redkow97

I'm not criticizing LeBron as a philanthropist or human being - i'm questioning the generally accepted attitude that LeBron is 'doing everything possible to win a championship.' On the court, that appears to be completely accurate. But I also believe that his salary hinders management's ability to surround him with talent. That's not to say LeBron isn't worth $XX million/year, but it is a question of priorities. Money, or championships. Clearly LeBron has done a lot of good with the money he has earned. That is probably more important than multiple Championships in Cleveland, but I have not looked at it from that perspective.

At the risk of straying further off-topic, I do not understand the people who just want "more," regardless of what they have. This has been front-of-mind during David Griffin/LeBron James/Dan Gilbert discussions. Money is literally irrelevant to LeBron at this point. His lifetime Nike contract would be nearly impossible to squander - yet he's still signing 1 yr deals so he can max-out his next contract and remain the highest paid player ...but somehow Dan Gilbert, who has been paying luxury tax on the highest player payroll in history, is the bad guy for cutting David Griffin loose rather than paying him $7M? Dan Gilbert is expected to give up profits on his investment, but to expect LeBron to give up a few million in salary is absurd? Seems like a double-standard. If guys want to win Championships, I don't expect them to play for free, but I think there's too much ego involved on the salary side. How many Slingshots do you want to be able to buy before a feeling of accomplishment is more important to you?

I work near the Executives' Den. We refer to it as "The Euclid Ballet."

Thanks. I've gotta email my dad now. He should be free. Plus now I know how long this should take me, and what I'm I'll be home - I might even just bring th ekids to teh trail and have my dad watch them for 33 mins while I ride, then drive them home myself. I was done before 7:30 last time, and there was a delayed start because of the prior week's cancellation (a lot of people showed up expecting to transfer their entry, but they had already processed refunds).

In my mind, she hasn't slept since she saw the result sheet. I probably can't ride on Thursday (although I'm trying to find a sitter, now) and I will manage to say something along the lines of "just think how much i could have beaten you by if i had a 'real' bike!"

^ yep. Even Elio (if they ever actually start manufacturing) has brokered agreements in all 50 states to avoid helmet laws and M endorsement issues. Then again, they may have had to add the canopy for those concessions, and I know they were planning to meet at least the minimum crash rating for a car, rather than avoiding the ratings and requirements. As for the "it's a toy" attitude, I agree, but it's unfortunate that they chose to make it that way. Practicality matters for something that takes up a whole garage space. Who is their target market? I feel like people with $27k burning a hole in their pocket, but not enough skill or desire to just buy a motorcycle are going to buy a Mustang before they look twice at a Slingshot.

if transport is the only obstacle, my sister is back and forth between Broadview Heights and Columbus all the time. I could almost definitely help arrange free "shipping" so long as you can pick it up from her apartment.

if my memory is correct, it's about 700 lbs. difference in curb weight, and the miata has a 45ish hp deficit. In combination, the slingshot should be a lot quicker, if it can maintain traction with one rear tire. It's cool - i'm just not sure it's cool enough for the sticker price.

Justin did a quick facebook review where he posted (in response to my question) the horsepower and curb weights of teh slingshot, and the miata. I'll spoil it for you - the slingshot is more powerful, and lighter ...but that tends to happen when you don't have to meet NHTSA crash standards. I'd be curious to see how the slingshot fairs in minor accidents, being that it's a motorcycle, technically. Someone on the East side has a slingshot. I've seen it around a couple of times. I smile and gawk when I see it, but I can't imagine living with one... Living with a Miata, on the other hand, I can rationalize. And I have to believe there's enough aftermarket for the Miata to close the power:weight gap.

I want to love these, but it seems like a less practical Miata.

33:46! that's about 2 minutes faster than I was expecting, AND I beat the "comedienne," who clocked 34:10 (which is over a minute faster than her last time)

Next week is the last. it's a series of 3, with your fastest 2 times added together for your final 'score.' I missed the first one and I won't make next week. I had intended to ride the 15th (cancelled) and the 22nd, but I'm busy the 29th. $15 https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/programs-events/2017/mill-stream-run-reservation/mountain-bike-time-trials-2-1?instance=42178 I consider it a donation to the park, and incentive for them to do more events like this. $20 if you register 'late.'

