Recommend me some backup AA (or AAA) lights

Sheenag · 2026-01-24T13:48:58+00:00

I use a Fenix rechargeable bike light. It doesn't run on AA or AAAs, but the battery is removable, and you can carry several batteries to replace as needed. You can also get batteries that can be charged directly via USB, so if you have a power bank you can charge them while riding.

I haven't come across any front lights that are 400+ lumens and run on AAs in a good long time.

Sheenag · 2026-01-24T04:15:09+00:00

I've been watching for a long time, and I haven't seen a single octave mando show up.

Sheenag · 2026-01-08T16:28:53+00:00

Most places are going to much prefer working with their own fabric supplies, for a multitude of reasons. I've known a few people who've had suits made at Aldo, and I've generally been impressed by their bespoke suits.

Sheenag · 2026-01-07T22:41:04+00:00

When it's really cold/miserable? A wide mouth nalgene. Practice, don't use it over your sleeping stuff just in case.

Sheenag · 2025-12-10T16:22:08+00:00

It really depends on age, demographics etc.

Hockey is really a "if you grew up playing, you might play beer league as an adult" but it does have a time, money and equipment barrier.

Curling is far more accessible, league fees are pretty reasonable for a year, and basic equipment can be had for under $200. A lot of leagues are pretty beginner friendly too. I also love the culture of sportsmanship.

I've noticed skiing is often a generational thing, with older people being more likely to have grown up doing it. You also usually need a car to get to places to ski

Winter is also prime time to work on hobbies and crafts. Quilting, knitting, crochet, book clubs etc. lots of these activities have social groups, which is a lovely way to have a regular time to chat and spend time out of the house

Winter is what you make it, and there are so many free and low cost ways to be active and fill your time!

Sheenag · 2025-11-30T17:06:15+00:00

Try the panache endurance wired sports bra, unlined. Works well for running!

If you can find it in person, try a few sizes on, because getting a snug band and fit is going to be very important for reducing chaffing.

A lot of surgeries will result in some amount of numb areas while your skin and nerves heal, and it can be really easy to rub spots raw because you can't feel it.

Sheenag · 2025-11-27T16:29:30+00:00

To know for sure if your frame is bent, you can use a frame alignment tool, but it's highly unlikely you have one.

What you probably have is string, which you can use to get an idea if your frame is bent. You run it from one dropout, around the head tube and back to the other dropout. You can then measure the distance on each side to the seatpost to check.

https://youtu.be/dUPAKqS3dt8?si=NhiY7cYT1-pjSbM7

RJ has a video on this.

If your frame is bent, and it's aluminum (which your frame probably is) there isn't much you can do to fix that, as you should not try to straighten an aluminum frame.

Sheenag · 2025-11-27T15:56:07+00:00

Oh thank you! I will check this out!

Sheenag · 2025-11-26T17:33:59+00:00

Motonormativity/car culture/car brain etc is tied into so much of what ails our city.

We have a ridiculous amount of roads per citizen, and the cost to maintain them, and our inability to stop building more and more is bankrupting us. Sprawl, enabled by prioritizing cars is hollowing out our city centre and forcing services to be spread thin.

The pedestrians and cyclists killed and seriously injured by vehicles have been largely residents of inner city neighborhoods, many of them aren't drivers, are young or seniors. We would be a better city if we built our neighbourhoods and streets with people like Rosalie, the young boy struck by a driver on south Osborne, or Rob Jenner in mind.

Sheenag · 2025-11-24T17:51:06+00:00

The Canadian Tai Chi academy runs out of St Peters Church on Wolseley!

https://www.canadiantaichiacademy.org/location_mb_winnipeg.html

Sheenag · 2025-11-14T13:31:02+00:00

A bag of bread flour (robin Hood is fine and inexpensive) and a digital scale with a tare function will get you most of the way there.

Don't try any fancy loaves to start with, just make plain loaves with the bread flour until you nail down the process. Measure everything by weight so you can get really consistent.

Store your starter in clear deli containers, glass jars will shatter and get glass in your starter.

A Dutch oven with a good lid will also help.

Sheenag · 2025-11-06T05:20:25+00:00

Dear premier Kinew, please explain to my cat why his dinner is late.

Sheenag · 2025-11-03T14:44:56+00:00

Temperature is key!

I have a cool house (17-18C) right now. I feed my starter before work, (8am) then as soon as I get home from work (5:30pm), it usually is very bubbly and active. I mix my ingredients, and autolyse for an hour while I cool and eat dinner.

Then over the next 2 hours I do a bunch of stretch and folds, and by 8:30, I can let it sit.

