Genuine question: presumably it’s more eco to burn newspaper logs than to recycle them and burn gas to heat a front room, right?

Possibly not – according to the analysis linked below, it is better to recycle than to burn it in an energy producing incinerator, which presumably would be more efficient than your stove.

http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/paper_recycling.html

Wood burners are only going to be carbon neutral if you can get some spare wood from a local source, which is becoming increasingly hard to do as more and more people get the things (because they think they are carbon neutral). Otherwise they’re just a quite inefficient and environmentally unfriendly way to heat a house (although it is nice having a fire obviously).

Joe

Used to be on london-trials.co.uk, but that appears to be down. I guess someone on trialsforum would know.

Joe

Bear in mind with a standard CAD program as opposed to the emachineshop stuff, you may need to know more about the machines that you’re working with, as some machines if you send a bad program, they can literally crash (in a physical, thousands of pounds damage kind of way). Although probably the CNC shop will handle this from your drawings, but the emachineshop stuff is nice in that it does notice things straight off.

Joe

If the parts aren’t complex, then http://www.emachineshop.com have some software that is sort of useful. It checks things fit with CNC machines too (assuming wherever you are getting things done uses the same machines).

I think most CAD software doesn’t support Apple (the industry standard ones like Autocad, Solidworks etc. certainly don’t support it), but you can run the Windows software in a separate boot partition (or potentially using Parallels or similar to run the Windows software, although CAD tends to be a bit processor heavy).

Joe

We have a John Lewis own brand one. Which they claim is made by one of the major German companies (I can’t remember which one it was, but the equivalent to our £300 machine was something like £600).

Joe

It is amazing how much leverage you can get on an allen key with a big old piece of pipe on the end. Makes me worry more about overtightening than undertightening. Can you overtighten a crank bolt?

Joe

Looking at the rest of the video, it isn’t usually anywhere near that number of riders though.

Joe

There always used to be a london trials ride every Sunday starting from the Shell Centre (near Waterloo station on the South Bank), at some unspecified time (seemed to be between 10 and 11ish when I went).

Happened on 1st March:
http://tr.youtube.com/watch?v=1F2P8r8zLWc&feature=related

Joe

My argument on that subject is that as a society we went through a seed change in the 80’s where the norm changed from two parents, one at work and one at home with the kids to one where two parents are at work and latterly one parent families substantially changed the dynamic of family life and we are now reaping the rewards, where what to me is abnormal behaviours are now the norm and vice versa.

That’d be an almost believable argument* if it wasn’t for the fact that most of these people being talked about in these silly articles are long term unemployed and often children of unemployed parents. It isn’t that they aren’t seeing their kids.

Joe

*except for being a bit daily mail

Have you tried changing the channel that your airport is using? It could well be that a neighbour has one on the same channel and that is interfering – try setting the channel to 1 or 11.

Also worth looking and seeing if there is a power setting on the hub settings – some hubs come set at medium power.

Joe

If by speed, you mean the speed between you and a work computer (or you and sites on the internet), it shouldn’t speed it up much – the broadband connection is going to be the slowest link (unless your wireless is buggered).

The only thing it might speed up is the connection between your iMac and any other computers that are connected with wires to the hub.

Joe

I might wear my polar hrm and log the flight – I’ll be able to look at an altitude graph for the duration then. I guess if I want to wear the actual HRM I can have a graph of heart rate too. Will be interesting to see what it gets to when we hit the updrafts over the equator!

Won’t the altitude thingy not work in a pressurised cabin?

I’ve run my GPS out of curiosity (on my N95 in offline/flight mode) and it got a good fix (and had good maps for everywhere I was over). Better than the rubbish seat back map thing.

Joe

I got mine on contract, and it sure ain’t locked – I used my T-Mobile sim in it while contracts overlapped.

Yeah, it’s just luck though, some operators / shops sell some phones unlocked. I’ve had 4 phones over the last few years of which 2 were locked, 1 was unlocked, and 1 was bought sim free unlocked.

Joe

I believe any phone bought at Carphone Warehouse is unbranded/unlocked.

is that true?

No. Unless you buy a handset only deal rather than on a contract / pay as you go deal. Some networks don’t lock certain phones, but that’s just luck.

If you buy it on a network, they’d still have to re-flash it to have the network specific branding, which is pretty much exactly the same amount of hassle as locking it.

Nokia do a bunch of phones with these features – go to http://europe.nokia.com/find-products/devices and select ‘advanced features’ and click internet over wlan and GPS. They are very expensive if you are not on a contract though.

Joe

That descent in Shining Cliff is a bit scary, although there’s the one sort of up the hill directly above the other end of the wireworks near the top road that is just full on crazy mad.

I can see from the map where the Black Rocks stuff is now I know that’s where it is, it’s obvious once you look at the 1:25000 map and compare it to the video. Cheers for that.

