Oakley Crowbar, black with gold iridium or persimmon

persimmon as your ‘goto lens’ is so very last year apparently. :lol:

This season, I will be mostly wearing … VR28

Springvale Beer Engine, Hallamshire House, Closed Shop, Princess Royal, Heavygate Inn

Suprisingly, given the rate of pub closures, all of them apart from the Heavygate Inn are still open … the Heavygate Inn is now flats!

@frankconway – thought so … but these days pubs open & close with such alarming regularity I wasn’t 100% sure …

I don’t think the Tap at the Midland Station is as good as it was when it first opened. It seems to have lost some of its charm and become a bit ‘blokey’ on the last few occasions I’ve been in recently.

The Kelham Island area is a good call if you like hoppy beer etc:

The Fat Cat (rather than Black Cat??), Kelham Island Tavern, The Ship and The Milestone are all worth a visit.

I’d avoid most of the pubs and bars on West Street unless you are either a student or the kind of older bloke that likes standing in groups staring at female students … :(

The Devonshire Quarter – i.e. Devonshire Street/Green is a bit more mixed but probably hasn’t changed that much in the past 8 years. There’s a ‘Brew Dog’ opened fairly recently that might appeal depending on your tastes; the Washington (due to ‘re-open/rebirth’ very soon); The Devonshire Cat (owned by Kelham Island Brewery mentioned ^^) and The Green Room. They are all pretty busy at the weekend.

Nightclub wise things have gone a bit more quiet in recent years as many of the pubs and bars have late licences. The Leadmill has its Saturday night ‘Sonic’ with DJ Adam Morley – who has been DJing the Saturday nights for 20+ years and The Corporation (Devonshire Green) has its ‘Drop’ alternative Friday night

Black with pinstripe

Pleased to hear that at least some people are making the effort to look smart on the slopes these days … all too often one sees some slack-jawed youth, wearing ill-fitting baggy clothing in the most garish of colours.

Clearly these chaps have never heard of Hawkes of Savile Row …

:lol:

thanks for that howsyourdad1 … I enjoyed that – some of my best days ever have been just razzing around resort and that video captured that feeling quite nicely!

Freehand

Seriously? No masking at all?

now that is a very nice Boulton Paul Defiant John_Drummer!

I’m liking the ‘spinner’ very much!

“Age 48” – testosterone already in decline

try telling that to my receding hair line … 8O

Bit of d*ck move IMO

I’m inclined to agree … the marshalls at road junctions and everyone else involved are volunteers and really do a sterling job.

I found the support from the marshalls and all the locals lining the road to be quite something special – it really gave me a boost when I was cold, wet, tired and slightly bewildered.

There are other days to ride and you can make a contribution to the very worthwhile cause(s) at any times.

I’m fairly certain the the Fred Whitton is one of the few ‘non profit making’ sportives.

Also worth wearing one just to avoid having your beanie and goggles snatched off by a stray branch when going through the trees.

Tree riding – one of the best reasons for wearing a helmet …

Anyone on here fit that?

“Rosemary the telephone operator … could be… ” :-)

Does sound like a few of us conform to a ‘social sterotype’ :lol: !

Age: 48
Jacket: Previously Black … now Blue
Helmet: Black with goggles
Clean shaven: grey stubble
Pants: Black
Skis: Jones Snowboard
Backpack: Not when cruising the groomers
Gloves: under the jacket sleeves … never the ‘welders gauntlets’

These guys do repairs:

https://www.scottishmountaingear.com/%5B/url%5D

I’m thinking something like tent repair tape on the back then sew it from the front, but the stitches would let in water. Any better ideas?

Snow & Rock and others sell a ‘GoreTex Repair kit’ with 2 patches – you might need both of them to cover a 5cm tear.

GoreTex Repair Kit

Some of the big brand manufacturers offer a repair service – is this worth investigating?

When I was in Greenland last year the crotch ripped on my snowboard trousers.

I sewed it back up and then repaired it with a mixture of fabric sealant (Seamgrip Glue)and Thermarest Repair kit patches – one of these on the outside and one on the inside(to reinforce it):

Thermarest Repair Kit

It worked a treat! ;-)

But for that ‘dirt-bag-authentic-seasonaire-thrift-store’ look it’s got to be a strip of duct-tape! ;-)

why not just get off and walk? It’d be quicker.

