Neil_B

I'm working on Nerys, but so far no success. I've suggested he try on my Brooks Cascadias or Saucony Omnis to feel what a "motion-control" shoe feels like, but he's said no. He's still wedded to his Crocs.

Neil_B

A general comment on an aspect of Nerys that I didn't understand until yesterday, and one that draws adverse remarks in this thread and others - his frugality. Chris is a hard-core DIY person, and for him finding the least expensive way to do something is fun, akin to composing a chess problem or editing one's Bike Forum's posts for style. While at times he carries his fun to an extreme that's harmful for him, such as the back and forth about arch supports, its mostly harmless. And as a man who has no mechanical skills and not a lot of physical ability, I admire the ability to take something like a GEO Tracker and restore it, or the plywood fix on his bike seat.

bdinger

I definitely resemble this. But, as I grow older that has changed into "oh eff it, take my money"

Neil_B

I'm into economy as well. The difference between Chris and I is how we apply it. The "cost" of an item is often more than dollars and cents, and that's something Chris and I disagree on. Yes, his 89 Tracker is a lot less money than my KIA, but the KIA doesn't sound like its powered by a 1970s Con-Air blow dryer. Meanwhile I don't need to constantly work on the KIA. However, working on cars is fun for Chris and I take no pleasure in it, so each of us has spent money well.

Anyway, having spent time with the man I better understand his thinking, and while I often disagree with the stations his train of thought stops at, I like his outside the box ideas.

nerys

you were not listening at the gym neil (being funny) the safety WAS released my gut simply won't get out of the way enough and turning my knee's sideways is dangerous with that much weight.

also the tracker sounds like that (you forgetful or something ?? hehe) because the manifold donuts are blown. They are $26.99 a pop and I need two. I will get around to fixing them and then you won't even be able to hear the engine.

I am actually surprise how QUITE it is to be honest considering the exhaust leak.

as for COST. consider this. if I but $500 into this tracker over the next 5 years I will be VERY SURPRISED (personal upgrades not counted) ie repairs.

what is your monthly payment on that kia again?

when you drive 40,000 miles a year and have to buy $3 and $4 gas fuel economy becomes more than "deciding" where to spend your money and starts to count to thousands of dollars a year.

some quickie math.

Geo tracker at projected 35mpg. 40,000 miles $4 gas. $4,571 per year in fuel or $45,710 over the next 10 years.

Minivan at 20mpg 40,000 miles $4 gas $8000 per year or $80,000 over the next 10.

that is a difference of $3429 per year or a rather significant chunk of what either one of us earns pre tax per year.

the fuel savings alone makes it a 100% "FREE" geo tracker in around 6 months. (it cost me $1700)

and the car is so god awful easy to repair I am not even slightly concerned with it.

NOW for someone like YOU neil who drives around or lower than the national average of say 12,000 miles a year OK this is far less important to you and that DOES make sense.

you just have to remember. I WILL put 30,000 or more miles (the other 10k on other cars) on this tracker in the next year. with the way we are visiting each other I might push closer to my past 50,000 miles a year average.

let me give you another example. $4967 61,345 miles.

I have a 94 geo metro. I track EVERYTHING. down to the $3 screws I bought for the license plate. every registration tax inspection "AND" every single gallon of fuel.

61,345 miles is the total miles I PERSONALLY have put on that geo metro in the not quite 2 years I have had it.

$4967 is the GRAND TOTAL down to the dollar I have into this car from purchase price to every single repair part and component and every single gallon of gas I have put into its tanks.

this also includes quite a few hundred dollars of NON repair items IE upgrades I made because I wanted them like my Mpguino and my 110v/usb power ports and my led lights and my stainless custom made exhaust manifold and the aluminum rims I got for it etc..

that mileage is equivalent to the average person going 5 YEARS and it only cost me $4967 exactly.

I call that pretty darned good :-) hehe

for me only one "economy" really matters.

dollars. if it don't save me dollars its not economy :-)

there are of course economy exceptions. anything that HELPS ME is economy excused if need be.

