My bike came with a Specialized Swat tool, I’ve replaced it with a star nut and top cap as the spring under the tool kept jamming. Asking it difficult to remove the tool.  I carry the EDC tool in my oneup pump.

To clarify, by dumb charger, are people referring to 3 pin plugs?

Possibly, or a wall charger that is not able to be programmed / interface with the grid (and/or service provider).

I’ll be getting a Tesla which is supported by Octopus, but would also like to make my life as simple as possible in terms of set up of charging, and benefit from the best available rates.  I’d also like to. future proof as much as possible so other EVs that may come to into the household can be charged if needed.

Question related to home chargers in anticipation of the arrival of my EV in September.

I am an Octopus customer so will look to take advantage of their IO plan.  I’m currently pondering home chargers (ideally I’d like to get fitted prior to, or soon after the arrival of the EV as the granny charger charge rate is very slow).  Pod Point seems to come out tops on most reviews, but Octopus has a partnership with Ohme with built in compatibility with IO.  Pricing seems pretty similar between units, so what is the sensible approach when deciding which to go with?

When I’ve flown to Geneva with bike on BA I’ve gone business class.  The flights were obviously a bit more (not huge when I have booked) but you get 2 x 32kg hold bags as standard (and then I’ve just called them in advance to make sure they know a bike bag is coming) plus lounge entry (man maths means that free food and drink in the business lounges the ticket entitles you to saves a decent chunk of expenditure at the rip off airport outlets) as well as priority boarding, food on plane and no-one in the middle seat.

I suspect what you are reading on the website is that taking a bike is OK (together with the associated £65 excess luggage charge) but the item weight cannot exceed 32kg (like any other excess luggage per item).  Always phone ahead to tell them a bike is coming with you (and have the bike bag / box size to hand for them)as they do reserve the right to not put it on if hold space is tight on the day and you turn up with a big bike bag unannounced.

My assumption is that ‘v’ stems from Cervelo and Bianchi still put the rider in the same approximate position but enable adjustment / weight / aero benefits? They do alter the traditional silhouette of the bike.

Pearson designed their new Forge with geometry based around the ‘normal’ rider, there was quite an interesting section on their website about it but they seem to have removed it.

Thanks, that’s really helpful.  RWD looks like it will be the one.

I have a shimano lever on my park bike, it’s better than the x-fusion and brand x levers but not a patch on the OneUp (though it was half the price). I find it sits a bit close to the bar for my liking and also is not available with SRAM matchmaker if that’s your thing.

The X-Fusion dropper cable on my Kenevo SL was attached at the seatpost end rather than the lever end (the OneUp is a lever end attachment (unless it can be run as both)). I can’t fathom why you’d design it that way, it makes maintenance so much more fiddly.  You need to check this as if it is as mine was then you need a new lever (OneUp or any other which attaches lever end) (the most common way)).

Not sure what version of the OneUp lever Tracey is using, but the latest iteration of the OneUp lever is miles better than the Xfusion lever (and the Xfusion post was also rubbish (went back under warranty within a couple of months and now a spare (replaced with a OneUp).

I’m thinking the RWD will have a different battery. So you might need to look at the pros and cons of LFP Vs Li-on, it’s certainly the case with the model3. The RWD LFP can be regularly charged to 100%, the Li-on LR should be generally kept at 80%. So on a day to day basis you have a  closing of the range gap just in that.

Funnily enough I’ve just been on the phone to the Tesla rep and she indicated that this is as you have suggested (rather than trying to sell me the more expensive LR she even recommended the RWD as what she had chosen).  Given the RWD will mean a lower initial payment an lower monthly payments I’m definitely swayed in that direction.

Tesla Model Y owners (or testers).  I’m currently weighing up whether or not there is any value on going for the LR over the RWD (aside from the obvious extra range, but I figure on the occasional long journeys I’ll be having to charge en route anyway so this somewhat negates this).

I know AWD vs RWD is better traction which is nice but not a deal breaker.  The RWD has no fog lights, and a slower max charge rate, is there anything else I’m missing here??  I test drove the LR last week, not driven the RWD.

I know there is a facelift in the pipeline, but don’t. think it will work with my timelines (need a new car 30th Sept) and Tesla are doing interest free finance before then as well which helps with the costs.

You can buy a single use ticket (only the once) as a trial, costs about a tenner.  I’ve been a handful of times and it’s OK for a couple of hours but there’s not enough there to keep me coming back (though I’ve not done the complete big gap line), especially now there’s the Bikini jump line over at the clubhouse trails which has a set of 4 smallish tables followed by a set of 3 larger ones down the bottom, which is free to use and a more fun line.

My favourites are my Fox Indicator but they’re discontinued.

Indicator line was replaced by Flexair, which in my experience has a better (slimmer) fit (I’ve had both).  Fox also do the Ranger which is a lower price point, similar lightweight material but without so many features (ie no vent hole, more basic waist fastening) and Defend which is a heavier weight and more robust (I wear these for uplifts as a bit hot for pedalling days, but more robust for crashes).

i note that the usuals have already started calling JD Vance racist… despite him having an Indian wife and mixed race children

Having a wife of another race and mixed race children does not prevent someone from being a racist.

I think even his pet judge accepts Biden is currently the president.

Fair enough (I’d managed to convince myself Trump is still the president!).

Donald Trump’s criminal case on charges that he illegally retained classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club was dismissed on Monday after the presiding judge sided with the former president and ruled that the special counsel who brought the prosecution had been improperly appointed.

