Repaint…

Oohh. Now my brain cells are engaged!

nip round ours please.

If you’re local – I’ll happily turn a hex key. I quiet enjoy it!

I know, I know, this Nirvana wont last long. Tomorrow I’ll be posting “why does my hope hub sound like a ….”. Still a nice feeling today and I’m rubbing it in!

#Eidt : stuartlangwilson – that’s my normal kind of week. 51 out of 52. Somehow I’m lost now!

@chewkw – to be clear – my comments were about the 5 blade ones. And my knowledge of this is purely regurgating Which’s review. Apart from the King of Shaves ones which I can testify before a court – are crap based on experience.

I’d agree with most of the above apart from:

In South Africa I suppose it’s a majority sport, isn’t it?

I’ve only been to SA a few times, but rugby is the educated man’s sport. Therefore it’s aspirational. Soccer is the poor man’s sport. The national pride in a South African doing well, or it’s team’s, is gobsmacking.

This aspirational difference may be visible in other countries, but in SA it’s tangible and impossible to not get behind (if that makes sense?)

I’ve only been to NZ once so cant really comment.

Mmm. I did mention marital bliss. 5 bikes is 4 too many apparently, but maybe?

No worries.

You’ve prompted me to check the reviews and prices on what I’ve bought over the years – christ prices have gone up even more than mountain bike stuff! It’s insane! I can probably sell my used stuff for what I bought them for 🙂

#Edit – I forgot to mention: for the Edinburgh locals – one of the best headphone suppliers I’ve had the pleasure or coming across works from Ocean Terminal (and ebay), called Advanced MP3 (they carry buds for old phones that they sold you etc). And no – they are nothing to do with me.

Anyone tried the King of Shaves razors?

Genuine rubbish.

I’ve no great brand affinity – but which magazine rate wilky sword diamond (3 blade) as the best mans razor. I cant argue. They disliked the Gilette 5 blade ones on cost – and too broad a cutting area and too much slime left on the skin. Also I can get the wilky’s on ebay for cheap and they withstand my stubble for about 3 weeks per blade. Apparently almost all ebay Gilettes are counterfeit?

STW is this like mumsnet now????

Sadly most cx300’s seem to be counterfeit nowadays. I know – my originals vs my ebay ones were chalk and cheese.

I’d go here: http://www.headphonereviews.org/recommendations.php

This is a heavily moderated review site: when you or I review something a mod automatically challenges your review and asks about what you compare stuff to, justify etc etc. Overall – this is a really good start point.

I got some shures’s and ultimate ears based on these reviews, along with some sennheisers for the home and a valve headphone amp. Sad – in one way I guess. But thats how I get to listen to music nowadays.

No responses as yet. I’ll try the phone again on Monday. I still fancy GT on Wednesday – even if I’m driving. Anyone else?

Stu_n : I’ll pass that on too. Thanks for the constructive input.

Stu_n : I’ve emailed them and will phone them tomorrow. I’ll pass on that bit about haymarket – links.

when do they come back?

I’m going to call them tomorrow and have a chat. I’ll post up here the outcome.

I know – I know. If there is enough interest I’m kind of hoping we could peruade the owner to go a bit later. In the meantime I’ve got a van that can take a dozen bikes (only one passenger though 😉 )

#edit -TJ- your tandem will easily fit in my van. Maybe front wheel off. But you are more than welcome.

I’ve had the good luck to do my driving test 4+ times.

1st motorbike at 17 (Ireland) – failed first time, passed second.

2nd – car at 18 (Ireland). Passed.

3rd – car (uk) at 25 – passed.

4th – motorbike (uk) 26 – passed.

IAM / police thingy – 32 – pass.

My BIL teaches blues and 2’s for a living. His only instant blocker for anyone getting an advanced test is – an unwillingness to learn. Simple. If during an advanced test he says “that was a bit close” – never ever get near doing that again. Ever. The normal driving test is the same – your tester is getting tense near a T-juction, you should know / learn that you’ve fkd up. If you mess up – say so.

Lastly – the day you pass your test is the day you really start to learn. And if you drive for a living expect the police to be stricter than a head teacher on you about rules and regs (inc tyres, load limits etc etc).

If your forks have long butt ugly sticks with the bolt holes pointing toward the rear of the bike then you got post mount.

If you got shorter sticks with bolt holes pointing toward the left of the fork then you got the better ( 😉 ) IS mount.

Noone’s mentioned Skye yet?? I brought my mum there and stayed in a cottage (although modern had a woodburer and every board game ever made) and she thought it was heaven. My missus loved it too, but had to leave early. The seals turning every evening in the loch was the ‘timekeeper’ for the holiday. Also FAB biking nearbly.

@billyboulders- I’m taking the mickey! I’m always impressed by close shaves – we’re meant to be here still or something.

Only – expect (and be prepared for) setbacks. At the worst possible moments.

#edit – oh and relax. Apparently. That’s the hard bit for the grown ups.

Me too for an Aldi £5 job on a really cold day. The snag is that on a non freezing day they feel damp / wet inside – basically they are some marigolds (do they still sell them?) with some insulation on the outside.

Overall – on a proper cold day (and I suffer from really cold hands) they are the dogs.

For inbetween days I’ve got some Gore WS ones that are great. Warm when wet – only get wet in all day rain. If in doubt – that’s what I wear.

Endura’s winter gloves are for winters in Dubai – ie never rains and temp gets down to 20C! Mini rant of mine that is 😉

3 things.

1: wtf are you doing standing there just videoing the ground.
2: I’d be properly browning up my pants if that was my local route.
3: If you were wearing a helmet you’d be fine.

As as an afterthought – what tyres for an earth implosion?

This happenend on my first bastid. Maplin connectors are the same size but not weather proof and very loose.