Because you will have walked it rather than ridden it. For some people that in itself is part of the challenge. For others it might not be.

TDF etc riders frequently swap cassettes/cogs etc depending on the terrain.

From memory, Bradley Wiggins used to put a MTB cassette on for the mountain stages. I’m not saying you have to – but it’s an option if you want to ride up the hills rather than walk.

Why anyone would be changing gear ratios for a one off event baffles me!

I’ve actually left the 11-32 cassette on since I did the Fred 4 years ago. But then I live on the edge of the Peak District and I’m getting old …

Did it in 2013 with a 9speed 50/34T up front and 11-32 cassette.

The 105 mech does 9/10 & 11 from memory

Despite the appalling weather I managed to ride up each of the passes which was my own challenge – I was determined not to have to walk. (although I did put touring pedals/mtb cleats on just in case!!)

Lot of guff on here from those that go skiing or boarding once a year

I think the ‘once a year’ crew constitute >80% of the UK ‘winter sports’ market – and cynically, yes, I do think they conform to a cultural stereotype! :-)

so a mix of very heavy rain and wet heavy snow.

Sounds very much like the Whistler I know & love! Good to hear those toes are doing ok!

I “taught” my lad to board by letting him figure it out for himself. Just stuck him on a board on friendly slopes and let him slide down and fall over. Started on my board which was a bit ridiculous!

Fair bit of ‘counter-rotation’ and ‘scooching’ the back end around in that video – not a massive problem but as your lad starts to ride steeper stuff he would probably benefit from lessons if he wants to progress to more ‘performance turns’. Sometimes it’s good to start with lessons as ‘what people do first, they learn best’.

He’s clearly enjoying himself though and that’s the main thing! :-)

instructors prefer sunnies over gogles too when conditions allow

Ski instructors in France maybe, but almost every Canadian instructor I’ve ever met has worn goggles unless they are touring.

The Dutch rarely wear helmets but have on of the lowest death per km rates in Europe

I think those figures refer to death and injury on cycle paths – I think the figures regarding cycling injuries on the road are comparative to other European countries.

Although I wear one when snowboarding, I think it’s a personal preference for an adult: when beginning; riding in the trees or the half-pipe etc, you’d be daft not to, but in spring conditions in the European Alps when the air temps can be well into double figures one’s helmet can start to get a bit ‘funky’! :oops:

Can anyone recommend a brushable matt clear coat, like you would use on a tank?

Try Humbrol Matt Clear – but make sure you stir it very well.

I agree with john_drummer – airbush is the way to go. It really is a worthwhile investment

I use Humbrol Matt Cote thinned 1:1 and airbrushed

This is the view from the Italian Side of Monte Bianco but you get the idea … the vista, the altitude and ‘rarefied air’ @3,800m just adds to the experience. Even if you only go up to the top for the views it’s worth doing I reckon – I always have the song ‘I can see for miles’ by The Who as my ‘earworm’ :-)

Best live venue in Leeds is currently the Brudenell Social Club Leeds 6
Not too far out of the city centre (just up the hill from the ‘YTV studios’)

Good selection of beers etc at reasonable prices, Pies and a good PA system.

I frequently make the trip from Sheffield.

Mind you … I still miss the Duchess of York on Vicar Lane …

If the weather is good the 360 degree views (from different points) are amazing – my favourite being out towards the Periades & Dent du Geant.

Like Jedi says though – don’t bother if you can’t see the spire!

It’s only about 3,800m so you might get a bit breathless (altitude effects different people differently irrespective of their fitness over about 2,500m but only mild symptoms until you go above about 3,600m)

The views from the Plan de l’Aiguille (the mid-station) are nowhere near as ‘panoramic’ as they are from the top – you can only see down to valley & Chamonix

The cable car across to Italy is closed in the winter, but it might still be worth a trip through the tunnel to Courmayeur where the ‘Pointe de helbronner’ cable car and facilities have recently been modernised and extended with the ‘Skyway Monte Bianco’. Kindof makes the midi lift look a bit like something out of ‘Where Eagles Dare’ now …

Looking good Harry_the_Spider! I’m especially liking the Mk Vb!

Although I always thought that Airfix’s suggestion of bronze Hu171 was a bit too ‘brassey’ for the exhausts – see the Hurricane exhausts below

As a compromise I use:

75% Hu53 (Gun Metal)
25% Hu71 (Bronze)

And a bit of weathering ‘makeup’ from Tamiya

2mm masking tape is excellent stuff!

Yes, It’s good isn’t it?

Prepare yourself to amass drawers full of tools, bits, bobs and fluids over the next few months! ;-)

My top revelations have been:

Weathering powders mixed with Decalfix
Weathering powders dabbed onto wet matt varnish
‘Goo Gone’ for shifting sticky residue from canopies etc
Mr Dissolved Putty – great for filling in fine gaps
Swann Morton Blades – esp No 11
Oil paints for figure faces
Flory Models – Dark Dirt Weathering Wash

Look forward to seeing the Spitfire pictures

This website has/will cost me a bloody fortune for people like you telling me about awesome things I never knew existed

All part of the service! :-)

course search

Ahhh … ok. I take it you meant ‘pickup a signal’ rather than ‘find the transceiver’?

Otherwise it it sounds a bit like: @2:04mins
:lol:

Might be a bit further than your requirements but I thoroughly enjoyed my ‘Sit in a Spit’ experience:

Sit in a Spit

As it’s a ‘working hanger’ you get to see, smell and touch the work that goes into a ‘restoration’ – none of this ‘stay behind the tape’ stuff, this was up close and personel.

They also do Spitfire flights for about £3k but even if this is outside of your budget, you may well see the 2 seater Spitfire startup, take off and land whilst you are doing the ‘hanger tour’.

edit – beat me too it freeagent! ;-)

Or alternatively if he’s interested in ‘Cold War Weapons of Mass Destruction’ / Falklands War, the Vulcan Hanger at Robin Hood Airport is worth a visit

its amazing how much quicker two people find the transceiver than a lone person

Not sure I follow Jedi, do you mean do when doing a ‘coarse’ search or a ‘fine’ search?

If it’s a signal or coarse search then searchers should be spread out about 40m width search strip covering the avalanche area/last seen point/visual clue area

If it’s a fine search then I think the general wisdom is that only one person should do a fine search

shock-loading the slope with a heelside stop

I’m mistaken – just watched Tom’s video again and it looks like he was indeed on a toe edge

Obviously didn’t dig a pit, as if he had he’d of seen the same results as a group of snowmobilers up there

To give Tom the benefit of the doubt he could have dug ten pits in ten different places and they could all have told him something different, but I suspect you’re right – that slab looks pretty widespread and probably easily detected underneath your board or by digging a quick pit before dropping into that slope – the slab depth looks less than a couple of shovels deep so might only take 15 mins or so – although granted I’m making assumptions as it’s not easy to see much from the narrow camera view.

And even then, that’s not how you do a cut.

This. absolutely! Even if he had to travel through an area that was ‘suspect’, shock-loading the slope with a heelside stop from a mid-point on a convex slope is to put it mildly perhaps not the best approach. (do that from a rope at the top when you are certain there is no one below).

He’d probably would have been better on his toe edge traversing this slope higher – heading for an island of safety – but then that’s easy for me to say from behind the comfort of my keyboard without all of the facts available. I’m just pleased he’s ok and has lived to ride another day.

just got these back from a colleague, might refresh the skills before the weekend !

If you can borrow another one I think it’s very useful to practice ‘multiple’ searches. Alternatively many ski hills now have practice areas. What surprised me with my Ortovox3+ was the time required to ‘re-calibrate’ when 5+ signals are detected. Whilst only seconds it seemed like ages when trying to find all of them in under 15 minutes

Have we done Tom Oye being avalanched yet

Aye … mentioned it earlier ^^ , but it’s gone pretty viral for sure.

Sales of BD JetForce packs will probably do well in the next few weeks …

Not sure if it is in-bounds or not but at 6:38 he says “Read the signs” and points out a sign saying “Avalanche Prone Area – Enter Only Through Gate”.

