Equipment Crew- Part IV

[AttyGuy]

Remember, your avatar must have you, or some piece of you, in it.

[AttyGuy]

Dem feelz when there's a Blowflex thread dying for a "duct tape it" response and the thread gets locked.

[BulkMore]

I thought political discussions were off limits? Pepe the frog is now a symbol for the alt right group.

[grumpytude]

Remember, your avatar must have you, or some piece of you, in it.

was not aware- had a non-human pic for years. I guess I'll have to comb my hair and say cheese.....

[AttyGuy]

I thought political discussions were off limits? Pepe the frog is now a symbol for the alt right group.

You are Pepe the Frog.

[irongrandpa]

My wife and I recently decided to keep our power rack and bumper plates in the garage instead of cramming them into the adjoining weight room. So, to make it a nicer looking with comfortable temperatures, we framed out the block walls, insulated and drywalled everything and bought Gladiator storage cabinets. We're both pleased with the results and now are in the process of painting the adjoining weight room that has our machines and dumbells and will be putting down rolled rubber flooring in there. Here's a couple pictures of the garage.







Does anyone know why my pictures are showing up sideways ? Any help with this will be much appreciated.

[dumb.bell]

My wife and I recently decided to keep our power rack and bumper plates in the garage instead of cramming them into the adjoining weight room. So, to make it a nicer looking with comfortable temperatures, we framed out the block walls, insulated and drywalled everything and bought Gladiator storage cabinets. We're both pleased with the results and now are in the process of painting the adjoining weight room that has our machines and dumbells and will be putting down rolled rubber flooring in there. Here's a couple pictures of the garage.







Does anyone know why my pictures are showing up sideways ? Any help with this will be much appreciated.

What plate rack are you using?

[irongrandpa]

What plate rack are you using?

The bumper plate rack I built. I wanted to have it with 4 posts per side and each post be able to hold 45's.

[dumb.bell]

The bumper plate rack I built. I wanted to have it with 4 posts per side and each post be able to hold 45's.

I don't remember seeing it before. Nice Design! I've been looking for something like that.

[KBKB]

My wife and I recently decided to keep our power rack and bumper plates in the garage instead of cramming them into the adjoining weight room. So, to make it a nicer looking with comfortable temperatures, we framed out the block walls, insulated and drywalled everything and bought Gladiator storage cabinets. We're both pleased with the results and now are in the process of painting the adjoining weight room that has our machines and dumbells and will be putting down rolled rubber flooring in there. Here's a couple pictures of the garage.







Does anyone know why my pictures are showing up sideways ? Any help with this will be much appreciated.

I'm going to blame it on the forum software. When I open the images in a separate window, they're right side up.

[irongrandpa]

I'm going to blame it on the forum software. When I open the images in a separate window, they're right side up.

Same here. If I click on the link it shows the picture correctly. But when I add the pictures to the post they have shown up sideways for several months now.

[KBKB]

Same here. If I click on the link it shows the picture correctly. But when I add the pictures to the post they have shown up sideways for several months now.

So...

Another problem is that your inline images aren't showing up at all. At least not for me.

I can see that they're there when I do a reply though. I see the opening and closing image tags. Also, when I replied earlier, they did show up momentarily.

Again, I blame it on the forum software.

(Okay, that's weird. Now that I've replied, they're showing up as broken image icons, the same as mine do when linked from an external site. But getting into this page cold, they I didn't even see the broken image icons. When I right click on one and cause it to be displayed in a new tab, I see that it's trying to use the https protocol - instead of http - to fetch the attachment. That's why it appears to be broken.)

[KBKB]

It appears that someone had already reported this problem here:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=173487861

I've added a reply to that thread with examples (one of which is an attachment from irongrandpa) along with my diagnosis of the problem.

If any of you know of a better place to report the problem, please let me know.

[Domicron]

yeah i think they've been having issues for awhile now. i have to quote many replies just to see if there are embedded pics...

[KBKB]

This is a mini-review for a shoe repair product called Freesole.

