I tore my medial meniscus after a pretty big off at Mynydd Du, one of the steeper Dragon DH tracks.

Symptoms included pain and locking knee, which left me lying in the office a few times when I got up from my desk quickly and my leg failed to extend!

I was pretty depressed as my sports are riding, climbing and skiing. In the end physio managed to sort the flap of cartiledge. In 6 months I was full strength, back skiing harder than before – nailing some good couloirs and cliffs – and biking.

It still hurts a bit now, a few years on but keeping the supporting muscles strong helps.

All the best!

Cutties.

Mostly pretty pointless but love doing them!

Settings > About phone > System software updates

Catching the bus doesn't strike me as the best way to avoid weirdos….

:wink:

I had a spell exactly like this 2 years ago and it was very tough! Facing redundancy at the time too, so that helped me get pretty sorted.

The thought of no income made me sit down and write a spreadsheet with a budget of all my spend
monthly: house and bills, fuel
annual: van tax, insurance, service, tyres, house maintenance, holidays
etc.

I can see where all my money goes (pretty scary!). I total that all up, divide by 12 and stick that away each month with a bit of a buffer.

Week to week I feel less well off but no surprises when the van needs 4 tires or we want to go skiing.

It's pretty OCD and not for everyone but you never know, could be a tip that works for someone else?!

Tesco do an own brand chunky choc chip cookie that are called 'danger biscuits' in our house!

http://www.companionlink.com/products/companionlinkforgoogle.html

I used this very successfully.

I created a new Google calendar for my Outlook stuff, then synced work stuff with that. This gave me two Google cals so I can turn work on and off from within my Google view on the desktop or phone.

Good first step – don't tell anyone without a non-disclosure agreement in place!

Search on Esp@cenet first, look at all kinds of prior art, not just in your field.

You can save some costs searching yourself but I'd call in the experts for draughting the actual application. One claim in the wrong order could render it useless.

Know your market. There is a not insignificant cost to draft, file and maintain in the relevant countries. The really important bit is only commit the above costs (will be thousands to properly file and maintain) if you are going to commercialise and recoup your costs, either through your own business or a licence deal.

There's a cost to file in each country you wish to protect. This will prevent sale or manufacture in that region – usually look to cover US, Europe and China/Taiwan to cover your markets and manufacturing bases.

24seven
Identiti
Moulton
Ridgeback
Claud Butler

Just bikes or components too?

I'm just going to load recommended file manager, try to get the flippin tones she wants, to work on it and just hand it back.

The easiest way I've found to get a ringtone on my Desire is through the built in music player.

Connect the phone via USB cable and mount as a drive.
Drag and drop your content where you want it.

Fire up the built in music player and play your chosen tune.
While it's playing, press 'menu', 'set as ringtone'.

The leaking top cap is due to the umbrella seal under the adjuster. It's a service fix with TF. Push also provide an upgraded seal that will cure the leak and .

I believe that a service involved oil change, seal replacement and check including bushings. Maybe some tweaks but a tune is a generally revalve or shim is usually extra. Give them a ring and they will clear it up for you.

PUSH is a kit that is installed by TF. Is it worth it? Well, the short version is:
mincer – don't bother
pinner – definitely!

The slightly longer version is that the PUSH kit allows the oil to recirculate faster, opening up the rebound stroke to stop it packing down on repeated big hits. If you ride a RS Pike fast down rocky Peak descents, there's a noticeable improvement and well worth it.

K-9 Mail – I prefer it to default mail app.
Have a look at Handcent for SMS.

For my media centre stuff:

XMBC Remote – take control of XBMC server (got it on my Mac/TV combo)
Tunes Remote – remote control a computer running iTunes.
Sky Remote Record – works a treat!
Astro SMB plugin – let's me browse home network and download content directly.
beebPlayer – BBC iPlayer

Out and about:

Endomondo GPS sports tracker
Trapster – speed camera app works nicely alongside Nav.

Sorry, yup, air makes them spongy not pump. Expanding fluid makes them pump, especially moisture in DOT fluid but Shimanos are mineral oil.

I've never had my XTs pump, despite hitting some big hills with them.

It was me that took those shots (and my ropey photoshop that measured it in 'Cols' for scale!) and that gap was massive!

I was freaked out enough just taking the photos – the speed Sam was pedalling the run in was nuts, pedalled right from the top of the hill (check the linked article for a shot of him still pushing up to the runup). The run up and jump looked mad but he looked fastest on the sketchy loose runout.

I've hit road gaps and they're not usually 'doubles', from standing on the edge I'd say this is pretty close to a chasm!

