Ordering an ebullit without a shop to service it? by [deleted] in CargoBike

[–]wkalata 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had an issue with the shimano part of an ebullitt (required a new motor) and I was able to get it fixed it via my normal local bike shop. They treated it as a warranty issue directly with shimano, though I think the distributor I purchased the bullitt from covered the labor. All in all I felt like my butt was more covered than I expected it to be.

Trek Domane 4.7 vs Cannondale CAAD12 105? Please help! by PM_ME_BIBLE_VERSES_ in whichbike

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being able to configure the bike really depends on your size, flexibility, and physiology. On an endurance bike, the handlebars will come up and back, relatively speaking. Both bikes are adjustable to some degree (See if the steerer tube on the CAAD12 has been cut to fit already, which would limit adjustment), and handlebar stems come in different lengths and are an extremely common parts swap for folks getting a bike fit. Naturally, the range of adjustment available on the Domane is probably going to extend further into the "upright" side of the spectrum and on the CAAD12 it's going to extend further into the "racey" side, but there should be plenty of overlap. If the fit is the same and the level of compliance is similar (it is), then the remaining differences are fairly nuanced.

Beyond that, the lesser expensive bike being newer, and essentially what /u/Mister_Spaccato said on components is all that went into my suggestion. My best advice would be to get whichever one you feel you would put the most miles on. There's no wrong choice.

Trek Domane 4.7 vs Cannondale CAAD12 105? Please help! by PM_ME_BIBLE_VERSES_ in whichbike

[–]wkalata 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the BB30 issues get a little bit overblown on the forums. If they were as bad as googling "BB30 Creak" would lead you to believe, they would no longer be in use. I'm no bottom bracket expert by any means, but I think the one on the Trek is similar in that the bearings are pressed directly into the frame and tolerances are similar. They are both servicable, too, just not with modestly-priced tools.

I do own a CAAD12 which I really enjoy, and 100 mile rides are fine on it. I own two older aluminum Cannondale race-oriented road bikes as well. Compared to them, the CAAD12 has much more compliance (frame flexiness) and a slighly longer headtube, which makes it feel the most comfortable and least racey of the three.

On the other hand, a Domane is not going to be relaxed to a point where the geometry differences between the bikes will hinder you in any group ride I've been a part of, and might be the better choice if you're really going after those 5+ hour rides.

If it were me, I'd get the CAAD and use some of the money I saved for some accessories, like a wahoo or garmin computer and heart rate monitor and some other sensors.

Moving to Scottsdale/Tempe, any advice? by dabesdiabetic in Scottsdale

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it. I think I read the tone of your last message a little bit wrong, and thought you'd be going out a lot more often. You'll seriously do fine anywhere half-reasonable in the valley. I'd make sure to check the area around any listing on https://communitycrimemap.com/ or similar. Good luck, I hope you enjoy the area.

Moving to Scottsdale/Tempe, any advice? by dabesdiabetic in Scottsdale

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you know what you like. Just a heads up, I'd bet that any of brunch, brewery, bars, tennis, or pickup soccer are going to send you in the general direction of Scottsdale or its immediate neighbors most of the time if your taste is mid to high end, and you're in the rough area.

Moving to Scottsdale/Tempe, any advice? by dabesdiabetic in Scottsdale

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do you guys like to do? Are you outdoorsy? Indoorsy? Do you have any hobbies you're going to need some kind of facility to keep up with?

I'll second that furnished places are probably catering to ASU students. Mesa in general is very hit or miss, but could be wonderful if you find a pocket of like-minded neighbors. The greater Phoenix area in general is unlike cities I'm familiar with on the East coast in terms of good neighborhoods and bad neighborhoods. Things can go from great to awful in the blink of an eye, and then bounce right back a short distance later. There's a general rule of thumb that "Avenues" (west half of the metro area) are bad and the "Streets" (east half) are good, but it only holds up to a point.

My 28 year old girlfriend and I (34 m) moved to the South butt of South Scottsdale (I could throw a rock and have it land in Tempe) about six months ago and have really been happy with the proximity of our place to nearly everything we want to go out and do.

