Get Your Grump on Thursdays - Was (What's chapping my @ss today?)

[Britishbane]

My wife's cousins suck. They are ill mannered, disrespectful liars. Some of their issues are absolutely behavioral, but their clueless parents are the real cause. Last week we endured the presence of the younger male (12yo) at our home because he "needed to hit the reset button and have a break from the stresses of home". Fast forward two weeks and my wife gets a call from her aunt asking if we'd watch both their boys for a week so she can join her husband on a business trip to Florida. My wife being who she is, is too nice to say no or tell her aunt how truly horrid her children are. So, looks like I'll have to put up with a double dose of the little bastards, this during a particularly stressful time of schooling for me.

[Saab2000]

Trying hard to do business with the LBS. They don't make it easy in the days of one-click shopping. I'll leave it there......... Note to LBS owners: Be more proactive with your customers' orders. Don't be reactive. End of rant.

The good news is that I got a 4-day trip starting in a couple hours and I get to spend some time in Seattle and San Francisco, two cities I want to get to know better. They are essentially Mars to me. Looking forward to this!

[dgaddis]

Just found out one of the largest manufacturing plants in Augusta is shutting down. Hundreds of people out of work, including a friend of mine.

Sucks.

[teleguy57]

Rarely post on this thread, but for some reason I woke up still irked about last night's group ride. B group, 16 people, nice rotating paceline except for the turkey on the bike with clip-ons (which I have no problem with in and of themselves, and he wasn't on them during the ride) who jumped in the group a couple miles into the ride, then proceeded to leave big gaps in the line, and on anything resembling a grade couldn't pull through. Several people talked to him, and I rode next to him at one point, put a hand on his shoulder and said "looks like the pace is a little challenging for you today. It's cool to sit on the back and not have to take a pull -- we all do it from time to time." He glared at me and said "I'm on an aero bike! I can't ride close to a wheel." (not an aero bike, just a road bike with clip ons....) I looked him right in the eye and said "well, you're messing up the paceline and it would be best for everyone if you took the easiest spot on the back if you can't pull through."

Then later in the ride after continuing to not listen to anyone he told a guy he was dropping off, and as that guy came past me he said "last one," I did a quick glance and started moving over. Mr Aero bike screams at me "hey, you're cutting me off" as he comes charging up on a slight downgrade.

Not just me. He was a topic for most of the folks at the post-ride rehydration station. Ugh, people who ride over their heads (we had a third and ourth group too), don't listen, and are selfish and screw up rides for others who are having fun.

[dgaddis]

The local Thursday worlds are a little over my head, I can hang for 2/3rds of the ride before I get dropped. But I make sure I'm not ^^that guy^^ who's pissing everyone off. If I can't pull through and keep the rhythm going, I stay at the back and just hang on as long as I can haha.

[defspace]

getting dropped in races.

This is supposed to be fun, right? Why do I get so pissed off with myself?

[SpeedyChix]

Today I'm caving and posting in the grump thread.

The basic part of the grump was the flat that occurred during the ride. Not so much the flat but the impossible tire removal. Schwalbe G-One, tubeless set up on AmClassic 101 with Orange Seal Endurance. Stop to figure out what's making noise. Find a roofing nail embedded in the tire. Show it to D, he's pulling it out. Noo. Short story: it won't seal. Long story, many many many attempts to break the bead loose with all many of things from the seat pack so I can put in a tube. It's not budging. D, yeah, him again! He clamps the tire between his teeth and boom. He gets it to pop loose. Cheers and awe from me. I was on the edge of doing something rash that would have had me hitching a ride for the 30+ miles home.

The real grump is about drivers. There's been a hint of improvement of late after five folks were murdered in Kazoo. Others around the country. Ran across something a former AAVC teammate wrote and posted some time ago. It still holds very true. Want to share it.
Albert McWilliams — You're Going to Kill Someone

Here's why I just dug it out and made a public FB post.
"Each of these happened while on a ride today. Within the first ten minutes the two of us encountered a car passing a truck, heading right at us. Thankfully the vehicle being passed was making good use of their horn, gave us more time to get off the road. Clear sight lines and we were in very visible colors.

