I’m thinking of getting a couple of Chromecast Audios as I have a stereo I’d like to add to my Sonos but can’t justify another Connect. A Chromecast Audio in to my existing connect and another on the stereo should let me group the Chromecasts and Sonos. But fiddly but much cheaper.

All you need for Sonos is a router, not necessarily WiFi. Wire one component into the router and you’re done. Since the bridge became optional, these are cheap on eBay so it doesn’t have to be a speaker. If you have music store locally on a PC or NAS then you don’t even need internet.

Also worth noting Sonos creates its own very stable wireless network, with each component you add strengthening the links. Android phones can use the Sonos network as WiFi, so you have a range booster with every speaker, which is nice. Any other controller (Apple) would need WiFi access to the router to control the Sonos though.

Of course this means you do need a network, preferably WiFi, so speakers don’t work stand alone, so no good for taking out and about, such as camping, bunk houses, holiday cottages with no router etc.

Stick a chain whip on it and give it a load of welly. If you slam your elbow into your ribs or punch something, the freehub is knackered.

iTunes – use Google as the middle man.

Upload/sync tracks from your computer to Google Play Music and then use the Google Play app with Chromecast Audio – works on the free account too.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/1075570?hl=en

The multi room update is out now, Sonos will be watching very carefully!

http://chrome.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/even-more-to-love-about

Might add one to my Sonos line in and expand that way.

Edit – too slow! :)

Sonos sound quality can be as good as you want depending on budget and setup, if you don’t need an all in one box. Sonos Connect plugs in to your choice of amp and speakers.

A pair of Play 1s will probably surprise you and sounds great.

It’s not cheap though.

If you have an existing good stereo, Google Chromecast Audio does similar to Sonos Connect but only £25. Reviews are promising.

For iTunes library, have a read about Google Play Music. Sync your library with their online service and chose a streaming device that supports Google. Sonos and Chromecast Audio will both do this.

We had an Uppababy Vista and it was great from birth to 3, only pram we needed but also used slings a lot too. Carry cot great for travel and letting them sleep and doing something else. Big basket for shopping and folds easily.

2 friends had one, both on 2nd kid with them now.

Bought a Maclaren as 2nd pram for my boot, used it 4-5 times, preferred the Uppababy.

Black Uppababy in good condition now for sale with red footmuff and car seat adaptors if of interest, drop me a mail!

And congratulations…

Go on then, what’s your Lezyne tip?

Lube the o ring
Tighten the core hard
Don’t overtightened the pump, but enough to seal
Press the button after pumping
Unscrew carefully while crossing fingers

Relying on the correct thread of a pair to undo based on more friction is a poor Engineering solution. I’m buying new pumps.

Lezyne look nice and I wanted a hose, but I resorted to Loctite on valve cores, even using the pressure release button after tightening with a small plastic valve core tool still led to unscrwing despite not scrwing up tight and living the hose o ring. Extremely frustrating.

I have Sonos and Chromecast (for video). Both are rock solid and flawless with no dropouts.

If you are getting dropouts with Chromecast it may be a router issue that you may see with Sonos too. Maybe borrow a mates to try with your router.

£299 is what you’ll pay. Pricing is very static with very few deals about.

Would be a very good setup and a pair sound great, I love my setup and Play 1 the most likely impressive for the size. Sonos is expensive though and only really shines in value for money in multi room systems in my opinion. Needs a power plug by each speaker location which is a consideration.

Chromecast Audio and Harman Kardon soundsticks would be a great setup for £120.

Don’t forget you need a controller for Sonos, smart phone, iPod or tablet.

Great kit though.

Chromecast Audio with your choice of plug in speakers could work well for streaming from Google Play. You’ll still need a smart device to control.

The level of panic, dropping gloves, frozen fingers, fumbling with shovels etc is a significant factor

We were doing this during role play just looking for a buried rucksack against the clock! Stress was high, everyone yelling and panicking. Awesome exercise, worth practising. Just don’t forget to check the transceiver before burying it ;)

Wasn’t obvious but good to hear.

I’ve seen guides slap kit on people with no idea how to use it and head off all too often.