I’m fairly certain that the transceiver ‘gates’ (as described by nbt) are for backcountry access [into the Garibaldi etc] rather than inbounds stuff like Spanky’s which is only opened when the ski patrol have assessed it. Happy to have my ailing memory corrected though – WB has expanded/changed quite a bit in the past decade.

But yeah … if conditions dictate, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to be wearing at least a beacon. I seem to remember an inbounds slide occurred in Whistler a few years ago in which a skier was caught. Can’t seem to find any info but I think he’d ducked the ropes, so was ‘poaching’.

Despite the name they aren’t really very “pro”

‘pro’ is definitely ‘self-titled’ but then North Americans seemingly use this to prepend almost anything in a vain attempt to make it seem more authentic.

I thought ‘Spanky’s’ was inbound and patrolled … but then I’ve not been to Whistler for over 10 years.

One of the ‘dudes’ has got an ‘Edge of the World’ Fernie snowboard shop sticker on his helmet! … not sure which is sadder – me noticing it or his ‘steeze’ with massive goggle lenses the size of double glazing advertised by Ted Moult! ;-)

edit – can’t link a Facebook Video but have a look at Zero G Chamonix’s FB page for a video of a BD Jetforce Avvy Bag in action

Zero G Facebook Page

Infra-sound is (supposed to be) very good for making people feel uneasy without them quite knowing why

yeah – extremely low-frequency sound creates a feeling of nausea and anxiety. It was used in the film ‘Irréversible’ and people supposedly left the auditorium feeling unwell – although that might have just been the extreme sexual violence in the film

lol @ ‘the brown note’ … I’d forgotten about that! :lol:

A mug of tea really ‘ties’ a scene together doesn’t it? ;-)

Very nice Firefly!

although judging by the snow and bits of tree on your ass you’ve stacked it once or twice!

Haha … and the seat of those trousers needed re-proofing! I was trying to learn how to 180 ‘pop’ out of it … with ensuing comedy falls! :lol:

Although its actually just snow stuck to my ass … the shrubbery is on the side of the piste! ;-)

Yeah I found him when trying to learn how to butter too

I like Ryan a lot … I wouldn’t exactly say he’s ‘robotic’ – he just rides with quite a wide stance and a quiet upper body – and he makes it look so smooth and effortless which is certainly part of the appeal for me! The ‘carving with your hands in your pockets’ was one of the ‘carving exercises’/drills I was taught to stop you waving your hands about! :-)

Whilst we’re discussing butter …

I can’t believe it’s not butter – [Fernie 2015]

It was a good gig! The Membranes supported and U-U-U-Utah Saints DJ’d

Anyway … back to scale models:

Gloster:

You only get an Oooh with a Typhoon ..

no NME – ‘Near Meth Experience’ i.e. The Sisters. They played a benefit gig for Simon D from The March Violets (former Nurse to the Doktor).

I was reading about ‘bare metal foil’ recently so was thinking of picking some up. You’ve just convinced me!

I’ve had mixed results with Maskol sometimes – I found it can leave a ragged edge if there is no defined ‘demarcation. I’ve been using Tamiya’s 2mm ‘Masking Tape for Curves’ recently and I’m quite pleased with it.

@john_drummer – fantastic! Really like those – especially the ’58 Chevrolet Impala. That two tone paint job looks tremendous! 8)

btw – off topic but did you go and see N.M.E. @ the Brudenell SC last November?

Personally I prefer to use the spray on stuff as then I’m not trying to reproof bits that don’t need proofing

+1 … for some reason reproofing in the machine makes me think of combined shampoo & conditioner … However a more practical perspective is that the ‘DWR’ coating you are hopefully creating needs to be on the outside of the garment where it ‘repels’ water – rather than on the inside etc where it *might* impact the fabric’s ‘breathability’.

I concur with GrahamS :

‘Granger’s XT Proofer Waterproofing Spray for Clothing’ has given some old kit a new lease of life.

For best results wash the kit first with the likes of Grangers 30 degree cleaner.

* edit – not sure what the difference is with the new ‘Xtreme Repel’. I suspect just a re-branding exercise.