Use your existing mech as a tensioner – use an old spoke to hold it laterally across the freehub by bolting/bending it through the normal cable route. Can put up pics of what I mean if you need!

Met a bloke up Cathkin Braes in Glasgow the other day flying a Mavic Pro. WANT. So many cool features.

Probably just as well I don’t have the disposable cash otherwise it’d be on its way to me already, hah!

Sorry to hear that glasgowdan 🙁

Spoke to him again today, he said he was feeling a lot better and that yesterday was just a particularly low point. Managed to get a hold of the boss before he disappeared on holiday, so he’s now aware of the situation and has helped my colleague through something similar before so knows how to support him which is a plus.

Thanks for all the suggestions, actually pretty helpful- going to see about organising a social at a Chinese food place.

Oh ya … the things you can comfort him with: (most Chinese can understand these)

1. Tell him his sacrifice is for his family and children.

2. His children future and money for education.

3. He is a great husband that looks after his family by enduring loneliness for his family greater good.

4. They are all very proud of him.

Only problem with that is that he’s single and alone over here – no wife/kids in the picture

chewkw – useful perspective, thanks! He did mention that he considered it a normal feeling for a Chinese bloke to get abroad which is interesting.

Looks likes he’s currently tending towards option 1; he says he’s felt like this before when at uni (but not as bad) – he went to uni in China, but still a day’s travel from home, so not as extreme a change as this. Funny that it’s happened 8 years after he moved here though. He’s got 1.5years left before he gets his green card and says he sees himself working here in 10 years time. Don’t know his family situation really, whether they’re too settled over there or too ill/old to move.

He has a cousin visiting next month so I think he’s holding out for that, but he’s also afraid it’ll make it worse as he’s alone and his cousin is married with a kid etc.

Will find out more over coffee. Pretty convinced he’s depressed.

Talk to him about his home and his family. Try to get him reliving happy memories and then maybe more positive feelings and hopes.

Thing is, whenever we talk about China etc he gets a little emotional and then auto shuts down – I don’t think he’s used to allowing his emotions to show, so he just hides from it as much as is possible.

Seems like he’s just having an exceptionally bad day – just reminded him that tomorrow is a half day and that we’re going for coffee, he seemed to cheer up a little, but he’s still moping about the place unsure what to do with himself

decent chinese restaurant? my chinese collegues love to educate us on the food, where it’s from the history, the culture etc.

Might not be an awful idea. Will suggest it tomorrow over coffee.

He’s been firing out on walks every fifteen/twenty minutes looking pretty distressed; I managed to time my water bottle fill-up with him being out and had a quick chat with him just now, asking how he’s doing. “Not so good, not great” was the reply, so I’ve suggested he might be as well heading home early today to give his head some space. Don’t know if that’s the right thing to suggest as tbh he’s got more company here than anywhere else, but I think just now it’s specifically China (and his family) that he’s missing. Feel a little bit useless, not going to lie.

Doesn’t feel like the sort of thing I want to send in an email – would rather convey that face to face to avoid it being on the record. Also myself being a new start it could come across as “I’ve been here for four weeks and already managed to connect with one of your colleagues on an emotional level that I feel you haven’t, so am now updating you on their position and telling you they need support because you’re too out of touch to have noticed”.

Truth is that the boss has been flying all over the continent this past few weeks so hasn’t had the chance to pick up on the fact that the guy probably needs a bit of sick leave to get his head together – then again, he’d be on his own which would only make things worse..

Yeah, fortunately/unfortunately I’ve had quite a bit of exposure to depression as my wife has been through several nasty patches with it. He’s an extremely logically minded bloke, so he’s doing exactly what I did with my wife and trying to work out reasoning as to why it’s happening which obviously will get him nowhere.

We’re thinking about suggesting chess clubs etc, but the bloke literally reads maths papers in his spare time for “fun”..

I should mention, he doesn’t drink alcohol hence the coffee date – would admittedly be easier to loosen him up if he did!

Our battery decided to die a couple of times in winter, but I just push started the car and then made an excuse to take the bike somewhere far away to let the battery charge off the alternator. Did that twice (a week apart) in Nov, and despite leaving the car for weeks on end since then it starts first time every time now. If a battery charger is 40 quid I’d just be buying a 60 quid new battery personally.

If you want to buy new, have a look at the Laura Trott MTB1 from Halfords. Currently going for 350quid if there’s any left, cracking spec on it for the money. Just remove the decals and he’ll never know…

My wife’s got one and loves it. 27.5″ wheels mind.

