I always used to check when cold.

However, there's a sticker under the bonnet on my 9-3 which says get the engine to "normal" operating temp, let it cool for 10 minutes and then check (ie not stone cold).

Russ,

If you can live with the upstream certificate chain (there's an intermediate cert), then you probably won't find cheaper than GoDaddy at 30USD a year.

http://www.godaddy.com/

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=608&page=2

If you want a Thawte (same company as Verisign these days), I can put you in touch with somebody who should be able to beat the prices on the Thawte's website.

I've thrashed a 1.2 Corsa hire car up Ventoux and that was hard enough work – never mind riding it!

http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?ProductName=Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FX500-Black-(Clearance-!!)&ProductID=4726

The FX500 is being replaced by the FX550, so £75 cheaper.

Review : http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FX500_FX520/

CameraBox have some good deals on the Panasonic DMC-FX500 – £150.

Review : http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_FX500_FX520/

I've just replaced an IXUS 860 IS with one of these (mainly cos' the Ixus wasn't in the best of health after bouncing down the road at 25+ mph).

Does a decent job IMHO, given it's free. Best run in Safe Mode

Some malware will stop it connecting to the primary (default) update site, so try one of the others it offers. I've also seen some malware stop it installing, so best run after the ComboFix and SmitFraud tools (which can kill your PC if you're not careful!).

Ikea also list this one:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20104718

but whilst it's in the Flash based catalogue on the UK website, you can't find it by searching to see how much it is.

I like this one from the link GTDave posted:

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-fold-down-workbench/index.html

Or could you butcher 1 or 2 of these kits from Ikea?

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80091713

We've used http://www.lucyart.co.uk/ a few times. Good service and if you sign up for their mailing list, there always seems to be a special offer to save money.

Don't the bladders have a lifetime warranty?

I was just about to recommend Mr Overshoot’s bike building service 😉

I did a good chunk myself but wanted a bit of expert help on sorting the brakes and a few other bits.

I’ve got a large (original C18 offer with the smattering of Dura-Ace) and used it for the Liverpool > Chester > Liverpool ride on Sunday (almost 100km). Thought it was very comfy (my longest ride on it to date), I didn’t feel utterly battered when I got home.

I reckon mine is an absolute bargain as I got it via C2W so will have cost me around £600 all-in.

The engineering supplies cupboard at work – freeeeee 😉

That’s unlucky richc.

We’ve used our Nationwide Visa debit cards in USA, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland (off the top of my head). Had the odd ATM not like the card occasionally (I remember one bank chain in Canada doing this) but otherwise it’s been no hassle.

Nationwide aren’t charge free outside Europe these days though.

The media will start to froth at the mouth when we all start getting vaccinated…

Superb 8)

Asda were selling some small Hama camera bags for a £3 or so a while back. I use one of them and some Velcro straps eg:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VELCRO-Garden-Cable-Ties-Self-Gripping-Adjustable-60205_W0QQitemZ250435571310QQ

to mount my battery pack (though not a DX light) under my stem.

I’ve tried Zym tablets for my last couple of rides, one being 4 1/4hr adventure race in the Brecon Beacons which was pretty much non-stop in 20+ degrees.

Went with two tablets in a 3l bladder. Very subtle citrus taste, does the job and I don’t get the evil stomach cramps which I get after drinking a similar quantity of energy drink.

Hillingdon tube station is almost right at the bottom of the M40. That’s a got decent size car park and then Metropolitan to Baker Street or Piccadilly direct to Hyde Park Corner but that is longer on the tube.

Wouldn’t like to say how safe the car park is at Hillingon though as I’ve not used it for ages.

Two hour laps would be 50% quicker than last year’s night laps…

Remember your rope and crampons if it rains and the Slopes of Doom(TM) return.

Swinnertons at Cannock Chase list a Trance X2:

http://www.bikechase.co.uk/

Then you can give it a quick rip round Follow the Dog

Milkshake seems to be the daddy for post-ride.

Pay top money for the posh For Goodness Shakes ones or go for good ol’ Kazoo or Friji.

Somebody posted some links recently (on here) comparing Friji, FGS nutrion wise.

You’ll want to avoid Llangynidr and Talybont on Saturday then. There’s a Questars adventure race with the race HQ in Llangynidr, so the bike routes will probably go over to and around Talybont.

FWIW, Planet X will sell you a brand new SL Pro Carbon frame & fork for £399 or £425 (depends on colour)

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/SL_Pro_Carbon_Road.html

I noticed some reduced to clear in Aldi recently, so might be worth checking round your local ones.

It’s open warfare in the garden between me and the snails at present.

Anyone else found the nerd heaven that is automatic watering?

I bought one of the cheap kits on eBay for about £7. Had a play with it and blew the pressure reducer to bits within minutes:D

Then I found Hozelock, Claber and somebody I forget do whole ranges of hose, connectors, drippers and sprays. Hozelock have a good guide to it all:

http://www.hozelock.com/uploads/pdf/AWLeaflet-pages1.pdf

Started to set things up tonight and was dead chuffed. Just watch it all go wrong and I’ll flood half the street!

My GF got a Trance from them – no hassle, top price and quick delivery (allowing for typical numpty couriers).

What brackets for the bikes are you using matthewjb?

As part of a group flying together with Zoom or Easyjet, we’ve never had a problem with a XC lid attached to a rucksack.

I got one of the Planet X C18 bikes (SL Pro)

Works out silly out when I’ve finish paying for it. Full carbon frame & forks and a smattering of Dura-Ace for £500 to £600 – bargain!

You might also need the SmitFraud remover and Combofix, but use them with caution as you can stuff the whole PC up quite nicely.

Horses for courses. Here’s a comment from a mate that did the Dyfi:

“Also pleased as i used sis today instead of high5 and it was the first event when i’ve not felt ill afterwards”

I stay here for work : http://www.southwarkrosehotel.co.uk/

Always nice and clean, little bit minimalist though the bedrooms aren’t huge.

More than 2 tea bags per room
Decent sized mugs – sod the cup + saucer, give me a pint mug
Maybe UHT milk in the room, but would be nice to have access to fresh milk for a proper brew
Supply of biscuits – one digestive (ie sharing a two pack) doesn’t even hit the sides
Bike work-stand for a bit of tweaking
Big towels
Supply of old newspapers to stuff into shoes for drying them

Cheers.

Chris.

I use Mozy – http://mozy.com/home – 5 USD per month for unlimited storage.

I’ve got about 100GB of data uploaded now (MP3s, photo’s etc). Takes a bit to get that much uploaded and needs a bit of thought if you have monthly GB limit from your ISP.

Also have an external HD which I use the MS SyncToy to copy to as a local backup.

I got four pinch punctures in a single ride around Grizedale with 2.3 Speed Kings. Took them off the bike after that and they’ve not come out the garage since. The week before I’d ridden both loops at Penmachno and not a single puncture.

He’s an MP, so he’s not meant to tell the truth.

There’s quote from somebody which goes something like “politicians only tell the truth when they’ve run out of lies”

I think I’d need counselling not to go nuts living on snack bars, soup and mousses!

I lost 5.5 stone in weight through eating less crap and working my arse off in the gym, not faffing around with fad diets 😉