Slightly off topic.

I just came back from my early morning ride through Norwich. Locals will know that we only have one hill here, known as Kett’s Hill. As I came up it today I passed a rather rotund cyclist pushing his Cervelo whilst wearing a rather “snug” fitting King of the Mountains jersey. It made me smile.

Mr Blobby is quite right, I probably have used the wrong term (HiFi).I just want something that will give a reasonable sound quality in a smallish room for DAB and MP3 playback. I have enough obsessions in my life, I really can not afford another one!

BB

Sorry Mr Blobby, didn’t mean to irritate you. I’ve got a budget of £500, less would be good!

BB

Thanks for the replies so far, I will check them out.

Anybody else care to recommend something?

BB

I bought a mk1 mx5 and loved it as a commuter. It really was great fun. Then I got the chance of a mates-rates Merc SLK 350, my dream car. Even though I love my SLK I still can’t bring myself to sell the Mazda. It’s in the garage and is labelled as my retirement car. I have no doubt it will stay with me still I no longer am able to drive.

Yes it is a Senseo and I do have the duck that I use quite a bit. Sometimes it’s just easier to throw a pad in though.

I’m with you, I think they put some sort of frothing agent in the std pads.

Have you tried any other’s or do you just use “proper” coffee?

BB

Thanks for the advice everyone.

BB

I see what you did there bear necessities, I see what you did.

Whoa! Back up there Titus Rider, she is not having a Boxster. She needs 4 seats!

Those TPR’s do look nice, I think I might give the Spyres a go.

Thanks everyone.

Thanks both for you replies. I’m drawn towards Ergos pulling road BB7s but will check out the TPR’s.

Hope

Thanks, will take a look.

I had hoped to be able to use DT Swiss but all the suppliers that I can find want me to buy a hub with Shimano free hub and a separate Campag free hub for £45 and swap them over.

Anyone use Nova Tech?

Ian

Thanks everybody, some great advice. I have to make a decision by Mon morning though I feel I may have already decided!

Mine wouldn’t fit in either my bike back or hard case. I ended up selling it as I could not travel easily with it. I only ride 54/55 cm frames.

Yes, one of my clients did it.

BB

As an alternative idea, I use an Eye-Fi card. Take a pic and a few seconds later it appears on your iiPad. Works a treat.

BB

Will you be in HMP Norwich? Might see you there…………

I received a ticket from Private Eye. I asked for an appeal through POPLA as described above. I’d rather hoped they would back off at that point but they didn’t so I put together my evidence and sent it off (all done on-line). I was given a time scale for when my case would be heard. A few days after the date I received a letter to say that my appeal had been successful and that, surprisingly, Private Eye had not put forward any evidence to support their case at all.

I use DSCL for all my work. Never had a problem.

http://www.dscolourlabs.co.uk

Ian

Bianchi-Boy, did you consider the 800?

Not really, no.

Having owned the 705 (the 800 was a direct replacement for the 705, it just had added touch screen) for the last 4 or 5 years I started off using the HRM and the cadance quite a lot but haven’t used either for at least 2 years So the touring at £169 would do everything I wanted. I can make up courses on BikeHike save to the Touring and then follow them as courses. Post ride they can be uploaded to the Garmin site via Garmin Connect so you can see mileage, route, elapsed time, ave speed, max speed etc etc.

Ian

I’m starting my LEJOG in 5 days time using a newly purchased Touring. I really liked the 705 I had before but the battery life was beginning to drop off. If you can wait till May 12th I’ll let you know how I get on with it but first impressions are good.

The other prompt to replace the 705 is that my eye sight isn’t what it was, the screen on the Touring is certainly a lot easier to read.

Ian

C-L I have adjusted the route to take in Tongue and the coastal road so big thanks for that.

Dave, I wil be visiting Arran as you suggested some months ago. It is planned as my “Queen” stage! I like the top tip about showering in cycling gear and drying in towel, I shall give it a try.

Anyone have any idea on what bike spares/tools I should take?

Ian

Cracking idea Shortcut/C-L. I will be using a Garmin Tourer but want back up paper maps so will by a road atlas, cut it up and laminate the pages.

Thanks Amit, some great pics there and you seem to have been lucky with the weather.

Crazy-Legs. Some good points, thank you. I’ve pre booked B&Bs for the first 5 days but then left the rest to build in some flexibility for tiredness, weather, mechanicals etc. Also the route that I am taking should go to Aaron for an island hop but hat might have to change if the weather isn’t kind.

Thanks again both.

Thank you Kayak23!

[/url]
Fly at Mausoleum.jpg[/url] by ian_warnes[/url], on Flickr

Thanks everyone I shall check your suggestions out.

Can’t wait for Spring to get here.

[/url]
SLK-8.jpg[/url] by ian_warnes[/url], on Flickr

Mine is here, ianwarnes.co.uk

I get a fair amount of traffic but could always do with more.

If all else fails return to Garmin, there after-sales is brilliant in my experience, even on older models.

I use an SLK to commute in, great fun, no matter what the weather.

[/url]
SLK-4.jpg[/url] by ian_warnes[/url], on Flickr

Thanks for trying guys. I have searched the symbols/characters in System Preferences but they aren’t there.

No first hand experience but a good mate swears by her Garmin Swim too.

sauce?

HP, it’ll make a man of you.

I quite like the continental approach. Walk in to any French cafe at any time of day and no one will bother if you order a beer, a coffee or a Ricard.

I don’t think I’ll bother if it is going to make it sluggish.

Mine is here. 54cm Ridley.

That really is an excellent portrait Samuri.

Thanks everyone, I’m off to read some reviews.

Thanks guys, will check them out.