I’m on a Samsung Galaxy Tab A, bought it last summer as it seemed to be getting lots of good reviews for the money. Paid 175 quid from Amazon, so unless the John Lewis one is a newer version I’d be shopping around a bit. Does everything I need it to do, nice big screen. Most of what I’m using it for is on Chrome, don’t need to zoom (can’t anyway) as the threads fill the width of the screen. Also use MS OneNote/OneDrive/the rest of Office as required.

Yet to find something that I want it to do which it can’t, which I suppose is a good thing! I use it with a bluetooth keyboard as if it was a cheap touchscreen laptop, it’s ideal.

I use the kryptonite d-lock mount on my top tube with the curve of the d towards the front wheel. Horrendous on its own but solid and rattle free when you secure the loose (curved) end to the top tube with a reusable cable tie. Daily usage for over a year and still on the original cable tie with no issues. Tried it on a pannier rack but it made SO MUCH NOISE. My mount is bodged with old inner tube (as is most of the bike to dull various cable rattles), so no paint issues – you might want to use a velcro strip in place of a reusable cable tie if you’re bothered about your paintwork though.

Nah as above, it’s not traditional C2W scheme – she’s been given a voucher off the full value of the bike. We will buy the bike in a cash sale for the remaining amount, with the C2W discount being applied there and then as a 10% off voucher.

@willv, saw your photos on fb – been planning to do a very similar route post exams in May! Looked like a stunning day out.

I built up a ss and took it up to Carron Valley for a quick shakedown/ to see if I could actually ride it up hills. Thinking the 34/16t gearing might be a bit too steep – only had to push once but Carron is hardly full of monster climbs..

Just had more porno redirects. Guys, please try and get it sorted, this just isn’t on.

Too many oldies on here with high enough blood pressure as it is without knowing what “Jen, 29” would like to do to me tonight. Wife looked over at just the wrong moment, had a lot of explaining to do. Glad this thread exists!

Just emailed. Had a dodgy link appear again whilst clicking on the main “bike forum” tab. Would post screenshot if not for fear of ban-hammer.

I’ve had a few redirects recently, will screenshot and post when it happens again.

My runs are pretty much flat just now. The plan is to run little and often for a few weeks to get my legs/feet used to it, and then start gradually increasing the distance when I feel I’m ready.

I’m getting decent recovery periods as well – only running every second day, and taking the weekends off. The long term plan is to run my commute 3 days a week (2 miles in, 2 miles back) and then do a longer run on the Sat or Sun. The rest of the time will be rest days. Cross training with a bit of bike riding on the off days as well as a bit of badminton.

I’m still curious about the zinc oxide tape?

That inbred is exactly the sort of thing I had in mind. Got a pair of old bombers lying around for this build but they’re so heavy and I’ve got a “proper” bike for the really rough stuff, so I just thought it’d be nice to have something super simple – rigid, singlespeed, cable discs. Nothing to go majorly wrong, but should still be a hoot to get scared on.

Thanks for all the posts, very helpful!

Mind you, if I can’t source a rigid fork for buttons I’ll be sticking with the bombers regardless 😆

Went the whole hog with regards socks, got fancy “Hilly Monoskin” doodahs while I was in the shop. Good salesman convinced me that my shoes were useless without them, and for some reason I decided to buy them there and then as opposed to online for half the price. Doing my bit for the local economy and all that…

It’s entirely possible that I am scrunching my toes up, not aware of anything but tbh I’m more focussed on trying to get correct posture whilst running to avoid shin splints just now so I could be subconsciously scrunching them up. I’ll try making an effort to run with my toes spread out and see if I have any luck.

Zinc oxide tape…? What would that do?

Got any piccies? Also want to see if it looks silly with the extra clearance.

Once every rotation, and you’ve ruled out the chain… Got to be either the cassette or the rear mech surely? Fiddled with the mech limit screws, chain could be trying to jump about if it’s not happy where it is?

Just what I didn’t need, two pairs ordered. And while I was browsing, a new headset. Now I’m off to make a headset press…

Curses.

Well that’s me getting very pointed ads on STW now 😆

I ordered a Nokia 216 a week or so back and then cancelled the order – the main reason I wanted it was because I currently have a Windows phone which is, well, useless. It was lent to me long term but I now need to return it and source something else, and I really haven’t missed all of the apps on my previous android – all I need are calls, texts and FB messenger for uni stuff. Wanted buttons as I like buttons.

