fishpen0

One could argue that this is the weird part of the internet now since we are the minority

We are like the BBS, IRC, and Usenet users of the late 2000s who refused to be swayed by Digg, Reddit, and (SMS only) Twitter.

The main thing ironically is using less power than a phone to do the same things. Especially in really long rides, having the bike computer do all the tracking and show maps, etc. ensures my phone won’t be completely dead. The bike computer also won’t overheat in direct sunlight and the screen is matte and readable without backlighting unlike a phone. It also weighs less than a phone if you are a gram weenie and willing to leave your phone at home.

Separately, not all phones support ant (especially iPhones). Ant is a special low power protocol that other bike devices like power meters, cadence sensors, and heart rate monitors use. Especially higher end devices do everything they can to weigh as little as possible and still have a years long battery life and using ant is one of those methods. Bike computers all support ant and have better compatibility with all these other components. The bike computer will also usually support more simultaneous devices than a phone. Especially cheaper phones tend to have issues streaming data from 4-5 devices at the same time

Finally, bike computers do actually do things regular phones don’t. For example the new wahoo bike computer has a built in wind speed sensor that tracks when you are biking with or against the wind and adds that data to all the power and calorie calculations

That all said, I rode for years just using Strava and android health to track most things. The bike computer has made all that better but it is definitely an optional accessory that you probably don’t need if you are a casual rider

The worst part is how starting these things makes everything worse for 2-4 weeks until you get used to it and then doesn’t really bring noticeable returns for another 2-4 weeks.

And the older you are before you start the longer it takes and harder it is to get going

The worst thing progressives do is assume everyone is as informed as themselves.

Immigrants and first generation Americans more often then not have labor jobs, work unusual shifts with a small number of other people, live in districts with bad schools, and don’t speak or read English. They watch news on culturally oriented outlets like telemundo and only interact with other immigrants in meaningful ways.

It’s extremely easy to use that bubble to circulate disinformation. It’s coming from other people they love and trust and tinted with their own culture.

It’s actually harrowing how little I have in retirement savings compared to them. I spent the first 6 years of my career paying off loans and only contributing up to my employers match. I was illiquid for multiple large economic events while they had cash laying around. They could buy cars when interest was zero. They had a house to refi when interest was zero. I feel like a millennial describing boomers but these are guys in their 30s who went to trade school.

For me to catch up I have to put money almost entirely in taxable accounts where their money and returns are shielded from taxes. They were actually able to use a Roth for many years where I was only real able to max one out for two years before my promotion put me out of eligibility.

The earlier you are in a market, the better off you are and trades put you into the market almost 10 years earlier than someone taking 4 years of college and then having 4-6 years of loan payments

Right now trade schools are actually providing a better cost to income ratio than college.

It’s anecdotal but my friends in the Boston area were all making 120-150 in salary plus bonus before I was even out of school and I started in software at 65k and didn’t break into that level for another 4 years. Now I make 230 but they’ve all got houses and decked out retirement funds from having that good money when they were much younger. That extra 20-30k/yr in 401k and IRA funds with 5-6 years more growth time in the market isn’t something to shake a stick at.