Had similar dilemma when my son outgrew his 24inch wheeled bike.

Ended up doing a project build with him over the winter. Started with a 26inch xs giant xtc carbon frame. Donations from friends plus a few other parts purchases have him riding a carbon wheeled hardtail with bombers up front. Cost about £300 plus some thank-you beers.

Looking a bit hazy at the moment (Farnborough). Will check later b4 bed.

Our dog Ginness had a dental yesterday, 3 extractions! Poor boy is a bit sore at the moment.

Apparently teeth problems are pretty normal in a 9 year old Greyhound.

More alarming the mole on his nose turns out to be a Mast Cell Tumor. He’s got to go back urgently to have this removed! I am worried his recent dodgy tummy is related and this could be the start of a rapid decline.

Anyone got positive MCT stories to share…?

https://1drv.ms/i/s!Ag8Hwoz2T81urnzxTqxr0XZuNY3

I’m in the process of doing so for a 2nd time.

1st time round I ran a small design consultancy took me 3 years to get the business properly working. Then we had our 1st kid and I decided to take a job as an employee for the security of income.

This time round I am developing analogue film cameras to sell to photograph enthusiasts. Got backed on Kickstarter last year and am just in the process of building the 1st batch of 200 cameras! Still holding down a full time job while I get the business off the ground. At some point soon I am going to have to switch to full time… can’t wait as it is a business I am really passionate about. Definitely benefits from my skills experience and passion.

Needs a lot of work to look like yours.

OK it’s not something I’ve just made. Taken me a year to get to this stage. But as there’s some photography geeks on here I thought you might be interested.

“s it my imagination or does this particularly afflict Subaru’s? If so, what’s the reason?”
Outbacks have enough ground clearance to work under comfortably. Leggies probably not so good…

Apparently the other legacy models have the CAT fitted vertically close to the engine. The 3L is easy to get at. So someone will have properly scoped underneath to work out what could be nicked. Barstewards >:-/

Northwind, it’s the 3L normally aspirated spec B. Assuming your cat would fit I may be in touch. Straight pipe would be a temporary option, but given the MOT is due in March probably not worth it.

Looks like I would probably be able to get an aftermarket cat like a few have suggested from Germany. A bit quicker than waiting for shipment from Japan!
ebay german seller

Thanks for all the responses. Will be interesting to see what the insurance say once I get my crime number.
I’m sure my local specialist can do something creative, but it might be moot if the insurance want to write it off and won’t let me keep the car….

I think the combination of supply chain issues, and old model (Spec B 3.0R) mean there may not be an aftermarket option. If there is I’m fully up for them writing off the car, me keeping it and then getting it repaired.
Really don’t want to buy a new car this year, as despite having a new job lined up I want to be flexible if it doesn’t work out.
Will definitely search for aftermarket options…

Relocation options are Ireland, US or Costa Rica (although I am not sure Costa Rica is a genuine option). As others have said, my wife was not up for moving in the slightest pre-covid so even less keen now.
They do have a UK office but it is sales and admin only. Cookeaa seems to have a similar experience, they have stripped assets out of the UK parts of the business and moved manufacturing over to Ireland. Usual story when closing the deal of how good a fit the companies were and welcoming us all to the team, followed 1yr later by we’re closing all your sites in the UK.

Not the 1st US corporate to do this and they won’t be the last. The UK R&D tax credits system whilst generous is not as good as Ireland where they have chosen to do majority of European R&D and manufacture.
I am going to find out what relocation and benefits package is on offer but that is mainly to help calibrate my expectations for a similar uk role.

I work in R&D management for medical devices so there are plenty of jobs out there, only challenge is I am a lot more senior than the last time I was job hunting so the right opportunities are harder to come by.

Tried that option 5lab, unfortunately they think that is to complicated and has other risks they are not happy about. I see it as transferring many risks on to me, but hey ho. Gonna have to move on and find something better.

I would give relocation a go myself for a few years, would be a great experience. My family don’t feel the same way, which I can understand. It’s a big ask to relocate in the UK for a new job when the family are settled, let alone move countries (and cultures).

I’ll have to check in the daylight, but didn’t see anything obvious just now.

Where did you generate your top 9 Chaka ping?

Had an inguinal treated with open surgery and mesh just over 2 years ago.

My surgeon had done loads and managed to address all my concerns about open vs laparoscopic and mesh implants. Was done privately via work insurance, the hernia had stopped me running and was making it difficult to cycle in to work :-(

Surgery was quick and easy, recovery was initially very painful. I tried to come off the codeine as soon as possible as it was messing with my head.
I was walking like an old man to the corner shop within a week, 4 weeks later I was trying to ride a stationary exercise bike… probably a bit too soon. 3 months after I was cycling to work again and doing canal towpath rides. Running took me a year before I could run free from pain.
Lost some feeling around the hernia area but doesn’t bother me.

Used to get a lot of twinges but now I only notice it if my son sticks his knee in the wrong place when climbing over me!
One thing that really helped (from 3 months onwards) was massaging the areas that hurt/twinged to help break down scar tissue. It did take a long time to get full pain free movement back, apparently pain is more common with skinny people.

Thanks Stumpy, I will keep you recommendations on my list.

I have been 3d printing stuff with the kind permission of my work for the moment… You can see the evolution of the design on the latest post on my website. Just yesterday I 3d printed the CNC part to check fit, great minds obviously think alike.

