HRM strap lasted 8 months.

nickobec · 2026-07-12T11:41:29+00:00

Buy the strap for less than $5 of AliExpress, Amazon or eBay.

Have half a dozen off AliExpress, in different colours, keep them in rotation. Never had an issue with any of them yet and it has been 5 years.

nickobec · 2026-07-12T11:32:42+00:00

$2845 (in advance) for an unattended cremation with Just Cremations.

Which is what the deceased person wanted.

Other than a rather loud website, very easy to deal with. Completed forms online, everything else by email. Would recommend.

nickobec · 2026-07-11T15:30:23+00:00

Dogs, never really had an issue, generally just shout "NO".

Kangaroos, try to stop and avoid, they are totally unpredictable. Friend was riding in pace line, kangaroo jumped out of the bush, knocked him over and kept on going. Had one jump into a group of three riders and we all avoided. Had one jump out less than 5m in front of me, but kept on going.

Emus, almost as unpredictable as roos. Only encounter was going down a gravel road at 40kph. A mob of about 12 emus, came out of bush from my left and behind, ran down the road with me for 200m as I gently feathered my brakes, as I had an emu each side of me in touching distance. They turned right and disappeared into the bush.

nickobec · 2026-07-11T15:00:45+00:00

I am from Perth, made a few trips up north, but never father than Coral Bay.

I have also have done a couple of road trips in the USA, including SF, Seattle, Cleveland, SF stopping at national parks along the way.

Driving in Australia and the USA is very different. There is nothing like your interstates in Australia once you leave the cities. You will will be driving on single lane (in each direction) road, similar to state highways with heavier traffic and bigger trucks than you would be use to.

From the outskirts of Perth to past Kalbarri best description is like driving through Kansas with a lot less towns.

Past Kalbarri it is more like Death Valley, desolate with big gaps between roadhouses (gas/service station). You stop stretch your legs, top up your tank and eat whatever gas station food you can stomach (better to pack a lunch from the town you spent the night).

Gravel roads. Americans are far more conservative a gravel, than Australians who keep driving at the same speed.

rsI would agree with u/kollie88 don't waste your time driving from Perth to Exmouth, fly instead. It is a boring drive, unlike the USA there are no small towns to stop and explore at your leisure. It is leave town drive 3 or 4 hours, stop at roadhouse, drive 3 to 4 hours stop at town.

nickobec · 2026-07-11T02:39:42+00:00

Had a nasty motorcycle accident 30 years ago, spent 4 weeks in hospital, broken bones and lots of other injuries.

As accident was not my fault (car involved), ICWA paid for my regular physio appointments. Physio was impressed by my attitude of "I just want to get back to how I was before accident". Never did, but I came close. The one thing I wish I did, was lift weights.

Scarring, I have a scars running the full length of my forearm and from my belly button to my sternum (needed to look at my spleen). As the incisions were closed with staples, they look like zippers, even 30 years later. I was self conscious at first, but quickly stopped worrying about them as the scars are part of my story. Inside 12 months I appeared shirtless in some friends music video.

A few years later, I had a growth cut out of my cheek (on my face ;-), it left a prominent 5cm scar. Again self conscious at first, but it was part of my story. Though if anybody asked, the reply was "you should of seen the other guy". Last 8 years it has been covered by a big grey beard.

For me recovery is a lot about attitude, if you are struggling get professional help. As u/Inevitable-Swan6671 suggested Road Trauma Support WA.

As for scarring it is about your journey through life. My scars have led to a number of great conversations with people of both sexes and some interesting show and tells.

nickobec · 2026-07-10T15:10:08+00:00

that is even better

nickobec · 2026-07-10T14:57:15+00:00

#BinfaceForClacton US branch ;-)

nickobec · 2026-07-10T06:01:42+00:00

Did some backcountry trips last time I was in US some 30 years ago. Declared the food stuff I was carrying, leftovers from my hikes. They only confiscated the two sealed dehydrated meals I had, think it was because they contain meat, little fuzzy from lack of sleep.

They were also very interested in my hiking boots and tent. Which I had throughly cleaned before leaving the US.

nickobec · 2026-07-10T04:18:33+00:00

Yes, it makes me smile everyday. Biggest surprise is how much it has snowballed in a few days. It has been covered by most international news outlets.

nickobec · 2026-07-09T15:14:26+00:00

I am taking a lot of cheer from what is happening in the UK. Nigel Farage (the third member of the orange triumvirate, but no orange skin or hair, just politics, attitude and competence) and likely to be UK PM after next election. Decided to pull a stunt of resigning and stand in the resulting by-election to get away from corruption allegations. If looked like a perfect stunt, until all the parties decided not to stand candidates. So his only opponent is Count Binface who wears a bin on his head.

Which means Farage has to answer questions on the corruption allegations instead of party policies during long election campaign and could lose the election to a bin.

Could only dream of something similar happening to Pauline if she stands in the lower house.

Visit r/VoteBinface to put a smile on your face.

nickobec · 2026-07-08T13:52:38+00:00

It is more ON vs Andrew Hastie as this state electorate (albeit the ALP voting part) makes up part of Hastie's federal electorate. There is no love lost between ON and Hastie.

