New England B.S. Thread

I have a friend with an '18 Forester XT touring and it's definitely got the tin can issue. It has more road noise than the '16 CX-5, which was notoriously not sound deadened enough. The Forester seats are very uncomfortable too. Really annoying driver aids and safety features that can't be turned off as well. He always complains that it won't let him back up in many situations because it sees tall grass or a small slope as an obstruction.

 

My parents have an Outback and also complain about the safety features being way over the top. They'vehad Subarus for years but this one might turn them off of them. Its also on its 3rd or 4th infotainment system.

 

Just got back from Maine woods, pre running our route for the trip in August. We got turned around by the NE forest rally, saw some really cool cars. This must have happened just after we got turned around Friday.

https://dirtfish.com/rally/ara/new-england-forest-rally-canceled-after-co-driver-fatality/

 

Damn I had a buddy that went up to watch it

 

We actually got turned around we were supposed to go down that road but they had it closed for the stage. We got excited because we figured if it's a rally stage it's gotta be fun for us to go down - we'll probably be keeping it slow and steady instead of whipping it into the corners through there now.

 

The Alchemy is fully built. I can't think of anything that would need to be changed. I spent the same amount on my bike and it came with lower end parts than that.

 

Nice!

 

$4500 is not that much for a mountain bike. As a matter of fact it's about the range that carbon fiber mountain bikes start at.

 

Thanks! I need to get different pedals for it. The ones I bought when I picked it up are too wide for xc style riding

 

I've sprained my ankle again lmao cobble stone street saturday. Officially going to primary and orthopedic to follow lol. Also decided I need a larger bicycle for me but zero rush so if anybody sees a great deal let me know. Don't need anything fancy but at least a 7 speed.

 

Now is the time to buy a bike!

Look for something with a 1X drivetrain, disc brakes and some modern geometry. You don't need to spend much but it gets you something that if you want different parts you won't regret putting money into it.

 

i remember a long time ago some of you guys mentioned having clover lawns?

 

Yeah, the Alchemy is pretty damn sweet. I did enjoy building frame up though. I got to spend the money on the parts that were important to me. Also buy the little things like grips, the seat and pedals to my preference, not just dealing with what the bike came with. The dropper is sized to me specifically, not just the size of the bike. I spent the money on the suspension and went a little lower end for the drivetrain (still SLX). The bike I built is a ‘bigger’ bike than the Alchemy being 160/150 travel, but still a damn good trail machine and an animal once you point it downhill.

 

$15 Outsidepride 1 lb. Perennial, Nitrocoated, Inoculated, White Dutch Clover Seed

https://www.amazon.com/Outsidepride...prefix=clover+seed+white+clove,aps,118&sr=8-4

White clover is perennial. Red is an annual. Some sections are doing real good this year with the rain.

 

are you full clover? or a blend?

 

Blend - I drop clover seed, but there's still grass down there. The "problem" I have is weed control, it's super easy to find an herbicide that kills everything, or everything-but-grass. It's hard to find everything-but-grass-and-clover.

(tinfoil hat time) clover was a part of the American lawn for years, but then herbicides started to be developed. When they couldn't isolate clover from grass, they rebranded clover as a weed. "Pesky clover? Kill it with Weed Killer Two Thousand!" "Nah, clovers fine, what?" "IT'S EVIL!"

 

i've been toying with the idea of clover yard for the rental house for less maintenance, but wasn't sure how it would be in winter

 

I would say basically no different than grass. It's a lot easier since clover self propagates, so it stays better, but I still mow about once a week, etc. I treat it about the same as grass and it does fine. I'd say do it, but it'll be (roughly) the same upkeep anyway.

 

ok cool, so it wouldn't be like a mud pit in spring?

 

Nah, it stays through the winter, sucks up water in the spring same as grass does.