Cougar – Its as setup by Graitec who supplied me the machine a few years back.

Matt – hadnt thought of that, good idea.

Great advice, thank you. Ah, may need to give you the full picture. The PC spec is as follows:

Windows 10 Pro
HP Z230 tower workstation
Intel Core i.7-4790 CPU @ 3.6ghz, 4 cores, 8 logical processors
Installed physical memory 8gb (2x4gb) (whoops – thought it was 4gb total!)
Total physical memory 7.76gb
Available physical memory 1.72gb
Total virtual memory 15.8gb
Available virtual memory 4.65gb
Page file space 8gb
NVIDIA Quadro K2000 graphics card (latest driver installed).
Samsung SSD 850 Pro 250Gb (OS and all programs run off this) – 237gb used – 34gb free
WDC 1TB hard drive – (for data/CAD drg storage) – 734gb free

What would you do to improve performance? cheers!

Sorry to hear such sad news, thoughts are with you and your family.

Were in the process of building our new build, a replacement house for a bungalow we demolished. The bungalow had a bt cable for phone and broadband which was detached by a bt technician and left on the pole for reconnection to the new house. Whats the options for not using BT going forward, we need a home phone which is used also for my work. Fibre too. Any options or suck it up and get Bt/open reach to sort?

Took me ages to get my hightower(v1) dialled in, found I was running the rear shock far too soft despite setting sag correctly. My fox shock is at 250psi, I do weigh 14st tho!

Google shade sails, worth a go and can look good too.

Had my X2 (the basic version) a couple of years now, im 6′ and ride a size large. Perfect size for me. Run it with 130mm 29″ forks, either with 29er wheels for more XC but currently setup with 27.5 30mm 2.6″ wheels for fun singletrack, suits both. Fun bike, versatile frame. Bought mine for £800.

Love my Vendetta X2, I’ve had no problem with the company at all.

Always thought the Dandy Warhols – Thirteen tales from urban bohemia sounded pretty good on most systems, not sure if that means its a good production?

Loving my Kingdom Vendetta X2

Slackalice – I cant stand ‘poncy architects’ either especially the roll neck wearing type. You do understand envelope is just a quick way of saying external walls, floor and roof? It’s basic building terminology not fluff. MVHR pulls stale damp air out the wet rooms, blows fresh air from outside into the habitable rooms. If the ENVELOPE isn’t airtight it will pull air in from gaps and unbalance the system. It’s ok I know your not having a go, your just having your own babble about stuff you know only a little bit about. Now where’s my circular framed glasses…

MVHR draws fresh air in which is then preheated with the stale air exiting the building. The building envelope needs to be airtight otherwise the MVHR would draw from trickle vents, gaps around windows etc making it very inefficent. You can open windows in a passivhaus the MVHR just wont run as efficently. As it provides a fesher environment to traditionally vented houses there is less inclination to want to open windows as the temperature is generally stable. Less chance of mould, dust mites etc too. Its likely to become the norm. We all just need to get our heads around being more sealed in.

My 2p. Its a tricky one isnt it. I read somehwere that you can achieve the targets through just installing an ASHP, I have my reservations. Im an architectural designer and about to build a new house for my family, we are very likely to opt for the MBC timber frame passivhaus envelope. We wont be seeking Passivhaus certification due to the sites orientation and setting within a valley. I have considered traditonal masonry builds and increasing the cavity width, Denby Dale passivhaus (Green building Store) shows the potential of cavity wall systems that could be adopted by traditonal builders in the future. The attention to detail required to ensure airtightness of the envelope will be the biggest hurdle for builders, this is probably more important than the thermal resistance of the insulation. MBC guarantee the airtightness to passivhaus standard which is one of the biggest benefits. Just need to make sure the builders that will finish it dont puncture the airtight barrier.

The costs of using the passiv system is maybe 8 to 10% above traditional masonry. Our budget is very tight so simplifying the internal fit out to invest money in a low energy envelope.

In my opinion a highly insulated prefabricated timber frame will be the future. The costs should reduce as they become more popular and the general awareness of the benefit of building with airtight buildings with controlled ventilation shows reduced energy consumption and more importantly running costs.

Kingdom vendetta x2, love mine and surprisingly versatile.

Use the Local Authority ‘Search for planning applications’ under the address, it should come up with any planning history for the site. Alternatively if the property has changed names search by postcode or road name. As its recently been converted it should be on there. If that does not work you may need to fill in a request form with the planning department. Hope this helps.

