Used Bip n Go in France last year, delivered to UK within a week, only charge a monthly fee when used, this will increase from €1.70 to €1.90 per month from June 01. There is a good Bip n Go Mobile Ap for tracking charges and monthly spending. It was faultless, although I did find that you (generally) have to approach the T Gate at a slow speed and some of the gates only Bipped and raised when very close. I pay using a Starling account which allows you to have dual GBP and EUR accounts. The charges are automatically deducted from the Euro account. Also allows you to transfer £ into your € account when the exchange rate is good and perfect for using in France, as all Euro transactions are taken from the Euro account, no silly exchange rate charges or fees. Can use their card contactless or use phone to pay. Via Michelin Ap is good for route planning and checking what the Toll charges will be.

Similar issues here on Windows using Firefox browser, Acer laptop. But on the same computer in Chrome the pics are all loading. On Android phone all pics loading Firefox and Chrome.

Good video and instructions on the Molten Speedwax web site:

https://inaspin.co.uk/pages/waxing-your-chain

When you say straight into the Plutoline, do you mean without allowing the chain itself to heat up to the same temperature as the Plutoline?

If so I would imagine that would cause the plutoline to resolidify when it comes in contact with the cold chain.

I normally leave the chain in the slow cooker as it heats up and then take it out once the plutoline is all liquid. Any chains I put in after that I leave in for at least a few minutes so the chain has time to heat up.

Sit the chains in the basket on top of the wax while it is melting. Basket slips into wax as it goes molten. Leave for 5 minutes, shake, leave for 10 minutes, shake, lift basket out and prop over wax to drain.

Been using an Argos dff for a couple of years now, it has a temp. control dial that goes down to 70 deg. Filled with Putoline but the cleaning is a  faff, especially to remove the initial factory treatment. Reading this thread seems I have probably overheated or contaminated the Puto with chains now coming out with a quite heavy black film. Tried some of the new chains straight into the Putoline without cleaning (seems that some on the original Puotline Mega thread said this wasn’t an issue). Just using the dff basket so getting the wax off not brilliant, need to set up a better hanging set up?

But this Silca set up and their wax system has caught my eye??

https://silca.cc/collections/chain-lube-wax/products/chain-waxing-system-1

I see they also now have a new product for cleaning new chains by just popping a block in with the wax on the first treatment (works out at £4 per new chain).

https://silca.cc/collections/chain-lube-wax/products/strip-chip

Maybe I will just buy some of their wax and a pack of the strip chip and use them in my (cleaned out) DFF?? Silca products also claim to be environment friendly – but advise ‘don’t drink ;-)

MoreCashThanDashFull Member
I’m on Salford today and have seen blue sky and sunshine.

I can only assume I set the satnav wrong and there is another Salford that is not near Manchester

Was absolutely miserable rain, especially second half, watching the Bluebirds at Salford on Saturday afternoon, but not cold! Last two days riding in the DRibble Valley have been warm enough for shorts and two layers……. great!!

Another +1 for BipnGo, also use my Starling account to pay the DD, you can set up dual accounts on Starling in GBP and Euro then transfer £ across to your Euro account when the exchange rate is advantageous

I think it should be Airdrop Cycles press release……. unless they have been taken over by Bird???

Merlin Cycles have a good selection, have bought my few pairs from there.

https://www.merlincycles.com/cycling-sunglasses-75370/?brand=tifosi

Been riding a fair bit in the Vendeé this year, loads of gravel routes – a lot of them highlighted on Komoot. Also the local tourism sites and offices have good guides and plenty of routes, for example:
https://vendeevelo.vendee.fr/accueil
as well as a downloadable route guide with maps and pics:
https://vendeevelo.vendee.fr/preparer-votre-randonnee/guide-vendee-velo
Vast majority of the routes are well signposted, some fantastic gravel riding. Open Cycle Map also highlights lots of routes.

Been over a fair bit this year, on a mobile home site, did a load of research, ended up with Reglo Mobile €9.95 for 100Gb. Had the SIM card delivered to site but you can also buy at most E. Leclerc big stores. €5 one off charge for the SIM, put into UK phone to activate then popped into a MiFi dongle so mates can connect and also small enough and battery powered to take on rides and when travelling. SIM uses the SFR mobile network with good coverage and was regularly getting 50+ Mbps down load speed so good for watching streaming TV and sports. Was using my Sky mobile to start with but they charge £2 per 24hr when roaming.

Starling Bank have the option to open a Euro account alongside a Sterling one via their App. You can transfer money between these accounts at a very good exchange rate (very competitive vs Wise) and also make payments, receive money etc. I found it to be the best option when selling some land in Euros.

