My dad contributed to this. He said there was a lot of trudging, diversions through deep forests, and time estimates being lower than reality. I’ve always wondered where I got it from…

A Knipex pliers wrench in 125mm flavour will work well here. It won’t cut anything, but the pliers are strong enough to bend rims safely alongside an Allen key.

Or a Knipex Cobra 100mm – even smaller but lacks the force multiplying effect of the Pliers wrench.

The protocol doesn’t have a limit, but sometimes your bank can reject transactions. I had several repeat purchases on a pub app rejected, but a secondary auth via text message was enough to get things going again

Those potassium sticks – they consume all the oxygen, instead of the fire doing so. Doesn’t this risk asphyxiation in a van, if you’ve not already opened the door and GTFO?

Those cheap drum kits can’t be beaten.

I shall get my coat.

Monday’s idle thought, I’ve found myself looking at the Tudor Black Bay 36 over the weekend. Are Tudor watches ‘investment’ pieces, i.e. will generally retain their value to an extent?

Depends on the price you’re paying. There’s one on the TZUK classifieds at £1750 at the moment.

I do think that Tudors will hold value to a certain point but it won’t be spectacular. I think I got about £1200 for a Ranger that was retailing at £2k at the time (I earned back what I paid for it).

Tudors are nice watches though. I’ve got a North Flag (possibly selling it) and a BB GMT at the moment.

While I much prefer ground coffee, I’m presuming you’ll be supplying particularly small small bags of ground if you’re not going down the pod route? Every pod is single serve so remains fresh, whereas ground goes off pretty quickly once the bag is opened (and arguably as soon as it’s ground).

Topeak all the way for me. I seem to be obsessed with their stuff – I’ve got an Alien, Hex, Mini 20 Pro and a stand-alone chain tool. Only the one on the Mini 20 Pro is a bit fiddly, but it’s still useable if necessary.

If you get the standalone one (it’s a Super Chain Tool I’ve got), then you can use an Allen key from your multi tool in it, and shove the key it comes with into the handle to give even more leverage. Mine lives in my toolbox but that’s how I use it when I need to.

No Picnic on Mount Kenya – three Italian POWs escape to climb the mountain overlooking their camp.

I had one for about a week, last year, and really didn’t gel with it at all. Even with the shortest stem possible it felt far too long and lifeless. It got swapped out for a Salsa El Mariachi, which is much nicer.

Prop shaft could be refurbed. I scrapped my 55 plate Traveliner last year – call Wright Automotive on 0131 440 2472 to see if anyone has taken the prop shaft off it as I had it fully refurbished before rust killed my van.

However, if the rust is anywhere near structural points you are better scrapping it. It’ll be a lot of cutting and patching, and there will always be a nagging doubt that it will come back.

Fairly adventurous food-wise? I’d recommend Six by Nico – you’ll get a lunch or late reservation at short notice. Six course tasting menu for £32 a head – it’s well worth the price.

Maki and Ramen for sushi, you’ll find a fair few of them dotted around.

Dynamic Earth is interesting enough, as is the Arthur’s Seat area in general. A volcano in a city.

Well if you’re looking to travel, I’m up to Ballater on Friday for a big natural loop, but Glenlivet on Saturday for some trail centre fun. The blue has a heck of a lot of riding for not much climbing, and the whole place is just flow. Lovely trail centre.

I’m heading up on Saturday. Is the car park usually quiet overnight as I’m arriving late and kipping there?

GSI Java drip. Makes a perfectly good cup of filter coffee without taking up much space at all.

I just grind some beans before I leave, then I’m sorted. However, I also have the GSI Java Mill which is actually good enough for home use as well. Note I’m not sponsored by GSI – just like their stuff.

I’ve been surprised at just how good my Yema really is (39mm Superman Bronze GMT – posted earlier in the thread). I just don’t wear any of my other watches now, and am enjoying watching the slow change in colour from when I originally got it.

Accuracy wise, it runs slightly fast (but within spec). My Tudor BB GMT is bang on, but has the sticky date issue so is going back for repair soon.

After my fitness slipping quite a bit at the beginning of all the lockdowns, I’m riding my bike every day and have been since December. Fitness is good, as is getting out of the house.

However, my marriage has basically broken down as there has been a lot of lies and deception (her money and drink problems), so I’m now looking to move out. I’m actually feeling really optimistic about it though, as I’ve realised things haven’t been right for years and this is the boost I need to give up and move on. Just need to remain civil until we can divorce, assuming this is the way things end up.

What an odd product. Not quite as big as an Airshot (other inflators exist), but far bigger than a CO2 cartridge.

I loved For All Mankind. No spoilers here but the last episode was excellent.

I’ve just fitted a Superstar to my new frame, and it seems really well made. It’s two bearing cups, split crown race, and some bearings. Simple, half the price of Hope – which I’ve used for years on other bikes.

