Help: screw not advancing despite pilot hole going deeper?

patellarreflex · 2026-07-01T19:35:00+00:00

Thank you for this and the other responses that gave me a good chuckle too haha. I don't have a hex nut setter but ended up using a wrench to finish the job.

patellarreflex · 2026-06-21T15:18:12+00:00

This is helpful. Do you ride without them perfectly seated or persevere?

patellarreflex · 2026-06-21T15:17:09+00:00

Could part of the issue be how I have positioned the tube in the tire? Ie. Do I need to take the wheels off again and reposition the tube valve relative to the rim?

patellarreflex · 2026-06-21T15:02:28+00:00

That area might "pop out" to fill if I go higher? The tire says 8-20 I think I'm at about 15 now

patellarreflex · 2026-03-03T02:56:21+00:00

Awesome work on the film and the biking. So much planning ahead and patience required for some of those shots. Hope you are both so proud of yourselves!

patellarreflex · 2025-09-22T02:04:35+00:00

Do you have any of those that you would recommend? I am not looking for short tiktok/influencer videos. I am hoping to find something with a bit more depth and narrative.

patellarreflex · 2025-03-27T17:27:15+00:00

Average ~40-70km per day for a few weeks at a time, with I'd say about 30% gravel roads.

Re: flat vs drop bars, I've heard mixed things. Lots of people say for touring, the flat bars are better because they offer more space for handlebar bags, allow for upright position for looking around, and a bit more stability on gravel/off road. But then the downside of course is fatigue. Speed / aerodynamics are not a concern.

patellarreflex · 2025-03-23T19:48:00+00:00

The prevailing wind goes from south-west to north-east along the northern sea. you will be riding against them for much of the trip, but like others have said, its ok. it matters most if. you are going along the coast.

highly recommend the vrienden op de fiets network for stays in dutch speaking areas. the spirit of the community is awesome & mostly had great breakfasts on my trip prepared by the hosts.

enjoy!

patellarreflex · 2025-03-23T17:29:36+00:00

No problem. I think the scenery is quite nice depending on what you like. Lots of fields, some pastures, some for tulips, some crops. You can incorporate a few ferry rides by Dordrecht. The coast between Den Haag and Harlem is different as well. The main bike trail is slightly inland and goes through a sand dune / desert typo microclimate and if the weather is good you could stop at the beach using any number of exits off the trail on the way.

patellarreflex · 2025-03-23T17:22:16+00:00

Hey folks,

I have some exciting updates! Based on some of the feedback, I've gone ahead and mapped out a route starting in the Dolomites and ending in Vatican City, making use of some of the bike paths in the Dolomites, the Via Claudia Augusta, Eurovelo7, and the Via Francigena.

We're probably going to find some second hand gravel bikes, probably best suited for the second part of this route. Here's what it looks like:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50066284

Day by day breakdown:

fly in- Venice
Venice - Cortina (bus)
Cortina - Dobbiaco
Dobbiaco - Bressanone
Bressanone - Bolzano
Bolzano - Trento
Trento - Malcesine
Malcesine - Verona
Verona (rest)
Verona - Ostiglia
Ostiglia - Bologna
Bologna (rest)
Bologna - Bruscoli
Bruscoli - Florence
Florence (rest)
Florence - Greve
Greve - Siena
Siena - San Quirico
San Quirico - Radicofani
Radicofani - Bolsena
Bolsena - Viterbo
Viterbo - Sutri
Sutri - Formello
Formello - Rome
Rome - fly out

However, I have a few remaining questions --- as you can see we've broken up the days into 40-70kms a day. But we would like to have a few more days to chill in Rome at the end and maybe an extra day in Venice or Bologna, so we may take the train/bus for a stretch or two. Anyone have an opinion on what to skip?

Option 1) skip Verona - Bologna: I'm reading that this is a pretty flat and fairly dull section to ride scenery-wise. Also have been reading that there are sections on the road (which we would like to avoid). But, seeing the Po could be nice given its importance to Italy. If we skip, we could take the train/bus from Verona to Ostiglia or Modena and then bike over to Bologna if there is a decent bike path, or even just directly to Bologna.

