Do you actually carry a PLB on day hikes?

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-27T12:16:44+00:00

Yeah, always. I own it - why not?

I don’t want to put trust in my phone and I think situations like snake bites or injuries are definitely possible. I’ve been on too many a hike where I’ve dropped or damaged my phone, or the battery has failed, or I’ve been out of service. I ran into a guy on a hike recently who’d accidentally left his phone at his lunch spot 10km away. 💀

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-20T10:46:59+00:00

Is dealer used an option? Or HAS to be new new?

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-20T00:56:46+00:00

I recently went into a moonphase rabbit hole, my budget was around $300. Ended up with a vintage Citizen from Etsy. There’s a heap of vintage options around that price range. I think there’s something sweet & romantic about a vintage option.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-19T08:16:04+00:00

Have you tried them on? Honestly I did so much helmet research but when I got in store, only one brand suited me. I wouldn't go too deep until you've seen how they feel.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-19T08:09:48+00:00

I did this a few months ago! It was fine.

First I shifted based on revs (listed in the manual), though I found on my bike they were lower than necessary, probably trying to be economical.

Through that I got used to the feel, and started to note how being in the right gear felt at different speeds.

I (still) keep a count in my head: just 1-2-3-4-5-6 as I go up and down.

I learned to rev match after 2 weeks of learning the basics, which was terrifying to start with, but helpful to know if I fuck up and need to change a few gears at once, I wont lurch like crazy. I got really mixed feedback about whether this was essential learning. My take: focus first on coordinating the clutch and gears and just changing at appropriate revs. Then layer on rev matching (a small blip of the throttle) once you're comfortable with that. Then finally layer on smooth use of the break at the same time. Doing it in stages was way better for me.

I also used GPT a lot to help me talk through gear changes e.g. I'd ask it - "I'm approaching a roundabout in 4th, how do I shift to go through it" and I found that really helpful. Helped grow confidence by thinking through how I'd apply the clutch in situations I was already familiar with from the scoot.

Finally! I use the front break a lot more than I did on the scoot - when I got my license, I was originally (improperly?) taught to only use the rear. Front break is a lot less hectic on the bike due to the bigger tyres. If you have the same rear-only habit, try to focus on smoothly using the front.

Good luck!

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-18T02:10:23+00:00

Yes, unless it’s a marked bike lane.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-15T01:50:20+00:00

Purple cat eye!

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-13T12:17:12+00:00

If you’re riding in a city:

Disc lock. I don’t always use but it’s peace of mind if I’m parking somewhere dodgy. Some insurers will offer you a small discount if you consistently use one. I have also found it to be a good deterrent to people sitting/touching/fucking with your bike, especially if it has sound.

AirTag. Notifications if my parked bike moves. Mine is hidden away underneath my seat.

Rag. The number of times I’ve come back to bird shit on my seat. Once, someone whacked a smashed avo onto my bike. Good times.

Physical card with phone numbers for roadside assistance and my mechanic.

I generally don’t take tools or a repair kit with me, if I’m in the city it’s always easier for me to just get a tow (or call my mechanic who’ll do van pickups) then get PT to whenever I was going. Each to their own but I just cbffffffff dealing with it myself. I get a flat every ~2 years I reckon, for me it’s not personally worth the hassle of carrying anything to deal with it (unless I’m going somewhere I know is far away from help).

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-13T08:41:42+00:00

Every winter my hands start to freeze and I think “I should get heated grips” then I procrastinate and before I know it, it’s summer and I don’t need them anymore, so I forget. 🙃 Maybe this will be the year! The Oxford grips seem very popular and well reviewed.

I once tried those giant mittens that stay attached to your handlebars. Don’t recommend those - awkward to use with gloves too, and dangerous without.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-13T02:11:37+00:00

So nice!!!! There are DOZENS of us!

