Just done 50km of city riding in Bangkok. 28deg when I went out at 06.40 and 37 when I got back 2 hours later. Few incidents with buses and stuff, but thats part of the fun… Oh yeah and the dogs, I hate the packs of dogs.

Matt.

Hi,

Can’t comment on the suggestions you made but if you are heading into Bangkok anytime and want showing around that area then drop me a message.

Regards,
Matt.

Shibboleth,

If you contact your local UK Trade and Investment team they can in turn contact their guys (or girls) on the ground in the regions you are considering and ask them to source suppliers for the products you want. There is a cost to this I understand but depending on the savings you are looking at making may be a quicker and easier source.

Dont forget that sourcing from abroad will incur duty charges at import that, depending on the product, may reduce your savings. However there are a number of schemes available (GSP for instance) that could reduce or remove the duty completely subject to source and local origin.

Matt.

All,

Thanks for the comments and some very good points made around the issues of CCTV. This was my first response to the problem, other than acting and locking the door all the time when in the house in future. I do have concerns over the quality of the images and whether they would be any use at all.

Door alarm (as Milkie) mentions above is a good point and something we are also looking at.

May end up with a CCTV anyway but fully apprecate it is not the be all and end all.

Matt.

Thanks for the comments:

Three Fish, goose is a great idea!

richc, camera is to be outside, will look at the Eyespy

brassneck, no time and lack of skill will rule out the homebrew option I’m afraid. Would be a project I would like to have tried though.

Munqu-chick, thank you.

The commodity code of the product gives the duty rate payable.

Duty on pedal cycles is 14% using commodity code 8712 00 30 00. Steveh was correct.

Duty on forks, using commodity code 8714 91 30 19 is 4.7% as already mentioned above.

Regards,
Matt.

Edit antigee beat me to it.

Go on then….

[/url] DSC00197[/url] by Orange Elise[/url], on Flickr

regards,
Matt.

Early this morning around NW Leicestershire. Nice ride and definitely warmer than yesterday!

[/url]
DSC00220[/url] by Orange Elise[/url], on Flickr

[/url]
DSC00225[/url] by Orange Elise[/url], on Flickr

[/url]
DSC00236[/url] by Orange Elise[/url], on Flickr

Regars,
Matt.

Thanks for the comments.

There are decals on there but they are matt black and inlaid into the frame at the time of layup I think. Very subtle.

Really happy with the finish and the build overall, exactly how I hoped it would come out.

Regards,
Matt.

Jim,

Definitely sounds like the glow plugs. Mine did exactly the same last year, new glow plugs and it started very easily.

As regards changing them, they are a pig. Took me 8hrs, lots of swearing and skin off my knuckles but I did it. Secret weapon was a ratchet spanner, priceless. Seriously they are difficult to get at, but you do not need to remove the radiator etc as it says in some guides, but being double jointed helps. The one that is the worse is apparently the one behind the fuel pump, this was the easiest for me though for some reason.

One idea though, do you wait for the light to go out? If so wait longer, the light is only an initial sign. If you leave the ignition in the same place for around 20-25 seconds you will hear a relay click from the right hand side of the dash (near the fuse box) and this is the point where the plugs are fully heated. Try starting it then, it should help a little.

Regards,
Matt.

Bellys,

Thanks. I am top end inside leg for 18 and bottom end for 20 according to their size charts, just wondered what they were like in terms of riders experience.

Regards,
Matt.

Thanks Stoner.

Matt.

Got up at 06.00 and still dark but a nice comfortable 26deg (I live in Bangkok).

Headed out on the bike and decided to head over towards the east of the city so rode from my place, up to Sukhumvit Road and followed this to the Bang Na BTS station. Headed right (no idea where this would end up) and rode along a nice quiet soi with loads of streetfood vendors. Ended up at the river so talked to a few locals (who wanted to know what I was doing and where I was going) whilst a guy showed his son my bike and explained about the brakes, shox and lights etc.

Headed off from there roughly in the right direction around the port and through s few slum areas before picking up the main road and then the back streets back to my place.

About 30deg when I got back, 35km, and time for breakfast by then!

Great fun riding in Bangkok but can get “interesting” when the traffic begins to build.

I ride a full sus’ as a) its the only one I could bring out b) the roads are terrible in places and c) still recovering from broken leg so try and avoid too many shock loadings and I find this eases the situation.

Regards,
Matt (just starting the day at work)

Many thanks for the great ideas. Just suggested the bike shop to the SO and she didn’t say no….

Ben,
I live in Bangkok at the moment, really enjoying it.

Regards,
Matt.

csb,

Thanks, on the list.

ben,
Thanks for the suggestions and link, will have a read of that tonight. Are you based in Asia?

Regards,
Matt.

Thrustyjust,

You probably have all this in hand but if they are beginning working and you have a blank canvas try and get all of your cabling in (and spares!) before the plasterboard goes on. I have all my HDMI cabling from satellite and audio cables in the walls / behind the skirting so that nothing (well very little) shows. Also thought about socket location given the AV gear, even to the extent of having a socket 2.5m up a wall for a projector, covered with a picture until I get that sorted.

Sorry for the thread hi-jack…

Matt.

