Cheers. Thanks for the brake tip too, I’ll sort it out when I put some fresh cables on.

Hopefully I might be able to swap some disc wheels I’ve got for some non-disc ones. Then I’ll be able to put a 9sp XT groupset I’ve laying about.

The hub on the current back wheel is a purple/Ti Hope one, I guess there isn’t much call for 7sp these days though?

Can anyone please recommend me a reasonably priced headset for it? I can’t remember what was considered good back in the day!

I’ve bought it, it’s nowhere near as nice as any that you lot have posted though!

I’m sure it is only a ’94 Fire Mountain.

After looking through Kona’s old catalogues, I think it can only be a ’94 Fire Mountain. It looks like it’s maybe not what I’m after.

I don’t think rim brakes and/or thumb shifters will work very well with my bar bag either.

Edit: robdob – The headset looks like a plain, unbranded one, so I’m guessing it’s original. Especially as the rest of the cockpit has been upgraded with named parts.

Sorry to be a pain…I’ve been told the steerer is 1.1/8″, but the headset isn’t an Impact. Could this mean the seller is wrong about the steerer size or did some bikes with that size have a more basic/nutted headset?

I’m currently looking through the old catalogues over on Retrobike, but haven’t found any info yet.

Ignore my last question, the steerer on the fork is 1.1/8″.
Cheers zippy, we must have posted at the same time.

Cheers zippykona, I’ve just seen they came in the same colour. I’ll have to get my tape out tomorrow. I know they were the lower end models, do you still think it’ll be worth a punt if that’s what it is?

After looking through Google images I now wonder if it’s actually a ’95 Explosif…it looks a similar colour and came with the silver fork too.

Thanks for that link Wozza. Some useful info in there. I was only half interested when I saw the bike earlier…thinking it would be too much work, old standards, etc. I’m surprised to find out the headtube will probably be 1.1/8th. I’m not sure on rim brakes, they did look half-decent, although I’ll have to source some new wheels.

Plus one – It’s definitely steel, that’s how I knew it was a Kona. No pics either, as I only decided I was interested after I’d left.

Ha, if it didn’t have the purple bits I might agree. It does have a little rust and would look better with at least some downtube stickers.

Cheers for replies so far. I only found out about it an hour or two ago, so haven’t had chance to do any research. If I want it, it has to be tomorrow!

Edit – I left school in ’94 and I remember the purple ano thing and those tyres being all the rage. My own bike was black, so looked good with purple (IMHO, plus I was only a kid too). The Kona on the other hand, looks crap! If I buy and keep it, it will be painted and toned down.

Peteimpreza – I’m sure it’s only last year’s stock, not the old stuff.

As above, a 7.5t wagon will carry 3-3.5t.
My advice would be to get the job ready, then shovel the slate off the vehicle into barrows and lay it. It’ll save you handling it again.
Don’t entertain the dumpy bag idea…use a vehicle with a tipper, even if it’s only a 3.5t pickup (carries 1-1.25t).

EDIT – beaten to it!

Stewed steak with plenty of gravy, mash and Yorkshire puds.
Alhambra Reserva.
Fred Everything’s MIMS’ Forgotten Treasures mix.

Out of all the online stores I preferred the BigBathroomShop.co.uk. Everything they sell is branded, prices are good and most things are in stock.
The prices on things like taps are a fraction of the price of any DIY stores, that’s even with me having trade accounts at the ones local to me.

Search for it on Gpsies.com. I’m sure it’s on there.

I’m pretty sure the freezing issue was cured years ago.

I’ve rode when it’s been cold enough to freeze my mechs up, but my hub/s were fine.

Right, I’ve just put grey (painted wood) window frames in my own house. I wanted u-pvc originally, but found the only ones available without a woodgrain effect are made by Rehau – of the two places I tried to get quotes from, neither would sell me them. Apparently they have to give a 10 year guarantee on the windows, but the manufacturers only offer 5 year on the colour fastness. As a result they didn’t want to sell me them and said stick with white. That wasn’t going to work for the look of the house, so I looked at aluminium.
Aluminium cost more of course, and out of nearly every local supplier, only one recommended them for putting in a residential property! There were many reasons for this, the main one being that plastic are better, cost less, so why pay more?
In the end I found out about Accoya, a treated softwood. Think normal wood with all the moisture replaced with vinegar, and that’s basically what it is. Supposedly lasts longer than oak and the paint on it lasts longer due to decreased contraction/expansion.