Later on the edge of a small town a pickup truck passed so close with oncoming traffic that had I extended my arm, I could have easily touched the truck. Or if I'd adjusted my line at all, i.e. for a pothole or road kill...I might not be here writing this. Both of these areas had paved shoulders which we made use of, single file with lights front and rear.

Van cutting in and over onto the shoulder after passing with oncoming traffic. Seriously...are you that angry? You didn't even slow down.

The other extreme were the great drivers who gave us an entire lane when they passed. Those who waited until it was safe to pass. Some who slowed to pass. The semi with the double trailer kicking up a massive cloud of dust on the gravel road who slowed as he approached us to negate the dust cloud. They get a wave and thumbs up. You are appreciated more than you know.

Today was the day I almost decided that I'd never ride on the road again. I'm careful about when and where I ride but you're inside tons of metal, on my bike...I'm not. What if someone hit your partner, sibling, child, parent? Please, give us some room and make it safer for all of us."

That is all. Just feeling the need to vent and that seems to be what this thread is for. It's been a challenging week. Contentious meetings, people who are unwilling to help, seeing the crops curling up the fields from lack of rain.

End of the day I'm very glad to be here. Thanks for enduring this.

Stay safe out there. Oh yeah...if you have any recommendations for an equally great riding tire to the G-One that plays nice with a 101 rim, I'm listening ; )

[Jonathan]

I'm posting early because tomorrow is going to suck too, and the day after that and the day after that......

[Brandon White]

I'm posting early because tomorrow is going to suck too, and the day after that and the day after that......

No Sh*t! Hotter than the devil's crotch outside. I just came back from Ohio where it was an unseasonably 70-ish degrees for 7 days! My day early grump - I want to move back to Ohio. I never thought I'd say that and the chance of it happening is fairly slim.

[NYCfixie]

My current job is sucking my will to live. I am at the 1 year point and need to start looking for something else.

I will never, ever, work at a k-12 school again. There is a level of crazy that is beyond anything a sane person should endure.

[Chad]

Neighbor kid life-flighted after fireworks injury last night. Hoping for the best.

[false_aesthetic]

Alberto's Cycles -- the reason why I ride, why I'm in the industry, why I give a shit about cycling at all -- is closing down. I haven't lived or shopped there regularly in at least a decade but I still keep in contact with a bunch of people. I'm surprised at how bummed I am . . . . I'm really fucking bummed.

Also, my MacBook Pro's screen shattered yesterday. $750 to get it fixed.

[dogrange]

Alberto's Cycles -- the reason why I ride, why I'm in the industry, why I give a shit about cycling at all -- is closing down. I haven't lived or shopped there regularly in at least a decade but I still keep in contact with a bunch of people. I'm surprised at how bummed I am . . . . I'm really fucking bummed.

You're reading my mind. I came to this thread to grump this. This is my LBS and a total stalwart in the local cycling community until now. These are my only consistent non-insane group rides, Brendan just got through doing a bunch of solid work on 2 new bikes for me (who the hell is going to service my Campy bike now?). I threw them a lot of business, but I wonder if the internet was their downfall (I also buy a lot on the internet) or if they just want to do something else. Anyway, huge hit to my personal riding happiness and the local scene for sure. Grump.

[mmoore]

listening to two people who are clearly not dietitians trying to give each other dieting advice- office environment.

closes with - where are we going for lunch- to the other.

[defspace]

listening to two people who are clearly not dietitians trying to give each other dieting advice- office environment.

Oh man, this.

So much nonsense.

I've got a coworker who eats only small portions of white foods Monday - Wednesday. It's all cottage cheese, boiled eggs, and other white stuff. Thurs - Sun, it's anything goes.

Another coworker doesn't eat bread on her burgers because she needs a "bikini bod" in two weeks.

It's infuriating and hilarious at the same time.

[dgaddis]

I'm doing a gravel ride tomorrow morning. Starting early, 50 mile loop, need to be in my shop by noon. I've got 4hrs to do the loop, which should be doable with a brisk, but not super hard, pace, and that leaves an hour to get home, showered, fed, and to the shop. But I've not been on most of the roads...so a buddy would be nice. Of course, most people have to work on Friday mornings.

