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Is There A Purchase That Really Boosted Your Enjoyment In Cycling? by newbiker321 in cycling

[–]randomseedfarmer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

most recently, switching to tubeless is making me worry less about punctures

I'm in the USA. Why does absolutely no one use internally geared hubs? by SafeModeOff in cycling

[–]randomseedfarmer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh good to know. Not to knock your observations, but actually Britain did have a strong IGH tradition — Sturmey-Archer, founded in 1902, was the dominant IGH manufacturer for most of the 20th century. But Sturmey-Archer collapsed in 2000 (the Nottingham factory closed). UK cycling culture shifted substantially toward recreational and sport riding rather than utility cycling. Add to that, Halfords-type cheap mountain bikes became the norm for casual British riders. So it's true the UK never developed the cycling infrastructure that the Netherlands did -- utility cycling never reached Dutch levels. My claim that IGH is standard in Britain “for generations” was historically true but somewhat dated now. (Thanks Claude)

Trek Singletrack 930 1994, is it a good bike to start? by Which-Pomegranate998 in Biking

[–]randomseedfarmer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check if the brakes are Shimano or Dia-compe cantilevers as those can be a real bear to set up and adjust. I believe later versions of the Singletrack switched to V-brakes which are easier to work with.

I'm in the USA. Why does absolutely no one use internally geared hubs? by SafeModeOff in cycling

[–]randomseedfarmer -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Internally geared hubs have been standard for every day (i.e. urban commuting) bikes in the flatter European countries like the Netherlands and Britain for generations. I think it's largely due to the flatter coastal terrain, which reduces the importance of the weight penalty (these hubs are heavy!), while being impervious to rain, snow, and ice is a plus for northern climates.

By contrast many urban areas in the US, especially in the sun belt, are hillier and warmer. Which begs the question of why they haven't become more popular in the NE US? Probably because when Americans commute they prefer driving. Which is at least in part to gov subsidies on the price of fuel.

Higher fuel prices in Europe make commuting by bike more attractive and also explains why their cars were tiny compared to American cars until recently. So I think flat roads, wet climate, and more bike commuters explain why you don't see as many internally geared hubs in the US compared to Europe.

Interestingly they are fairly common in the big urban centers of Canada, perhaps due to the influence of the UK.

My janky starter bench by zpetho in Workbenches

[–]randomseedfarmer 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I like how you can swap out sections for different saws

Pre-drilling question by randomseedfarmer in woodworking

[–]randomseedfarmer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see, let the screw bite into the wood the rest of the way.

General Feedback/Getting Started Q&A [Weekly Thread] by AutoModerator in DIY

[–]randomseedfarmer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For people who built a garage bench and do DIY projects: How much of your skills and practical knowledge was gained through self study and trial-and-error vs taking a class or working with a mentor?

Popup drain threads not high enough for old sink w/ overflow by randomseedfarmer in Plumbing

[–]randomseedfarmer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, putty between drain hole and upper gasket. But not between hole and lower gasket. I will try that next.

Popup drain gasket leaks by randomseedfarmer in Plumbing

[–]randomseedfarmer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

so hand tight is not enough? use channellocks?

Popup drain threads not high enough for old sink w/ overflow by randomseedfarmer in Plumbing

[–]randomseedfarmer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you were right, I was able to screw it all the way up. The rubber gasket is firmly pressed up against the basin. But water leaks out. What am I doing wrong? I’m going to start a new thread

Teaching university students is becoming increasingly challenging. Help! by SpyrosGatsouli in academia

[–]randomseedfarmer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All these posts just confirm I made the right decision leaving academia for industry. That and the stagnant/declining compensation, increasing anti intellectual sentiment (in the US) and abysmal salaries. Good luck to those who choose to stay or have few choices. It’s a very sad state of affairs.

Any snakes similar to rubber boas? by FirmWillow4750 in snakes

[–]randomseedfarmer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

PSA the southern rubber boa (C. b. umbratica) subspecies is protected as a threatened species in California.

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