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wzzzz and VanHalen – that’s what I want to hear!

Other than those two things, the house is great! 🤣

The electrics generally need a lookover – have booked an electrician to have a gander. Original fusebox is still there, but there’s also a consumer unit with MCBs (no RCD though) so it’s not clear what’s what. Could be as simple as a new consumer unit, or as bad as a full house rewire if the cabling is no good.

Definitely a later extension – only 2 of the 4 terraced houses in the row have it, and it’s been pasted onto the back of the house so that it’s beyond the original external back door and kitchen window. No knock through.

Thanks all. Think it’s a public/shared drain, as the house is mid terrace. However the water search came back showing the public drains as being off the property, so perhaps there’s a (slim) chance that my drains just extend straight back to that without joining to next door’s. Dunno!

No plans to knock it down and rebuild – this is complicated by the fact that it was built along with an identical adjoined version on the neighbour’s plot, so knocking down our half would likely have consequences for them too.

Good to know re 4 years and planning. Looks like it’s at least 20+years old.

Oh, where would I find details of what constitutes “permitted development”? Just incase that covers the build, but I strongly doubt it.

No evidence of building regs certs either.

Smidge of cheap hairspray on the bar ten seconds before you install?

Can he? Yes, if it fits.

Should he? Depends on frame condition and usage case. That’s his call, but in most cases the answer will be yes, it’ll be fine – likely just pootling along once a year at centre parcs…

Why – are you trying to sell him a new bike?

How thorough a clean are we talking – did you remove the chain? Any chance you might have refitted it backwards? Shimano chains are directional and will jump when backpedaling if backwards.

iirc you’re based near me (South Manchester?) – would be happy to meet up for a wee ride at some point, either to give you practice or just for a social spin. Will struggle in the short term – miniptb2 appeared two weeks ago, so I think I’d be in trouble if I swanned off on a jolly any time soon.

If it’s BC L2 you’re training for, I’ve a nice faffy route starting at Hayfield to help test your nav if you’d like.

Ended up with a Macride (thanks Steve!) – it’s fantastic and the little’un loves it.

After a couple of shorter test rides, we went out for a longer ride the other day – 1hr each way, with a stop for ice cream and a playpark in the middle. She was beginning to get a little bit fed up towards the end, but to be fair I think she was just knackered and ready for her dinner.

Big fan here! Plenty of scope for chatting and pointing to things – much more inclusive than having her in the trailer/rucksack.

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@gotama and @stevemuzzy

I’m unsure if my PMs are working – I’ve sent you both a message.

If nothing has come through please let me know!

Goes without saying, but… Anyone with either for sale, drop me a message 😅

Cheers all – looks like both are good options, will keep my eyes peeled on marketplace/eBay and see what crops up.

I was out at Hayfield last night so a bit further south. Trails were running fast with some squelchy bits – today’s sun will have baked that dry no doubt. Granted it was a night ride, but I didn’t see a single other rider in a 2hr loop – I had similar reservations to you as it was the first evening of eased restrictions.

Enjoy!

Load of old bores on here!

Me and my mates regularly set segment challenges with each other, similar to @r8jimbob88 above. Keeps things interesting, especially being as we’ve been confined to pancake-flat South Manchester for months on end when we’d normally be riding the Peaks most weeks (on the MTBs).

Road riding is dull. Strava makes it slightly less dull, Strava coupled with mates makes it almost bearable.

Plus, it’s fun to go out on a fully racked commuter and try to burst some blood vessels beating times set by whippets on TT bikes…

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-pro-bb-removal-tool-1641-bbr60

This wan

My favourite job for “yer a wizard, Harry” moments is bent mech hangers. I’ve had mates come to me having spent hours tearing their hair out with cable tension and limit screws – five minutes with a hanger alignment tool and it’s all sorted

@bruneep Shameless scrounge – if the Goldeneyes is going in the bin, could I trouble you for the visor screws please?

Size 14 here, Superstar Nano or the CarbonCycles/Exotic version. Think I’ve got a plastic Nukeproof set of pedals too, they’re absolutely fine. Would mention that shoes are equally as important.

On various bikes I have had a Charge Spoon, Madison Flux, SDG Falcon, Brand-X Trail. All fit my bum and feel about the same. Take from that what you will…

Novoresume is great for a free, well formatted one-page CV.

