Man, I feel this one. I spent way too long running shop pressure and wondering why my wrists felt like they went ten rounds with a hammer. Dropping to 8 and 10 on the rocky stuff was a total game changer for me too, especially on those off camber sections. Hardpack still feels a little squirmy to me though, so I usually bump back up to 12 or 13 if I know the trail is gonna be fast and smooth. Took me a few rides to trust it, but now I don't even think about it, just set it before I unload.

Man, the konbini apps are seriously underrated! I slept on them my first trip and ate so much expensive convenience store food. Once I figured out the coupon machine thing, it felt like I cracked some secret code. The best part is how the apps track your stamps and give you surprise discounts on stuff you actually buy all the time. It takes five minutes to set up and pays for itself in one stop. Honestly, if you're not checking those little screens by the register, you're leaving free yen on the table.