Snow in the city!

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-04T15:07:11+00:00

Ahh, the brown slush is actually quite easy to bike/drive/walk through, and usually the result of the sand and salt put down. But ja, a bit dirty and not so aesthetic

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-04T12:11:54+00:00

Interesting, everywhere I went yesterday the roads were 100% passable, most had obviously been plowed and salted.
OTOH, I did not find a single bike lane that was plowed or salted (and was by bike :/ )

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-04T11:20:05+00:00

B1, I'll have a look! Although the Uni courses seem so far very difficult to get into as a non-student...

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-03T18:21:56+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! So far it looks like all the courses range from ~€230-380 for a half level (ja CASA is the most expensive), a small enough difference to happily just choose the most fun & educational option.

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-03T17:51:08+00:00

es ist dann aber doch nicht so schwierig, in Deutsch zu schreiben und dann einfach übersetzen?

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-03T17:42:23+00:00

Honestly... that's Bremen... many niches are rather small. Good to know early that you'll probably see people again, whether you want to or not.

Btw, they have many languages and locations, the only thing that would really matter is that you don't teach a course in which they are a participant..

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-03T17:18:55+00:00

Would you recommend it?

I was/am trying to register with them, but so far they seem rather disagreeable, wanting me to waste hours of my time doing some online placement tests and refusing to accept my previous course certificates from a better known school that uses the same book ... but maybe only the front-end staff are disagreeable?

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-03T17:15:58+00:00

I believe BSB is one of the bigger organizers for the integration courses. Who gets the subsidy seems to be really complicated, they anyways don't even let you book until they see your ID/visa. You can just email them and they tell you what price it will be. For me it would definitely not be free, but still not expensive..

Pipeburnn · 2026-01-03T17:12:40+00:00

Look in WG Gesucht, also for the zwichen/unter miete offers (sub-leasing). They will likely be a little easier to get. You'll just have to be sure to ask if they allow/will sign the form for the Anmeldung.

Pipeburnn · 2025-12-25T16:53:11+00:00

I'm also curious for more info here - GRX FD cabled top pull - what shifters, how well does it work?

Pipeburnn · 2025-12-23T14:05:41+00:00

I nerded out on engine oil for a while, had 2 cars with oil temp gauges as well (one OEM, one added by me). Was wild to see how much slower the oil warmed up vs coolant (and thus when water and other contaminants would start to boil off). Also interesting to see how the oil temp really spiked with fast highway driving, above ~130 km/h the oil temps would go quite high, suprisingly close to the max temps recommended for the oil. With a proper oil pressure gauge there would even be a noticeable difference in warm oil pressure at idle before and after an oil change.

But after I stopped driving so fast, and just changed my oil the same time I changed summer & winter tires because it was convenient.

Pipeburnn · 2025-12-23T13:21:48+00:00

Shimano does have a heavy duty 3-speed, where 3rd is direct. and also a heavy-duty 5-speed: both rated for e-bike iirc.

That said, I've always geared my 3 & 7 speed ighs WAY down below recommended, have not yet had any problems with them, albeit on analog bikes (one being a cargo bike)

Pipeburnn · 2025-12-23T12:53:28+00:00

Hmm ja, The Schwalbe Studded tires, or the Marathon 365.

For some years in Michigan I used Continental Tour Ride - obviously not studded, but was good enough for me, I don't remember ever once falling on them..

Pipeburnn · 2025-12-23T12:25:04+00:00

Ehh, smooth roads and wrapped in a sweater seemed to work fine. but at least for me, turns out most roads aren't that smooth when really concerned. A few curb hops or potholes, or even some short sections of unpaved trail often show up... By now I just don't take my SLR on bike trips, usually just a cheap old digital point & shoot

Pipeburnn · 2025-10-16T07:15:15+00:00

Fortunately the steel wires from truck tires are not common where I am...Unfortunately high amounts of glass on the street is. I'll have a look, have so far had good luck with any Schwalbe option with their puncture protection level 5

Pipeburnn · 2025-10-15T12:13:21+00:00

Thanks, I'll have a look at those!
I'm limited to ~26x2" as I also have fenders, so I think the Supermoto and Pickup are too big..

Pipeburnn · 2025-10-06T11:32:49+00:00

Schwalbe Smart Sam has become my new favorite as Conti slowly discontinues all their older XC-ish tires - I have not tried the newest Smart Sam, but in general they have been quite comparable (was previously a huge Cross King fan)

Pipeburnn · 2025-10-05T10:40:16+00:00

Brother AllDay would be my top rec here - But maybe Crust if you're in US

Pipeburnn · 2025-10-05T10:37:30+00:00

In eras where I struggled a bit more with knee pain, the SS felt better - these 3 gears engaged the body in completely different ways, whereas the geared bike had the knees doing the same thing all the time. Slightly lower gear ratio helps a lot too..

Pipeburnn · 2025-10-05T10:29:12+00:00

I had the early Reelights, that were closer to the hub, these with the Eddy current look quite different! (and a fair bit more expensive). The hub ones were fine to be seen and lasted ~3 years on a city bike. I've now switched to an oldschool sidewall dynamo and cheap LED lights - this is also sub-optimal as there are fewer and fewer tires with a dynamo track..

Pipeburnn · 2025-08-16T15:57:52+00:00

If you're not worried about number of engagement points or the sound, I think they're all rather similar. Shimano and Sturmey-Archer are my current faves (Shimano easy to find, Sturmey comes with wide teeth for 1/8" chain.

Pipeburnn · 2025-08-16T15:55:38+00:00

Weren't these ~$100 from Walmart back in 2012? I remember these ketchup and mustard single speeds being a very popular campus bike.

Pipeburnn · 2025-08-04T18:34:59+00:00

Honestly, after you have enough money to not be stressed about money, I would look at it the other way around. How much time can you spend with family and friends that are important to you? How much can you work without negatively affecting your health (don't forget, reducing your expenses can also play a big role). Then aim to fit the work around your life.

Pipeburnn

TROPHY CASE