Advice here http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/

I have an old normally aspirated 1.9 Berlingo which, every once in a while, becomes very “dieselly” in sound and the power is reduced. I don’t know what causes it but just stopping and restarting gets rid of the problem. Could be the same problem? If so it will be gone next time you run it.

Our “industry partner” designed and built our system which was always rubbish. After a few years they eventually twigged that perhaps siting the sensor where it caught all the warm air from the printers below was not the ideal setup. It was better but still not as good as the original electric wall heaters (which have now been reinstated for economy reasons – we’ve been fine this winter).

Beetles?

A pal rescued a woman from work from the bottom of the valley by driving her Beetle up the hill the other day – no great problem. Next day she managed to get stuck in the same spot but he couldn’t get it up the hill.

She eventually told him she had switched on the traction control – switched it off and problem solved.

“Trackers were the Uk version of a mountain bike and were certainly around at the same time that things were taking off in the states. Obviously these bikes were built with components that had already been manufactured, mostly for cyclocross. Mine had a BMX headstock, was singlespeed and had motorbike handlebars with blood on them. “

The term “Tracker” was in use in my neck of the woods long before anyone (British or American) even thought of a mountainbike, early sixties, and referred to something loosely based on a cycle speedway bike, perhaps even with bars made from old tubing in the shape of motorcycle speedway bars but more suited to road use ie it had brakes.

In similar vein to the OP has anyone got, or know where I can find, catalogue or the like for the Raleigh Redwing? Google hasn’t come up with anything.

I got a 661 Recon (right size) but it sat too high on the head, actually not coming down as far at the back as my road helmet. Off the head of course it looks like it will provide good rear coverage.

It went back for a refund. I might have tried the next size up but didn’t think it would work and was far from impressed with the quality of the thing with the padding pieces hanging off it – they are only secured by small dots of a very fine version of velcro.

I had waited ages for it to come out but then it did not have the adjustable peak of the pictured ones which further reduced its utility.

I didn’t believe the “undo the bolt and ride it” dodge but tried it once and it worked. Of course you don’t have to remove the bolt completely. Slacken it off a bit then pedal carefully and you won’t ruin the taper.

Frankly, given what might be seen as the extreme nature of the situation, I don’t see why local taxpayer’s money should be given to the MOD who are funded anyway (though that might be argued by some within the Government).

BUT, if the MOD is getting paid extra by the Council (and it seems it is the MOD who will get the money not “the Army”) then surely the soldiers should be getting a cut of it as they are just back from theatre and deserve a break. I doubt whether they’ll see any of it though.

“and no on board khazi”

Doubt whether I could ever have persuaded the GF to go anywhere with me if it involved an on board khazi……………

Despite my enthusiasm for one in the porch of the tent.

Scored stanchions might be recoverable. It is known in the off-road motorcycle world to get a replating job done. Have a look in some motorcycle mags’ classified section.

Not being able to get the stanchions out the yoke might be a problem though – but an engineering shop should be able to cope with that.

I like the ambience at the Hub Cafe and would prefer not to lose it but the new place is not intended for the same purpose.

Peel is to be a centre for tourism for the whole area so cyclists are only a part of the target market. Go to any average “weekend” place, assess the clientele, and you will see what is going to be wanted by the FC eg Mom, Pop and brats at the garden centre.

I have yet to deal with my very old (cleaned regularly with abrasive cleaner by the previous occupant) ss top but feel that Solvol is too abrasive. Having been unable to obtain Belgom Alu which is much less abrasive than Solvol I got some Peek http://www.tripeek.com/ which seems to be the nearest equivalent and shone up a test patch very well, shiny being the original finish – brushed wasn’t used in the old days.

However here is what the British Stainless Steel Association has to say http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=77

I would have said that the exclamation mark should be between the quotation mark and the bracket at the end of the peace camp example as the emphasis seems to be being added by the quoter rather than the original speaker.

My first tour was a week of hostel/B&B round the Dales and I borrowed a Camper Longflap which was not full. I realised that I had taken too much as some stuff remained unused. It’s all relative, as one member of the group was amazed at how light I was travelling. He had two large panniers and a rackpack but was only ever seen in cycling shorts, shoes and top so I don’t know what he had in there.

“Powderfinger” was the one I could never figure out.

No problem,just enough to make it interesting, except for a flat battery in the “team” camera.

The guy in our party who fell in at this point (on the bike but stationary) believed himself to be a non-swimmer but found out otherwise! Bike was eventually hoiked out by getting a bungee hook on a spoke.

Having been in whilst fishing as a kid I can vouch for the temperature in summer being rather low.

If it was me I would just avoid stripping and try running it with the ATF then draining that and either continuing with fresh ATF or use gearbox oil. If it takes the torque of an engine a bike is well within its loading. Or would the hub not seal oil in?

Could always strip later if this was not successful.

I was somewhat appalled at the state (lubricationwise) of a new Sram hub gear on a bike I bought so I just put some EP 80 in that I had lying about and it’s been fine.

A touring bike with full mudguards will fit across the rear footwell of the original Jazz (no idea how the new one compares but, like most “improvements”, I suspect it will not be as good) with the squabs folded and front wheel out. Two tourers fit in fore and aft down the sides with seats folded and front wheels out leaving room for gear in the middle. A mountainbike should be easier still.