Upon further investigation, I am more convinced she isn't a bitch, and was truly joking, but it did fire me up. Unless she was borrowing her (quite serious and expensive XC bike), the name/flag decal on her frame suggests that she finished second in the women's division two weeks ago, but that would have put her 15th in the men's division... Still hoping i beat her, but I'm not optimistic. The loop we rode is the same one I did 3 times last Saturday, but the opposite direction, so my 34 minute lap from my weekend ride is faster than her, but when you reverse the loop, you're taking the fast downhill trail and turning it into a long, gradual climb. That said, I had ridden 12 miles before I set that time, so I should have been fresher yesterday. I set PRs in every strava segment i logged, so it's a personal victory regardless - I pushed myself. My Strava time is 39 minutes, but I started the GPS early (so i wouldn't forget), and was pedaling around the start area to warm up and figure out which gear was best for a standing start, to accelerate to the trailhead. I assume that 39 minutes is my total moving time, but I don't know how much will be 'cut off' before my official time started. I know the trail, but it's weird to take certain parts as fast as possible. I nearly bit it in the gravel next to the road. turned left, and my front tire nearly slid out. I'm usually stopping there to make sure no cars are coming. With the road blocked for the TT, I was accelerating to pass the woman ahead of me while we were on the road, and before we entered the second trail. (she was way cool about being passed, btw - after laughing at my bike, she was cheering me on to chase down her friend).

I raced my bike in the time trial at my local trail system. There were no beginners last week, and only two older guys this week. I wanted someone to actually race, and I preferred the 6 mile course to the 4.5 mile beginner course, so I raced "expert" despite being anything but. One of the expert women (there were only two) told me "we're going to start ahead of you, since you don't have a 'real' bike." she was joking, but I hope I beat her bitch-ass... I caught and passed her friend, which means I was at least 60 seconds faster. Didn't catch the woman who started 120 seconds ahead of me, but I may still have beaten her. Fingers crossed. Times will be published tomorrow.

What were track fees when you were able to do a full weekend for $400? I could MAYBE have done a weekend at Nelson Ledges for $400, but only because it was super cheap fees, and close to me, without any tolls. $195/day or $365/weekend at Mid-Ohio. PIRC is up over $200/day for the full course, which is all anybody wants to run. I think $500/weekend is about as cheap as you can get away with, if you're realistic about tire wear and the like. $365 for the fees, (plus $10 for gate?), then figure you burn $15 in gas pulling the bike to and from the track, and burn $5 in gas riding. Somehow I always managed to spend $10 on ice, and another $10 on bottled water, gatorade, etc. I won't count the cost of food, because you'd eat at home anyway, but I could only live off PB&J at the track so many times. I usually end up going out to dinner and spending a few bucks more than I would have at home. at $300/set (which I think is generously cheap), I would use a rear tire up in 2 weekends, and a front in 4 weekends. Assuming $180 and $120 for rear/front, that's $90/weekend on a rear tire and $30/weekend on the front, so $120 in tire wear. Generator gas or paying for electricity at the track adds a few more dollars, beer, and then the possibility of crashing. We're well over $500 with zero frills and no crashes. If I factored in the higher cost of track time at PIRC, and the insane tolls the PA turnpike charges for an additional axle on the trailer, I'd be up over $600 before we even get to the Italian restaurant or the skeezy strip club (both of which are essential). It's all worth it, but this is why I'm currently racing mountain bikes and the only motorcycle I own has 6hp...

Let me know when you plan to go. We can get lost together.

In my friend's neighborhood. $75 but needs brake work. Hydro brakes, so it wasn't a cheap model. Entry level fork. Medium frame, or I would own it already. I may still buy it and use the components, or fix it and trade it in at my LBS toward a large hardtail instead. Message me if interested.

The speeds will be different. At least they should be. I can't predict how much faster everyone will be in any given corner, but the new surface will open up potential for greater speed. That means that if you go down, you're sliding further ...at a track where tire walls were already closer than ideal with the slower speeds on the old surface. I would still ride it. But I would want to ride it, walk it, and ride it again before I raced it...

Did i miss a claim that he was going to ride year-round? He's in Cincinnati. There won't be as much of that. (plus Al Gore says our dirty dirty bike exhaust is making the planet warmer anyway)

Jeff posted a nice EX250 (2008 - the good-looking body style) on the OMRL facebook page. $1800 and it has less than 11,000 miles. Perfect first bike. https://www.facebook.com/groups/317652788389075/ Per my conversation (posted on that FS thread), he's looking to free up funds for something else. Make him a cash offer. Worst he can say is "no."

