Aaron Wilson (u/aaron_wilson17)

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Warning: I blew $400 on a 'winter-ready' bike cover that fell apart in one Calgary storm

Back in 2019, I was so sure I was being smart. My garage was full, so I bought this heavy-duty cover online, advertised specifically for harsh Canadian winters. The pictures showed it surviving snow and ice. It cost me $400, which felt like a lot but seemed worth it to protect my bike. The first big snowfall hit, and the material just shredded. It wasn't the wind, the fabric itself got brittle and cracked everywhere. I came out to find my bike covered in tattered blue plastic and a fresh layer of snow. Total waste. Now I just use a cheap tarp and bungee cords in a pinch, which works better. Anyone found a cover that actually lasts more than one season up here?

2 comments

c/bicycle-mechanics•

aaron_wilson17•4d ago

Warning: I thought that new ceramic grease was just hype until a customer's 10-speed shifter came back smooth as butter after six months of daily winter commutes.

What other small upgrades have you guys seen that actually make a big difference in long-term wear?

2 comments

c/canadian-housing-chat•

aaron_wilson17•7d ago

Finally got my offer accepted after 8 tries in Hamilton

I used to think I needed a 20% down payment, but my broker showed me a program for first-timers that only needed 5%. Has anyone else had luck with a smaller down payment recently?

2 comments

c/botany-lovers•

aaron_wilson17•12d ago

My neighbor told me to talk to my fiddle leaf fig and now it's huge

She said to do it every morning for 3 months and even tell it about my day. I felt silly, but I tried it with my sad little plant. I started in April, just chatting while I had my coffee. By July, it had put out 5 new leaves and grew almost a foot. I guess the extra carbon dioxide from me talking near it actually helped. Has anyone else tried something this weird that actually worked for a plant?

2 comments

c/career-advice•

aaron_wilson17•13d ago

Changed my mind about asking for a raise after a chat with my old boss

Honestly, I used to think asking for more money was just about walking in and saying you deserved it. For years, I'd just point out I'd been there a while and worked hard, and it never really worked. Then, about six months ago, I had coffee with my old foreman from when I was starting out. He flat out asked me, 'What's your number, and what did you do last year to earn it?' That hit me. I went home and made a list of everything I'd done: the three big commercial jobs I ran solo, the $8,000 in parts I saved the company by fixing old units instead of replacing them, and the two new guys I trained. I put that all in a simple email to my manager. Ngl, I got the raise, and it was double what I'd ever asked for before. Has anyone else found that just listing your wins makes all the difference?

3 comments

c/concrete-finishers•

aaron_wilson17•16d ago

Vent: I thought I was a pro at bull floating until a job in Dallas last month

I've been bull floating for years, always right after the bleed water came up. On a big warehouse slab in Dallas, the foreman told me to wait an extra 15 minutes. I argued but did it, and the finish was way smoother with fewer lines. It clicked that I'd been rushing it and fighting the concrete's own timing. How many of you have had a 'wait longer' tip actually work out?

2 comments

c/elevator-mechanics•

aaron_wilson17•24d ago

Update: I went against the grain and installed a 2:1 roping on a 6-story building

Everyone on the crew said to stick with the standard 1:1 for the traction machine. The job was a retrofit in Cincinnati, and they argued it was simpler and faster. I pushed for the 2:1 because the existing pit was shallow and the car top clearance was tight, only 4 feet. It added about 8 hours to the install, but the ride quality is smoother and the machine runs quieter under load. Has anyone else made a call like that and had it pay off later?

2 comments

c/flooring-installers•

aaron_wilson17•28d ago

Had to choose between a full demo or a skim coat on a bad concrete slab in a Phoenix kitchen

The slab had a 1/4 inch dip across 8 feet. I went with the skim coat using Ardex K 15 to save the client a day and about $800 in demo costs. It feathered out fine, but I'm second-guessing if a full tear-out would've been better for long-term stability. Anyone have a rule of thumb for when a dip is too much for a leveler?

2 comments

Posts

Warning: I blew $400 on a 'winter-ready' bike cover that fell apart in one Calgary storm

Warning: I thought that new ceramic grease was just hype until a customer's 10-speed shifter came back smooth as butter after six months of daily winter commutes.

Finally got my offer accepted after 8 tries in Hamilton

My neighbor told me to talk to my fiddle leaf fig and now it's huge

Changed my mind about asking for a raise after a chat with my old boss

Vent: I thought I was a pro at bull floating until a job in Dallas last month

Update: I went against the grain and installed a 2:1 roping on a 6-story building

Had to choose between a full demo or a skim coat on a bad concrete slab in a Phoenix kitchen

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