See tandem in a Jazz here http://www.blayleys.com/articles/cars/index.htm

I thought this was going to be one for the amateur proctologists amongst us.

“Hmm, I always take the face bits out of the motorbike helmet and run them through the washing machine with a wash – is this wrong ?? Needs done heaps as for some reason drool a bit more than usual… “

I read about the method in a mag so checked with the Arai importer who had no qualms. Mind it does take a week to dry naturally.

As the cheekpads aren’t as critical to function, and have been removed, as the main lining I don’t suppose you will have done any harm with the hot water.

As a pilot for some years, though not on anything rougher than an unsurfaced cycle path (a reluctant off road stoker who was happy and very competent to do anything on road), I second the ability for the stoker to see round if possible, to be aware of what is coming and to relax.

There was a picture on a forum a while ago of a tandem going over a fairly hairy drop. Someone then revealed that the stoker was blind so the ultimate in teamwork there, but how would you know what you were going to land on during the inevitable fall we all have? Much admiration.

“do they come with relevant fittings?”

Yes but you will best put something grippy (even just masking tape)round the plastic expander so it gets a good grip.

Mine is two years old now and has a slight looseness in the QR fitting but nothing to worry about. If it gets bad I’ll just silicon it in as I don’t need the QR.

As an old f**t I like to keep dry, particularly in the winter, so have decent guards (Shockboard front and something else German on the back). I may have an advantage in that preferring to look at the trail and not having eyes in my backside I can’t actually see what they look like so don’t really care as long as they are doing the job.

The standard, manufacturer approved, way of cleaning a motorcycle helmet (generally non-removeable lining) is to use warm, not hot, water and baby shampoo. Should work just fine to clean and protect a cycle helmet.

Not wise to leave locks lying about. The usual MO of the thief is to superglue the lock then nick the bike when the owner is forced to leave it unlocked.

The last time I looked the route completely bypassed Corstorphine.

Possibly for good reason as it has 3 very good bus routes to the city.

Or are we using a “Ryanair” definition of Corstorphine?

The guided buses lane was absolute madness – a driver could competently conduct a bus all the way across the city but suddenly needed guided assistance over a mile or so of virtually straight route? Bo….ks.

“I think the idea here was to avoid the queues of traffic to reduce bus journey times with little impact on regular traffic, not to help the drivers steer! “

Of course it was so why not just let the drivers use their skills on a separate tarmac lane on the line chosen instead of building a comparatively expensive concrete channel and modified buses.

“and put up with a bit of pain to get a great modern public transport system for the future.”

But it won’t be – it’s only one route, not a system. And we’re running short of electricity apparently.

The guided buses lane was absolute madness – a driver could competently conduct a bus all the way across the city but suddenly needed guided assistance over a mile or so of virtually straight route? Bo….ks.

Note requirement is to have lights on the bike, not on the person.

Possible scenario:

Cyclist gets taken to hospital after cycling with lights on the straps of his satchel (I’ve seen it). Satchel mysteriously disappears somewhere along the line or otherwise does not come to attention of police. Bike remains at accident spot with no lights on it – assumption is he was cycling unlit so errant motorist not to blame.

This gives a very good summary http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/guidanceaboutlightsonpedalbi4556

Depends on what you have but same as namastebuzz though using a bit rope slung between two hooks on the house and garden walls? Not much work in that, it’s the drainage that is harder (6x2x2 is a heck of a hole to dig).

I’m sure I tried my Oxford gauge against the dial one I have for the trials bike (6psi front, 4 psi rear and a small psi difference can be felt in the riding at times) and it was “accurate”. How exact does it have to be for a bike tyre? 4 to 5 psi is a big difference, 20 to 21 negligible in terms of what you can detect performance wise.

Tyre depots should have a calibrated master gauge which you could check against when next buying a car tyre.

The finer the gradations below 1 unit in my opinion then the less likely the reading is to be accurate – as someone hinted at above.

I often have dificulty with contrast – possibly try painting the buttons different colours and operating them with a pointer of some sort? Or at least building up the shutter release with some compound so it can be finger operated.

There is an Arran Mountainbike Club website somewhere which may help.

Indeed, and the hospitality.

Thanks, knew it had to be something like that – it’s a bit too early on a Sunday for my brain to be awake enough. See you there.

Having been forced to miss last week I fancied going this weekend, if that’s OK, but internet was out all yesterday. Where is the dragon cruiser? I take it that’s a colloquial name for somewhere.

Thanks, I’ll have a (careful) look.

This is more than a long shot but I was in Normandy a couple of weeks ago and the band at the evening entertainment was a really good bluesy type but I didn’t get a name. Three younger guys and an older guy on lead, the only clue is that the harmonica player was called “Monsieur Blow Blow”, I couldn’t catch the other names.

Are they known at all? Nowhere near Limoges I know but hey the music world could be as small as the VTT one.

Many moons ago a pal carried a ten foot length of mahogany bar top home under his arm after it was found dumped outside the pub.

I wish I had been there to see him turn right at the tightish roundabout at the foot of Leith Street.