Hey Everybody,
After two years of struggling how and if I mount more than bikepacking bags on my Fargo i figured out a way to mount more or less every common rack on the alternator dropouts. Salsa has its on solution but I don’t fancy their rack and it is hard to get hands on their products if you’re in Europe. So I just ordered a „Salsa Lower Mount Kit for Alternator Rack“ and with that it’s not a big deal to fit nearly every Rack on your Fargo.

Built up a steel bike for commuting/gravel duties. Was trying to find a steel frame that was pretty light, didn’t break the bank and has fender and rack mounts and ended up with this. The build is a Seaboard CX07 with a Tiagra hydraulic groupset with the full build being just under 10kg and SGD1000.
Probably could’ve gone lighter and cheaper with rim brakes but I did have a wheelset that came stock from my previous bike so went down the disc route. Picked up a secondhand tiagra groupset and threw everything together. The bike did come with like 7cm of spacers which my LBS claims is safe to ride with (on a carbon fork so I’m a little sceptical) but will get that cut soon. Overall pretty happy with how it turn out! Just waiting on a set of mudguards in the mail and might convert it tubeless for extra commuting convenience

Overall feeling: This is my first car in 13 years. Got a 2023 outback onyx XT 2 weeks ago. It's amazing so far but for the usual infotainment quibbles.
I've already put on some tux mats, I installed auto-dimming side mirrors myself, and put on the rear bumper coveprotector so my dogs don't scuff it up.
This is a ridiculous upgrade from trusty kia compact sedan that was threatening to go into limp mode on the freeway on the way to the dealership.
I did get it a few grand under msrp, yay Costco auto program.
I kind of wanted the wilderness but I didn't care for the extra cost or the lower gearing and softer suspension for my mostly pavement driving. The Forester wilderness looked awesome too but the lack of a 200hp+ option made me gravitate away from it.
I figure I can do a conservative lift down the line and get some of the recommended all-terrains for most of benefit of the wilderness trim. I will say that after discovering that dual x-mode works beyond 25 mph on the wilderness and not the onyx XT makes me a bit sad because launching with it on streets makes the car seem like a rocket.
Future upgrades/accessories: -Replacing factory door speakers and tweeters -Noise deadening while speaker upgrade is happening (maybe) -Auto start stop eliminator (turbo bearing oil burning paranoia) -subaru rear seat cover - Subaru wind/rain window deflectors so I can crack the windows when I'm car camping. -mudflaps (mostly for looks) -undecided on front strut bar and stiffer rear sway bar.
General questions: I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to crossbars. I'd like to add a cargo carrier and another thing on top but a guide for dos and donts with the factory rails and bars would be appreciated. Apparently the stock twisty ones aren't super wide? If I get a kayak mount and put a modest kayak on it do I need cables in the front and back, and does that kill eyesight?
Is the official hitch worth it? I don't feel like diy cutting up my bumper with a Dremel. I'd mostly be putting bike racks or a small cargo rack on it, maybe towing a small trailer thing one day. Would you guys recommend foagainst the Curt 2" option(s)? Are there any clearance issues with these (departure angle i think it's called)? Would I have to cut into the bumper to install a Curt hitch?
Would you recommend the official Subaru mudflaps or are 3rd party nicer?
Do 2023s still have parasitic drain and battery issues? I've not run it anything and I've been car camping twice already.

Buddies wife backed into it with a bike rack and impaled it. The insurance gave me $4,000 to have it fixed. Doesn’t impact the trunk use or anything. Should I just spend that money on some nice suspension and wheels since I want to go that route?