I haven’t found a nice way from Cromford over to Shining Cliff other than back along midshires way, then down to Whatstandwell and up the road that goes along the back. Does the job I guess, but it is always a bit unsatisfying descending on roads.

Joe

Belper. Currently riding offroad on unicycle only, although I’m half tempted to buy a proper bike just to be able to do longer rides, and also to have a go at doing offroad Belper->Nottingham commute every so often – might be even more fun than the 16 mile each way road ride on the A609 (which is really fun too, and I am getting quite fit!).

Joe

Hey those are my new local trails, they look super.

First bit was Crich Chase from the lane at the top right? and at about 5 minutes there’s the big rocky shining cliff downhill?

Other than that I was totally lost. Any chance of a gps trail or some trail tips (by email to stw@joemarshall.org.uk would be fine if you don’t want to post on here)

Joe

Mavic Aksiums

I would beware of Mavic special wheels with funny spokes – getting the spokes can be a nightmare, especially if you keep them for long enough for a new model to come out, meaning they are a special order from France item. Person I knew it took several months before their wheel was rideable again after they broke a couple of spokes.

Joe

Parker build a 105 hub / mavic open pro wheel for about £100, which is what I’m thinking of getting, but I’m not sure if the hub will work with 9 speed too. It shouldn’t be massively heavy I guess. I figure getting something that is easy to repair if I do break it makes sense, rather than the stupid Bontrager wheel I currently have, which is a right hassle to true.

Clincher means not tubular tyres, ie. normal tyres that have an inner tube in.

Joe

Have found plenty of torque wrenches – just not the allen key attachments.

Allen key attachments are surely just socket allen bits – you can buy them from any tool supplier, halfords have them in big but cheap and surprisingly okay quality socket sets, machinemart do just an allen key set on its own, local tool shop will probably do individual bits if you only want some sizes.

Is there one torque wrench that covers the range for most bike parts – the one above appears to be too high a range no?

Joe

My click came from the stem, although it sounded like it came from the BB area and only happened when I lay it on thick pedalling wise. I guess when you’re putting down some power you pull on the opposite side of the handlebars more – specially when stood up.

Hmmm. I had that before, and I don’t think this is it. I fixed that with a load of grease and retightening everything.

Joe

Okay, now I have a lockring tool, chain whip, and a BB tool. Is that all I need to be able to have a look at the BB and the cassette?

Joe

Hmmm, today I had a creak as well as a click.

The creak turned out to be the spokes on the back wheel, which were loose as a very loose thing I have a feeling it isn’t built for carrying loads (such as my big saddlebag), or for riding on cobbles (my road is cobbled). I’ve tightened it up / trued it, will have to see, it may be that this was also the source of the click too, but I don’t think it was.

I don’t think it’s a pedal, because it happens with either foot being pushed down. I checked chainrings & cranks are both jolly tight.

The cassette – what tools do I need to check that?

The BB, it appears to have an 8 splined fitting on the only bit I can see. Is something that fits that all I need to take it out? What is the tool that I need, some kind of spanner?

Joe

Can you put it on your home insurance? My phone and other stuff I carry around (laptop etc) is on the home insurance up to a maximum of £1800, and it wasn’t that expensive to add.

Joe

How can people save money while commuting by bike?
WhenI started commuting in southampton the increase off food was exaclty the cost of the petrol to go working.

That sounds like a lot? I find it costs me a couple of extra slices of bread and cheese for my sandwiches, and an extra apple, plus I probably eat slightly more at dinner time.

Plus by not having a car, I save a lot more than petrol costs.

Joe

http://www.alligatorboogaloo.com/uke/index.html

has lots of chord charts / tabs too.

Also, if anyone happens to read this and can figure out the chords for Ebenezer Goode by the Shamen, please let me know – I saw a video of someone playing it, but I can’t find it any more.

Joe

http://ukuleleunderground.com/ has some good instruction videos. I learnt to play the tetris tune off there.

The chords, there is a chord chart pdf somewhere, google for it – it is pretty straightforward. You can work them out yourself if you know your chords, although some of them are slightly odd inversions, and the funny tuning of a uke makes it hard to get your head round. If you learn a few tunes off videos, you can get the hang of the fingering.

Joe

Is really – the cost of the clothing required to keep warm and dry on a wet Glasgow morning is about 2 tanks worth of fuel. 2 tanks worth of fuel, or 4 months worth of daily commutes!

The most I’ve ever worn on a commute is a lightweight fleece £10 from millets (or get a posh one from TK maxx), waterproof trousers £10, altura cycling waterproof £25, oh and buff £5. Is £50 really 2 tanks of fuel? The super expensive breathable jackets etc. are pointless for cycling unless you go really slow, and are overkill for commuting.

Joe

I just don’t have a car. Forces me to ride 16 miles to work and 16 miles home if I want to be there. I guess I could get the train or bus, which are slightly slower and cost money, but I can’t usually be bothered.