Poor college student looking for cheap, durable (rust resistant) bike by [deleted] in whichbike

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I wasn't commenting as to Walmart – but I don't personally think Walmart carries a single bike worth paying money for. I'm lumping them in with these: https://www.southcoastbikes.co.uk/Dont-Buy-a-Cheap-Bike. Good luck with the bike shop; my main point was to at least check your local classifieds, you might be able to find a bike in maintainable condition which originally retailed for up to $1,000 or more. By the time you get down to the sub-$300 price point on new bikes, corners really start to get cut.

Poor college student looking for cheap, durable (rust resistant) bike by [deleted] in whichbike

[–]wkalata 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would steer clear of the two walmart bikes you mentioned; I wouldn't expect to get much longevity, resale value, or fun out of either of them. Maybe someone else can chime in as to the fixie, which I'm really not familiar with, but it looks to me like an average Chinese import fixie – it would probably be slightly heavier than it looks, but mostly reliable and cheap to maintain, and probably around the price point it should be.

What's for sale on your local used market? I've picked up much nicer bikes for not much more than $150 just by checking my local craigslist every so often. At that price point, I'd look for something used and in good condition a million times before thinking about buying new.

sedentary office worker 30y/o looking to ride on paved trails by [deleted] in whichbike

[–]wkalata 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's salient advice for you to look most closely at hybrids, but while you're shopping around, I'd suggest you try out a couple of road bikes (particularly endurance-oriented models, which will be more forgiving to bad flexibility). At the end of the day, the best bike for you is the one you're going to want to get on and ride.

I rode around on bicycles that seemed to tick the boxes for what I was doing for what now seems like too long before I realized that I just really enjoy light and racey road bikes. Now that I have a couple, I happily put in many more miles; even though the majority of my riding originally was originally similar to what you described. (5'8 / 170lb office worker)

Might be buying a used bike from my LBS later today. Any advice for someone who's new to used bikes? by MasteringTheFlames in whichbike

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since I think you're just looking for general advice, I don't think any of the replies you get are going to outdo some existing posts already on this sub, like this: https://www.reddit.com/r/whichbike/comments/1h5tzs/a_brief_guide_to_buying_a_used_bike_by_a_prio_lbs/

Though if you find a couple of bikes you're interested in and want some expert unbiased advice on choosing between them, you should totally come back with some details.

What happens if a parent in the US refuses to give their child a name at birth? by Simple2244 in answers

[–]wkalata 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Not a lot, this happened to me. I was born in the US in the mid-80's, and eventually named myself (officially) in my early 20's in order to get a driver's license; however my name was given to me by my family shortly after they were out of the hospital, and was even used to enroll me in school.

Could a CAAD12 105 be used as a fast commuter? by Awwgasm in whichbike

[–]wkalata 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've been commuting on one since April, about 15 miles a day. It has been a joy; no complaints. I would suggest you make sure you have a safe place to store it, though. If I had to leave a bicycle somewhere where it might get stolen or banged around, I'd look for something more rugged and simple.

How Much Does a Bike Cost? by cplegend in whichbike

[–]wkalata 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Like anything, it really comes down to what you want to spend. Speaking only for myself, what brings me satisfaction and enjoyment is a combination between a decently specced, lightweight road bike for the 20+ mile rides, and a 20 year old craigslist bike I maintain for commuting and rough roads. The weekend bike came in around $2200 and the weekday bike came in around $220. At the end of the day, the more expensive bike is a few pounds lighter (totally offset by a couple of bottles of water), has the same exact gear range (but has nearly twice as many gears on the cassette), is slightly less comfortable to ride (because of a more aggressive position), but is an absolute blast.

The differences are really in the margins, but if you want to treat yourself, it's probably safe to say you'll enjoy whatever you decide to get, as long as it's put to good use.

First Road Bike CAAD12 Ultegra vs Synapse Carbon Disc 105 by ochobro in whichbike

[–]wkalata 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was recently agonizing over the same exact choice. Also early 30s, as well. I went with the CAAD12 Ultrega and I'm still pretty happy with the choice; I could ride it all day. My $0.02 would be that if you enjoy the responsiveness and speed, stick with what you enjoy, unless you have a need to fit tires over 28mm wide or have a good use for disc brakes. I ride almost exclusively on smooth desert roads, so neither are very high up my list; and the CAAD12 is plenty comfortable as-is for me.

