Lights on!
Now that days are shorter and the winter is coming, I need to change how I train on my bike. Sure, I can continue to ride after work, but that means riding in the dark, potentially in the cold and the rain. While I still sometimes do that, the reduced visibility to cars and the chance of encountering skunks, mountain lions and other creatures of the night makes it an unattractive option. I can opt to do nothing or do some minimal training on weekends, but at my age I’ve found the best way to lose weight is to keep it off in the first place. I also want to be in shape for some of the early season rides I like to do in the spring. This all means that I need to set up a pain cave to train indoors, but instead of calling it a pain cave, I just call it a garage. I leave the pain cave to my orphans.
Better than a skunk or a mountain lion I guess.
To get started I needed some kind of trainer. At the low end of the spectrum are plain old rollers, but they seem boring and require some actual skill to get started and maintain balance. At the other end of the spectrum is a full on system that will blow air in your face, adjust the tilt of the bike to fully simulate speed and going uphill, and allow you to rock back and forth, and cost thousands of dollars. If I had unlimited money I’d buy one. But then again, if I had unlimited money I would stop working, buy a house on the French Riviera and ride whenever and wherever I want so there would be no need for a trainer.
Instead I use a smart trainer from Wahoo, which I chose for a number of reasons. First it varies the resistance based on the road you are “riding” in the fitness app (more on that later), so when going uphill, pedaling gets harder, and when going downhill, pedaling is easy. This makes the ride more interesting. Second, it is relatively inexpensive. One downside of the less expensive model is that it really tears up the rear tire, but I purchased a cheap rim and mounted a leftover tire for this purpose. The third reason I chose this trainer was that it folds up for easier storage during the months I’m not using it.
Cheap and simple to expensive and fancy.
Man does not train by trainer alone. I would get bored pedaling in the same spot for more than a few minutes without some visual stimulation, so I use an app that gives a first person view of a ride on the screen and simulates the terrain. The most popular app is Zwift. People seem to like it for the social aspects. You can ride or race with other people online, but I don’t like people and the graphics and scenery are like a video game, which I don’t like. At the hard core end of the spectrum are apps with super macho names like SufferFest, FulGaz, or RideSoHardYourAssBleedz (Cascadia Software), which must be aimed at people a little more serious than me. Instead I use Rouvy which uses real video and has rides from all over the world including routes that are used in professional races. With this app I’ve “ridden” on every continent except Antarctica and it was a godsend during COVID.
Now I have something to look at, but viewing the app on the phone is not a great experience, and sweating on my laptop doesn’t seem like a good idea, so I have a cheap TV and stream the video from my phone to the TV via Chromecast. There are other ways to do it like connecting an HDMI cable from a laptop to the TV, connecting a cable from an iPhone to the TV, and some fitness apps are even available on Apple TV, but this is what works for me at a relatively low price.
If I had known you were coming by I would have cleaned up a little.
OK, I have the trainer, the app, and the TV, what else is there? I like to listen to podcasts while riding so I have some headphones. I could use speakers, but the trainer makes a lot of noise so headphones work better. Initially I used some cheap earbuds from work, but my sweat destroyed them. Now I use bone conduction headphones because not only are they sweatproof, they also leave your earholes open, which makes them good for riding on the road while maintaining awareness.
Speaking of sweat, without a breeze to evaporate it, I drip all over the place. It was actually pretty instructive to see how much water and salt I lose while cycling even on a cold day. If I was cycling in the house I would put a mat under the trainer so I don’t damage the floor, but I’m in the garage with a cement floor, so I go without. There are special covers I could put on the bike to protect it from sweat, but I find an old towel works just as well, and I rinse the bike with leftover water from my water bottle when I finish my workout. If I had an extra fan lying around I’d probably use that to evaporate the sweat before it has a chance to drip.
Now that I can train all year, I can enjoy the fruits of my labor. There’s nothing my wife likes more than to see a hot, sweaty, half naked man emerging from the garage like the cover of a Harlequin Romance. When she sees me she can’t help but squeal, “What are you doing? You’re dripping on the floor! I just cleaned it this afternoon! You stink too! Go take a shower! Gross!” Maybe I’m not getting any extra action, but at least I’m staying in shape.