I would never drive out to bike and hike weekly otherwise. the fuel cost is too high. not high as in I can't afford it but high as in needless waste.

but I gain "FAR MORE" than its "dollar value" from getting healthier losing weight and making friends.

it could eve be argued that "spending" these dollars doing this actually saves me dollars.

what is the dollar cost of staying 455+ pounds and fat and unhealthy ?

HECK I don't even know my actual monetary "FOOD" value budget. its got to be god awful high at whats needed to be 455 pounds and its got to be crazy lower to sustain 225 pounds. HUGE savings is what I see (and longer more enjoyable life)

but when I am hypermiling my metro at 62mph down a hill with the engine off hoping the light turns so I don't have to TOUCH those brakes and conserve my momentum for the coming hill. its all about the mpg's which is dollars :-)

ie its "FUN" to me :-)

Neil_B

Its a risk at any amount of weight. But I see your point.

nerys

anyway the sled will only go down "so far" and I was not actually too far off that "stop" point maybe 4-5 inches. not really a relevant difference in the bigger picture. its basically just a "squat" maneuver.

the legitimate fear is that if I angle my knee's out if one is not exactly the same as the other one knee will experience a dramatic increase in "force"

at 480 pounds plus sled weight (20-30 pounds) thats over 500 pounds or 250 pounds on each knee.

if one got "slacker" than the other it might momentarily put 300 350 pounds on ONE knee. I can't imagine that would be good. its why I don't do it very often. just not worth the risk.

and its why I keep my hands on my knees. if I feel a knee "move" out of sync with the other like one leg is moving sideways I know to stop right away.

I am probably unnecessarily worried about it but it costs me nothing to be careful and would cost me a lot if not careful and the fear was justified.

in fact I think I will stop doing that one till I am a lot lighter. an injury would take a lot longer to repair at my weight.

Neil_B

BTW yesterday Nerys spent a couple of hours wandering around the Outdoor Sports Expo in Oaks. There is a cycling connection, as he fell in love with a pedaling canoe from Hobie.

goldfinch

OK, I want shoes like those.

Neil_B

"Those shoes are hideous. I can't believe you wore them. Oh wait, I CAN believe it."

"These shoes are awesome."

"They are hideous."

"They're awesome."

"They are HIDEOUS!"

"THEY ARE AWESOME! Grrr!"

youcoming

I'm all for economy. Mine just reverse of nery's, spend it while you have and do what gives you enjoyment. My brain can't figure out how someone with nery's brain works but ill never criticize that. I can't believe anyone would, who cares what who does with their money and what they believe they can cobble together. I think he's crazy to try and make his own shoes and supports but he would think I'm bonkers for spending over $10G on a bike!

Neil_B

We have that discussion all the time. Unfortunately. Look at the above rant applying the language of economics to friendship. I'd never think of applying dollars and cents to a hike with a friend. If you were in SE PA or I in Ontario and we wanted to meet for a ride I doubt either of us would say "OK, this costs money, but lets meet for a ride anyway because there might be a return on our investment that's greater than that of staying home and playing a video game." I can tell that at times I perplex Nerys, say when I offer to pick up the cost of a meal or when I gave him my old bike shoes - or indeed my customary enthusiasm. He must have wondered when I consulted my accountant.....

bdinger

I totally get where he's coming from. If I drove more than I do, you'd better believe that I'd invest in economy and more closely track it.

It's also highly likely I'd get a vehicle that averages over 12mpg in the city and 18 on the highway (although I did get 20 between Green Bay, WI and Davenport IA!). Yet with as little as I drive I can instead try to ignore the mileage and enjoy the POWERRRRRR and four wheel drive in the winter. And then ride my bike to work. It's not ironic at all...

Anyway good on ya Nerys, I completely understand where you're coming from. Also those shoes are kinda awesome.

