Things you recently bought or got

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by mashers, Sep 6, 2018.

  1. Moon

    Moon Contributor Contributor

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    Socks. You can never have enough socks.

    Also, three books cause I'm trying to make sure I never finish my backlog, apparently.
     
  2. Some Guy

    Some Guy Manguage Langler Supporter Contributor

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    And past ICC quarantine!
     
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  3. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Would it be fresh after sitting in quarantine for 30 days? o_O
     
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  4. Some Guy

    Some Guy Manguage Langler Supporter Contributor

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    Dunno if it madders. What does the package say? I don't know Klingon. Star Trek sophisticates speak Vulcan, you know that! :D
     
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  5. Xander17

    Xander17 Hermit Archetype Supporter Contributor

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    Saving up for a new bike.

    While researching to find upgrade parts for my 3 x 9 hardtail, and just about completed my purchases, I came across this hybrid the other day, and only just came across it 'cus I never added them to my search parameters...
    https://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/polygon-heist-5.0-29er-hybrid-commuter-bike~2398606

    Never considered hybrids 'cus I imagined I'd be taking my bike into the bush one day.
    But I could never find a HT with the specs I was after, and why would I as my drivetrain specs are more for road riding than dirt; higher gearing for road, lower for dirt.

    But upon careful consideration of a hybrid, and having a long fone convo with the sales rep about the tech details of the Poly, I noticed inner turmoil, thus did some soul searching as to why I never considered a hybrid and why I ended up buying a bike that doesn't suit my riding preferences.

    1. MTB snobbery in me mindtank = bias blindness. Was set on a HT and anything else was rejected.
    2. My current riding specs are greatly different from all the other riding I've done over the last decade, or that I've increased my riding dedication thus desired a more specific setup, thus didn't know me Norco wasn't correct till after the experience of owning it and trying to find upgrade parts.

    Thus I was biased towards anything but a HT yet could only find out HTs weren't for me from within the actual experience.

    This, as I consider how much cash I've spent on road going mods for me HT that can't be transfered over to me hybrid, turns into a $300 mistake if you only consider point 1, but considering point 2, it was a $300 lesson, and I'm more than satisifed with that.

    So, no harm no foul, learnt a huge amount of very useful info about current bike componentry quality and what manufacturers offer and what to look out for, and I came across the Poly at what seems like the perfect time.

    Will hit Lonnie this week to go look at some actual hybrids to see what a thinner hybrid tyre actually looks like and 60mm fork travel, and I have detailed measurement specs of the Polygon and will match that against me Norco to make sure I buy the right size.

    Only $60 delivery and warranty issues and any hassles with returns have all been sorted out with the online bike shop.

    Will sell the Norco cheap but include pricing for the stuff I can't use on the Polygon.

    Only things I have to buy for the Poly is another suspension seat post as the post diameter is thinner than the Norco, and maybe an 11-40\42 cassette as Poly runs 26 front - 34 rear and I suspect that's beyond the ratios I calculated when figuring out what size cassette to buy.

    Only other mods required would be raising bar height as the Poly compared to the Norco looks quite flat, and I already wanna raise the height on me Norco, and I already have the stem for that.

    The reason why Poly appeals so much to me is the near exact specs I want and quality of the componentry is far above any other brand. $800 for Deore 3x10speed with Shimano hydro brakes, and other brands can't match this even @ $1300
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2019
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  6. Reece

    Reece Senior Member

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    The significant other just got me the Humble Bundle Write Like a Writer bundle. I now have 26 books on writing to read, though I doubt I will read them all right away. I'm not interested in learning how to write a screenplay at this particular juncture.
     
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  7. flawed personality

    flawed personality Contributor Contributor

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    Kitchen scales, thread, paintbrushes, dried apricots, choc milk, theanine, bran flakes and choc rice cakes.
     
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  8. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Yesterday, a 1.5 quart thing of choc. ice cream (my inner fat kid ate it all yesterday). :p

    Today a package from a lovely lady across the sea to the east. :)
     
  9. flawed personality

    flawed personality Contributor Contributor

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    Cashews, a soft toy bunny, a dvd, a pack of craft papers, adhesive heat pads, milk, theanine (90 caps this time), loo roll and tissues.
     
