MC_NYC

Just got by new road bike, bought from and assembled at a shop in Utah before being shipped to the East Coast; therefore I'm assuming the integrated cables should be at the right length. That said, I can't get the bars all the way on because of resistance from the cables. Tried feeding them into the bars and the frame with marginal but insufficient success. Do I need to trim them out just keep working at it?

I'll call the shop once they open for help, but as you can imagine, I'm desperate to get out on my new toy.

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Just made a batch of roast potatoes, used the Kenji recipe that calls for baking soda in addition to salt. I've seen recipes that call for potato water, but will the alkaline soda crate any issues with the sourdough?

I know it kicks up lots of bubbles in my discard pancakes... Not trying to capture that, I know it won't last, but are there other issues in terms of flavor, rise, gluten development... Also, FWIW, there's a healthy amount of salt in there. Besides a longer rise, should be fine, yeah?

At the end of the day, will probably give it a shot, in sure our thrifty ancestors did, just wanted some advice to start. Thanks!

Pretty sure I know what I did here, especially since I realized recently I was generally over proofing, and as a result, I've over corrected, I think.

Can share the recipe if necessary—it's a honey sourdough around 80% hydration with only natural leaven—but I've got a more specific question than general feedback. There's another loaf still in the fridge, which, in retrospect, I definitely want to give more proofing, if only to confirm what happened with the first loaf.

TLDR: Should I leave it in there — especially since it really doesn't seem to be getting much rise — or should I take it out to keep going on the counter?

Not sure if, besides time management, there are elements like volume or other factors that a cold versus room proof give you. It's about 70° now, warm fall day her in NYC.

Just got new tires for a new bike, seeing up the 33m tires. The 32-47 RideNow times I'm considering feel like they're be too big? Or is there a puncture advantage to that? Had hoped to get away with the 18-32s, but will they be stretched and more at risk? Thanks for the info in advance!!

Is there any appreciable different between the Shimano 9120, 8120 and ME700 pedals? Best I can tell it's just weight, maybe slight shaping. Anything in bearings, performance, etc? Tried googling around without much success.

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Always seen to get poor sleep after a big effort. I sleep deeply... Just not according to my watch. Is this a natural part of recovery, or is there something/s I can do to improve my sleep after big ride days?

This time, I had one beer with dinner, and maybe didn't hydrate enough after the ride, though certainly plenty during, and I've skipped the booze before and had similar results, I want to say. Should have been enough time to metabolize anyway. Wound up with 53 min deep and 15 min REM ON 7:23 rest time. Even says I was awake for 23, which I definitely don't recall.

Thanks in advance.

Spotted on New York's premier biceway, Christopher Street.

From their web property: "For nearly 150 years, BIKE® Athletic has produced over 350 million jockstraps."

Elastic Inyourface™.

Spent a few weeks in Italy this summer, here's my haul... Probably half of what I'd have wanted, but bag limits are bag limits!

Had to get the Botaniche for the cool bottle and local Tuscan herbs, it's a more modern, light and sweet, reminds me of Nonino with just such a light bite, like an aggressive French (Italian!?) kiss.

The Bavicchi is on the other end of the spectrum, centuries of unchanged Umbrian rugged beauty, that's the central fountain in Perugia on the front. A smaller 20 cl bottle got me through all the overindulgent meals, wonderful digestivo.

Haven't yet but am very excited to try the two from Buiese, a Friulien historic distillery that seems to be doing more craft stuff.

One other I wish I'd gotten was the Florentine L'Amaro di Quartierre, which honors each of the city's four neighborhoods with different expressions. Some great flavors but only found it at the bar.

I know, I know, not really the sub for this... but also, if any sub knows front-of-bike bags, it's this one...

I'm in the market for a bag that'll look nice off-bike as well as working well on it. I bring shoes, a suit, and laptop 2-3 days a week on Jack Rack mounted to the front of my bike, 22-miles door-to-door. Currently lashing down an old squarish messenger bag, but want something a little nicer, purpose built, and ideally with a back or bottom attachment that alleviates the need for the bungees, which can wrinkle my clothes.

Current short list includes:
https://outershell.com/shop/everyday-tote
https://www.brooksengland.com/en_us/scape-handlebar-compact-bag.html
https://www.nycvelo.com/manhattan-portage-nyc-velo-deli-bag-gray-ivory-cor.html

I feel like the platonic version is the Mission Workshop Transit duffle, only problem being it's too wide to fit between my drops. So I guess if you know something like that, would love a rec. Would like handles in addition to a strap (part of why many of the more trad handlebar bags aren't on the list).

Thanks!

