and without me having ask for it.

that’ll change from the 16th iirc.

My comment was slightly tongue in cheek, this isn’t the first lens I’ve had apart (and they’ve all gone back together too).

Also fixed a sticking aperture in an old Soligor and replaced a torn flexi for the VR in a modern Nikkor.

Sticking focus mechanism in a Minolta lens. It’s pretty much just like a bike with all those cogs right…

Levering between spokes with a big adjustable/tyre lever/whatever plus a bit of a squeeze with gloves on has always worked well for me

Spiralwrap as above (1st choice), or self amalgamating tape depending on contents of toolbox.

Both are worth having anyway, sort of things that are cheap and just the right thing for certain jobs.

I remember (20+ years ago) being jealous of the history students on my halls with only 1hr (one!) a week contact time, when I had 20+.

As others say, it’s not all about the contact time. It might even only be a small part of it.

I could get my XL 29ers with one wheel off in the back of a Leon ST.

Those using OS and satellite maps to path scout, this will blow your mind ;)

https://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm

(side by side linked views of both)

See also the NLS tool here:

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=13.7&lat=55.90985&lon=-3.23617&layers=219&right=ESRIWorld

6’2″ in an Octavia VRS here. I’m not cramped and the seat is not all the way back.

I was looking at the VRS and whatever the posh one is called (Laurin and Klement or something), advice still stands on these, it’s the combo of seats and roof.

I will say though that extra 2″ is often what makes the difference. I’ve often wished I was slightly shorter so as to be just within the range of normal height rather than just outside it. Lots of stuff you don’t expect just doesn’t fit, not just clothes and cars (e.g. recently following an op the NHS couldn’t give me a walking stick long enough to reach the ground when holding it).

Ah I mean folding seats in an SV would be both wheels off vs one wheel in an estate for me though.

Interestingly I’ve just been comparing a Golf estate and a Golf SV )on paper)

I looked at both of these, the SV is taller hence the capacity. The boot seems a lot worse than the estate for carrying bulky stuff, like a bike.

I used to have a 2013 Octavia company car and I found the driving position a bit cramped for my long legs

I don’t think anyone tall has weighed in yet? But as a fellow tall person I feel you. When I was looking I tried a bunch of Octavias and some are ok and some aren’t. The different seat options make a huge difference if you’re tall, combined with the roof type (pan roof/sunroof etc). So some seats/trims are ok and some aren’t – sadly I forget which.

To give my answer, I ended up in a 5 series touring. Great for a tall person, I’m 6’4″ and it’s possible to put the front seats too far back, which is amazing. Every other car I’ve been in it’s a case of seat slammed right down and right back to fit.

For stuff that really uses the maths, the question would be what sort of maths is she good at, not just can do it, but really “gets” it? She should know by now.

e.g. Stats and probability, understanding different distributions and relationships between them etc – data science, some parts of ML. Would require an aptitude for computers, though this can be learnt. Know any python/scipy/numpy/pandas?

Or linear algebra and a good intuitive understanding of geometry? Computer vision and robotics is a lot of that made real.

There are also lots of simulation and modelling jobs that can be a mix of the above depending on the domain.

Logics etc and symbolic reasoning and representations? Sadly yet to have its big day (I have a PhD in this area applied to AI) but still finds its place in formal methods and verification, safety critical systems engineering etc.

And there are lots of areas of maths I’ve not touched on… what flavour’s favourite?

I would say, these days maths is applied through computers, what skills are useful there is quite field dependent through.

Oh it’s easy film to load etc though, you don’t need to do it in the dark or anything, just cartridges you click in. Works out about 80p a print if you buy the film in at least the 2×10 packs.

And there is something special in being able to take someone’s picture, and hand them a print then and there. Really does capture a moment and a memory.

If you’re thinking of instax, look for something that shoots “instax square” – you get decent size 6×6 (cm) out of it (think classic Polaroid size).  They’re decent prints too.

I can’t recommend a specific camera, just the film. I shoot it in a back for a Hasselblad so it’s about the opposite end of the “no faff” spectrum :)

100% what AdamT said.