Best fix I found was to by a magicshine extension cable (or even better a splitter cable as this gives you a spare female), cut this in two and use it as pig tails onto the original wires.

A bit of a warning – do not cut through the battery side of the original cable all in one go (eg with a scissors). You will short the battery and the spark is pretty. You should strip the outer wire and cut the plus and minus separatly.

Solder, heatshrink, self amalgamating tape and you’re good to go.

Welcome to the forum mmigit. Will I click on that link or not?

Good luck with that.

Yes they are sanctamonious feckers.

When they pick you for this “special” treatment it can work out as a real pita (well for me it did – in the end I just had to open a new account with a different card).

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Transmission++Gears/Pedals-+MTB/Shimano+Pedals/Shimano+M520+SPD+Pedals_720.htm

Sign up for the newsletter and get 10% off everything. Also an offer on til the 9th(iirc?) to get an extra 10% off.

Fitting cleats is easy. A 4mm allen key, take insoles out, fit plate inside, cleat outside, bolt up loose-ish and try for pedal position / comfort. Then tighen up. Dont forget to copaslip / grease the wee bolts or you’ll never get them out in a years time.

Thats a good combination. Only thing missing are some strong legs and a bike! M520’s possibly cheaper from merlin with vip discount and their latest 10% off offer.

Advice – practice day dreaming and unclipping somewhere with a soft landing. You will need it!

Why not suitable for bikes?

If this is like last years (looks like it) its a 1/2 drive with some proper big sockets:

3 x sockets 17, 19 and 21mm

It’s aimed at torquing up your car wheels – ie proper heaving into the 18″ bar before it clicks.

For a bike something in the range of 2NM – 12NM is ideal. As a guide it should probably be a 1/4 or at most a 3/8 drive. Something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Torque-Wrench-Micrometer-2-24Nm-1-47-17-70lb-ft/dp/B000RO1ZCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309218049&sr=8-1

One of the few to fit me: Specialized Max (up to 64cm – possibly a bit bigger in reality).

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f_ProductID=11394&f_FullProductVersion=1

Check all the connections on the hoses and lance are fitted properly. It’ll keep pumping if it’s losing any pressure at all.

I’ve checked and double checked this. There is no water leaking anywhere – or any hissing noises.

make sure the engine is running or you will get this happening

I tried that too – the pump / spray is more powerful for sure with the engine running but it still doesnt cut out. I also tried another car.

Thanks for the replies!

Thanks old_mtber.

I’m off to google the wiggle warranty procedure.

Obviously it’s not suitable for anything on a bike (cars wheels etc yes). Apart from that I cant help you – sorry.

We regularly see overnighters in the Pentlands – but I’m not sure if it’s encouraged.

If I had a car to leave – and want to cycle an interesting route I’d park at Nine Mile Burn (houses nearbly, no neds etc) and follow the circular route North initially – towards the usual reseviors and trails. Lots of shade from the wind, no military action, but be aware of lots of farmer activity and possible sensitivity.

But I’ve never done it. However as an early morning walker and biker – that’s where’s I’d choose to be unobtrusive.

#Edit:
Rougly- around here (and the if you click on steet view the weather is always like this!):
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Nine+Mile+Burn&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x4887c2097e386a79:0x260c681aff2fe5d1,Nine+Mile+Burn,+Penicuik,+Midlothian&gl=uk&ei=X5yLTr_zDpSv8QOBy_HRBg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q8gEwAA

roz31573

TBH Roz – to register and come on here with a first post with a stong view will be seen as preachy / spammy /a PR exercise.

I dont know if you are right or wrong.

Another Whyte fan here, although for 19’s. I dont know if your budget allows that. A really nicely thought out range of bikes, no major faults in hardtails (that I’ve heard of) and really good backup from what I’ve heard (never needed personally). I’m glad I own one.

The others mentioned in your price range will also be very good. Consider yourself lucky so have such good taste 😉

That’s 1.5 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Bast****.

My missus and her mates think I’m a certifiable nutter for going mountain biking in the dark. Whats unusual for one man is a necessity for another (or meat vs poison). etc etc.

Tayto. Still excellent 40 years later.

My Mrs goes mad with me wanting to fix things when what she really wants is me to sit and just listen to her whine on.

Men are from mars, women from venus. Sadly, we should all re-read this book. Or to save 7.99 – Women want to blab / whitter, men want to fix.
Happy woman = man listens. Happy man = woman understands fixing need.

Weight forward – elbows out, twist into turns- beats any tyre argument any day.

Indeed that is a bargain 😉

Mine was done 3 weeks ago for 49.99- It now leaks again and is no longer cold again.

Kwit fit “customer services” say – it worked on the day we fixed it, something else is broken.

I kicked up a stink – they found lots of luminous stuff leaking from the radiator. Repair cost is now more the the car’s value.

Just a cautionary tale I guess – they fix it, it works, get their cash and if its as leaky as a sieve well – they still want their 49.99.

I’m guessing the btwin branded stuff is Decathlons own brand?

Personally I have no experice of them but as a reguar(ish) bike swapper – ime – own brands depreciate rapidly / can be really difficult to sell (apart from halford’s boardman). On the other hand – whether or not it’s actually cheaper (compared to mainstream brands) in the long run – I’m not sure. If you’re keeping this forever then that’s not an issue.

Personally(again), for me from your list, Cube. Also, if you have a problem with a frame crack etc do you really want to be arguing with a disinterested teenager in Decathlon on a Saturday.

It’s your cash though.

Now that is pretty random!

WFT were you searching for to come across that?

Sorry I missed this one. Needed back early so ended up in GT wishing I’d brought more water. Seriously warm eh?

And who added the tag above?