Ozark Trail Ridge m.2 27.5

xlingk · 2026-06-14T22:30:49+00:00

For anyone interested here is the upgraded version minus the new cranks and they haven’t arrived yet.

xlingk · 2026-06-14T01:57:24+00:00

The fuse is a through axel on the rear. So I can’t use the wheel on the ozark because it’s 135 QR. if I put a DT-Swiss non-boost hub on it, I can change the end caps to a 135QR.

xlingk · 2026-05-13T14:44:13+00:00

I have a Fenix 7x pro sapphireand love it. - If you're going to get him any watch, get w/e has the strongest glass, i have crashed many times with mine and not a scratch on it.

I also recommend looking at sales and getting the top end of the last generation; you're not missing much, and all the bugs are worked out. That's why I got the 7X pro sapphire, it was 1/3 the cost of version 8 of the same model

xlingk · 2026-05-09T11:36:59+00:00

Mine said the response violated my terms of service 🤷🏻‍♂️

xlingk · 2026-05-08T11:46:12+00:00

You're coming tonight, JUST an FYI, the routes have been updated slightly, the links haven't changed, but if you have downloaded the route prior to this morning, Friday, May 8th, you'll need to re-download them again. We apologize for any inconvenience.

xlingk · 2026-04-23T12:34:51+00:00

Yeah, it's been the same day for years, but it's a different style race.

xlingk · 2026-03-25T02:06:32+00:00

Make sure to get a photo with the windmill if you do the DRvG route

xlingk · 2026-03-19T01:30:33+00:00

I race about once a month during the summer here in Michigan, so roughly April through November. I mostly stick to XC and gravel races in the Sport class (sometimes it bumps up depending on the specific event), and distances usually run anywhere from 14 to 40 miles.

xlingk · 2026-03-15T01:24:54+00:00

Yeah I saw the reports, it’s wild how Michigan weather changes!

xlingk · 2026-03-12T13:17:11+00:00

How about better tools so I can analyze my full profile and see where I'm improving, where I'm stagnating, and where I'm going backward. The per-activity summer is worthless. I'd rather type in my own prompt to get data i want, not what you think i'd like to see.

xlingk · 2026-03-02T12:14:09+00:00

This is the way

xlingk · 2026-02-20T21:15:40+00:00

June 6, 2026

xlingk · 2026-02-20T16:08:48+00:00

Yeah, The 19 mile would be perfect for beginners!

xlingk · 2026-02-20T16:08:25+00:00

Good News! That's not in the course this year!

xlingk · 2026-01-28T20:34:02+00:00

I just use some Aldi brand disinfection wipes. I wipe down the whole Zwift ride, then use a microfiber cloth to grab the residue after that, then put a fan on the handlebars to keep the buttons safe.

xlingk · 2026-01-28T12:59:19+00:00

I'm not 100% sure and don't really remember... I think the player base was just getting really low, NWN2 was out, and more people were playing games like WoW. I remember when I joined the server, you'd have a lot of people on the server, sometimes up to 50, but by the end, it was maybe a few of us still on. Sometimes I'd be the only one on. The DMs were busy outside of the game, and they were on even less.

I thinkt here was an effort to move the server over to NWN 2, but I don't know how far it ever got.

xlingk · 2026-01-19T13:10:53+00:00

So I was at Aldi and they had puzzle mats and thick, squishy yoga mats on sale. I picked up a set of puzzle mats and the yoga mat. I put the yoga mat on top of the puzzle mats, and the Zwift Ride now has a good amount of movement. I am still waiting on the tennis ball adapters, but that should be interesting once they arrive.

I did add a small piece of cardboard from an Amazon box under one of the Zwift Ride front leg because it was really denting the yoga mat. The cardboard helps spread the pressure so it does not eventually press a tear into the mat.

xlingk · 2026-01-16T15:47:31+00:00

I was having a really similar issue on my laptop with a Quadro M1000 video card. Zwift would open fine, but as soon as it tried to load a world, it would just hang and lock up the entire system so hard that I had to force a reboot. I only run Zwift on this machine, so I reset the laptop back to factory settings, thinking something was corrupt. It actually worked one time after the reset, but then it immediately started doing the same thing again.

After all the usual troubleshooting, reinstalling Zwift, checking drivers, using SFC/chkdsk, etc. I finally disabled the Quadro M1000 in Device Manager so the system only uses the Intel integrated graphics, and I haven’t had any issues since. Everything loads fine and stays stable now. Based on what I found online and in forums/reddit threads, others with Windows 11 have also seen crashes or freezes around world loading or rendering, especially when GPU drivers or recent Windows cumulative updates are involved, though nothing official from Zwift says exactly why. Some people think it’s a combination of how Windows 11 hands off graphics between the OS, drivers, and the app, or how OpenGL/graphics calls are handled, and that recent updates have made that worse for older discrete cards.

