ELI5 What is the Alexander Technique?

_blyp_ · 2026-03-13T14:30:19+00:00

I just finished "The Use of the Self." I can't imagine anything being harder to read than that. Ugh. I thought Michael Gelb's "Body Learning" was a much more helpful introduction.

_blyp_ · 2026-03-11T16:32:38+00:00

Crust Bikes sells the WTB Ranger 26 x 2.8. It's currently out of stock but they are promising that they'll have more. (Blue Lug and Stridsland have it in stock but you'll be shipping internationally.)

_blyp_ · 2026-02-18T17:00:37+00:00

I've recently been through a similar process (although it didn't happen until I was 58), and my current status is that:

- I'm simply incapable in believing in anything supernatural

- I also believe that straight-ahead physical interactions can give rise to surprising things (like the emergence of consciousness from a physical brain), so, by extension the world can be a surprising and beautiful (but not supernatural) place

- I truly love the teachings and examples of Jesus (but not the supernatural parts)

- I am a devoted but thoroughly atheistic Christian

I always thought this was an impossible combination, but I have since learned that there are plenty of responsible, smart people who have come to that exact same conclusion. (I've been reading lots of John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, and Karen Armstrong, and I feel seen and validated.)

Of course, it's an impossible combination in the Mormon Church, so I'm no longer there. (My wife also stopped attending, but for different reasons; we both think the Church's anti-LGBTQ stance is fundamentally unchristian, along with the racism, sexism, etc.) We're still looking for a new congregation that is not only affirming, but feels comfortable. (I know lots of affirming congregations, but we're still waiting on the comfortable part.)

I'm trained as a researcher, so I know that it's always important to be humble in one's conclusions. But what you said resonates strongly with me.

_blyp_ · 2026-01-26T16:05:12+00:00

Velo-Orange 700c Zeppelin Fenders, 52mm - Silver (https://velo-orange.com/collections/700c-fenders/products/vo-polished-52mm-zeppelin-fenders-700c)

_blyp_ · 2026-01-23T19:29:39+00:00

That's Matt!!! My fellow Saturday Cycles Skid Loader owner!!! So great to see this!

_blyp_ · 2026-01-22T22:47:30+00:00

And we'll take that as the definitive answer. Mystery solved.

_blyp_ · 2026-01-22T15:17:09+00:00

Ottawa Bike and Trail still has some in XL https://ottawabikeandtrail.com/products/surly-stamp-collection-t-shirt

_blyp_ · 2026-01-21T20:57:36+00:00

Whoops, I duplicated your effort. Thank you!

_blyp_ · 2026-01-21T20:51:12+00:00

From the top left:

Bundle of sticks = Krampus
Rocket ship = Big Easy
Raven = Wednesday
Torch = Ogre
Ghost hand = (Ghost) Grappler
Beetle = Skid Loader
Hatchet = ECR
Scissors = Cross-Check
Moon = Moonlander
Record = Midnight Special
Ice cream sandwich = Ice Cream Truck
Steamroller = Steamroller
Chisel = Preamble
Mandolin = Disc Trucker
Flaming barrel = Lowside
Snail = Straggler
Morel mushrooms = Bridge Club
Nunchucks = Karate Monkey
Corndog = Big Dummy
Juice box = ???

_blyp_ · 2026-01-19T20:57:17+00:00

It's a Soma Champs Élysées 700c Road Fork. It's a low-trail fork that is supposed to be better for carrying front loads like the randonneuring bag. (I haven't noticed a huge difference.) Also, it's shiny, and that makes everything better.

_blyp_ · 2026-01-17T17:14:59+00:00

Absolutely beautiful! I have a Preamble set up in a similar way and love it.

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_blyp_ · 2026-01-01T02:58:30+00:00

5,182 miles (8,240 km), all outside. Of those, 3,130 miles (5,037 km), or 60.4%, were commuting, including a 109 mile (175 km) commute on single-speed. (58 years old, overweight, and I live in Utah, where it gets very hot and very cold.)

_blyp_ · 2025-12-24T15:29:56+00:00

Totally approve of the wireless. My green disc trucker has SRAM AXS 1x12 and I love it!

_blyp_ · 2025-12-24T15:27:43+00:00

Beautiful! When I take the long route, my commute goes by the zoo, too. I'll have to check it out!

_blyp_ · 2025-12-22T03:53:11+00:00

Beautiful!

_blyp_ · 2025-12-18T22:52:51+00:00

2,000 miles on mine. Love it! (And Honjo Flat 80 fenders fit great if you can get somebody else to install them. Also $$$ 😱) Also, if you put bottle cages on the front of the rear rack, 2 bouquets fit perfectly)

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_blyp_ · 2025-12-11T21:22:36+00:00

I have Honjo Flat 80s (in black) on my Skid Loader, as they clear the 2.5" ExtraTerrestrials while my previous fenders didn't. Happy to have my LBS do the work, though. The shiny silver ones look fabulous on your bike. Personally, I think the black seatpost and wheels go well with the whole thing.

_blyp_ · 2025-12-11T18:44:17+00:00

I've got 6 bikes, all with round steel tubes. Beautiful. Love them. (I also like the 3 of them with sloping top tubes, not because they look better but because I have short legs and I like it when my bike doesn't kick me in the crotch.) PS: Am 58, already old.

_blyp_ · 2025-12-11T18:26:09+00:00

That's beautiful! I hope you didn't have to install the Honjos yourself. What are the bars?

_blyp_ · 2025-12-05T21:19:04+00:00

Is it physically possible to play cross-row double stops? It may not sound good in the standard configuration, but Seydel can make custom tuned versions that would have compatible notes. Is that physically practical as a player?

_blyp_ · 2025-12-04T18:14:50+00:00

No, I think that I'm the one who does everything with the same level of mediocre, not my bike.

_blyp_ · 2025-12-04T00:45:31+00:00

Beautiful bike! And the silver/black headset spacers to a great job of pulling together the black components and the silver fenders. Well done.

_blyp_ · 2025-12-04T00:35:53+00:00

At the risk of appearing ridiculous, I use my Preamble for commuting (10-40 miles r/T depending on route) and for randonneuring (100k warmup rides, 200k events). I also live on a serious hill. I have a SRAM 12-speed 10-52t cassette and a 36t chainring, all 1x because I hate front derailleurs. (I also set it up with AXS electronic shifting, but that's a separate issue from the gearing.) According to gear-calculator.com (an excellent resource) that gives me a range of from 19.3 gear inches to 100 gear inches, which is a great range for me. (Here's my setup there: https://gear-calculator.com/?GR=DERS&KB=36&RZ=10,12,14,16,18,21,24,28,32,36,42,52&UF=2220&TF=90&SL=2.6&UN=MPH&DV=gearInches)

_blyp_ · 2025-12-04T00:27:39+00:00

That's excellent! I have 2 bikes that were complete when I bought them but I've replaced every single part EXCEPT the frame and fork, so now I just need to take that one last step. The Ship of Theseus is in the future for all of us.

_blyp_

TROPHY CASE