Are you buying the New Balance via Joe's New Balance? You could get 10 pair for the price of one White's Oxford even before the holiday sale discount.

https://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/pd/813v1/MW813V1-209.html?dwvar_MW813V1-209_style=MW813BK

https://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/pd/627v2/MID627V2-20692.html

I love biking, but I'm not a techhead/gear junkie. If you wanted to know specs about my bike, best I can tell you is that it's red.

That said: If you're not sure what exactly you want, buy something used. Check the euro version of Craigslist--at least in the US, there are always tons of bicycles there. Might not look pretty, but usually with an hour or two of cleaning and lubricating, they're rideable.

If you know vaguely what you want, you should go to a local bike shop. The poorly-er lit, the better. Talk to the shop guy--he's in it for fun and not for money and will get you what you need. As far as BIFL goes, the frame and handlebars should be permanent. Everything else-wheels, chain, brakes, cables--all of those are consumable parts that you'll learn to replace and repair.

[deleted]

return it and start over

I had a Miele upright. One little plastic part on it broke, couldn't be replaced and the vacuum would not pull vacuum without it. And yes, I bought it from a professional vacuum shop that sold & serviced Miele. Miele, never again.

Check these guys out - https://oakstreetbootmakers.com/

Goodyear welted so recraftable, they can customize the shoes for you - within reason - so you can get exactly what you want.

I got a pair of their country loafers and 100% recommend. I’m female so we had to go back and forth with regards to size, fit, etc so it was a process but sooo worth it.

Email them first to inquire about your specific wants and they will work with you from there.

It's called "heat capacity" different materials have a different heat capacity. The same weight of different materials can hold more/less energy depending on the material

I'm no expert on bikes so take my advice with a grain of salt.

I bought a single speed commuter bike with the idea that less components would mean less maintenance and a longer life. It's worked out well so far.

The single gear is low enough that only the steepest hills are an issue, sometimes you need to stand up and put some work in but it's manageable.

If you plan to bike in a reasonably flat area or are biking for fitness, consider a single speed bike. Other than adjusting brakes there's little to worry about.

I don't know if ecco has shoes that have a slip resistant sole or not, but both of my pairs which I love have terrible slip resistance. The soles are durable and last because they are some type of harder rubber/plastic and that makes the grip not great. I've noticed in restaurants as a customer walking by the kitchen on tile in them they are super slick.

I’ve done all of this, still can’t figure it out. I’m a pretty hand person and an avid DIYer. Normally I’d just disassemble the whole thing but I feel for the price I paid for a brand new product, I shouldn’t have to do all that and waste all that time. Appreciate the info though! Once I do get a working one, I’ll keep all this in mind.

My last pair lasted 8 years and I purchased them at Goodwill! I only got new ones because a buckle broke.

That brand is also the next highest recommended brand. Seems like Miele and Sebo are the best of the best. But unfortunately I’ll be waiting prolly until next Black Friday to make another purchase

I LOVE Ecco. Pretty much all I buy

They have no more in stock, so they claim. They were quick to offer a refund so either they do in fact have them but would rather not let it go for the sale price anymore or they actually don’t have them and a refund is in fact my only option.

I bought this one because it was amongst the top recommended vacuums, and I can afford it. I’m at a stage in life where I’m tired of buying the cheapest products which don’t last long and I’ll end up having to buy them again and again. I want BIFL things.

BIFL is probably not the best place for advice on a bicycle when there are a lot of bicycle specific subs out there that can help you out. A quality bike should be BIFL anyway, with proper maintenance and occasional replacement of worn or damaged parts.

From what you say it sounds like you have a lot of research to do because some of what you present seems to conflict with your intended usage. You don't need any shock absorbers if you're rarely leaving the road. A road bike is generally built for speed and is great for getting around but it sounds like you want to travel and if that means carrying a heavy load most modern road bikes will be unstable under weight. A straight bar might be preferable to a dropbar but that depends on usage and comfort. On a long ride dropbars offer better variety of hand positions that you can switch to for comfort. Straight bars let you sit more upright for better visibility in traffic but there's less repositioning you can do if you start to ache from being in one position.

You might check in with r/bicycletouring or r/bikepacking for advice on a bike you can travel with but that's versatile enough for your other needs. Personally I ride a heavy, steel framed touring bike (a type of road bike) that's slow as fuck around the city but serves me well on bike camping trips. You might prioritize speed a little more than I do.

You'll never regret the money you spend on a bike as long as you use it and love it. You do not need to spend a ton. Many high end expensive components are actually less rugged because they are very lightweight and built for speed.

The used market can be a great way to get on a starter bike but be wary. There are a lot of scammers and thieves who will talk a good game to someone who doesn't know entirely what they're looking for. A used bike from a reputable shop can be a safer option.

I suggest getting on a lot of bikes for test rides before making a decision. Fit and comfort are very important. I rode every touring bike in my size available to test ride within an hour of me before pulling the trigger and I'm glad I did.

I can second the JA Henckel Zwilling quality. I have 3 of their knives that I use daily and adore.

Aesthetically beautiful AND built like a tank. What a wonderful item.

Highly recommend Sebo

My Mrs was using an oil filled radiator in our conservatory last winter to dry clothes (2kwh)

Last December cost me £330!

That was when electric was cheaper

That damn radiator went in the shed, never to be plugged in again

Red Wing, Wolverine 1000 mile (maybe not dressy enough), and Allen Edmonds. Allen Edmonds mostly have leather soles but they do offer some with rubber soles and they can be re-soled.

Store them on shoe trees overnight.

> One of the reason why designer brands are so expensive is they use the very best makers

Wow is that a thing you actually believe? This may have been true in the early 19th and early 20th century. Now designer brands rely on clout not quality. Louis Vuitton sell PVC raincoats for $2000. Don't tell me it's cos they use the best PVC.

There are definitely some great guided systems, I think there are generally trade offs between speed, versatility, skill requirements and cost with whatever system you end up with. Knowing what to go with will depend what you value most of those things. You are correct though that a guided system will generally be easier for someone just starting out.

For that price I would send it back and demand a new one! Can they not do an exchange?

As someone who has hand sharpened knives on a stone I don't recommend it unless you have some sort of device to keep a consistent angle.

It is way easier and you will get better results if you use a device like a Work Sharp or a RUIXIN knife sharpening kit.