My newly rebuilt Karate Monkey in parts bit special heavy duty hybrid mode. Its surprisingly fast if a bit heavy

And yes I know that the front tyre logo/ valve alignment is out…

I’m not a fan of the dring-dring-dring type:

They always sound a bit urgent and “rude” to me.

I always find that those sort of bells get the best result, possibly because it isn’t the sort of noise most walkers associate with a burly bloke on a bike. Usually gets a smile. I’ve bought a comedy horn to stick on one of my other bikes; can’t wait to see what sort of a reaction that gets.

I normally only ride with a helmet camera when doing rides I want to document. After three near misses in the space of a 45 minute bike ride earlier today I’m now not going to take to the roads without one. Just sick of being treated like dirt by drivers and hopefully if I have a really bad experience the footage could be useful as evidence.

I’ve got an Oregon Scientific Action Cam. It films in 720p and provides fairly decent quality footage. Gets a bit confused by rapidly changing light conditions but seems pretty tough and water proof. Decent battery life as well.

Doubt mine will hear me over the sound of the telly…

I ran Midge bars on mine when I first got it so I was able to keep the steerer quite long. That and a 50mm stem gave me a decent position. Looked a bit ugly but worked well.

As above, the tinkering can get a bit obsessive. Mine’s been through a few incarnations, the next of which is likely to involve some Midge bars.

I’ve been through the Midge bar phase. It needed a lot of spacers and a very short stem. Very comfy once I got it sorted out although I ended up using bar end shifters which meant squeezing through anything resembling a narrow gap became impossible. Trees, fence posts, car door mirrors would all result in a gear change!

Looks good. I’m just putting the finishing touches on my Karate Monkey’s latest incarnation. Hopefully I’ve finally come up with a build I can live with for more that a few months; I always find myself tinkering with my KM and not actually riding the damn thing…

Mines quite dull although I do seem to get people from all over the world reading it.

The Elastic Has Snapped[/url]

Needs an update and the most recent ones have been a bit dull. Apart from that’s its a riveting read!

If it helps I’ve gone for a Fiat Qubo over having another Skoda Octavia estate. Believe it or not there is more litres if space in a Qubo over a Octavia. I luv it’s sounding doors, removable seats and great design. Was a fair bit cheaper. As you’re going for new, the build quality less of an issue. Go for Berlingo

Another Qubo owner here. After owning it for 2 years I honestly can’t understand why people buy estates anymore, a van based car is just so much more flexible. Plus sliding doors are cool.

My dad was flying up to Scotland on business the night of the Lockerbie bombing. I remember seeing a news flash stating that a plane had exploded over Scotland. My mum and I waited nervously for the 9 o’clock news to come on with further details hoping it wasn’t his plane. Still feel guilty at the sense of relief I felt when we found out it was a transatlantic flight and not a domestic one.

He apparently flew over Lockerbie about 15 minutes after it happened although he knew nothing about it until his plane landed.

What about Robert Penn (He wrote ‘Its all about the bike’)? I think he talks at all sorts of events and comes across as a pretty interesting fella. Easy to get hold of through Twitter as well and probably a damn sight cheaper that a lot of the big names. Not a racer but has just done a big ride with Freddie Flintoff.

After having a couple of dodgy looking moles removed a few years ago I now have a range of hats for the summer. Better safe than sorry.

Walking the dog on the beach in the winter has also taught me the value of a decent hat for the winter. Nobody likes a cold head :wink:

An old manager of mine told me to always have a ‘plan B’ ready in case of redundancy. I was made redundant in September and knowing it was coming gave me the chance to set some money aside to bolster my redundancy pay off and to start work on my plan B.

After taking it easy for a couple of weeks I got stuck into looking for other work whilst working on my idea to set up my own business. My advice would be if you get offered transition support by your employer you should take it as having a discussion with somebody who will be totally objective about your plans (whatever they end up being)is really useful.

If you decide to go for job seekers allowance be aware that you’ll be set weekly job application targets by the job centre. Its a faff and takes up time you could be spending on a more focussed approach to finding a new job as the job centre staff are more used to dealing with work shy chavs. Of course it does help you keep busy.

I’ve got two Surlys; a Cross Check and a Karate Monkey. The Cross Check is the most versatile and useful bike I’ve ever owned. Its also very comfy and handles well. The Karate Monkey has always been a bit of a let down. My Singular Swift outclasses it in every possible way. That said the KM is proving useful as a tough urban bike/ winter hack, mainly because it can take a hell of a lot of abuse and can rebuilt with any drivetrain/ wheel/ brake combination I want as and when I break stuff.

mate in the trade reckons they are not

Had my Cross Check resprayed by Argos Cycles in the summer. The chap I dealt with was very impressed by the quality of the frame. Not light weight but very well made.

I’m actually studying for a pest control qualification at the moment. Ultrasonic devices aren’t really all that useful according to various studies that have been carried out and apparently cats aren’t all that great at killing rodents. A small terrier would be more effective (dogs view it as a game; cats do it when they can be bothered).

