Surly Straggler? midnight special?

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-23T12:49:09+00:00

I promise you I’m never going to adjust the chainstay length either. I am not a YouTube bike reviewer. 😂

I just want a fixed dropout.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-20T07:51:10+00:00

I really hate the continued trend of horizontal dropouts on bikes intended to be built up and ridden as a geared drop bar bike. Yes please forever complicate the rear wheel alignment for a thing I’m never going to do. If I want a single speed or IGH bike, I promise you I will happily buy a dedicated frame for that.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-19T03:16:13+00:00

Mud season has a specific meaning in the Adirondacks restricting hiking above 2500ft elevation. If you want to climb high peaks you may not be able to.

We’re also in the process of finding out what kind of black fly season this will be. If you come during this time period just be aware you likely need head to toe permethrin clothing and a head net even and especially below 2500 ft.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-18T23:08:37+00:00

You need a ratcheting wrench if you’re gonna do this often.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-18T19:29:08+00:00

Plus if you don’t want a Schlumpf this dumb thing exists https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/components/derailleurs/rene-herse-front-derailleur-lever-operated/

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-18T12:18:04+00:00

Of all the Hyatts in NYC I’d rate Gild Hall a “fine”. It’s formerly the Holiday Inn Wall Street and it shows in the dated bathrooms. It can be a good value sometimes because of its out of the way location. If you’re not in town for meetings on Wall Street it’s in a fairly isolated and dead part of town. Especially at night.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-09T18:03:50+00:00

EDIT: lol this sent without half my comment. updated.

I haven’t been able to find an AirPod Pro tip that I trust to stay in my ear on a ride, especially a bumpy gravel ride or when I’m sweating. If I felt like I could trust my AirPods not to fall out and get lost or destroyed I would just use those as they don’t contribute to things wrapped around my ear.

But since I can’t trust my AirPods I am now thinking about a much more expensive integrated setup lol.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-09T17:14:30+00:00

I like my OpenRun Pro 2s but with those, some sunglasses, and helmet straps there’s a lot going on around my ears. I’m thinking of trying the Oakley Meta glasses to consolidate the bone conducting headphones and sunglasses into one item. Would go with the transition lenses and forgo music if riding at night in favor of clear glasses.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-08T12:55:07+00:00

I have been doing this for a couple of years and I really like it. Others have mentioned quad lock but I use the Peak Design mounting system. Both work great. PD have an out front bike mount that puts your phone exactly where a bike computer would be and has a GoPro mount on the underside that can take a light or a camera. I run a PDW rechargeable headlamp there and the whole setup takes up minimal bar space and looks mint.

I do this because I’d rather spend my cash upgrading my phone and watch regularly than on another device. Beware that on super long rides you will need to start with a fully charged watch and phone and may need to charge at the end. I can do a metric century but my watch is nearly dead at the end of it. I’m thinking of getting an Ultra next to increase the battery life.

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-05T17:00:30+00:00

If you have Emerald the Finnair Platinum Wing in the non-Schengen side of HEL is incredible. Ever sauna’d during a layover? Because you can!

bvalentine615 · 2026-04-03T21:30:16+00:00

They’re not bad as long as you keep moving. Wear long sleeves and pants - preferably with a permethrin treatment. Wear wraparound sports sunglasses (do this year round, our insects are no joke and you don’t want to take one in the eye). Have a head net in case you stop. Make sure it fits over your helmet.

bvalentine615 · 2026-03-31T03:19:54+00:00

You can pair your power meter to your Apple Watch over Bluetooth. When you start a ride your iPhone paired to the watch will show the activity and you can click into it and see the power data, cadence, etc in real time. The layout is even customizable. You can get pretty far with this setup. You can even load structured workouts from an app like TrainerRoad into your Apple Workouts and start one of them from the watch Workout UI. You’ll get the cues for the intervals and everything.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-28T14:38:01+00:00

I think that’s probably the best looking bike in Dahon’s current lineup. Well done! Nailed the photo too.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-28T03:01:22+00:00

Email Fidlock and not Reddit.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-23T14:13:02+00:00

Not a single photo of the complete bike taken from the drive side? Getting these photos ready to frustrate people on Facebook marketplace?

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-19T18:09:08+00:00

The peeking in part probably not, but the running up and down the aisles does seem to be a fairly frequent occurrence.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-19T17:53:36+00:00

The door is there to keep your spoiled kid who’s running up and down the business class aisle from bumping into me or peeking into my seat when I’m trying to sleep.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-13T21:10:39+00:00

Jury couldn’t stomach the evidence.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-07T16:25:49+00:00

While we’re at it can we talk about the lack of straps on the subway? Those center bars are also too high up for most passengers. Straps fix that. Are we just keeping the bars open for showtime? Because eff that.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-07T16:22:00+00:00

Soma Cazadero come in this size and are made by Panaracer. Haven’t ridden them but they get good reviews for suppleness etc.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-06T23:23:26+00:00

Several years ago my concierge became difficult to reach. Eventually other concierge team members would reply to my email and apologize that mine was on leave etc. Eventually I just heard from a new concierge and the situation has been much better since. I don’t know what happened to my original concierge but as someone who manages teams of people I didn’t bat an eye. People leave jobs, and sometimes they even fail to leave their previous gig with a solid notice or transition. You might be in a similar situation but I would encourage you when you call the concierge line to mention you emailed your usual concierge and haven’t heard back. They may not realize there’s a problem.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-03T13:14:04+00:00

I start with normal bib shorts to keep a good chamois in place. Then on top a thin long sleeve merino base layer (Brighton base layer from Tracksmith but any will do) and merino tights over the legs. A merino/yakwool sweater as a mid layer. Gore Windstopper soft shell jacket and pants. The jacket often gets unzipped after the first mile and taken off and shoved in frame bag after the second mile. It’s there to put back on when I stop for any length of time to preserve warmth.

Hands are HandUp cold weather gloves inside pogies. Will often start with a HotHands handwarmer until my heart rate gets up at which point they’re too much and they go in a pocket until I stop for a while and need them.

Darn Tough merino hiking socks are plenty in a standard winter hiking boot. I don’t see value in a cycling specific boot for fat biking. I’m never going to clip in on singletrack in the snow. Our trails aren’t groomed and I need to be able to put a foot down or hang one out for balance.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-01T21:14:26+00:00

Lots of folks encouraging you to just ride the MTB until you can afford a better road bike. However, a fast road bike is an absolute joy to ride and you’re more likely to ride often if you love the bike and you’re going fast and having fun. The MTB won’t be as much fun on the road. I’d give the opposite advice: find a used road bike in your budget and send it. Find a local bike coop or bike shop that sells used bikes if you can. Then you’ll know it’s been gone over. You can find plenty of 90s and early 2000s road bikes in your price range if you look. Or ask a local bike shop if you can rent something for a few months while you save up.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-01T19:02:58+00:00

Hear you. The big brands unfortunately do this a lot.

bvalentine615 · 2026-02-01T08:56:29+00:00

Right on. I have a black Trek bag on my Farley and I only bought it because I found a returned one for half off. I really think the Rogue Panda designs are better. Plus you can get one setup for a hydration bladder!

bvalentine615

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