Event info https://www.facebook.com/events/1893814527572479/ There is no pre-registration. I want to go to this, but it's the day after my wife's birthday, an d we're supposed to have people in from out of town... It's a good group running the event, and the trail is awesome. Super fun, and the climbs aren't too steep.

First - this place kicks ass. It's the most 'serious' mountain bike trail I've been on thus far. That's not saying much, but I have done the first 15 miles of Mohican, a climb-heavy 3-hour race at Brady's Run (PA), and I put in about 20 miles (over two days) at Alafia State Park in FL (spending most of my time on the Intermediate trails). First impressions: This ain't a metroparks trail. I crashed within the first 200 yards. OTB. Granted, I kind of "jumped" over when I realize the front wheel was sliding off the berm, and the bike was stopping faster that I was, but it still counts. That was on my pre-ride, and it did prevent me from crashing (as often) during the race. There are several jumps and other advanced sections. Several of the harder parts of the course were closed for the race, because it wouldn't have been safe to put novices through them. I was still thoroughly impressed with how difficult and slightly crazy some of the things they left in were. With that said, the climbs are not leg-destroyers. I did stop and walk my bike 2 or 3 times, but mainly because I was trying to pace myself, not because I couldn't have gotten up without dismounting. Knowing the course better now, I think I will try to avoid walking next race. My race day: Left the house around noon. Was slugging water throughout the 50 minute drive down. by 1:00, I was registered and had my number on my bike. $15 race entry fee (includes insurance). I gave a $20 and told them to donate the rest. It's private land being leased and maintained by the "Friends of Vulture's Knob," which obtained non-profit status less than a month ago. I chatted with the race director and the folks running registration. 6.2 mile XC loop, which left me an hour to pre-ride. Fuck. That's just enough time to not quite finish a full loop, and show up for my 2:00 race start exhausted. "Are there any bailouts or shorter loops?" "Yeah, the trail crosses the road several times. Just go up-hill on the road, and you'll get back here." 1:15 - dressed for race. let's pre-ride. Immediate crash. Half mile later, I lost a pedal entering "fern gully," and thought I was going to die. I didn't. 1:45 - shit - where is this road they were talking about? Did they mean one of those grass ATV trails?? 1:50 - Fuck. I'm probably 4 miles into this loop... Do i risk taking the "road," or just finish teh loop? At this point, the latter may be faster. I'm totally going to miss the race start if I finish the loop. Fuck it. let's try this "road." 1:55 - GOOD DECISION! Rider's meeting is starting as I find my way back to the start line. I sit in the shade, suck down as much water as possible, and think about how much Ice would fit inside my helmet if I raided the cooler in my car. It was 90 out... 2:10(ish) - my class (novice men, under 40) starts. There are 7 or 8 of us in class, but more like 15 leaving at the same time (over 40 was with us). The Expert riders ahead of us have 3 laps to complete. The Sport riders have 2 laps to complete. most of our group was joking and chatting during the initial "sprint" to the woods. I told another guy on a fat bike "don't take this personally, but I'm going to try my best to beat you, just because you're the only other guy on a fat bike." It's many people's first time at Vulture's Knob. We laugh, joke around a bit, and then we're out of breath. Talking stops on the first climb, and by chance, I manage to pass a couple of people and settle in behind the guy on the fat bike. We sort of yo-yo'd for the next 4.5 miles. I would reel him in, and then make a mistake and watch him ride away. Near the end, I caught up on one of the more serious climbs. He tells me to call my side when I want to pass. I respond that I burned all my matches catching him, and that we could wait to race until we both saw the finish line. And then he fell. He was far enough ahead of me that I didn't see him, but he was still on the ground when I came around the corner. "Guess you're going by now!" Yep. And I didn't look back. The trail opens up to the pavilion area. The organizers were awesome. "What number? 311? GET IT, CHRIS! Nice job!" "how much further?" "too. Too much further! Keep going." Mercifully, the final loop through the woods is neither long, nor difficult. You exit the trail over a log-jump, and cruise across the line. I had no idea that I'd finished second in my class until I went to thank everyone before leaving (Indians tickets, or I would have stayed and had some beers).

this first "grassroots race 1" was cancelled due to weather. Starting new threads for races 2 and 3.