Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

Tired of this Andersonesque gravel-irony stuff. Moar performance. Moar Lucas Brunelle

I haven't seen Lucas around in a few years, I was wondering about him the other day.

I have a pair id send you for chirps, but shipping would be from the US.

trans healthcare

free at the point of use? in LA?

"this is good, actually - desirable, yes i love having to ride on the pavement because there is 7 lanes of traffic to my left and a motorist can legally run me over, it's actually satisfying"

Sometimes it's a poorly maintained bike path between 7 lanes of traffic and a paved river.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbKHR_RvGx4

When people get so upset about mere pictures of other people's bikes they are basically inviting trolling

wow makes A21/Lee high road looks like heaven

Sometimes I wonder how he is still alive with how he rides so close behind vehicles!!

Wish we had anything nearly as nice in the UK, look at all the space!

Cheers, yeah I might look in the parts bin to see what's lying about and bodge something..

i jest,

US healthcare is not free, but access to trans affirming healthcare is easier in california when you do pay, and those without means to pay, can get access to it through government/ employer schemes (LA friends of mine use this but i am jesting, oversimplifying). where in the uk, healthcare is free at the point of service, but the environement and access hurdles leads the overwhelming majority to pay for it, and then it's not the best treatment when it's recieved.

current waiting lists mean many men and women in the uk are driven to private routes which are often equally, or more expensive than the US while not providing adequate informed consent models and outdated care plans, or people are forced into community care collectives.

to share personally, out of all the trans men and women i know, seeking trans healthcare - i am the only one i know who recieves it through the NHS. before this my bill out of pocket was about 3 grand a year for just hrt drugs, that's not inclusive of blood tests, check ups, or surgery i may or may not want!

when you factor in trans people are more likely to be unemployed or under employed, 3 grand is unachievable to many, let alone costs on top of that.

(im sure many americans will say this sounds quite cheap, but i'd like to say this was a bit tongue in cheek originally, there are differences; that most the costs of what makes up healthcare are not included in this figure - nor is there any "insurance" one can take out to absorb them)

even once one reaches the nhs channels (current waiting lists in excess of 4 years for a initial review (there are 2 rounds then titration negotiations(if you have any issues with the care you then have to wait for the gic again, gps wont touch you))) they may be rejected or put into surgery / care waiting lists for further years - or in the case of trans men waiting for select bottom surgeries, may have no nhs provider at all!

this also only factors in binary transition paths, if you're say, a non binary afab and could not neatly fit into "trans man" - services are nearly impossible to access - even being free - speak to any non binary afab about struggles to get contreception or speak about pathways for gender affirming surgeries, GICs (gender identity clinics) reject you because you're not "trans enough" and cosmetic surgeons reject you because "you sound a bit trans and need the paperwork". leading many to persue either unmonitored routes which can cause longer term health effects - or pay through the teeth for private referals which might ultimately be rejected by a surgeon.

the uk model is also largely outdated and relient on data from the 1980's - simply put - the plan you do eventually get from a nhs healthcare professional will be one which might not be an optimal route for your transition

(blocker vs no blocker, the type of blockers, progesterone vs no progesterone are all discussions you do not get to have on a nhs pathway - again, we do not have informed consent which is not just important for trans healthcare, but it's also important for stuff like disability care, womens reproductive health, mens reproductive health, hell even every day decisions of health care. if you speak to any person who has sought help for something like endomitritus they'll have a similar story of inaccessability of "free at the point of service" to tell)

not really gravel related, but happy #PrideMonth

JTFC, his arms are bigger than my legs

Yeah that would be great.. I'll fire you a PM

Oof, good calls. US really varies by state - some making progress, some enthusiastically regressing :(

SF is amazing though. If you live anywhere North and/or West from Mission, you've got quality riding within a few kms off your doorstep. Twin peaks, or head to GG bridge through one of the parks and youre sorted. If you're lucky, you might even find some real grävêl.

-From my limited experience- riding in the city isnt great, but its not horrible either.

I bet this bike makes it feel like you’re floating over gravel.

Rancid

Need flatbars and wood grain texture on the Goldy bits.
Looks like a fucking bamboo bike

I think it was very progressive of pinarello to let their lead designer carry on working after what must have been a terrible head injury

Yes, agreement. Looks like it's been in the oven too long!

Anybody super stoked on the polished GRX limited edition groupset?

Its frame builder only right?

It's being released to a few small, select shops, I may have had an email from Madison about being allowed one.

https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-progression/everyone-is-having-fun-on-a-gravel-bike-but-me/

TLDR: Gravel bikes are best suited to riding on gravel