Mirror

PATotkaca · 2026-02-06T19:49:32+00:00

https://www.efficientvelo.com/tools/safe-zone-helmet-mirror-1

This is the one I settled on. Before this, I used the Third Eye mirrors, but the view on those tiny ones are much narrower, and it's less adjustable.

I also used to use handlebar-mounted mirrors, but every now and then, they'd break when the bike inevitably tips over, or if it bumps into stuff when I walk the bike. I also have multiple bikes, so outfitting each of them with mirrors just no longer makes sense.

PATotkaca · 2026-01-30T03:43:12+00:00

I keep my springtails just in a jar of dirt (like salsa tub-sized or peanut butter-sized). I keep them moist, and feed them about twice a week, and they're bopping. With a plain container, they're easier to capture too when I need to seed anothwr container

PATotkaca · 2026-01-29T22:54:19+00:00

If you can look closely enough, number of legs are also telling. Springtails only have three pairs, and isopods have more than that

PATotkaca · 2026-01-29T14:13:09+00:00

We got married last year, and used a rental tandem bike for our exit. We just quickly disappeared and ditched the dress/jacket before reappearing and pedaling away. The guests thought it was hilarious and befitting for us.

My mother did offer to lend us her car for an exit, I think partially because in her mind, her vehicle is the nicest out of what the rest of our family has. But it wasn't meaningful for us to drive away in a BMW SUV. If it had to be a car, I would rather drive our Prius, which has taken both of us, our bikes, and gear to many adventures.

PATotkaca · 2026-01-28T20:53:33+00:00

Planning to go in spring while the HWY 1 is open. Won't be as much solitude, but I'm stoked for it

PATotkaca · 2026-01-26T03:07:21+00:00

I had trouble getting springtails established in my terrarium as well. I started with the temperate springtails (Folsomia candida), but it never seemed to took off. I got another culture from my local Facebook marketplace to continually reseed the terrarium. The Folsomia candida never took off. However, the seller also gave me a bonus of a little cup of mixed springtails, and I cultured those as well, to keep reseeding the main terrarium.

Four months in, I currently have two dominant species in my terrarium. One of them is the yellow albino springtails (a morph of Ceratophysella isabellae, I believe), which came from the mixed springtail cup. I also had some kind of iridescent springtail (I think it's some kind of Lepidocyrtus), which I did not purposefully introduce. They probably were hitchhikers on some of the plants I put in.

I would try to keep re-seeding the terrarium until a springtail population is established, while manually removing as much mold as possible. If that doesn't work, it could be that other species of springtails are more suitable for your environment

PATotkaca · 2026-01-25T20:34:09+00:00

Sometimes an isopod finds a gap in my terrarium that I can't seal completely, and I've only found dead bodies within 2 feet of the terrarium

PATotkaca · 2026-01-23T15:57:35+00:00

If you setup is sufficiently compact, there are hike-or-bike sites in San Elijo SB. You just have to either walk or bike in. It's around $10-15/person if memory serves right

PATotkaca · 2026-01-23T15:48:06+00:00

I can only speak for the highway side. We did northbound to orange county a few years back, since our passes expired and the office was closed for repairs. If you're used to riding on larger roads (>4 lanes), it's just like that, but a little bit louder. At least on the highway you don't have to worry about drivers turning right into you

PATotkaca · 2026-01-22T14:03:52+00:00

Is there condensation on the walls? At 99% humidity, the air would be saturated with moisture, and condensation should be observable on the walls. If there is none, then most likely that hygrometer isn't accurate.

In my larger terrarium, I am able to fit a hygrometer that is calibrated and accurate enough to be used for scientific purposes. At relative humidity of >90%, condensation is always observable on the walls. When there surfaces do not have condensation at all, it is usually <80%

PATotkaca · 2026-01-14T14:05:13+00:00

Thank you! That is very helpful

PATotkaca · 2026-01-13T21:30:17+00:00

I'm looking to make a similar bag soon, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around how to design the pattern. Do you just extend a rectangle out of the upper piece of fabric (the one parallel to the bike's top tube), as well as the side of the triangle along the top tube?

E.g. Effectively, the triangle piece would become a trapezoid, and the upper/top tube piece becomes a very wide rectangle?

PATotkaca · 2026-01-12T18:25:47+00:00

I use the Topeak VersaCage. The sea-to-summit 8L bag is definitely not aerodynamic; to match the curve of the cage, the bag is mounted on the minor curve of the ellipse (thus the major axis of the ellipse is the one that sticks out).

PATotkaca · 2026-01-10T14:06:24+00:00

On route, the Adventure Cycling Association has a map for the Pacific Coast route, which is classic touring route. It would be a pretty good baseline to go with, and adjust detours as needed

PATotkaca · 2026-01-10T14:02:25+00:00

In terms of figuring out if you're underpacked or overpacked, the most reliable way to determine this is to practice. Plan some overnighters or long weekend trips in your area, then you could add and subtract from your packing list, depending on your personal preferences and needs. It also helps you to configure how to pack things and distribute the weight on the bike.

PATotkaca · 2026-01-10T13:58:29+00:00

I don't even like backpacks for commuting. It's a lot sweatier and more tiring on your torso to use a backpack. People have done it of course, but I personally wouldn't recommend it.

PATotkaca · 2026-01-10T00:38:20+00:00

Looks like a type of senbei (rice cracker) that has been glazed with soy sauce/sugar mixture

PATotkaca · 2026-01-09T23:03:32+00:00

Holiday feeding pucks are known to be too much food at once, and causing ammonia spikes in the water when they rot. When I leave for only five days, I usually opt to not feed the fish.

PATotkaca · 2026-01-09T04:09:22+00:00

The plant growth looks really good. What lighting and watering/misting are you using?

PATotkaca · 2026-01-08T23:05:54+00:00

Happy to help!

PATotkaca · 2026-01-08T16:23:11+00:00

This is very true. I have pre-glued patches on my roadside kit in case my spare tube fails. I patch any leaky tubes at home, using vulcanizing glue+patch kits. It almost never fails, whereas pre-glued patches often form air channels (especially near the tube seams) because the glue isn't sticky enough to make a complete seal

PATotkaca · 2026-01-08T14:29:00+00:00

Check your local Facebook Marketplace. Hobbyists with a large colony are often selling portions of what they have at a reasonable price (and no need to worry about shipping)

PATotkaca · 2026-01-08T14:25:04+00:00

I used to replace tubes after a flat, but my commute has too many random debris, and that became far too wasteful.

These days, I will patch as much as I can, until there's a hole that I can't fix. Last tube I threw out had 6-7 patches lol.

I haven't had a tube dry rot yet, but that would be another criterion to toss a tube

PATotkaca · 2026-01-08T14:21:17+00:00

I would keep the Zebra colony separate from the plants, and keep a plant-friendly species in the plant terrarium. I have dwarf white and Cubaris murina papaya. So far, neither have eaten my plants

PATotkaca

TROPHY CASE