The more you switch, the easier it becomes.

I drive in the UK rarely nowadays, but it comes back pretty quickly. I do sometimes catch myself preparing to turn left on a red before remembering I’m not at home.

Bugger, thanks for looking!

Pacific Northwest Seattle/Washington area (I’m biased as I live here).

Easy flights, everything’s close (for the USA). Summer weather is generally reliable – although late summer can have smoke from forest fires. Great MTB, kayak, SUP opportunities.

A couple of bike parks with uplift (nothing like Whistler though –  but you could do it as part of a road trip including Vancouver/Squamish).

Not super-touristy.

Easy to get to other places.

Having said that, Vancouver Island is also great.

$90 seems like a fair price for something nicely made and it’s super-neat.

I’m not sure it’s as useful as something like a Kryptonite New York 1210 Bike Chain Lock which is ~$120 and can be used in more places. Having said that, it does stop you forgetting to bring the lock.

Yes.

I live in the Pacific Northwest and it’s been a total bag of shit so far, the odd nice day but it should be warming up by now. It’s really sapping my motivation, which leads to a lack of fitness which saps my motivation.

I don’t know if it’s age or mental state, but I used to be able to push through the crappy weather.

I should never have left California :-(, even if the trails are better here.

The problem is that there are somewhere between 350-450 million guns in America. Cramming that genie back in the bottle with the way things stand right now seems improbable – maybe in 20 years or so?

At this point in America, we can’t even agree on “what is” – let alone “what should be” there is a difference in opinion about objective reality, let alone an idea for what a better future would look like.

And, while the random deaths of school children at the hands of the mentally unwell is unacceptable, horrific, and a stain on the nation, it’s not even close to the leading cause of death, even including those involving firearms. I’m not downplaying the trauma (my kid texted me during a lockdown at her school – which was terrifying), but we have to address the wider issues leading to all this shit as well. Focusing on these hugely emotive events involving a mental health crisis of a single person gives too many easy-outs for those who use the 2nd Amendment to win power, or make money.

The same goes on focussing on a type of weapon, or a subclass (AR15), yes these are bought by your classic ‘meal team 6’ wannabee types who mistake a custom stock and a red dot for a personality, but they aren’t involved in that many killings, and they make those calling for a ban look hysterical and ill-informed.

I think that one route to change might be to appeal to the strong vein of “American exceptionalism” that runs through this place. Going on at people about how shit things are makes them defensive. When debating healthcare with my fellow Americans I’ve had more success with “shouldn’t the richest country in the world aspire to be a place where no one dies because they can’t get medicine?” than “you guys are nuts, you should get an NHS”.

There must be a similar approach that can reel in the decent “hand over heart with the national anthem” people I meet at the hockey games.

I typed something like this yesterday, but deleted it, so here’s a shorter version:

1. I’m 100% in favor of strict gun control (and would go for a near total ban, or something along the lines of at least what one of the framers of the constitution had in mind, with controls on carrying firearms away from home).

2. The rise in shootings is NOT correlated to the availability of high capacity, high calibre, reasonably accurate semi-automatic weapons. These have been available in large numbers in the US for decades.

3. It is correlated (at least from my perspective) to the right-wing fetishization of guns, increasing inequality and the culture proxy-war that’s raging. I say proxy-war as I don’t believe the instigators (at least on the right) really give a crap about trans/drag/abortion/CRT, they care about them as easy ways to build outrage, and hence power. Fascism really is on the rise here.

4. It’s also correlated with a decline in mental health, and in the state and social structures that used to support people. A stunning statistic is that suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-14 year olds. source.

5. I don’t know how we fix it, it feels like a crisis is slow rolling in, and I think the 2024 elections will be the crux.

I’m making backup plans in case it makes sense to leave, fortunately we are in the (fairly) sane PNW.

At least the riding is excellent.

Sunday – riding some steep loose twisty stuff after a few months of not riding anything challenging.

It actually really helped me find my mojo again.

Mind you my limits are firmly at at “failure =< broken collarbone or less”

Living in the US, where the banking system is somewhat archaic,we still use checks fairly frequently.

There is the equivalent of direct debit (sort of), but no easy push payment, without a third party app that both people have to have.

It was a surprise when we first arrived, for sure.

Someone should make AXS driven retractable lugs -“The dropper post for runners”.

Alas my sub 20 parkrun is but an (ever fading) memory 🙁

I was gutted to not be able to make the open-house thing at the wooden boat festival the other month. Maybe next year she will be in the water!

I’ve really enjoyed the series – now we just need to get some more Project Binky content.

I have a few around, but this thread has prompted me to go and test/check our smoke detectors, plus maybe pick up a couple more.

Vancouver is a fantastic base for ‘stuff’ – you have mountain biking on the doorstep on the three north shore hills, plus Vancouver Island for true wilderness (wolves, bear, moose?), Squamish, Whistler, all in easy travel distances. Aslo good kayaking, climbing etc.

If ‘big-ass pointy mountains’ are a close enough substitute for the high Sierra, then there are plenty to be had nearby. You have all the mountains north and northeast of Vancouver, or the Cascades in Washington State.

