It just means that you’ll never want to work on your own bikes anymore! 😀

I was on a welding and fabrication apprenticeship at British Steel. Even though I did all the required work for the NVQ level 3, they couldn’t give me that because you had to serve 4 years doing it. I ended up leaving after another job came up because I was told BS couldn’t guarantee me a job, and without a year’s on-site training (after the 4 years), my qualifications wouldn’t count for much!

In hindsight, I could have got a job if I’d finished my 4 years, but probably only with a small firm doing repetitive tasks, not doing the kind of work I’d have been doing at British Steel.

Those pre-apprenticeship courses you’ve posted must be very basic, especially for yourself who has studied engineering practices before.

Edit – I mean no disrespect to colleges either, but the welding stuff I did on day release was as basic as, especially for those of us who were working 4/5 days a week in an engineering firm’s training centre.

It looks far too diy for me. There are some similar storage solutions that are much neater or look better. The above might have been better if it had some proper drawers underneath.

I don’t know how they polished the copper either, but 30hrs to do it? 🙄

The problem you’re having could happen with any tubeless rim, as the tyre bead needs to be tighter.
You need to put more pressure in and/or lube the edge of the bead to get it to seat.

I’m currently using Uberbike’s sintered pads – no idea on longevity yet, but they work as well as the Formula ones they’ve replaced…4 pairs for less than the price of 1 too!

Edit – Weeksy, what problems have you had with the Uberbike springs? If there’s problems I’ll use the ones from my old pads.

Sombrio’s Epik are the best I’ve found, but unless you can find some old stock, you can’t get them anymore.

GoPro settings?

I’m pleased you’re not my doctor – You were hot, so you started jumping about?! 😕

“A cat must have three different names.”
T. S. Eliot reads the naming of cats. (2 minute clip on Soundcloud).

Tubeless! I’m sick of riding with folk with tubes…especially the ones who say they don’t get punctures, but manage at least one on every ride!

I think the problem is that Wingnut have used a few different manufacturers over the years. I have a 2.5 and an Enduro that were made by New Sun…both old and are lasting well. I have a much newer 3l that’s starting to delaminate already, that has no manufacturer’s tag in it.
As for the above comment about them being thin…they’re made from sailcloth, it’s one of the best things about them!

Edit – New Sun is an American company. I would say Wingnut have started getting the bags made in the Far East instead.

NZCol for the win! The rest of you are a bunch of fannies. 🙄

Cheers for the heads up. I nearly went the other day, pleased I didn’t!

You can hire them from here. £25 for a weekend or £30 a week.

I have a Thermarest Neoair…packs down small and works well once you know how much air you need in it. Some folk say they make a bit of noise (crinkley) but I always use earplugs when camping anyway.

If I was buying again, I think I’d try an Exped one. The one I’d looked at can be blown up with the bag it comes in, that was fleece lined as well, so you turn it inside out and use it as a pillow.

Edit – Scotroutes beat me to it.

Spin – rather than blow my own trumpet, it’s easier to say I’m on my limit when riding my two main trails, so notice any changes to my bike setup whether it’s to do with my tyres or anything else. Strava doesn’t help, neither does riding with folk who’ve been riding well for years.

Edit – I think anyone would notice a difference when trying to ride up some technical climbs, especially if it’s rocky, rooty, wet or all of those.

Can you all seriously tell the difference ??

Too right you can! Especially when it comes to compounds…I’ve used some tyres that are downright dangerous in the wet.

I’m very fussy about my front tyre too, the Minion suits me perfectly. I’ve tried lots of others but I like the consistent edge and the squarish profile. Anything I’ve used that’s rounded has given way when leaned over.

The other thing is tubeless reliability. I’ve split and ripped my way through lots of brands, but keep going back to a Maxxis on the rear. Even the Minion I use on the front, that isn’t a tubeless tyre, fares better than lots of tubeless specific tyres I’ve tried.

I use a Blackberry stereo gateway, at least that’s what I think it’s called. It’s just a bluetooth receiver that plugs into any hifi/amp. Can be bought for about £12 on ebay.