Thanks for the ideas and help Rusty,
Unfortunately time is not on my side, now I’ve started publicising what I’m doing I need to keep the project moving.
Will just pay for progress… hopefully the idea takes off on Kickstarter.

These guys do some special stuff, might be good for inspiration;
Ooey

I like your thinking;

If I can get the plastic tapping screws in a countersunk version that could work. Definitely a cheap way to prototype a few.
Would probably still want them ball burnished and anodized on production version, quality has to be good IMO

I’ve re-designed to avoid tooling for injection molding. There’s a screenshot of the latest design on instagram

camvention on instagram

Silver part in the solidworks screenshot is the one I want machining.

Thanks Rusty, look like a quality outfit. Will add them to my list of potentials (currently 1).

Massive variability on the online quote places I have tried. Obviously once you are looking at 100+ parts the prices are very good. 1 off it is typically 50-100 notes.
Not sure any traditional business model can compete with that, but want to give them a chance as I appreciate their experience and knowledge to do the job well.

The gallstone one makes me need a wee

Defies explanation

I mean I like a nice rug, but this more than odd

What about a critical mass ride? If we could get 50 Or so riders and press coverage… it could all help raise awareness.

This land is vitally important to local people. Without it opportunities to get outdoors would be significantly limited. Between the canal and Swinley everything else is pretty much MoD

Osteopath was interesting, think it will help. Certainly seemed to find plenty of tightness in my hands arms and neck.
Grail gloves ordered, so will try them along with brake lever position change for my next ride.
Fingers crossed I can move tomorrow after all the manipulation.

Great tips thanks. Agree I am probably gripping too hard on the “knar”.
Riding has got progressively harder as my fitness has improved.

Last time I had two problems 340mm lens on crop sensor was not enough to get a frame filling shot. Should have tried for something in the foreground instead.
Also I practiced on a full moon which turned out to be way brighter than the blood moon. Subsequently my ISO was set too low for a non blurry exposure (the moon was moving too fast).

My hernia repair sounds pretty straightforward compared to the stuff on here.

Inguinal hernia was causing discomfort when riding and stopping me running. Had open surgery with mesh repair 6 weeks ago. 1st week after surgery was the most painful with gradual improvements since. Had some minor nerve damage that was causing a fair bit of pain around wk 3/4 as I was trying to get more active again. Surgeon told me to massage wound area and this pain has all but gone now.

Nerve damage or vas deferens damage are common issues with inguinal repair.

It’s open surgery and a major operation so don’t underestimate recovery times. Also talk to your surgeon to get the facts, people are far more likely to talk about the failures than the success.

I went for my 1st run this am and despite a few twinges it felt better than before the op by a long way.

Just reserved a Specialized Chisel Comp on my cycle 2 work scheme. Tredz have the 2018 model  at 1k which my local shop were happy to match.

Best value is the Boardman which has Reba forks and XT components. Not very hard core though… although the chisel is more xc

Yes, hoping to fit a fox 32 boost instead as crc have some good offers at the moment.

Ok, I have a pass for entry in the STW hernia club (is that a thing).

Currently sore after having had an inguinal hernia repair last Thursday. My experience has so far been very positive.

Lump appeared about 6 weeks ago. Thought nothing of it until 4wks ago it got uncomfortable and started affecting my sleep. Took 10 days to get appointment with GP. She was great diagnosed suspected hernia and wrote me a referring letter to the surgeon at the local hospital that she knew was good.

At this point I pulled my private insurance card (working for a medical co. has it’s perks). Saw surgeon the following week she knew her stuff and diagnosed without a scan. Suggested if left it will get worse, it had by then stopped me running due to mild pain). Booked me in for open surgery the following week.

The NHS route would have been the same level of care (same surgeon and treatment) but with a wait of 3 weeks to see surgeon and a wait of up to 18 weeks for surgery. I assume the wait would have an increased risk of hernia getting worse and possibility of strangulated hernia which would have meant emergency surgery. Apart from time the only other difference was I got my own tv whilst waiting to be operated on.

Surgeon seemed to think I might even be able to do a gentle bike ride within the week. I think she is nuts and am aiming for driving the car again and walking the dog. Hope to be back on the bike gently within 4wks

Teethgrinder, I did get quite excited when I found it but not that much!

Might try the dishwasher 1st. Although the hydrogen peroxide step will bleach it a bit so perhaps just jump to that.
Hopefully the dog doesn’t find it before I get it cleaned.

senor j,
I’m working on it. Going to take a few days as the images need editing and I don’t get much time after putting the little one to bed :-)

Ah hoops, nice to meet again. I still maintain you are a bit crazy commuting that far. Was a lovely afternoon for it though.

Loving the café and pub recommendations, wish I had asked for food stops on here before doing the ride now ;-).
Once my son is old enough we may have to revisit the route.

I would second what Bex says, robust tyres and you could do it on a road bike. Also there and back in a day is totally do-able.

I reckon I missed some of the more interesting cafe’s like Stan’s because of the time I was riding. The cafe’s were probably closed when I rolled through.

Perfect, a read up on intellectual property at the patent office website is a good idea. NDA is the way forward.
I agree with other people’s sentiment that unless you have deep corporate pockets a patent may not make sense for an idea that isn’t worth millions.

To be honest with you without having at least a prototype of your idea the chances of a rewarding deal are slim. You may want to consider finding a innovative friend to get the idea mocked up (under NDA of course). I would recommend paying them for helping out if possible as by you paying for the work they will have less recourse to claim the idea was theirs