I signed up to the newsletter and recived the 15% code before completing my order, then added the discount code which seemed to work.

Yep, I was stationary at the time, I have photos showing the scene although the other driver cleared off before I could get his car in the photos. He stopped about 10m after the impact. Can I prove I was stationary? Probably not as no dash cam. My car was stationary next to a stone wall, had I been moving I would of hit the near side of my car into the wall to avoid him, hence why I stopped. As he approached he tried to go up the grass verge on the offside, the verge is pretty much vertical so he went up then slid down into the Side of my car whilst accelerating through the gap. The photos show the debris from the verge on the road angling to towards the rear of my car. Still doesn’t prove I was stationary. We’ll see whether the insurance co think if I have a case or if it will be 50 50. Tbh because of MOT issue I’d be surprised if I didn’t end up with a hefty bill so kind of prepared for the worst.

Can I jump on to this thread with a quick q? We’re having a new house built, what would be the ideal future proof cable setup for wireless throughout the house? Also need to link into a detached garage which will house an office. Cheers nick

Thanks for the link, it was a very minor accident so fingers crossed.

MOT reminder setup on calendar now. Seems so simple doesn’t it, easy to miss things like this when you’re juggling life issues I.e. the care of a profoundly disabled son. Not an excuse for forgetting the MOT of course. Just adds context for being a dick during the 3 weeks I forgot about the MOT.

Cheers for the posts, it’s helped. i’ll let you know what happens…

Shark bait, you’re correct it’s a 2015 model, typo in last nights post.

If we take your example of having 4 bald tyres and it had failed the mot. Would the failure not have shown up online on the mot checker as part of its mot history. I dknt know the answer to this. Just curious.

Spoke with the insurers and can reinstate claim if I wish. I’ve not been asked to present a valid mot doc (yet) so may pursue this route.

Completely my own fault not having the mot, very lucky the incident was very minor in a way.

Agree. Passing an mot a day after the accident is largely irrelevant. It does show the car was road worthy though as no advisories.

It’s also annoying as my car is only 3 years old. His is 14. Such a ridiculous accident that was completely pointless.

Exmoor is my local patch, sounds like you had a proper adventure and if this was last weekend then fair play as that weather was terrible! You did the sensible thing in not camping. Start planning the next trip I say…

Id echo others comments, had a Butcher on the front (29×2.3) Grid casing, on a wet and stony steep descent last Friday I lost the front end and went OTB, I think the spacing between the centre knobs and side knobs seems a bit on/off, equally it may be a lack of finess/skills on my part. Ive stuck a Hans Dampf back on now just to have a bit more transtion between upright and cornering.

Went OTB on my Friday night MTB ride so had the weekend off as v sore, hope to get back on the bike today and make up the two days in due course. Shame was doing alright too with a ride/exercise everyday.

Signed up too, good excuse to carry on the strava escape plan too. Cheers

Reminds me, must order a new gate for the field.

Trousers

Brant to the forum

Ling

The neighbour has stolen my land

The neighbour has stolen my parcel

The neighbour has…

Which Transporter

Bangernomics

Which fast, cool family car for 5 people, 3 bikes and a dog.

5.52 start time for me. Barely worth booking a hotel!

Brilliant write up Alex, thoroughly enjoyed that and given food for thought…now where’s my map

V inspiring, looking forward to the day 5 write up.

Thorn bikes? Specialists in building touring bikes for all types of long distance riding.

201 miles. 12 hours moving time. 16.7mph av speed. Fun!

Same here, the workshop provided an amazing level of service when they handled a frame warranty exchange. Such a shame.

5 sets ordered, cheers for the PSA.

Also look for PI insurance, PL insurance as necessary for your line of work. This should reduce the risk for either option should things go wrong. I’m am architectural designer, 8 years as a sole trader, nice and simple plus it keeps my accounts private.

Awesome many thanks, and also to those that have replied to.

Vortex, which wheels and spec did you go for? Any idea of weight?

Thanks for the posts, the smuggler is a great bike and I had thought of making some cheaper mods to my current build to make it better on the ups. Current bike is 14.7kg (cheapo luggage scales) with pedals with a 42 cassette and 32T chainring, good for fitness but tiring on a long ride! I have a new 46 cassette and chain to go on which will instantly give me more flexibility on the long rides. Like someone suggested prob better spending £350 on some Hunt XC Wheels to drop some rotating weight first and see how it goes.