I have a pair of trail running shoes that I've been using for hiking. When they were new(ish) I had taken them to a local cobbler who, at my request, resoled them with 5.10 Stealth Rubber. I was happy with his work and also happy with the performance of the rubber. Over a two year period, however, the rubber that he had attached had started to delaminate in the toe area. Also, the mesh was becoming worn on the side of the shoe in the pinky (toe) metatarsal area. And... the fact that there was mesh there at all was kind of annoying when hiking close to cacti - I had once gotten a thorn in my foot which took a couple of months to resolve.

Freesole is a urethane based adhesive. With it, I was able to:

1) Reattach the delaminated sole.

2) Repair the hole in the mesh.

3) Cover the mesh along the sides so that thorns do not penetrate as easily.

I've used the shoes for two long hikes so far. It's a bit early, but so far all three of these repairs are holding up well. I did manage to get another thorn in my foot on my 10 hour hike last weekend, but it penetrated a mesh area to which I had not applied Freesole. (I don't want to totally cover the mesh area - I do want the shoes to still breathe somewhat.)

I was happy enough with it that, earlier today, I performed similar kinds of repairs / augmentation on a few other pairs of shoes which were having issues.

It's my understanding that this stuff can be used to rebuild the soles of shoes that have worn down - kind of like using Shoe Goo, I guess, but it's my understanding that this stuff holds up better than Shoo Goo.

[KBKB]

I've also seen references to 3M 5200 Marine Adhesive / Sealant (also) being used for shoe repair.

Does anyone have experience with this stuff?

I have another pair of trail running shoes that has seriously worn soles. I plan to use a belt sander to remove even more of the sole and to even things out. Then, I'll attach a layer of 5.10 Stealth C4 rubber myself.

For attaching the rubber, I'm considering using 1) Barge Cement, which came with the resole kit, 2) Freesole, which I mentioned in an earlier post, 3) 3M 5200, 4) Aquaseal, which is sort of like Freesole, but which is supposed to have a somewhat thinner consistency; it might be easier to spread.

Back in the day, Barge Cement used to be good stuff. It's my understanding that the formula has changed somewhat and that it's not as effective as it used to be. So I'm leaning towards using Freesole instead.

[thejosef]

This is a mini-review for a shoe repair product called Freesole.

I have a pair of trail running shoes that I've been using for hiking. When they were new(ish) I had taken them to a local cobbler who, at my request, resoled them with 5.10 Stealth Rubber. I was happy with his work and also happy with the performance of the rubber. Over a two year period, however, the rubber that he had attached had started to delaminate in the toe area. Also, the mesh was becoming worn on the side of the shoe in the pinky (toe) metatarsal area. And... the fact that there was mesh there at all was kind of annoying when hiking close to cacti - I had once gotten a thorn in my foot which took a couple of months to resolve.

Freesole is a urethane based adhesive. With it, I was able to:

1) Reattach the delaminated sole.

2) Repair the hole in the mesh.

3) Cover the mesh along the sides so that thorns do not penetrate as easily.

I've used the shoes for two long hikes so far. It's a bit early, but so far all three of these repairs are holding up well. I did manage to get another thorn in my foot on my 10 hour hike last weekend, but it penetrated a mesh area to which I had not applied Freesole. (I don't want to totally cover the mesh area - I do want the shoes to still breathe somewhat.)

I was happy enough with it that, earlier today, I performed similar kinds of repairs / augmentation on a few other pairs of shoes which were having issues.

It's my understanding that this stuff can be used to rebuild the soles of shoes that have worn down - kind of like using Shoe Goo, I guess, but it's my understanding that this stuff holds up better than Shoo Goo.

Interesting. I used urethane, made for windshield installation (because that's what I had at the time), on a sandal repair many years ago and I was amazed how well it worked. The sandals are still fine today and have gotten a lot of use. It was pretty impressive.

Freesole sounds like good stuff, I would use that if you've had good experience with it. It's urethane based, so seems like it would be a solid option.

[rlundregan]

KBKB, as much hiking as you do, I'm impressed that your shoes have lasted for two years--I think mine would explode after a year tops.

[KBKB]

KBKB, as much hiking as you do, I'm impressed that your shoes have lasted for two years--I think mine would explode after a year tops.