CharlieMungus,

I live and work in Bangkok at the moment and do a few “suit” meetings. I have a decent quality dark linen suit that actually looks ok. I think the pure linen ones do, as you say, look a little crap after a bit but mine seems to stay looking smart. Locally you dont bother with ties and so top button undone all the time so stay cooler that way, also you tend to be out of aircon apartment, into aircon car / taxi, then finally into aircon meeting so you never get that warm anyway. Meetings on the shop floor, thats another matter entirely!

I often don’t wear a jacket either, just good quality trousers and smart shirts, again this is accepted and have met some very senior officials that way with no adverse comments as they tend to dress the same.

Hope that helps. If you are around Bangkok way feel free to drop me an e-mail if you like.

Regards,
Matt.

Just got up. 29deg and sunny in Bangkok. My bike is stuck in customs though so can’t get out for a ride 🙁 hopefully will arrive tomorrow.

As Simonralli2 says, not a lot happening on here when I get up/into work normally.

Regards,
Matt.

Working here in sunny Thailand too, no biking at the moment either as my bike doesn’t get shipped out for another 2 weeks!

I am shortly moving to Bangkok to work for 4 months. Bike coming with me so should get a bit of riding in.

Regards,
Matt.

I got mine from Warwick Buildings (http://www.warwickbuildings.co.uk/) and can’t recommend them highly enough.

I have a 10m x 5m wooden workshop, barn doors and normal door on the side. They are very flexible and can put doors/windows where you want. All prefabbed at their factory and delivered to site and erected in a day. Base was a slab of concrete I laid with 1 layer of bricks.

Walls are 3 skin: plywood (inner) middle breathable membrane and outer shiplap style. 5 years on still looks great.

Regards,
Matt.

jamo,

I live in Coalville and, once recovered from a broken leg, would be up for a ride sometime. Normally out every Saturday morning, local on the road bike or Cannock/Ticknall for off road stuff. Drop me a PM and I’ll let you have my number.

Latest guess is 3 weeks before I can ride again.

Regards,
Matt.

Broke my fibula 9 weeks ago and so far nowhere near knitting.

Ended up going privately to prove them wrong and me right but as local NHS are not interested (and have in fact discharged me). In for a long wait to get it plated on the NHS or a large bill if I decide to go private for the operation.

No biking or fencing for 9 weeks so far and no let up in sight…..

Regards,
Matt.

Me 😥

Pacemaker,

Thats terrible, best of luck on her recovery, hope she is back in training soon.

Regards,
Matt.

As well as the cycling I also Fence, not the stolen goods version 😆 Completed levels 1 and 2 in Foil, 1 in Sabre and 1 in Epee. Current favourite is Epee, closely followed by Sabre if I have had a bad week!

Good strength required in legs so works well with the cycling.

Matt.

rapidman,

What about a new Triumph 800 Adventure Here? You can stick to the brand then, if you want to that is!

Regards,
Matt.

MTQ Graham,

Are you talking about the route through Repton Shrubs?

Regards,
Matt.

Currently seriously considering Vietnam for a month or so next April. Never done anything like it before but deciding rapidly thats life is too short not to try…

Matt.

Glad it wasn’t just me then. I’m off to Grand Designs Live tomorrow at the NEC for some more inspiration and ideas.

Matt.

All,

Thanks for the comments….

I knew I should have photoshopped the triple out, and was already prepared for a slating 😉 .

I can honestly say that I didn't use it this morning though. Oh yes the pedals too, ok I can't stretch to another set of shoes and pedals at the moment but will do over time.

As for mung beans… pk-ripper, you been looking through my kitchen window, thought I'd kept that a secret 😆

Regards,
Matt.

John, brilliant, again first proper gig I went to was Spear. That was 1987 at Rock City in Nottingham. Good luck, wish I could make it. Liberator is awesome but closely followed by Soldier Soldier.

Crankmasher, done the Dog numerous times but this is my first time on the Monkey Trail. If you see a white VW T4 with a Trek Fuel on the back feel free to pop over to say hello. Regards, Matt

Onzadog,

Just reading about this on the Chase Trails website. The new Monkey Trail is an extention from Follow the Dog, so yes start at the shop and look for the signs I think. Heading up there myself tomorrow, planning to be there at around 8.00am. I'm expecting it to take around 3 hours but expect you can do it quicker, in no rush though.

Regards,
Matt.

Thanks scruff.

Regards,
Matt.

My dog Sally after hard morning doing nothing in particular….

Paul, i'm 6'2 and run a large Fuel ex so 19.5 (virtual 18.5) and really like the sizing.

Regards,
Matt

Jay,

I am fairly near to Long Eaton and would be up for a ride sometime.

Regards,
Matt.

Hi,
Jacobs in Leicester on London Road (A6) just past the railway station has always been pretty good, would try there first if in Leicester. There is also a Jessops and a smaller Jacobs shop on Granby Street also in Leicester.

Nottingham has a London Camera Exchange on the road up to the Lace Market (Pelham Street) and also a Jessops on Market Street. Try London Camera first if in Nottingham.

Finally John Lewis in both Nottingham and Leicester have a few you can try out.

Hope this helps,
Matt.

dogmatix,

Thank you for posting this link. My Dad died of MND nearly 3 years ago and so know the effects of the disease well and the support offered. My Mum looked after him at home to the end. Local Hospice proved amazing but they rely on donations with no NHS support. Would have been good to have the same levels of support offered by the NHS. However they were brilliant in their own way and the doctor and specialists concerned couldn't have been more supportive to my Mum and Dad.

Thanks again,
Matt.