Originally Posted by indyfabz

So close and yet so far.

Wordle 391 5/6

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Originally Posted by bampilot06

Todays group ride in Charlotte was intense. No matter how strong I get, there’s always more riders to make me feel weak. Anyways, the group was good, super fast. I’m not familiar with the route so at times a pack would break away. I’m like a dog chasing a car and everytime I would chase them down worried that this would be where I got dropped. Well those efforts blew me up pretty bad. Once I realized they were just sprinting at random spots and regrouping I started to hang in the back. 15 miles in the pace line really started to form. I had been behind this guy who had been at the back the whole time and it was his turn to pull. He dialed it up and I made the mistake of following. We were doing like 34 mph, I don’t have a HRM but I am sure I was redlined. We get to a roundabout and he peels off, on the other side is a hill. My turn to pull and I knew I was in a bad spot. Blew up instantly and the pack flew by me. I was pretty angry with myself. Some others were dropped as well so we got together and made it to where the rest of the group was stopped. We regrouped and they split the pack. It was my choice on who to go with so I chose the faster group. Was able to hang until the last spring. I didn’t know it was the end of the ride or I would have made a better attempt to stay with them. It was an awesome ride. Hope to do it one more time before I leave Charlotte. Riding in the morning def, affect me but I felt pretty strong over all. I really wish I had a power meter and a hrm, I’m pretty positive my FTP would have increased as well as my VO2 max.

Originally Posted by rjones28

cool story bro

Originally Posted by indyfabz

I’ve started seeing adult lantern flies from my office window. I’ll bet they will be all over the place in the next couple of weeks. That’s when the killing fun will start.

Originally Posted by njlonghorn

"The avalanche is coming. Quick, link arms!!!"

Originally Posted by njlonghorn

Killing SLFs sounds to me like "The avalanche is coming. Quick, link arms!!!"

Originally Posted by datlas

fixed for snark

Originally Posted by WhyFi

This just reminded me of a video that I saw the other day -

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MtXBhi54HAg

Originally Posted by bampilot06

Todays group ride in Charlotte was intense. No matter how strong I get, there’s always more riders to make me feel weak. Anyways, the group was good, super fast. I’m not familiar with the route so at times a pack would break away. I’m like a dog chasing a car and everytime I would chase them down worried that this would be where I got dropped. Well those efforts blew me up pretty bad. Once I realized they were just sprinting at random spots and regrouping I started to hang in the back. 15 miles in the pace line really started to form. I had been behind this guy who had been at the back the whole time and it was his turn to pull. He dialed it up and I made the mistake of following. We were doing like 34 mph, I don’t have a HRM but I am sure I was redlined. We get to a roundabout and he peels off, on the other side is a hill. My turn to pull and I knew I was in a bad spot. Blew up instantly and the pack flew by me. I was pretty angry with myself. Some others were dropped as well so we got together and made it to where the rest of the group was stopped. We regrouped and they split the pack. It was my choice on who to go with so I chose the faster group. Was able to hang until the last spring. I didn’t know it was the end of the ride or I would have made a better attempt to stay with them. It was an awesome ride. Hope to do it one more time before I leave Charlotte. Riding in the morning def, affect me but I felt pretty strong over all. I really wish I had a power meter and a hrm, I’m pretty positive my FTP would have increased as well as my VO2 max.

Originally Posted by indyfabz

I made my first adult kill just after I left work yesterday. Our building and the one across the street are one of the epicenters in center city Philadelphia. There is a large plaza with numerous trees and other plants behind the building across the street. At the height of their presence I can make the 3/4 block walk through the plaza to a c-store and usually stomp a dozen or more if I want to. Both buildings are managed by the same company. When they first became a problem a few years ago building management sent out a communication urging people to stomp them.

Originally Posted by indyfabz

Same here. I usually get within a few hundred bucks. Nice little Christmas present in the last check.

Originally Posted by indyfabz

I made my first adult kill just after I left work yesterday. Our building and the one across the street are one of the epicenters in center city Philadelphia. There is a large plaza with numerous trees and other plants behind the building across the street. At the height of their presence I can make the 3/4 block walk through the plaza to a c-store and usually stomp a dozen or more if I want to. Both buildings are managed by the same company. When they first became a problem a few years ago building management sent out a communication urging people to stomp them.

Originally Posted by WhyFi

After spending a not insignificant amount of time looking for the successors to my scratched up Ray-Bans, and not looking forward to the replacement expense, a question worked its way in to my thick noggin - I like the shape and fit of my Ray-Bans, so why not see if replacement lenses are available?

Duurrrr - of course they're available, from third parties on Amazon, and for far less than new glasses.

After spending a not insignificant amount of time looking through the replacement lens options, and just wishing for something close/identical to the stock lenses, a question worked its way in to my thick noggin - does Ray-Ban offer replacement lenses, themselves?

Durrrrr - of course they do, and for only five bucks or so more than the off-brand lenses on Amazon.

Lenses ordered and on the way.

I can have a thick noggin, sometimes.

Originally Posted by seedsbelize2

Here they're called kissing, or assassin bugs. I've read that frogs eat the adults. We've had only a single siting so far this year. The frogs continue to roam freely.

Originally Posted by datlas

I know we are supposed to kill them, but I still feel a little bad about it.

Originally Posted by indyfabz

I don't. Killed a few more while out at lunch today. The smaller adults are quicker. Once they get bigger they are easier to stomp.

Last year the people behind my house got rid of the annoying grape vine that used to drop leaves and stems on my deck. That will help keep down the lantern flies because they like crape vines. A few times I fired up the BBQ grill and some dropped from the leaves. Stephen likes to play with them, but I also had to stop him from trying to eat a couple. He's eaten water bugs inside the house before. My departed boy once swatted a fly on the carpet and promptly ate it. I get flies in my house because the door stays open longer than usual when I bring bikes in and out.

#NoGarage

Originally Posted by indyfabz

I think you are talking about a different species. Spotted Lantern Flies don' sting or bite.

Originally Posted by Trsnrtr

I have no idea what a lantern fly is.

I checked goggle and still don’t know.

Originally Posted by genejockey

We recently replace the screen door on our back door. Got a dog door in it and everything. But the dogs are convinced they can't go through it, so we end up playing doorman. Mrs. GeneJockey has taken to propping it open, so both the back door and screen door are open for long periods. Luckily, we live in the low-bug Bay Area. If/when we move Back East, that's a habit she'll have to unlearn.