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  10. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Potatoes, bacon, onion, espresso, honey roasted peanuts, brownie mix,
    beef flav. ramen, veg. oil, and a pound of pinto beans. :p

    Also a good few hours at group, with plenty of laughs and much
    needed socializing. :)
     
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  11. flawed personality

    flawed personality Contributor Contributor

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    Messages from My Amazing Man. :supersmile:
     
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  12. Moon

    Moon Contributor Contributor

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    I got a throat infection. Was basically free of charge.
     
  13. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Gesundheit!
     
  14. Xander17

    Xander17 Hermit Archetype Supporter Contributor

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    Update on future Poly Heist 5.

    Went and saw hybrids in Lonnie. OMFG!
    1st shop the Avanti one, with fond memories of the narc young salesman who seemed to have missed sales training day, or he's a novice alpha. I went 'cus I knew they had hybrids and the sales pitches were none of my business, but always interested to see how folks behave.

    This time I got the older guy, worse than the young guy...an odd blend of subtle condescension and ickyness. Had strange inflections and tone regarding my comment that I have no interest in riding a girl's bike. No idea why he started off by showing me this, though it did instantly set off spider senses.

    The convo switched to quality levels and his condescension about how $1000 bikes have different quality componentry to $3000 ones. I responded with sarcasm, as one does in situations like these, with "Really, I would expect there's no difference between $1000 and $3000 bikes."
    He responds with what looked like genuine confusion and surprise, "Why would you think this?"

    In me mindtank I'm thinking, "He can't perceive sarcasm, time to leave."
    I respond with , "I'm gonna go now, you're not a very good salesperson."
    I hear a cheerful voice as I walk out the door, "Oh, ok, have a good day."

    I then head up to the better shop I've bought from, and one lo-qual bike with rim brakes runs a 38mm wide tyre, sure it's more than up to the task, but the skinny width just looks horrible. I've been spoilt by the 60mm mtb tyres.

    Logically I know the 38s are more than adequate, but visually and emotionally I just can't see myself riding a bike with skinny tyres. 3rd up on the quality list is one with 50mm mild knobby tyres, and that looks just right to me.

    Then as we talked the tech issue is rim width determines max tyre width, and hybrids do run skinnier rims (ever so slightly) than mtbs. He said the bike I'm after can run 45mm, but I can't visualise what that looks like...including forks and chainstay are thinner than mtb ones, thus even if I could run 60mm tyres, they may not fit the hybrid.

    I then head to their sister shop down the road (with different brands) and more tech issues come up, in that not one brand of hybrid runs the gearing specs I want, except for my beloved Poly ( *cassette).

    I don't fit in any manufacturer's ranges as I want a mtb but with hi-speed gearing, and odd that some hybrids only run a 2 speed crank, but so too do many road bikes.

    Anyways, after much discussion and searching for specific parts, we both realised it might be better to just buy a complete groupset for my Norco...$550 on eBay for Deore M6000 ( as is on the Poly)

    But ffs, not one seller has a front 48T, and most of them don't even run a 42T cassette.
    Which brings me back to the Poly time and time again.
    48T front, 42T cassette 3 x 10 speed, Shimano hydro brakes.

    But alas, the skinny tyre issue, so I double check with the Poly shop about how wide a tyre I can run and still it's only 45mm, but after my Lonnie excursion I now check if all the drivetrain parts will fit on me Norco.

    He says yes, so, if I can't run a 50mm on the poly rims, and 45 still gives me the heebie geebies, and I'm awaiting an email back from the Oz company that makes 'em as to what size I can run, I'll still buy the Poly and swap drivetrains and sell the Poly.

    Have decided to avoid impulse buying and not use my credit card to buy the Poly, and will save up for it. Should take me about 3 months, and that also gives me time to do more research.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
  15. Earp

    Earp Contributor Contributor

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    240 Gb SSD for my old Dell laptop an a new vacuum cleaner, from Amazon.
     