I promoted (reluctant) people in my group to leads (between 3-6 people each) and they all grew and thrived in the role – but a significant, measurable, proportion of my time was supporting and mentoring them until they were up to speed (on top of BAU).

with 6-8 people in the team that I would be managing so not huge.

Ok, but if you eg do weekly 1:1s that’s a day a week of your time on that alone, allowing for a decent chat and some context switching overhead.

Which is another point, are you good at jumping between tasks an contexts? Or do you need deep focus? Leading a team means you’re nearly never in “your” context but switching between other people’s.

This is a good article I recommend people read when considering taking on lead or management responsibilities:

https://charity.wtf/2019/09/08/reasons-not-to-be-a-manager/amp/

Would you get much support/mentorship in the role? That’s something I see make a big difference.

Also how much “management” you do depends a lot on team size and the org culture. We talking 3-5 people? 10+? 20+? More?

Makes a big difference, eg if you have 20 people on your team you have to realise a month of work gets done every single day – there is of course no way you can be across all the detail and if that’s how you like to be you’ll have a bad time.

Hmm not sure if I have pics, but I rebonded a detached headtube insert, needed some exotic adhesive (well, it was 15+ years ago) but not too bad.

Update on the 3040s for £53 from Amazon: it buzzes, removes hair from my face efficiently and gently. It struggled a bit with a four day growth to start with and missed a few hairs, but settling down to a quick buzz every morning is giving a nice shave with little effort, just quickly pulling off the blades, tap the hair out in the sink, rinse and set aside.

On average this is keeping me cleaner shaven with less effort than before, so I guess plus one to the reviews linked above for anyone after a budget option. Cost less than a year of wet shaves would and claims 18mo for the blade cartridge.

Caveat – don’t think I have particularly sensitive skin.

This thread has spurred me to try electric shaving again as recent surgery has made wet shaving tricky. The recommended cheaper option Braun series 3  340s is down to £53 from £110 on amazon at the moment so I’ve gone for that… should arrive today, will see how it goes. Much like people above I normally wet shave every few days mostly cos I CBA every day, but it’d be nicer to be more clean shaven.

Bullet train, silly action, some good performances and stunt work, on Netflix just now.

A +1 on sometimes it’s just hard, but also…

would he sleep if he came in with you? Lots of pros and cons with co-sleeping, but we basically ended up with our son in with my wife and I slept elsewhere as the only solution where everyone gets good sleep.

Maybe not “ideal” but even though it’s hard there will come a time when we miss having him snuggled in bed because he no longer wants to.

and tbh who care about “ideal” if everyone is safe, happy and has slept enough.

edit: also I’m familiar with being in with him trying to get him to sleep to let my wife sleep, but she’s not sleeping cos she’s worried about him etc. In that situation the co-sleeping can help her too. Then sometimes they’re both asleep and I’m stuck up unable to get back to sleep! But I’ll take that as a win.

Diggery’s advice is good.

Also patents take a long time, just to get to filing. Think maybe a year+ depending, and ~£7k/patent as you will need legal help to make it a worthwhile patent if it’s your first rodeo.

Part of it and the copying risk is making sure your claims are wide enough, and defensible, to stop copies with only small changes.

Patents are useful for some things but if your idea is easy to copy, well as you surmise there’s not a lot you can do. But OTOH if it’s easy to copy it’s surely easy for you to make and get going? Think about other defensive moats you can build up, is there innovation in the manufacture/tuning/marketing etc.

As others allude to, the hard bit is rarely the idea, it’s the execution where the value is created (and the cost incurred). For most ideas, it would be a significant investment for them to try and execute an idea (and why would you invest in an idea that has no moat, and isn’t legally defensible? etc).

Oh I’d buy one in a heartbeat if i had the money to spare. I’d love to know if anyone successfully runs it with 27.5 wheels.

They made some like that, that was the default when I ordered mine…

I’m just about to replace one of these.

See.Sense Phone & Accessories Pouch

That looks good too, looks like the flap keeps the phone away from internal zip?

