Recent content by mclewis1

Interesting how we've come full circle in many ways. My grandparents had a dairy farm in the 40s, 50s, and 60s with a very limited grid connection (less than 50amps to the house - and in the 40s it was even less). So there was always the consideration about power and things like when to do...

Thanks usclassic, I have to say that despite some of the “detours” from others that I’m really enjoying this thread. It seems to parallel much of my interest in power from alternative (non grid) sources. I’m always interested in new technologies and in particular when I can learn and put them to...

Tonight's low will be -20C (by 6am) ... so no early morning ride on Monday (the afternoon looks promising, cool but reasonable). No new snow so the paths are mostly bare. Will have to watch my studs. Also no snow on the 10 day forecast (just a little possible rain), but I don't think that means...

I'm 2 adults in ~1100sq/ft, all electric (heat, water, cooking, charging the ebike :D ) - and we pay 15c/kw (so about 11c USD). With this and a colder than avg winter my worst monthly bill was just over $500 cad. About $70 is additional stuff (water tank rental, extra surcharges to cover debt...

I also don't bother with a fully integrated generator setup (so no xfer switch, etc.)and just run extension cords to what's necessary. My only add on to this setup is an inexpensive through wall connection to the generator so the extension cords don't have to go through a window or door opening...

I'm off for a ride this afternoon. It's just above freezing but sunny and no wind. So perfect winter conditions and a good time to get in a ride before the nasty storm shows up. we're only getting the top tip of the big NE storm ... so only 5" of snow and quite windy ... and unfortunately while...

Ooooo, "trapped" in mid Cal while a serious blizzard goes through the NE, I'll bet they're really upset. They'll all likely have some serious "war stories" to tell folks in years to come about that huge storm in Feb 2026. :D .... and just for the record I rather enjoy your various musings about...

We're due for an inch tonight ... maybe less. Another few inches over the next 10 days.

I've been regularly cycling (thousands of miles) in the winter on snow, ice, and slush using studded tires over the past 20 years (and for the past 5 of those on ebikes). In all that time I've only fallen twice, both times on an ebike and both times it was at 0 mph while getting on or off in my...

Those surface conditions look great ... but oh the temps, not so much.

-5C with some very light snow (about a cm). I'm off to explore some "new" trails that are in a wooded area just off of the regular paved and plowed MUP. A local quad owner has been ploughing these unofficial paths (appears to be 5-7km worth) occasionally during the winter (rest of the year they...

Show off (nice pics) ... but what does BC stand for (on the sauce) - Blue Cheese or Before Chicken? :rolleyes: (sorry, but this is the humour that comes being shut in over this weekend).

Indeed. When you connect with folks online between the outages and just the extra time dealing with everything can take them away for quite a while. I was in a similar situation as Gionni back in the late 20 teens. My mother required care 4-6hrs a day and a few big winter storms delayed the...

Me too. I can work on a bike for hours/days and be fine with it. Then take a pic and I suddenly notice all sorts of little things that I'd like to change or do differently. Love that long tail cargo bike. For me without kids I prefer a cargo trailer that I can hitch up or remove whenever I...

and at least he takes pics of his bikes from both sides .... ;)