  16. Some Guy

    Some Guy Manguage Langler Supporter Contributor

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    to slurp the data of the laptop? :D
     
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  17. LoaDyron

    LoaDyron Contributor Contributor

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    Oh well here it comes my list of books to read:

    A knight of the Seven Kingdoms- George R.R. Martin
    Neverwhere/ American Gods/ Smoke and Mirrors- Neil Gaiman
    Hobbit/ The Trilogy of The Lord of The Rings/Unfinished Tales/ Silmarillion- J.R.R. Tolkien
    Pet Cemetary- Stephen King
    The Talon Saga- Julie Kagawa
     
  18. Earp

    Earp Contributor Contributor

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    That, or I wanted two machines that suck ...
     
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  19. flawed personality

    flawed personality Contributor Contributor

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    Space, so much space! It's heavenly, and so very liberating. I recommend it to anyone. :superidea:

    See my posts elsewhere for clarification on space. :p
     
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  20. Xander17

    Xander17 Hermit Archetype Supporter Contributor

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    I love researching, and I won't be buying the Poly....for three reasons.

    1. Though I'm not an Aliexpress fan, they have tons of Shimano gear as cheap as free, so that got my research on.

    2. Who woulda thunk a medium cage der could handle a 42T cassette and the long cage can't? Not me, wouldn't have even considered this. But it turns out the long cage Deore can only handle a 36T, but their med cage can.

    "Why, I've fallen down the rabbit hole and into a land of madness!" - Sheldon Cooper

    3. The hydro brakes are only Alivios, wouldn't be suprised if they're the same quality as me Tektros. And interesting, the 2nd sales rep, though quite knowledgeable and skilled at parts research, avoided stating this and rather said they're generic, not under any particular model series. Bad norty Poly salesrep.

    So that's three decent to expensive parts that would need replacing on the Poly.
    Granted the Poly still runs far superiour compontents than all other brand hybrids I looked at, but that's close to $300 of parts I have to swap.

    So, keeping the Norco and hopefully can buy partial Deore sets and individual components at the specs I'm after, as after hours of searching there ain't no package deal with the exact specs I want.

    And 'cus I'm buying all over the place, I can now buy XT shifters, as research suggests the M6000 range is far above what I require, but XT shifters are the shit, but a full XT groupset is a waste of money for the type of riding I do.

    And 'cus I'm joyfully pissed of @ Norco for selling a $1000 that runs shit componentry, I'll be removing all Norco signia and give it a fresh paintjob. I feel they just don't deserve free advertising and I'll feel less dirty and used.

    I'm thinking gloss white with orange squiggles...or matt black as I bought some high quality spray cans to patch up me ute...or maybe use the left over green I used on my ute's mags...but how gay would that be to colour coordinate my ute and bike.

    8am ˜checks weather˜
     
  21. J.T. Woody

    J.T. Woody Book Witch Contributor

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    over the past 2 days:
    • bikini
    • sun dress
    • a purse
    • Front Line Flea and Tick treatment for the doggo
    • 2 pounds of ground turkey
    • onions
    • sweet potatoes
    • a pair of exercise leggings
    • a pair of lounge shorts
    • gas
     
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  22. GrahamLewis

    GrahamLewis Seeking the bigger self Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Contest Winner 2022

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    Not long ago I went to my old bike shop, a kind of inner-city pseudo-hippie place. I hadn't ridden in several years and was planning to buy a bike and start again. I was surprised at how sparse the apparel and miscellaneous room was, and said so to the sales guy who walked by, thinking maybe the stuff was on its way back from a recent bike expo. He said, "it's because people like you don't come anymore, we can't afford to stock it." And went on to say, "people seem to expect things to last even though they don't come in and buy." All I could think was, "I refuse to take responsibility for your issues, and I will make your statement a self-fulfilling prophecy by taking my business elsewhere." And I did.
     
  23. Some Guy

    Some Guy Manguage Langler Supporter Contributor

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    Ouch!
     
  24. flawed personality

    flawed personality Contributor Contributor

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    That is disgraceful. You never blame a customer, otherwise you don't have a business. With staff like that, I think we know the real reason they're struggling.
    If I caught a staff member speaking like that, I'd fire them immediately, profusely apologise to the customer, and deal with them myself.
     
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  25. GrahamLewis

    GrahamLewis Seeking the bigger self Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Contest Winner 2022

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    Another employee did come up to me after the first one left, and briefly apologized for his "frustrated" colleague.
     
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