Unless you happen to be exceedingly tall or exceedingly short – nae chance.

(And that was what LBS in next village told me several weeks ago about even getting hold of a new bike.)

Rapanui do some decent ones

They do some nice designs but the quality and longevity of the printing is, from my experiences, poor; I’ve never had t-shirts where the design has faded so quickly. And, yes, I do wash them all carefully and they don’t get tumble dried.

I have some Husky Organic t-shirts that I remember buying at Fort Bill WC ten or so years ago and they’re still going strong; alas the company is no more but they were selling off stock on eBay and I bought some more a few months ago. Far more sustainable that Rapanui, arguably.

To me that sounds like they are off to work for a bigger competitor/retailer.

These micro brands can be an incredibly small operations. Have enough contacts in the business to know which factory Rapha get their kit made in, employ a designer for a week or two to run up some technical flats, a factory visit and you are up and running (I’m simplifying but not a lot). After that it could be just one or two employees (inthis case maybe one or two in Aus and one here acting as a sole agent). It would be interesting to know where Mark Webber fits into this – did they approach him, did they pay him to be a brand ambassador, was he an investor?

I know the name of the chap behind the UK operation as he used a differennt email address when I dealt with him to get the XL bibshorts that he’d had returned; I was nosey so Googled him and he’s certainly what I’d consider a ‘high flier’ from what I could see, besides a keen and very capable cyclist. I’ve replied and wished him all the best for the future.

Hmm… a shame. Guess I misinterpreted what they said “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”!

For our council, the ‘waxed’ carton Tetrapak and OJ cartons have to go in the plastics recycling tub rather than the cardboard one…

I despair at the amount of plastic used for food packaging.

I spoke to the guy selling the bibshorts, but he’s more focused on the RRP rather than what he paid for them…

Had a feeling folk might be doing that… :-/

I could happily pay for letting them break even after eBay takes commission, maybe a bit more… depends what they’re worth too you I guess. They are bloody good shorts, mind.

Hopefully, they will be lauching new lines but I fear that the prices are indicative that they’re closing down.

When I emailed them to ask if by any chance they had any XL bibshorts returned as they didn’t fit (they did, so I bit their hands off!) I asked if the sale meant the end of them in the UK and this was what they said:

“Good questions regarding Aussie Grit Apparel; at the moment it’s a case of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” regarding the sale, and we’re busy planning for the future.”

If anyone’s after Large bibshorts or ladies gilet there’s one of each on eBay, new.

Another Mazda 3 owner here; 2017 2.0 SE Nav petrol. Got it pre-registered from Arnold Clark, one the largest Scottish dealers – the deal was a no-brainer.

A very relaxing drive and I do like Mazda’s philosophy of putting the right engine in the car; bigger engine, non-turbo, for that size – so isn’t at all frantic or stressed. Get 42mpg on average, and thats using my OCD spreadsheet not what the car thinks, including swapping over to steel rims and winter tyres from October to April.

I wholly second what @wombat says about the handling; reviews always said that it had great ‘turn in’.

Would happily stick with Mazda; I did in fact start considering the new one just before lockdown as they were again offering tempting deals but I think I’ll keep this one for a few years now I’ve paid for it.

Though I’d nearly run out of stuff to watch on Prime too!

Have you seen ‘7500’ yet? Not sci-fi but one of the best films I’ve seen in a while, and another film bankrolled by Amazon.

I’ve realised that I’ve bought the ones @Onzadog mentioned, not the ones that @Creg mentioned…

Bought an XL Light Gilet on eBay yesterday, brand new with tags, for £24 posted – was genuinely surprised to find that I was the sole bidder. Also have another pair of XL bibshorts on the way… I think I’ve bought enough Aussie Grit bike wear to keep me going for a year or two!

My second order from them arrived today and, again, I’m immensely pleased. The flint shell jacket is outstandingly well designed and made and an absolute bargain at £35, the XL fits me perfectly. Also ordered a merino beanie and some socks to get free delivery but they were worth getting in any case.

As someone above has said, thanks again to the OP @LeeW

Not clothing but do I have a Karrimor Hot… 30?… rucksack from the mid-90’s. It was a more affordable version of the Hot Ice pack.

In fact I think that is, aside from a few personal trinkets and one pair of shoes, one of the oldest possessions I still have – bearing in mind I moved 400miles in 2002 with nothing more than what I could fit in the back of a 2dr Yaris!

Treat yourself to a new bike and treat a homeless rescue dog to a permanent home?

Or you’re happy carrying it for seven hours.

Not that they are easy to carry, bit of an awkward shape.

Had to spit some coffee back into the mug reading that @chakaping!

