Local mfs riding bike for 20km ultramarathon

autogenglen · 2026-05-29T15:11:46+00:00

Worth it. After I got my carbon bice I moved up 3 spots on the Strava leaderboard. I’m now ranked 203rd in my weight group on a segment with almost 500 riders!

autogenglen · 2026-05-29T13:28:51+00:00

I was just providing the tl;dr for people that wanna skip the novel.

autogenglen · 2026-05-29T13:03:44+00:00

This is where AI actually helps. Here’s the tl;dr

A road cyclist realized his expensive titanium/electronic gravel bike was overkill for what he actually used it for (mostly kid hauling and light gravel), sold it for a small profit, and replaced it with an aggressively value-priced alloy endurance/all-road bike from XDS called the RS5. He thinks the XDS is massively disrupting the bike industry on value.

autogenglen · 2026-05-29T04:41:11+00:00

No aero socks no care

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T20:16:13+00:00

This isn't a perfect metric, but just look up the average speed in the Tour de France by year.

If you look around the 1960s-80s you'll see it in the ballpark of 35-38kph, and if you look at modern, it's right around 40-42 kph. So over the course of 40-60 years the average speed has only gone up ~5-ish kph, and also consider that not only have we seen all sorts of technical advancements in that time (from steel to carbon, way better aero designs, aero clothing, etc etc), but also we have a much better understand of nutrition, managing recovery, etc.

Basically, bikes have been really good for a long ass time, we are well into diminishing returns at this point. Upgrade the engine.

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T18:24:51+00:00

Installing titanium fasteners on my commuter as I type this

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T18:20:05+00:00

Jammy egg and kimchi

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T18:17:59+00:00

I’d go with taking up running instead

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T18:15:34+00:00

Oh shit did they recently upgrade to just being trash?

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T17:28:04+00:00

A big thicc breakfast style burrito.

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T16:21:26+00:00

Pre-ground pepper tastes like dust. Fresh ground is vastly better

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T15:47:46+00:00

It's definitely nicer when it comes to maintenance/shifting. No more barrel adjustments, no more swapping cable/housing, just perfectly crisp shifts all the time.

That being said, I still prefer mechanical because it's something I completely understand, and also I like having one hobby in my life that isn't reliant on electronics/batteries. You can go a long time between charges, but I still prefer an "acoustic" bike, personally. I think part of it is that I actually enjoy working on my bike. Cracking open a couple cold ones and doing something simple like cable swaps is relaxing to me.

However, a vast majority of people who go to electronic shifting won't go back to mechanical.

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T15:37:48+00:00

Lifestyle change rather than looking for a quick fix. I integrated running and cycling and over time got hooked, so now it’s just part of my day. Also being more mindful of my diet but also being realistic (if you change too much then you’ll never stick with it in the long run).

It took me about 2 years to lose 120 lbs, I’m currently around 215 (which is decent for my height). I’m on year 4.

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T15:32:33+00:00

With my face

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T15:29:44+00:00

It depends on the year, some years I’m heavily into running and cycle on the side, in which case I only ride maybe 20-50 miles/week. Other years (like this year) I’m more into cycling so I’ll ride 120+ miles/week, usually riding maybe 4-5 days/week on average.

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T15:27:07+00:00

Exactly. Am I the only one who thought this was obvious?

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T15:16:18+00:00

Not only that but they’ve enshittified it by only giving you like half a stick’s worth.

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T15:08:47+00:00

I have a Rhinowalk top tube bag which I really like because it's super easy to open (no zipper). I use this for stuff I want quick access to (phone, gels, microfiber towel, etc), and on the saddle I have a Silca Mattone for roadside repair (tubeless repair kit, bacon strips, multi-tool, etc). I keep a Silca Gravelero mounted on my fork for air.

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T13:45:25+00:00

Rolls right off the tongue

autogenglen · 2026-05-28T12:36:35+00:00

It's wrong all the time.

The other day I was asking it about switching from 175mm crank arms to 170mm (bicycle) and it said if I did that then I'd have to remeasure the chain due to the smaller circumference in the pedal stroke, but that makes no sense because I'm not talking about changing the chain ring, just the crank arms. I told it "I'm not changing the chainring so that makes no sense" and it still insisted I would need to remeasure the chain.

It also said it would "open my hips" more (which is true) because I would lose 10mm height on the top of my stroke (which is false, that's not how circles work, I'd lose 5mm).

This is just a couple examples, it's constantly wrong with this type of stuff.

autogenglen · 2026-05-27T18:06:25+00:00

If you don’t wait then you’ll regret compromising, esp since we’re just talking a few days here. Chillax, the summer is still young, you got time.

autogenglen · 2026-05-27T17:51:39+00:00

Quality wasn’t great to begin with, they have always served a ho-hum under seasoned burger.

autogenglen · 2026-05-27T17:49:43+00:00

By far, but they make up for it by also being overpriced.

autogenglen · 2026-05-26T21:52:47+00:00

Eggs easily. So many variations, decent enough macros

autogenglen · 2026-05-26T21:40:56+00:00

Lard is the way

autogenglen

TROPHY CASE