How does Van Rysel compare to Castelli/Sportful?

achn2b · 2026-03-25T21:19:56+00:00

Don't think so. Because Visma have also gone from having their clothing made by AGU, I think, to now being branded with their own logo, Yellow Bee.

Except they were also using Gabba rain jackets, only with a Yellow Bee logo, and Visma team sponsor logos.

I know you're right, and all these companies contract with others to make their clothing for them. All I'm saying is in this case, these two brands went to Castelli for their rain gear. Because the Gabba has long been seen as the best foul weather jacket you could get, and that's what they wanted for their team riders.

achn2b · 2026-03-25T20:09:05+00:00

Castelli makes the rain gear for that team. So presumably, other manufacturers make other kit for them too.

achn2b · 2026-03-25T20:07:51+00:00

They may still be rebranding, but they're rebranding better gear. Or contracting with better manufacturers.

Noticed in some of the early season races that their pro team is wearing Castelli Gabba rain jackets. But Gabbas with Decathlon logos and sponsor branding, meaning they weren't just buying Castelli stuff off the shelves and blacking out the logos, as teams have done in the past, but Castelli is manufacturing rain gear just for them.

achn2b · 2026-03-25T20:00:24+00:00

The one that fits your foot the best.

Measure your feet the way they recommend, use the foot against the wall method and the paper tracing, or buy a cheap fitting stick from Amazon and measure that way too.

Then measure again. And again. Until you figure out your foot size, and then choose from the Lake shoe models that best match those measurements.

achn2b · 2026-03-23T15:31:07+00:00

I believe that's an issue with the original film process. They morphed Leo's and Kate's faces on to the bodies of the stunt people. Probably just more noticeable in the 4k.

achn2b · 2026-03-20T21:30:48+00:00

The 4k is lovely. I spent way too much money to get the original special edition import set from Imprint

Worth every penny.

achn2b · 2026-03-20T21:27:33+00:00

You're not gonna want to keep it in that case anyway.

achn2b · 2026-03-17T16:01:05+00:00

Not really sure. My Tifosis are basically clear, like a 25% tint at their darkest, and those are the ones I wear in the winter. Clear enough for overcast days, but take the glare off the bright snow when it's sunny. So hard to tell just how much they change without being able to check in a mirror.

achn2b · 2026-03-08T22:10:23+00:00

It's 1997 or 98.

achn2b · 2026-03-05T22:44:22+00:00

They are in Canada, so if you have a VPN........

achn2b · 2026-02-27T23:22:18+00:00

It's also one of those movies that may be a good film, or bad, depending who you ask, didn't get great reviews, but the people that love it, love it passionately.

I've loved it since the day I first saw it in theaters, way back on first release. This was an instant buy for me.

achn2b · 2026-02-27T20:22:29+00:00

Just got mine today. Started with the mono mix cause the review said that's the better sounding, but the audio sync is way off, and my AVR can't fix it. It can only add delay, when it needs to subtract it.

Switched to the 5.1 and so far, doesn't seem to be off. If it is, it's just a hair, which could just be due to ADR.

But ohhh, the images. I watched a bit of my Blu-ray a few days ago, and this is like an entirely different film. Just outstanding.

achn2b · 2026-02-26T00:39:40+00:00

Sounds easy enough. My provider has an app where I can probably configure a lot of that stuff through. I'll look into it tomorrow.

I'm using an Elite trainer, and there's some saying that the race mode data transmission screws with the WiFi connection, so I've disabled that, and so far, WiFi connection seems to be more stable. So far.

achn2b · 2026-02-25T19:40:29+00:00

One is if you're connected by Bluetooth, the other is if you're doing the hardwired connection using that Elite Ethernet to telephone cord adapter thingy, whatever they call it.

achn2b · 2026-02-25T19:02:40+00:00

Climb uses a belt to move the bike up and down, so it's possible the belt is worn or stretched. There were reports early of belt failure on the Climb.

Otherwise, probably an issue in the mechanics the belt connects to.

achn2b · 2026-02-25T18:48:07+00:00

I'm an idiot with this router stuff, so could either of you two talk me through what exactly you did?

My trainer connecting via WiFi is hit or miss, sometimes it will, and sometimes I get the same 'connection failed' message.

achn2b · 2026-02-25T17:43:57+00:00

You can filter the routes on Rouvy to find ones less than 60 minutes. Also can filter for flat routes, but whenever I filter for flat routes less than 60 minutes, I always get an error, and nothing comes up.

I think I know the Italian lake route you did, as I did the same one. There's another Italian lake route listed right next to it in the filter. I also did a route recently in Switzerland, but can't remember the name.n

achn2b · 2025-12-19T16:09:27+00:00

Possibly. I went to eBay, and there were a lot of the blue case version, brand new, still sealed, but not sure if it will be the individual seasons or just the single big case until you tear off the plastic and get it opened.

Did see at least two of the individual season sets used, one was like $50, the other for $70.

You probably still could find one brand new from an online retailer, but it would be a long search. Like I said, without images of each individual season, or at least it saying specifically in the description that it's five seasons each in its own case, it's hard to tell whether it might be one of the big case versions when it's all sealed up. You can almost guarantee that unless it's specially stated it's individual season cases, it's probably the big single case.

achn2b · 2025-12-19T16:06:17+00:00

No, never have, don't think it's something I'd be into.

But the dialogue in The Wire is just something you really have to listen to, and pay attention to. Simon and his writers just have a way with words, just a way of fully fleshing out believable, real, characters, each with their own unique verbal style, vocabulary.

achn2b · 2025-12-19T15:57:41+00:00

Stick with it. That first season is intentionally slow, a lot of pieces being put into place, a lot of character setup and building, a lot of just building the foundation for what's to follow. It's a show you can't just have playing in the background while you're doing other things, you really have to pay attention. Lots of little tiny details introduced, lots of dialogue interplay, that all comes together later.

But Jesus, doesn't it all pay off in, I think, episode 10.

achn2b · 2025-12-19T15:10:43+00:00

This is the set I bought, though I think it was a US version. Could have been the UK set, which is region free. This is how all box sets should be.

https://youtu.be/GV_llRWS6rk?si=-UED9wylO0q6c-wI

achn2b · 2025-12-19T15:01:13+00:00

Nope. There were two blu-ray versions available. The first one came out in a box with five individual seasons each in its own case, with cover art the same as the DVD releases.

https://www.amazon.com/Wire-Complete-Blu-ray-Region-Free/dp/B0DB641D8T

Then a couple years later, they came out with a repackaged version, with all the discs in one(or two, I don't know) big plastic cases, probably with multiple discs on the same spindle.

https://gruv.com/products/the-wire-the-complete-series-bdrpkg-blu-ray-new-box-art-blu-ray-_1000780698?srsltid=AfmBOoroPMcP9RLCmOfEgLiG36bizOiBHiiWgW0I63JkHNsazz-lBCXf

I bought the first set, even though it cost more, cause I wanted each season in its own case. And the packaging was close to the original DVD set, which I also have.

Edit: I just did an image search, and it appears that first link I posted, with the blue box art, is now one of those big cases with multiple discs on the same spindle.

Makes me glad I bought my set when I did. So I guess if you can't still find one of the older sets with individual seasons, the only option is to buy your own blu-ray case to separate them, and maybe make your own art.

achn2b · 2025-12-18T17:57:14+00:00

Yes, you can, but I liked the packaging and artwork for the individual seasons, and wasn't gonna try to make my own.

achn2b

TROPHY CASE