I have four or five pairs that I switch between depending upon what I'm doing. That contributes to their longevity.

The ones mentioned earlier are a pair of Altra Superior 1.5 trail running shoes. (Altra has newer models out which I do not like as well, hence my interest in making my current shoes last as long as possible.) As mentioned earlier, the ones in question have been resoled with 5.10 Stealth C4 rubber. Since I want to get as much use out of the soles as I can, I usually only wear them on hikes where there is steep and/or loose terrain. For hikes were traction isn't as much of an issue, I wear different shoes, often times a pair of Altras which have the stock soles. (Thorns and other spiking things penetrate the stock soles more easily too, so that too is a consideration.)

I think I've mentioned in the past that I've been attempting to condition my feet to wear minimalist footwear. The Altras that I wear have minimal cushioning and, when I first started wearing them, hiking over rocky terrain was a painful experience. They now feel downright cushy compared to some other shoes I've been using. So, on some of my hikes, I intentionally wear shoes that force my feet and lower legs to work harder.

Back (a long, long time ago) when I was a runner, I'd only get 3-4 months of use out of a pair of running shoes. I ran a lot of miles back then often averaging 70 miles per week. But I was a heel striker since this was encouraged by the type of footwear that I wore back then. The uppers and the soles were usually in decent shape when I'd retire the shoes, which would then be relegated to walking. It was the cushioning that would break down.

The minimal shoes that I have now don't have that problem. There's no real cushioning to speak of, so it's not an issue. So, that too contributes to the longevity of some of the shoes that I've been wearing.

[KBKB]

This is a mini-review for Soft Star Original Runamocs...

The Soft Star Runamoc is a running moccasin. Soft Star is a shoe company, based in Oregon, that makes minimalist shoes using local labor. As I understand it, most of their materials are sourced in the US too.

I've been wearing (off and on) a pair of Soft Star's Dash Runamocs for a little over a year now. They are sort of a cross between a moccasin and a conventional shoe. They're very moccasin-like in that there's minimal structure to them, but they are shoe-like in that they do have laces which tighten the shoe around the mid-foot. When you order, you can select between three types of soles: 2mm Vibram rubber, 5mm Vibram rubber, or bullhide leather. The original Runamoc has the same sole options.

The original Runamoc is a lot different. A year ago when I first ordered from Soft Star, I had dismissed the original Runamoc as too weird looking. Truth be told, the more conventional looking Dash Runamoc is still pretty weird looking. The original Runamoc does have a lace, but it tightens the shoe around the ankle instead of the instep as is done on the Dash. The original is also a lot baggier than the Dash. I thought that slippage within the shoe would cause me problems.

Over the holidays, I had ordered a number of pairs of Soft Star's Roo Moccasins for myself and my family. We use them indoors as slippers. While doing brief errands in the yard (picking up the mail, taking out trash), I began to wonder what it'd be like to wear them while hiking as I really liked the feel of the yard gravel under my feet. I then remembered that Soft Star also makes true moccasins for outdoor use, which are the original Runamoc that I've reviewing now.

The sensation of wearing the original Runamoc w/ a 5mm Vibram rubber trail sole is definitely different than that of wearing the Roo Moccasin with its suede leather soles. I can't feel the ground as well, but over long distances (for me) that's probably a good thing. That said, the ground feel is still a lot better than that of most of my other shoes. If I wanted to feel the ground even better, I could order them with either the 2mm Vibram sole or the bullhide leather sole.

I wasn't sure that I'd like the drawstring closure around the ankle. The only problem that I've had with it is that I can feel it chafing sometimes when I tighten it too much. I want to keep it the ankle closure somewhat snug since it helps to keep pebbles and sand out. (This is normally a job for the gaiters that I use, but I can't think of a way to use gaiters with these moccasins.) Anyway, the drawstring closure is mostly a non-issue.

The original Runamoc has a sloppy heel fit. As mentioned earlier, I thought this would be a problem. But over the various hikes I've done, the longest being 11 miles, I haven't had an issue with blisters either in the heel or anywhere else either. By way of comparison, I have had occasional hotspots with the Dash Runamoc which I started with. I was really surprised that the looser fitting footwear worked better in this regard.

