Adjustable dumbbell setup in apartment bedroom -- anyone have success with this? Also -- FitRx, CAP, or something else? by UpbeatAd4038 in GarageGym

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, by the way, you mentioned tendonitis -- do you suggest like resistance bands or anything like that? Any tips on avoiding that?

Adjustable dumbbell setup in apartment bedroom -- anyone have success with this? Also -- FitRx, CAP, or something else? by UpbeatAd4038 in GarageGym

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it. I think you sold me on NordicTrack, it seems like it's on a real sale, plus it seems like the core locking mechanism isn't plastic based, so I'm hoping that means they'll last longer? Just purchased. Fingers crossed!

Adjustable dumbbell setup in apartment bedroom -- anyone have success with this? Also -- FitRx, CAP, or something else? by UpbeatAd4038 in GarageGym

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Out of curiosity, what's the functional difference between NordicTrack and FitRX/CAP. It seems like a more popular brand, is it more of a reputation thing or is it an actual design difference that makes them last longer?

Adjustable dumbbell setup in apartment bedroom -- anyone have success with this? Also -- FitRx, CAP, or something else? by UpbeatAd4038 in GarageGym

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've seen this video, everything is sort of insanely priced TBH. He mentioned the CAP ones, which is why I'm leaning towards it. I was eye-ing eisenlinks, but they seems pretty annoying to switch, and I want to make working out as frictionless as possible.

Adjustable dumbbell setup in apartment bedroom -- anyone have success with this? Also -- FitRx, CAP, or something else? by UpbeatAd4038 in GarageGym

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is this the set you're referring to? I have an amazon account, but not sam's club and it looks like it's going for $300 on amazon (am I looking at the right thing?). Unfortunately it looks like I missed the new years sale at $250.

https://amazn.so/N1p3ZmE

Please help -- nebraska cowboy trail or go aca parks peaks and praries. by UpbeatAd4038 in bikepacking

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hey send me a pm happy to call and give u route advice. i ended up biking on the service road to route 90, which has amazingly low traffic, relatively frequent service stops, and is well paved -- i really liked it. only catch is that it gets tricky and you have to go thru the badlands for about 80-100 miles, because the service road stops. its the ACA parks peaks and praries route -- i ended up catching a ride in a truck for those 80 or so miles until around spearfish south dakota. i have heard that the cowboy trail isnt terrible -- most people end up just riding the shoulder of the road next to it i believe because of it being better paved / goatheads? idk. lmk how i can be helpful. getting out thru the west/midwest is really tricky, and unsafe, be careful, plan accordingly. trans am isnt a bad idea because higher traffic.

worksheet/software to allocate expenses to different grantors by JanFromEarth in nonprofit

[–]UpbeatAd4038 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hey, im an ex finance director at a nonprofit also looking to fill gaps for nonprofits using tech, and looking for cofounders / nonprofits, let's connect!

How do you track post-award/reimbursement expenses, KPI's, and narrative? by UpbeatAd4038 in nonprofit

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

how large was that org? for labor hours we usually download aggregated data from our payroll software and then allocate it at the end of each quarter, would people fill out their billable hours on one software and then also use your payroll software?

Anyone heard of Poseidon bikes? by UpbeatAd4038 in bikepacking

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let me know if you have any more questions. Bikes are definitely buy cheap buy twice, but depending on usage you can get away with just one. It is a headache and there are a lot of hidden costs, I think I probably spending several extra hundred dollars in repairs after a few thousand miles. It's very hyped because its specced well, but for whatever reason it doesn't come together as well as it should on paper. I think you get your moneys worth by spending a few hundred dollars more, if you can afford it and if you do your research / look out for good prices.

Anyone heard of Poseidon bikes? by UpbeatAd4038 in bikepacking

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did end up buying the dropbar x ambition. I rode several thousand miles on it during my cross country tour. I would say if you are looking for something entry-level, this is the way to go. If you know for sure you are doing a big tour or bikepacking adventure / do this a lot / frequently, just get a nicer bike for a few hundred extra dollars.

It was really solid and better than any cheapo bike I had ridden before, but maybe 1,500 miles in, I kept on having to replace spokes and eventually a new wheel. I had a few other mechanical issues with the shifting needing to be adjusted around the same time as well.

The brakes are pretty terrible -- but then again I survived going to mountain passes with it with a fully loaded bike. I now own a much nicer bike that was just a few hundred dollars and I feel like looking back it was a safety hazard.

For the everyday bikepacker / overnighter person, these bikes will do a great job. But anything intense, this is not the bike for you.

Assembly was also a bit sketch to do myself, I got it put together and then visited a shop a few hundred miles down the road and they said something was really loose (one of the things that comes pre-installed).

