sarals 

I didn't look at the 2017's. I guess they don't have it. And, yes, I did see you said low mileage used ones. Can you upgrade the headlights to bi-xenon?

Heathpack 

So a few weeks ago, I get asked "what do you want for Christmas?"

Hmm, what do I really want? Aero testing but that's too expensive. Or the new Giro aero helmet. But although that's not as expensive, it's still pretty expensive. Ok, third choice- the exact set of bars for the Magic Bike that I have on the Sparrow. Which I bought used and has some ergo carbon bars on it which I initially hated and now love. That should be a reasonable request, I think.

So Mr H takes the bar tape off the bars and reads the manufacturers name. Chinese company, he googles it and finds their website and calls a few of the distributors listed. Bad news, they're no longer made.

Ok, plan B: I guess the aero helmet would be nice. And one stop shopping for him because if I get that I can't justify getting anything else. I wind up ordering it on his behalf just because I found one place where it was $50 less than everywhere else.

It came today to my work, beautiful:



Also today I get a text from Mr H while I'm at work: "Good news! I found your handlebars at a Bakersfield bike shop! New, but were on a bike that did not sell. A few test rides & some "clamp marks", but new. Waiting for photos & price (but it will be less than expected)."

Sweet. Maybe I'll get the bars for Valentine's Day.

revchuck 

Well, in some European countries gifts are given on January 6. Cycling is a European sport, so it follows that cycling gifts may be given on either date...or both!

shovelhd

Bi-xenon lighting is a system. It uses motors in the headlight shell to pivot the beam in the direction of travel. It can be retrofitted, but that would cost thousands. LEDs don't need this as their beam can be precisely shaped and made to follow the road without movement.

Heathpack 

Lol, right as we get home from the train station, Mr H gets a text from the bike shop. They won't ship the bars and they won't drop them off (even though they'll be heading through our town on business in Jan). They won't accept payment over the phone. Nor will they accept credit cards or checks in person. WTF? The only way to get the bars is to drive 2ish hours to the shop, show up in person with cash, and then drive 2ish hours home.

Mr H does not take kindly to this news and he starts into an incredulous, somewhat profane rant while still holding his phone. Somehow the rant is recorded as a voice text and sent to the shop employee. Hahaha, it was so funny, he had no idea how he did that, doesnt even know how to send a voice text.

Despite the potentialiy tragic consequences that the shop may now very reasonably refuse to sell the bars to a lunatic, this was pretty hilarious to watch unfold...

Hermes

I watched the Victoria's Secret fashion show last night on CBS. Usually, I have passed on the show but this year, they spent $20 million on the production and featured, Lady Gaga, the Weekend and Bruno Mars. The production and music lived up to the investment. I love Lada Gaga and have her albums including the recent one Joanne. She was amazing and looked great and competitive with the VS Angels plus she can really entertain.

echappist

I listen to Lady Gaga when i do high intensity workouts. Also quite a bit of Nas.

Hermes

Checkout Drake (Hip/Hop /Rap). His album Views (I have it) is up for a Grammy for album of the year.

Heathpack 

I love my playlist for TT warm ups. It's half the reason I go to these TTs.

Fleetwood Mac, Adele, Led Zeppelin, Janes Addiction, Toadies, Pharrell Williams, Pink Floyd, the B52s, the Cranberries, Cold Play & Johhny Cash. In that order.

No hip hop though. Total ugh.

echappist

Go your own way?

i think you need to hand in your AARP membership for that

Heathpack 

1. Tusk
2. "Happy". I refuse to consider that song hip hop.

Mr H & I argue occasionally over his characterization of Jack Johnson as "rap-ish". OMG. No. He's just wrong.

Hermes

We are SiriusXM Hits1 and Venus listeners. Today, I picked up some Ariana Grande, the Chain Smokers and Sia.

Even though I like some of the "older" classic artists and songs, I find them out of date and prefer the new artists and arrangements.

Of course, this is a personal preference. I am looking forward to the Grammy's and hearing live some of the artists I like.

With respect to Hip/Hop Rap, I like some of it. I like some of Drake's stuff. It is an acquired taste much like scotch whiskey.

