Welding, don’t let anybody tell you that welding isn’t fun.

…… I’ve yet to find a weekly welding club though 🤨

I don’t know you but my heart genuinely aches when I read your posts but I notice that they are not all negative.

I hated my life, brought up by a violent father I went off the rails in my early teens. Went through something else that resulted in me having a brake down aged about 18 and spent the next 10+ years blocking out the pain and depression with drink drugs and violence.
Then I met somebody, and everything changed for the better.

I wish Id had a father like you, your children will one day be adults and I sure they will be extremely proud of what you have done for them.

Keep going.

https://www.komoot.com/plan/@53.6312034,-2.4966431,12z?p%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=highlight&p%5B0%5D%5Bid%5D=222003&p%5B1%5D%5Btype%5D=highlight&p%5B1%5D%5Bid%5D=611439

An option.

😁

USA at is finest,

They must have a spare opioid type pill they need a use for.

Most dead Kennedy’s songs still sound relevant in today’s climate.

Songs about government corruption, big business killing the planet for profit and how ‘normal’ people are expendable and controlled by media,,,, etc

They also did a version of ‘I fought the law’

At the risk of a flaming I will add,,,,,

Initially loved my 2016 zero AM but soon realised it wasn’t really the bike I should of bought for my 90% of riding (Long Xc/road to local trails)

That said I have used it at revs/stiniog/bringewood/hopton and although not as agile as my stolen DH bike,,,, it was a blast
👊😎

New Solaris landed 2weeks ago and it suits my 90% far better.

The AMs being mothballed for uplift days.

Just make sure it’s the right bike for you.

Bought the mt500 koroyd helmet few months ago as it was on offer, researched it after I’d worn it a few times and I’m concerned that the koroyd ‘padding’ may have a limited life. I don’t think it returns form after a substantial impact. Not tested helmet yet but when I do have a spill the knees always tend to hit the ground.

Saying that, ive bought some anyway 😉

Can’t comment on the pipe diameter Q

But, I found pex pipe/fittings a lot cheaper on eBay than local plumb merchants (reputable manufacturer as well)

Halfway through our hol with TK in almeria.

Our first family holiday since mini mon arrived could be more memorable than we thought.

Everything’s going to be just fine………

I bought a bungalow with cavity wall insulation which are notorious for damp problems.
First winter and the black mould started (previous owner had removed all trace before we bought)

Fitted extractor fans to bathroom/kitchen AND trickle vents to window frames and have been problem free for 3 years.

Cost me about £150 for materials and hire of a core drill.

Terrex ^

510 what?

I had sam hill impacts for about 2months before selling as they crippled my feet on long rides.

Currently using Adidas terrestrial with no problems.

New 29er hardtail last week.

I’ve gone 1×46 thinking it will help me become a climbing god.

Disappointed,

The gear range is just like I had on the last bike except I’ve got a massive low gear with nowt in between .

Didn’t research it before buying cassette but I would of liked a bit more of a smooth transition between. Gap between Second last and top ( what ever that may be) is huge and I’m either using it to effect or crawling in biggest ring,,,,, I’ll get used I suppose.

Might try a 34 up front to see if better.

I haven’t got a clue 😁

Trained joiner and industrial cleaner to NVQ level, multi skilled in most trades.
BUT,,,,, employed by a housing association as a £@cking cleaner ☹️ Tried and failed several times over the years to move up the ladder but I’m not related to senior management so I won’t get anywhere.
Jobs always been shite, reached new depths of shite 2 years ago when new,,, ahem,,, _manager_ was wedged in as she had nowhere else to go ( last chance saloon due to history of abusing position j

I’d never heard of the term ‘passive aggressive narcissist’ before, but I know all about it now.

As a result ( anarchist at heart😁 ) I Will be starting training as a unison steward at the end of the month at Manchester college for 10 weeks. I have had MANY barriers put in place to try and stope me, I’m not giving up on this.
After steward training I can do further training HNS, employment law etc to what ever level I want to go ( diploma,, I think? ) all at works expense and in works time, she won’t like it but she can do FA about it without taking on a powerful union and risking her own career,,,, which is hanging by a thread.

My soul destroying job has slowly robbed me of all motivation and led to loss of brain cells over the years, we can’t think for ourselves and using initiative is frowned apron.

I hate my job,,,,, I’m fighting back.

A Land Rover, a trailer and a big hill.

Oreet bike parks got a nice ring to it 😁

Agreed,

Can’t really bring myself to be shocked anymore.

You die by your sword.

Had a go of the enduro track recently on the way Back from watching WC at fort bill. Was way out my comfort zone .

I bought one to replace an old 2012 fox flux 3 years ago. Fit is ok but it’s a bit chunky.

Don’t really wear it as it runs hot and ‘mine’ whistles when I hit 15mph+…… Very distracting.

Just bought an endura mt500 with £50 off from sigmasports.com.

Paypal zero credit for 12 months= couple of quid a week 😎

I like a beer, and as a result Im sporting an impressive bay window.

I’ve always dressed football casual but all the expensive designer clobber is now aimed at ‘skinny fit’ kids,,,,, not like the old days (90s😁)

Have found MnS, next, Lacoste and Barbour to be sympathetic to blokes with similar interests to me.

One day I will approach the dragons den panel with the latest fashion trend,,,,,, ‘lad fit’.

PS,
my latest venture is to train as a union rep.

This will help quench my need to progress.

It’s a very rewarding venture and all union time is done at works expense.

I can also do a number of NVQ quals in works time ( HnS, business studies, employment law)

Consider this if your bored.

I’ve jumped ship a few times,,, and it seems always to another sinking ship.