At least two sets of Shovel & Probe between the group (as no use if one person with all the gear is buried).

How do you decide who doesn’t get buried, or deal with multiples where?
Party of 4, 2 burials, better hope it’s not the folk with the probes.
Kit for everyone.

Don’t forget training and practice, avoidance is greater than kit and kit is useless without training. This course was great – eye opening and invaluable.

http://avalancheacademy.com/

Read ‘about’ Stuart, very experienced and then check the ‘equipment’ page for tips.

Ortovox 3+, economic 240 probe and metal beast shovel will hopefully never be used in emergency. Shovel good for kickers though!

Not very structured but neither is my riding, my rollers are great to gives me a workout when my Mrs is out and I have to stay in with the boy.

Baby monitor on, headphones on, I watch the SuperX (indoor motocross) on YouTube. When there’s a pass I have to sprint. A close race leaves me in pieces, hardly able to climb the cellar stairs. Plenty of resistance doing 120rpm in 53/13. Fit old wide tyres and let them down a bit for more.

Cadence drills
Trackstands
Wheelies

TV helps a lot but headcam footage messes with your balance

You’re going to get:

The Driving Gods

The Sceptics (including geographers and meteorologists and possible converts who reverted due to no benefit, that’s the bit only you can weigh up based on usage and expectations)

The Converts

Was a sceptic, now a convert… these made a huge difference last winter, actually looking forward to fitting them again.
Great in the cold, (wet and dry) and grease. Stunning in the snow. Will post some more thoughts soon. Summers had only 3000 miles or so on them in this pic.

More like this, not that steep going from feet position.

Individual files can be done

Use https://tapiriik.com

You can save all your files to Dropbox

Some excel skills could import each file into a workbook

This popped up on the T5 forum and lots of peolpe shouting ‘Photoshop’. The owner has come along with the full story now though!

Needs login, summary is engine faulty, owner offered to pay labour but asked for parts on goodwill. VW not playing so he got the writing.

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=690433&page=7

Toko silver.

One snake for wet, 2 in the dry.

Don’t forget to rewax for Tignes…

I think I have said, possibly earlier in the thread, that I used to work as a design engineer at Record and vices were one of the products I worked on. I don’t remember the 3c from the range or the history although it has some similarities and vices were numbered – the no. 3 was a cast iron bench vice with 4″ jaws. The slide looks very much like a no. 3 but the body doesn’t and the Tommy bar looks too narrow.

The 36 is a different beast – ‘unbreakable’ cast SG iron and a quick release using a lever and cut thread/half nut system and ‘lifetime’ warranty.

I could tell you more if you have a photo of the underneath or can remember anything about the nut or how the slide works.

Please note, this auction is for the wheelset only and that is what I have listed in the particulars.

Someone send a message saying “How much is your buy it now including the candle, monkey and iPhone?”.

(high heels, white trousers, urban 4×4’s etc) not the most practical but I’m happy to put up with the inconvenience

Just trying to picture that ensemble with a beard and brolly…

They need a safe minimum canopy operating height too. Longer handles for shorter people should do it.

Or rectangular. Use widthways to keep you dry, then spin 90 degrees to narrow potion for passing without overlapping.

Or simply a ban.

plus newborn babies sleep A LOT,

Congratulations on getting a sleeper. Points off for sensetivity though. You missed ‘some’ from the start of that post.

It might not take 2 directly but sometimes the other partner needs support. Especially if the baby doesn’t sleep at night.

Top ‘Un – Sean Bean plays WW2 Spitfire pilot in training

Looks trick already from the pics, internal brake cable routing and cranked valve stems!

I saved quite a bit of weight off a Rothan for a fiver (£123 ahead of the £/g ‘rule of thumb’!!) on an alu BMX post to replace the steel one. Looks like that would work on yours. I had to fit the seat, mark and drill for the through bolt. Cut down so it didn’t protrude and catch bumps when the seat was slammed.

Alu bolts for things like brake lever clamps if you have any spares. Possibly even on the v brakes as Pinnacle are not in tension under braking.

