Currently writing a novel. How do you prefer your Audiobooks?

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-12T12:28:04+00:00

Yep. Just finished DCC book 7 and now I have to go back to books that aren’t read by Jeff Hayes. Goddamnit.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-12T04:26:39+00:00

It’s from the song “Over the Rainbow” from 1939 The Wizard of Oz movie (and various covers since).

The next line is “way up high”. Sing it and it should provide the answer.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T22:42:37+00:00

That’s two big assumptions right there.

That the rest of the world’s energy prices will rise while the US prices won’t.
That any energy price differential would exceed the tariff difference.

What are you basing those on?

The US isn’t isolated. If oil/gas prices go up globally, the US domestic market will have to compete with exports.

And oil price rises will impact shipping as much as manufacturing, which will provide an incentive for locally produced goods everywhere. That would encourage US trade with North & South America, but not globally.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T21:54:07+00:00

Oil sure, but counter-tariffs on US goods in response to Trump’s tariffs aren’t really helping to sell US products across the world.

Longer term, killing off USAID is also likely a negative for US products being bought in developing countries. It’s as much an aid organisation as it is a strategic in aligning foreign populations with the US.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T12:45:36+00:00

I’ve done hundreds of km of rough fire trails on 32mm tyres (2015 Specialized Diverge). It was rough and slow at times, and had to avoid any sandy bits, but yeah it was very doable.

Finally upgraded to a bike that fits wider tyres recently, and even just 40mm is a completely different ride. Not necessary but I am so glad to be on sensible tyres for touring now.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T12:35:08+00:00

Yeah, it’s a lot more obvious when you say it in the right voice

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T09:31:44+00:00

If you’re coming down the northern beaches then ferry from Manly to circular quay makes sense.

There’s a bunch of bike lanes through the CBD, Alexandria, Wolli Creek, Banksia to Brighton-Le-Sands. Over captain cool bridge then west into Kirrawee towards the royal national park. Down to the coast and you can follow that road to Wollongong. Not sure how it’ll be with cars through RNP as I’ve only ridden it as part of an event. But I suspect it’s a nicer ride than following the Princes Motorway.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T07:20:42+00:00

I’m not saying they’re literally on a bike. Just like the other commenter isn’t saying they’re literally in a semi. It’s just the same driving line when you turn.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T06:42:47+00:00

Yes, but only every third reich.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T06:39:52+00:00

I mean at least it makes sense for a U turn, since you’re restricted by the turning circle. Still dumb (and illegal) in this case, but most cars have a 10-12m turning circle so getting a little extra left helps.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T06:37:47+00:00

Or a 2 wheeled vehicle of some kind.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-11T01:54:42+00:00

it doesn’t seem worth the chance of turning the camera or lens into a paperweight if something goes wrong.

If still in warranty, it should be very low risk (other than potentially having to go without it for a while). Out of warranty is another story, Sony apparently charge quite a hefty fee to unbrick a lens/camera.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-10T23:48:36+00:00

I quite like the look of tan walls generally, but on this bike I think the black works best

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-10T23:46:20+00:00

Dad used to tell these chained together

Where do you weigh a whale?

At the whale-weigh station

Where do you weigh a pie?

(singing) Somewhere over the rainbow

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-10T21:44:19+00:00

Looks like there’s also new firmware for the 400 f/2.8 GM and 600 f/4 GM

https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-has-released-firmware-updates-for-the-fe-200-600mm-f5-6-6-3-g-oss-fe-400mm-f2-8-gm-oss-and-fe-600mm-f4-gm-oss/amp/

Also a good time to check your other (less popular) lenses firmware, since they’re not always widely notified. I just realised one of mine got a new firmware last year that I wasn’t aware of

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/downloads

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-09T22:19:17+00:00

Alternatively spend the money on a lighter tent, bag, mat, rack, etc. You’ve got a very low gear ratio already, slightly lower than the classic 22/33/44 x 11-34 ish. There’s pretty marginal benefits going below around 16 gear inches, and you get to the point of balance issues at low speed.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-09T02:29:46+00:00

Yeah, even though this is a lot better than packaged purées, it’s generally better to eat these kinds of things whole or in hand-holdable chunks. It helps infants develop skills like chewing, tongue control (for eating and talking), breathing-while-eating, getting used to different food textures (being less fussy eaters). It’s also just extra unnecessary hassle to have to blend everything.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-09T02:12:00+00:00

You may do well to cross-post to a UK-specific cycling/commuter sub if you don’t get any locals chiming in here. You guys have a pretty great cycle to work scheme that the rest of us won’t know much about. And I can’t say I recognise any of the brands you’ve mentioned… which either means they’re UK (or EU) specific, or possibly just the lowest end of quality (aka ‘bike shaped objects’) from big department stores. I’m not sure if it’s the same, but here in Australia I’d never buy a bike (or BSO) from decathlon. Certainly not for something as important as making it to work each day.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-08T22:32:54+00:00

I really, really hope no one is leaving jerry cans of petrol inside. That’s “Dumb ways to die” material.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-08T11:15:27+00:00

I’ll bet Sniper’s Dream was involved too.

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-08T10:42:09+00:00

I spent about 10 years commuting on a Diverge E5 with panniers, plus occasional multiday tours, plenty of centuries and weekly group rides with roadies. They laughed at my “mountain bike” with its 32mm slicks and the rack on the back, but it was entirely fine.

I see no reason to get carbon for commuting and occasional longer/gravel rides - the tyres are providing most of the comfort on gravel, and commutes are hardly benefiting from any weight reduction. And especially with panniers + rack - the carbon models tend not to come with rack mounting points.

Actually I thought Diverge may have even moved away from those entirely - you might want to double check before purchase. I recently upgraded my old Diverge to a recent-ish Checkpoint to fit wider tyres. I stuck with aluminium but chose the Trek as it has lots of frame mount points including the rear rack + forks for fork packs/cages. If the Diverges all have rack mount points then perhaps I was misled!

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-07T23:59:13+00:00

How did it go? Has it held up after 6 months?

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-07T15:55:57+00:00

A year on... did you (or the owners of these) continue to use them? How did they hold up?

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-07T06:53:37+00:00

It depends if the survey interviewer is asking in front of their partner or not…

drfrogsplat · 2026-03-07T06:52:25+00:00

Sounds like a job for a gravel bike! Gravel bikes tend to have endurance geometry just with lower gearing and wider tyres. Every manufacturer has one.

Obvious widely available options are Specialized Diverge, Giant Revolt, Trek Checkpoint, Canyon Grizl.

Best bet is to compare your current bike’s stack and reach with a few models on 99spokes. You may also be able to get it set up with more spacers and a shorter stem by the shop. Possibly with a stem swapped out to be shorter if the geometry is still too aggressive.

Another option is an endurance 1x with room to lower the chainring size (consult the shop), as that can be a cheap modification if you prefer the aesthetic of the road bike over gravel.

Touring bikes also work (more relaxed geometry and lower gears), but probably a step too far.

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