[newleaf150]

Model train clubs. They are everywhere.

Great idea, thank you! I began poking around and learned there is an adult ride-on model train club based just down the road from me. I doubt they'd need the glue, but I'm intrigued by the idea of ride-on model trains. I also found a couple of more traditional model railroad clubs which may be able to use a donation.

 

[newleaf150]

A gift from Mrs. Newleaf. Matches Robbyn, my Surly Ice Cream Truck, perfectly.

This thing is silly comfortable and awesome. I'm in love.

This little guy from my Mom is the season's surprise awesome gift: an inflatable, solar powered lantern. Also charges via USB. I can't wait to give this thing a try in the field.

On.

 

[newleaf150]

A bit frustrating, but I don't need it right away, either: Mrs. Newleaf got me a Divide rack from Old Man Mountain. Unfortunately, she ordered the 'Divide' rather than the 'Divide Fat' model that will fit Robbyn the Ice Cream Truck.

Cool thing is, the rack I received is so wonderfully constructed and solid feeling that I'm tempted to just keep it and install it on my touring bike despite the fact that I'm perfectly happy with its present rack and have no need to make changes. Nevertheless, this thing is beefy and burly and awesome. I look forward to getting the correct size rack.

While my existing purple bikepacking bags are unquestionably the better answer for bikepacking, I appreciate the flexibility offered by a rack. The 'Divide' and 'Divide Fat' racks are both front or rear mountable. Always nice to have more places to strap stuff to your bike. At least, it is if you're me .

 

[newleaf150]

The 'Divide' rack is on its way back to the dealer and a proper-sized 'Divide Fat' rack is on its way. Pics to come. In the mean time, I now have two helmets and but one Take-A-Look Mirror. After several early experiences with my mirror taking flight on rough roads, I like to mount it semi-permanently using zip ties and holes drilled in the visor. Thus, a quick trip to REI:

Any time I walk into an REI, there is of course an associated tax. Same thing happens at the LBS . This time, I got off easily with a new set of Voile straps in 25" length.

 

[newleaf150]

Another product of today's trip to REI: Mrs. Newleaf gave me the jacket on Christmas, but it proved too large. Today's exchange feels about perfect. It is a Cotopaxi Teca Fleece Full-Zip. Comfy.

For the record, I'd once have preferred to be too cold than to wear a jacket or other clothing in these colors. My, how things change. Also, in for a penny in for a pound: the colors compliment Robbyn the Ice Cream Truck about perfectly. I'll be glad to drag this thing out of her oversized purple trunk bag. Maybe as an outer layer, maybe a mid.

The year's slate of gravel and mountain events is seeming steadily more real.

 

[newleaf150]

Old Man Mountain 'Divide Fat' rack, good for mounting on the front or back of the bike. Mrs. Newleaf originally ordered this for me for Christmas, but we ended up with the 'normal bike' size, good for tires up to 3" in diameter. I was impressed with its build quality. I am similarly impressed with the quality of the correct sized replacement.

The other rack included a paper parts envelope, while this one has plastic. I love that they include grease. I would use it even if they didn't, but I appreciate the attention to detail.

On the altogether different front, these are a set of seat clamp pieces for my BikeE recumbent. The original clamps died of old age a while back. They outlived the company that produced them by a fair bit. I happily found replacements and look forward to getting that bike back on the road.

 

[newleaf150]

Robbyn the Surly Ice Cream Truck has dramatically changed my personal palette of acceptable clothing colors.

Zoic MTB shorts in color 'Vino'. Not quite as purple as I'd hoped, but they'll work.

'Teal Trees' tech jersey from CognativeMTB.com. They seem to specialize in more colorful apparel than is often available for men.

After ordering the 'teal trees' jersey seen above, I was sucked in by a link to closeouts on the same site. Ended up finding this outfit in my size for about the same price as the full-cost jersey. That proved irresistible. Their sizing charts have proven accurate, at least for me.

 

[MilesR]

The shorts look like a cabernet.

 

[newleaf150]

The shorts look like a cabernet.

The photos online had me thinking more purple than cabernet, but you called the actual color perfectly. Easy enough to return them thanks to the source (REI is wonderful about such things), but they fit well and match enough of my other gear that I figure they are worth keeping.