I spent £6 on a ZTTO-branded 45mm stem from AliExpress, which has 30mm stack height.

If you need it tomorrow, £12:Amazon

Fargo will be fine on the HT550 with the right tyres. You may have some trouble on the steepest descents depending how confidently you descend (thinking bits of Torridon and Fisherfield). I’ve done it on a hardtail el mariachi, then on a fully rigid Jones. I’m pretty sure it’s been done on something akin to a Fargo – there was definitely drop bars in 2017 anyway.

I like that Yema, is the gmt hand not independently adjustable?

It is, but it’s not a true GMT. I had it set to U.K. time when I got it but will inevitably set it to something else. Unfortunately the GMT hand is quickset, whereas you’d expect the hour hand to quickset when travelling.

Knipex mini pliers wrench (the 125mm version). You can fix rims properly with them, do tubeless valves etc.

Or for even less weight and size, the 100mm Cobra XS is dinky small but a properly formed water pipe plier with jaws big enough for a cassette lock ring tool.

This arrived via Kickstarter and it’s fast become my favourite. It’s like a Black Bay 58 Blue Bronze GMT. It’s not a true GMT but I’ll forgive that for the price of it compared to my Black Bay GMT…

Sadly I’m limited in how much I can move the bb as I’m running it singlespeed but I’ll check that it isn’t up or forward. It does feel quite old school though, totally agree on that one!

Check whether the hub can shrink down via end caps only. Boost is meant to allow stronger wheels by having wider axle spacing so it may not be possible to squash it down that far.

I started my challenge on 1st Dec and hit my day 100 yesterday with a cruise
out with my dad. He’s still riding a hybrid everywhere which meant no MTB, despite offering the loan of one. A nice gentle ride in the Pentlands, but then I pushed onto one of the tops after and gave up when conditions turned hellish.

I’m going to continue on – while nice round numbers are good to celebrate, the full year is my big goal.

So far I’ve noticed I feel fitter and recover better. My usual climbs all feel easier to ride, and it’s still possible to get PBS on segments I’ve ridden a hundred times previously.

A Knipex Cobra XS will do most of what you’re asking for. It’s small and light enough to carry it in addition to a multi tool.

Day 87 of my riding every day (started 1st Dec). I’m taking day 100 off and going riding with my dad to mark it. He’s set the bar by putting in 50km on his hybrid today, so should be a good day riding with him.

@geolog I’ve got a North Flag too and really like it. It just feels robust and doesn’t need any sort of kid gloves or care taken with it. Mine has a few scrapes and nicks along the edges of the case.

Definitely doable with training. I did HT550 a couple of times and just trained well and ate loads. First time (2014) I was slow at 7 days but dropped over a day off in 2017. I wasn’t that much quicker pedalling but was much more efficient overall.

Don’t bother with campsites. Any time stopped is time not moving. A campsite is a diversion and has too many luxuries. Minimise your stops, and maximise the value of them. Stopping to change a layer, eat, refill water bottles and pee can be done in one go.

Go light and be smart with your kit. I take an inflatable pillow because it means I don’t need to stuff spare clothes in a drybag. That means I wear my down jacket as part of my sleep system, so my sleeping bag can be lighter.

Make hay. If the going is good, keep going. A mile today is one you don’t have to do tomorrow. Don’t bother looking for a camping spot until it’s getting dark, otherwise you’ll be waiting to fall asleep.

Today was my day 69, as I started on 1st Dec. Legs felt heavy after back to back slushy slogs, but with a freeze on the ground it was much easier today. I should have used a bike with spikes, so tomorrow’s project will be putting gears and spikes on the singlespeed as a temporary change.

Am I a cold-hearted bastard by thinking he was cynically manipulated for political reasons? Downing St flies the flag at half mast for him but not the 100,000 other deaths before him.

Poor guy dying of Covid, well done for walking around your garden, but I just feel the whole thing was a distraction.

When describing a particularly foul odour:
“Yid gie a jobby the boak”

I’m in too. I started a ride a day on 1st December and it’s done a lot for my fitness already.

@kato – the Tudor camo NATOs are lovely straps though – I have one with my Ranger. I prefer them to leather as they’re just so comfy, but I wear a canvas nato from Steveostraps on it now instead.

Thanks everyone. Boiling water did the trick. No other combination worked – mallet, hammer, hammer plus wood.

I’ve got enough left over for a coffee as well.

Did anyone else get one of the bronze Yemas from their recent Kickstarter? I went for the GMT and I’m beginning to get a bit concerned about whether it will even ship as it’s due to go out next month.

I buy far too much Joker IPA (Williams Bros), and a lot of their other stuff. Aldi seem to have a really good selection, even outside Scotland – but many other places up here sell it.