Might be worth seeing a physio/doctor too!

It was a few years ago (3 or 4?) when the postage costs to and from the USA suddenly jumped up in price. I was on retrobike a lot and there was a healthy cross Atlantic trade in parts and bikes/frames before the price rise, this was really reduced to almost nothing (at least for frames and bikes) as it just wasn’t realistic to post across the pond any more. IIRC you used to be able to post fully insured for £40-50 airmail but it pretty much doubled overnight. 🙁

Your billing history will give them the guide as to how much they offer, if you’re a long term big spender it’s easy. If not why should they chase your business.

First time I did my trick above I’d been paying £30 a month for 2 years and that was it – I think nixie has got it right.

Whenever I look around for the best deals on phones when my contract is up I ask EE and they always beat the best by miles and miles so I stay with them.

But I have a method. I came across it by accident. One year I asked for my PAC code and they tried to keep me when I asked for it but they didn’t offer anything special so I got the code intending to use it straight away. I was really busy so I forgot to sign up for the new phone from a different provider. After about 4/5 days another lady rang me up from EE who again tried to keep me. However she just asked what I wanted then gave me an even better deal than I asked for. I think she was from a retentions team which had a lot more power to lower prices to keep people.

As an example last time I renewed I wanted an iPhone 7 with 128gb of memory and pay no more than my current £35 a month with 5gb of data. The absolute best offer anywhere in the country got me that with the phone costing around £150-200 IIRC. The retentions team after keeping my PAC for a few days offered me the phone above for free, £38 a month with 8gb of data. I was gonsmacked and signed up straight away and sold my iPhone 6 for £200.

I’m not saying t works all the time but it has done the last 3 times I renewed but only with EE.

Do they mean that pipe insulation? Asbestos pipe insulation is particularly nasty and may well be beyond their abilities.

Sounds like a good company who are protecting you pretty well, good job they didn’t just ignore at and put themselves and you at risk.

I actually took my old 1998 GT Outlook

The base model of the GT range designed really for beginners to pootle around on gravel tracks. Never was a decent MTB in the first place so not a great comparison.

My Kona is still a joy to ride 23 years on, light fast and nimble, on smooth singletrack I don’t think anything modern is faster.

Getting some air on my 1991 Haro Extreme

Silver

A lot of components only come in black nowadays which I don’t understand on a MTB eg black rims – why? Silver makes a bike look “lighter” and more svelte and scratches and marks don’t show up as much. Add a little colour on top and it can look really good.

The rules for taste are pretty simple. If it’s not a frame or fork, it’s black or silver.

I am so glad I don’t abide by your “rules”. Must be a bit drab living in your monochrome world. 😥

Go for orange, I was thinking of doing exactly the same thing if I get a new Soul frame.

Pub bike it.

It’s not one of the classic Konas but it deserves more than that. 🙁

the arse up-head down position, long stem, steep HA and P2’s were, shall we say, of their time.

You guys really need to stop obsessing over angles and dimensions, every thread on here which asks about which bike to buy has people picking every detail out of geometry charts. Last time I took my Kona down south (I think it was maybe Surrey Hills area?) everyone on “new school” bikes was holding me and the retrobike guys up on the downhills and Singletrack.

I’d say that was being blinded by bitterness personally.

I couldn’t watch the video so wasn’t sure of the actual connection. Thankfully it’s minimal. Not really much of a connection really!!

So a touring frame isn’t nimble enough but a CX frame is too extreme? Might you be over-thinking this?

That is very likely.

Cyclocross frames sometimes don’t have the right mounts for racks or guards though.

Specialised Tricross is a good call. Used to have one a while back and I didn’t like it at the time but it would be perfect for my new plans.

I already have a touring bike so kinda wanted something a bit lighter and nimbler to ride round town.

Life size marzipan Binners.
Eeew!

I now have a horrible image in my head of Flashy, grinning, with his face all sticky, slathered in Binners sweet nut paste.

😯

😆

I think Newrob’s being a bit silly and depriving himself of a fantastic new bike.

When purchasing even an On-One frame involves a few months of saving up you choose carefully. When you do that then you are saddled with a faulty piece of crap (which the designer knew and admitted was crap and was pumping them out without fixing known issues) which I had to sell on at a loss it tends to make you very very sensitive about it in the future.

Erm, I think he got some advice and support from Brant in the early days of Cotic, around 15 years ago.

I almost admire you for sticking to such a zero tolerance stance though!

That might be ok if its just that, lets just say my experience of Brant products and his attitude towards such problems has scarred me for life, I read “there is a connection” and I immediately felt very very deflated.

@newrobdob , feel exactly the same way as you about that numpty, howver, Cy and hi screw are a totally different bunch.
..snip..
If it turns out he is making money off me buying a Cotic my opinion may change.

I knew I wasn’t alone!

Love the video incl. the openess about the On One/Brant Richards connection…….

😥 I was very seriously considering buying one the new Soul full bikes as I want to change from 26″ soon and I always had a hankering for a Cotic. But that has put me right off. I made a promise to myself never again to buy any product with a connection to Brant after being sold poorly designed and tested crap from him multiple times. I saw the light eventually after being disappointed too often.

So sorry Cy but I’m going to go elsewhere, and I probably won’t be the only one that’ll be put off by that.