Heathpack 

The smoky kind that tastes like charcoal.

I have always hated shows like the Grammys. Cringe.

But I like music alot.

revchuck 

I've got a 160 GB iPod Classic that's about half full with a wide variety of stuff, mostly classic rock, bluegrass, blues and jazz with some classical and soul thrown in for good measure. It stays plugged in in my truck and comes out when it's time for me to supply music for the shop - right now it's the shop's Christmas music source since it has about 12 hours of non-repeating Christmas music in its own playlist. I also use it when I'm on the trainer. It'll be a sad day when it dies, especially since it's no longer produced.

Racer Ex 

Shuffle: Aretha, Leos Janecek, White Zombie, Cyrus Chestnut, Kyoto, Beastie Boys, Blind Willie Johnson, The Archies, Miles, Angelique Kijdo, Nelly, Katy Perry, Ravi Shankar, Hank Williams Sr, Jimi, Train, Wreck N Effect, Jose Feliciano, Deep Purple, Wagner, Right Said Fred, Kraftwerk, Sylvester, More Aretha (because you cannot have too much Aretha), AC/DC...

I have something to drive virtually anyone out of my house.

Racer Ex 

Funny how the brain works dept:

In another lifetime I was the Supervisor of Water Quality for one of the larger public utilities in CA. I "retired" after 19 years in 2001. Open the faucet the other day and got a whiff of pond. Called the water quality number and had a nice long conversation with the guy about the type of algae that was causing the taste and odor, treatments, tipping point in mg/L for detection, lab protocols for testing, blah blah blah. I could remember all this after a decade and a half.

Took 10 minutes to find my wallet today.

Bandera

Definitely, with Aretha, Wilson Pickett and the Muscle Shoals Sound leading the way to a proper Southern Groove.

-Bandera

Racer Ex 

Am I the only one the had a quick flash on:

echappist

is that self-referential

and Katy Perry? interesting

revchuck 

@Racer Ex - Good one. I don't think many in the 33 would get that reference.

Cleave

@Racer Ex

Nope.

Despite my disdain for violence in life and in movies, this is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Heathpack 

From a client, she & her husband are both big time movie producers. Unexpected because I've been treating her dog for a few years now. But just started seeing a second dog of theirs too, maybe that was the tipping point?

So here's what I'm wondering now: can I get one of my Amazon addicted friends to take this off my hands in exchange for cash? This dollar amt would go most of the way towards the aero testing I want to do. My mother never knows what to get me, and she's having surgery next week. So a no-shopping Christmas option would be very appealing to her.

Hermes

I will start the bidding with $250.

Hermes

I have seen numerous Tesla X body SUVs in the wild. And most cost over $100K and more likely over $130K. Initially, I thought I would like one to go to bike races and pick up super models (actually, the models just pose for pics with the gull doors open).

On the road they look like an oversize Prius. Nothing against a Prius but come on Musk let's get a little more panache in the exterior design: partner with the Italians.

Racer Ex 

Like this sexy Alfa? Or is that a Plymouth Horizon...




vs:



I really want one of those. A lot. Americans have created some fine looking cars. And some fugly. I like the Tesla model S, pretty sexy car.

Do an image search on "Porsche" and you know what doesn't come up? Any SUV pics. "Sexy SUV" is an oxymoron. You might as well submit design bids for a high end Porto-Johnny. It's a box with degrees of "not fugly" till you change it enough that it's an AWD car. When I bought my mini van I didn't search for the "best looking minivan"; I wouldn't do the same search for a toilet plunger either. Heck, I'd buy the Dumb and Dumber van if it fit all my bikes, was a hybrid that got 60 MPH, and had a great reliability rating.

Where Tesla could use more help is in their interiors; not impressed with either the seats or dash layout. Big screen is cool...

This rant is not to say that SUV's, or even minivans can't be "cool" in their own way. I stuffed 6 bikes, the gear for 4 people, an 02 concentrator, and 8 wheelsets in my Sienna, drove through a snow storm without having to put on chains, got 21 MPG and when we got home everything was clean and dry.

Cool, all of that.

Still don't look out at my driveway and think "damn fine looking vehicle"