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What do I want?
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Good question.
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### First of all, looking for a friend. Someone with common interests.
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- Outdoor stuff: mountain biking, backpacking, canoeing, almost anything in the wilderness.
- Things to learn: rock climbing, windsurfing.
- Public service: A day wrapping presents for Santa's anonymous. A day a month helping in a soup kitchen.
- Exchanging work: You help me bring in the winter's firewood. I help you install a new laminate floor
- Engaging in word play. Puns, spoonerisms, malaprops.
- Talking about a huge variety of subjects.
- I'm currently learning trampoline. Come join me here, or we can meet at a tramp park. I don't do flips yet, but can do front layout, table drops, seat drop, back drop, am working on swivel hips and a few others.
- Starting to learn piano and perhaps music production.
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What do I believe:
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- Politically I lean left on social issues. I am generally of the belief that one of the major purposes of government is check the rapacious greed of big business, without creating a quagmire of regulation.
- I believe that climate change is the biggest external challenge we currently face, and that teaching critical thinking in our schools is the biggest internal challenge.
- I believe that as a society we have an obligation to help the weak, shelter the homeless, feed the hungry.
- I believe that society should be structured so that it's a close to level platform for all people, rich or poor. Having money should not get you better health care, a better education.
- I am an atheist. The alternative is to believe that God is incompetent, ignorant, weak, or sadistic.
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TOP BOOKS
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- Bujold: Vorkosigan series
- Follett: Pillars of the Earth
- Hofstader: Godel, Escher, Bach: An eternal golden braid
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TV I've liked
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- Stranger Things
- Trapped
- Dark
- All of the Star Trek series
- Most of the Star Wars series
- Heartstopper
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TV I've disliked
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- Anything with a laugh track.
- Any humour based on embarrassment, shame, and ridicule.
- Slapstick humour
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I'm very late bloomer gay/bi-curious. Essentially zero experience for someone my age. So in one sense I'm grey haired grandpa who's gonna whup your ass, and in another sense, I'm your 18 year old virgin, never been kissed.
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I like skinny, probably because I never was. I like little guys, I want to pick them up and hold them, give them the hugs, and caresses I didn't get as a child. I like the androgenous look. The lost waif.
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I'm not die-hard holdout for these. I'm old, fat and and only pretty if you like a lunar landscape, so beggars can't be choosers. But my ideal partner is bone-rack/beanpole thin. I want to count his/her ribs by touch. Feel shoulder blades and collar bones. Pecs and tits aren't a turn on.
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Nor am I die-hard guy's only. If you are female, petite, AAA cup, skinny to anorexic go to the head of the line. I like the tomboy look, and the tomboy attitude. I don't like the fem look. Female frippery, lace and lingerie is a turnoff.
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BUT
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I know that most guys and gals are interested in guys their own age, or in sub/dom situations only a decade or so apart.
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**HOSTING**
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I host, outside in the woods, or in an unheated utility building. Pick your day, and even in winter this isn't bad. go to the sunny side of the bale stack, and on a sunny windless day, it's not bad even when the air temp is -5 to -10. But all three conditions: Sunny, windless, and not too cold.
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In the summer, you still need to pay attention to the weather, but showing skin isn't uncomfortable.
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**VISITING**
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My farm is an hour from Edmonton.
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Monday: I currently come into Edmonton for trampoline practice from 12 to 1:30.
Tuesday: I may be at tramp practice 2:30 to 4:00, then do errands until my tramp lesson at 7:30 Often I will choose one or the other. I have to start the day with a lot of energy to put in 3 hours.
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I don't like to drive at night in the city. I can't see well enough, and I feel like I am a hazard to myself and others. My Tue night tramp lesson is in the extreme south edge of the city, in Ellerslie. I can sneak in and out through the back roads.
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My other face:
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I'm a disciplinarian. Ex schoolteacher from a British style school that used a paddle and corporal punishment. Lots of practice with a 20" chunk of 1x2 spruce, fir, or oak. Belt. Willow switch are also stock in trade.
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I like spanking. We can do anything from a painful tingle to something that leaves you sobbing at the time and sore for days after. My ideal client/patient/victim is one who feels they need discipline, absolutely hate it while it's happening, but like having been spanked. I can use paddle, belt, and willow switch. If you want something more serious we can chat.
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Many first timers opt to not be bound. This way if it gets too intense, they stand up, and go home. Or ask for a break, or ask for a lighter implement, or ask me to ease off.
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I like bondage. I'm good with rope. I'm not limited to rope. Some people require no marks. Enter rags. A pipe hitch or prussik knot in long rag loop distributes the force of rope over whatever length of limb is necessary. Duct tape is also useful. Blindfolds are an option, as are gags. If you want specific equipment, bring it with you.
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I generally host. I have an 80 acre farm 45 minutes SW of Edmonton.
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All sessions are outside in the woods or in the woodshed.
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I think I'm switch about all this. May like the other side just as well. Part of the curious bit. If you want to spank me, tie me up, then, by all means get in touch.
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Sex is optional. As an old fart, I may not be able to get it up.
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I also have recently started trampolining. Only a couple months in, I'm not ready for flips yet, but can do a lot of the pre-flip repertoire. And I can teach you the same. My tramp gives you an excuse to come see me.

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This 92 accord is leaking power steering fluid all over the crossmember and off the sides of the rack and pinion. Also torque strut failed and was replace recently, leak started after the mount broke.