Our two:

So are Whippets happy with very long arduous walks?

No, we have two whippets and I’d say that eight hours is way too much; they simply don’t have the energy reserves – nor the insulation. His pads and paws may not cope with the terrain for that length of time.

Discovered a few days ago that with MS Teams you can have it change your background for you; has numerous of its own – or you can upload your own.

Someone asked similar the other day:

Help picking £350 29er wheels

Got me looking at fitwheels.eu in earnest and I’m still undecided what to go for; they do offer the DY Swiss ratchet upgrade at a no-brainer cost.

The Spartan OdPod will keep the bicycle upright with either wheel removed and you can rotate the pedals too for any bike maintenance – received one a few days ago:

https://www.spartancss.co.uk/product-page/odpod

I get to play with the real thing. 😎

@cobrakai – Air traffic controller..? (Or pilot?!)

Flightradar24 Is so passé, daahlings – https://tar1090.adsbexchange.com/ is where its at.

(Don’t think available as an app but does show military aircraft.)

EDIT: Nevermind…

Wow. The Ignite 2 in 1 bibs arrived this morning and I wore them on a ride this afternoon; immensely comfortable. I had ordered the gilet too but that was cancelled off the order but I still got free delivery.

If anyone has the XL and finds them too big I’ll take them off your hands!

LOL…… Makita or Bosch?

Hilti.

Look at the neat holes their tools made at Hatton Garden a few years ago!

Fristads as an alternative to Snickers.

Forstner bit or holesaw; if you can clamp some scrap wood underneath to minimise a messy exit on the underside – not that you’ll see it of course…

@stumpyjon

Anyone got a photo of this preload cable tie thing to share?

Although might not be exactly what you’re after but this is something I might try, sometime…

First food not from our kitchen since lockdown started and, goodness, it was delicious… and as I’d ridden into St Andrews I could have a beer with it! :-)

Newer HP that does what you want (scanner, duplex, etc.) and subscribe to their ‘Instant Ink’ service?

Nobody here bought a Kirby then..?

Cool, thanks for explaining. I’ve always been an Osprey fan but then most of my Osprey packs are MTB packs and the newest several years old. Do have one that I bought 2yrs ago, a large 65l pack, for DofE but I’ll be selling it as I’m not involved in it anymore – only used once. And it is one of the heavily featured packs you mention!

Peterfile – I met him and his SO in an Aviemore café a few years ago. I wasn’t sure it was him…

@scotroutes If its the chap I’m thinking of I’ll wager a bet that it was his SO you recognised first… she’s, erm, very attractive!

No Osprey.

@matt_outandabout

I’m curious why?

The Amazfit GTR is looking pretty good for what I’m after, decent battery, heart rate and 3rd party IOS apps for changing the faces.
Does anyone have experience of them?

Yes, I’ve had the GTR for six weeks now. My first and only smartwatch and I’m immensely please with it!

I’d had my eye on the T-Rex that STW reviewed a few months ago but gave up on waiting for it to arrive in the UK, and I’m glad I did as I think the GTR looks better I now think – I think they’re the same inside anyway. The leather (or faux leather?) strap was on the short side; I have large wrists and it was on the last hole so I spent all of £6 on a silicon strap to arrive from China – much longer. Also bought some tempered glass screen protectors on Amazon.

Battery life is amazing; I think I’ve onlt charged it twice now. I don’t use it all its functions all the time as you need to enable both Bluetooth and GPS on your phone for them to work; my understanding is that this is common to many a smart watch.

The GPS is better than I’d anticipated and I now use it to record rides rather than the Garmin Edge or Strava on the phone. Synchs perfectly.

Oh, and changing faces is so easy. Not that I do as I found one I liked and have stuck with it!

Househusband I’m guessing not a Fifer, Buckhind ie Buckhaven

Aah didn’t know that, no – I’m not and I guess it shows! Been here seven years or so now.

I’d have kept that quiet Balmullo, Ballingry,Buckhind,Benarty and Bowhill all in Fife and start with a B

As does Buckhaven… but we won’t mention that, eh?

Meanwhile, just up the hill from Ceres in a different direction…

I won’t say where they are as they’re very close to the estate’s house but I had to pass by them as a dairy farmyard was closed off and asking folk to avoid under Covid-19.

@easdoesit I’m just up the hill from you in the wee village with the posh restaurant.

Do they actually ship from Australia – or do they have distribution from the UK?

I’ve ordered the Ignite bib short and Flint Gilet in XL… at 6’1″ and 15st I hope they’re okay!

https://www.brewdog.com/uk/barnard-castle-eye-test

Ordered.

(Pasted link so STW may get some revenue from it..?)

…sounds like I’ll have to give one a go!