So I posted the ride info on the local MTB club's FB page. Looks like the only person who's available to join me is a lady who I think is getting in way over her head. She didn't quite understand the concept of an average pace. Her profile pic she's sitting on a walmart special "full suspension" "bike". Maybe I'm wrong and she's fit and fast and won't have any trouble keeping up...but I've 'hosted' lots of rides over the years and I know the signs that someone is getting in over their head.

I guess I've got to send her a message and make sure she's really up for this, and let her know I really have to keep a certain pace or better, and I can't wait on her if she can't keep up. I don't want to be rude, and usually I don't mind riding whatever pace the slowest rider can handle, but, I've got to work tomorrow afternoon. I've got wheels to build and bearings to replace, and need to get it all done before the wife gets off work so we can hang out.

[mainemike]

I'm doing a gravel ride tomorrow morning. Starting early, 50 mile loop, need to be in my shop by noon. I've got 4hrs to do the loop, which should be doable with a brisk, but not super hard, pace, and that leaves an hour to get home, showered, fed, and to the shop. But I've not been on most of the roads...so a buddy would be nice. Of course, most people have to work on Friday mornings.

So I posted the ride info on the local MTB club's FB page. Looks like the only person who's available to join me is a lady who I think is getting in way over her head. She didn't quite understand the concept of an average pace. Her profile pic she's sitting on a walmart special "full suspension" "bike". Maybe I'm wrong and she's fit and fast and won't have any trouble keeping up...but I've 'hosted' lots of rides over the years and I know the signs that someone is getting in over their head.

I guess I've got to send her a message and make sure she's really up for this, and let her know I really have to keep a certain pace or better, and I can't wait on her if she can't keep up. I don't want to be rude, and usually I don't mind riding whatever pace the slowest rider can handle, but, I've got to work tomorrow afternoon. I've got wheels to build and bearings to replace, and need to get it all done before the wife gets off work so we can hang out.

Is she hot?

[Dallas Tex]

I'm doing a gravel ride tomorrow morning. Starting early, 50 mile loop, need to be in my shop by noon. I've got 4hrs to do the loop, which should be doable with a brisk, but not super hard, pace, and that leaves an hour to get home, showered, fed, and to the shop. But I've not been on most of the roads...so a buddy would be nice. Of course, most people have to work on Friday mornings.

So I posted the ride info on the local MTB club's FB page. Looks like the only person who's available to join me is a lady who I think is getting in way over her head. She didn't quite understand the concept of an average pace. Her profile pic she's sitting on a walmart special "full suspension" "bike". Maybe I'm wrong and she's fit and fast and won't have any trouble keeping up...but I've 'hosted' lots of rides over the years and I know the signs that someone is getting in over their head.

I guess I've got to send her a message and make sure she's really up for this, and let her know I really have to keep a certain pace or better, and I can't wait on her if she can't keep up. I don't want to be rude, and usually I don't mind riding whatever pace the slowest rider can handle, but, I've got to work tomorrow afternoon. I've got wheels to build and bearings to replace, and need to get it all done before the wife gets off work so we can hang out.

You're probably getting trolled. She's probably a bad-ass, super-fast hammer.

[j44ke]

Why do drivers always want to pass on a corner when they lack the skill and understanding of physics to allow them to manage the action appropriately? Why don't they just wait 10 seconds to complete the turn and then negotiate the pass on a straighter section of road?

Does anyone have an equation for calculating the probability of the following situation to occur: while cycling on a completely deserted road with no passing traffic for many minutes or even hours in either direction, a car will appear ahead in the distance in the opposite lane and as it nears, you hear a car approaching from behind and you realize that the car in your lane will be in a position to attempt to pass you at exactly the same moment the car in the opposite lane will also be passing your position, making for an awkward 2 seconds in which two cars will attempt to pass each other and you in exactly the same space and at the same time.

What is the probably that this situation will occur on a corner?

[EricKeller]

Does anyone have an equation for calculating the probability of the following situation to occur:

it's not an equation, but this situation provided the genesis of Keller's law of maximum inconvenience.
I can't tell you how many times I've been riding on a deserted road and the only two cars driving within 10 miles of me are traveling at a speed that would lead them to pass me at the same time.