Ask Spence - Part Deux

[fishbones]

A couple of years ago, there was a thread called Ask Spence here in the Scuppers. I thought it would be nice to bring it back because there are a lot of new members who may have questions about things unrelated to fishing and aren't sure where to ask.

Spence is an expert when it comes to fashion, food and interior/exterior design, but his knowledge extends well beyond those areas. The only area where his knowledge is clearly limited is politics, but that would be a different forum, anyways.

I'm going to start off with a question that's right up Spence's alley, as I know he's an avid cyclist.
Spence, why do recreational bicylists who aren't in a race wear the spandex bikers shorts and shirts while riding? When I go out in the yard to play baseball with my son, I don't put on a full baseball uniform and cleats.

[ruhroh]

Funny, I've been thinking the same thing. Saw a gent just yesterday in full race gear, about 3 bills walking his bike up a small hill.

[spence]

Originally Posted by ruhroh

Funny, I've been thinking the same thing. Saw a gent just yesterday in full race gear, about 3 bills walking his bike up a small hill.

I hope he had a mechanical problem and forgot his cell phone.

-spence

[Raven]

do you own pink ties?

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Raven

do you own pink ties?

Raven, I actually DO own a pink tie and I am not gay. ....at least I don't think so.

[Raven]

i don't own a single tie nor ever will

because of being forced to wear them
in high school which i loathed to no end

i also have a very strong aversion to PINK
except when it comes to lures....

i think a pink tie on a man whether
he's gay or straight looks dreadful

i am not anti GAY. i am anti media trying
to force the acceptance of ANYTHING
via television.

CNN video's right now broadcasts the exact
same commercial.........EVERY SINGLE TIME
before every single video they suck !!!!

[spence]

Originally Posted by Raven

do you own pink ties?

Yes, but only a few. Pink is actually a classic mens business color, along with light blue and white (shirts).

Unless you're in finance or work in a city people don't wear ties all that often any more.

My business dress is flexible so I usually avoid ties in the summer and wear them more when it's cooler.

-spence

[The Dad Fisherman]

To attract other cyclists of the same sex....

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Spence, why do recreational bicylists who aren't in a race wear the spandex bikers shorts and shirts while riding?

They keep my boys feeling good.

[PaulS]

If I may, I have a question. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is in my face, I believe the apparent (?) wind will feel 28 mph. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is at my back at 10 mph, what will the apparent wind feel like

[spence]

Originally Posted by PaulS

If I may, I have a question. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is in my face, I believe the apparent (?) wind will feel 28 mph. If I'm riding 18 mph and the wind is at my back at 10 mph, what will the apparent wind feel like

You won't "feel" it you'll just ride with less effort

-spence

[spence]

Originally Posted by fishbones

I'm going to start off with a question that's right up Spence's alley, as I know he's an avid cyclist.
Spence, why do recreational bicylists who aren't in a race wear the spandex bikers shorts and shirts while riding? When I go out in the yard to play baseball with my son, I don't put on a full baseball uniform and cleats.

Generally speaking it's a matter of comfort and safety.

Loose clothing flapping around is distracting, can get caught on the bike and doesn't wick sweat as well. Most bike shorts have a pad (natural or synthetic) that conforms to the crotch to provide padding without friction.

The jersey can be skin tight or semi-form fitting depending on personal preference and beer consumption. Good cycling jerseys have long zippers that are easy to operate with a single hand for ventilation, are usually cut shorter in front/longer in back so they fit right while in the drops and have pockets to stash your extra gear.

Gloves provide padding and protect your hands in case of a crash.

Shoes are very stiff and on most road bikes clipped to the pedals so you can "spin" the pedal around the crank rather than just push down.

The aero factor is important for competition, although to be honest it less of an issue unless you're in a solo time trial.

-spence

[fishbones]

I know plenty of straight men who wear pink ties. I have one, along with some pink shirts and I'm definitely not gay(not that there's anything wrong with that). I've met Piemma and he doesn't strike me as gay at all. Spence, well I'm not sure about him. He just might be more refined than most straight men.

