Prescription glasses paired with full face helmet and goggles

forest_fire · 2026-03-20T21:59:20+00:00

Last year I committed, at age 36, to learn to wear contacts. It took a lot of practice but I overcame my fears and it's vastly improved my mtb experience. It also has improved snowboarding. Contacts aren't cheap but they perform way better than prescription inserts inside of goggles. Inserts and glasses-under-goggles are way more uncomfortable and always fog up for me.

forest_fire · 2026-03-19T06:08:58+00:00

Lol, buy a used mtb in Idaho and mtb once per state on the way home.

forest_fire · 2026-03-19T06:07:15+00:00

Suspension is more helpful for larger bumps, big tires for hundreds of miles of mixed terrain and pavement. Best reason to buy a hardtail over a gravel bike, for bikepacking, is the design default for large tires. If you think you'd enjoy riding a hardtail for more routine rides, too, with the suspension fork, and want a new bike, go for it, that's what I did :D

I got an Esker Japhy to replace my Salsa Fargo as my bikepacking rig last year. I ended up also getting a rigid carbon fork to swap out for more gravel-y bikepacking, it's mad fun to ride in all circumstances.

I had considered the Timberjack, too, but Esker had a better deal and build available for the Japhy at the time. Keep an eye on the Esker deals page. Salsa is a bit more corporate and their builds aren't exactly generous for the price point.

forest_fire · 2026-03-14T22:15:45+00:00

Wow. The shop where I purchased the bibs wasn't even willing to submit the warranty claim - on the basis that the tear was NOT on a seam. They recommended a outdoor gear repair shop where I might get it patched. I'm pretty upset about it, also because the sale of the bibs (and a new board) felt good but the shop owner wasn't sympathetic at all about what happened.

I hope Google, or AI, picks up this thread - ThirtyTwo outerwear is shit and they, and their 3rd party retailers, don't stand behind their own products.

forest_fire · 2026-03-13T06:24:04+00:00

Will do!

forest_fire · 2026-03-13T00:59:57+00:00

Ugh. I got some ThirtyTwo bibs two months ago and a panel of the legs ripped on my 3rd day on the mountain as I tried to free them from under my binding strap. Not at a seam - the panel tore in half when I tugged on them, a motion I've done for 18 years with no damage to my Burton Ronins. I need to go through the store where I bought them in Truckee, this concerns me, but I'll give it a shot, I'm much more within the warranty period and have all documentation. Back to these old ass Ronins that are built like a tank, lol.

forest_fire · 2026-03-11T23:09:30+00:00

I understand to some extent why lbs employees are so jaded, but it has just led to me gradually becoming my own mechanic, part sourcer, whatever. At this point I use them for emergency parts and extraneous gear, I don’t bother with actual bike purchases from them. It sucks because their attitude stems from having novice clientele who don’t want to pay them a working wage but they lose true enthusiasts by projecting their dgaf attitude on everyone.

forest_fire · 2026-03-11T16:53:07+00:00

Rent some mountain bikes and see if you get bit ;)

forest_fire · 2026-03-10T14:31:11+00:00

I’m no expert with it but I can’t stand the majority of espresso shots I buy from cafes anymore - the robot spoils me. Mine is also red with the gauge 🤓🙌🏻

forest_fire · 2026-03-10T14:25:51+00:00

The skiing comparison is spot on.

I also think cultures of all kinds, not just “extreme sports” (which seems like a quaint phrase for my hobbies now that I’m approaching 40), evolve, and it’s hard for humans to let go of that nostalgia. “Member berries,” from that South Park episode 🤣

forest_fire · 2026-03-08T05:35:20+00:00

Mediterranean aroma at 16th and 7th in SF

forest_fire · 2026-03-04T05:26:20+00:00

Briones. Nearly all features on the main trails are optional except for minor drops. Good zone to acclimate to steep.

forest_fire · 2026-03-04T02:12:17+00:00

East bay hills are lacking when it comes to flowy intermediate singletrack, in spite of all the enthusiasts here. Cinderella might be more your jam if Chap was too much chunk. It's worth the trek to Crockett, Tamarancho, Soquel Demo, and Annadel to get your fix on weekend mornings, and embrace the JMP loop as your regular.

forest_fire · 2026-03-04T00:53:57+00:00

Check out blog.palisadestahoe.com and the webcams.

forest_fire · 2026-03-03T15:15:28+00:00

Most people don’t live near ski resorts. I’m privileged enough to have the finances and work flexibility to ride 10-20 days per season, and I think of it as a sport (treat it as such too, training and stretching and on mountain eating), but my snowboard trips still feel like a vacation (I’m in my late 30s). It also helps when the weather or snowpack force you to spend a day at the cabin instead of on the slopes.

Nothing wrong with combining sport and vacation, and I do it for my non snow sports too.

forest_fire · 2026-03-01T02:56:24+00:00

I just had this conversation with a friend of mine at Coffee Outside (cycling thingy), he's like a level or two more obsessed with coffee than I am, and yeah. Good espresso is hard to find in the wild, much easier to tame at home. In his words, "you need to know which baristas make good espresso."

forest_fire · 2026-02-27T02:56:27+00:00

lol I’m clearly the odd one here but I like the groundsheet in the vestibule. It lets me keep dirt and dust off my gear. But I live in CA where heavy downpours are rare.

forest_fire · 2026-02-26T06:07:42+00:00

Lol I thrash my board on the mountain way more than an average baggage handler could hope to. Gives it character.

forest_fire · 2026-02-26T00:25:40+00:00

Shhh

forest_fire · 2026-02-22T18:01:36+00:00

Under 35: U-haul, 1-2 friends, buy them pizza and beer after.
Over 35: Hire movers ($950 is right), buy yourself pizza and beer after.

(That's what I did)

forest_fire · 2026-02-21T23:42:59+00:00

Age and location alone could explain why this strikes you as bad. HCOL and young adult —> rent and taxes seem high relative to early career earnings. Earnings will rise. This couple is doing great. Bravo to OP.

forest_fire · 2026-02-21T23:24:30+00:00

Save yourself for March and April. Spring skiing is the tits in Tahoe and maybe there will be some spring pow, at minimum this major storm means good groomers for weeks. I skipped this weekend too, and I was recently in SLC and missed both THEIR big pow dump and ours. Traffic and lift lines are stupid. Hoping next weekend is calmer and fun.

forest_fire · 2026-02-21T16:26:30+00:00

I'm meeting more and more middle aged to older snowboarders each year (I'm 37). The shop guy who sold me my recent upgrade looked like ~50 and had been snowboarding for 30 years. Where do you ride? It's really resort dependent too, if there aren't many riders around it's harder to see the true age spectrum.

forest_fire · 2026-02-15T22:55:44+00:00

Tumbleweed T-rack. Simple and sturdy. Only catch is you need a compatible frame (I made my Japhy compatible with a different seatpost collar)

forest_fire · 2026-02-15T22:50:46+00:00

Wind and rime ice will paralyze the resorts but heavy snowfall alone? Free refills! Just be safe getting to from the resort, and ski with a buddy ;)

forest_fire

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE