Only need to wake the phone for Google Pay, don’t have to unlock it generally. Though higher amounts supposedly you have to unlock it but I find the terminal still limits to £30 when I’ve tried.

Barclays cards don’t work with it as they have a disagreement with Google. Barclays have their own app, though apparently this has higher limits.

Also on the tube, there’s more of a delay tapping in, it’s faff to wake the phone first and most times it would fail on first tap so have to do it again, much to annoyance of those behind. So I use a card instead. Remember to tap out also and use the same card or phone you tapped in with!

The original defined standard NFC payment system worked even if the phone was off or out of battery as it relied on a special SIM and antenna in the battery, but then there’s no app involved that Google / Apple can harvest usage data, so it wasn’t popular.

Flickr bit dead for me now and have or will get photos deleted as not paying up. The site bit outdated and sharing buttons were always a faff. The social appeal of Flickr died as the audience was too diluted and too many bots. Not sure they’ll recover that just by charging and culling photos. I share stuff on FB, Instagram, twitter now. Quality is pants but vast majority only view on a phone anyway.

My photos are in Onedrive and I can share on quality amongst friends and family from there, though not to sure about linking to a forum. I use imgur for that though.

ps Bit of a fuss about off piste from Pleney at the moment. Frenchies don’t like it.

Can understand if it’s tonnes of tracks all over the place. Gets a bit like that in UK in places. Far too many loam tracks. Just pick one and make it good. But anyway.

I’m all for natural(ish) off piste though, away from the crowds.

Just been posted…

Off piste/natural trails in morzine/les gets/chatel

Stick with Squirt.

Been using it for years now, winter & summer, dry and mud. Shiny chain every time. Just needs a wipe when muddy or quick pass with a hose if bad. Never need chain cleaner aside from first fit (and even then I now run the factory lube for a while until it’s done then just stick Squirt on).

Says about not letting it get below 0 degrees, but it’s rarely that cold in Surrey and I’ve ridden in sub-zero snow with the stuff and still no problem.

Apply after every ride. Buy the big “shop” bottle. Better value and spout is longer / easier to apply. Also, apply a good 5 mins before riding and I apply it to the inside of the chain and spin the chain for a bit. Key is to get into the rollers. The surface isn’t that important (which is why wet lube is shit as it sits on the surface and sucks in dirt).

I do 60 miles rides with the stuff no problem.

Col de Cou is a more natural route. We’ll, place really but there’s a classic mtb route, even though it’s actually a footpath along the narrow ridge. Great views. Miles from any lifts. Should end up in Champery and lift back from there.

XCish in that’s there’s pedalling and bit of climb to get to the ridge. Ridge is technical and narrow, then descends through woods.

I’d suggest Cloud Player, but that’s Android only I think.

I much prefer the app called nature though. Bird sounds, breeze in the trees. No headphones required. 😉

Looks terrible and sounds really bad for you. Mentioned elsewhere there’s thoughts of donating Ard Rock refunds to help out. Though doesn’t deal with immediate issues. Hope you get sorted soon. Really lost the cats and dogs? That’s awful.😥

All gone a bit tits up this year. Everyone got random tickets based on whatever they could get as they sold out fast. Rules changed on camping, but left it late to check the weather, then camping was sold out last week so ended up booking Travelodge (Prem Inn sold out, at least the nearby one), but then camping was available again after people asked about it. So booked camping anyway with option for Travelodge in case it pisses it down.

Checking weather and thinking it doesn’t look too bad and clearer at the weekend so might be chancing it going Thur camping.

And then Reeth gets washed away!

Understandable cancelling though and hope everyone is safe. Feel bad for the community having to deal with that.

There’s been a suggestion of donating refunds for recovery of the area. Given how much we invade the village, could be good to help out.

Dear friends,
We are heartbroken to tell you that the 2019 Ard Rock enduro is cancelled. Flash flooding in the Swaledale valley has flooded roads, homes, land and submerged the Ard Rock site. Right now we are doing everything in our power to ensure our team on the ground is safe, and we can support all those who need help. The rainfall and situation is unprecedented in this area. Access to the area is blocked by emergency services from all roads. Please do not travel.
Please allow us some time to ensure everyone is safe before we update you with all required details and FAQ’s.
Rest assured that none of our racers, participants or partners will be out of pocket. If you are a catering/services vendor, or brand we will be in contact shortly. We will update you via video when we know everyone is safe.
Thank you for your understanding.
With heavy hearts,
Joe and the whole team at Ard Rock.

😥

Get a cat. It’ll hopefully see off the intruder. Or failing that it will go shit in their garden, but not yours.

Of course it might scratch the fence as well.

Not sure there are any cards other than Amex to collect points on.

List of collect options at https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/executive-club/collecting-avios

I get mine via SSE and Tesco. Just a drip feed. Vast bulk of what I got was years ago when they were much bigger rewards from shops, but even then the miles are now devalued anyway. Also some BA miles from BA flights but those expire before I have a chance of doing another BA flight.

And that’s not just because my local black run is at Swinley

The black run has recently been logged apparently! 😥

A bell is a must (better not get into that argument).

My bell is the “towpath bell”. It’s the only place I need it. I often quote a response I’ve had when using it: “at least you’ve got a bell!”… yeah thanks for that.

Half the time it’s of no use with so many with headphones in plus the old deaf folk (sometimes feel it’s deliberate though).

Problem is towpaths are used both productively to get from A to B and for meandering, and the latter group of people see bikes as a nuisance to their afternoon stroll.

Also mornings are cheerful in my experience. Mostly runners and early bird dog walkers and generally active types who are in a good mood. Often others will greet me with a “morning!” before I’ve had a chance to.

Afternoons are miserable folk and a lot more stubborn about letting you past (even if you slow, stop, say high or ring a bell, give plenty of room, etc). Dirty looks, sarcastic comments and barely a grunt in response to a greeting.

Evenings the phone zombies are out, kids and later drunks if it’s near housing. Not too bad, but I’m cautious in some areas due to known muggings. After 10 and it’s a free run and quiet.

Depends on the towpath though and the area it’s running through at the time.

All said, I rarely am on there in rush hour, but when I am, through town areas there are a fair amount of people on BSOs or commuter bikes speeding along and often won’t slow or give way, so I can see the frustration.

Never any problem with cats. They are off out of the way quick usually. Foxes occasionally stand there with my lights in their eyes but will jump off. Had deer leap out of a bush into the canal! The main issue though are geese that take up residence on the towpath and get very aggressive as you go past. None I’ve run over. Think I’ve only ever run over a squirrel and that was on a road when it shot out in front of me.

UK has 6 years under Consumer Rights Act, trumping the EU 2 year rule.

Those are your statutory rights, not a warranty. Manufacturer or retailer warranty is just some T&Cs saying they might replace/fix in certain circumstances, usually with a load of clauses to get them out of it, but your statutory rights override anything written in their warranty.

However you get a right to return up to 6 months with the manufacturer having to prove otherwise, but after that it’s down to you to prove there is an inherent fault from purchase that has caused the failure. This is where it gets tricky as it may need to be proven to be a design flaw, but if it’s something that’s reached the end of expected lifespan and thus wear & tear, then it can be rejected.

Though a laptop should be expected to last 10 years or more. Battery less so perhaps.

Question is what is the failure? If it’s software related then none of this will apply other than they may reset to factory defaults but would be expected you try that if possible before return. Obviously you lose everything doing that, but would assume there’s a backup ;)

As said, 24 fps raw has a judder or stutter, hence cinemas have long used a double shutter per frame, effectively generating 48 fps with each frame shown twice, and the eye accepts that as smoother.

Modern digital formats allow for pure 24 fps (or 24p format), but the same problem exists, however there’s no shutter on an LCD so digital processing typically sorts it out. Problem is the digital processing can make a mess of things or make things overly smooth so some turn it off, but then you get the judder.

With my Samsung telly I can set it on minimal processing (there are various options and I turn most off and one setting, I forget which, I turn to the lowest), and for 24p sources it then looks fine without having that too smooth TV look. For TV it’s not really required though I tend to leave it on. Only issue is the processing sometimes gets tripped up when there’s a cut to a new scene which starts with motion and there’s a tiny stutter as the motion kicks in. Most obvious with scrolling credits.

That said, sounds like OP was actually getting pulldown judder which is a different thing, as it uses alternate frames repeated to make 24 fps fit 60 Hz. Horrible things occur in panning shots with that.

Boot liners – https://www.hatchbag.co.uk/

I use one in my Civic for the bike and half a forest / mud with it.

Floor mats I’ve got from Honda as car didn’t come with them. Have tried generic cut to size types before but they were a bit rubbish fit and quality.

From?

Or is this Amazon, as they’re doing them at £175. They were £150 on Prime Day.

On deposit, don’t use a prepay currency card. The amount is reserved against the card and will reduce the balance until it’s cleared off which could be a month later. Same goes for using those types of cards in petrol stations.

Generally everything they try to sell you at the desk is a rip off. Plenty of third party insurances as there’s a big market in this now. Check they do cover the car properly though.

If you refuse the hire company insurances, they may reserve a higher deposit also.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jun/15/holiday-car-hire-10-ways-avoid-being-ripped-off

Hire prices vary a lot. Aside from fluctuations in markets, exchange rates and economy, they deliberately vary them based on the day of the week and time of the year. https://media.thinknum.com/articles/rental-car-price-trends/

Got to love a STW coffee thread 😁

Oddly, I get great coffee every time with the Bialetti, but the Gaggia is a lot more effort and hit and miss. The latter can be bitter if not quite right. Never get that with the Bialetti. Though could be the coffee. I prefer Has Bean which I know isn’t typically strong dark roast, but then I feel such coffee is over roasted and maybe full espresso is a way to get something decent out of it.

I wash my ali all the time. I even use the cleaner stuff I use for the Gaggia. Though did take a shine off the surface but don’t notice a difference to the coffee.

The “Irish Troubes” permanently resolved.

Very much doubt that.

If you think Brexit is divisive, it’ll be nothing compared to the bloody mess of a NI reunification referendum. No amount of “the will of the people” is going to convince the other side, and worse if it’s a tiny majority like Brexit.

The “troubles” were in part resolved or at least put on hold, because of the open border which was facilitated by both UK and Ireland being in the EU. There is no solution with Brexit that keeps this resolved other then revoke Article 50 or Ireland quits the EU and has an open border with the UK (or joins the UK!). Everything else will spark anger somewhere (border in Irish sea, a “virtual” border, border between Ireland and EU, etc. They’re all reasons for someone to shove a bomb somewhere).

Your rights apply up to 6 years, but it’s up to you to prove the fault after 6 months. However while the contract is with the retailer, you can go via the manufacturer if you are having no luck with the retailer.

Tricky though with IT gadgets as can be so many factors as to why something doesn’t work. Could be the DrayTek modem hasn’t quite got the right settings for the ISP (is it BT or just an ISP via a BT line, and I assume it’s standard BT FTTC?).

Looking at DreyTek info on the modem, does say “ADSL & VDSL Parameters pre-set for UK ISPs (adjustable)”.

It it “adjusted”? (however that works).

Question though is why not just use a BT Openreach in the first place? I was just given one on upgrading to FTTC with PlusNet to go with their router. BT provided it. The Openreach guys came and set that up and left me to it with PlusNet’s router saying it’s nothing to do with them.

Bialetti Moka, the only way.

Hence why these are meant for espresso I guess

The ‘Express’ in the name confuses people, but it’s not an espresso maker. Though maybe they label it by cup as an equivalent in quantity, but I would struggle to even get two cups out of my three cup Moka.

Though I three quarter fill coffee part and I fill the water to the level. Quantity is more than an espresso, not as rich, though I find it brings subtle flavours out better and a sweeter quality. Also, I tend to add milk (yeah I know, but as said, it’s not espresso ;) ).

I’ve got my grinder set for it and if I use my Gaggia I just grind the same quantity twice, so makes a double shot (fills a double shot basket), so in theory I’m using a single shot quantity in the Moka.

I’ve had a cracked tooth removed in the last year, though biting my tongue started more frequently before that. Do have cramped mouth in teeth though. Still all wisdom teeth except one also. I don’t bite cheek much though. I tend to bite down in the middle of the tongue.

Fast eating could be it. I look forward to a good meal and dive in. Does cause other issues, as also guzzling beer or wine while eating. Maybe I need to spread out eating, or go European and take hours, multiple courses and take time.

It’s because you’re old enough to be a Grandad now.

Would understand it if I had grandad false teeth. My parents generation had generally lost much of their original teeth by my age. Or maybe that’s the issue, still got original teeth. Maybe less problems with false teeth :D

Is Boris after a new bike then? or is this for Nigel?

Maybe expand the options to allow parts and materials from Commonwealth countries or former parts of the British Empire.

Every leaver I know was a leaver in 1996, not just because of the campaign in 2016

Can’t say I know anyone in 1996 who was taking about leaving the EU or even talked about the EU at all. Some of them voted leave in 2016. It just wasn’t a consideration at the time and no one really saw there’s an issue.

Plenty of people voted to leave because they believed that giving more money to the NHS was a good idea, for instance.