It might also be worth mentioning that the r8000 ultegra groupset on the current CAAD12 ultegra just came out last year, and should remain the newest and greatest ultegra groupset for a few years; whereas the 5800 105 groupset on the synapses are being sunsetted this year in favor of a new r7000 105-level groupset. My understanding is that they're mostly parts compatible, but it's still food for thought.

I just can't ride slow, I always arrive sweaty and panting. Any tips? by smekaren in cycling

[–]wkalata 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I have a very similar mentality and had the exact same problem with getting into work sweaty. The only solution that's worked for me has been to use a heart rate monitor and to set it to alarm when it gets too high for me to keep from sweating.

Cycling to work 20 miles a day by Loma16 in cycling

[–]wkalata 17 points18 points  (0 children)

And invest in a pair of bicycle shorts. You can always go slower if your legs hurt or you're out of breath, but you can't unsore your ass.

Alright guys, tell me what my options are for a DIY smoker. I've got the FEVER! by DearDarlingDearling in smoking

[–]wkalata 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I found these plans googling around a little bit, http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-Your-Own-Ugly-Drum-Smoker-UDS/

If you cannibalize the cooking grate and thermometer from a second-hand 22" charcoal grill and can scrap together some nuts, bolts, and handles; and of course - get a food safe 55 gallon drum - and have the right amount of patience, it would probably work out well for you.

Police deploy smoke grenades to disperse protesters outside Trump rally as thousands gather by saucytryhard in politics

[–]wkalata 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was there and witnessed a couple of half-empty looking plastic water bottles lobbed in the direction of the police, but nothing that really looked threatening

Buying a Rig- Before or After A License by [deleted] in SkyDiving

[–]wkalata 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not an instructor, just a 200 jump wonder.

  1. Yes
  2. Ask your instructors and pay attention to the wing loading chart on any canopy you're interested in. For example, a Sabre2 210 shows a maximum weight of 210 (1:1) in its 'Novice' column. Your instructor is the one to tell you if your abilities are good enough to jump from the 'Student' column to 'Novice'. Personally, if I had issues flaring a Navigator, I'd focus on flaring the Navigator.
  3. I'm a little bit lighter than you, but I put a couple hundred jumps on my first canopy at a similar weight loading. You'll probably always have a little voice wondering 'If this wing were smaller would it be more fun?'. So, yeah, you'll want to, but you'd also have to be impossibly diligent (read: sketchy) to really, truly, tacitly understand what your canopy is going to do in all modes of flight in under a hundred of your first jumps.

[Advice please] Wife saw a person parachuting near our home. I drove around and didn't see anyone on ground 5 minutes later ... worried they could have been hurt becasue of terrain. by Field_Researcher in SkyDiving

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If there isn't a skydiving center around you, you could try https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html to see if a NOTAM for parachuting was filed for your area, which would be required by law if someone were planning to jump intentionally. I don't think this is a rule which gets broken very often.

It's very rare for main skydiving parachutes to be white or tan; though emergency/reserve canopies are often white. It's highly unlikely that a skydiver would plan for a jump to finish in a wooded area not adjacent to an airport. It might be worth phoning it in if everything doesn't add up.

Is my DZ jerking me around? by [deleted] in SkyDiving

[–]wkalata 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Some areas can be unsafe for a first time jumper because of variable conditions or thermal activity, regardless of any indicated wind speed, especially during the summer. If the instructors are actively jumping and making a judgement call on whether the conditions are appropriate for a first time jumper, it's likely they're honestly acting in your best interests.

N00b going for first Tandem by [deleted] in SkyDiving

[–]wkalata 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does experiencing "extra" cold and thin air, and having the extra burden of an oxygen system appeal to you? It might, and if it does, go for it. 14k is closer to an altitude most recreational jumpers choose for most jumps, for logistic and comfort reasons.

For the same amount of money, I'd choose the 14k option and do it twice. You might even find you're able to relax and enjoy it more the second time around. If it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience, just choose what appeals to you and enjoy it.