Taylors Rich Italian beans, £10 for a 1kg bag from Tesco

After a lot of research I ended up with one of these from Valley & Peak. Only used a couple of times but very impressed. Side entry from both sides with vestibule. Quick and easy to put up, lightweight and packs down nice and small. Very good for the price £204.

https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/collections/sierra-designs/products/sierra-designs-meteor-2-person-backpacking-tent

Thanks for the heads-up, just ordered and can can confirm the code via ‘oceanskipper’ works for additional discount. Cheers

I have an FSA Steel direct mount on my Focus with Bosch CX, 3500+ miles and still good.

Available in about a month from Italy. I bought a Spider (boost), Tool and spare lockring / O rings from Ridewill, shipped and received in about a week. Spider was 104BCD to go down same lines you are thinking. Thanks for the above links to steel chainrings.

https://www.ridewill.it/p/en/fsa-421589068-megatooth-chainring-for-bosch-gen4-direct-mount-34t-boost-chain-line-53mm/1296050/

Down for me as well ‘server maintenance” message, but did sync this morning and upload ride data from yesterday

Another ViewRanger user for years, Open Cycle map, OS tiles and area purchases have covered everything I have needed, very easy to use. Have started using Komoot more and more and gradually taking over from VR as seems to be easier to generate routes, between their own cycle maps and Open Cycle I don’t really miss the OS on VR. It instantly makes available any routes generated on the lap top direct via the IQ button on opening screen of Garmin Edge Explore. This makes things so much easier and is now my go-to set up.

From today’s Daily Fail:

MAMIL madness: Cyclists ride close together through Regents Park in London and parks and beaches fill up around the country despite Boris Johnson and police begging Britain to stay indoors this weekend

Boris Johnson urged Britons to remain at home despite the promise of good weather and cheap fuel prices

Groups of people across the country ignored the pleas of officials to remain at home  to stop the spread

Police approached groups of people in London and Brighton to warn them about the ongoing lockdown

Mr Johnson yesterday extended his self-isolation period yesterday after admitting he was still symptomatic

A few years back we stayed in Llanginydr at this place https://www.breconcottages.com/property/CAEBA?

Did some good local riding and a day out at BPW which was about 30 min. drive. Big bonus was the Red Lion about 200 mtr walk, which had a good selection of real ales and pub grub – very friendly locals.

Pendle bimble Sunday a.m…… it weren’t half hot mum……

Dryzabone up on t’hill…..

@fudge9202

Pics look great metalheart but more importantly how does it ride? Predominantly from a comfortable standpoint, I’ve bad knees and my last hardtail was a Sherpa a few years back and then went to a Salsa Horsthief but that SolarisMax is absolutely lovely and rekindling my desire for a hardtail.

The parts on my Solaris frame I transferred across from a Salsa Pony Rustler, prior to that I was riding a Mondraker Foxy (built up from a frame). The long front end on the Foxy felt very comfortable and confident going downhill, but the long travel (150-140) was a bit trail deadening for my majority of riding. Also want to have a go at backpacking – hence the PR. But the PR did not do it for me – felt a bit cramped and sluggish. A while back I had a Blue Pig and the frame characterstics were great. So I figured the Solaris Max would kind of combine all the benefits of my previous rides. Early days – but I would say spot on! One interesting aspect is the ST angle – I think Cy has pretty much got it spot-on. It positions you nicely over the BB and is very comfortable – I would think this should be a good angle to avoid knee issues @fudge.

Have got some 29er Hunt wheels on order – looking forward to experimenting; 29 front 27+ at the back was something I was also looking to try.

The wheels are 650b DT Swiss XM551 (40mm inner); 3″ Purgatory on front and 3″ WTB Ranger on back. Just moved dropper post across this week – the frame is a Medium.

Mostly Bridleway bimbling and general XC stuff for now. Still getting it set up…. Really liking the ride

The Green one blends in nicely…

@metalheart – did you get a heads-up yet on shipping day for the first batch of frames? Cotic site mentions they ship on a Thursday for Friday delivery, was wondering if they got dispatched yesterday.

Phuket – Doha – Manchester, no problem whatsoever and no extra charges

A few camp site in Clitheroe area that will take tents, notably Edisford and Three Rivers (West Bradford village)
http://www.edisfordbridgecaravanandcamping.co.uk/
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=2264
The former is right next door to a pub and can walk into Clitheroe town. The latter a bit of a walk down the hill to 3 Millstones Pub or walk/bike into Waddington which has three good pubs.
Plenty of good off roading in vacinity; Waddy/Grindleton Fell, Longridge Fell, etc. Not too far from Gissie then on to Lee / Crag Quarry.