The heaviest of heavy hitters :o)

https://youtu.be/NLCU4ZvBDSw

As mentioned above the Airshot just works, I’d recommend one every time.

Any stress you have after that will be with the **** tyre or the **** rim (WTB, I’m looking at you).

Switchback ticks all the boxes – should be able to find a used frame / bike easily enough.

The terrain is perfect for a Parkwood style trail and more besides, but the area is very different and I can see a high degree of NMIBYism kicking in.

Nothing ventured and all that though – I’ll fill in the survey, and here’s hoping.

Hammer.

Dictionary of profanity.

Tissues to mop up bitter tears of futile rage.

A colleague of mine is still creating Spectrum and ZX81 games – they’re good too!

https://bobs-stuff.itch.io/

And unrelated to the previous post (ahem), but how the hell do I get a video to embed? I wrapped the URL in video tags but it did not embed, despite several attempts / general flailing around.

Oof.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Ze0deAvWA

Friend of my mum’s is on one of the vaccine trials, but I don’t know if it’s Novavax.

There’s not much she has to do – weekly health reports and Covid test, and she has 24hr help and advice available for anything acute.

Yep, they’re great.

The puller tools got all the bearings out of both linkages, except one which disintegrated and left the outer race stuck in. I asked BearingProTools for advice, and they knocked me up a custom puller free of charge to get the outer race out (it worked..) – would recommend.

I’m in the same situation, and a Spitfire V3 is top of the list right now.

That said, my 29er curiosity could get the better of me..

Biketrack built one of our local tracks – is very good.

We’re about to sell youngest daughter’s Vitus 14, been really happy with it – lovely little bike, I’d highly recommend them.

Crowded Horse

Infection rate is far too high and the ‘test / track / trace’ system is nowhere near ready. Given the shambolic efforts so far I think it will be some time before there’s a system in place that people can trust.

So not sending our 5 year old back on the 1st, and it’s September at the earliest for both our kids.

Both good films but the best is Valley Uprising, if you liked those you’ll love that.

Agreed, such an interesting and entertaining film.

@Alex – difficult to decide, but on this one I think the steepness just shades it. The roll in at around 4 minutes is ridiculous.

That White Line video reminded me of this – oof..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmDh1ZUnBu8

My cousin has been running board gaming sessions at a convention he puts on and at local game stores for a few years now. Based on their experiences they’ve spent the last year developing and prototyping a gaming system, and  have just launched a Kickstarter to try and fund their first boxed game.

Link is below, please take a look – it’s an interesting and fun little game :

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fantasticbooks/the-gorgons-loch-defeat-the-gorgon-queen/description

(Mods – not sure if this is naughty or not. Would add that I have no professional or financial interest in this project)

Had my OnePlus 5T for 18 months and really happy with it. Fast, good camera and an Android skin that’s a genuine improvement on stock. Not planning on replacing it any time soon, but will definitely look at OnePlus again when I do.

https://www.bearingprotools.com/collections/santa-cruz/products/bearing-puller-kit-for-santa-cruz-bikes

Maybe I should bake him some hash cakes!

Good call – the massive whitey when you inevitably miscalculate the dose should do an excellent job of putting him off.

More seriously, there’s some good advice in this thread and a soft touch approach is the safest way to proceed, with heavy caveats around strength, frequency of use etc.

Barkley Marathons on Netflix – mesmerizingly brilliant, and the sleep deprivation will strike a chord too.

Stabbing myself in the face with a chisel whilst trying to remove a star fangled nut when drunk falls into the stupid and maintenance categories.

Yeah, colours are pretty awful across the board, with the exception of the blue 5010 (although the decal colour is nasty).

Doesn’t look like they are doing any frame only options any more, unless they haven’t fully updated everything yet.

+1 for Kinetic bike bearings.

That SpeedX article is staggering – well worth a read.

Agree with your assesment of the Bontrager pack – really comfortable, and while it doesn’t carry a huge amount of stuff (no bad thing), it’s just right for 3ish hour rides.

If you’re considering a 5010 (an excellent choice), this seller has very good prices on 2018 frames / bikes, still a few left :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/ltmracing17?_pgn=1

Switchback.

Think I’ve still got a Thule footpack for a mk1 A3 knocking around – will have a look if you’re interested.

I also used to use a Hollywood boot rack – fit fine, very basic but strong and reliable.

Stanton Slackline for 650b, or Sherpa for 29″.

Betty Kenny tree end has been clearfelled, and all the trails above the fireroad (ie, to the right as you climb) have been completely trashed. There are still some nice trails to the left of the fireroad, although not sure for how much longer.

Sugoi NeoShell off SportPursuit – very good indeed.

Running non-boost cranks on my mk2 5010 just fine. Don’t let it put you off, it’s a smashing little bike.

Yeah but free postage.

+1 for D&D Cycles / Production Privee. I had a similar experience to @stevemuzzy, which resulted in the recovery of 2 stolen bikes.

Another vote for The Cuckoo’s Egg.

This is well worth a read : Commodore: A Company On The Edge by Brian Bagnall

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0973864966/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Hypnotic.

Can’t decide whether ‘mewling pencil’ or ‘whinnying ponce’ is my favourite description of him.