I know my simple amp and speaker setup sounds better than any bluetooth speaker.

I’m not bothered about pensions, at least not yet, as I’m only in my 30’s.

thos, Slovenia is somewhere I’ve fancied going on a biking holiday. Like the UK, you don’t need to travel far to find different terrain/surroundings.

Wherever I choose, I doubt it will be in or close to Europe. I’m looking for somewhere where living costs are massively cheaper, not just a few hundred quid a month less.

Cheers for the replies. I hadn’t thought this out as well as I thought.

I think the thing for me to do would be to leave any money in the UK. Then travel about, staying in various countries for as long as I could on a tourist visa. I should have stated that I wouldn’t be looking for work, at least not full time.

After finding somewhere to set down roots, I could then transfer money to invest. Luckily for me, I’ll no doubt end up with more UK property too, handed over to me from my dad.

Jimoiseau, thanks very much for that.

Mogrim, it would be likely to be a South American country I’d be looking at. 😆

Funnily enough, there are some countries that will insure what you have in the bank well into millions…that makes me more worried about our banks over here! The problem is that those countries are islands smaller than our own, something I’m not looking for.

Spooky Woods is OK but not as great as people make out

Well said!

If you want minimum faff, I’d do Inners, then go and have something to eat in Innerleithen itself, and then do Glentress red.

Glentress red is too short to think about only doing that.

OP – If there is such a device, where a sensor is placed on the outside wall, why not drill from the outside in the first place?

Are there any windows on the wall? They’re the best reference points for transferring measurements from outside to in or vice versa.

What kind of finish is on the outside wall? Drilling from the inside often causes damage that’s bigger than the drilled hole. You would normally drill a pilot from the inside (only if necessary), then core drill from the outside…if the hole is that big.

Edit – sorry, I see it’s already been mentioned.

A secondhand Edge 605 or 705.

You can guarantee that once you replace it the old one will turn up though.

Edit – I should add that I bought my 605 when they first came out (years ago), it’s logged thousands of miles and has been used in all weather’s…seems a bit different to the newer models!

Sounds like the Cane Creek bar-ends if they are T shaped, but they’ll be Ergon’s if they come as part of the grip.

Get the ‘Feedzone Portables’ book if you’re wondering what real food to eat while on your bike.

Most folk eat the food they do because they want it to be simple, light and/or packable. If you’ve the space or don’t mind carrying a load of weight, take whatever you want.

Remember that the more complicated you get, how hard will it be to make if the weather’s bad too. The last time I was out I just took cold food for my main evening meal…I was pleased I did when I didn’t camp til later than expected and it was blowing a gale. I just made a hot drink to go with it.

Just spotted these updates!

Cheers!

Don’t do it! Especially if you’ve only 3hrs and want to enjoy your weekend.
Have a search on here, as Greenup has been mentioned plenty of times before. I know I’ll never do it again.

Don’t know if this will help?
STW link

I’ve had lots of bother with my elbows over the years. After lots of research, it would seem that most medical professionals think that physio is the only answer. Any other kind of treatment just helps the symptoms rather than cure it.

You will hear a different treatment from anyone who has had it and got rid of it…apparently that’s just because it was the last thing they had done before it finally cleared up.

I hate to say this, but if you shift into the smallest cogs, the tension on the chain is minimal. If that’s not good enough, dropping the chain of the front ring leaves plenty of slack (I realise this might not work if you have a chain device fitted).

Following a route you’ve put into it works well. I’ve had mine for years and have rarely had a problem.

Edit – As Sammo says, make sure the route is plotted accurately. Any problems I’ve had have been due to using routes that had been drawn without any care.

It’s the old trick of do a bad job so you don’t have to do it again!

Is this any help?
STW Post

No need for expanding foam, I used some old bits of mouse mat. I guess it depends on the size of the battery/bottle.

What about a bottle cage mount? I took a Stanley knife to a bottle, then sealed it with duct tape.

Edit – maybe no good? I’m not sure what you mean by saying the velcro doesn’t let the cable run free?

I’ll look into that, cheers.