Dan333SP

It's a hell of a city. I was at Tulane, last class to have a full year in the city before the hurricane. I'm sure my experience as a student was pretty far removed from a local, but I get it. I'd see kids openly drinking in front of cops who were probably in 8th grade during Mardi Gras, and they wouldn't do anything to stop them.

I had a really crappy fake ID for my first 2 years that never once got rejected. Perfect weekend day was taking a bunch of Abita and/or daquiris to the "Fly" (the bit of the levee park by Audobon zoo) and sitting on blankets while someone else boiled crawfish and then shared it with you. Also as a freshman the cliche spots like Pat O'Brien's and whichever place sells that "Hand Grenade" drink were still novel and exciting.

rpenmanparker 

When we were kids, a friend of ours lived on Audubon Blvd. Her back fence was the fence around the old Tulane "Sugar Bowl" Stadium that was torn down. But back then say in '62 or '63 on a Saturday early in the football season when it was still warm, we would go swimming in her pool and listen to the crowd moaning and groaning right above us. All except for the years when Bobby Duhon and Warren Bankston were playing. Then it was almost like real football.

LAJ

Lake are wide, and are on sale for 21% off at CC. I can ride all day in them, and may go a half-size down, as they my be a touch too big. It appears they run a half size large. Giro make a High Volume (HV), but they're not as wide as expected, and the toe box is more pointed. That said, I race in them because they have an Easton sole, which is pretty stiff, and I don't have to wear them for hours on end. Bont makes a wide shoe, but they're form fit, and my foot doesn't lend itself to that. I TT in them, as I only have to wear them for an hour, and the sole is incredibly stiff. Shimano higher end wide is supposed to be the stuff, but I can only comment on the less expensive options, which are wide, but overall, not a great shoe. Fizik shoes seem pretty wide to me, but they're also sized pretty big. I wear a 45, and I likely could have gone with a 44-44.5.

Dan333SP

What was once the actual turf for that stadium was a quad for my dorm I lived in as a senior. I know exactly where your friend lived, I'm sure that pool is still there though the houses on that block flooded up to about 4 feet I think during Katrina.

WalksOn2Wheels

So looking at vintage-MTB drop bar builds and kicking around the internet, I notice a frequent refrain of smugness and disdain for modern bicycles.

Why can't we all just enjoy bikes? Why does everything have to boil down to what you personally observe as THE best and everyone else is a fool falling for either a romanticized past or modern marketing propaganda?

So yeah, I can't say I'm 100% innocent. I poke lots of fun at people who insist on wearing blinding hi-viz, wearing three cameras, 10 lights, and a helmet mirror. (And I still think we need a subforum for the carbon denialist roadies.) But I still respect the rider for getting the job done the way they see fit and (I hope) enjoying themselves. Why does everything have to be a pissing contest and measured in absolutes?

This goes back to what I was saying the other day about Grant Petersen and Instagram star Ultra Romance. Grant is not wrong (except when he's just making **** up to support his argument), but he is condescending and smug. Ultra Romance seems like he flat out loves bikes and rides everything from modern frames to ratted out vintage stuff, and is also a fan of discs and weird wheel sizes. He's too busy having fun to stop and write his dissertation on threadless vs. quill stems. (Maybe I should be too busy having fun rather than complain about people complaining? yeah...)

I guess I'm just getting old. I just want people to enjoy the ride and it bothers me when I see advocates on each side spouting opinion as fact and suckering new-ish riders into the divide. I can't remember who said it in the heavy bike thread, but it was something along the lines of "Nothing is wrong with the bike. It's a bike. Ride it and enjoy it."

/pointless rant of the day. We now return you to your previously unscheduled program.

SpeshulEd 

I've paid ridiculous prices for things before, but $775 for shoes...I think I'll pass.

These are the ones that I saw on wtfkits that gave me the idea of just doing some of my own customization. I remember when I was trying to buy the reflective giro empire's and these silver ones kept coming for like $100 instead. Should have pulled the trigger.

Doug28450

Get off my lawn!

datlas 

I would call that either antique pinball or bagatelle. Modern pinball machines have flippers and bumpers etc.

BillyD

I don't see any lights and stuff.

Oh, my bad. That was before electricity. Never mind.

Trsnrtr

Got it! Good luck!

jtaylor996

Only slightly better than doing 100 miles on a bike on a treadmill.

jtaylor996

Well, it's the ToC on NBCSN. So that means they only pick up coverage when there's only 30% left (2 hours). And then 1:30 of that is commercials. So really, they only have to fill 30 minutes of time. Grrr...

rpenmanparker 

Yes, but hers was one of those characteristic, "raised" houses that are so common in New Orleans with the living area on the second level and just a utility basement (above ground) underneath. Four feet of water is nuthin'.

Seriously, if I sound like I'm waxing nostalgic, it is because we are visiting my MIL there right now. I just don't know how much further this city can decay before it just crumbles back into the swamps.

rpenmanparker 

I don't know what it was, but we called it pinball, and it was the only game in town. Nary a flipper in sight. Mostly supplied and operated by the Mafia. And it was fun...if you were winning.

Trsnrtr

Saw an article recently on those crane type claw machines in arcades and restaurants. Basically, they are legally rigged and it is sheer luck if you actually win anything that is worth anything. The owner of the machine inputs his profit and how much to charge and the machine adjusts itself. Of course, in this day of electronics, it's easy for the machine to calculate weight of object, grip pressure, etc. and knows how to make it close so you'll play again.

LesterOfPuppets

Great day on the trails today! Unfortunately Strava broke at some point along the way.

Heading up. Only a third of the way up the wall though, piece of cake.





This trail is so sweet. Nice little singletrack that roughly parallels a quad/MC trail:



Rickety bridge over the creek, which is still flowing, but not for long I imagine. Snow's almost gone up there.



This trail has just the right amount of exposure, a little spooky in a couple of spots, but no biggie. This is taken from the same spot, just showing more of cliff.

Doug28450

Did you actually read it, or, just see it?

Doug28450

When I was looking for shoes almost a year ago LAJ recommended Lakes. I bought some and like them a lot. As opposed to LAJ, I do not think they are wide. For me, width seems to be fine. Now, that may mean that as I continue to get more ancient my feet have gotten wider and the fit well. Length wise, the are about true to size or a tad long.

Doug28450

Nashbar 25% off any one item today and tomorrow with the code.

Trsnrtr

Doug, I swear I'm going to kick your butt some day.

Trsnrtr

Btw, my watch "tells" me the time and my DVR "tapes" tv shows. Also use my cell phone to "dial" people.

Doug28450

I'm happy that there are people who get my dry, twisted humor. I have to be careful with Mrs. Doug28450, she doesn't always get it.

But, really, Dennis, my hope is that Mrs. Doug28450 and I can find a free weekend and get a ride in with Mr. and Mrs. Transistor.

BillyD

I'll finish up in case you get tired.

Trsnrtr

I'm not "talking" to you but a weekend would be fun.

Doug28450

I've seen pictures of you on the basketball court. Mr. Lightweight.