And I feel sorry that they were sold a false promise like this, and personally feel annoyed that we’ve made such a massive constitutional changing decision based on a lie (and many others). Had the vote still be leave based on facts, then I’d accept it.

This is unforgivable stuff and I can’t see leaving no matter what will then unify the country, as Boris promises.

Original version of SRAM Guide has a flaw where the lever piston sticks in the heat. That’s been fixed in newer ones.

Actually, mentioned to cigar stuff, which was mild annoyance but it’s pissing me off last few days. Hot weather, outdoor smoking next to house and everyone has windows open so house is filled with smoke now while trying to sleep. Crap all can do about it other than shut windows in hot weather. Wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t crap cigs.

Thames -> Wey is easiest off road probably. Take in the woodwork at Riverside nature park just north of Guildford 😏.

Various off road options involving Surrey Hills. Recently explored going via Wisley Common, across the airfield, down past Effingham to North Downs as off road as I could. I then go to Newlands, across to St Martha’s, Chantries, and drop to the Wey south of Guildford. Scenic but not quick.

Road, don’t know. Peak hours I wouldn’t contemplate it.

Got my choices of 170 old Nomad in super plush set up, 130 5010, or 130 Bird hard tail.

Last year took 5010. Felt Nomad would be lovely for first three stages but very much glad of the 5010 for the climbing and came alive on the later stages.

I’d go for light, agile and pedally.

Though anything works really. I could do it on the hard tail. Rough as, but an experience. Given I’m in it just for a laugh, not to compete.

I’ve had some but I knew about them. Also they were on stuff like mortgage protection. They also sent me stuff pointing out it includes it.

Not sure ppi claims cover stuff like that anyway.

And the application fee, and the monthly charge.

Still worth it to avoid the hassle. No queuing and you can also use the express lanes where you don’t have to stop.

Decent exchange rate. Might be better than your card or high street costs with cash.

If I was left hand drive I might consider it, but even then, group of us hired a car from Geneva when skiing and others were just going to do cash for the tolls, but took my tag and overwhelmingly agreed it was worth it. Minor point though is doesn’t cover Mont-Blanc tunnel, but then then Mont-Blanc Unlimited lift pass gets discount on the tunnel, at least in the winter.

The Moon is part of Mars though, so go to the Moon, they don’t have far to go to Mars.

RIP another great. His last line in Blade Runner is somewhat fitting.

Do they own the property or rent? If the latter try talking to their landlord as may be breach of contract. Not that they may care.

It’s The Sun, but still – https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3444555/smoke-weed-cannabis-legal-uk-law-neighbours/

also https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/cannabis-smoking-weed-at-home-evicted-housing-providers-liverpool-initiative-tenants-rent-a7936496.html

Going the police route, while the above says they won’t let them know who grassed them up, it would be fairly simple to work out that the only likely people to complain about the smell is going to be a neighbour!

No room for compromise, as in could they do something to keep the smell from wafting or smoke away from the house/garden?

I’d be conflicted personally as I feel class B is way too harsh and should even be made legal with controls on supply and regulation on the strength, but yes the smell can be a problem. Legalise and turn into vape with a pleasant or zero smell in my opinion.

It’s still a nicer smell than a cigarette or cigar.

Cigar in particular. I get a neighbour smoking one which wafts up and across into my upstairs windows, which are open in the hot weather. Can’t stand the smell. Thing is, they smoke it outside to avoid it stinking up their own house, but smoke next to their door.

My only concern is giving R.E.M. another chance to write another annoying song.

The alternative is either much simpler passwords or a relatively complex password but used for multiple sites (because it’s difficult to remember hundreds of genuinely complex passwords)

Neither. The one in brackets. Hundreds of different complex passwords. Also, different email address for every site, not just for anti-spam but because emails and passwords are often hashed together for credential storage and same email can provide clues or worse if same password is used.

Write them down on a bit of paper. It’s far more secure.

Actually this is advised now or accepted as okay practice by banks and others. Reason simply being because it’s extremely unlikely you’ll get someone break in to your house and pinch that bit of paper. It’s far more likely you’ll get your PC hacked, use weak passwords, use the same password on every site, etc.

Alternatively, digital bit of paper you can access somewhere secure, but make it very secure and obscure. Using a standard app to do it and it might store them in the cloud is a target. Something very obscure no one or no bot is looking for, then better. Though the paper is more secure, but more tricky if you need a password for a particular site and you’re not at home.