 

[newleaf150]

Ayamaya hammock underquilt, stowed, with iPhone 10 included for purposes of scale. The quilt packs easily into the stuff sack, and can be cinched down a bit, but it is bulky. It is also not the lightest underquilt on the market. Based on the reviews, it is one of the most effective in its price range at actually providing effective insulation.

Temp was about 45*F when this was taken. Before attaching the underquilt, I sat in the hammock for a few minutes. That was comfortable enough but it was immediately apparent that it wouldn't be for long: my butt and back almost immediately felt a slight chill. That grew slowly but steadily as I swung.

After attaching the underquilt, the chill vanished. I took off my shoes and went prone inside with just my clothes, as you might for a lazy afternoon nap. Didn't need my jacket, which proved a dandy pillow. After ~20min I was on the threshold of falling asleep. Warm and comfortable, with no present need for an overquilt. Let the sun vanish behind the clouds and that would doubtless change. Still, I'm pretty happy with the underquilt's performance on its first test.

 

[newleaf150]

Well, at least it came. Received the package containing my new thru-axle from Burley like this. Surprised the envelope retained its contents at all.

Strange things happen in shipping, but this seems a bit on the predictable side.

This is the 209mm thru axle, which appears to be the correct size based both on Burley's documentation and actual on-bike fit.

 

[newleaf150]

View attachment 55845 Ayamaya hammock underquilt, stowed, with iPhone 10 included for purposes of scale. The quilt packs easily into the stuff sack, and can be cinched down a bit, but it is bulky. It is also not the lightest underquilt on the market. Based on the reviews, it is one of the most effective in its price range at actually providing effective insulation.

View attachment 55846

View attachment 55847 Temp was about 45*F when this was taken. Before attaching the underquilt, I sat in the hammock for a few minutes. That was comfortable enough but it was immediately apparent that it wouldn't be for long: my butt and back almost immediately felt a slight chill. That grew slowly but steadily as I swung.

After attaching the underquilt, the chill vanished. I took off my shoes and went prone inside with just my clothes, as you might for a lazy afternoon nap. Didn't need my jacket, which proved a dandy pillow. After ~20min I was on the threshold of falling asleep. Warm and comfortable, with no present need for an overquilt. Let the sun vanish behind the clouds and that would doubtless change. Still, I'm pretty happy with the underquilt's performance on its first test.

I just spent another half hour in the hammock with underquilt and nothing else save street clothes including a thin long sleeve shirt over an undershirt, both synthetic. No sun but still daylight, temp at 43*F. It was marginal but still comfortable, and I feel certain that I'd have been downright cozy had I chosen to break out my sleeping bag or some kind of quilt.

Is this bike related? Not directly, but I do plan to carry this stuff on a bike and use it in the course of a camping trip involving the same. Hopefully more than one, lol, but we'll see what we'll see. For now I don't even know for sure that I can comfortably spend a whole night in a hammock. I strongly suspect it, but it's hard to know without the right gear. Also have to figure out how canine companion Chip feels about the whole thing. I have a plan in mind, but haven't reached the point of testing it with him just yet.

 

[i12ride]

using the overload of purchases....so nothing new here. nice checking other people's scores tho.

 

[newleaf150]

Strap-on snack bag and a new magnetic trail bell to replace the one I previously broke. I like this design better than its competitor, but it appears that it may have a fatal weakness. I hope to mount it a bit differently than the last one. We shall see.

Not pictured: a pair of 26x5" fat tire tubes. Though I have gone tubeless, on the fat bike, tubes remain a necessity for any of a number of low likelihood events. I had one and wanted a second. Got the third free for having bought the second. Works for me. Now I just need to find a spare 16x3" tube for canine companion Chip's trailer. I can see an argument for taking that whole thing tubeless to match the fat bike, but at present, I've settled for sliming the new tire and tube in the same way I did the previous 16x2.125" trailer tire.

I think the Snack bag should strap right onto the front of my purple Ortlieb handlebar bag. And match it . I plan to run dual feed sacks as well, one for actual feed, the other to keep my bear spray immediately to hand.

 

[MilesR]

Free is my favorite price.