JT!

Well we were comparing flu to covid, and that's all I was talking about. If, relatively speaking, covid and flu are similar in leading to a fatality, then obviously a large chunk of the population getting covid at once is the real danger. Colds aren't fatal so a non issue. Also, we know how to treat the flu, and we already have flu shots. Nether of which we had for covid. So we lock everything down for covid so we don't have people in tents on football fields daisy chained up to ventilators 3 to 1.

Sure we don't, because the flu doesn't spread like covid, if covid spread like the flu it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Realistically, it's not. Multiply 0.001 by 5 and a half million and you get a much bigger number. And then we're only talking about potential deaths, not people who're seriously ill, or will experience life long health issues.

Fair point, I guess they don't want the hassle of testing every single person twice on a round trip. But ultimately governments simply don't want unvaccinated people in their country. If someone can't take it for medial reasons then fair enough, although I'm not entirely sure there are many medical reasons not to get the vaccine. End of the day an unvaccinated person is someone who is much more likely to get infected and spread it to others, I don't think it's unreasonable for a government to limit entry into their country because they aren't vaccinated against a virus that's currently causing a world wide pandemic. No one should be made the get the vaccine, and no one should have unreasonable limits placed on them because they're unvaccinated, but international travel is probably one of the few things I can see as reasonable, especially when it wouldn't necessarily be our government to put those limits in place, but the government of the country you'd intend to visit. Also the issue with any meds that you'd take them when you get covid, they wouldn't prevent it. That's probably why there's little research into those types of drugs, it's far more effective to put the money and time into a vaccine than just having everyone get sick and doing their best with whatever drugs may or may not work as they come in. Reducing the spread is far more important, especially with a virus where the fatality rate is relatively low.

I don't think the vaccine was ever considered a vaccine that would only be for the vulnerable, at least nothing I've ever seen. Limiting travel to only those who have been vaccinated is obviously a thing that should happen, however you travel, you're doing it squished in with a bunch of other people. Travel is probably the top means of transmitting the virus, when I'm bussing it to work it's the only time I have to wear a mask right now, even with the rates being incredibly low in our area. I really wouldn't consider that being forced to take a vaccine in any way shape or form. mRNA tech was tested on mice 30 years ago. It's not really new, this is just it's debut. We're very lucky we have this technology at this time. If we didn't we'd likely have supply issues. We'll look back at this time like we look back on how people thought microwaves would make your food nuclear or cellphones would give your brain tumors. Just because something is new doesn't mean we don't understand it. The issue with drugs on children and pregnant women is the chemical change that they're designed to make, that change over a prolonged time can mess with development. My wife is on Depakote for migraines and every time we see any of her doctors we get obsessively reminded that it has serious side effects on a fetus and they've even suggested she take a pill along with it to stop that from happening "just in case". With vaccines though, they aren't like meds, and I don't believe that any medication taken long before a pregnancy has ever effected a fetuses development, only when taken during. Booster jabs were always expected. We'll probably have to take on every year like we do with the flu shot.

Isn't there some circular logic going on there? Wouldn't herd immunity be happening quicker due to there being so many vaccinated people? Take away the vaccine and that would hinder herd immunity. Also the linked article seemed to suggest that because the number of people who've been vaccinated is so high now, it's expected that more vaccinated people are getting covid simply because there's so many of them. I see that this isn't happening in countries like the USA where the delta variant isn't a big issue... yet. Is that not what's happening in the UK right now?

Do we know what percentage of the spike in new cases the UK is seeing is from the delta variant? It seems that even though cases in the UK are going up dramatically, the deaths don't seem to be following. Could that suggest that the vaccine isn't effective against the delta variant when it comes to symptoms, but is good at preventing it from being fatal? (Or prehaps the delta variant isn't as fatal naturally). I don't think the vaccine has ever claimed to be 95% effective against the delta variant.

Are you concluding that because 60% of the population have been double jabbed, and 60% of the population who end up hospitalized have been double jabbed, that the vaccine is basically completely ineffective?

Well they pressed the cup in. But that didn't get rid of the creaking. I think they saw that issue and assumed that would fix it, but didn't test ride it afterwards. And the gears arguably work a little better, but sometimes you downshift and it just doesn't change, and upshifting, sometimes you have to give it an extra push with your thumb to get it up a gear.

