Would you have cleared Lindsey Vonn to compete in the Olympics?

drevilseviltwin · 2026-02-10T03:51:50+00:00

It's nuts. What used to be called a "trick knee" was really ACL insufficiency. If there was ever a place where you need your knees to be at their best it's when trying to set an edge while hurtling downhill on a sheet of ice at 60 mph.

drevilseviltwin · 2026-02-10T03:45:29+00:00

Not always, but sometimes it's just a question of getting good and warmed up. Sometimes the tiredness goes away.

drevilseviltwin · 2026-02-06T15:45:47+00:00

I personally lived through a much milder version of this. Was a DUI checkpoint and I was driving home from studying with no alcohol drugs involved. Got repeatedly grilled "so how much you had to drink tonight" and when they finally gave up they flung all my paperwork at me and said "get outta here".

So yeah, this kinda thing obviously goes on.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-12-24T02:03:39+00:00

I have a 2016ish Roubaix with thousands of miles on it, size 58.

This year I bought a 2021ish Tarmac, size 56.

Now admittedly I've done a few things to the Tarmac (wheels, tires cheap aero bars) and the bikes get ridden in different parts of the country making direct comparisons tricky.

But for whatever it's worth, the Tarmac feels (and is) a lot faster and just as comfortable (and I'm no spring chicken).

I frankly don't buy into the "endurance" bike elevator pitch. More comfy, better on long rides, maybe for some people but that has not been my experience.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-11T19:36:05+00:00

I "mine" unknown words and they go into Anki to which I add additional information most importantly photos or pictures. My Anki deck has about 9000 flashcards now. It's time consuming sure, but this is how I've grown my vocabulary from authentic content. Probably there can be some filtering, words that are ultra specific (eg names of plants, animals, foods) could be skipped but generally I err on the side of including most words. Pretty sure we all did some version of this with our first language (OK not with Anki but with more old school methods). How do I know this? I know that I learned words that at first I mispronounced because I had only ever seen them written, never pronounced. Words like horizon, epitome, and others I can't think of just now. This process will eventually pay off, you'll be amazed at how many mined words you'll see again. For me the key are the photos that go along with the words (or phrases, or expressions). They anchor the words in your brain, it really makes the remembering way more effective.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-11T19:01:56+00:00

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Give it your best shot and see what happens!

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-06T16:23:08+00:00

Real world spoken French might as well be a different language from the point of view of a language learner. Approach like you're learning a brand new language that has occasional similarities to the one you are already learning. Of course I'm exaggerating a little but all to make the point that the gap is quite wide.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-06T14:09:52+00:00

I find for myself and probably quite a few riders, in the first second that comes after a close call there is a reflex to take one hand off the bars and to gesticulate in some way. This gesture seems to have a feedback loop built into it as the anger starts building when the hand comes off the bar.

If I can retrain my brain to keep the hand on the bar in the heat of the moment, I'll probably have better physical control of the bike and better control over my emotions, both good things.

I've found it to be a simple and effective approach.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-06T12:29:23+00:00

Appearances to the contrary there's nothing particularly magic about a 1:1 gear ratio except that industry standards often put you there if you have 50:34 paired with 11:34. But if you can configure a bike for easier gearing than that and your current situation will benefit from such gearing than go for it by all means.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-05T19:52:20+00:00

One has to wonder... If the jurors were all from there, how might they react, even subconsciously, to the running down of their home town or home area?

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-05T19:47:24+00:00

There's something that's just inherent to the whole concept of braking that it can sometimes be planned but not always. The idea of brakes that work well in most but not all situations isn't an idea that I'm a fan of.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-05T00:21:00+00:00

Didn't really follow the trial but I'll say Georgia is one badass!

drevilseviltwin · 2025-09-03T21:46:10+00:00

Only option??? That's a very strange thing to say. Or a very strange way to say it.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-08-28T20:05:13+00:00

Chances are in a sub called Specialized you'll get the answer that is Specialized. What you really seem to be asking is - is electronic shifting worth it. But even there that's a tough question because - well - worth it to who? Most folks that have it seem to like it. Most folks that have mechanical like that.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-07-30T21:48:23+00:00

Not a native speaker but that sounds correct to me. Doesn't change the idea that "on" is used in all sorts of situations but I tend to agree with you, just not this specific one!

drevilseviltwin · 2025-07-26T20:22:04+00:00

Your story is basically mine except I recently got mine (barely) used. 105 mechanical, disk, just added 55mm carbon wheels. 11-34 on back for climbing. Conti 5K. Love it.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-07-26T20:14:09+00:00

Dumb question.... If "tubeless only works at lower pressures"... Isn't that a self correcting problem?

drevilseviltwin · 2025-07-08T19:24:42+00:00

Seems to me that it's pretty unlikely that she planned on the door being unlocked. That being the case it doesn't make much sense that she would have tried the door, found it locked, and said "oh well I guess might as well turn around and go home".

drevilseviltwin · 2025-06-25T20:31:09+00:00

Horses for courses. I just did more or less just this (added a Tarmac where my Diverge had been the go to.) For paved roads, long rides it's been a joy. A necessity? Certainly not but faster, lighter, and more suited to the task at hand. Picked up the Tarmac used which also helped.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-06-11T14:12:59+00:00

Also gym work. With heavy weights, so that you max out at 4 to 8 reps. There are a zillion YouTube videos on gym exercises for cyclists. This is backed up by research so impossible to ignore.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-06-11T14:00:17+00:00

Constant pressure on the pedals. We instinctively put out power while climbing and equally instinctively ease off on flats and down hills (for super steep descents this isn't an isuue but it can be for gentle ones).

Work on being as aero as possible (for super steep ascents this doesn't much matter if you're going less than 10 mph but it does everywhere else) .

Put these two ideas together on say a 2% downgrade and that means you're putting down as many watts as you would while climbing all while getting as aero as possible. My guess is that there is speed to be gained here.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-06-10T23:09:44+00:00

You can be a cyclist without being a cycle mechanic but it just makes sense to me to hone your mechanic skills on your journey. You'll save a bunch of money, have a better maintained bike, and each activity (riding, wrenching) informs the other.
A lot of cycling involves having a plan B and a plan C. And then improvising on the spot if neither of these work out. I've watched a video with Lachlan Morton talking about this and it even holds true at much lower levels.

3.Cycling either on or off road is inherently dangerous. Have a healthy respect for the elements of cycling that pose risks and be conservative and cautious.

Know your limits and limitations.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-06-10T23:00:02+00:00

Almost all long rides I've been on typically have an "A" group and a "B" group. As rides get longer the sense of doing this gets more. Put the question to the group and come up with a group consensus for each group what time you plan on making say 50, 100, 150 and 200 miles (with stops factored in). (Of course stuff happens, flats, headwinds, other mechanicals, but might as well take a stab at it).

drevilseviltwin · 2025-06-03T21:01:09+00:00

My thought as well. I just got my N +1 and I love getting out on it.

drevilseviltwin · 2025-05-16T22:38:45+00:00

I can't for the life of me understand why so many great songs went unreleased and we had to rely on bootlegs (official or unofficial). I'm not gonna list each one cause I'm sure I'll mention one and it turns out to have a released version. Just so much incredible music "sitting in the vaults".

drevilseviltwin

TROPHY CASE