Singlespeeding really helped me get my fitness back after a year of next to no riding (working down in London). Several months of that got me fit again.

I’m hoping the same applies this winter as I’ve started putting many more rides on it at a higher intensity, which is working wonders so far.

For me, breaking the days up into chunks really helped, both when racing and when doing a Lejog. I worked in roughly four hour chunks, with four of these in a day. Eat while on the bike, but don’t turn down the chance of a good meal where it’s available. Don’t risk riding too far for food, only to find it’s closed and you’re on a bag of peanuts for dinner.

The not stopping is a good tip, as is being more efficient when stopping. If you need to stop to add or remove a layer, do it at a water source, and maybe go for a pee (away from said source) at the same time. Three for the price of one.

Nutrition and hydration are very important. Recognise the specific signs of a bonk, dehydration, or tiredness. Never make a decision to scratch unless you’ve satisfied these three needs first.

In your training, try experiencing all three so you know what to expect. Turbo gives you leg fitness, but proper long rides in similar conditions to your big ride will help too.

Cardhu Gold is always reduced in price. It’s alright but at full price not worth it.

Highland Park 12 is generally £25 at the moment, and it’s lovely.

With the greatest of respect, savant or not, you’ve not found a hole in the online banking services that keep the world running.

Just because PayPal asks for a mobile number doesn’t mean it doesn’t already have one for you. Do me a favour and enter anyone else’s mobile number and see if the authentication flow still works.

If your email account gets hacked and you reset your banking password, you’ll be asked to confirm other details before being let in, whether that’s memorable data or via a One Time Password to your mobile. You can only assign a mobile number while you’re authenticated.

Givaudan looks like it’s peaked and is dropping over the past month? Maybe worth waiting until it reaches the bottom of its fall?

I’ve started buying direct from China, via AliExpress. The set I bought took a week to arrive and cost £4.61 for four sets of organic XTs. Haven’t a clue how long they’ll last, but having been on sintered for so long it’s nice to have brakes that don’t squeal.

Four sets for under a fiver!!

I built a Stooge up as a singlespeed for a commuter, back in late 2014. It then became my geared main bike, was upgraded to Ti, then went on some great bikepacking trips in that guise. Great bike for long distance trips, but also for playing around on.

All from a little commuter.

That’s a truly dangerous flaw in iOS if it defaults to iCloud storage. I’ve downloaded offline maps before but the whole experience was flaky and I went back to using a Garmin. The maps just wouldn’t load, even with full signal.

I bought a leather Brooks saddle which ended up on a Cube CX bike – this was when planning my Lejog I wanted some comfort. It looked so out of place that I had to buy a Van Nicholas road bike which suited the saddle far better.

I’ve got a fair few of them – Talons 6, 11, 33 and 44, plus a carryon/rucksack thing. All are very well made and serve their purposes well. My only gripe is that the mesh side pockets are made of tissue paper so they tear easily.

The 44 has a frame to it that the 33 does not, so it’s very good for carrying heavier loads in the hills.

When is the ex- date on the rights issue? I inherited a small amount of RR shares (at 958p per share), but have tripled my holding in them by buying at 135p today, at a fraction of the original price. They seem to be rallying somewhat, closing at 150p

Mine get used a lot for various things. The big ones (300mm) are great for leverage, and the jaws lock in place with minimal pressure on the grips.

The benefit of the parallel push and the leverage means you can bend stuff with them too. A flat tool sitting parallel with a rim can be used to steady one side of the jaw while you use the other to push a dent straight. Much safer than the mole grip method of gripping and bending.

The 125mm set are great to carry instead of Leatherman pliers, and I’m also looking at a 100mm set of Knipex Cobra water pump pliers for the most annoying little jobs.

I’d split it out. I’ve got a Leatherman Squirt and in fairness it’s pretty poor for pliers compared to a full size option.

Personally I’d get a set of 1/4” bits for whatever you need, a cheap Opinel blade (well they all are), and a Knipex 87 00 100 as the tiniest set of decent pliers you’ll find. Use them as the driver for your bits, or for bending stuff, or as pliers

The Whole Enchilada is incredible. Easily the best trail I’ve ever ridden, and I didn’t manage to get up to the very top due to the road being impassable. Slickrock is good too – just ride it in any direction, then reverse it on your return to the car park.

I stayed at the Lazy Lizard, which was ideal for a cheap place to stay, and I was there at the end of September. There’s a really good trail that runs parallel to the road into town which is worth a shot too if you’re just cruising around.

Anything to do with the lack of international travel? I’ve just bought a campervan and all of the converters I spoke to said demand is going through the roof.

I can see their point though. If your shorts are too short, you wouldn’t want a balti stick out.

Thanks. I was considering front wheel off when travelling, possibly with a floor mount for the fork. Parked up, slung across the front seats. The one I’m looking at has a pop top (part of a standard build) so that could possibly be my parking garage too.