[spence]

True story.

I had just landed in Alabama and walk up to the rental car counter wearing a pink long sleeve polo. The woman, in all seriousness says, "be careful walking around downtown like that."

-spence

[PRBuzz]

New question: Having ties to a state once referred to "Is this Heaven" in a movie, where or what is Heaven?

Mine is sitting in a boat and having the reel go ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, I don't think I've ever prayed more than for the chance to hear that sound.

Some days just sitting in the boat is satisfaction enough to be close.

[spence]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

New question: Having ties to a state once referred to "Is this Heaven" in a movie, where or what is Heaven?

It's a Japanese tourist trap

-spence

[JohnnyD]

When you apply your shaving lather, do you use a shaving brush? If so, do you think a badger hair brush is really worth all that extra cost?

Part Deux: Do you make espressos at home and if so, how do you avoid the espresso from turning slightly bitter while the milk steams?

[spence]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

When you apply your shaving lather, do you use a shaving brush? If so, do you think a badger hair brush is really worth all that extra cost?

I actually use an electric as a blade gives me terrible razor bumps. But some cremes can be applied equally by hand or brush.

If you're going to use a brush I'd make sure it was a damn good one, just in case you get caught.

Part Deux: Do you make espressos at home and if so, how do you avoid the espresso from turning slightly bitter while the milk steams?

First off, espresso is espresso, there's no milk in it.

Now assuming you intend to make a cappuccino, latte, or other milk based drink...the espresso shouldn't turn bitter that fast once the shot has been pulled. If it does, I'd wager it's coming bitter off the pour...

Fess up, are you establishing a nice thick crema or is the espresso thin and lifeless?

Try a finer grind and make sure your pack is tight an even. If you don't have an air conditioner be sure to compensate for the humidity.

All of this assumes you have top quality equipment of course. If not, throw it all away and get a cup of joe at the corner store. You're not ready to make espresso at home.

-spence

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by spence

First off, espresso is espresso, there's no milk in it.

You got me on this one. Firing this off too fast, I misspoke. Meant when brewing the espresso, not making.

Now assuming you intend to make a cappuccino, latte, or other milk based drink...the espresso shouldn't turn bitter that fast once the shot has been pulled. If it does, I'd wager it's coming bitter off the pour...

Now to learn you something... Espresso begins an oxidation process as soon as it leaves the machine. A typical shot is only good for 20-30 seconds from the time the shot is pulled - you can almost watch it turn from a nice creamy looking tan to a dark brown. When I get a latte from Starbucks, I can tell from the first sip if they let the shot sit too long before pouring in the milk (quite frequent when there is only one person working and there is a line.)

Fess up, are you establishing a nice thick crema or is the espresso thin and lifeless?

Try a finer grind and make sure your pack is tight an even. If you don't have an air conditioner be sure to compensate for the humidity.

All of this assumes you have top quality equipment of course. If not, throw it all away and get a cup of joe at the corner store. You're not ready to make espresso at home.

-spence

I have a pretty good machine that does a good job. However, I do need a better device for tamping the grounds. Generally, my better half doesn't care so she'll make one first and II steam the milk for both of us at the same time and make mine second.
Only thing I don't like about my machine is that I can't steam milk while it's brewing.

[spence]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Now to learn you something... Espresso begins an oxidation process as soon as it leaves the machine. A typical shot is only good for 20-30 seconds from the time the shot is pulled - you can almost watch it turn from a nice creamy looking tan to a dark brown. When I get a latte from Starbucks, I can tell from the first sip if they let the shot sit too long before pouring in the milk (quite frequent when there is only one person working and there is a line.)

Starbucks doesn't sell espresso, they sell black colored coffee drink.

First off, everybody knows Starbucks over roasts their coffee. If you roast espresso beans to far they loose all their oil and will never, and I mean NEVER form a proper crema.

Your beans should be medium brown with a hint of oil on the surface and between 3-7 days old.