Your best bet is to poison them (lots of little bait points all around the affected area) and then make sure that the shed is proofed against them getting in once you’ve killed them all (filling in gaps etc as mentioned above). The mice wouldn’t be in there unless it is attractive to them and there is food available so figure out what has attracted them and remove it or make it difficult to access.

If it is only one or two mice break back traps may be sufficient to get rid of them if you aren’t keen on poison (the best poison baits to use at this time of the year aren’t available over the counter anyway so traps may be a better bet).

I think Thorn do it expecting their customers to eventually cut the steerer tube down to a length that suits them. My Sherpa touring bike came with a long steerer and when I finally get round to rebuilding it I will cut it shorter. I’ve just shifted the stem down a bit until then.

They are a bit old fashioned at Thorn and their designer is fond on writing STEEL IS REAL in bold capitals in their brochures but I’ve had my Sherpa for 8 years and to be fair it has done everything I’ve asked of it. It does sadly weigh more than the moon however.

When I moved to North Devon a few years ago I quickly realised that riding on the local A roads was a sure fire way to get squashed by a lorry or a tourist dragging around a caravan. Not wanting to give up riding on the road I built up a bike with lower gears and fatter tyres and took to the steep and badly surfaced back lanes. Its proved to be far more interesting than slogging along A roads and strangely none of the Sunday club run MAMILs seem to venture into the hillier areas so I quite often have the roads to myself.

I’ve had an Ecodrive for 14 years and it has never missed a beat or stopped working from the moment it was first charged. I’ve managed to get through a few leather straps over the years though. Should it ever die I wouldn’t hesitate to get another.

I match your Slough and raise you Harlow New Town….

In defence of Harlow it does have cycle routes integrated into a lot of the new town elements and a lot of planned and maintained green spaces. That’s about all I think of in its favour though…

No sound system in my garage but I do have a fridge full of beer and wine. Far more entertaining…

Both my folks were in the forces and so whilst I do respect the sacrifices made by our armed forces (especially those that fought in the first and second world wars) I am a bit disturbed by the apparent fetishisation of the poppy that has taken place over the last few years. The BBC seems to be the worst offender with even the entire audience on A Question of Sport being issued with poppies in the episode I watched the other night.

My dad, who served with the RAF for 12 years, has never worn a poppy. He doesn’t see the point.

My cocker spaniel Freddie was diagnosed with cancer of the anal glands back in early 2011. After a successful operation to remove the tumour and affected gland the vet suggested seeing a specialist. I wasn’t impressed by the severity of the treatment they were suggesting nor the astonishing cost. I found the specialists were very aggressive in trying to sell their services so I did my own research into the particular form of cancer. Having already lost a spaniel to the same form of cancer many years ago I knew that it was pot luck as to whether the treatment would work and my online research backed up my gut instinct. I decided he was better off having a happy life and not being subjected to further medical treatments and major operations, especially as it is a form of cancer that always comes back and is ultimately fatal.

Fast forward to today and the tough little bugger is still with us and living the live of a spoilt rotten dog. He’s over ten years old now and whilst I keep an eye on his health he has so far beaten the averages in terms of life expectancy for the form of cancer he has. I know it will come back but I’m happy to have not gone down the treatment route, it would have traumatised him too much and ruined his quality of life. Every day with him is a gift and I’m sure he is happy to not spend anymore time than is necessary in the vets and as much time as possible on the beach. Or asleep. Or eating. Or attacking the post…

Was that the whole process or did you do any of the prep?

I just stripped the components off the frame and took it to their workshop where they chemically stripped the existing paint off, undercoated it and then sprayed it. Argos will take bikes apart and even fit new components if required after spraying but will charge extra.

Its worth taking your bike to Argos just to get a look at the wonderful array of vintage frames they take in. Saw a beautiful old Hetchins that they had recently done when I picked mine up.

I had Argos Cycles in Bristol respray my old Surly Cross Check a couple of months ago. Cost £140 and looks fantastic. There will undoubtedly be cheaper options than Argos but I’m well pleased with the result and consider it money well spent.

I had a tooth removed last week. It had died after years of repairs and then the end snapped off. That wasn’t too bad to deal with, there was no pain. A burly Aussie seemingly elbow deep in my mouth using a pair of pliers with the sort of force I normally reserve for undoing stiff wheel nuts was bad. Very bad. Still feels tender in that area even now. It will hopefully be a while before I need to go back…

Probably worth looking into TUPE as that may have some relevance in this situation.

If it’s in lieu can I claim JSA straight away or do I have to wait until after the 3 months is up?

I was made redundant a couple of weeks ago and signed on straight away. Has your employer given you the opportunity to walk away and take the money in lieu of three months notice? If so and you take that option not a problem, sign on for JSA; you’ll be eligible as soon as you work your last day.

The job centre plus people will want to see proof of your redundancy (normally in the form of a letter from your employer confirming you will lose your job) to keep them happy.

I was quite surprised, I’ve received a decent pay out and as a result have some cash in the back but I still qualify for JSA. I was expecting nowt. The Daily Fail now undoubtedly hates me :-)

I always carry a Victorinox Manager with me. It is a very handy tool that gets used at least once a day. The little screwdriver is excellent for adjusting the tension screws on V-brakes. The blade is so small I’d have to be very skillful and determined to do anybody any harm with it and the person I’m attacking would have to be very patient.