Has anyone got an Elgrand camper? I’m
looking at them as an option for me, but inside bike storage is a must, both when travelling and parking. Can it be done easily and safely?

Had you reconciled the exact amount against a statement or just your own calculation? You won’t be paying down the same amount of the loan amount each month, because each payment will be a combination of loan amount and interest on the outstanding balance.

Basically every month you pay off a bit, then borrow the rest for a month, and pay the interest on that short loan. A calculation is done at the start to allow the payments you make to be level, so a higher proportion of your first payments are interest than your last.

Second option: new company could mean your loan has been transferred from one system to another, and done badly. If you have a statement then they’ll be able to reconcile their loan balance back to that and fix it.

Does it have to be a road beasting or would a social ride on trails suffice? There are enough of us in Balerno or Currie (I actually feel we’re disproportionately represented here) to just go trail bashing without Lycra or a dress code.

Are you collecting it or drinking it?

Blind bearing puller from Amazon
Rucksack and buff from Terra Nova
Usb battery from Ali Express – likely lost in transit as it was ordered ages ago.

The Ti Stooge makes for a great SS frame – super light and a lot of fun. It’s also 44mm head tube so runs a bouncy fork perfectly.

Coincidentally, I’m auctioning my Ti Stooge for the NHS – unsure if my post is going to get nuked but I’m not receiving a penny from it so I figured I’d chance it.

The Bearbones forum link is here

I’m closing it tomorrow at 9, so someone is going to get a good frame for a potentially great price, and a hospital is going to get some much-needed equipment.

Amrut Fusion. Half the malt is from Islay, the other half from India. Lovely stuff – who knew Indian whisky was so good?

Shures are also used as monitors so no wonder they isolate. I have a set too and they’re great for sound quality but impossible if someone is trying to speak to you.

I just use cheap Bluetooth sport earbuds from Amazon for exercise as I don’t care too much for sweating into anything expensive.

My area (I work in a bank), have opted for a 2 week period of all of us working from home.

Other areas have been split up, and buildings brought into use for call centre operations to move away from relying on a single site.

As has been said about stems, don’t buy new. The better and more popular ones (Hope/Thomson) tend to have aftermarket mounts created for them for Garmins, lights etc – you’re unlikely to get something similar for a cheaper stem with a non standard mount width.

Seatposts – definitely worth upgrading. Thomson clamps just work, or go high end like a Kent Eriksen Ti for weight saving and comfort benefits.

Thanks all – this confirms exactly what I suspected. I shall seek other alternatives

Yes, I’m a victim of that too. I’m also very quick to work out how to reconfigure my existing bikes when things change. It’s trickle down economics for bikes.

I’m picking up a full suss today, then stripping down one frame to sell, making another singlespeed using parts from the one being sold, and then the drivetrain from the newly-converted singlespeed bike is going on the fat bike.

Enve you say? ;-)

https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16447&p=206339#p206339

They are lovely forks but I’m getting rid to make space for a new bike.

Just saw the trailer for Tenet when in seeing 1917. I’m really looking forward to it as it’s another Nolan mindbender.

I’d follow nuke’s suggestion but use a Knipex to push the rim towards the ruler (the clamp acts like a vice) instead of bending it using the adjustable.

I have a Micra, received for my 18th birthday so fast approaching its warranty expiry. Also a Skeletool CX that gets used a lot, mainly blade and screwdrivers.

Finally, my main tool at home is an OHT, bought in the US for about £35. It’s heavy but the spring pliers and the accessibility of the tools is why I have it.

Knipex pliers wrench and something flat, metal, and solid that gives a straight edge.

Flat edge against the rim on the outer edge, then use the Knipex to push the rim out towards the flat edge to straighten it. Using mole grips to bend the rim risks cracking it as you’re twisting the rim as you pull it, instead of pushing it.

Go slowly too.

I’m really sorry for your loss. I think we might have met once so are basically two strangers. If you fancy a pint in the Riccy or the flat roof Abbot or even one of the nice ones nearby then please give me a shout.

The guys that build Celtics are based in Balerno I was reading their website yesterday. Basically said they don’t build one offs unless it’s interesting…

I’ve had a couple of repairs from them – they’re really good. They work mainly with steel but also Ti, and are great to deal with.

5 seater Vito with one seat removed. Bikes get placed in the gap vacated by the seat, with a bungee from the next head rest around the frame. Takes seconds to do.

Why can’t they hire a car? Could they buy instead? Public transport in the US is pretty shoddy outside the big cities

@kato – now I’ve got my Black Bay GMT (and a North Flag), I’m actually debating whether to sell my Ranger. It’s on leather, but the original Tudor strap could do with being replaced so I’ve got a Geckota one on now, with the Tudor deployant.

I thought it was the typical STW stereotype?

In my place we used to have ‘business’ BAs, and IT BAs, but now the lines are blurred somewhat as we move towards Agile delivery – albeit at a glacial pace overall.