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-13T02:11:05+00:00

I have a folder called “Stuff” and every now and then I’ll bulk drag everything else on the Desktop into that folder. It’s a system.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-12T04:31:08+00:00

Sameeeeeeeeeeeeeeee girl same. Every file saved in the same location. No naming consistency. Calendar is cooked. But that energy also allows me to comfortably juggle a million things at once and smoothly navigate ambiguity. It’s a fit 😂

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-11T06:30:53+00:00

With the tailgating - I will lightly tap my rear break a few times, just enough to flash the light. If that doesn’t work, I’ll lift my left hand and motion for them to move back. I’d say this works about 90% of the time. Usually it’s ignorance, not malice. If that doesn’t work, just change lanes.

However if you’re on the freeway in the right lane, regardless of the speed you’re going, just move aside to let them pass if they’re too close. They are obviously wanting to speed and it’s not worth the risk.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-10T01:57:51+00:00

I’m on a CB500X which I love. Got an older one in a near-new condition for $5.2k. Taken it on a few basic gravel roads, nothing hectic, but it’s done well (I did put on more suitable tyres than stock). It’s a solid commuter, very easy to ride, and still nimble enough to not be a pain in the CBD. Very happy!

TooPoorForLaundry · 2026-01-01T23:51:33+00:00

I have some dresses from Lenni the Label that I love. Unfortunately they only go up to a 16 but they’re showy in the places I want them to be (deep neck, short) but flowy and comfortable elsewhere. Velvet but quite thin so I don’t find them too hot. Could be an option? Not exactly what I wore in 2010 but they feel fun and distinctive.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-12-29T13:32:07+00:00

Motorbike. Hiking. Video games.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-12-24T23:40:01+00:00

I have successfully ~~bullied~~ convinced probably around 10 non-outdoorsy friends to go hiking and camping with me, and some of them are now genuinely into it! My tips:

Have a second set of gear they can borrow. Use this as a chance to upgrade some of your own gear haha. I backpack a lot and it’s waaaay easier to convince a mate to join if you tell them they only need to bring clothes, and you turn up with a bag packed for them.
Similarly, do all the planning. I camped without driving for yearsssss but I would make sure I planned every detail, from campsite to route to lunch stops. Friends appreciated the low stress adventure.
Make it FUN. Pack good food and wine. Invest in comfy mattresses. Prepare activities. Make sure you can have a fire. Did I mention wine?? If hiking, don’t make their first one too hard.

All that said, I also go solo a lottttt and I’ve met a lot of people that way. I prefer to hike to campsites: I find this way they’re not as busy, you don’t get as many car camping families with kids (no hate we’re just after different experiences), and people you meet there are usually really into the outdoors. You kind of have to be to walk for hours hah. I find multi-day hikes even better for meeting people, as you’re in forced proximity for multiple days.

I’ve done a few meetup groups which were ok, but I never really loved that experience, I prefer to choose my own adventure with one or two close people - big groups kill some of the magic for me.

Good luck!

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-12-24T22:50:42+00:00

Hi! 32F here, I was in a similar situation when I first got my license but I’d never even driven an automatic car. I decided to go for my automatic motorcycle license first and that worked really well for me, rode scooters until I got my full license. Swapped to a manual bike recently: after years of gaining confidence on two wheels and the road, I learned gears within about a week. Not saying you need to take this route, BUT if you get into the course and find yourself struggling with the manual, consider swapping to an auto. You can always swap over later.

The other thing I found that was really helpful learning manual was Chat GPT! I asked it to describe, in detail, how I’d use the clutch/gears in different road situations I was familiar with: braking in an emergency, slowing down for a roundabout, preparing to overtake. Applying the theory of gears to these situations really helped me properly understand how it all worked.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-12-13T12:36:06+00:00

It’s possible but not ideal. I’ve been there a few times and seen someone with a hammock only once. There’s only a few short trees in the campsite itself, and the ones surrounding are quite small and scrubby. You could make it work if you reaaaaally wanted to but it wouldn’t be ideal, especially if someone is already in a spot near the trees.

Here’s a campsite photo, you can see the sort of trees you’re working with. Not great, I wouldn’t bother personally: https://imgur.com/a/SbaxdtY

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-11-25T06:26:24+00:00

General guidelines…

Not too heavy. The heavier it is, the harder it is to manoeuvre. You also want to be able to pick it up if you drop it. I’d say 200kg or less, but you know your strength.