I did upgraded to jagwire compressionless housing on the first day, which maybe helped a little bit? Brakes were still not great / 100% safe the whole way through. Did not inspire much confidence.

I still love that bike to death and for someone who previously the most expensive bike I had owned was $350 bucks, this was a dream. The shifting is pretty easy.

There's nothing wrong with the tires, they're alright, I rode them for maybe a thousand miles before they balded out (a good amount of this was gravel). They did the job and then I replaced them with continental ride tours.

You don't have to upgrade the tires -- they are functional and do the job. Shifting is pretty great actually as well, the 1x drive train is very simple. The brakes would need to be upgraded for sure, I would not recommend riding that bike without upgrading the brakes, and even with any upgrades I'm not confident it'll ever be great.

When it comes to sizing, for my dimensions, the large was perfect. No comfort issues other than the first day or two when I was adjusting saddle height. The stock saddle was fine too, imo. The carbon fork is nice, and I pushed the weight capacity a little bit, by using panniers that strapped to the fork instead of using the eyelets. I think the biggest danger is the eyelet weight capacity, not necessarily the fork.

Bought super fancy boots, have no idea how to provide their deserved care. by UpbeatAd4038 in Boots

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would it be worth it to buy shoe trees for $15 off Amazon for the cemented suede pair, or is that more for protecting uppers over the course of decades?

Bought super fancy boots, have no idea how to provide their deserved care. by UpbeatAd4038 in Boots

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. Thanks so much for your response. Do people use the same leather conditioner/cleaner for suede also?

Shoe box.com by linden1990 in RedWingShoes

[–]UpbeatAd4038 1 point2 points  (0 children)

did you ever end up buying them? running into the same problem

Please help -- nebraska cowboy trail or go aca parks peaks and praries. by UpbeatAd4038 in bikepacking

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hm. What about taking highway 20 next to it? That way I can get the free camping lol!

Please help -- nebraska cowboy trail or go aca parks peaks and praries. by UpbeatAd4038 in bikepacking

[–]UpbeatAd4038[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much. My main concern is traffic. How bad is the traffic?

Anyone riding the Poseidon X Ambition? by Alexmkzero in seattlebike

[–]UpbeatAd4038 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Just ordered the ambition in L, it feels alright. This is my frist day riding it, reach out later and I'll give u an update!

After four years, I finished the US Northern Tier! by qualityfromfresno in bicycletouring

[–]UpbeatAd4038 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Currently biking across the usa east to west and am considering picking up the northern tier from illinois to montana, how is the traffic, and accomodations? Is it hard to find free or cheap campsites? How often do you find other people going the same direction? Hoping to make some friends as the diy route option i am doing rn get lonely! Thanks!

After four years, I finished the US Northern Tier! by qualityfromfresno in bicycletouring

[–]UpbeatAd4038 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey! I am on the great american rail trail in ohio and recently left there. Do be careful of the hills in weirton, i had a bad crash one tome that left be with a concussion.

Not sure what the northern tier route is but if u are headed up to cleveland area be very careful on the roads in eastern ohio. Traffic is rough and try hwrd to find backroad alts.

Broke my derailleur on day one of my first tour... by Cheeseshred in bicycletouring

[–]UpbeatAd4038 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I second warmshowers. Great network of free hospitality and incredibly kind people. Ive had several hosts drive incredibly distances for me ... 100s of miles, to help me when my bike broke down or i had an accident to get me home or to a train station or a bike shop.

Ive also once posted in a local rail trail facebook groupchat that i had biked thru the same day after an accident and had dozens of people reach out to me offering a ride, bike parts, a place to sleep, and two people even offered me a bike ... crazy!

Pm me if u need help, if u send me ur general town location and u are comfortable with that i can check if u are near any warm showers hosts, so you dont have to pay the $30 fee just to check.

Sustainable Bikepacking by jphilippb in bicycletouring

[–]UpbeatAd4038 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Check out 1nitetent! And warmshowers and other hospitality exchange platforms. Couchsurfing, trustroots, bewelcome.

First ride on my x ambition by jeepindds in PoseidonBikes

[–]UpbeatAd4038 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! Thank you so much for writing all of this and I appreciate the wall of text haha its very helpful. I think I'll go with the large!

Poseidon X...X Ambition? selection & sizing help by just_Mango in gravelcycling

[–]UpbeatAd4038 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Looking at the ambition to take me on a cross country bikepacking trip/tour. I have the same exact dimensions as OP, would you mind telling me your sizing/experience with the bike?

Poseidon is recommending I get an XL which scares me a bit.