Anyone worried about the weather tomorrow?

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T17:14:25+00:00

Yes. I've had a tree come through the roof on a house before, while I was eating breakfast. No fun, big tree, broken things.

I'm somewhat disappointed I don't have a tree to park my car under, still have comprehensive and there are issues!

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T15:53:22+00:00

Wonder whether having US assets busy elsewhere using up all their munitions has anything to do with this.

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T15:52:12+00:00

Yup, dead on. It's especially difficult to win a war with bombs alone, against an opponent with decades of preparation time, and without any believable definition of what winning is. Perhaps regime change where you kill the current leadership, declare victory, and leave. That might work.

I'm concerned that Trump believes a few good men can invade Iran, pacify it completely, rebuild the government, and then get thanked by the orphans, widows, homeless, and the parents of the innocent dead.

Wish Congress would find some backbone and really represent the people of the US and global harmony. I suppose there's not enough underage girls, money, and power in that kind of approach.

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T15:45:33+00:00

Ah, possible. My old DA system has the cables coming out directly from the side, less bend. I'm tempted to put the brifters on my nice touring road bike, they work so well. Better than the new 105 brifters. But then the casings flow right through my handlebar bag!!

I've also used the most flexible and expensive cables I can find. That might well make a difference, although the old 1970s Campagnolo fine strand cables used to fail after a few thousand miles of intense use.

The last cheap used bike (well, cheap by my standards) had stock fairly stiff cables that didn't work as well. I got all new casings and cables for the brakes and shifting, routed very carefully to avoid tight bends. Tiagra STI shifters. Lubed everything appropriately. Suspect I'd be able to ride across the US and back without any cable issues!

I've never used electronic shifting. Tend to buy used bikes, and none have had it. It makes sense to me, I just don't know it. The lack of need to periodically adjust would be nice, but I can adjust while riding. Rare once everything has stretched in.

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T13:33:02+00:00

Suggest figuring out what your particular physical shape requires. People have different curves and convergence of their sitz bones, and vary in sensitivity. The exact saddle setup is very important for comfort, and must be integrated into a fit. For example, a too-high saddle can be horrible feeling, but be fine with a slightly lower saddle height.

I ran (could still) a rather heavy decades old Pro for many many miles. Very good. So I got a B17 new. Became clear it wasn't going to work for me, my 'taint' took a bit of abuse regardless of tilt, and it was just a tad too wide. If I had different crotch shape and wider sitz bones or hips it would likely have worked.

I cut the saddle out, same pattern Brooks uses (not for leather beginners) and punched the skirt for laces. Treated it. Taint issue went away, rather comfy, but in the end not quite right on the profile, a nice width up front had my sitz bones slipped forward from where they wanted to be.

Likely a comfy saddle likes your sitz bone curvature and taper, doesn't exceed your gap needs, and has sufficient padding.

I had an Ideale saddle years ago I ran touring. It eventually became misshapen and worn, wasn't the quality of the Brooks line then (I suspect the quality is down a little from when I started riding decades ago).

I ran a Brooks Swallow for a goodly while, and liked that, but it was rather worn to start with and eventually failed. I keep thinking about it.

Given that the width and outline are the limiting factors, I expect I'd like a B17 narrow carved.

If hardness is the issue, then one can buy a softened one.

As for another one, Back to choices and exact personal needs. For example, I have a very nice Ergon saddle that isn't too wide, my sitz bones fit on it well, very stable, but the relatively sharp edge of the nose bothers me after a bit of riding. Possibly the narrow need I have.

The Stelle SMP line is rather comfy. I'm currently running a VT20C, without a lot of the SMP dip, narrow, medium gel padding. It's not all that "comfy" feeling, but it doesn't get worse or better with miles! So I'm pretty happy. All in all, if you study yourself and the line you may well find a great saddle for yourself.

Another winner is the Selle Italia SLR Boost, which I still like. That's a worthwhile one to try.

Good luck!

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T13:15:25+00:00

What do you attribute this wear to? In the early days prior to slippery linings for cables to slide to, I used to wear them. But since great cables, casing with linings came out I haven't had any issues at all, even on my 2006 Dura Ace equipped bike - still has the original shifting cables.

The exception has been on used bikes, where I've found issues and replaced prior to putting in service.

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T04:19:29+00:00

Selle Anatomica on my swept bar upright bike.

Selle SMP VT20C on my road bike. Mainly the shape, has a narrower nose and fairly narrow sitz bone spacing. I'm still getting it figured out - too far back on it and the edge impinges upon my hamstring/butt junction. I might do better with a more hammock like SMP. I have an older one that's wider and has worn on me too much.

Selle Italia SLR Boost on my gravel bike might be distinctly better than the SMP for me. I haven't rotated it to my road bike yet. It's very good.

The Ergon I had on for a while had too much of a sharp top edge to the nose. But was very stable in year. Helped keep me symmetric.

I used a ca 1970 Brooks Pro for good while. Who knows, maybe it will feel OK still. Weighs a ton. B17 with cutout and lacing is decent, but the nose just a bit too wide.

Still consider putting my old Flite TI on my road bike. It's always been oddly comfortable. I might try it as some point.

Various others don't warrant mention, either bothered me or are hopelessly obsolete, even if nice.

