Post Christmas list
 

I was holding off buying a few things, in case they showed up. Things encountered whilst shopping for other people.

• PNW 3wrencho tool, for my fixie
• Reflect360 commuter jacket
• Cell phone holder for the trainer
• New helmet mount mirror

What shopping are you about to unleash?

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I needed a new computer since my cheese grater Mac Pro is getting long-in-the-tooth. I hinted to my wife that I needed a new machine, but instead of a new computer, she bought be a new iPhone 16 Pro Max ( I guess “Mac Pro” sounds a bit like “Pro Max”). So later today I’ll venture to the Apple Store in Omotesando and get a new M4 Pro mini, which should get me through another decade-and-a-half of use.

On a bike-related note, I ordered a set of Reynolds ATR wheels for my GT Xizang.

Round trip business clad flight to/from Missoula.

Ordered some Zipp wheels for my Daccordi Top Alloy, some Cosmic Pro for my Daccordi Classico and a carbon and alumnium crankset .

Getting older, I've accepted that things related to my hobbies are 99% on me to obtain.
every now & then I'll receive something that im eyeing up, but that is during a blue moon with a shooting star.

Zip ties for Troul

Some more insulated gloves are needed. Maybe a lobster style.

Looks like I'm gonna have to buy my own socks this winter. I got a splitting maul.

The bread ties are more gooders, they have that residual carb effect.

Ordered another pair of Marathon Supremes on Amazon for my hybrid. They are discontinued and I just love the way they roll.

Yep, that’s pretty much how I roll. Sometimes the attempts by non-cycling loved ones gifting cycling-related items is like “Really, you shouldn’t have.” The unspoken sentiment there being “You shouldn’t have because I have absolutely no use for this particular item so it was a complete waste of money.” A couple examples are “best ride” books that I’ve been given in recent years. (Books that list someone's idea of the best routes in just about every region of the country.) Sometimes I wonder if the people who ‘write’ those books actually ever rode a bicycle. As a retiree, my time is now spent between a permanent residence, and a vacation house. In both cases, these books list maybe two rides each for these regions. Neither of which is popular with actual local cyclists. Last year however, a very close friend did send me something that I am using frequently — cycling specific socks. And the stupid thing is, I didn’t even realize they’re cycling socks until weeks after Xmas. When I unwrapped the package I though “Oh, a set of nice dress socks, in several shades from white-to-grays-to-black, but with some strange silver stripes on the back.” There wasn’t a label of any kind identifying them as cycling socks. Then one evening, walking into the dark bedroom where a stack of folded laundry lay on the bed…I noticed the stripes reflecting from the hallway light. First thought was “Hey, those would make good cycling socks.”…immediately followed by…”Duh!”

Dan

Luckily for me, everyone in my immediate family is a cyclist so gifts as such happen regularly. This year, my brother got me a waterproof and windproof cycling jacket/jersey I didn't know I wanted, pretty stoked to try it out this winter.
Last year, I surprised him with a frame, fork and cranks he'd been wanting for a while. A couple years ago my dad got me reproduction decals for an older frame I had recently built up, that was quite unexpected.
The parents will get us stuff like helmets, gloves and tires regularly. Bike specific tool gifts also happen sometimes but at this point we all have most of those tools.

I'm starting to think the upgrade is worth it for a couple of flights a year, not to be folded, spindled, and mutilated into shrink-wrapped seats.

It is. I’m 6’2”. My starting point is something like Delta’s Economy Plus. Business Class is sometimes not that much more expensive when you factor in the cost of the checked bag and the fee for picking your seat. I hate flying.

Another reason I should leave my current employer - economy on domestic, economy plus on international if I ask nicely. Also 6'2", and economy generally sucks. I'm flying to Europe late January. Contrast to a previous employer that allowed business class for all flights over x hours. OTOH changing jobs sucks and I retire soon enough anyway.

Back to post Christmas stuff. Added to the list is a pantleg clip, which I was sure would come in my stocking.

No bike related stuff required for me this Xmas. So I bought myself a new RC helicopter - SAB Goblin Raw 500

for the MTB
bottom bracket
sealed headset
true real wheel

for blizzard rides
new goggles

for the feet
newly designed extra large toe warmer packs

yikes, I’d better ride my bikes!!!

maybe TUFO tubular

I got myself an eFatty over Christmas break. I got a sweet Ravemen tail light and borrowed the Bontrager headlight from my hibernating road bike. It already came with a rack and fenders. I put a Selle saddle on it, intended for men and middling posture. I borrowed the tail bag from my daughter's eBike, as she's a fair weather rider.

I'm thinking of a Suntour NCX seatpost for it, but I'm going to wait until spring.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec571bb97e.jpg
All kitted out!

Thanks to another BF member, I bought an Apple TV unit (EBay) to be able to cast ZWIFT to my big screen which stupidly does not have casting ability. Now it is all good.

Same here! (Sort of.)

I told my kids I love Smartwool socks, and my daughter got me a pair.

My wife got me a splitting maul. We have a wood stove in our house. I cut all my own firewood, but I've not had a good maul in years. She got me a Fiskars IsoCore model with 8 lb. head. It is SO NICE! Compared to the junky old one I had, this thing is a joy to use. It can really bust up some logs. I highly recommend Fiskars for anyone who uses a maul more than occasionally.

I want someone to come to my house and install my 3 sets of fenders, now that it is Winter. I hate putting them on. That fender line just right is tough sometimes.

edit: I'll take 'em off come Summer. About July 4th in Seattle.

interesting business idea. house calls for fender installs

Maybe next year she will by you a hydraulic log splitter.

Maybe you might need a dedicated fender bike? Just a thought.

Mine is one I don’t ride at all in nice weather since it weighs 6 lbs more than my lightest bike and I don’t go fast on wet, especially down hills.