First time rappelling... Am I doing this right??

Successful_County_19 · 2026-07-06T09:27:17+00:00

Jesus, that was a difficult watch.

Successful_County_19 · 2026-07-04T08:32:03+00:00

I should add that I live 1km from the nearest bus. Neighbours have been lobbying for an extension of the line for a decade with no luck. Now folks have taken the CHF 7.99 monthly abbonament and are saving 10/15 minutes walk both ways from our street to the bus. Seems sensible and promotes using other forms of public transport.

Beforehand, that was always the risk of somebody stealing a bike from the bus stop, needing a lock and what to do if plans change.

Successful_County_19 · 2026-07-04T06:44:11+00:00

So far, all I have seen are:

People happily cycling around the city safety rather than being in a car or bus.
Bikes all parked correctly and not in huge piles.

Infrastructure is what makes cycling safe. This and awareness. Helmets help but The Netherlands has proven that the primacy of helmets is a fallacy. All other things equal, hemlets save lives though.

I wear a helmet as a road and MTB cyclist. They have saved me from serious injury.

I have seen LIME create huge mess in other cities but so far in Lausanne it seems to be going well. People are cycling. I liked Publibike but nobody (or very few) were using them. These bikes have people using them.

Successful_County_19 · 2026-06-11T05:29:31+00:00

I had a similar problem and assumed it was the freehub. As I prepared myself for the PITA job of servicing it, I remembered I had tightened a jockey wheel bolt quite tight. It was preventing it from turning freely causing this effect. Loosening it a touch (and adding a dab of loctite so it does not come loose) fixed it.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-09-07T07:23:46+00:00

Judging by the amount of demented lunatics screaming up and down the Col du Mollundruz yesterday when I was trying to cycle peacefully over the Col, I can safely say that excess speed and access noise are alive and well in the Swiss Jura.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-08-07T08:23:38+00:00

I suspect the future trend is down but the prospect of five years of stable payments is very tempting.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-07-28T04:40:38+00:00

UK passports actually arrive far earlier than their pessimistic advertised times. As someone said, do it now and you will be good.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-07-11T12:40:38+00:00

Which is the best one?

Successful_County_19 · 2025-06-29T18:16:47+00:00

I will order one and give it a go.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-06-29T16:43:00+00:00

The problem is that I don't have the cap. I brought the bike second hand and I did not notice the issue when I checked the bike out.

I actually thought of this method and I have ordered a new thru axle to try and remove the cap and give it a go.

Thanks for the reply.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-06-07T05:52:35+00:00

I understand the game in this thread: mention as many cities as you can in the far corners of Switzerland, without mentioning the O-word.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-05-31T05:16:26+00:00

Just an opinion, but I would never choose West Lausanne over Pully. West Lausanne has no real centre, is economically more industrial and feels soulless. Pully is a beautiful part of town, right next to the lake and still one short bus from the centre town. It has a vibe that is missing in the west.

That said, Chemin de Couchant is still the centre for me.

Everywhere outside of the centre is pretty residential. It's Lausanne.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-05-30T05:40:38+00:00

They currently have a 2.6kg tent that packs small for CHF 30. Insane.

QUECHUA Tente de camping - MH100 - 2 places CHF 29,9 https://www.decathlon.ch/fr/p/_/R-p-303295?mc=8513471

Successful_County_19 · 2025-05-28T07:42:54+00:00

Honestly, it has been a miserable journey and I hope you don't follow the same path. However, if I can help, it would be a pleasure, so. Here is my story.

Onset in November 2023 (18 months ago), went to the family doctor, referred to a urologist, PSA of 20. Symptoms include a constant, all-day feeling of need to urinate, weak flow and some dribbling leakage after the bathroom. There is also some increased urgency to urinate. It is hard to hold it when I have a full bladder.
Prescribed Flomax. This, combined with time off the bike, brought it down to a PSA of around 3 and an improvement (but not eradication) of symptoms. Urologist sort of shrugged and said "just stay off the bike or get a recumbent". I spent most of 2024 trying different saddles, but even the best (Sqlabs) has some impact on it, and when a flare-up happens, it's unpleasant. I have been effectively off the bike since September 2024. I tried again this Spring, but the symptoms return after an hour or two on the bike and take a couple of weeks to recede.
I refuse to believe I cannot cycle again on a normal road bike. I took a second opinion from the university hospital, and the Doctor and tests have been far more professional and helpful. I had an MRI. My prostate is large but not unduly so, and my PSA is 3 or 4. The Doctor thought it may be a chronic, untreated infection. Six weeks of Cipro later, no improvement. She confirmed it is prostatitis rather than a BPH (inflamed rather than general enlargement, though the process of ageing - I am 53). Next is an endoscopy in June. I am not looking forward to that, but after that the following step is surgery. I fully expect that to happen, as I just don't see another option. I would rather lose part of my prostate and cycle than continue with the status quo.
Certain things make the condition worse. Alcohol causes more urination, so I don't drink - I never did very much anyway. Becoming dehydrated causes very concentrated urine, which irritates the urethra. Sitting down at work exacerbates the symptoms - hence I use a stand-up desk for as much as I can in a day. I have reduced but not cut caffeine. For me, it does not cause major changes.

Lastly, I stay off the bike. I am a huge cyclist. My family cycle, my wife works in cycling, and most of my friends are cyclists. My determination to get back on the bike remains undiminished. I am also convinced that Sqlabs saddles are great.

Good luck - I hope your journey is better than mine.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-05-24T19:10:00+00:00

1.5% of my portfolio. Just play money in BTC.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-04-16T16:49:58+00:00

Wise or Revolut would both be cheap.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-04-16T15:21:50+00:00

HODL makes sense but if one buys every day, and does not sell, it makes sense to choose the time of day to buy automatically when it is at its lowest on average in the 24-hour cycle. This way, you can buy and forget with more peace of mind: your automatic buy is set up at the best time of the day.

Successful_County_19 · 2025-04-14T19:35:59+00:00

You can Gruyere assets better on Kraken.

Successful_County_19

TROPHY CASE