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Txzen

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Everything posted by Txzen

  1. Agreed the Canary Row in Monterey is tourist Hell, but the Aquarium is world class. It's huge, and if you have the time you can literally spend the whole day there. Great place. Renting kayaks at Monterey Bay and going out the kelp fields right outside the Aquarium is not to be missed, particularly if you want to see otters close up. Carmel is indeed pretty, though it's expensive and heavy on the art galleries and fine dining. But it's generally peaceful, even when overrun by tourists. Sunset at Carmel Beach, or Carmel River Beach, on a nice evening is really fantastic. Point Lobos is an amazing spot, even if you are only interested in short hikes. You need to get there early, as it gets full quickly. Bring lunch as there's nothing else around. Probably some of the prettiest coast line anywhere on the US Pacific. Fight me for it. The 17 mile drive is fine, if perhaps overrated - I think you can do your own self-guided drive around the Asilomar area and have as much fun. Be sure to stop occasionally and climb out on the rocks, looking for tide pools. Frankly, there are less crowds in Pacific Grove, though it's not as fancy, and the food may be better. Fishwife is a good casual place, Passionfish more upscale. Reservations for both are required unless you like waiting.
  2. Fuck all that cut-rate shit. I only buy from New England BioLabs.
  3. Yeah, I'm hearing 4-12. I think the international ones are least impacted.
  4. That’s gotta be on the airlines. Runway closure has been on their radar forever, but the minute it actually happens there’s massive delays and cancellations like it caught them by surprise. But yeah - avoid SFO (in general, bust especially through the end of the month).
  5. Can’t go wrong there. Chapeau!
  6. HED Belgium, White Industries hubs, standard 14/15 spokes, brass nipples. Never again will I do a flyweight set more tailored to a Spanish climber named Patxi than myself. Some grams in the wheels is not what makes me slow - I have more issues than that!
  7. I'm a retro grouch, and still don't think that someone your weight should have 24 spokes in the rear (been there, done that), but other than that the Ardennes are hard to pass up. But I would spend a little time building some options with a 28h or 32h rear hub on Excel Sports custom builder. They look cool, but all they did is shift the weight to the rim to beef up the build - sure, less spokes but the rotational weight is pretty equal to a solid unsexy 28-32h set. The Mavics may lack some sex appeal, but while they have proprietary spokes everyone I know who has them say they're bulletproof.
  8. How much do you weigh, and what sort of riding do you do? Another vote for HED rims, though I have a custom wheelset with the HED Belgiums, there are other options out there : https://www.coloradocyclist.com/dt-swiss-350-classic-custom-handbuilt-wheelset-with-hed-belgium-plus-rims-700c?gclid=CjwKCAjw1_PqBRBIEiwA71rmtaPJeVeFYDRpa9qeaOkkR60uNKGfGApxLWXCwDBtVEBrF7V9wc9WOxoCti0QAvD_BwE ...and : https://www.coloradocyclist.com/shimano-ultegra-6800-custom-handbuilt-wheelset-with-hed-belgium-c2-rims-700c But I decided long ago not to go with flyweight wheelsets with too few spokes (and proprietary ones at that), after snapping a few rear spokes on a nice Campy Protons. I'm ~195lb, so...
  9. Txzen

    Greenland

    Meh. Wake me when we try to buy Finland - it's the country for me.
  10. Would love to hang in Como for a few weeks for a mixed cycling/food/whatever vacation. The area looks spectacular. Appreciate the Pyrenean offer - alas, I'm more in cyclotouriste mode these days. Old and slow, man. But happy to offer advice! Have stayed here a few times, though the original owner sold recently to another couple. From what I've seen, they've only improved it and I can't wait to go back. Hard to think of a better base of operations : Pyrenees Cycling Lodge
  11. Love the Pyrenees - more so than the Alps, frankly. I've taken a few trips there : Hautacam, Solour-Aubisque, Luz Ardiden, Tourmalet, Spandelles, Cirque de Troumouse, Hourquette d'Ancizan/Aspin, Pla d'Adet, Plateau de Beille...when I list them out, I'm even impressed. Just note that none of them were done with any particular panache. Some are definitely more inspiring than others. Frankly it's the lesser known routes - like the Cirque Troumouse - which are really incredible.
  12. At some point I should write something about this France trip I just completed, but a few weeks ago I bagged this big boy and a few others. Out and back it was 42 miles, 7400' of climbing with so, so much of it an unrelenting 8-9% at altitude. /applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />
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  14. Cycling News - TDF 1999 : The farce of renewal Fuck Lance.
  15. This...has not been the prettiest basketball.
  16. Kawhi tried that James Harden school of drawing the foul.
  17. Seriously, fuck Drake. And Draymond is more of a liability recently than anything else.
  18. Yeah, there can’t be any doubt about the ‘calf’ at this point.
  19. Sure. My experience is from Winter. The Chalet and Clubhouse at the Fairmont Golf Course is nice fine dining. We did fondue, but I'm not sure if that's on the summer menu. Actually I think they only are there through March. Sorry. 21 Steps is really good, as is Harajuku Izakaya I'd recommend reservations for both. The Portabello restaurant in the Fairmont is quite good. Need to get there early as it fills up quickly. Good meats, casual. The BrewHouse (or 'High Mountain Brewing') isn't bad. Oddly enough, the beer selection is a little limited sometimes, but the food is decent. Pizzeria Antico is a bit hit or miss - probably overpriced for the hype. No reservations IIRC, so often a wait. Frankly, I like Pasta Lupino across the way better - it's 'of a style' of Italian which seems really great during a white-out. The BC Liquor Store on Lorimer is really good, frankly. Nice selection of BC wines too.
  20. Quiet morning. Wife comes in to boil water for tea and honey for my son, who is a little under the weather. Puts the kettle on the burner, then promptly walks out. A few minutes later, kettle boiling and whistling, I get up and turn off the gas. Less then a minute later, wife walks back in, annoyed the pot is off. I explain that it was whistling and that I just turned it off. Apparently, the slight cooling in that 45 seconds makes the water unusable. Did you expect me to sit in the kitchen with a screaming pot? Tone. Makes a big production of turning the gas back on - the pot whistles in less than 2 seconds. While it continues to scream, continues to work in the kitchen, getting the mug, the tea the honey. Pours the water in, with the gas still going full afterburner. 15 minutes later, son still can’t drink the tea because it’s too hot.
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