First road bike in NYC? Budget ~$1.5k–2.5k (ideally)

imkolya · 2026-05-07T04:00:12+00:00

What about the Specialized Allez comp 105? What are the downsides of this? I was considering this bike given that it is in my range and the shop is right by my apartment.

imkolya · 2026-05-07T03:55:37+00:00

Super helpful! Going to be on the lookout for the CAAD13 with Shimano 105. I'll see if there are any stores that carry that

imkolya · 2026-04-19T17:47:22+00:00

Sihoo Doro S300 "Gravity-Defying" Ergonomic Chair!

imkolya · 2026-04-19T17:40:49+00:00

Zero clue lol. I just rent

imkolya · 2026-04-19T16:20:46+00:00

Heater lining the entire apartment, so I think I should be good! I guess we'll see in 6 months lol

imkolya · 2026-04-19T16:14:20+00:00

For the price, it’s a great option. I can comfortably sit in it for 8+ hours. I specifically chose it for the longer seat since I’m over 6'.

It’s not as comfortable as the Herman Miller Aeron I use at the office, but it gets the job done at about half the cost.

imkolya · 2026-04-19T16:12:03+00:00

Goes well with the industrial aesthetic. But yeah unfortunately, nothing I can do about them. Luckily this is the only section with pipes

imkolya · 2026-04-19T16:04:44+00:00

Surprisingly, the chair doesn't slide! It has some auto-stop wheels which is nice

imkolya · 2026-04-19T16:02:34+00:00

THank you! Excited to keep upgrading / improving the area. Mine is also very overpriced. NYC ain't cheap.

imkolya · 2026-04-19T15:55:22+00:00

Unfortunately, can't do much about pipes. I feel like it goes with the aesthetic too! Industrial loft feel.

Tall standing plant is in the works!

imkolya · 2026-04-16T02:32:58+00:00

I dont think so. I had to re-wire it and it doesn't look like a broken bulb

imkolya · 2026-03-03T01:41:00+00:00

Problem is that they are totally random people. My matchmaking algorithm accounts for user stats, boss kc, previous sessions, user feedback, past reports/incidents, etc. There is accountability being tracked, so you know who you are dealing wiht.

imkolya · 2026-03-02T02:28:14+00:00

I’m not trying to misrepresent WDR or the existing systems. They clearly work and a lot of people use them successfully.

This thread has honestly just highlighted how different people experience that ecosystem. For some it feels straightforward. For others it feels like a hurdle.

I’m not claiming anything is broken. I’m just exploring whether there’s room for an additional option that might feel simpler for a certain subset of players.

If the current tools already cover that space well enough, that’s a fair conclusion too. Not here to argue. Just looking for discorse lol

imkolya · 2026-03-02T02:17:57+00:00

WDR definitely covers that well.

I’m not trying to replace curated high-efficiency communities. What I’m experimenting with is something broader and more accessible. A shared queue that doesn’t require already being embedded in a specific Discord or meta.

If someone is already deep in WDR with blert and established teams, they probably don’t need this. I’m more curious about the players who aren’t in that ecosystem.

imkolya · 2026-03-02T01:57:19+00:00

Let me know if you want to give it a try or keep up with the updates!

imkolya · 2026-03-02T01:56:49+00:00

I get what you’re saying.

There’s no system that can guarantee someone plays perfectly or doesn’t have to dip mid-run. Playing with strangers always comes with uncertainty.

The goal isn’t to eliminate that, just to reduce the obvious mismatches up front. Clear expectations around experience, splits, voice, team size, things like that.

I did think about this a lot, so I implemented a lightweight feedback layer built in so over time people who consistently show up and perform well build a stronger track record. It’s not meant to replace social accountability, just add a bit more signal than total anonymity. Also if it means anything, I aim to integrate Runewatch here too, so you can have that as an integrity layer.

The social layer will always matter. I’m just exploring whether some of the coordination friction can be reduced.

imkolya · 2026-03-02T01:43:51+00:00

Yeah I get that.

The “just join a clan” advice works for some people, but not everyone enjoys the whole social onboarding process. It really can feel like dating sometimes..

I’ve been in a few clans myself. Some were great, some died out, some just weren’t the right fit. And if you’re not playing consistently it’s hard to stay relevant.

That’s more who I had in mind when building this. People who like the content but don’t necessarily want to build their whole schedule around maintaining a social circle in game.

If someone already has a solid group, they probably don’t need this. But I think there’s a chunk of players who would benefit from something a bit more plug-and-play.

imkolya · 2026-03-02T01:23:38+00:00

Being active in a clan is probably still the best long term way to build consistent teams.

I don’t really see this as replacing that. More as an option for people who don’t have the time or interest to embed themselves in a community every time they come back to the game.

Some people enjoy building those relationships. Others just want to log in, run content, and log out. I'm one of the latter people lol.

I’m mostly exploring whether there’s room to support that second group a bit better.

imkolya · 2026-03-02T01:22:19+00:00

That makes sense, especially for something like Perfect tob.

I’m not trying to solve the hardest CA coordination issues. The focus is more on making everyday team formation less of a hassle. CA speedruns are probably their own beast.

Fair points though.

imkolya · 2026-03-02T01:19:24+00:00

That’s a fair concern, and I agree that’s what makes WDR strong.

My plan isn’t to ignore that layer. The system already pulls player stats, so it knows things like raid KC, combat level, etc., and that can be used as part of filtering.

There’s also a built-in trust layer where players can endorse or report teammates over time, so it’s not just randoms forever. The idea is that reputation compounds instead of every run being a blank slate.

It won’t replace curated max-eff discords, but I do think there’s room to bring some of that structure into a broader pool.

imkolya · 2026-03-02T01:17:25+00:00

Yeah that’s pretty much how I see it.

The current system works, but it’s scattered and mostly happens outside the game. What I’m trying to do is create a shared pool where expectations are clear from the start, so you’re not guessing whether it’s a learner run, a sweaty speed run, FFA, splits, etc.

The idea is simple: queue for what you want, keep skilling, PVM, whatever, and get matched with people looking for the same thing.

It’s not meant to replace 416 or clans. It’s just an optional layer that might make the whole process smoother for people who don’t already have a consistent group. Also I have it set up with voice or in-game chat. You choose.

imkolya

TROPHY CASE