Allegheny Jet

AZTR,

My condolences to you and Tallwife. Safe travels to all.

shovelhd

Peace be with you and your family, AZT.

Cleave

@AzTallRider, sad news. Sympathies and condolences.

Racer Ex 

Er, that phone call I made the other day...I was kidding.

revchuck 

revchuck 

Update - I turned down the job. Way too little lead time - about ten days to boots-on-the-ground - and I've been away from my wife too long already with the job in NOLA. Up to about ten years ago, I'd be on this job like white on rice. Now? Nah. I've got enough cushion for a few more months, don't need to take the first thing that comes along.

LAJ

Sad to hear, AZTallrider. Positive thoughts to you and your family.

AzTallRider

Thanks for the good thoughts, folks.

Nice patience, Chuck.

caloso

My condolences to you and your family.

Hermes

AZT, MEA and I send our condolences to you and your family.

chasm54

Sorry, AzT. But nice that she went the way she'd have wanted.

chasm54

I had an interesting weekend. My firiends who do some kids coaching among other things, made a pitch to a local drug/alcohol rehabilition service to fund getting some addicts on recovery programmes into cycling. For three months they have been taking a group out once a week on progressively more challenging rides, teaching them some skills, building their stamina and confidence and generally trying to introduce them to the fact there are healthier and more rewarding ways to spend their time.

The first phase ended this weekend, taking them on a three-day coast-to-coast ride of almost 150 miles with a lot of fairly challenging climbs. I volunteered to go along to help out. They have plenty of problems, these people, and the term "herding cats" comes to mind when trying to get them organised to start on time, remember to pack their gear, and so on, but they all made it and it was a hugely positive experience for a bunch of individuals who have absolutely no history of athletic pursuits and almost as little in taking on a difficult challenge and nailing it. Whether it makes a long-term difference in their lives remains to be seen, but it gave them a sense of possibility.

Did me some good, anyway. Always worth reminding myself how lucky I am.

Racer Ex 

This always happens with groups bigger than one. Good story in any case.

valygrl

AZT & MEA, I'm sorry for your loss.

On a lighter note, I need some advice on bike equipment. I'm sick of how crappy the shifting is on my DA 7900 road bike, and I'm getting tendonitis in my right thumb from operating it. I want to go electronic, without breaking the bank or adding a ton of weight to a pretty light bike. I also would like to stay 10 speed so I can easily switch wheels between my road & TT bike without fooling around with the cassettes. I was thinking of going to DA 7900, I would not have to buy a crank, but understand that the wiring harness technology is not as good and doesn't have a future upgrade path.

What do you think - OK to go to 7900 Di2? Suck it up, budget and compatibility-wise, and go for the 9070? Give up the weight goal and go to 6770 Ultegra Di2, because there is (??) a better upgrade path to 9000 eventually?

Frame is a 2011 Scott CR1, I think i have to stay with external routing, or drill it, eek, not sure though.

Racer Ex 

Love my Ultegra. Have Dura on the TT bike, there's no difference in action. You save a bit of weight but it's at a very high dollar/gram ratio.

Probably want to stay external, the CR-1 is super thin wall.

valygrl

Thanks. I'm doing money and gram math right now.

shovelhd

"DA 7900 Di2" is DA 7970. That's what I have on my bike, as I think you know. I bought my stuff used from a recreational rider. I wanted 7970 for the hackability. There is no issue with wiring when run internally, but I see that's not an option for you.

If you are not interested in having multiple shift points, 6770 (10 speed Ultegra Di2) is on closeout. You should be able to put together a group new for the same or less than a 7970 group used. Used 6770 is a bargain. The delta between your 7900 and 6770 is in the $500 range or less. If and when you decide to upgrade to 11 speed, all it takes is an 11 speed rear derailleur (DA 9070 or the Ultegra 8070 coming at the end of the year) and a firmware flash. Your front derailleur, shifters, and harness can stay.

I built my own seatpost battery and charging system which saves a buncha grams and is a lot cleaner.

valygrl

Sorry, got my numerology all mixed up there, i got it, 7970 = da 10 speed electronic.

sarals 

AzT, being out of town and out of touch I missed that very sad news. My heart and condolences go out to Tallwife and you, friends both. No matter how full and rich the life was, when a mother passes, the hole left in the heart never truly closes.

Cleave

I guess this is the same bike that AzTR rides:

https://velonews.competitor.com/2013/...ced-sl0_295192

Racer Ex 

Find out today about Mrs. Ex knee. She tore both the acl and mcl several years ago on the slopes and its gotten really unstable this year. Surgery is likely, part of the reason I pulled the plug on the trip. She was riding a bunch and getting really fit but thats been curtailed as things have gotten worse.

Recovery ride from 10 hours at Disneyland yesterday. Niece did great things, couple of the bigger rides, no melt downs or tantrums.She's been really good while she's been here.

Mickey mouse story over in the 33.

shovelhd

Good luck to Mrs. Ex.

Racer Ex 

Thanks.

Didn't work though. Surgery.

AzTallRider

Dang... I'll be thinking of her.

Close. That's the electronic version, which wasn't (probably still isn't) available yet in the US. Also still can't get the handlebars unless you buy a bike.

Back home now, although the family will be in NOLA through to Saturday. Exhausting trip, but everyone is doing pretty darned well.

sarals 

Ohhhh....give her my best, and a hug - please.