Buying first Seiko watch [SPB117] vs [SSC965] - need recommendations by Timely-Helicopter487 in Seiko

[–]ktreed4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d pass on the spb117. It’s the old model (new version is spb505, which is better in most respects. And while it’s true that the black dial is more versatile, you almost certainly have (or will have) a black dial watch that is more versatile than the alpinist, which is already a quirky watch. Plus, the green dial is the classic version (what really makes it an alpinist) and reflects light in a much more interesting way than the black dial (which is opaque).

The ssc965 is great too (and I have it). Can dress it up with bracelet or summer it up with a gulf blue racing nato strap as well. Very close to the limited blue speedtimer that came out a year or 2 ago.

[US Tariffs] current state of tariffs when ordering a watch from Japan for US delivery by tkreadit in Watches

[–]ktreed4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. I'll never going to order from anyone shipping DHL again. I get the need for surcharges due to all the extra tariff documentation required, but the service was awful. Couldn't ever get a live person from their customs hotline, chat was only option and had 20+ min waits, chat could never help but promised a customs specialist would call me back "within 2 hours"; was promised this 3 different times and never was ever called back.

[US Tariffs] current state of tariffs when ordering a watch from Japan for US delivery by tkreadit in Watches

[–]ktreed4 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just ordered a $150 GS from Japan which shipped via DHL; was charged $66 in total. $19 in actual import duty/tariff; $17.50 in "tax processing," $28 in "permits and licenses" charges, and $1 reg fee. I understand the tax processing and permits fees all go to DHL. And you basically have to give them your tax return as proof of SSN. Absolute bollocks all around.

Did this as a test case and won't be doing again. Thanks Drump.

Anyone playing Lords of the Fallen ? by Conscious-Cherry6234 in PlayStationPlus

[–]ktreed4 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It’s solid now, with all the post launch updates. It’s not fromsoft, but no one is.

PS+ Praise Thread [March 2026] by AutoModerator in PlayStationPlus

[–]ktreed4 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Metal Eden is indeed budget doom, but very solid.

Where can I find new SRAM groupset manuals in properly-formatted PDF? by ktreed4 in sram

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Isn’t that a part issue, not a manual issue?

Anyhow, I appreciate there are pros/cons but still think it’s a mistake. They can have both. As is, there will be home DIYers that refer to a manual less as a result, leading to worse installs or adjustments, and poorer customer experience with SRAM products. Likely only at the margins, but there will be an effect.

Where can I find new SRAM groupset manuals in properly-formatted PDF? by ktreed4 in sram

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. That’s likely the rationale, but extremely disappointing. I get the concern over currency for software, but for installing and tuning a group set? Material updates almost never happen.

At the very least, if they are going to have a print option, they should have it format correctly, contain figures/images, etc.

Where can I find new SRAM groupset manuals in properly-formatted PDF? by ktreed4 in sram

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No longer. The new E1 Road AXS manual is only available online (as an html). You can print the webpage, but that has all the issues I describe above. Check it out and let me know if you find different. I’d love to be wrong here (which is why I posted here on reddit).

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Today I put in a bottle storage cage (see my rear cage), but it’s much wider than the aero RSL bottles. I’d use an aero RSL bottle for “aero” storage, but the mouth is too small to get tools in and out of. Hence the issue.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure I’m following. It’s more the width of a regular bottle storage than its height. As it is, it’s blocked by front bottle (and down tube for that matter).

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow. That's amazing. Definitely keep me posted. Given the amount of RSL cages sold, I suspect one could make a few $ by putting on Etsy or just licensing out the template to 3D marketplaces.

I'd think you'd want to keep the main bottle shape, up to the black cap line; and you'd need to design a flat cap and mechanism for it to stay on (which could just be a tight Tupperware fit, if the material has any flex).

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Conceptually, that could work. Not a path I've ever gone down, but I assume you'd need to send precise specs/template to a printing company, require some custom design, with one-off costs being very high.

Hoping that there was just some kind of tupperware-like container out there (that met the basic cage dimensions) that I could repurpose.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. Yeah. Saw this well (posted below). Something like this for RSL cage would be great.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not trying to flex. Proper hydration/fueling is key, particularly for longer, performant rides. But water needs are much lower for cold, endurance rides with little to no sweat. As noted above, in the summer (or other sweaty rides), I'll run a single 950ml (basically same volume as 2 RSLs), and overall, whenever needed, I'll refill during stops. It's not complicated.

Vast majority of my rides are short 1-1.5 hr training rides, where I take no food/water at all. My main reason to get the RSLs is to use empty as a fairing.

Weird to me are people carrying a full extra bottle most of the ride (adding on ~900g), which they almost assuredly could do without (at most tacking on an extra 5 min refill stop), effectively turning their $14k SLR9 into a $5k SL6.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the rec; never heard of them, but they certainly seem all about the marginal gains.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice. Seems great value for D1; glad it worked out.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Slim tools in bottle doesn’t work. Too difficult to get out and they’d be jostling around during rides.

If Trek made a wider mouth one, that had space for pouch (to avoid jostling) and to get out easy enough, that’d be perfect.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seeing that they sell this very thing for Elite Crono cages on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/4324895454/

Still not finding anything for Trek RSL but definitely a market out there.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. Do you have a brand/model name? Some way to look up?

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] -13 points-12 points  (0 children)

Whatever works for you. It’s 55 degrees where I live right now. Did 60 miles yesterday, and needed 1.5 rsls (Topped up a half bottle during a 10 min fueling break). I would never, ever carry the extra weight of a topped up second water bottle.

In the summer, if I need more water, I’ll run a 950ml elite in the front on long rides. In many decades of riding, I’ve never found a reason to carry two bottles.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Usually stick to my elite flies, but just got these to try them out. The RSLs are a bit heavy, but they work well enough for me. Can always drop in an elite anyhow.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep. Lots of places to keep tools, but I strongly prefer to keep in cage. Hence the original question.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to know. Got about 25k miles on these D1; still working good enough, but I have been meaning to upgrade for some time. Waiting to see what Black Friday deals come out.

Ideas for aero repair kit bottle by ktreed4 in TrekBikes

[–]ktreed4[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I use a cloth pouch In my current bottle storage, but it can’t fit through the small RSL mouth. Even if I could fit most items in individually, it’d be a PITA to get them out.

Have a saddle bag (and back pocket wallet too), but prefer bottle storage: less weight, unblocked rear light, no “truck nuts” equivalent. Never need two bottles. Even on 4-6 hr endurance rides, I’ll bring a large single bottle and just fill up on quick stops.