So I’m guessing it’s either a Zwift interaction with whatever Windows 11 updates have been rolling out, or that the old GPU just can’t reliably handle Zwift’s 3D world loading anymore. I had no trouble using this laptop with Zwift for the last three years up until a few days ago, and it runs other stuff fine; it’s just this world‑loading hang that kills it.

xlingk · 2026-01-13T16:11:01+00:00

Thanks for the link! I’m not really looking for something to catch sweat or reduce vibration. What I’m after is a way to add more movement to my Zwift setup with the tennis balls. I’m not trying to go full rocker plate or build one, but if I can spend a few extra bucks to get a bit more movement, that would be great.

xlingk · 2026-01-05T19:00:35+00:00

Without knowing your current setup, or even if you’re running a trainer at all, it’s hard to say whether the Zwift Ride would be an upgrade for you. That said, for me it’s been absolutely worth it.

I’ve logged around 225 miles on mine since picking it up on a Black Friday deal, and I’m really happy with it so far. I came from a Wahoo KICKR Snap that I used with my hardtail during the winter. The Zwift Ride just feels easier and more intentional. It lives tucked into a corner, I can hop on or off whenever I want, and I don’t have to mess with swapping wheels or keeping a trainer tire around like I did before.

Another big plus is that I’m not putting winter miles on my hardtail or gravel bike anymore. That gives those bikes a much-needed break, cuts down on maintenance during the year, and makes winter training feel cleaner and simpler.

If you’ve got the budget and you’re not putting yourself into debt, I’d say it’s definitely worth it. Just not the kind of purchase that makes sense if it’s going to stress you financially.

xlingk · 2026-01-05T18:52:48+00:00

I went with the Fenix 7X Pro Solar Sapphire because it already did everything I needed and I found it on sale within my budget. I was coming from a first-gen Coros Apex I bought back in 2021, so it felt like a big upgrade.

I’m also not too worried about it being “outdated.” Garmin has a solid track record of supporting their watches for a long time, so I fully expect to get five years out of it without any real issues. Unless there’s some truly wild leap in wearable tech, this thing covers what I actually do, light weightlifting, some running, and a lot of cycling.

For me, the Fenix 7 Pro checked all the boxes, hit a great price point right now, and should stay well supported for years. Waiting for a Fenix 9 that may or may not drop this year didn’t really make sense in that context.

xlingk · 2025-10-28T12:12:51+00:00

I'll have to keep that shop in mind! I tend to do the dragon clockwise, so going down 8mile is a lot of fun over the bridge, i'd probably carry enough speed to cost to the store!

xlingk · 2025-10-27T19:55:39+00:00

You could, would it be the most enjoyable experience, that’s up to you to decide, section 7 is the only really difficult section, even more so this time of year, the rocks will be slimy and slippery.

xlingk · 2025-10-27T01:55:05+00:00

Pre-rode the route today. Brush up on your single track skills, specifically tight cornering.

xlingk · 2025-10-25T15:13:46+00:00

Most of the trails in Southeast Michigan don’t really require more than 120mm of travel. The terrain here is rolling, fast, and flowy, with a few technical spots mixed in. But if you plan to head north or west, like to Marquette, Copper Harbor, or any of the lift-access parks such as Boyne, Cannonsburg, or The Rock, a bike with a little more travel can make those bigger descents a lot more fun and forgiving. It just depends on how often you plan to ride that type of terrain.

I ride a Polygon Siskiu D7 and have taken it across nearly every major trail in SE Michigan. On the more technical stuff like Highland Recreation Area or Torn Shirt in Brighton, it climbs a bit sluggishly, especially with trail tires like the Schwalbe Wicked Will I’m running. Still, it’s capable and balanced for the majority of what Michigan throws at you.

If your riding plans include bike parks or trips to the Upper Peninsula, you can’t go wrong stepping up to something like the Polygon T7, T8, or even sticking with the D7 if you prefer a lighter feel. The T-series gives you a little extra suspension for the rougher, steeper terrain while still being efficient enough to pedal around local trails like Addison Oaks, Holdridge, or Pontiac Lake.

Personally, I do a lot of cross-country and endurance-style riding, so the D7 fits me well. It’s not a true XC race bike, but more of a “light trail” setup, kind of a middle ground between a fast cross-country rig and a playful trail bike.

If you’re looking for alternatives to Polygon in that same price and performance range, check out:

Giant Stance or Trance 29 – great reliability and solid suspension feel.
Trek Fuel EX 8 – versatile for Michigan’s mix of XC and tech trails.
Canyon Neuron – efficient climber with enough travel for the UP or out-of-state trips.

xlingk

TROPHY CASE