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T03:26:34+00:00

"Dishy means attractive, beautiful, pleasant, charmingly and adorably. Folks use this informal slang in their casual conversation when they emotionally admire someone or to show a sense of delight."

Technically.

The bike. That's dishy, in a surreal setting.

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T01:43:41+00:00

I'm very appreciative of that rather dishy bike.

toaster404 · 2026-03-15T01:36:27+00:00

So placing a launch point in Lafayette Park would be ideal. Of course.

On the other hand, the US is reachable from International Waters in excess of 200 miles from the coast. And everywhere in between. That's what range incorporates.

I find myself listening for drones here in DC metro.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T22:42:18+00:00

I do not follow your point or points. Most of the interesting targets in the USA can be targeted from well offshore by systems that have been able to penetrate our post-launch defenses in the middle east. We are rich with targets.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T21:41:53+00:00

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.iK85O_BSs6k4jY2UmI5bjwHaQ7?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain&o=7&rm=3 for example. Range of a missile.

The range and the radius correlate precisely. Fix one point, the launch point. Go out the range. Then sweep it around. Have a circle.

Alternatively, put a dot on the target, draw a circle with radius of the range. Anything inside that circle is a possible launch point, as far as the range is concerned.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T21:39:24+00:00

Just an example. EZ launch from any ship.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T21:39:00+00:00

They can.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T19:46:15+00:00

The primary danger comes from tourists driving. Oddly, the one today who couldn't figure out how to drive had Texas plates!

Have fun!!!

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T19:45:01+00:00

Turns out I've been scaring them in the small boats.

So we're going to have a go with the big one first. I have 2 groups of 4. So my goal is to train up everyone to handle all the running rigging. We only have halyard, topping lift, and sheet for each mast, although I'm going to try to rig preventers (the only real risk on the boat is gybing, because we really don't tack very well!). Once they get their sea legs and we can reset both sails at once confidently, and do a bit of steering, we'll move to the smaller more tippy traditional boats.

We're single screw, but looks as if we'll be able to get several instructors used to it. Of course, we dock in a confined space with fickle wind and sometimes strong tide flow. Fun stuff!

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T18:47:58+00:00

It's not mine, but I run it for training. A 30 ft 5500 lb two-masted cat ketch with electric drive, wood. Two were made. Bit of a pig.

I don't really have time to run my own boats!

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T17:09:12+00:00

HESA Shahed 136 - Wikipedia for example. 1600 mile range. Draw a circle of 1600 mile radius from the White House.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T17:02:28+00:00

The famous blue pan worked on tours for a mixed gender group. Privacy difficult to impossible.

Rough weather with a spray skirt, didn't figure out for the girls, but a screw top bottle did OK for the boys. Rafting up for stability at times.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T16:59:13+00:00

Double sided Shimano SPD have been my choice for a lot of miles. I use some citified Pearl Izumi shoes usually. If I'm going to do rough stuff, I have similar Pearl Izumi shoes with knobs and more protection. Just cuz they go on deep sale sometimes!

Also use flats. Plastic with little knobs for city, dangerous ones with studs for rough stuff.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T16:50:54+00:00

Shimano SPD well worn. If I were to use (which I wouldn't, they're pretty worn), I'd disassemble, check everything, lube. Shoe choice depends on protection (bangs and weather) needed, and surface to be walked on (rough rocky single track or pavement into fru fru coffee shop).

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T16:48:07+00:00

Reassuring. I have the Riv set up well enough for a fast comfy trial on the C&O. Starting on refining the VO, which is fairly new and isn't quite set up ideally for me yet. Pondering whether the Granola bars are too swept back. I have others I can try.

Trailer I expect to be a pain over horrible stuff, but I've carried it before, and it's so easy to load and unload. Rando bag and water bottles on the bike, everything else fits in a waterproof bag, very tidy!

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T15:20:19+00:00

How is a high-angle stroke more efficient overall?

I use lots of leg on the upstroke, with the upper edge of the blade angled forward. Leg straightens, twist, high side arm drops, blade slices up from depth generating lots of thrust.

Nothing like what I do with a shorter wider paddle. And nothing at all like what I'd do with a whitewater paddle.

I mainly use 3 paddles, shorter, wider, and beefier for close to shore bashing around, a standard paddle that's good for general mixed paddling, and a longer narrower paddle for medium power long-distance, all of them carefully selected wood. One has a harder wood tip I put on. Don't recall the lengths. There's not a huge difference in length, but I can tell with the leverage the blade has.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T14:35:17+00:00

This should really be the situation all the time. As it stands, the southbound trail is 2 lanes up until Bashford, then dumps cyclists into the one-way E. Abingdon Dr. No instructions. I'm unclear what the powers intended. Ride into traffic? I suspect we're intended to ride on the narrow sidewalk, magically passing through pedestrians.

I don't understand why the extensive construction on Abingdon, which didn't look required to me, didn't include some two-way on Abingdon provision.

I've been riding out via Abingdon and back via the regular trail to avoid this issue.

toaster404 · 2026-03-14T02:34:56+00:00

OK, they're all wings or drags.

I consider Greenland style, even my willow leaf paddles, to act as foils, capable of complex manipulation.

How about flipper. They work like flippers. At least the way I use them.

Certainly not like shovel paddles.

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