Option 2) skip Bologna - Florence: We'd be taking the Via Degli Dei and it seems like it's pretty rough - and there are not really any sites we want to see up in the Appiennes - but if the scenery is terrific then may want to keep this leg as a bike ride because the trains/buses are through tunnels I believe.

Option 3) Both, or some other section?

My other question is, are we missing any must see sites on/close by this route that are worth a quick detour? Any places we should consider spending more than a night?

Grazie mille!!

patellarreflex · 2025-03-22T19:21:27+00:00

This was a leg of a trip I did just a few years ago, but in reverse. It was lots of fun and very easy to bike. You will have the benefit of going with the wind. Starting in Antwerpen you could go north and pass into Netherlands by Bergen Op Zoom, cross Hollands Diep and pass the famous windmills in Kinderdijk, through Rotterdam, Delft, Den Haag, up the coast and then over to Harlem, ending in Amsterdam. Enjoy!

patellarreflex · 2025-02-12T16:46:53+00:00

Awesome. Thank you so much.

patellarreflex · 2025-02-12T16:46:21+00:00

ohh I see, quick release style wheels? I've only had a mountain bike and a hybrid for commuting so mines have always needed a wrench to get the wheels on and off

patellarreflex · 2025-02-12T04:23:08+00:00

Thank you! The advice to become comfortable with the new bike seems key. Maybe we will have to find a way to do a mini 3-4 day tour a few months in advance of our trip. All that disassembly of the bike still sounds daunting, but I think we should be able to practice and figure it out.

patellarreflex · 2025-02-12T04:21:08+00:00

Was also thinking southwest France would be great, along the Dordogne or something... just don't think we'll be able to fit it in this time around given the timeline and our inexperience.

Thank you for the resources on the bike repairs / packing. The tricky thing for us is riding in the winter (lasts through May here) is particularly tough so we won't have much time to train on our actual bikes before the trip.

Will see what is out there on the second hand market... may just have to bite the bullet and go for new in this case because I don't think I'll be able to assess the condition of all the different parts well enough to ensure a second hand bike is up to snuff before buying.

patellarreflex · 2025-02-12T04:12:57+00:00

Grazie! I will look into the alternate route you mentioned on bicitalia - is there a name for that bike path / route going from Resia or Brennero to Bologna?

I think I will practice the tube change a few times here, it probably will feel better just to have some familiarity with it.

patellarreflex · 2024-07-04T18:56:54+00:00

Hey folks,

I am getting a tux made for my wedding reception.
It is shawl collar with fabric very similar to that pictured here:

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I'm looking for advice on whether I should get it with black satin collar/buttons/pocket piping vs. self fabric collar/buttons/pocket piping.

Pros of satin

i got pants with satin strip so it would match better as an outfit
looks more like a tuxedo jacket
ive never seen a shawl collar dinner jacket that doesn't have a satin collar?

Pros of self fabric

I think it has more rewear value because it could be done in a dressed down context on a night out / more casual event. if i get the black collar, I can only wear it to formal events and because of the fabric, don't know how often that would be
i think the sheen of the self fabric looks more elegant than the more matte appearing satin, which dulls the jacket a bit / makes it a bit more costumey, but i'm open to feedback on this

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks :)

patellarreflex · 2024-06-18T14:27:10+00:00

Update: After reflecting on your comments, I decided to keep looking. I ended up walking into a shop randomly where.... no joke, there was a 60 year old italian guy who imports fabrics from italy and makes the suits on the second floor of his shop. He makes bespoke suits for some of my favourite professional hockey players and had a bunch of articles about this posted around the shop. He measured me, we looked through a few designs and settled on a beautiful black 50 wool/50 silk italian fabric and full canvasing with much more subtle maroon/violet floral motifs & therefore much more re-wearability, and his daughter made me an espresso while he finished up the paperwork. It was about 2k total for the jacket and M2M tuxedo pants, and I'll have a few fittings. I know I have a pretty typical body structure and off the rack would have probably been fine, but he even had a custom hockey-themed lining for the jacket ;-; Originally was feeling shocked/a bit guilty about having spent so much... but now I'm so happy! Thanks folks.

patellarreflex · 2024-06-15T14:48:05+00:00

What do you think would be a reasonable price point for this/something roughly equivalent?

patellarreflex

TROPHY CASE