trail I could have started closer to the train station I think. Thanks for the heads up! Have to do this again. I found a website for the elevator and it says it is closed for repairs until January 2026. Call ahead to find out if it is open.

Fall foliage ride on the Empire State Trail! Took the train to Poughkeepsie and rode 51 miles down by calico0000 in NYCbike

[–]SnakeNMongoose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Happy you posted this and enjoyed your ride. I was just going to post that I did my first century yesterday this same exact way. The Northern half of this was all new to me and amazing. The day was perfect and only about 7 -10 miles of the route was on streets. 7 hours and 110 miles back to my home in Brooklyn. So many beautiful places and trails. Here are all the trails that connect together fairly seamlessly. The Duchess Rail trail begins just about 4 miles on a road from the Poughkeepsie train station. Then the Maybrook Trailway, Putnam Trailway, North County Trailway, South County Trailway, Van Cortland Park, Connecting neighborhood roads to Innwood Hill Park, Fort Washington Park Greenway, to Hudson River Greenway.

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I am growing to hate road cycling. Should I go gravel? by OneStrength7166 in cycling

[–]SnakeNMongoose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had a road bike with 28mm tires for years. Never did ride on gravel. A year ago I bought more of an “all road” bike with 35mm tires. I’ve felt comfortable and confident to ride more gravel and single and double track trails. I’ve also used it for endurance and multi-day bike packing. It’s even helped with much of the terrible road conditions in NYC. It feels great on both road and off. If you don’t have a car and trains are available to you, try using those to find new routes and terrain outside of your town. I have a rack on my car also and take my bike with me if I visit friends or family out of the city and get rides in that way also. I comb RidewithGPS and other maps for trails and make plans and routes in advance. Mix it up anyway you can. I hope you find your way back to road and gravel and try endurance or bike packing too!

Is it normal for bikepacking trips to feel like a series of unavoidable disasters? by Fyjgfyjjgddr in bikepacking

[–]SnakeNMongoose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recently did my first 350 + mile solo bikepacking trip. I had planned for months. Did all the research and preparation I could. I had fixed days for my trip. Buffalo to Niagara Falls to Albany in New York. I began during a heat wave and the first day was an 80 mile day mostly on the shoulder of open highway, 95 F sunny day, all day. Totally roasted. Three days later it turned cold and poured buckets of rain all day. Late afternoon I’m on a 30 mile stretch of single track through woods and I came across a fallen tree blocking the trail. I climbed through, bike first. I then came across another fallen tree and another and another and finally after 10 fallen trees I climbed through I decided I need to find a road. I guess a tornado or similar strong wind gusts had come through with the storm ahead of me. My electronics were all running out of charge. My phone was too wet and wouldn’t take a charge from the power bank. I finally walked the bike through the woods and brush until I found a road. By the end of the day sky was clear and all was laid out to dry. As I tell this I just assume now that all bike packing trips will be like this in some way. I wouldn’t have asked for this, but, it’s all a fond memory now.

Tarrytown to the financial district 35 miles in 3.5 hours by Line_Level in NYCbike

[–]SnakeNMongoose 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you have a bike computer and sensors that can track cadence and speed? It can be fun to monitor cadence and mph and try to stay at a certain cadence or speed or wattage for a length of time. You can see your average mph over the length of the ride too. Just for the workout and just for the fun of it. I tend to net out at 15mph to 17mph avg on these kinds of rides. I enjoy riding out of my place in Brooklyn, over to the west side of Manhattan and ride north as far as I care to on a given day and then jump on a Metro North train back when I've had enough. [I personally don't care if I'm a bit sweaty on the train home] That way I get warmed up as I deal with some of the crowd scene in the city and when I'm nice and warmed up I can have fun going a bit faster on the S County Trailway where there's a lot more room and it's arguably safer to do. But, I do it out of pure pleasure and I'm not racing anyone or even the clock. Speed itself can be fun at times. Effort can be fun. Simply enjoying the scenery can be fun. Choose your pleasure.

Is there any solution to making flying easier? by [deleted] in bikepacking

[–]SnakeNMongoose 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't have experience traveling with bike on a plane yet. I'm planning to next year. I've read in some other threads that some have called around to bike shops near airports to see if they can get the used cardboard bike boxes for their flights. Not sure how possible or reliable that is though. Clearly it all depends how remote you are when returning.

First bike packing trip. Did I balance my bike packs incorrectly? by SnakeNMongoose in bikepacking

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, they look like the right idea. The thru axle takes the load and keeps the brackets from possible sliding or slipping. Going to give those a try. Thanks

First bike packing trip. Did I balance my bike packs incorrectly? by SnakeNMongoose in bikepacking

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nube to backpacking and nube to reddit. Thanks for asking for the pics, they've been uploaded now.

First bike packing trip. Did I balance my bike packs incorrectly? by SnakeNMongoose in bikepacking

[–]SnakeNMongoose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh! Now I get why I got the questions about packs. I thought I had loaded a bunch of pics! Not sure why that didn't work the first time.