Make of the above what you will. I wasn’t having white plastic, and say what you want about folk not buying a house with different coloured windows, but my own house looks better than any other on the street…I’m sure anyone else would say the same. And no, I won’t post pics.

One if the links in the above post is for the newer version of what I have…maybe I won’t be replacing it with that. I’m sure I didn’t pay anywhere near that price!

I think they’re the same, as I’ve just had a old silver one replaced with a black one under warranty.

Have you got an old radio or hifi knocking about? If so, I recommend plugging a Blackberry Stereo Gateway into it – they can be bought on Ebay for around £15. It will enable to link any bluetooth device to it, and depending on what you plug it into, will probably end up with something better sounding than any more portable solution…for less money too!

I use a Gore Alp-X Windstopper. I’ve always been happy with it and will replace it with the same when needed.

You worry too much. 🙂

Know what kind of food you’re wanting to cook before deciding – it’s hard to do much more than boil water when using most meths burners and ti cookware. That might not be a problem if you’re going with a lightweight/rehydrating approach to your food.

How much cheaper is the Windermere train? I’d rather do the Penrith route you mention because you’d be following the C2C. It’s a bad road for cyclists coming from Windermere, especially if the weather’s not good.

Ah, you’ve never lived! 😛
Don’t look here!

Regarding if they make things stiffer…obviously it depends on how stiff the frame is in the first place. I ended up using them on an Intense Tracer and they did make a difference.

You could put some ‘chemical metal’ on the underside of it (like fillers for metal). Although I only use that for a temporary fix, then try and claim for a new sink.

Anna, if it’s going to cost a bit to upgrade to tubeless I wouldn’t bother…some folk running tubeless got a few punctures too, so had to put tubes in due to having no CO2.

Hope you enjoy it!

Go to a shop and ask to have a play on both…I had a list of possible phones I was interested in and ending up choosing the one at the bottom of it (A Sony Xperia). That was due to how it felt in my hand and the layout of the menus. I should add that the S4 and HTC were on my list.

You should be able to get some info from the Mariposa restaurant/hotel (not sure what village that is in), although they may point you to the campsite. There are lots of rides in that area on Wikiloc too.
If you’re feeling peckish after a ride, try ‘La Perdiz’, it’s close to the visitors centre in the forest…only give it a miss if you’re vegatarian. 🙂

I see TGStore[/url] have ok prices…they include free repairs and reproofing on anything bought from them as well.

EDIT: They do price matching too and/or have a clearance outlet.

Coyote – Member

Can’t beat a good old honest bottle of Jack Daniel’s…
…Honey! FTFY 🙂

Thanks for all the info…off to the phone shop I go!

Cheers Mike, I think that’s what I’ll have to do. The app I want is the ‘RØDE Rec app’, I can use the mic I want on other phones, but there is supposed to be more hiss on non-iPhones, with other apps (only going off what I’ve read).

Stumpy – Thanks for that. The size issue is a good point too, I’ve a Blackberry at present and can’t imagine having anything much bigger.
Regarding iPhones, I’ve never had one…I can get the 4s for nearly £20pm less than the newer 5 models too.

The thing I can’t stand is when a question is answered right away and then the thread is still going 2-3 pages later! 😕

Cheers! Just ordered one. 🙂

(I really wanted a Thomson one, but couldn’t justify it when you can get a Reverb for £160!).

uponthedowns – Member

I like the architect Buckminsterfuller’s definition.

If you stopped working tomorrow and your unearned income covers your monthly expenditure then you are wealthy.

If your unearned income more than covers your monthly expenditure then you are rich- and that by the way is why the rich just keep getting richer as the spare income is invested.

I rather like this definition as it depends on how much you spend so in theory you could be rich on quite a modest income.
I think the above about sums it up. Anyone who has a mortgage or only owns one property isn’t rich in my eyes. It’s hilarious reading some of the replies on here…typical STW, lots of folk commenting on things they know nothing about. It’s the same with some of mates who judge peoples wealth on what car they drive! 😀

I’ve tried all kinds over the years, the cost was never an issue if I thought they were a good boot. I’d settled on Grisport Contractor’s (link), and have been through about half a dozen pairs. Any Doc Martens, Dickies or CAT boots I’ve had in the past haven’t lasted as long or been as comfy…I did use an anti-shock innersole though, still made by Grisport and they only cost about a fiver.

Have you tried Paragon Tapes? If not, I’ve found it the easiest of any to apply and even though it’s thin, it’s tough stuff.

The wooden fascia board I got today…it’s barely fit for kindling, let alone for putting on the front of my house. It will be going back first thing tomorrow! 😡