Drop the tyre pressure for comfort.

Sounds like a great idea but a lot depends on your Mrs and what ‘type’ of kid you have (sleeper, easy, demanding etc). You need to do something for yourself though, maybe give up something else to make time to ride.

This thread might be useful:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-dad-mtb-tips

The building in town has closed and bought by the Uni. New site is near CostCo off the Parkway.

Hendo’s all the way (NSFW)

Ladybower Inn, Cut Throat, WLT, Derwent Edge, Down The Slabs
Cut Throat to WLT will likely be a bit boggy though

This, but I’d start near Fairholmes for a warn up and pie and peas after. Set off down the East bank, can see the descent from there.

A bit of walking up from the inn but one of the best views in the area should help at the top!

If you are flexible on timing and dates and not posh it can be done for not much money, never truly cheap though… My rule of thumb used to be £100 a day all in including passes but flight cost is the big variable.

We’re “up North” so Liverpool to Geneva – from £60 plus taxes
Alpy bus or equivalent – £25 or so each way
Grotty hostel – £10 a night
or hire a car 4 ways, Ibis is Sallanches from £30 a night double room and pick a resort each morning. Pain for a week, fun for 3-4 days.

DIY and flexibility the key. That kind of deal works well for a long weekend with a couple of people but helps if you know the lie of the land.

Again if flexible and not fussy, call someone like Skiworld a week or two before you travel and they talk you through the options, staff have good resort knowledge and will find you something, have had some cracking deals doing this.

Had some stanley ones and seemed to dull quite easily.

Can you remember which ones you had?

Just to add about the weather…

Did it in June and wore base layer and 2 jackets on top, one brushed/insulated shell and was chilly.
Did it in October and wore a short sleeced base an a light packable pertex windbreaker.
Wind chill can be massive.

It’s usually much colder up top than the bottom. Sounds obvious but pack for the summit conditions, but in layers as stated.

http://www.mwis.org.uk/english-welsh-forecast/SD/

Lots of walking. Racey spud shoes not ideal, flat shoes good. One guy with us wore boots up and spud shoes down and said it was worth the hassle. 5 10s for me.

It’s a big mountain, despite the train tracks making it feel very accessible. Pack lights if going in the afternoon.

Rangers/Telegraph is a cracking descent, to me Llanberris would be a waste of a climb.

Spares and any specific tools for your bike. Tubes, more than one and a decent pump so you aren’t hanging around.

Expect there to be hundreds of walkers. Check if there is some kind of sponsored event on. Seems to be every time I’ve done it, hundreds of people in logo’d T shirts and not necessarily used to hiking so be aware. Llanberris path can be a motorway, hard if going against the flow.

The top half harder than the bottom half.

Even outside the ban you might get challenged by a grumpy walker. Know your facts but be polite.

Check the thread title in your browser – 14 other threads offering more/same advice ;) Just modify the number on the end of the URL in the browser and hit enter.

Have fun!

If it were a struggle to actually turn the bars on any bike you wouldn’t be able to ride it at all.

Wider bars would help with that.

Ok I’m not talking about DH

Erm, OK.

Except I’m talking a change to wide bars on a 26 inch bike which most likely predates big wheels

I was running 760mm wide bars on a DH bike in 2007. Wide bars predate the wheelsize debate.

t’s down to shoulder width

, arm length, torso length, top tube length, head angle, stem length, bike type, riding style, personal preference, experimentation, tree spacing and fashion and perception of what constitutes ‘wide’ – is that relative to what you had before, or anyone else posting numbers?

Hot tub in media room reminds me of the time my colleagues booked me into the honeymoon suite at this place for a joke:

http://gardenplacehotel.com/reservations/accommodations/honeymoon-suite/

I stopped to ask for directions. The guys laughed, said Carry on, you’ll find it!

Jacuzzi in the room

Lobby

Breakfast room

Various waxwork waiters stood in alcoves gave you the creeps and the note the room door advising ‘$20 per additional occupancy’ seemed like a rate in case you rang the front desk, requesting a ‘guest’ from the strip club over the road!

Memorable stay for sure…