I have looked at 3D printers now and again for over 10 years now. I have always hesitated to buy one because I didn’t want to be continually fiddling around with the printer to make it work.
Now I have finally bitten the bullet. I purchased a Bambu Labs A1 with AMS
To me Bambu Labs are the Apple of 3D printers. They just work! The physical setup is easy, the software is superb and the printer is fast.
| Model | Exterior | Interior | Packed Size | Max Capacity | Weight | ||
| Length | Width | Length | Width | ||||
| Caribou | 246 | 97 | 123 | 37 | 43 x 15 cm | 181 kg | 2.7kg |
| Mule | 254 | 97 | 132 | 39 | 46 x 20 cm | 227 kg | 3.8 kg |
Thinking of buying a raft for bike packing and hiking. My first thought was from Alpacka
https://www.packraftaustralia.com.au/on-sale-alpacka-raft/alpacka-raft-caribou-lw-cedar-5cj4d-tsxf6
– Open configuration, TZIP, ugly colour, $1,483. Great price, low weight
What would I be using it for?
– Floating down the Yarra River
– Hugging the coast in Port Philip Bay
– Bike Packing (might need that just for the Yarra River)
Maybe .. in the future light rapids but it is very important to be able to tie down a Mountain bike or my folding bike.
I like the idea of a TZIP
packraftaustralia.com.au had some clearance specials on:
ALPACKA RAFT CARIBOU
Blue Berry LW 210D, Open, NO TiZIP, $1,395
++ $250 for TiZIP
Blue Berry LW 210D, Open, TiZIP, $1,645
++ $150 for Self Bailer
Blue Berry LW 210D, Self Bailer, TiZIP, $1,795
Standard Coated 210D Calypso (Bi-Colour Yellow/Magenta), Open, TiZIP, $1,483 (Save $162)
ALPACKA RAFT MULE
Sale Item:
ALPACKA RAFT MULE SELF BAILER – 210D CEDAR – NO TIZIP $1,746
Weight: 3.2 kg
Packed Size: 46x18cm
ALPACKA RAFT MULE – SELF BAILER WITH TIZIP,
$1,950
Weight: 3.6 kg
Packed Size: 46x20cm
In the end I went with the green (cedar) mule with a self bailing floor with 210D. I would rather the heaver and bulkier 420D, but it is much more expensive, especially since I am buying an onsale model and not the normal price.
The normal price from 210D to 420D is an extra $250.
Cedar Green 210D, Self Bailer, TiZIP, $2,295
++ $250 going from 210D to 420D
Cedar Green 420D, Self Bailer, TiZip, $2,545
Weight difference between LW 210D and Standard 420D fabrics = ~250-350grams (https://www.packraftaustralia.com.au/faq)
Finnished listening to two audio books in the Legion XXII series by Simon Turney.
I really like historical fiction as it gives you a view of life lived another way.
No modern medicine, no electricity, and a life that could be short, brutish and ugly.
Simon Turney – Legion XXII 01 – The Capsarius
Warrior and combat medic, Titus Cervianus, must lead a legion and quell the uprisings in Egypt in a new Roman adventure from Simon Turney. Egypt.
25 BC. Titus Cervianus is no ordinary soldier. A former surgeon from the city of Ancyra, he’s now a capsarius—a combat medic. Cervianus is a pragmatist, a scientist and truly unpopular with his legion. The Twenty Second Deiotariana have been sent to deal with uprisings and chaos in Egypt. Yet the Twenty Second is no ordinary legion either. Founded as the private royal army of one of Rome’s most devoted allies, the king of Galatia, their ways are not the same as the other legions, a factor that sets them apart and causes friction with their fellow soldiers.
Marching into the unknown, Cervianus will find unexpected allies in a local cavalryman and a troublesome lunatic. Both will be of critical importance as the young medic marches into the searing sands of the south, finding forbidden temples, dark assassins, vicious crocodiles and, worst of all, the warrior queen of Kush….
From Audible
Legion XXII: Bellatrix
Egypt, 25 BC. Titus Cervianus marches into the unknown as he and the Twenty Second Legion contend with the armies of the Bellatrix: the Warrior Queen of Kush. The Kushites and the Egyptians are united against the Roman presence in their lands—but there are complex political and military forces at work. Deep in the deserts, Cervianus and his comrades must brace themselves for a furious onslaught as they take on the might of the Bellatrix.
audible.com
As a younger man I read the Lord of the Rings every year for 13 years.
It is one of my favourite novels of all time.
The films were brilliant, (the Hobbit less so, 3 films WTF)
I had listened to an old audio book of LOTR, but the narrators voice was horrible.
A bad narrator can ruin a good book.
Not the case here, Andy Serkis is great, especially the Gollum/Smeagal character.
It took me about two weeks of listening to get through it, well worth the effort. Listening to the book helps with the pronunciation of names.
The only things that could make this production better would be a full treatment like Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series on Audible.
The three Sandman audible books have multiple actors doing characters, excellent sound effects and music. In effect a movie sans moving pictures.
I really enjoyed watching Suits. But it is not my favourite legal drama.
That would be
#3 Boston Legal
#2 Billions
and my all time favourite, The Good Fight
As a pedestrian, motor cyclist and bicycle rider I hate SUVs.
The only good thing about them is in a collision I probably won’t have to worry about being maimed because I probably be dead.
A driver in the car above can’t see the kids in front of the SUV.
For more information:
Finnished watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine, I rather enjoyed it, especially Terry Crews.
Now I have started watching Suits,
It’s enjoyable, but so many seasons and with so many episodes it is a bit of a hard slog to get through.
Was riding my bike to work and I passed one of those massive SUVs that Americans love. It was massive, normally when lane splitting the motorbike handlebars or mirrors might hit the SUV mirrors (they go over car mirrors).