Just the other day, I was wondering if it is feasible to ride a bike on a treadmill. I suspect not.
*not that I have any inclination whatsoever to do such a thing
https://youtu.be/8TT8ZfFqgnU
Sounds like a “hold my beer” experiment!
There are what are called roller trainers for that.
There is also a treadmill on a bike
Oh my!
Look up Mac’s exercise bike in It’s Always Sunny for an illustration of that (be aware that it’s NSFW).
I’ve seen it.
Never stop pumping!
Joe Biden and I ride the same way. Nice to know I’m not alone, though being alone is better than riding with Ol’ Joe.
Riding with Private Malone – David Ball
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZrxC1bns7E
When you ride alone you ride with Hitler.
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/use_it_up/images_html/ride_with_hitler.html
“…and the chance of encountering skunks…”
You see any goddam politicians, you run their/thems ass right over.
Speaking of Bollywood films, there was a good one that won the foreign language Oscar in the late 90s or early 00s. “Lagaan” – about a rural Indian village that challenged the colonial brits to a cricket match over some taxes. Actually a lot of fun – pretty long but fewer songs/dances. Picked up the DVD a while back.
Reading this Vox excrescence about that Jarksey case earlier, I was marvelling at the impeccable logic used to explain and justify the use of in house administrative law judges in preference to the court system and juries. Based on that, the FBI should have their own internal court system, with employees of the FBI specially trained to interpret and administer the law.
It makes perfect sense, and think how much more streamlined and efficient the whole system could be.
Think of the savings to the taxpayers. Instead of all those lawyers and juries and such, they just pick you up and put you right into jail.
Slate had one the other day. Basic argument that we’ve use administrative courts for a 100 years and one thought that was a problem. Everyone knows this is acceptable behavior.
A similar argument could be made for slavery. We’ve been doing it for a 100+ years. Everyone know that it’s a normal part of life. Those cretins on SCOTUS are rejecting a hundred years of acceptable legal theory.
Um, SCOTUS thought it was putting the matter to rest by upholding slavery. It was those radical agitators (Republicans) that was the ‘problem’.
They did uphold, then embarrassed themselves by changing course later.
Wow, that is impressive propaganda. Every phrase is argument….. “Impartial civil servants” decide cases instead of “partisan political appointees” against “unscrupulous fund managers”
It’s Vox.
They furiously masterbate to the idea of an authoritarian fantasyland ruled over by philosopher kings and administered by an army of commissars.
I say fantasyland because that description is not far from what we are living under now and it not much to their liking. Like meeting your heroes the reality never lives up to the fantasy version. This is why utopia will always be right around the next corner.
This is why utopia will always be right around the next corner.
We just need to stack a few more bodies, comrade!
Yep, always just one more commissar away.
I remember when such employees were merely hearings officers or hearings officials and not administrative law judges.
Riding a bike on a treadmill- I was really wondering about balance. A bicycle in motion is easy- it more or less balances itself. Is that due to the gyroscopic effect of the wheels? If so, would a motionless bike with rotating wheels be easy to balance? Or would you end up in a heap?
I think your problem would be riding at the right speed to match the treadmill. Even someone like me who doesn’t train as much as I should can maintain 15-20 MPH on a stationary bike pretty well. Do treadmills go that fast?
It is the gyroscopic effect of the wheels spinning. Faster spin the more stable the bike. Spin them fast enough and you won’t be able to push the bike over.
Spinning
I was thinking of a different kind of spinning, for some reason
Rat- I made it about thirty seconds into that video. That guy annoyed the shit out of me.
Think of the savings to the taxpayers. Instead of all those lawyers and juries and such, they just pick you up and put you right into jail.
Exactly. And no more long drawn out appeals process. “Nope, your appeal is denied. We got it right the first time.”
They actually think unelected bureaucrats should be able to act as legislators, judges, and juries.
Do they actually believe this is good, or are they just being dishonest shite because the agencies are doing the left’s bidding?
Do they actually believe this is good,
yes
When I hear such arguments I ask “Would you feel the same if it was the Trumpers in charge?”
That’s my argument too. And just last week, there were clips on Twitter of some “journalists” freaking out at the prospect of Trump winning and turning the tables on them. Yet it never occurs to them that maybe nobody should have that power.
