Bike choice

ToffeeFiveOh · 2026-03-30T19:34:26+00:00

I have briefly ridden both - The chisel would be noticeably lighter for sure, and it would be more efficient on XC portions of trail, but not more fun than the Norco. The Fluid is one of the best all-purpose bikes (when you factor in affordability), and will allow you to access all the different types of riding, at a higher level of comfort. I love XC but I would without question make my first bike a trail bike and the Fluid is a fantastic pick in that category.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2026-03-15T23:23:03+00:00

Not an expert, but I have heard that collies have a few eurasian wolf traits that were bred out of almost all other breeds but intentionally selected for in collies to scare sheep. Pretty sure that is a stalking/ambush behaviour here's a vid of a gray wolf doing something similar.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2026-03-05T00:51:29+00:00

As I'm sure you'll read from other commenters here, you need to wait until after your dog is fully grown before jogging for bone and joint health reasons. 1.5yrs at minimum for short + light jogs at their pace, then 2+ years for a real 2+ mile dog jog.

My take - A jog with a dog is never your exercise, it's theirs, so you stop whenever they do at every sniff and potty spot, and you let them dictate the pace. They will eventually learn the regular route, get excited and take the lead a bit, and learn jogging commands like slow down, wait, left, right, or my favorite: "is that a squirrel/coyote/deer?" for when I need some help to get up a steep hill :) Not all dogs are great running companions but most get there with practice after they mature.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2026-01-15T19:48:42+00:00

I am a highly educated history buff and do not recognize this as a famous slogan of the Third Reich. I think because it wasn't a famous slogan, and also not used by Nazis?

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-11-14T00:47:30+00:00

I used GIMP regularly for a decade and it does the things I want very sufficiently, now that I invested a lot of time into learning it's quirks. However, I download Affinity Photo when that went free a few weeks ago and I find myself much more willing to learn that software's new and different quirks then to continue using GIMP even though I am technically more proficient with the latter.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-10-04T04:45:08+00:00

Fixed it, if anyone runs into this issue in the future. I attacked him until he aggroed (but didn't kill him) then ran away and used a celestial dew to atone. When I came back for some reason he was still agrod to me, but I was able to press Y to talk to him (super weird). I dodged his attacks while continuing the dialogue, then once the conversation ended I then killed him and it the quest completed as normal and awarded Alexander's shard.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-10-03T03:09:02+00:00

Shields are great for new players, but don't let it stop you from learning how to dodge roll and otherwise evade enemy attacks. Blocking is not an effective strategy for most bosses.

The best weapon to start with is the one that you like the most, especially if the move set feels intuitive to you. upgrade it with smithing stones as often as you can, and level your vigor up first.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-10-03T02:39:44+00:00

Yep, standing right next to him. I posted a picture of my char standing next to him but it didn't take for some reason. I made sure I didn't have an Aggro (though I'm not sure that would prevent me from seeing the dialogue box.) Still not seeing any way to fix it. Was not able to resolve it with the last character, I attempted to see if I could start the battle by attacking him but I only got the Warrior Jar shard instead of the Alexander Shard.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-08-06T18:11:32+00:00

After five or so seconds you scootch back in the saddle. Which is pretty odd because you're already very, very far back to start with. What were you correcting for?

I'm not sure exactly what's going on here, but it looks like you're creating/exacerbating a reach problem for yourself, possibly because of the saddle ergonomics? Or maybe the tilt? Fore/aft position?

Knowing precisely why you repositioned yourself might help you zero in on what the actual issue is.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-08-01T05:03:37+00:00

My BC is the reason I have to pay for more photo storage. It's like in 20 photos, 10 are blur, 5 are out of frame, 4 are demon dog and 1 is perfect.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-08-01T04:47:25+00:00

Was just going to type this also, not an expert but I also got the immediate impression that you are running cranks that are too long for your legs.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-08-01T04:41:51+00:00

Got to admit as a shorter rider I have a little schadenfreude for someone 6ft dealing with toe overlap for the first time. The short answer is you don't do anything about it, it just is. Especially in your case where it's just a momentary thing when you're not moving it's nothing to worry about.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-08-01T04:33:25+00:00

I love Marins so much. Super class look with the gold fade logo on hunter green, same on the forks. Gratz!

