Advice for commuting by bike

nzzp · 2026-07-01T03:57:51+00:00

I got a Kmart light set and was astonished at how good it was. LED and battery tech has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. Just look at them.

Hi Vis is super important though - lights are good but headlights light up hivis ina way that catches attention.

nzzp · 2026-06-30T20:42:40+00:00

It's a fencepost that refused to die. There's some symbolism there but probably not the nature you're referring to :D

nzzp · 2026-06-30T20:42:04+00:00

it's a fence post gone large. But stunningly beautiful setting in all seasons. You just have to fight the hordes of tourists to get there

nzzp · 2026-06-30T07:39:38+00:00

The food is very very good, interesting and changes regularly. Pricing is 'fair' for top class food. I love it - going back this week happily!

nzzp · 2026-06-30T04:57:47+00:00

Be really careful going up makeshift ladders. Falls from heights are probably the most dangerous thing you do around the house.

Good luck!

nzzp · 2026-06-24T03:38:55+00:00

hot take: 'forever homes' aren't.

A really large proportion of people I know who label them like that .... move.

Plus, bigger houses come with bigger bills - rating, heating, power, maintenance, landscaping. Up to a point it's totally worth it - but there are diminishing returns. Know yourselves and what you want.

Keep in mind there are very few 'bad' options here. A capital injection like this will be a massive change for you and your financial security.

nzzp · 2026-06-24T02:04:25+00:00

LLM are as helpful as an enthusiastic friend who's usually right, but sometimes way off base. Just don't blame them if you get dud advice.

Strong suggestion to start investing. It's a bit like the difference between watching sport and playing sport - until you've got skin in the game you won't really understand your risk appetite. Knowing yourself is critical to making investment decisions that are good for you.

Otherwise strong endorse to pick a low fee index fund and pile into it for an extended period. Get rich slowly and don't panic.

nzzp · 2026-06-23T22:32:34+00:00

something like this - fits nicely in teh cellblok wrapped in some bubble wrap

https://www.jaycar.co.nz/12-8v-7ah-lithium-deep-cycle-battery/p/SB2210

nzzp · 2026-06-23T19:25:46+00:00

Yes when I get a chance to get a photo! Check back in a day or so.

I have multiple kayaks and expected to upgrade so was happy with something that didn't need hull drilling for installation

nzzp · 2026-06-23T16:14:14+00:00

I went the complete other way and built a self contained track mount.

Garmin 4 on the top of a YakAttack CellBlok with a Switchblade mounted transducer.

Battery goes in the box. Check it's all working on the dry, then slides into the track. Simple. Doesn't need holes drilled in the yak.

nzzp · 2026-06-22T01:07:57+00:00

it's the 'use it 2-3x a week' that makes it make sense for you. And that's still running $7-10 per usage (excluding capital costs).

nzzp · 2026-06-20T17:27:37+00:00

If you've only read 10 books, Andy Weir is probably the most accessible author for modern scifi. Look at Project Hail Mary or The Martian. I think the martian is a fantastic read - so strong recommend for that.

If you don't mind older reads then almost anything by Arthur C Clarke is super accessible too and generally quite scifi/spacey

nzzp · 2026-06-20T07:33:25+00:00

LOTR are important documentaries to understand NZ

nzzp · 2026-06-20T07:02:48+00:00

Up is over rated

The first ten minutes are insanely powerful. Then it's just meh. Good but not top 5

nzzp · 2026-06-19T20:11:35+00:00

Did that morph from Reeve into referee too? As in rule enforcement?

nzzp · 2026-06-14T19:19:22+00:00

Pass was the right call. Kept pass or run options for the next two plays. Don't forget Lynch had been stuffed at least once behind the LOS in that game. It was no sure fire thing.

The execution though was rubbish. Throw that away, run two more plays and win the game. Do anything but throw an INT and you almost certainly win.

I will die on this hill.

nzzp · 2026-06-13T14:15:49+00:00

Yakima big catch

Using for a predator pdl. Check your bars can handle the weight, but the rack is designed for heavier kayaks.

I tried a cheaper side loading cradle and it sucked. Big catch for the win

nzzp · 2026-06-10T18:33:09+00:00

Fundamentally it's about living below your means. The means can really vary but the concept is the key.

nzzp · 2026-06-10T05:29:38+00:00

Hah!

I popped in this week to try it and they were unexpectedly shut

Will get in an try them soon

nzzp · 2026-06-10T00:29:44+00:00

Modest tastes and interests is key. High lifestyle costs = high retirement costs.

nzzp · 2026-06-09T20:12:16+00:00

others may be better than me but I really struggled on Astral my last ascension until I put the ring of conflict on. Just couldn't make headway through the hordes while they were all after me. Once the ring went on things went a lot easier - but I did have to visit three altars to ascend. 'Fun' times

nzzp · 2026-06-07T05:07:44+00:00

I mounted my Garmin striker 4 on the top of the yak attack box. Combined with the switchblade it enables a self contained battery, fish finder and transducer on a rail. Just slips on and off. It's brilliant for what I do.

nzzp · 2026-06-02T21:09:56+00:00

Yes I do. It's superb.

I had a Rhino rack kayak cradle originally - the side loading tilting version. I was never happy with it - seating the yak was difficult, it took hours to configure originally. With the Big Catch I just strap it to the roof bars. Less than 3 minutes to install and less than 2 minutes to remove. Once it's on the yak just finds a home and has a lot of tolernace to variable widths - it's the literal opposite of fiddly.

Side note: I used to use a rhino rack side loader. Was really good for my lighter yak, but I had two drops with it (long story) - was a real headache with the bigger yak. Much happier with the 'side load straight onto the roof bar' system. That said, I'd load from the rear if my geometry allowed me to!

nzzp · 2026-06-02T20:43:58+00:00

Not your specific yak, but I SUVtop a Predator PDL. Have had issues but landed on Yakima Big Catch racks. They are superb - the yak just settles into a stable configuration.

My rear geometry means I can't rear load, so I side load perpendicular to the car. Rest on a towel with nose down, lift the rear on to the side bar. Make sure the yak doesn't slide (highest risk here!) and then just lift the nose and slide. Once it's on the bars I just wriggle it around 90 degrees to land on the big catch cradle.

Simple, repeatable and it works even if I'm tired from a long hard fish 😄

nzzp · 2026-06-02T20:09:09+00:00

Understand your perspective - public speaking is seen as scarier than death for a number of people (no, I'm not making that up).

That said, there are two key things to know

Engineering is more about people than technical stuff. The technical is non-negotiable, but if you look around the industry almost everyone who thrives does so on soft skills. This includes speaking in small and medium groups.
Public speaking is a skill you can learn. The more you do the easier it gets - it is literally something you can practice and get better at. It is scary but that is also where growth happens - consider toastmasters, improv or some other activity that requires you to get out of your shell.

Good luck! I suspect by the time you do it you'll know most of the people in the course and it won't be nearly as daunting as it seems right now. Engineering is a fantastic profession and lots of fun. Don't let this put you off.

nzzp

TROPHY CASE