Secondly, I don't believe there are any Starbucks left that don't use anything but super automatic machines. These are designed to pump out a 70% product that's never good and never bad. Nobody cares because 80% of the time it's going to be jacked with milk, whipped cream, flavor shots and other nonsense that will mask any real coffee flavor.

Third, espresso doesn't really get bitter because of oxidization. It is bitter because of over extraction which happens during the pull. If your grind is too fine, you compact the puck to much or your water isn't the right temp for the entire pull you pull too many bitter resins from the beans.

After 30 seconds a shot will loose the perfect mouth feel (assuming it was right to begin with) but won't get so bitter that it's going to make for a bad cappuccino. If it's taking you that long to steam milk you need a better machine with a much faster boiler.

I have a pretty good machine that does a good job. However, I do need a better device for tamping the grounds. Generally, my better half doesn't care so she'll make one first and II steam the milk for both of us at the same time and make mine second.
Only thing I don't like about my machine is that I can't steam milk while it's brewing.

No serious discussion about espresso can omit the grinder which is nearly if not as important as the machine itself.

I had a commercial Mazzer grinder in my kitchen a few years ago before I sold it to the coffee shop down the road

-spence

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by fishbones

A couple of years ago, there was a thread called Ask Spence here in the Scuppers. I thought it would be nice to bring it back because there are a lot of new members who may have questions about things unrelated to fishing and aren't sure where to ask.

Spence is an expert when it comes to fashion,

No he isn't. I asked Spence what has happened to short sleeve dress shirts and why are all the people, men, I see on TV and elsewhere wearing only long sleeve dress shirts in the hottest of weather and climates, and our boy Spence never got back to me.

So again I ask, where did the short sleeve dress shirts go to? Are these guys just to cheap to buy both long and short sleeve dress shirts? Well?

[buckman]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

No he isn't. I asked Spence what has happened to short sleeve dress shirts and why are all the people, men, I see on TV and elsewhere wearing only long sleeve dress shirts in the hottest of weather and climates, and our boy Spence never got back to me.

So again I ask, where did the short sleeve dress shirts go to? Are these guys just to cheap to buy both long and short sleeve dress shirts? Well?

Pay attention will ya.
He just said he landed in Alabama while wearing a pink LONG sleeve polo. It's a freaking 100 degrees in Alabama.
Short sleeves are out.

[spence]

Originally Posted by buckman

Pay attention will ya.
He just said he landed in Alabama while wearing a pink LONG sleeve polo. It's a freaking 100 degrees in Alabama.
Short sleeves are out.

Read again...

Had.

-spence

[piemma]

See what you guys started???

Look at his post on expresso! He wrote a small article.

I still wear a tie. Not all the time like never on the West Coast. You would get laughed at. At my HQ is Larkspur CA the whole office is flip flops, shorts and T-shirts. I show up with chinos, a dress shirt, open collar and a sport jacket and they think a customer is in the building.

Major meeting at a bank or law office I am in a dark suit, white shirt and rep striped tie. Just too old to change. That and 23 years with IBM.

[MotoXcowboy]

Dear Spence,

Do parallel universes really exist?

[PRBuzz]

All the short sleeves are in my closet, practically all I wear year round.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

All the short sleeves are in my closet, practically all I wear year round.

Naturally,
you have to show off the big guns from fightin Bigguns'

[Raven]

so you'll know why....

was the HATRED i felt
yes HATRED ! down and dirty downright HATRED

when i saw this interview on the news
about this LAWYER and his new business scheme (company)
of going after people who copy and paste anything
copyrighted that was reprinted without permission online
@ 150,000.00 per offense.

Generally the accused settles for ten % and has to mail a check
for 15 k to get out of trouble. The guy was SMUG saying he has millions
of people he's gonna go after.

He was wearing a PINK TIE.

[Rockport24]

Andy Sippowitz did it!

[PRBuzz]

What is a "string" in the sting theory of the dimensional universe?