VX Combo 1.5 hdi (130) auto owner here. Same engine. 10 months ownership of a 19 plate with 16k on clock.

really like the auto box nice n smooth. Plenty of pull from the engine for my needs. No issues to date.

Mpg not amazing but don’t do much miles so not an issue. 50-55 on a long drive if steady 60. Less at motorway speeds.  Averaging 45-50 overall given shorter trips too.

IME avoid using newspaper if draw is poor. You’re just going to make a smoky disaster worse. We had similar issues of poor draw and then changed from newspaper to the straw/wax lighting sticks. Not had an issue since enough heat from the firelighters and kindling. Newspaper doesn’t do same when draw is poor.

Controversial but bear with me.

B&Q bags of kiln dried hardwood c£25 each bag (coal sack size).  Proper kiln dried not the rubbish from garage forecourts.

we sometimes buy this for convenience or if run out. As bulk tonne bags of kiln dried hardwood from local supplier £200-£220 each the B &Q prices not too bad in comparison.

If can, plan ahead and buy cheaper and season yourself. But min 12 month seasoning time IMO.

Go outdoors and polygon? Picked up a new HT 24” wheel bike tail end of last year. £215 new as I recall. Might’ve been sale price not sure. Basic suspension fork and mech disc brakes.  Not the lightest but 9yo coping fine.
frame design actually takes 26 too but suspect will have outgrown frame before wheel size is the main factor.

After years of smart watches only past few months got back to rediscovering and wearing some of my older watches and buying some new (to me).

Not expensive or high end, but this beauty arrived today and quite taken by it’s looks and condition. Dates from early 70s I believe much like myself.

Flexistrip that looks like the stuff, thank you steveb ?

Only showing wooden beads.
That search led me to window gaskets but they all seem a particular contour. I think I just need a plain flat strip/roll of rubber or whatever material it’s made of.

I bought a 2nd router same as the zen installed one and set it up as a repeater. Was £40 off eBay. Instructions online and zen helpline was good when I made a mess of setup.

I’ve just got some transitions and the new gen lens also darkens while in car. Was a key selling point for me as my previous transitions didn’t. I can’t recall the proper name of the transitions lens but a google will tell you.

Still same issues of slight darkness even when clear day and slow transition. But at least I don’t need a separate prescription sunglasses for car now.

surprised at price too. Varifocal transition lens and frame £150 all in from vision express. Cheap frame mind you.

EE offer as a free add on for some mobile contracts. That said some months on I’ve maybe watched an hour of olympics and never gone near the biking coverage. Glad it’s free!

Sedona? Can’t mind how far it is (couple hours?). Did that when visiting pal in phoenix years back. Gives you option of biking or hiking. Amazing scenery.

Can do on Mtb or gravel. I’ve done both and couldn’t really say one better than other given terrain varies.

IMO Mtb more suited to GGW and the Inv to FA section. Some rougher techier bits and then amount of climbing means less gain from gravel.

If doing a loop and east side of Loch Ness, gravel bike probably better that side but not sure outweighs gravel less suited on GGW.

you’d be fine on either some compromise in whatever you take.

nice 👌

Difficult we’re  seeing it now from other angle and all we hear about is how kid Y hit so and so today. Every day and someone different being hit incl teachers. Kid Y needs cut some slack given he’s got issues and maybe it’s a response to things done or said to him.  And I can see how his reputation now might mean more likely other kids wind him up. But where do you draw the line. From my selfish angle how much slack do you give when whole class basically in fear of being the one who receives the lashing out. Fortunately our boys not been hit so far anyway. Been like this for months.

I went 2x with rival and kept same 42t cassette and derailleur, but switched to 50/34 chainset. Worked albeit not the best shifting I think too big a range for setup to cope with.

have since gone back to 1x but converted shifter with ratio mod and running 12sp eagle cassette and derailleur now.

I had similar with a nice seiko. Never got round to fixing it stuck it in a drawer. The good news after 15 years I found it recently took apart myself gently cleaned the hands (slight corrosion) new battery and all back working. Much to my surprise. So hopefully not fatal for your watch.

Decathlon kit does look good. My diy budget setup (ztto mounts x3, rails off Amazon and some wood probably cost £100 all in easy.
not so sure about spring tension if that’s how the bar fits horizontally but assume the straps are to give some added strength stop it moving.

No idea but my related and occasional pondering is….…..

are forces greater if run a SS setup on a regular hub rather than an SS hub? In my head the chain line in a regular hub run SS is further from the hub shell so more leverage or whatever on the hub shell and bearings compared to an SS hub. I’ve always assumed this but no idea if an actual basis to it. It’s stopped me using a regular hub.

Only gripe was timing on screen didn’t  show for the early men and no rider names. This was the YT replay. For anyone watching sound off meant not a clue what was happening.

Shame about the seat folding design a real flaw in what is essentially a van but doesn’t retain van like load area when seats down. Not thata buzz on my radar or price range. Like look of them though. My VX combo (berlingo variant) better for flat load area even if nil style points.