There is nothing macho or Ray Mearsish behind me carrying a knife. Its just that I’ve yet to find a smart phone App with a sharp edge or built in pair of scissors.

I’ve got one and it does the job OK. I bought it to stick in the car when I’m going away on trips with my bike just in case I have any major mechanicals that need full size tools to work on.

The tools aren’t the highest quality but they do whats required of them OK.

I’d forgotten the Bike Show was even on. Shows how captivating a programme it is…

No, why should we be expected to pay for the privilege of being the most vulnerable group of road users?

More needs to be done to introduce and enforce properly recognised driving standards in this country and provide pedestrians and cyclists with a decent standard of protection in the eyes of the law. Sadly the government doesn’t have the guts to make these necessary changes.

In the meantime I’m quite happy to keep telling shouty motorists who use the ‘you don’t pay road tax’ argument that they are ignorant ***ts.

Yep, twice unfortunately but not on the tail. The first time my dog had a tumour it turned out to be malignant anal gland cancer and involved some very nasty surgery. The second time around it was a benign tumour elsewhere on his body. The operations were both in and out on the same day type affairs and the dog bounced back pretty quickly.

Best thing you can do is let them get it cut out and sent away for tests and see what you need to do from there.

I hit 40 next year and I can already hear my knees creaking when I walk up the stairs :(

As a motorist, LGV driver and cyclist I would suggest the first rule of cycling is look out for yourself

To an extent I agree. Just because you know the rules of the road and that you have a right to be there don’t assume that you aren’t surrounded by morons. Having said that I hold an LGV licence and passing cyclists when driving something the size of a detached house can be tricky as the blind spots are huge and things simply disappear from sight. A ‘professional’ driver would be aware of this and take responsibility for the safety of those around them. It is not enough for only a cyclist to be alert to the dangers.

Seems to me not enough drivers are properly skilled or prepared to consider the duty of care that they have towards the safety of other road users. Only a change in the law is likely to make sure things change. Perhaps an online petition to force a debate in parliament is needed…

Properly fitted travel agents allow STI brake levers to take up the correct amount of cable to operate standard V brakes safely. Mine work a treat and there is no hint of sponginess. In fact the front brake doesn’t need a travel agent as the cable run from the lever is so short.

I’m a heavy sod and after taking the bike down some very steep and fast road descents I can confirm they work well.

Or you could try standard V brakes with Problem Solvers Travel Agents. Thats the set up I have on my Uncle John and it works really well. Bit ugly but then once they are covered in mud who cares?

excellent references as an exploration geologist (coal) in Aus

Most of the big environmental consultancies in the UK are busy setting themselves up with partners in Aus at the moment as a lot of the big contracts than used to exist in the UK have started to dry up as government budgets get cut. Not a problem in the land down under apparently.

The Environment Agency has had to deal with a whole load of cut backs in the last couple of years so jobs are thin on the ground there at the moment.

The renewables market is taking off in a big way in the South West right now…

Built up a Macinato over the winter. Not ridden a pomp but the Macinato is a brilliant little bike. Handles really well and is surprisingly fast even with a fat biffa like me on it. If Brant ever decided to do a version with a derailleur hanger on the back I’d be seriously tempted.

Not weighed mine but it doesn’t ride like a heavy bike and is easily the bike I ride the most at the moment.

Most of my neighbours are great but the family next door are a car crash waiting to happen. Their 34 year old son has drink and drug problems and is a general waste of fresh air and DNA. He likes to get loaded and then rant at the top of his voice about how he hates us all so much. I’ve had the police round several times but up until now there has been little they can do. A couple of months ago however he tried to kill his dad. He has since been issued with a restraining order and isn’t allowed anywhere near the house or his dad and the peace and quiet has been delightful.

The best bit is that he recently came back to the house to try and blag some money and food (and bizarrely towels) off his parents. One call to the police from me had him banged up in the cells overnight and he has been warned that if he breaches the restraining order again he will likely face a custodial sentence. Needless to say I’ve set up a CCTV camera and have the police on speed dial :D He has made my life and the lives of our neighbours a misery for years, now it is time to return the favour.

Pah, kids stuff. I threatened to break my neighbours legs last time he was being an arse (damaging my garden wall). He hasn’t spoken to me since but then he also hasn’t damaged my property again so it must have done the trick. I think being unfailingly polite for several years and then going totally bats**t crazy at him provided a certain element of surprise.

Some people will be bad neighbours however polite and reasonable you try to be with them. The OP either needs to accept the fact she lives next door to inconsiderate chavs and get on with her life or she can take action such as speaking to the council about excessive noise from her neighbours at inappropriate times (there are laws against that sort of thing). Oh yes, and stick some sharp tacks or nails in your veg patch just below the soil. Similar approach stopped my neighbours cat digging up my pot plants and flower beds. They are sharp but because they aren’t attached to anything they don’t hurt the cat; just give it an unpleasant surprise and they soon learn to dig elsewhere.