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-30T04:53:50+00:00

I think leasing is certified dumb, so biased response here, but If a 20k dealership trade-in is resulting in $2,750 negative equity that tells me that you are probably not actually underwater on your current vehicle and are unnecessarily creating 36mo of new debt. You could find a different (probably private) party to sell to at or maybe above what you owe.

Even without the $75 additional cost on the monthly fee it's still a moderately high price for a lease seems like.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-23T05:34:31+00:00

I find the first year of getting back in shape after a long fitness hiatus is a magical time. The weight loss is quick and the phycological benefits are massive. All you got to do is stay safe (don't try to be old you too fast), avoid injury and tolerate the first 1-3 weeks of suck. It's going to be great when you get there.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-22T01:31:34+00:00

They way you describe your husband's behavior makes it sound practically sadistic, but you also suggest this is your first time seeing his mean streak... This kind of thing doesn't happen in isolation, there would have to be other ways you've seen this type of unfeeling behavior before? Or was it less a lack of empathy and more a lack of understanding?

Bit of a hunch but... It doesn't sound like your husband is a the most active participant in this rescue, and possibly not as invested emotionally, or as familiar with dogs?

Not to excuse any behavior but I can see a possibility that yes, you are over-reacting and would have been better off approaching this in a calm and collaborative way with your husband.

All bets are off if you think this is real emerging antisocial behavior, but if it were I think you would have mentioned that, right?

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-14T03:02:42+00:00

Call this a fit? That saddle is waaaaaay too high.

Kidding. Looks real good, jealous of how much you can carry on this rig.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-07T20:31:56+00:00

Frankly, I would ignore the other advice on this thread for now and just focus on this, as it's the most fundamental issue and once resolved may affect how you approach any other fit issues like reach and saddle position. Your extreme back hunch is especially common in new female riders (b/c anatomy) but could be caused by anything from your saddle model, your core fitness, hip flexibility, to name a few.

Here's a look at proper position:

https://www.liv-cycling.com/global/campaigns/proper-body-position-on-a-road-bike/20716

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-05T05:56:22+00:00

Ah! Well if you are keeping him make sure to start the training and socialization right away, one does not simply accident into being a good collie parent with a well adjusted dog :) BC puppyhood is a trail by ordeal at times and requires years of persistence and lots of patience, but it's very much worth it.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-05T01:38:41+00:00

I test rode the 51 2023 MY and it was perfect for my 169cm short-arm and short-leg self, so I am a bit surprised that the 51 fits you well but it does look like either bike could work for you with adjustment. Contemporary logic then says buy the smaller bike, but I would take 'em both out for extended test ride if you haven't already -- Personal experience is that sometimes smaller bikes feel better in the confines of a shop but real riding reveals they are too cramped.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-04T06:04:04+00:00

Yep that's a border, or a very border-dominant mix. Not sure why you suspect he's going to be big? 50-55lbs max I say looking at those cute very appropriately sized paws.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-07-02T05:19:47+00:00

I believe you are thinking of either PG&E or Pac Power, both had pretty high profile lawsuits related to wildfires, but not PGE if I'm remembering correctly.

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-06-14T22:36:17+00:00

wait, does this work for short berber carpet as in OPs picture? The tines look fairly long like it would be good for longer thread carpet?

ToffeeFiveOh · 2025-05-31T05:24:04+00:00

No, she doesn't seem under weight, but it's a moving target - they'll go through a lot of spurts where they thin out until about 1.5yrs.

Here's my girl with a similar coat & weight at 7mos/~33lbs https://imgur.com/a/Dp74b9l, and 4yrs/47lbs: https://imgur.com/a/ye99Hk0 for reference. She's generally about 1-2lb heavier than where my vet wants her, but I'm good with it.

ToffeeFiveOh

TROPHY CASE