More trails and peaks than you could hike in years. Proper wilderness where you can hike for days without crossing a road, with a good chance of seeing some exciting wildlife. There are sections of the Pacific Crest trail in a reasonable distance from Vancouver, although logistics might be tricky.

Don’t get me wrong, the Sierras are epic, but it’s not like the rest of the West is particularly not-epic 🙂 If money were limited, but time wasn’t, I’d take an extra two weeks of dirt-bagging in BC over flying to California.

If you’re interested in camping then doing a mix of forest service camping (recreation.gov) – which are (normally) primitive sites (but with a picnic table and fire ring for every spot) and KOA Kampgrounds (sic) – which are more holiday camp style with yurts etc (koa.com) can be a mix.

We did a mix of camping and motels on our 3 week road trip in 2011 – it worked well.

Motels, like eating out, range from cheap to not cheap.

Probably the biggest shock you will find is normal food in a supermarket, which is markedly more expensive.

Oh, and you should come to Washington State instead. Lots of trails – https://www.evergreenmtb.org/trails and it probably won’t be as hot. Plus there is the sea, Seattle, Portland, and you could whizz up to Whistler for a few days (although we do have two small serviced bike parks locally).

I’ve bought and sold in the UK, and bought in the US. In the US, at least in my state, generally you are looking at 6-8 weeks from offer to completion, unless by mutual agreement.

The whole system is massively quicker.

What’s the catch? 7%. 7% is the standard Realtor (estate agent) commission, split between the sellers and the buyer’s agent. Plus the usual costs for stuff like mortgages/surveys etc.

But it is a lot quicker.

If it flies, it spies.

Religion and its impact on everyday life and politics is one of the (many) weird things about the US, compared to the UK.

In the UK, we are officially a Christian Nation: The sovereign is the head of state and of the church, 26 bishops of the Church of England (but no other faith) sit in the House of Lords, and we have (theoretically) mandated acts of worship in school (is that still a thing?).

The net result on everyday life and the laws of the land seems to be – virtually nothing.

In the US, there is (theoretically) strict separation of church and state, and yet the influence of christian religious beliefs (however thinly supported by the text) is huge.

Even in the comparatively godless area I live in, the level of church going, evangelical activities and general influence is much higher tan in the UK.

We moved to the US in 2012 – sure there were problems then, but there was generally a sprit of optimism and an expansion of everyday human rights (marry who you want, be who you want, just don’t hurt other people). It felt like the country was making progress to wards a more civilized society, heck maybe even the problems of unequal access to the basics of a western democracy were getting tackled.

Here we are 10 years later and I’m deeply disappointed in the way things are going. We’re starting to have difficult conversations about what ‘red lines’ being crossed might lead to us leaving.

On the upside the local riding scene is absolutely great, and I can still get a shotgun from Walmart.

Sorry this turned into a rant.

When I lived in California, rattlesnakes were a fairly regular trial sighting, especially in late spring and early Autumn.

Also tarantulas (not dangerous) and the occasional black widow.

Now up in Washington state it’s mostly bears, and they aren’t really dangerous (black, not brown/grizzly), although I did come around a corner the other night to the sight of three cubs up a tree and a slightly miffed mother beat at the base of it. I backed off, and they ambled off into the undergrowth.

I can confirm the weather.

I’m heading up there for a MTB specific first aid course at the weekend. It’s only going to drizzle all day one of the days, so that’s nice.

This will be my 26th summer of MTB riding. I’m shite.

This is probably 50% genetic – I’m pretty uncoordinated (as anyone who has seen me try to dance, swim fast, or keep a beat can attest), and 50% bad habits learnt back when they were good habits.

I’ve improved now that I live near a skills park, have had a bit of instruction, and occasionally think about how I’m riding, but I’m still deeply mediocre.

50. Had COVID in January – moderate symptoms (like a mild flu)

No adverse reactions (other than a hurty arm) after the first or second Pfizer-BioNTECH jabs (approx 36 hours after the second jab at the time of writing).

It was lunchtime for me, so no boozing :-(, on the bright side I don’t live that far from the Sequim area, so maybe when the project moves there will be a chance to visit it.

I have a fido pro. We have an Australian Shepherd (like a big Border Collie) who sometimes loses the use of a back leg. It’s kind of like an ikea bag with leg holes and a bigger shoulder strap.

He does not like being carried, so I’ve only tested it briefly. Seemed to work ok, and there are good instructions with it. It’s expensive for what it is, though.

Whole family got it over Christmas. My daughter brought it home from college – she had a -ve test before coming home, but someone from her bubble was sneaking out (they are doing two apartment on a single floor groups at her college).

She started feeling bad on Christmas Eve, I started boxing day, my wife the day after, my youngest about then too.

We got tested on the 28th at a drive-through center (we are in the USA), results came back +ve the next day.

We have had the full spectrum – my youngest (16) barely had any symptoms, I was pretty mild – like a bad cold plus a bit of a fever, my wife is still not 100% and has the dry cough, my eldest daughter (18) ended up in the ICU/Intensive Care. She was in hospital for 7 days, and at one point her blood oxygen dropped into the 80’s, and they were talking about moving her to the hospital in the nearby city for experimental treatment. She’s fine now, seems to have recovered really well.