Although I have to admit, some days, if I don’t have to meet up with anyone and I’m just writing or programming or whatever, I will just work at home. 32 miles a day every day can get a bit tiring.

If you’re having trouble getting up to commute though, the solution is simple, just go to bed earlier.

Joe

Rode Mealle a Buchaille a week past Sunday – great ride with the new track onto the saddle making for less carrying and more biking until the last push for the summit. The descent down to Ryvoan was well worth the price of admission. Has anyone any tips for where else to ride high in and around Aviemore area?

Did you do the whole ridge from Craiggowrie? That was a nice loop done anti-clockwise too, and you can take in the singletrack from Creag Mheadhonach on the way down.

Joe

Bowl of muesli with a banana, couple of slices of toast, then make my sandwiches for lunch, get dressed, clean teeth, wash up etc. which gives me enough time to digest before riding the 16 miles into work. I won’t go anywhere until I’ve had my bowl of muesli.

I guess I could ride the 16 miles in without breakfast, but it is nicer to have breakfast at home than at my desk. If I didn’t eat it, I’m sure I’d find it harder up the hills (I’m in Derbyshire, and my commute goes at 90 degrees to the direction of the valleys so it is a bit hilly).

Sometimes I have a snack once I get in if I feel hungry.

Joe

Do you need it to be cordless? Can’t you use a screwdriver drill bit in your existing drill, assuming the drill has a speed control?

Or is there some reason that is bad news?

Joe

I thought in bundled exchanges, you can still go non BT for your Broadband and calls, just whoever it is goes through BT wholesale?

You have to pay BT for line rental though (£11 a month or so).

As I understand it, our exchange isn’t unbundled, so we get line rental from BT, but broadband / phone calls go via Virgin.

Joe

That 35k figure will include developers / engineers (where the well paying jobs often require a degree – and it certainly is possible to earn > 35k), managers, and generally people who have a lot more experience than just doing one of those courses to qualify themselves to do help desk type IT, which will more likely pay <20k at the low level that you’d be going in at.

Joe

TJ – crimes are massively under-reported, especially low-level crime that people know the police can’t/wont solve such as the above. At my old place of living the local population (mainly well paid working class and professionals) were sick of the sort of crimes the OP has seen. After a few meetings with the local MP etc the police put out a leaflet saying “please call this hotline for ANY anti-social or criminal disturbance, no matter how small”. 6 weeks later the local bobby admitted they were totally snowed under with responses and they’d not expected so many things to be unreported and were effectively binning the lower level stuff like wing mirrors being kicked off, windows broken. Then, of course, when they do find the people involved they take it through to prosecution only to be told by the CPS that it’s being thrown out on a technicality that the defendants lawyer has found.

But the British Crime Survey isn’t on crimes reported to the police – it is a survey. So it counts unreported crime like the above (I guess that’s how they calculated reported vs unreported crime rates?). If you don’t know about it and it’s methodology, you can read more about it here – http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/bcs1.html

Joe

There is a mountain bike race in New Zealand (Karapoti) that starts and ends with you running across a river. The year I did it, it was only 1.5 foot deep, but some years it has been shoulder deep apparently.

As far as dirt goes, the dirtier the river the better – makes it more hardcore doesn’t it. Plus it encourages a crazy head up flailing type of swimming rather than proper fast swimming, which might even things up a bit.

Joe

Do you have a local river / gravel pit / seaside etc.? How about adding in a bit of swimming in murky water too, for an off road triathlon style thing.

Joe

Oooh, it made a very nice cheese & tomato omelette with lots of mustard and a bit of nice cheddar.

It also avoided the age old 2 or 3 egg lunchtime omelette dilemma, as 2 duck eggs turned out to be an awful lot of egg.

Although having read up more about how much cholesterol is in them compared to normal eggs, maybe this won’t be an everyday thing!

On the down side, two of the eggs in the box have had holes pecked in them, which I guess makes them spoiled which is a waste.

They have geese too, so goose eggs are the next step on my eggsplorations, although at 75p each, they’d better be jolly good, that’s only 5p less than half a dozen normal eggs.

Joe

It isn’t going to make any difference for tall people – it isn’t about weight, this is about width – people who are so wide that they need to have the armrest up in order to sit in the seat, and in practice end up taking up a fair portion of the next seat, that someone else has paid for. The people who have to have the special seatbelt extensions in order to do up the belt.

Having spent a flight next to someone who oozed both under and over the armrest, I think it’s only fair enough. If in practice you take up two seats, then you should pay for two seats.

Joe

I like british army lightweight combats – although I wear them with pads over rather than under. They are good and long for tall people (plus waist adjuster if you are extra skinny), dirt cheap (£5 a pair), not too hot, and quite resilient if you do go crashing with them on.

Joe