Cancelled the order as the phone didn’t have WiFi connection, and have been wondering why I did that ever since – it’s not as if FB Messenger and the odd google search will chug through my data package (2gb or whatever) in a month…

1 x heaped teaspoon tinned coconut cream (the thick white creamy stuff off the top, not the watery bits)
1 x heaped teaspon of Pure soy spread (you can of course use different, or butter or similar if not vegan)
2 x full teaspoons chilli sauce (I use Morrisons habenero due to low/no vinegar content, it really is a good basic chilli sauce)
3 x teaspoons lime juice

Ah rats that made me look a bit thick, thought that was some fancy vegan version so didn’t even read it 😆

Will get it tried and report back, but tonight is pie night!

Good job OP. You’ve given her a place to stay when she really needed it and that gives you positive karma in anyone’s book.

If you can’t stand living with her then I’d go with the suggesting a hostel/ helping to get her sorted with one of her other friends. If there are any potentially undiagnosed mental issues then please help her to get in touch with a GP and get the help she needs – this also means she’s less likely to turn to you first when she needs help and may instead go through channels that are properly equipped to help her.

So before you close the door (as you’re perfectly entitled to do) please help her to get in touch with a GP.

Malvern Rider, I feel it’s only fair that I try your fabled sauce in order to make a fully informed decision for myself.

What are the rough ratios/quantities of each component?

I know I’m mainstream, but I’m yet to find an equal to the Dominos Garlic and Herb. Phwoarr I could murder a pizza just now..

Struggle to comprehend how they got it so right with that, and yet so wrong with the potato wedges..

Genuinely considering a Nokia 215/216 as my next phone. Had several Moto G’s, all of which I managed to kill by various means (running over in van, falling off bike, letting nephews touch it with yoghurty fingers). Moved from Android to a Windows phone as it was availible for free from a family member. It’s made me realise that I don’t actually miss having a fully functional smartphone – I waste a lot less time on apps and the phone tends to stay in the pocket unless I need to send an email/make a call.

Bombproofness and week long battery (remember the days?) attracts me to the Nokia

The wife phoned up this morning, no need to go in today. Happy days, as I was already in uni by the time she found out so it’s just as well!

It was Glasgow sheriff court, have to say we were somewhat taken aback by the lack of witness protection as well. Story was that a bloke was having a domestic which resulted in his wife shouting for help, I intervened while wife called police, he banjoed me with his e-cig leaving a scar above my eye. He’d never seen my wife, and yet she was expected to witness where he could see her face along with any of his hardnut grudge-bearing pals that might have attended to see who revenge needed to be meted out to. Makes for an interesting relationship in our tenement, as his wife lives below us and some of his close family friends occupy two out of four remaining flats in the close. We’ll be moving out once our rent period is up!

So I’m definitely happy that we didn’t have to witness in the end, just a bit annoyed by the lack of organisation and timewasting!

The bloke pled guilty to all charges by the looks of things. Just strange seeing your name in the news when you thought it hadn’t even been heard in court yet!

The police have been a bit pants at comms throughout, apparently they were meant to pop round on Friday to mention that the case wasn’t going to happen til Tues, and then they were meant to keep us updated by phone to any changes (i.e. Hello there, yes he’s pled guilty, no he’s not been released).

Ah well. Will phone in the morning and try not to be too grouchy.

We had the M&S deal

Starter: Cheese Rarebit
Main: Coq au vin with squash/carrots and sugar snap peas (went all out)
Pud: Creme Brulee
Drink: pink alcoholic stuff

100% would recommend, completely blows last week’s equally priced dominos out of the water..

re baselayers, I tend to find whatever I’m wearing (normally just a tech tee, nothing posh) rides up and gets caught under the bag no matter how much I pull it down. I do have a couple of proper baselayers with rubber hems that would do the trick (possibly) but I’m not keen to wear them for the smaller runs – they get really stinky and I’m not quick enough on the washing 😆

Cheers guys, will have a look at those

The main thing as it seems to me is to either have no wast belt at all so the pack sits high on your back, or a very stable waist best which wraps above your hips well so it stablises the load from moving at all.

That makes sense – the Evoc has very good waist belt that’s great when biking, but when running I wind in the straps to howk it further up my back and stop it flopping side to side. That means the waist belt is a bit higher so the load can still move a bit.

Haud the bus, it’s been eight hours and a page-and-a-half, and only one person has picked up on the R.Turpin banter?

Poor form STW, poor form indeed..

Cheers all, will give wych a look too.