That’s why the Executive Branch must be insulated against the vagaries of who wins the presidency!
” but I don’t like people ”
Pretty shocking for a Glib.
Aren’t you all extra-verted?
You dislike people too? We should hang out.
People are shit
“I like to listen to podcasts while riding so I have some headphones.”
I must be getting old, because I’ve started listening to podcasts while running. I don’t go at it as hard as I used to; in my younger years I’d need music to rev me up and motivate me.
I have a pair of those bone-conduction headphones but I find I can’t wear them outside because traffic and other noise drowns them out.
I’ve got a similar setup. I put my road bike (which I don’t use anymore – to many mountain rails nearby) on a Kinetic trainer. I use Rouvy too and agree with you about Zwift. I not only don’t like people ( a common thread in these parts) I don’t like it when everyone (even some runners) are passing me.
Plain rice with sugar and milk. Nom.
Rice…Mushies?
No, doesn’t get mushy. The secret is not to start out with sticky rice. Needs to be on the soft side of al dente.
Otherwise, I just really can’t stand rice. I’ll only eat it because it came with the Chinese and I don’t want to waste it.
Been eating a lot of cauliflower “rice”, and i have to say there really isn’t a substitute for those soft pillowy grains of starchy goodness for Indian or Chinese food
You know, I marginally like cauliflower, but I never could get into cauliflower “rice.” I mean, I like different gruels (Cream of Wheat, oatmeal, above rice cereal), but I just could never reconcile the texture of mashed cauliflower and its taste.
Fresh, in a salad. Had fresh broccoli for lunch, in a salad
Apparently they served a tasty rice pudding on board the Hindenburg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8BqxWbX_r8
My weird contribution: I like cooking half cup of barley and a half cup of brown rice together. Cooking time is the same, flavor is complementary, it’s versatile, and contains lots of fiber.
I should specify, that’s for savory dishes. Never had it with milk and sugar.
I love my rice cooker!
I’m a fan of many varieties and dishes with rice.
This will stop global warming in its tracks
The North American wolverine will receive long-delayed threatened species protections under a Biden administration proposal released Wednesday in response to scientists’ warnings that climate change will likely melt away the rare species’ snowy mountain refuges and push them toward extinction.
Across most of the U.S., wolverines were wiped out by the early 1900s from unregulated trapping and poisoning campaigns. About 300 surviving animals in the contiguous U.S. live in fragmented, isolated groups at high elevations in the northern Rocky Mountains.
Wolverines join a growing number of animals, plants and insects — from polar bears in Alaska to crocodiles in southern Florida — that officials say are at growing risk as increasing temperatures bake the planet, altering snowfall patterns and raising sea levels.
Take that, global warming.
Shameless fucking liars.
Yes, the northern Rockies are totally running out of snow.
And the polar bear population is actually quite healthy.
When they were allegedly all dying out, I used to frequent a more politically diverse website and debated people about this.. the natives were all saying ‘more polar bears than ever’ and the scientists were all saying they’re on the edge of extinction. I liked torturing them over which group we should believe.
Your jib, the cut of it is most admirable.
+ 1 Red Dawn
Or +1 Custer.
Suck my dick.
Protecting the wolverines’ remaining habitat strongholds gives the animals a fighting chance, said former U.S. Forest Service research biologist Jeffrey Copeland.
Listing wolverines as threatened “means that we have not paid enough attention to this critter to give it what it needs,” he said.
“It’s a failure. But in this type of situation, it’s the only tool that we have.”
Republican lawmakers in Montana had urged the administration to delay its decision, claiming the scientists’ estimates were too inaccurate to make a fair call about the dangers faced by wolverines. The lawmakers, led by hard-right conservative Rep. Matt Rosendale, warned that protections could lead to future restrictions on activities allowed in wolverine habitats, including snowmobiling and skiing.
Rosendale said Wednesday that he would seek to revoke threatened species status for wolverines at the earliest chance if it’s finalized.
“Whether it’s private property, state property or federal property, if we are limited on the use of that land based upon this status, that’s a taking,” he said. “Is the federal government going to compensate the state for lack of use on state-owned lands? …. I don’t think so.”