Bought a bike new online and have had issues with the rear gears. They would hesitate up and down. Bought a new mech hanger and had the same issue. Bought a mech hanger alignment tool and aligned it, same issue. Also there was a creak in the headset. Put the old mech hanger back on and took it to my local LBS. The guy noticed that one of the cups wasn't in all the way, which may have caused the creaking, but couldn't figure out the gearing issue so they kept the bike for a few days. Picked it up today, only cost $35 which isn't much. They told me the mech hanger was aligned and they replaced the housing and cable (on a bike that was less than 1 year old), the cup was pressed in and all was well. It's exactly the same as when I took it in.

Why are bike shops so f**king useless? Literally just got my bike back and both issues I went in to be fixed are still there.

The 2nd Pfizer hit different for me than the first. Had minor chills for the first time in my life, and a mild fever. Slight headache, but nothing that couldn't be treated with over the counter stuff. But nothing that made me feel "sick" if you know what I mean. I just laid in bed and watched movies. Fine later that day.

I'm assuming by now that a lot of people on here have had their vaccine? How was your experience? Here in the US the rates have plummeted, back below April 2020 levels. In our state of 5.6 million the new cases are down to just double digits per day which is really insane. Just about everything has gone back to normal. I think the only place where masks are required is on public transport. If you're vaccinated you're basically free to do whatever you want unmasked. I've noticed my face muscles are not used to all the fake smiling I have to do at work, but I'm sure that'll ease with time.

Haven't seen British TV in years and saw a clip of that show. It honestly freaked me the f**k out. Reminded me of Black Mirror ("Fifteen Million Merits" specifically).

Watched Clarkson's Farm over the last few days. Old Top Gear feel, not too overly staged, funny and goes through what it takes to run a farm and shows the struggles with climate change and covid. Certainly worth a watch.

I was watching this a few days back, I understand it does work, but my brain can't handle it. It's like an optical illusion but for my brain.

Tried to ride a collection of 25 trails today that traverses the entire length of the city. It's about 43 miles. But f**k, I didn't expect there to be so many difficult trails in there. That combined with the 30c temperature, I had to call it half way through. Was so exhausted I could barely keep my head upright.

Seems like I've solved the issue. After trying a few more times I still had issue with the lever pull being inconsistent even though I was convinced I'd got all the air out after trying all the advice given here. What I was doing wrong with the syringe/vacuum trick was simply not pulling hard enough. Once I started really pulling on that thing a lot of air came out, and then a lot of tiny air bubbles too. I knew I'd cracked it when I pulled the lever for the first time and once the pads had settled into position the bite point was closer than the front brake. To even get near to this point before I'd have to pump the brakes when the bike was upright, and even then it'd pull back in after a few mins. Went out for a test ride and on my first pump of the rear brake damn near went of the bars because I wasn't used to that kind of power. Can't wait for it to fully bed in like the front has, but for I can actually gap up onto a curb without fear of death. TL;DR wasn't pulling hard enough on the syringe. Thanks all!

Something closely related to the plan on the conveyor belt.

Sold my cheapy flat bar roadbike that I f**ked over converting it to a 1x for $100 less than I bought it for new, so now the hunt is on for a roadbike.

There's a point to point route that leads through my city called the Duluth Traverse. It's 40 miles and about 85% of it are mountain bike / gravel trails. I've booked a day off work to ride it, and today I thought I'd ride the half of it I've never ridden before so I can familiarize myself with it and get some training in. The plan was to take the bus down to the start, ride half of it, and bus back. Our busses have bike racks on the front, but guess what? My 27.5"+ bike doesn't fit. So there goes my plans for the 6th. Now I'll have to find someone to drive me down there.

Took it for a spin today and the lever felt solid and the pads seem to be moving perfectly now. No changing lever reach either. So I think maybe the issue is that it hasn't bedded in yet so I'll assume that's what's going on before I try again.

Ok I'll give this a shot. Thanks!

Yeah that's the one! Although I think this might be a newer version.

So are you suggesting a just take the lever off, hold it in this orientation, tap it, and then put the lever back on and done? Or should I do this then bleed again?