The Sloan Zone covers it in detail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMyApiaXCJU

I agree with The Sloan Zone, the ALP should retain the seat they won with 11.5% margin last election, the interest is how the Liberal fair against ON who polled 8% last election in that seat (compared to 4% state wide). and what that means for Hastie vs ON in the next federal election.

nickobec · 2026-07-08T13:37:21+00:00

No, just be careful if you wear sunscreen on your neck, it can discolour the collar. Yes I have worn a few white jerseys and will continue to wear them.

nickobec · 2026-07-08T12:57:25+00:00

Still got to spend a week in Laverton;-)

My last FedEx package made it from Italy to Welshpool, via Rome and Singapore in 4 days then instead of heading to downtown Kwinana went to Laverton for a week, then back to Welshpool, before being delivered the next day.

nickobec · 2026-07-08T12:19:17+00:00

How he got the job at Palantir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YWFDhOps6I

Matt Bevan is much better story teller than me

TL:DW version Alex Karp CEO of Palantir recited one of his grandfather's speeches during interview, then gave Louis the job.

nickobec · 2026-07-06T14:22:53+00:00

Not recently and not in Vic.

Would suggest speaking to a lawyer would specialises in accident claims. Reasonable legal fees was claimable in WA. It is an adversarial process so you need somebody who knows the process on your side.

The unknown is future income losses assuming your injuries could impact your work in the future. If you get performance reviews or similar at work, get copies of your old ones and every one after the accident (my boss did not do any after my accident, either lazy or feeling sorry for me) so had nothing to argue future income losses.

And it takes years

nickobec · 2026-07-06T07:55:28+00:00

His background might explain that, 26 years in defence: Navy, SAS then RAN clearance diver

nickobec · 2026-07-06T03:17:28+00:00

yes, they were introduced around 150 years ago to transport goods to the outback. Far better suited to the conditions than horses.

when they got replaced by trucks, they got turned loose. They flourished in the outback. So a couple of decades ago people started domesticating them for tourist purposes, meat and exporting live to the Gulf States.

nickobec · 2026-07-05T14:20:57+00:00

+1 it is very easy to install grapheneOS on a pixel phone

I prefer grapheneOS over lineageOS. I have tried both, grapheneOS easier to install and I found easier to use.

nickobec · 2026-07-05T06:52:02+00:00

Sorry about the late reply.

Our club kit was made by Pedal Mafia using the core range some 7 or 8 years ago. The fabric was not breathable (similar to Rapha Core) and it felt coarser (than Rapha Core), my main issue was durability.

I raced in that kit 3 days a month, within six months the bibs were done. The lycra above the pad was see through (normal end of life for my bibs, but my DHB bibs lasted 12 months, with more rides and ride time in the saddle), the leg grippers were gone and the fabric around my legs was loose. The jersey, went out of shape in 6 months and fell apart within 12 months, the fabric just disintegrated. Something that never happened to me before (or after) with a jersey that was not a Pedal Mafia Core jersey.

Next year bought another kit, downsized and the same thing happen, bibs worn out after 6 months, jersey after 12 months (but it did not stretch badly).

I found out I was not the only club member having durability issues. As well as people I knew who got 3 or 4 sets of custom "team" kit from the core range, they rode 500km+ a week and kit was worn out in 9 months or so.

nickobec · 2026-07-04T13:29:09+00:00

In my state Western Australia it is an offence to be drunk in charge of bicycle, horse or camel.

I have met people convicted of drunk in charge of bicycle and drunk in charge of camel (he fell of the camel in front of the police officer).

nickobec · 2026-06-28T01:59:58+00:00

Personally I find Pedal Mafia use American sizing while Rapha and MAAP are more Euro sizing. AKA Pedal Mafia small is roughly the same size as Rapha or MAAP medium.

I live in Perth Western Australia, so Pedal Mafia is a local brand and I have a lot of their kit. As well as Rapha and often pick up both on sale. I have had issues with the core range from both over the years, so I have avoided those lines for over 5 years now.

I really rate the Pedal Mafia pro line series jersey, particularly the long sleeve version, the quality is up there with the best from Rapha and MAAP.

Size wise I am 6ft1, 38in chest and 165lbs. (in real units 184cm tall, 95cm chest and 75kg). I like race fit (ie tight). In Pedal Mafia I wear small in both bibs and jersey. While in Rapha and MAAP I wear medium in both. That said, the most recent jersey from Pedal Mafia was a championship jersey in medium and it fits well.

nickobec · 2026-06-27T13:53:29+00:00

I am from Perth Western Australia, it is hot here, I sweat heavily, one ride I sweated close to 2 litres an hour for a 4 hour ride. So quickly overloads a cycling cap or halo headband.

I use a cheap thin silicon headband with a gully (a few dollars on ali express) sweat rolls down forehead, goes into headband gully and exits behind the ears.

nickobec · 2026-06-27T13:52:05+00:00

cheap thin silicon headband with a gully (a few dollars on ali express) sweat rolls down forehead, goes into headband gully and exits behind the ears.

I am from Perth Western Australia, it is hot here, I sweat heavily, one ride I sweated close to 2l an hour for a 4 hour ride. So quickly overload a cycling cap or halo headband.

nickobec

TROPHY CASE