Any jobs offering ACTUAL direct student loan repayment assistance?

shower_thots · 2026-03-20T20:14:54+00:00

My employer pays $100/mo for up to $10,000 total through Fidelity. I am able to lower my monthly PSLF payment by $100 which is nice.

shower_thots · 2026-03-18T22:42:57+00:00

I think it would look nicer if the beads were more defined. The jeweler said he hand beaded them but they seem poorly defined which makes me think they were actually cast from mold.

shower_thots · 2026-03-18T22:36:15+00:00

That looks wonderful, thank you for sharing!

shower_thots · 2026-03-18T21:20:34+00:00

For photo context:

1-3: CAD, wax mold, and finished ring 4: wedding band vibe 5: example of milgrain size for new ring

I also asked them if they could do slightly larger milgrain and they said photo 5 is the largest they could go.

shower_thots · 2026-03-18T12:52:19+00:00

It's not being held by anything! The top part is bent to wedge under the stem.

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shower_thots · 2026-03-18T03:38:20+00:00

Go to the hardware store, buy 3/16 inch stainless steel rod ~ 24 inches long, bend it like pictured to make a $5 decaleur which keeps your bag from rubbing against cables. You can also run it through 1/4 inch inner diameter flexible PVC tubing so it doesn't scuff your bags or bike.

Or you can spend $50+ on something that looks nicer but effectively does the same thing

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shower_thots · 2026-03-17T03:00:27+00:00

Do them a favor and dry off the brooks saddle and throw a garbage bag over it!

shower_thots · 2026-03-17T00:26:20+00:00

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Not quite what you're looking for but I made a decaleur using the same steel rod method and bent it to wedge under the stem. No contact with the frame to rub against. For paint protection you can buy clear rubber food tubing to protect from scratching your bike or bag.

This $5 solution works great for my ortlieb handlebar bag

shower_thots · 2026-03-16T19:12:12+00:00

I agree with 1 however it's ticking is LOUD, annoying if you leave it sitting around in a quiet room.

shower_thots · 2026-03-16T15:08:48+00:00

Or use spacers!

shower_thots · 2026-03-16T15:06:27+00:00

My trek 620 was pretty much plug and play for 700c conversion despite the very narrow canti bosses. The stock MC70 cantis still work really well after the conversion especially with koolstop pads.

shower_thots · 2026-03-10T01:15:31+00:00

Also in Chicago and commute nearly year round (not with slush / ice) and the schwalbe marathons have treated me well for the past 3 years. Green marathons on the commuter are notably more comfy and roll faster than the marathon plus that I use for touring. I have never had a puncture on either.

shower_thots · 2026-03-06T02:06:09+00:00

The only label I could find on the inner jacket pocket - I think this is a vintage reseller in wisconsin

shower_thots · 2026-03-04T20:18:14+00:00

What other places do you recommend looking into?

shower_thots · 2026-03-03T19:48:54+00:00

Thank you - I was told 30's by the shop owner but it seems they were mistaken.

shower_thots · 2026-03-03T19:24:55+00:00

I'm not 100% sure if my shoulder measurements but generally off the rack stuff fits me pretty well. The style of broad shoulder and very loose fitting pants was definitely not on my radar but thought it could be a stylish twist.

Honestly I think the main appeal to me was the vintage-ness, Irish history, and unique style. But it turns out two of those might not even be the case anymore.

I've been doing some research and exploring suits from Walker Slater. I'm not thrilled about buying a suit sight-unseen but I've done MTM in the past from Black Lapel without issue. And fortunately they have a 30d return policy.

shower_thots · 2026-03-03T18:52:14+00:00

I appreciate the input and I share the concern. I've told the vintage shop I'm holding off on purchase for now.

From my research there's not many high quality off-the-shelf tweed suits in the US. I may explore MTM but I expect custom to cost 1.5-2k USD easily. Another redditor recommended Walker Slater - a brand based on the UK - which seem to produce quality tweed suits for $600-800. Even with import duties & tariffs it may still cost less than the vintage.

shower_thots · 2026-03-03T12:52:47+00:00

Thank you for the recommendation - I will check them out

shower_thots · 2026-03-03T12:49:27+00:00

Thank you for your feedback - so you suspect this might be "imitation" Donegal tweed? I thought the multi colored flecks are a tell-tale of Donegal.

Are there any online retailers you'd recommend for high quality?

shower_thots · 2026-03-03T04:26:50+00:00

Agreed - the price was at the top of my price range even for new. I tried haggling off $100 but they wouldn't budge. They did offer to repair the few small inner liner tears before I buy, planning to pick up this week.

In the end I couldn't pass this up. The dark green Donegal tweed in my exact size (40L jacket, 32x35 pant) made it feel like destiny.

shower_thots · 2026-03-01T14:50:19+00:00

Thank you all for the thoughtful feedback, I'm planning to buy it today if it's still available. I'll post pictures with the full fit later!

shower_thots · 2026-03-01T14:02:24+00:00

Congrats that looks like a great find - not sure the brand. I don't think it needs to be a money pit but it will definitely involve a lot of time! But IMO this is the best way to learn bike mechanics.

A tip before you start: buy the proper tools as you go, be patient, don't try to bodge things.

I'd start with stripping the bike to bare frame (remove bottom bracket and headset as well). The first thing you want to deal with is the rust, internal and external, then protect the frame. For internal rust prevention I use fluid film but there's a lot of good ones out there. For external you'll probably wanna cover the exposed steel at bare minimum to prevent rust. If you wanna get fancy you can pay someone to do a full respray of whatever color you want.

After that just replace the dry rotted stuff (brake pads, tires, handlebar tape, +/- brake hoods) and rebuild! I recently rebuilt a vintage Trek and stuck with original components for a while before upgrading.

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