EDIT I can’t watch the video, what is the actual connection? Please set my mind at rest.

No too fussed about tyre clearance either as long as I can fit guards on it.

Don’t really want a cyclocross frame as they generally are a bit extreme in their geometry.

Taking the rack and platform pedals off would probably increase the saleability too

😆

Yeah I know, it looks a lot cooler nowadays anyway…..

Thanks for the help. Might consider selling separately as i might keep the wheels and if some 9sp stuff doesn’t sell I’ll use it elsewhere anyway.

I’d like to say anyone who owns a bike shop needs to invest in customer service training. I’ve worked in a couple of big retail companies and had really good training and trained others. I’ve been to pretty much every single bike shop in West Yorks and a lot more in Yorkshire in general and the one thing that makes or breaks a shop is the level of service you give. Most people have no idea how much repeat trade (trade which you don’t have to advertise for or discount to get) can be had from good service and how much you lose with bad service.

It constantly amazes me how badly I’ve been spoken to in bike shops who in the main tend to think they’ve done you a favour letting you in their shop.

It’s got to a point where I think I could have a small business training it out to shops in exchange for bike bits….

When I worked for Homebase a while back (9yrs) they were bought by Home Retail Grouo who owned Argos. We started using Argos Delivery services and back office stuff. Managers I knew went to Argos stores and were amazed at how well they were run at very busy times, their logistics behind that shop counter are stunning.

When I was still there I found out Argos were the biggest furniture retailer in the UK. All from a catalogue and website. Simply amazing.

First time I cleaned the car the dirt literally fell off it. It needed no persuasion just a wipe over with a clean sponge and a hose down, and it’s stayed like that. it never looks completely sparkly but by the same token road dirt doesn’t stick to it.

It’s not magic, a proper clean polish and wax will do that to a car too.

I need to sell to fund Christmas really. Thanks for the help.

I’ve never ridden it very much and don’t plan to do it needs to go.

Last Bump 🙁

Some shite posted up there.

Not as much as you’re posting.

I’ve never been in less than 3 months and longest was six.

Ooooh aren’t we important.

My notice periods
Sales assistant – 2 weeks
Operations manger – 2 weeks
Civil servant – 1 week

In reality, you have to be nice to all concerned

No you have to abide by your contract. If they never sent a 3 month one then they have no right to demand it. Especially if it’s completely unnecessary for the type of role you did.

– learn to play the game and don’t behave like a I know my rights knobber.

It isn’t a game, it’s a workplace. You abide by the rules, they do too. It’s simple.

It cost me about £130 to have my bathroom done in nice vinyl after I’d covered the floor in 9mm ply screwed at 200mm centres. Not worth doing it yourself it’s so cheap.

Remove toilet and sink before fitting, it looks crap cutting the vinyl around them.

Anyone?

Bump for the evening crowd, would appreciate the help. Thanks.

Unfortunately the tale ends here as I found the package in the recycling bin.

If only there were places we could go and buy stuff without having to get things delivered. Someone should invent them, they would do well…

If only there weren’t smartarses who think they knew what I ordered was a shop which sold what I ordered.

Remember every new build is done to absolutely one rule – profit for the builder. So they’ll comply with building regs and build something someone will buy but thats it. TRV’s would have cost more so you don’t get them, but they’ll probably solve the problem.

I don’t get this “digging trails”. I’ve been riding off-road for 30 years and never done or felt the need to. There’s so much to ride anyway. Any if I want something a bit crazier (not that West Yorks and the Peaks isn’t crazy) then I’m not far from a trail centre.

But that isn’t the cool way nowadays is it? No cares for anyone else, not even for other riders in the future who might suffer from their activities.

Anything anyone can recommend at this price point which has Shimano gears? I can’t stand SRAM stuff.

Probably looking at £120 minimum plus parts depending where you live. That’s what my plumber charged for connecting a gas job up which took a couple of hours, he normally charges £200 a day (expensive for West yorks but he’s very good and reliable).

Gotta keep them wicks trimmed or they smoke like a badly mapped diesel. IME

They do that if you only light them for short periods. Leave them burning for a while and the level of the wax stays constant just under the wick as all the wax melts not just the bit around the wick – you don’t get the bowl shape melting then

I think they are pretty decent. Top tip – don’t use them for 20 minutes then blow them out as they won’t burn down to the bottom properly. Leave them for an hour or so minimum.

swapping out

🙄

If its a virus (cold or flu) there is absolutely nothing you can do to recover faster than the virus will let you. Pills and potions will reduce the symptoms but thats it.

Take time off work, rest get better and go back when you won’t give it to everyone else.

I’m not a music quality snob but I heard one of these recently and it was just horrific. No idea which one it was but the speed was all over the show so singers sounded like they were about to throw up, unbelievable scratchy sound and very tinny too.
You’d be better off with a turntable something like this one which you can connect to anything to play records. https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/turntables/sony-usb-turntable.html

Personally I bought a ProJect Debut turntable off a friend for £40, a 1990’s Technics amp for £45 off eBay with remote and phone stage and some small bookshelf speakers off freecycle for free. Adding on a Bluetooth adapter will mean I can play pretty much anything, it’ll sound really good and look pretty good too (for a seperates system).