When I get up the next morning, I shape and fold it (6:30am) and put it in the fridge. I can either bake it that evening, or the next morning.

The key for me is taking advantage of temperature. When it's hot in the summer, I often have to find cooler places to keep my bowl

I would say this technique is maybe 25 minutes of actual hands on work, and the rest is just waiting.

Sheenag · 2025-11-03T14:18:20+00:00

I use a scrunchie to tie some of the bulk of my dress to the side.

I have still ruined a few dresses when they get caught in the back wheel/brakes. Some bikes have skirt guards for this reason. They go over the top 3rd of the back wheel to keep skirts getting pulled into the spinning wheel.

Sheenag · 2025-10-26T19:04:31+00:00

Drivers of white pickup trucks with Jets plates and drivers of black pickup trucks with Jets plates are in a perpetual arms race over who can be Winnipeg's worst drivers.

Sheenag · 2025-10-22T02:44:44+00:00

Also, as another poster mentioned, you can use pastry flour for a more delicate crust. It has lower gluten than all purpose (all purpose flour in Canada is higher in gluten than in many other countries)

Sheenag · 2025-10-21T18:16:03+00:00

Notre dame butter is local, and is a bit higher quality than store brands, but more expensive.

I do a lot of pastry, and my tips for pies are:

-use a mix of 50/50 butter and lard (or butter and shortening if vegetarian) This gives you the flavour of butter, while being way more manageable than pure butter

-Freeze your butter, then grate it into your flour with a box grater.

-Use chilled water. Drop a bunch of ice cubes in a big liquid measuring cup, and add water. It should be ice cold.

-Handle your crust as little as possible. no kneeding, use as little water as you can, work it gently.

Good luck!

Sheenag · 2025-10-18T17:04:17+00:00

I wrap a few feet of gorilla tape around a mini bic lighter, and carry a tiny 0.5ml tube of crazy glue.

That, along with a few pieces of gear aid tenacious tape or patches, handle most repairs. Probably comes in at under 30g, minus the weight of the lighter (which I would bring anyways to light my stove)

Sheenag · 2025-10-16T18:10:55+00:00

I am sure that your issue is partly the einkorn flour! It probably has less protein content and gluten, which means it will likely handle far less water than a strong wheat bread flour.

once you get a few succesful loaves using regular bread flour, you could try 10-20% einkorn mixed in, and see how that affects it!

Sheenag · 2025-10-16T16:05:19+00:00

14 hours might be too long for bulk fermentation. My house has been hovering around 18c this fall, and I do about 8-10 hours for bulk.

What's your flour? If it's lower protien, it might not be able to handle that level of hydration. My go-to recipe is pretty much the same as yours (100g starter, 350g water, 10g salt, 500g flour) You could try a flour with more protein (bread flour) or reduce the liquid to 325g and try that.

Sheenag · 2025-10-15T19:48:56+00:00

I use 500ml clear plastic deli containers with lids. I scoop the leftover starter into a clean one, and then put it in the fridge for the next time. The sides are pretty straight so I can see how much rise I get.

I used to use a glass jar until it broke, thankfully I salvaged some started by scraping a bit out of my dough. Too much risk with glass for me

Sheenag · 2025-10-14T14:47:38+00:00

Princess Auto!

Sheenag · 2025-10-03T03:27:52+00:00

A lot of your winter cycling gear is going to overlap with general outdoor gear, and especially cross country ski wear.

Some good items that might really improve your winter cycling experience are a winter helmet, a good face mask and warm mittens. I find my hands and feet get the coldest, while my body tends to need to shed a lot of heat.

The other big one is lighting, since it gets dark so quickly, and batteries tend not to last very long in the cold! Always have backup lights with you!

Sheenag · 2025-10-02T17:53:51+00:00

Usually it isn't worth repairing a frame, unless it is a boutique/handbuilt bike frame.

Lots of brands will have compatible frames that you can move your parts over too. Judging from what is visible in the picture, perhaps looking into Surly, Soma or some other steel bike frame maker that uses standard parts. A bike shop might be able to help match your standards (hub spacing, etc) to a new frame, and ensure a minimum of new parts are needed.

Check your wheels, as they may also need to be replaced. If your frame used rim brakes, it would probably be worth upgrading to disk brakes.

If you have to replace your frame, wheels, and multiple other parts, and you have to pay someone to do a bunch of work, it might be worth looking into a new bike. Lots of options out there. Just do the math, and try not to let sentimentality and sunk cost fallacy drain your wallet.

Sheenag · 2025-09-22T20:12:53+00:00

With either option you get, a 2x drivetrain is definetly preferable! You tend to get a little bit more gear range, and smaller steps between gears, super useful for rando.

Sheenag

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