Labour only, this is what I would’ve charged as a zero overhead back garden bike mechanic:

Fork lower service: £30
New hope pawl springs fitted: £20
Main bearings and 4 pivot bearings replaced: £30-50 depending on how faffy it was
Shock DU bush changed: £10
New chain fitted: £10

Total: £100-£120

I think you’re spot on.

Update:

Friend managed to get out. Handed in notice politely, ensured that all work was finished or handed over by the end of the day, and then toddled off into the sunset.

He’s just had his final pay (no payslip as yet) – has been underpaid by a four figure sum.

Employer currently has 3 or 4 employment tribunals active against them from current and previous employees, so presumably this is the route that he’s expecting my friend to go down. Reading the citizen’s advice page it would seem that employment tribunals are a complete waste of time as more than half of all successful cases are never paid in full anyway.

Any tips? Friend can’t afford to just let it slide, he’s got too many bills to pay… But also has no wish to drag out his contact with previous employer.

Oh, and happy new year (from myself and my friend)

This thread cost me £500 today.

I hope you’re all proud of yourselves.

Curses, curses, curses.

You’ve made me realise how much I miss my rigid single speed. Gave it to the father-in-law who’s become quite attached as it’s kept him sane through this year.

Anyone selling an XL 29er..?

They actually said about £450, so I’ve knocked off a third for the classic WBAC mark-down haha

Okaydokey, Megane failed MOT today as expected. Needs enough doing to make it not worth our while, as we need the bigger car within the next 4months anyway. Going to pop new pads in the rear so that it no longer has any “dangerous” fails and can be driven to find its replacement… It’ll still have 2 major (steering related) and 1 minor (registration plate bulb) defects, if anyone is interested in a (very) cheap runabout with MOT until 10 January 2021, give me a shout – looks like WBAC would give us £300ish.

I have one week to find a replacement before a 500mile round trip to see the family over Christmas – South Manchester if anyone knows of anything suitable nearby!

@olly2097 you have a PM

Short service intervals are okay, I’ll be doing all the usual stuff myself. 20k cambelt intervals seems a bit much though, hope they’re cheap..

The mention of VED was because I’m grumpy about the £205 that the Megane costs me each year – eats into the “bangernomics” budget quite significantly!

In fairness a £3k car, depending on the car, is less about bangernomics so perhaps the tax doesn’t matter so much.

Hadn’t really considered petrol, but we don’t do crazy miles usually. A normal year is 10k miles, with the occasional 500mile round trips to see family.

Feel free to make alternative suggestions, maybe I narrowed my search too soon!

Thanks all, that’s really useful – looks like I’m okay to go ahead with 274mm spokes and normal 12mm nipples.

Friend definitely won’t be doing anything unethical. He thinks he’ll probably not mention the data stuff unless it becomes a problem in the future. He won’t be giving notice without first having signed a contract elsewhere.

Chat to Jon at MadeOnAMobile, he’ll give you some pointers as to kit/techniques. Runs fantastic training sessions too, can thoroughly recommend – could be worthwhile to get the team started!

https://hellojon.wordpress.com/

My friend says thanks, this is very useful. He thinks he might give very vanilla responses if pushed on the “why”, but doesn’t want to be drawn into it as he’ll end up saying something nasty/completely honest.

He thinks HSE might become aware of the ongoing unsafe working practices shortly after he leaves, possibly as a sort of “leaving gift” to his ex-colleagues who he’d really rather didn’t suffer any further.

Finished it last night – wife turned to me and commented “that must’ve been really good – I’ve just watched over 7 hours of chess without being bored”

I’m sure you’ve already had plenty offers, but genuinely if you just want a chat/offload then PM me and I’ll give you my number.

Us biking dads have got to stick together.

Congratulations!

We were told to layer the baby up in whatever we’re wearing +1. So if we’re going outside in t-shirts and jumpers, baby needs vest, jumper and jacket. Daughter has survived to 13months so it seems to work okay!

Best advice I was given was to prep the fresh nappy (and nappy bag) before taking the dirty nappy off.

Try not to worry too much – it’s an amazing experience. Sleep will become a genuine currency between you and your partner, and to be honest all of the tips and tricks you read on the internet will fly out of your head as soon as you’re knackered and you’ll resort go into survival mode. Trust your instincts – there are plenty of idiots out there that somehow breed successfully, you’ll be fine.

Oh, and the mum will probably be ruined for a good 3months afterwards – be as supportive as you possibly can and treat her like a queen. Birth is bonkers.

A bar-mounted map holder.

And then I fitted a bar-mounted map holder. They’re excellent.