Eric F 

I've seen it done lots of different ways, with lots of different outcomes. Sometimes pushing works. Sometimes it doesn't. I know a few softball girls who got scholarships to play at high-level D1 colleges, and went down that road because it was what was expected of them by parents and coaches, only to find that it was a miserable experience. There are some who thrive in that environment, and some who don't, regardless of athletic skill level.

Mojo31

My niece was one of those with a D1 soccer scholarship. Quit after a year. Transferred to Missou, got a degree in civil engineering, and now runs projects for a big bridge contractor. She loves her career. Grew to really dislike soccer.

Eric F 

Yep. That is not an uncommon story.

My daughter has D1 softball skills. From 9-14, her dream was to play for the Oregon Ducks. Over her HS years, she started realizing what it meant to be a D1 athlete - the demands, the lifestyle, the pressure, etc. We both realized that it wasn't going to be a fit for her emotionally/mentally, but playing D3 might be the right kind of balance between life, academics, and athletics. She had some serious interest from a few schools in the part of the world she wanted to be in (Oregon), including a really nice weekend recruiting trip to a small school in the Portland area. During that trip, we had conversations that this was the right place for her. Somewhere after than trip, her thoughts changed. She realized that being a college athlete was not the experience she wanted. After a final summer of travel softball after her senior year of HS, she hung it up. She still likes to play catch, or go to the park to hit bombs, but the fire to play the game is out. She is an Oregon Duck, however, and very happy about it. Her new best friend at school is also an ex-travel softball player.

I would have loved to see her play and thrive at the next level, but it's her journey, not mine (something too many parents ignore). I'm happy that had the self-awareness and self-confidence to pick the right path for her.

ls01

If everything is a direct swap it shouldn't be to hard if you have the tools. Read the papers that came with for torque specs and related info. If you have to start adapting things like bottom bracket, it can get tricky. I paid $40.00 for the last b.b. instalation I paid for.
Go online and watch the mechanics do the work. Use that to judge weather you should try it yourself.

Mojo31

If he f's it up I may have to laugh. 😜

phrantic09

Seems reasonable

she’s got an ex baseball player as a hitting coach for her team and her head coach was a college softball player, they’re good people

I drive a 6 year old Passat by choice and have a smaller house because I don’t want to take care of something bigger. It irks me that some people try so hard.

I like nice stuff, but don’t need to show off.

MoAlpha

I have a Yeti cooler and a Yeti mug. The cooler looks badass in the back of my 2004 Honda Element with the rattle can paint repair and spider webs on the mirrors.

phrantic09

I’d love an Element.
you also sail- that’s a Yeti use case

MoAlpha

That was also the use case for the Element, which, unlike the Yeti, was worth the outlay.

Mojo31

But, also a house in Marblehead. Don’t think you’re slumming it too much. 😉

Mojo31

We bought a Yeti cooler to take food and drinks to the boat. Loaded up it was heeeeaaaavy, so we stopped using it.

Mojo31

Got the tree down Saturday, set it up, and found one light strand not working. Changed fuses. Changes all the bulbs. Got one of those fixer guns. That nailed it down to a shorted wire. Got to spend a grand to buy a new tree that is exactly the same as the old tree. 😔

big john

I'll do the slumming around here.

DangerousDanR

We used to live down a sunny dirt road deep in Bear country. Infact, we once had the kids come in from a car camping excursion totally freaked out because a bear bit the cooler when the kids were asleep.

But they never saw that bear. My daughter actually carried bear spray for bears: and Cougars which also mostly run when they know you are alerted to their presence.

My personal experience with bears is that they are opportunistic and prefer to stay away from people. But traveling for my work, I once chased a razor back hog when it jumped in front of me.

Locals told me I was lucky that it ran away...

Mojo31

Id take slumming in SoCal over not-slumming in northern NY. But, that’s just me.

LesterOfPuppets

Speaking of slumming, who's getting the new Campy corkscrew for Christmas?

big john

It has it's plusses.

t2p

I miss the Easton Ghost days !

back in the day when my kids used Combat composite youth bats - they became 'hotter' (and hottest) not long before they began to fail ... the 'trampoline effect' was pronounced

eventually these bats were banned

Eric F 

It’s an unproven myth that composite bats are hottest just before they fail. Based on my observation with the Ghost - new, hot as hell, and broken. You can hear the difference from new to hot. The sound at impact changes. Once that change happens, it’s a hot plateau until it breaks.

t2p

unfortunately (?) with BBCOR there was no real 'hot' lol

t2p

for the kid that has everything ... or nothing ... ???

-14 composite T ball bat

Eric F 

My world was softball, so BBCOR is not something I’m familiar with.

phrantic09

Its a tiny house though

That’s the only reason I didn’t get a pre-lit. They’re still stupid expensive even without, but the good ones look real and are worth the $$

ls01

lol. Sometimes. I actually enjoy wrenching on mechanical things, it makes my boat float, if you know what I mean. When things don't work it only gets worse for me. Then I have to know what's wrong.

Bah Humbug

AG is actually deciding if she wants one.