Michigan Tacomas

Let’s look at this logically and objectively…. a bike is a complex piece of equipment that is:

1 – Critical to the health and well-being of its owner through facilitating both low and high-intensity long-duration exercise. Doctors are essentially unanimous that regular exercise is critical for long-term health and well-being.

2 – Takes a SIGNIFCANT amount of tuning and adjustment on a bike to fit the body and riding style of its owner. No two bike owners have the exact same bike configuration / tuning / setup.

3 – Inappropriate transportation of a bike can lead to inadvertent equipment failures / configuration tuning changes that would create sub-optimal biking performance or even injury.

4 – It takes a significant amount of time and effort do said bike tuning for optimal performance. Having to expend time and effort to retune a bike through unintended changes via improper transport, limits the ability to gain the benefits of the exercise it provides the owner.

5 – The bike and all of its components are expensive and experience the same shipping channel / availability constraints that other specialized equipment is having in the current market space. Needing to replace damaged components from improper transport will lead to substantially higher cost of ownership of the bike and decrease in use / performance optimization.

Therefore, given the real and potential impacts of improperly transporting a regularly used bike on health, cost, time, and effort, it is CLEARLY a REQUIRMENT that the appropriate bike rack / mounting system be purchased and installed on the Tacoma. The positive return from investment in financial, health, and quality of life perspectives is absolutely JUSTIFIED.

 

Fun fact: if you have a fat bike, you can currently ride in the ORV area of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes

 

Get the stuff she agrees with on, and the stuff that makes camping more enjoyable for her, then complain about how "bogged down" the truck feels when she's with you. Then float the reasons for the re-gear. Scheming with you as I want to re-gear mine as well.

 

I was able to get my bed rack at about half price. I found one that was "blemished" bare steel. Someone had handled it with something on their hands and left some surface rust hand prints all over it. I wire wheeled it, primed it, and sprayed on bed liner in the driveway over about a week (dry time). Ordered sliders bare steel and did the same thing. Saved a bunch of money that way and showed my wife that I was trying to cut costs, which makes it bit easier to "sell" her on other stuff. And I do as much as I can on my own or with others who know how to do it and don't charge a kidney to do it. (My lift went on for about $250 in a friends garage.)

 

KDMAX TUNE - SOUTHEAST, MICHIGAN

• DATE: WED(1/25)
• LOCATION: Royal Oak and surrounding area
• TIME: 11a-3/4p

I will be in the area for a business trip if anyone wants to get a tune.

 

I may be headed up to the SE MI area in a week of two to see family (mom in particular). And with M I winter weather being what it is, I will probably bring the "three pedal" truck. Would be nice to meet some of you if time permits.

 

If y'all aren't on this, you need to be.

 

Damn, l live in in Royal Oak and I’m leaving that morning for work out of town…

 

This seems appropriate. In Oakland County for a quick trip to see mom at Beaumont and catch up with the sibs. 7.5" of snow at my sisters. Rain or 6" of snow on the way?

 

The .gov site can’t figure out the weather today either. The say 6 inches, but maybe freezing rain, or rain, or a warm spell or sleet, or 2-4 inches by tonight. This pin point accuracy is not conducive to a successful day for people who work in the 4 month refrigerator.

 

The only good news with the forecast is its shifting north. Which is favorable for my return trip tomorrow.

 

I started watching Ryan Hall Y'all for the weather. He gives a nice overview that's somewhat entertaining and to the point. I haven't watched the local news regularly in years and I have 2 different weather apps.

 

Same. I just check my radar apps and extrapolate the track.

When things start happening, I dial up local web cams.

I'm presently in SC, but have been bouncing around viewing different cams in Michigan to see if there is any real weather activities.

The MDOT traffic cams work good, too, but only during the daylight. They suck to view at night.

 

They updated the site at 1 and said it shifted south.. lol well their axis point shifted south, so now it’s predictable and their accuracy should be on point.

 

Meaning they'll be 50% correct within the viewing area.

We picked up a quick 1/2 inch at my sister's last night in Royal Oak. It was snowing a bit ago and stopped. Now they're mixing in some freezing rain and sleet over night.

 

Pleasantly surprised with the winter storm. Went and got some XC skis today too!

 

And after about a week and a half of winter, looks like most of us will be back to the shitty lack of winter we've been seeing

 

We’re trying small spurts of winter this year so nobody gets offended.

 

Hi everyone, new member/ another SE Michigan guy here

 

I put the stock steelies back on to clean up what I call the fj’s. I can confirm it’s still winter. It was at least 27 degrees on the garage floor. Also polished the exhaust.. had to throw a few blankets on her cuz she was getting cold. I put carpet samples that are doused in peppermint oil under the tires to keep mice out of the truck; it just sits most of the year.