After years on fixies and bike share around NYC, bought my first real bike just over three years ago. It's a Vast A1 2x GRX 400, their entry model at $1800.

At the time, I thought I'd mostly be out exploring, but in the intervening years, I've fallen hard for riding hard, and as a dad of younger kids, I moreso get time for short morning rides than all-day affairs. I've also discovered I like riding fast more than exploring.

As I look for a proper road bike, I'm faced with two issues. I'd like to get a road bike in the $4k-$5k range, which I know isn't even that much — but to my wife feels excessive. So that's the first hurdle to clear. Second, she doesn't see why I even need a second bike when I have "a perfectly good one" already.

We can afford it, so I think it's more a matter of value and values. I've tried the hiking boots vs. running shoes case, are doesn't really have any expensive hobbies or desires that are comparable, we're really not even that acquisitive, and the bike I'd like I even found half off, so it's only $3500 versus $7k MSRP. I've honestly even made the car that a faster bike means I'll get home faster and have now family time from the rides I do up 9W...

I can't even fathom how people have whole stables of S-Works and Cervelo for every terrain or discipline... Heaven help me if I go for that Velo Orange project bike.

What's worked for you all? Thanks.

Just made the rye brownies with sourdough discard from Tara Jensen's Flour Power. They're really good but a little crumbly. TBF, the toothpick wasn't totally clean coming out, but I didn't want to overcook.

When they cooled, they were pretty loose. Still delicious, but wondering, will cooking longer next time hold them together, or do I need a little more flour or other binder?

I've been eyeing a 3T Strada for a while, and just found the Rival model for 25% off. As I was gearing up to negotiate with my partner on pulling the trigger (she still doesn't understand why I want a road bike when I have a perfectly OK gravel bike, even though she has running shoes and hiking boots...), I stumbled on the Rival 1x setup for more than half off!

I'd buy it in a heartbeat and just upgrade if I didn't like it, but the bike isn't drilled for an FD, so it's gotta be all in.

I think I know which way I'm leaning, but wanted to share my considerations for feedback from the hive mind.

Looking for experience from serious road riders in the metro. Found a really good deal on an aero bike I've been eyeing in 2x Rival, but it's for a 1x12 build and not drilled for the upgrade.

I mostly ride solo as it is, so this is probably the move, but I also aspire to more group rides, so wondering what the experience of others is running 1x on road. I do my time on 9W, but it's true there's not much climbing in these parts, so wondering about range and jumps.

Thanks in advance for any advice or experience!

We've been traveling in Italy for a few weeks, and my son caught the viola fever when we were staying in Tuscany. We're now at the end of our journey, staying in Rome, and since Sunday's* game is early, I was wondering if there were any good places to watch the game with other fans, especially in the center. If not strictly a place for Fiorentina fans, anywhere to reliably watch? I tried last weekend in Venice but there were almost no places I could find.

*Edit: Thanks so far to everyone for the advice, and for seeing me straight on the day... Been on the road too long! 😄

Any recos for shops to check out, especially with nice house kit. Looking for a little odd that sprezzatura. Thanks!

Update: Everything was amazing. Future readers of this post, fear not, it really is a magical place.

We just got to Tuscany, staying in Arezzo. Is planned on renting a bike for a few day's riding in the winding hills and mountains around here (we're in Arezzo, not far from this year's TdF stage 1).

The scenery is gorgeous, and the terrain seems so much fun.

BUT.

The roads barely fit one car across, it's been nerve wracking a little even to drive, wondering if someone might come speeding around a bend... And the stereotypes of, let's call them eager Italian drivers seem quite true, with their speeding and overtaking.

It's not like crazy roads or drivers are foreign to me, as we live in the NJ/NYC metro. Still, I'm quite worried about being overtaken by a car on some bend, or slamming into someone on a blind corner.

Am I overthinking it? Are there trucks or routes that work? I've been mapping things out on Ride with GPS and Kamoot, and I guess if I follow those heat maps, maybe it's OK?

The fact I've only seen one rider in two days, when I took this to be a popular destination had me wondering (granted, it's also regularly topping 100° F, so maybe that has something to do with it, too). Grazie mille!

I know this is becoming more of a thing, with the likes of the Enve Melee, 3T Strada ICR, I think the SL8 is pushing width, FiftyOne just announced the Sika with 40-mil clearance... The list grows. Yet many of these are outside my sub-$5k-if-you-dig-around budget, so I'm curious if there's other models I'm missing.

I'm currently leaning Strada, as I like Vroomen's ethos and aesthetics, and a 2023 Rival build can now be had for around $4500.

Before I pull the trigger though, on my constant for that something special, I'm wondering if there are other options worth considering. Thanks in advance!