Thanks all. Over to the Classifieds then for me!

Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe, because of the effect it had on me when I was little. I still re-read every couple of years and it's still fresh.

Checked out p96 on the way to work this morning. Nice pic!

Second the OP view – excellent read so far. Particularly enjoyed the dog article, also Binners' inspirational one. Oh yes, and the British Steel one.

No, it was dead easy once i got hold of the instructions (I am so ham-fisted that I struggle on Pro II!). Just unscrew the caps at each end and the freehub slides out.

Yup. I've got one for my singlespeed. So far OK (had it a few months, not really seen any really muddy stuff yet but it's got a few miles on it now). The only issue is that it started making grindy creaky noises from the freehub, got it apart and it was somewhat lacking in grease. Now resolved that, but if you go for one, do check.

Can't say much more, really.

At a cadence that feels insane on our night run along the disused railway for a couple of miles, as all my (geared) mates go hell for leather just to see if they can kill me!

Excellent story, Tinners!

Suggestion – go to CERN for a bit, see if they'll let you get whizzed round the particle accelerator after work (ask them nicely), then when you're all weightless and unencumbered by gravity come back and just float up to it? (Watch out though if the effects suddenly wear off).

Are you thinking of using an existing chimney? If not, it can get very expensive. We had a quote to have one put into the kitchen recently (no usable chimney) and suffice to say we could buy an Aga and have plenty of change for the amount the quote came out at for installing a new flue etc.

Having to re-think how to heat the kitchen a little better, unfortunately the best I can come up with that's afforable is changing the radiators, but that's another story.

I must say though there's some amazing designs around.

Enjoy riding mine especially in the crud. That's all I need really.

The only time it becomes a bit of a fag is long flat road sections. Love it otherwise – oddly, I reckon I can ride more technical stuff on it than geared. No idea why.

noteeth – Member
Had a pint with the lovely Alice Roberts.

– lucky, lucky git!

I think I saw Katie Humble yesterday out on my bike. If it was her she gave us a big cheery hello. Probably one of my biggest brushes with fame.

The constant bloody misuse / abuse of the word "like", which seems to find its inapproriate and mind-bendingly irritating way at least 240 times into any sentence if trhe speaker is under 20. It does really, really annoy me as it's meaningless and I hear it about 100000000000 times over on every journey to work.

…..and breathe!

Thanks scrappy – will take a look

Top Gun. I thought it was utter, predictable tripe.

We had a brilliant long weekend in the Quantocks with truly superb riding and guiding (Thanks, Rob & Vicky!). It was all excellent but highlights were Weacombe and Smiths Combe. Wish I was still there.

Excellent – the medical room looks better equipped than our local hospital, and the ship is clearly way better appointed than a cross-channel ferry! Really interesting – thanks.

No idea why it was blocked at work. Probably beacuse it had the word "Soviet" in it or something. Cheers

I went on a guided weekend with Clive Powell in Wales some years back – reasonably-sized group, on the first day there's that "atmosphere" when everyone's trying to suss each other out and demonstrate acceptable bike-handling skills / fitness etc. Long road climb onto the tops, OK, I'm one of the last up, group waiting expectantly where road turns into rough track. Up I pedal, trying not to puff, holding that stomach in, and a nice, neat, very professional stop, and…….topple slowly but surely sideways into a very large (and the only one) muddy puddle. It broke the ice and had me marked down as utterly useless for the weekend, which was probably fair!

"Innocent" pot of bean stew-type thing
Some random chunks of fruit.

3 of us – Karin, Zeberdy (sp?) and me. I don't think we quite took over the pub.

Mmmm, lovely-looking black 853.

How does it work with import duty / customs buying from HK? I bought some bike parts from the US a couple of years agao and got hammered on import. Might as well have bought them here.

I'd never really seen Mint Suace before – I obviously don't get the "wrong" mags – but this thread is excellent! Converted now.

Now i can join in – Hurry up with the book!!

I love the shipping forecast.

Sorry to hear it and best wishes.

Hmmmm. That's just stopped me feeling sorry for myself over nothing in particular.

Yes. With a crown race.

You could put the bread in normal ways but turn the toaster on its side. That may be less confusing.

Karinofnine – thanks for organising. At least some of us made it! (Must have been the rain….)

Pardon?

Not a dr just used to be a sufferer. I imagine it depends how badly you get affected (obvious statement of the day!) – with me, it used to be awful every time and got progressively worse after each attack. No way could I have shifted it without antibiotics, it went on for weeks otherwise, but it sounds like you may well be able to. I would be worried about Kielder though – it used to proper mess me up for a few weeks afterwards. Just don't overpush it soon afterwards.

Lots of water too.

Best thing that ever happened to me (apart from meeting my mrs) was having them removed.

Would like to, but personal rule is shorts only at home or on bike as it is unfair to humanity to inflict my legs on them.

Hooja – The guy in question was emerging from the "seating area" of the facilities (not the urinal area, which would have been bad enough in an office).

I know it was done on the hoof, but I have to rein you in on that picture.

Used to work with a guy at my last place (and he was more than a little strange) who would emerge from the traps and go straight out to his desk. Never washed his hands. I wasn't the only one to notice.

Agree – grabbing the porcelain is not on and and frankly rather weird.

Wish I had a decent LBS. Local one is very hit and miss (ie, my missus rang a few weeks back and asked if she could drop a bike in to have the indexing sorted, they said not for a couple of weeks as it's a long job!). If you get the other mechanic, he is really helpful and knowledgeable. I suppose it just depends who you speak to. Only other bike shops are Evans…..! I suppose it has been the push I've needed to work things out for myself.

Surly for me (yes, from Charlie!), admittedly haven't inspected it for a while.

Thanks for the re-assurance hh45. Where did you get the patch from and I will try again. I would have used the old toothpaste tube trick between the tyre and tube had it not been tubeless.

Thanks all.

flimsy kack IME

I'm beginning to wonder. I wish there was a tyre as fast-rolling but a little more solid.

Khani – yes, as much as you can pour a bottle upside down!

Yes, I admit I've got lazy in not carrying tubes. Need to buy some more and start carrying them again – I was a little trusting of tubeless it seems. I went over as I was so hacked off with punctures.

I had recently done the conversions; each had the recommended two scoops of jizz. First tyre was Bontrager ACX, second a brand new Nobby Nic UST. I suspect heavier tyres may not been so keen to be slashed, but I don't really want to put tractor tyres on…..

I suspect that the lack of tube makes the tyre more susceptible to cuts, but that is on a tiny sample of 2.

Saw an ambulance (the road type) parked halfway across the road on a small lane near Woodcote today – it looked like they'd gone into the woods. Was that anything to do with it?

Best vibes to your mate.

It's a fair drive (~30-45 minutes) but Barnaline Forest has a good circular ride ("2 Lochs") around parts of Loch Awe and Loch Avich. From Oban you need to go south on the A816, turn left at Kilmelford, at the T junction turn right over the bridge and car park is on the right. Just before Dalavich which has a great shop selling good cakes.

Stupendous open country rides up on Rannoch Moor which is closer than FW. Glen Etive (from Bonawe), Bridge of Orchy etc etc. Just get the OS map 377.