Neil_B

Accounts of this weekend, including today's 30 mile ride.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Neil-go-for-30

nerys

the shoes are awesome aren't they.

was searching ebay and it hit me. search for transparent or clear shoes. I also have some nike jordens in blue with clear panels too and some big lebowski all clear jelly sandles.

shoes off my wicked awesome toe socks.

brighter is better. :-)

the Geo Tracker is REALLY turning out nice !! I scored 31.72mpg with tonights fill (9.9 gallons! I think it holds 11 gallons. I hope :-)

and I still have to fit the exhaust AND its winter blend below freezing AND it was to valley forge (up hill)

I expect I can do much better come warmer weather better gas and a fixed exhaust. REALLY stoked about this.

and it has 4 wheel drive AND AC :-)

Neil_B

BTW, in light of yesterday's "rescue" of me when I bonked and had a flat tire during the ride I should qualify my comments about Nerys' putting a dollar value on activities with friends. When push came to shove he did the right thing without calculating expense. And I've never been gladder to see a GEO Tracker.

Those shoes, however, remain hideous.

bdinger

I really can't be anything but jealous about almost 32mpg on winter gas with 4wd. All I can is suspect that you drive with a lighter foot than I.

Although for a real challenge, come see if you can get my Dodge above 15 in stop and go city driving. It's like choose your own adventure..!

Neil_B

BTW Nerys is determined to teach me to drive a stick.

nerys

I drive 45mph. EVERYWHERE maxxing at 50. when you have a 5 speed stick and a small engine RPM is everything as long as your not lugging. its not going to be the same in the Tracker but in the metro 1mph literally equals 1mpg.

what neil did not explain that I think I can clarify is that my issue is not with cost savings persay but with avoiding "needless waste" its why I don't make a $9 trip just for mushrooms its why I plan my routes its why I don't idle don't use drive through and turn the engine off if I expect to be stopped for more than 30 seconds.

for me its ALWAYS about value. period. what he did not maybe understand clearly is that friendship and my health ALSO have value. a great quantity of value.

how much money will I save "eating right" versus eating 4k 5k 6k in calories a day? how much would diabetes cost me? knee replacement cost me? (this is not related to neil my knee replacement would be SELF INFLICTED at my mass not by birth like neils) or a heart attack.

those things have EXTREME values that make the prodigious amounts of gasoline I am burning to do these trips seem like dandelions on the breeze in comparison.

spending cash to ride and hike "SAVES" me money a lot of money. and will greatly improve my life and well being even beyond just getting healthier and skinnier.

there is also tremendous incalculable value in friendship. I expect to be torturing neil for a very long time. :-) Can't put a price tag on that.

Your taste in shoes however remains hideous :-) anyone who don't like them shoes has horrible taste. So there neyaaaaaa!!!

I am however extremly dissappointed in my scale. it showed 418 this morning. (418.2) which is only 1 pound lighter than last week.

with the calories I am eating and exertion I am undertaking this is very annoying. might be time to introduce mr scale to mr sledge if it don't start acting right :-) hehe

its a VERY lucky scale in that its saved by me not wanting to spend cash to replace it. Grrrr :-)

chefisaac

Oh God, help us all!

chefisaac

We should team up! Keeps Papa Neil young!

nerys

Huahahahaha !!!

goldfinch

One week like this doesn't mean much of anything. My bet is you are just carrying more water weight this week. Even so, you are one pound lighter!

nerys

I know that. but it still feels good to threaten mr scale with mr sledge. :-) hehe

I am surprised how good I feel after the 30 mile ride yesterday. stiff as all heck last night but "not bad" this morning. legs a tiny bit sore butt a tiny bit sore but "not bad"

I know the math is reliable. I trust its accuracy. even if the scale does not show it because of "other" variables I know the core math is right and its working. as long as I keep burning more than I am eating the calories "MUST" go somewhere. I trust that fully.

still fun to mentally eviscerate the scale a bit :-)

chefisaac

I guess, Chris, that this time math doesnt explain it. Its those variables that throw off math.