Pannier use too is a good point, I do also need to do that on occasion.

a cheapo ride phone, something like an old SE

Yeah I have an old 8 I use for this, problem is a decent sim for it that doesn’t deactivate with lack of use/need topping up often etc. I was on RWG which did the job with 100Mb of data a month and then occasional text to keep it active but something’s up with it now and re-evaluating the bike phone as the 8 is getting a bit long in the tooth. Different number to my main one sometimes causes ride-cordination issues too, and needing to remember to set a tracker for my wife to see when I’ll be back/where I’ve got to. I did use it for on the go navigation/route following but since moving to an Apple Watch Ultra the screen/battery has tipped over into that being fine for that purpose, with WorkOutdoors app.

But I’d take a sim recommendation too, if someone has one.

Waterproof case – I had one of those pouch things a while ago (exactly, one of the overboards), but I’d rather a bit of padding or something if possible.

I’d love a beady little eye. Hard for me to justify buying one though.

The heart wants what the heart wants ;-)

Unless you’re racing or commuting the bike’s for fun. That’s all you need to justify it. My BLE makes me smile just thinking about it, let alone riding it. It’s makes other people smile when they see it, and look concerned for their bank account if they try it ;-)

It’s by far the bike I’ve had that’s brought the most fun and pleasure to the world. Totally worth it.

I use a zip lock sandwich bag. I like the idea of something posher but in practice the ones that I’ve tried have all been more faffy than a sandwich bag.

Yeah I get this. Ideally I’d have something with a bit of rigidity to it, or some padding – I don’t put a case on my phone. Sometimes also have stuff in the same pocket, but nothing sharp. A pouch could also be a rougher texture so it doesn’t easily fall out a pocket.

I’ve ordered a velopac, I’ll start there and see how that goes. If I don’t like it for this use it looks quite handy as a general organiser type thing for lobbing stuff in bags.

@funkmasterp yes it’s a BLE, or rather a BBE, that’s a 29er custom in a size larger than the XL.

Amazing bike, an absolute singletrack weapon. It’s not like a short travel full sus though. Because of the pivot round the bb you run very little sag (about 5%) to keep it taut, more like a hardtail with some give in it. It’s like a nice cold pint at the end of a warm dusty  summer’s ride – you’re not getting drunk but it’s very pleasurable and you’re taking the edge off things.

AFAIK the Muc off has a zip inside it so no good.

Saw the bellroy, winced at the price.

Will have a look at the others…

I miss it,,, gave up SS when I moved to the Quantocks… tbh, though living in the Quantocks does make up for lack of SS though

Can you still get SSUK entries? It’s quantocks this year!

Yes, just fun innit. Turn pedals make the bike go.

Leigh at top to toe on Wells Road helped sort a knee issue I had.

Well, sorting it took nearly two years and it’s not so much sorted as I know what’s up and work round it now. But that’s my decrepit body not a slight on her skills, she identified the issue pretty quick and helped with a letter for the docs to get me an MRI etc.

Anyway if that’s handy location for you I’d recommend.

The tk max tip as above.

But I’ve moved to Spoke for all my trousers. Expensive, but great fit and good quality – feel like good value to me (you can choose waist, leg girth and length, and they do a 37” leg which is the stuff of dreams)

Not been for a few years, but previously on a regular ticket they’ve always just put us straight on the next train when we’re early. They don’t want you hanging about, they’ll put you on a train if there’s space.

IMO it was the Patriot that made them, not the 5. The 5 was an evolution of the Patriot.

Just posting back to say @tall_martin’s tip was spot on. Pair of RAF surplus in 90/94/110 size, spot on fit down to the tops of my shoes. For reference I’m normally a 34 or 35 waist and 35-37” leg depending on brand.

Tall_martin

username checks out ;-)

Hadn’t thought about surplus, seems to be a good option, cheers.

I do wear wellies when it’s proper filth out but many days I’m just getting wet legs rather than soaked so don’t want them.

I’ve tried on a pair of the Berghaus “long” (34”, ha) and they’re a bit short, but maybe I need to accept that :-(

Am after proper waterproof rather than ok to wear, when I have school run then into work I’m walking 50-60 minutes and want to get to work with dry trousers.