The hiking that I do is frequently dusty with abundant thorns. Both dust and thorns have been a problem with some of the other footwear that I've been using recently. The Altras (which I otherwise like very much) are constructed using a mesh fabric which allows both dust to sift through. When conditions are very dusty, I honestly think that my feet would stay cleaner if I went barefoot. Thorns are also a problem with the Altras - the stock soles are fairly soft. I've had large thorns (and even a roofing nail) penetrate the soles. Thorns come in the side through the mesh fabric too.

Thorns are less of a problem with either the Dash Runamoc or the original Runamoc. I ordered shoes with leather uppers; neither dust nor thorns gets through the leather. The Vibram soles are surprisingly dense. Despite being only 5mm thick, I've never had a problem with thorns penetrating the sole either. On one of my hikes, I did have a thorn penetrate between the very slight gap between the upper and the sole. There's a crack there where the sole is glued to the sock-like upper. I've recently remedied this by sealing that crack all the way around the shoe with Freesole. (I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I think it should work.)

The 5mm Vibram trail soles have surprisingly good traction. They are at least as good as the stock soles of the other footwear that I've been wearing recently. I would say that they're better than the soles of my beloved Altras and provide about the same amount of traction as the Belleville Mini-Mil. The only soles which clearly perform better are the (various) shoes that I've had resoled with 5.10 Stealth C4 rubber.

For the most part I've been quite happy with the Original Runamocs. They look weird, but perform well. I've been able to do some longish hikes with them with no blisters. My feet and lower legs are definitely more tired at the end of a hike when I use them; they provide less support than even my minimalist Altras, forcing me to work harder. (But, that's kind of the point.) I hope to eventually be conditioned enough that I'll be able to wear them for any hiking that I might care to do.

[Synthetickiller]

Embedded:

[AttyGuy]

It appears that someone had already reported this problem here:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=173487861

I've added a reply to that thread with examples (one of which is an attachment from irongrandpa) along with my diagnosis of the problem.

If any of you know of a better place to report the problem, please let me know.

Over the last 7 years there have been various issues, with the site getting progressively worse. The IT monkeys don't care.

[KBKB]

Embedded:

Cool, thanks!

(The photo I posted was supposed to be embedded too, and would be if the site were working properly.)

[Synthetickiller]

Cool, thanks!

(The photo I posted was supposed to be embedded too, and would be if the site were working properly.)

No worries. I just hosted it on imgur.

[KBKB]

Page 2 Bump...

Are my photos showing up now?

(If so, I "fixed" it on my site by enabling SSL.)

[rthawker]

Page 2 Bump...

Are my photos showing up now?

(If so, I "fixed" it on my site by enabling SSL.)

I can see them. As always, great pics.

[Synthetickiller]

KBKB, is your spring early?
We've had spring foliage coming out since early Feb. We have plants blooming now that should bloom in either 3 weeks or Summer. Something is very, very wrong with the weather this year.

[KBKB]

KBKB, is your spring early?
We've had spring foliage coming out since early Feb. We have plants blooming now that should bloom in either 3 weeks or Summer. Something is very, very wrong with the weather this year.

Here in AZ, we've had a very wet winter (for us), but a more or less normal winter with regard to the temperature. It hasn't been either especially warm nor cold. I don't think it's gotten below freezing where I live, but the highs haven't been especially warm either.

With that understood...

It's really, really green here right now. Okay, not as green as places that get a lot more rain than us, but much greener than it normally is here.

There aren't a lot of flowers blooming yet. It's not atypical to see a few flowers blooming in mid to late February. I think I saw the chuparosa (see below) starting to bloom in late January. That is unusual.

In addition to the Mexican Poppy in the earlier post, these are the flowers that I photographed on last Friday's hike:

Chuparosa:


Wishbone:


Creosote:


Lupine:

[KBKB]

Here's a photo from Tuesday evening. No flowers in this one...

[keyboardworkout]

I'm still not seeing all the embedded pics.