No, you're not expecting too much and I wouldn't say they are XC only brakes. I've got XTs on my DH bike, never had a problem even racing in the Alps, and on my Meta where they handled the Passportes no problem at all.

Definitely sounds like air in the brakes, a re bleed should sort then out.

Both great bits of kit, like 'em both so just read about both, pick a corporation, hand over your data and off go!

Android works really smoothly 'out of the box' if needed – the Mrs just ditched her iPod Touch for an HTC Desire. She already had a Google account for contacts and calendar – she just turned on phone, signed in had instant access to all Google contacts and appointments, Facebook updates and Flikr friends. The Google integration, including turn by turn nav and mapping, is excellent.

Another big advantage of the Desire for me – hook it up to any computer, drag content onto card and you're done. This is ideal for me when I travel as I can't put iTunes on my work laptop but can manage content through drag and drop simply from any machine so find it much more flexible.

For what it's worth, I run a Mac Mini as a home media server with Airport Expresses round the house and still have an iPod in the van and long listening sessions (transatlantic flights and days skiing). Tunes Remote on Android does a great job of controlling iTunes via wifi.

I've had my Desire a month and no need at all for task killer. Android handles this on its own very well. It plays well with Mac too – I've been remote controlling my Mac Mini media collection via Tunes Remote and XBMC remote. Very neat.

One opinion of many comparisons online:

http://lifehacker.com/5559357/iphone-vs-android-showdown-which-phone-is-best-for-power-users

I've only used endomondo so far and very impressed with it. All I want to do is log my rides and see where I went and how far. It does this brilliantly, plus you can upload to the website and send a link of for friends to check out.

I'm pretty impressed with the GPS – first ride with it this week and it captured the whole route, even under heavy tree cover.

Random Desire tip:
Alarm only works when phone is on, due to the smartphone/OS thing.
To use the alarm but not get woken in the night with emails, texts, Tweets etc, pu the phone in 'airplane' mode. This turns off all radio/syncing but alarm still works. Uses bugger all battery too…

Another vote for NFU Mutual. Very cheap and amazing service.

I'm paying £26 a month fully comp for my Vito 111CDi with alloys and remap declared to them. Private use, non commercial policy, full no claims.

When I swapped vans I had a cover note for a month so I was insured on both until I sold the old one. Free. Plus I speak to a friendly person at my local branch. Excellent.

http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/

I've got a Desire and it will last 2-3 days if you turn the fun stuff off. It does rip through the battery when watching video on 3G or use GPS.

Rather than a built in battery, check out the Power Monkey – an external battery system with 'tips' to charge all your devices.

The basic one is £25 or so, the solar more expensive but I use it a lot – great for travelling with a couple of phones, ipod etc.

Also comes with mains charger and USB lead so you can charge lots of devices from mains, usb, battery or, for eco points, solar. The solar panel alone will charge the phone, just, in good sunlight.

https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powermonkey-explorer/

Try NFU Mutual.

They were my best by far, paying about £26 a month for a Vito with all the mods (remap, alloys) declared.

I do have full no claims though.

When I last looked, iPod pricing was pretty level so not many deals. The dollar means the US ones aren't the bargain they were.

My Mrs might (very likely) be flogging an immaculate barely used 1st gen 32GB Touch.
Mail in profile if of interest.

Just drag it from your browser onto your desktop?

(Works here in Firefox)

I picked up a deal on an OS free laptop and stuck Ubuntu on it, fully expecting to get Win 7 when it was released since I was really impressed with the beta on my desktop.

I'm still running only Ubuntu on the laptop actually installed it on the desktop and haven't booted into 7 since February (beta only anyway, didn't bother buying it. It's good but the cash will go on a SSD for the laptop instead).

Maybe not on the netbook but Compiz is pretty cool, the 3d cube is great but my main tip is get used to using the virtual desktops and learn the keyboard shortcuts to switch between them (ctrl-alt left, ctrl-alt right) – not just as workspaces but 'slide' applications from one to the other. Email on one, browser on the other, it's almost like having multiple monitors.

Cairo dock if you like Mac style docks (but fully customisable).

I found this basic but simple and useful
http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html

Also here
http://ubuntuforums.org/

Skype beta is working well for me.

Tonnes of free software a click away in the Software Centre is awesome.

Ah, pipe jaws! I've got my name on a patent for a type of pipe jaws!

(Excuse the bragging. It's not often you get to brag about designing vices so I'm making the most of an opportunity!)

I have more than one vice genius

Is that like an Apple Genius? Wicked, I ought to apply…

;-)

Check out Lives of Artists, the Relentless movie that follows surfers at that spot, as well as Gallows and Xavier de le Rue. Awe inspiring…

The Goldwings arrive at the taxi pickup outside departures. I'd try to explain it more but the airport is mental! The only good bit is the 'Mr Soft' travellators…

Goldwings are awesome if you arrive at rush hour and need to get to anywhere round the peripherique!