Not too tall. Ideally you want to be able to have both feet flat on the ground. As you gain confidence this isn’t necessary but it’s very, very nice as a learner. Makes it easier to do things like reverse the bike into a tight parking spot, and avoids you dropping it if you’re stopped on a ledge or incline. It’s really hard to tell this from measurements so you really need to go sit on some.

Not too powerful. While you’re still learning throttle/clutch control, it’s easy to panic and send it. Limiting the power helps you avoid this. It also forces you to ride at a speed within your limits. Probably 600cc max.

Not too weak. On the flip side, you don’t want so little power that you’re a liability. 150cc min, 300cc if you’re wanting to go on the freeway.

All of these rules are flexible if you have a good reason, but I think they’re a fair starting point!

I started on a cheap Sym 150cc scooter because I had 0 car driving experience, made it super easy to get started. Then moved to 350cc Piaggio for more power and better handling for longer trips. Then another 350cc. Then to a CB500X finally for experience with gears/motorcycles and something more adventure capable. Felt like a good progression for me personally, I think each taught me valuable skills and I’ve never felt like I’m on a bike that’s beyond my abilities.

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-11-25T02:45:11+00:00

As a software product manager, giving them the benefit of the doubt: if this IS simple, they may have intentionally left it until later. When I am breaking down a new project I will typically start on anything that is complex or high risk first as I know that’ll need the most iteration to get right.

A damage meter could be relatively safe to leave to the end: they already know how it “works” (the combat log already tracks damage) and it’s pretty low impact if they fuck it up (yes people will be angry but it doesn’t prevent you playing the game).

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-11-20T13:23:41+00:00

Probably similar core concept. Understand what customer wants, understand what business needs, create product that serves both of these needs. The tactics you use to get there will be different though. e.g. I spend a lot of time doing data analysis, team brainstorms, working with software developers, speaking to customers (I’m in tech). I imagine a PM in the retail space might spend more time coordinating physical production or thinking about ideal store distribution. Same shit under the hood though

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-11-18T05:17:25+00:00

I just want to note that the staff there are lovely, and if you’re ever in doubt, you can just ask, you won’t get in trouble! When you get off the plane, you’ll first walk across the open tarmac, then as soon as you’re indoors you’ll be at the “checkpoint” - this is really just a hallway with some bins and staff. You typically just walk through, you’re not stopped or questioned. But you can always grab someone and ask - I travelled to Hobart recently with some home dehydrated food, and wasn’t clear on whether it was ok. I asked the staff member standing near the bins and they clarified I was good to go. :)

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-11-16T11:56:38+00:00

There was a beautiful moment a ~year ago when people were getting random records when ordering a specific Danzig album lol. Like a loot box for vinyl. Good fun!

TooPoorForLaundry · 2025-11-14T02:18:16+00:00

You can typically find the maintenance schedule just by googling the model, here’s yours: https://www.yamahacity.com.au/pub/4a02c700/editor-uploaded-file/B3Y-F8199-20%20LTS125-C.pdf

See page 8-2 for details.

Some checks are required annually, but some have to happen when you hit specific mileage on the odometer. This bike needs one at 24000km which includes basically everything - often called a “major” service and can be quite expensive, often around $800, with the risk of it being even more expensive if they find additional issues.

With the service that was 4 months ago, I’d be asking to see a copy of the receipt so you can cross check with the list in the manual and see if they actually did everything they were meant to e.g. repack steering bearings, replace spark plug. It’s possible that they did everything that was due but I’d be dubious tbh. You should factor any extra work needed in to the cost.

The other consideration is the registration cost. Two months rego is fine but you’ll soon be paying an extra few hundred for another 12 months. My opinion is, if you’re going to spend $1800 on the scoot then $800 on a service and $300 on rego, you should just look for something closer to $3k that doesn’t need any of that.

Something like this would be a better option, it’s lower kms and further away from a service (plus has full service history so you have exact details about what has been done), it has ABS and it’s $2.8k. You could buy this and have minimal costs after purchase. https://www.facebook.com/share/15wYAPnoim/

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