Federal land use restrictions to fight global warming; why didn’t anybody think of that before?
What we need is a Global Dictatorship of the Technocrats.
Expert-ism will be our salvation.
Environmentalists have argued in multiple lawsuits against the Fish and Wildlife Service that wolverines face localized extinction from climate change, habitat fragmentation and low genetic diversity.
The proposal to protect them “gives the wolverine a fighting chance for survival,” said Timothy Preso, an attorney for the group Earthjustice who’s been part of that legal effort.
Earthjustice. Those sleazy motherfuckers show up in all of these bogus “climate” lawsuits, the sole purpose of which is to shut down any human activity.
Given the rampant abuses of power, amorality of government and media and the breathtaking incompetence of the lot of them it has occurred to me that UnCivil’s article on nations will be a very interesting read.
‘Royally screwed’. I never thought much of that expression but I am now. I have said a few times that the unbridled power and complete lack of accountability reminds me of European aristocracy. I think what we are seeing today is the impending fall of our ruling idiots due to their own folly. This makes me wonder about the factors shaping the character of a nation and the individuals comprising it. Have we traded our souls for empire? Would a collapse of that empire be the best thing that could happen to us? I think so.
‘ Have we traded our souls for empire? ‘
Been listening to Dave Smith?
I dont know who that is.
Would a collapse of that empire be the best thing that could happen to us?
As a typical man who thinks about the Roman Empire a lot, I’d have give that a definitive “no.”
I think yes.
I don’t believe that an Imperial US really benefits me.
The key is to get out of the game before everyone hates you enough to come and sack Rome. The Empire declining doesn’t have to mean the heartland is decimated.
I mean I don’t see it quite working like that with us.
After the British Empire wound down, did the average British person see a decline in their well-being? Nope. Continued rising.
If there is a power vacuum that allows outsiders to invade I guess.
Exactly. Hard to see us being hurt too badly by declining our overseas adventurism.
Wolverines, by their very nature, are not a species suited to dense populations. But don’t try to tell the “experts” that.
*writes up grant proposal for a feasibility study of new-Urbanist high-density wolverine habitats based on environmental justice and equity principles*
Black and brown communities don’t get equitable exposure to wolverines… approved!
There’s a place in the ME that has a lot of hidey-holes for wolverine habitat. Should be lots of food to scavenge.
*write up a grant proposal to study wolverine sexual behavior while on cocaine
its been done for Japanese quail: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/scicurious-brain/cocaine-and-the-sexual-habits-of-quail-or-why-does-nih-fund-what-it-does/
^^ This is the way.
One of my favorite Rand Paul Festivus grievances.
Too bad. I guess feds couldn’t set them loose in NYC to prey on the rat population.
With all the law firms based there, the ecosystem is already saturated with weasels.
(yes, yes, gratuitous cheap shot)
Then why are they the mascot for U of Michigan? That student body is one of the densest populations around. ::fistbumps Sloopy::
As a typical man who thinks about the Roman Empire a lot, I’d have give that a definitive “no.”
As a man who thought “The Road” was too stupendously stupid and ridiculous to even qualify as satire or comedy, I still would prefer our “empire” to hold together for a few more years, until I have cashed in my chips.
Heaven help me – CNBC is running the PR event for the the Cybertruck.
They showed some dude firing an actual Tommy Gun (i.e. .45ACP) into the side of the thing being careful to completely avoid any of the glass. Another showed what looked like a handgun doing the same thing.
So the for the next week all we are going to read about is the “bulletproof” new Tesla. Assuming “bulletproof” means mostly handgun rounds that don’t aim at the glass.
IIRC, bulletproof glass is an option, not standard.
It was always supposed to have some kind of shatter resistant glass, but I don’t ever recall it being any kind of bulletproof.
The site itself only allows you to select and reserve major configurations with nothing granular.
Aw.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/textbased/news/text-12811417/Republican-Rand-Paul-uses-Heimlich-maneuver-save-fellow-Senator-choking-food-dramatic-scenes-Congress.html
And 🤨.
I thought Paul was supposed to be one of the good guys
Geez. Ernst and Graham couldn’t keep politics out of it for one freaking second either.
Just act like a human being for once!
Cool looking g setup? jR. I had no idea about such things and the available apps.