Definitely not the cheapest but once you've negotiated the nightmare that's CDG, the fastest and most hair raising way, by a long shot, is the Honda Goldwing motorbike taxis!

Room for a carry on bag and they take credit card too. If there's traffic, can actually work out reasonable value for money as you won't pay to queue!

Another option is the Tokina 11-17mm fisheye zoom.

It's a fisheye, but also zoom (clue in the name!). The zoom makes it much more flexible and you can 'wind down' the fisheye effect, which is very specific and easy to overplay.

I love it and have some of my favourite shots from it. Very crisp and sharp too, build quality it great.

Originals on my Flickr stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gravity_slaves/

I'll have to get a picture of my South African made fabricated steel vice with 8" opening and nice parallel steel jaw faces. Perfect for headset pressing!

I didn't work directly on vices at the time they were resourced but the spec should not have changed, simply the place of manufacture.

It was a sad day when the disamatic foundry was loaded onto a wagon and driven out of Parkway Works!

Regarding materials, the lower priced Mechanics ones are plain grey iron but the engineers and fitters vices are SG iron (spheroidal graphite) which is ductile, shock resistant and virtually unbreakable.

bigsurfer,

They do indeed go with a pretty big bang when they break don't they?

I used to be the designer at Record and must have broken tens, probably hundreds of vices, when checking quality or designing a new one. First step, test the existing designs to destruction!

Mind, you did well to break it. The tommy bar is designed to bend well before the vice fails, even when using a scaffold pipe. We used to take them to handle bend, then chop it off and 2 of us would use the biggest Stillson wrench we made on the screw!

The lab had a dent in the wall where the back of the slide fired out and hit the wall when it failed.

Unfortunately the Sheffield foundry closed some years ago so they are no longer made in the UK.

Another vote for Dogtag. They do various sports cover so you can pick how much you want to be covered for, up to and including downhill racing (but excluding the Mega).

We have annual cover and unfortunately had to claim in for a ski accident while in Whistler. They sorted physio in resort, paid for lost ski days and the claim process was very smooth.

Congrats! Vans are a great riding accessory!

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/v-class/ for any help you might need on the Vito.

Not ridden in months due to weather and work, can't wait to get back out on it!

Sounds just like me! I got my first BMX for my 30th birthday and loved it. At first it felt like you describe, twitchy, then it became the opposite and my MTB started to feel sluggish! Did wonders for my bunnyhopping and jumping too.

Unfortunately I don't have enough time to ride all my bikes any more so if you're interested in a street/dirt bargain, drop me a mail! ;-)

Here's a few tips too
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2404726-post2.html

The flashing tape is very similar to the stuff OEMs add to damp panels like bonnets. A good covering is cheap and effective.

I used foam backed carpet from a normal carpet supplier and high temp spray adhesive.

Don't forget the front door bottoms as well as the back compartment.

My old landlord was a builder and also lived in our house. There were a spate of car break ins round the back lane. Landlord and his mate did a full on stake out from a camper van for a couple of nights. Eventually caught the culprit. Surprised him, bundled into the camper, bound, gagged and blindfolded. Evidently two 15mm copper pipes gaffer taped together feel like a shotgun when pressed to your temple while you're driven round for a bit thinking about what you did.

No more break ins round our way for a while…

…and after he told us about it, we were never late with the rent!

8O

Another mate caught a burglar in the process of opening their kitchen window. My mate was going to the kitchen to get his first cup of tea of the day. Stark naked. Think that surprised them both – and I doubt the burglar will be back!

Ashtray and fag lighter. Every car I've had has one fitted!

What would be useful is a USB socket for charging. I've replace the lighter with one of these:

I had a similar issue with some Technica (can't remember the model, top line tony the tiger ones) that felt great in the shop but eventually had to admit they were plain wrong.

They were hot formed to my feet, had custom footbeds and were stretched.

Bought some new boots and was resigned to binning the Technicas.

Stuck 'em on eBay, clear description including all the hot form/custom work detail and stated do not buy without consulting your boot fitter.

Sold them in auction for £135! They were bid up to £15 more than my buy it now price! Nuts.

Good luck!

To me, the rubber toe box makes them feel a fraction smaller when new.

However, the insole packs down and the upper stretches after a while and they start to bag out.

I'm at the top end of a ten in most stuff and go for a 10 in Five Tens.

Hope that's of use, and possibly this:
http://www.gravity-slaves.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6396.0