With the American SUV it went under with plenty of room to clear. The front end of the SUV was about the top of my helmet.
Cleary owners of such trucks are over compensating.
Just signed up for setup app – https://setapp.com
The image has nothing to do with setup.app, but I do like it.
Back in July I was talking to a bike mechanic about how bikes were in short supply due to COVID killing the supply chain.
I said I was looking for a Surly Bridge Club and surprise, he had one to sell for $1,900.
Not a bad deal, as the frame brand new is $1,200 at commuter cycles. The front rack is $250 at commuter cycles, but you can get it for around $215 if you look carefully.
I bought it! Some minor fit issues, which I am now only addressing.
| Frame | Surly Bridge Club, Seatpost Clamp: Surly Stainless 30.0 |
| Fork | Surly Bridge Club |
| Headset | Cane Creek 40 |
| Wheels | WTB ST i21 TCS Front Hub: Novatec 9×100 QR Rear Hub: Novatec 9×141 QR 11-spd |
| Tyres | Surly Extraterrestrial 700×41, 60tpi Tubeless Ready |
| Brakes | Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc, Rotors: Tektro 160/160mm |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore M5100 Rapid Fire |
| Derailleurs | Rear: Shimano Deore M5100 Shadow Plus |
| Crankset | Shimano Deore M5100 32t replaced with Wolf Tooth XTM8 96 BCD 36T Drop Stop A |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore CSM5100 11-51t (11-13-15-18-21-24-28-33-39-45-51 teeth), Chain: KMC X11 EPT |
| Bottom bracket | Shimano BSA |
| Handlebar | Surly Terminal Bar: XS,S – 718mm / M,L,XL – 735m |
| Stem | Promax, 31.8mm |
| Seatpost | Promax, 27.2mm |
| Saddle | WTB Volt 142 |
| Accessories | grip: Velo Black |
Features:
Geometry:
| SIZE | XS | SM | MD | LG | XL |
| Reach | 376 | 397 | 419 | 434.5 | 444 |
| Stack | 553 | 567 | 576 | 590 | 609 |
| Head Tube Angle | 70.0° | 71.0° | 71.0° | 71.0° | 71.0° |
| Head Tube Length | 110 | 120 | 130 | 145 | 165 |
| Seat Tube Length | 335.6 | 406.4 | 457.2 | 508 | 558.8 |
| BB Drop | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Wheelbase | 1032 | 1047.5 | 1073 | 1093 | 1109 |
| Chainstay Length | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 |
| Top Tube Length, Actual | 534 | 547.5 | 570 | 591.5 | 610.3 |
| Top Tube Length, Effective | 545 | 570 | 595 | 615 | 630 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
| Standover Height | 709 | 750.5 | 780 | 812 | 845.5 |
| Stem Length | 80 | 80 | 90 | 90 | 100 |
| Stem Angle | 6° | 6° | 6° | 6° | 6° |
| Crank Length | 170 | 170 | 175 | 175 | 175 |
| Fork Length | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 | 420 |
| Fork Rake | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 |
As a highly versatile touring bike, the Bridge Club hits the sweet spot that separates on- and off-road excursions. The simplistic design makes it fully adept to handle a full rack and pannier setup, frame bags, or any combination of the two. It doesn’t feel sluggish on paved shortcuts, but can also hold its own on dirt detours. If you’re feeling a little zesty on your next road tour, you won’t be ill-prepared for reroutes through the woods. The Bridge Club is designed to handle it all.
Shimano Deore M5100 11 Speed Cassette (11-51T)
https://www.bikebug.com/shimano-deore-cs-m5100-11-speed-cassette.html
$100
*Compatible with HG freehub bodies*
The Shimano CS-M5100 is the suitable cassette for the new DEORE 11-speed group.
The distinctively designed HYPERGLIDE sprockets incorporate specially positioned shift ramps and tooth profiles for improved chain control during shifting. Fast and responsive indexed shifting is the result. The HG cassette sprocket, which was developed for 11-speed system, underwent comprehensive optimization to achieve super-highly efficient shifting.
PRODUCT FEATURES – SHIMANO DEORE CS-M5100
GRADATION
MATERIAL
Microspline freehub body is not necessary with this cassette.
Shimano Deore M5100 11 Speed Rear Derailleur
https://www.bikebug.com/shimano-deore-rd-m5100-shadow-rd+-rear-derailleur—long-cage-1×11.html
The 11-speed DEORE rear derailleur enables precise and quick shifting within the 11-51T range. 13-tooth pulley wheels and SHIMANO SHADOW RD+ technology reduces chain chatter and gives you improved chain retention thanks to a stiffer derailleur arm and higher chain tension.
FEATURES – SHIMANO DEORE RD-M5100 1X11-SPEED REAR DERAILLEUR
PRODUCT FEATURES
CAGE
Shimano Deore M5100 11 Speed Rear Shifter
The DEORE 11-speed right-side shifter benefits from the same technologies as XTR, DEORE XT and SLX. Together with the speed of RAPIDFIRE PLUS and a TWO-WAY RE-LEASE feature you can shift up and down the 11 gears of your cassette faster than ever before.
SHIMANO DEORE SL-M5100 11-SPEED SHIFT LEVER RIGHT RAPIDFIRE PLUS
PRODUCT FEATURES
MATERIAL
Shimano CN-HG601 11 Speed Chain
https://www.bikebug.com/shimano-105-cn-hg601-11sp-chain-p-55511.html
$40
Surly Terminal Bar
https://surlybikes.com/parts/terminal_bar
https://www.commutercycles.com.au/surly-terminal-bar/ $160
Surly 26-29″ CroMoly Rear Rack Black $240
https://www.pushys.com.au/surly-26-29inch-cromoly-rear-rack-black.html