Good old mechanical shifting no app required 😉

So sram Rival double tap LH shifter will work as a dropper lever? As is or any mods needed?
Got a spare 80mm dropper may stick in the Camino if existing lever will do the job.

We bought some custom size memory foam online. Got some samples of different density first though hard to gauge by squeeze what a 10cm sample what like to sleep on. Was £80 I think and def better than the factory foam in van.

Regular use or once a year job? We bought a used basic grey halfords one for £40 a decade back. Very much in the use once a year for hols category. Been fine and can’t see why need spend more if can find a used one for ok money. Not something i can see where spending extra gets you much more in terms of features or whatever.

Ooni pizza oven. Not something I thought I wanted or needed, but was my surprise 50th present. Glad I’ve got it, used most weekends.

If the current fork is off another bike, I’m guessing they didn’t cut anything it’d be pre cut for the bike it came off?

doesn’t excuse the shoddiness of fitting it to your spacer requirements and ignoring basic safety and common sense in the process by leaving the gap.
I’d be going back to the shop. Maybe a new trainee or something. Hate to think he/she repeats same mistake on any future builds they’re working on.  You might be saving someone else a nasty crash down the line.

Agree with the why didn’t shop stop instead of continuing comment. My experience of a different bike issue was when frame builder A who had my rear wheel built by LBS B called me to say cassette locking not going on easily a lot of resistance. Not sure if just stiff or thread issue. What do you want us to do?

that call let me make the decision and tell him to keep going. But only after I’d spoken to LBS and cleared with them that if proven threaded they’d sort warranty issue with hub. Simple 5min call avoided issue and made the decisions my one.

You seem to be quick to assume the frame was the issue and the shop less so. But you’ve zero proof the frame was in way the problem.

Doesn’t need be a fall out with shop. Just have the chat with them making clear it was a brand new frame which they’ve responsibility for. Unless they can prove you or frame at fault (can’t see how they could) it’s their responsibility. No need to argue your only question is how are they going to sort you out.

I was at Glassie Oct last year and some trails were closed or unrideable (10cm deep mud that was like clay). To be fair they had a large squad working to improve drainage so maybe it’s improved since. But left me thinking id only be back in Spring/summer.

Got the kids an A9 recently. Was only about £120. For that money very impressed. Screen not quite as high res or sharp as my iPad but I’m comparing £120 with £330. I’d happily use it.

Snow tomorrow yet 15 deg Saturday.  Varied!

Got one also but only pedalled round back garden so far. An unnecessary purchase really but couldn’t resist.  I had a Sentier 27 built around an assortment of spare parts. Sold it for £280 locally* after getting the 29 and quite happy for £140 I’ve got a shiny new and better specced 29 version.

*which I’m fine with in circumstances. Reflection of the fire sale impact I might have asked for £500 6 months ago. Oh well.

At least that’s 2 folk keeping/using their bargains. Instead of flogging on (another thread, I know).

Not sure if Curtis still do pinion you’d need check. Long lead times for pinion and brexit he was reckoning mine might be one of his last.
Price wise you’re deep into Ti pricing once you’re looking custom steel plus gearbox. the Sonder Ti frame plus pinion will be a good chunk cheaper than Curtis.

Priority are Alu AFAIK

my usual obligatory pic

Rise M20 41 lbs and that’s 9-10 lbs lighter than the focus it replaced.  Very noticeable to me whether riding it or trying to lift it. Wouldn’t go back to something that weight.

Everyone different but mountain is the key word in MTB for me. So talk of 45 plus mile rides doesn’t reflect my type of riding. That’s surely predominantly flat in relative terms. I’ve always measured range of my emtb in ascent as that seems more reflective of my riding and more of the limiting factor.

I’m no lightweight but 360wh Orbea rise and I’ll get 4500-5000 feet of ascent riding mainly in eco. Depending on terrain that might be over 20-25 miles at very most. Very rarely would I ever want or need more.  Rare occasions the distance is greater likely it will not involve as much ascent so balances out.

that’s mainly in eco as I find it more than enough and still fees like I’m putting effort in and more like real cycling. Turbo always feels like a fake experience and only really used if I’m shuttling and really pressed for time.

everyone different. Really depends what type of riding you do and want from a bike.

I find a 40lb emtb so much nicer to be on and use than a 50lb plus bike. Feel quite different. wouldn’t go back.

Use here on a large coach built motorhome. Less about theft deterrent more rain protection. They are a faff to fit (4 bike rack here) I find the first use of the season takes me ages til I remember sweet spot of how it fits. Got a fiamma cover and for the money £50+ it’s still just a fairly thin sheet of material. Most also not really meant for 780 wide bars and long Mtb frames. I just get way with the 4 bike cover as two bikes are for 9 yos.

My experience of VF. First pair stuck with for 6 weeks and felt generally dizzy and just odd. Couldn’t get used too. Got money back.

1 year on and tried again. Decided I just need stick with it. A few months before I’d say got used too. 2 years on and couldn’t do without.

not unusual experience per optician.

Not best angle but can see 2 guards method 😏