So that’s my COVID Christmas story. It even stopped me riding my new bike (and the medical bills might limit the upgrades).

Rode a mate’s Pugeot (complete with U-brake) in summer ’91 (I think), bought a 1994 Cindercone in the sale from Selfridges (no really) in April 95, just before moving to the NY Moors. I’ve just tallied up and I’ve had 11 more mountain bikes since then (if a Fat bike counts).

No wildfires yet, and it’s rained a bit the last few days, which will help.

Seattle I can reccomend the underground tour in Pioneer square, quite a good take on Seattle’s history.

I also like the Wooden Boat Center and the museum of industry.

On the peninsula Crescent Lake Lodge is pretty nice.

Or you could pick up some demo.bikes and sample the damn fine trails of Tiger Mountain, Raging River, and Duthie Hill. Some fantastic riding less than an hour outside Seattle.

As soon as I get off this stupid conference call I’m picking up some buddies and heading to Whistler.

Sufficient to say I won’t be riding this trail, but I’ll have a look and see if I can get near it on less ‘you’re gonna dieeeeee’ trails.

A slightly useless review:

I have one  – the 100CC version with a tool and an air canister fitted. Mounted with the bottle cage thing. I’ve ridden with it a bit – with some rough descents, some (small but usually badly landed) jumps and drops. So far it’s been rock solid.

I’d love to give you a run down on the usefulness of the thing but so far I haven’t needed it. I really like that with a bottle, this tool and a tube strapped on, I can move down to a small bum bag thingy for wallet, keys and a minimal 1st aid kit (I ride in an area that has a LOT of accidents).

I took a chunk out of a rear shock shaft once. I used araldite, a fine nail file and then fine grade wet and dry to polish it. I also replaced the seals as the burr on the scratch had damaged it.

If it’s any consolation I’m having a similar problem in the USA.

Need some work doing on our house near Seattle – new (small) kitchen, one bathroom, some fencing. Probably about $50k of work (using low-end stuff).

Can I get a quote? Nope. Even using trades recommended from others.

If you are using it for commuting on public transport: Brompton. Nothing else folds as well and still rides ok. Get the two speed – good balance of lightness and having some gears, although I had to go for a smaller front chainring. Also get the bag that clips to the front, it actually seems to improve the handling.

A folding bike usually means you are getting more riding in, not less, which is a good thing. Plus, when the roads or trains all go to crap you can just hop on the bike and go. When I was commuting to London I was able to avoid massive delays quite a few times be riding an extra 10 miles. I’ve flown with mine on work trips and had mini adventures before a day of conferences and meetings.

Folding bikes are ace.

@Dr P. Where we live (near Seattle) the services are effectively combined with the same station offering fire and paramedic services.

It seems to work OK, and I guess it kind of makes sense as there are fewer stations to maintain with a combined service.

I have the alloy 2016 Hei Hei DL Trail (120mm 29’er with Fox 34)

It’s great. Slightly slack 120mm 29’ers are (IMO) a great all round bike. Ride it all day, race on it, and you can still ride some gnarr with confidence. Mine handles my inept attempts at 2+ ft drops with ease.

Clicked on the link to see how soon someone would make a key ring comment.

Was not disappointed.

Gravity Dropper. Ugly, agricultural, but reliable and easy to sort out if you have any problems. I’ve been running them since 2012 with no problems (although the first three years were in sunny California where my bike never got muddy, so it probably doesn’t count).

They are not pretty, not refined, but they go up and they go down. The new Wolftooth lever works really well with them too.

Loved American Gods, and I actually enjoyed his narration in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Neverwhere is also excellent.

I had a nice, (really small) custom knife that disappeared from my luggage coming to the UK from the US. I was quite upset, but I guess now we just accept that stuff will get stolen from our checked luggage.

Another vote for Gravity dropper.

If it has the drop you are after, you don’t mind the aesthetics, or the agricultural nature of the thing, I think it’s a winner.

I also like that it’s made by a small company in a shed somewhere in Montana.

California*+
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New York
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota*
Texas
Utah*
Virginia
Washington*+
Wyoming
DC

*These are the only ones that count as they are the only ones I’ve ridden in.

+ Live/Lived there.

Greetings from across the pond.

IMO E-bikes are going to shaft a lot of access stuff up here in the land of guns, guts and rabid hikers.

There are no real rights of way over here, and most trial access is subject to negotiation and politics. Anything designated a wilderness area has an automatic bike ban. Hundreds of miles have been lost in the last few years. OK, so some trial center like stuff has also been built (I’m lucky enough to live near a couple of them), but it’s not the same as epic wilderness rides. While I’m not wholly against them, I do see e-bikes as a threat to further access to the back-country.

Imagine if the increase in e-bike traffic, and hence more conflict between user groups were to affect the situation on the Surrey Hills, for instance?

With the increase in average speed and numbers, combined with human nature, you are really going to have to amp up education and maybe add patrolling in areas where access is not guaranteed by statute. Are the e-bike community going to do this?

Just my 2cent’s worth (about GBP 1.50 now).