I am a qualified joiner and industrial cleaner to nvq3

I’ve always worked in building maintenance and can turn my hand to most trades, I know my limit with gas/elec but all that means nowt when it comes to interviews (10+ in the last 5 years)

Found myself working for a major housing association as a cleaner and I literally polish a neglected turd 5 days a week. It’s soul destroying.

BUT, I get a van, decent pension, sick pay and decent holidays…..
being the wrong side of 45 I would hate to work hard for a living again and I see the lads who work on the tools look with envy as I bimble through the working week whilst they suffer (bad knees etc)

I’ve accepted my fate, I know which side my breads buttered. Life is a marathon NOT a sprint.

Take it on the chin, take the pas at work , BE LAZY (it’s not a bad thing) enjoy your life outside of work at works expense

Kinda thinking along the lines of the OP,

I’ve held back from buying a new bike. Wanted wheel size geom etc to settle down before I bought My bike for life (I know 😁)

Can’t see any new standards being developed anytime soon, 12speed/boost/fork offset etc have all been covered,,,,,,,

Shirley it’s settled now ?!?!

Bookmarked, updates welcomed 😁
Was looking at a ‘yellow pole’ but ended up getting Solaris.
Enduromag (or what ever it’s called) rated it highly but no chance to demo wobbled me a bit.

Might be tempted for frame only, when I’ve paid the Cotic off

I love a steel 29er

Sounds to me that they are growing it and have a massive drugs empire 😁.

Have you tried speaking to them, asking them nicely not to do it.

If that doesn’t work try medieval with ski mask and baseball bats.

Need do more research it seems 😁😀

If it helps,

Ask your local council for advise, Wigan council would rather you dump it safely for free than Flytip.

My external garage roof on house we bought 5 years ago was 10% asbestos sheet after a pal in the industry checked it for me.

Quoted near 1k for a ‘local reputable company’ to ‘over board over it/ not remove’, when asked how they would fix new roof they stupidly admitted they drilled through old sheets 🤷‍♂️

I researched and bought proper PPE/disposal kit according to Wigan council guide lines and did it myself for less than a quarter of contract cost.

Had to damp it down with hose before removal, double bag with 1500 grade vis queen sheet and gaffer tape so as it was air tight when bound also bought an industrial hoover from screw fix with plenty of bags. All disposed responsibly and free of charge at council yard.

Full hazmat suited Employee who supervised me disposing it in council skip informed me he couldn’t help me due to HnS whilst ignoring builders chucking Asda bags of the stuff in the skip,,,,,, he just shrugged his shoulders 😁

Think gwin was on 481, I may be wrong.

It’s been my latest subject of obsessive research for my new wheel set, getting build kit together for new solarismax end of aug.

I think I’m set on the 481s/pro4s but it’s early days,,,, months 😕

£6 Aldi garden ‘bins’ for clobber.
Bits and pieces are scattered amongst various tool boxes in the scrap yard of a garage.

In my defence I know where most stuff is within a square meter,,,,, but I tend to disappear into the garage in times of woe and mutter ‘I’m sure it was here’ when the mrs is in earshot 😉

HEs a trouble maker 😁

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Watson_(Labour_politician)

I had this on a new 2012 Orange5 frame, used theses to good effect.

Need a regular service in winter though

https://www.enduroforkseals.com/products/rear-suspension/shock-eyelet-bearing-kits/6mm-8mm-thru-bolts/NEEDLE-BEARING-22.20.html

if you can’t get at it put a blob of silicone In it, let it go off and BANG ANOTHER IN

Apologies, I ran out of andrex,

https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1207904?click=eyJxdWVyeSI6IlNlYWxza2lueiIsInBhZ2UiOjEsInBhZ2VTaXplIjozOCwicG9zIjozOH0=

I hope your arse is clean now 😉.

These are merino lined version , Aldi versions are cold and not fit for winter, and my dexshells leaked from new.

Back to seals for me.

British racing green frames land in 4 weeks, pics going live on site approx Monday.

been waiting a 6mnths for this.

New bike time 😎

One up dropper, you won’t be disappointed

My first dropper was a reverb, I ended up disappointed

Check out dewalt iridium safety glasses £8 from screwfix.
Big lenses give good peripheral (road and Mtb)
Not much distort.
Arms give good grip which limits movement when it gets rough.
Close fitting and not vented so can steam a bit in certain atmospherics but I can cope with that.

CRC posting me a mech hanger in a box to big to fit through the letterbox.
Really needed it for a weekend away. Didn’t have time to pick it up from the depot ☹️

^ I agree, decking is an accident waiting to happen (winter especially) and a waste of effort/money replacing Long term.

Also, in my experience rising damp is not a myth but finding the cause can cure.

I would be pulling that beading strip off to see if the door frames have been siliconed and maybe ripping the old silicone out and re-sealing, could possibly be dripping down, pooling at the bottom of the frame and soaking the wall. Cavity will more than likely be filled at that level allowing breach.

Decking should be 150mm under the DPM so splash back could also be a cause.

Cables got a drip loop so shouldn’t be of concern

DO NOT invest in damp proof paint ‘snake oil’, address the cause of the damp.

When the time comes, would be a good idea to replace decking with flags/ paving and install a surface drain against the boundary wall,,,,

I really do not like decking 🤨

ride home from haigh hall takes me through Wigan park. I always send the steps, have landed to flat a few times after ‘refreshment’ in the brocket,

the teens smoking weed in the band stand always give me a woop,,, makes me feel like a 45 year old riding god 😎

A good car 😁.

I usually run them into the ground BUT,,,,,,

I would be putting cash in the bank for a new banger come MOT fail time.