Them: "I used to read your blog."

Me: "It used to be readable."

This conversation with strangers who knew Watts happened on the way up Clawhammer (the second time) this weekend as I was sorting out my conundrum of having two similar'ish bikes that I posted about last week.

I took the Vassago Optimus Meatplow V.10 up to Pisgah for some PMBARmy training, sir.

This is my first Pisgah Proper* ride on the Optimus since I got it back in September (DuPont ≠ Pisgah).  So did the slight differences in position, weight, geometry, and fork/droop travel make a difference?  I'd have to say yeth.  I've had the Radimus since '21, and it's seen the bulk of my riding in Pisgah since I got it (and I didn't use STRAVA more than just sporadically previous to '20)  I set a fair number of PRs on climbs without really tryna get at it.  My critiques of STRAVA aside, I do believe a little more in the accuracy of the data on a long climb versus a 1/16 mile section of local trail.  We descended some super chunk gnar on Upper Upper Black, Avery, Buckwheat, and Bennett.  I was noticeably slower and perhaps more cautious when approaching sections that I now walk at 55.833 years old (although it might partially be somewhat attributed to the impact of Helene on these steep trails that I thought I knew so well).  Yeth, I walk some bits of Buckwheat and Bennett.  The older I get, the more I realize how tentative my weak-fingered grip to the mortal coil really is.  The risk versus reward scale keeps tipping a certain way the closer I get to putting my feets in the grave.  I'll just have to settle for the "I used to be able to clean that when I was younger" feels.

Another revelation of the past week:

Somehow via some targeted marketing or the internet just knowing I'm old and AI putting it in front of my face, I became aware of the fact that Zenni Optical started making cycling specific shades.  I've been a Zenni fan for almost ten years now, and I own more than a dozen pairs... although I've recently taken to setting them on the ground and stepping on them for funsies.  They're affordable, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and have generally been more than okay... although none of them have offered the benefits of true cycling glasses.  That said, the Oakley cycling glasses I bought after my Lasik surgery had failed me (before swapping to Zenni) had aberration issues in my periphery.  It basically felt like I was riding through a collapsing tunnel, trees were attacking me, and bridges got narrower as I rode across them.  I moved those into city riding status, bought Zennis, and never looked back.

I was reluctant to throw money at another pair of wrap-type glasses, but Zenni has a respectable return policy, so why not?

Cons: 

* Like proper cycling glasses, these are big and douchey.  I went full douche by ordering some eye-popping loud frames instead of basic black.  Also file this in the "why not?" column.

* They were more than a hundred dollars, so it will make me even more sad when I step on this pair.

* There's a slight aberration issue in my far right periphery, but I have to be side-eyeing pretty hard in that direction to be looking through it.  Dunno know if it's due to my stigmatism or what, but I hardly ride my bike while looking side-eyed down the trail.

* Unlike all the other Zennis I've bought, these DID NOT come with a case.  The cheapest ones I bought have a crappy but functional plastic clamshell.  The more expensive everyday glasses I bought with transition lenses came with a nicer case.  These?  Nada.  Since these are an investment, I had to source a case from somewhere else.

Pros:

* These are full coverage, well ventilated lenses.  I haven't enjoyed this sensation since way back when my Lasik surgery was still effective and I could wear Tifosis or Smiths. They don't touch my eyebrows, so sweat should be less of an issue. 

* The POC Eye Garage feature on my helmet struggled to keep my other glasses in place when I stored them in the front of my helmet when I needed them outta the way.  That would be the reason I would set them on the ground to work on my bike, and half the reason I would step on them.  These frames are bowed like traditional cycling eyewear, so they fit nice and neat up in some vents on top/back of my head and won't fall out.  Theoretically, I won't be stepping on these glasses.

* These $90 frames seem a bit more robust than the usual $7 frames I buy.

* I got lucky with the tint.  Unfortunately, they don't offer clear or my usual yellow "fashion" tint.  I rolled the dice and selected 10% amber, and so far, I've had no issues with them being too dark to use in the woods or in overcast conditions.

* They're super comfortable and the non-slip nose and ear pieces really did their jerhb.

Once again, another "game changer" in my life that's happening a little late, but better late than never.

Up this weekend, Bootlegger 100.  A garvel race but not on a garvel bike.

I'm looking forward to it?

* We were passed by an e-bike going up from Hot Dog Gap to descend Lower Black.  That's okay, emmaright?  I also heard we're going to be able to use certain words again too.