The stunning decision by Aileen Cannon, the US district judge who was a Trump appointee, found that the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel violated the US constitution as he had not been named to his post by the president or confirmed by the Senate.

So a Trump appointed judge has ruled against the case as Trump had not appointed the special counsel who brought the prosecution??!!

I have a baseframe pro s/s.  I’m 178 cm and 78 kg (40 inch chest) and wear a medium, it’s tight but comfortable (as it should be).

Thanks all, looks like the Patagonia patches are made of Tenacious Tape, which is available in a clear roll from Amazon so I think I’ll give that a try.  Good tip on the rounded edges Hannah, thanks.

Putting comfort/fit aside going from non-carbon to carbon soles made a noticeable difference for me (in a good way), definitely feels stiffer and providing better power transfer.

Cotic have some deals on if you fancy a UK brand

Bird have a medium with some nice bits

Hell yes!!!!

Regarding FF and armour, it’s totally down to it being the choice of the individual (assuming they are acting within the rules of the park) but I don’t understand the bravado of those who proudly state you don’t need anything more than the bare minimum (for lift assisted gravity riding, not the Surrey Hills).

I’ve seen and had enough accidents on UK and Alpine uplifts to know that not having the protection is great until you need it (even though in many cases it’s damage limitation rather than total prevention).

Where would you recommend as a first go?

The obvious one is make a trip to Bikepark Wale, it has the largest variety of trails in the UK, a good uplift and rides well in all weathers.  Do it over a weekend and visit twice or take in another venue on the other day such as Dirt Farm.  It sounds like you want a long descent rather than a jump focused park so plan visits based on what is best for that.

Do I need a full face helmet and all the gear?

Check with the park, many mandate FF and certain elements of protection.  Remember that you’ll be descending more at higher speeds in unfamiliar terrain, so dress appropriately.

Any tips?

Take the first runs easy, knowing when certain trail features come up and what they are helps a lot.  Enjoy, it’s a blast.

Didn’t take long!

An unsurprising and concerning indication of things to come.

Don’t worry though, give it 12 months and Trump will have pardoned himself of everything and anything and will be moving on to a Putin style removal of time limits on presentency  and today’s news will be the merest of sidenotes.

I can sadly see this happening (or at least attempted).  The irony of ripping up ‘The Constitution’ whilst at the same time arguing about such things as the right to bear arms as it is written in ‘The Constitution’.

I’d go with what Hope are telling you.  The retailers aren’t wrong (ie a C is a 203 adaptor), just not giving the full information (ie C is a 160-203 adaptor).

…I’m on to Idles. Never really got them before, but really really enjoying this. Did their guitarist just lose his guitar in the crowd? 🤣

Last time I saw Idles the guitarist lost himself in the crowd! Amazing live band.

As for a special guest, LCD Soundsystem for Dancer would be a good bet.

New RockShox have a twist rather than press to get round the patent.

Frame storage is great, sadly lost this on the Kenevo SL, so One Up pump and tool on frame, tube and dynaplug in a dry bag attached to the Specialized SWAT carrier which bolts to the Specialized saddle (otherwise strapped to frame).

Finally got round to joining (I think I won the STW league last year).  I had a decent round 3 so annoyed to miss out on the points, ironically my round 4 score was identical!

Gentlemen. Prepare your frozen bangers!

If the first one goes in damaged make sure it’s removed and another fully intact sausage hammered in!

Went for a Worx sonicrafter cordless in the end due to being able to use batteries with other Worx tools, plus I think for me an oscillating cutter will be more suited to other jobs than a hobby type like a dremel.

Oven fan and motor now replaced and working.  Was easier to cut off the back of the motor to enable a good grip on the fan shaft with grips and then unscrew the nut (the right way) as trying to cut the shaft was blunting the blade (faster than it was cutting – must be some hardened steel).

You do realise that most oven fan retaining bolt are left hand thread…

I found out too late, hence the need for a new tool!

Congrats on your choice of bars though, perfect shape and feel for me.

Tell me more….

And keen to be pointed to specific models as there looks like there are a lot of things available.

>though the mechanic at Sigma did show me a tip

Do tell…

On the a SuperSix Evo seatpost – was the trick tighten the first 3 to 4 nm pushing seatpost towards rear of bike, then pull it forward for the final tightening? Worked for me.

Very similar to this.  Set post height and torque bolt to spec.  Following this push down on nose and tail of saddle alternately (so you’re using the saddle to rock the seatpost back and forth (not that this will be visible) – he used a fair amount of force).  Do this then re-torque the wedge bolt, repeat again to be sure.

He was using a digital torque wrench and it was quite clear the bolt torque was less after the initial ‘rocking’, the reason being that the wedge won’t settle in a 100% even/final position if it is just tightened straight up, the movement of the post helps it settle into a neutral clamping position (if this makes sense).

Plenty of miles since it was done and post is solid and silent.

A recent bike swap has done a good job of sorting the numbness for me, part of the fitting process (not a full bike fit) was going from a 42 to a 40 bar which I think may have been part of the issue for me.

Have the sorted the really noisy creaking seat post issue? My early 2020 one was so bad it went back after 2 weeks and I bought a tarmac. The advice from Cannondale was to torque the seat clamp bolt to 8-9Nm when it only had 5 (irc) written on It

I’ve got the current generation model, no creaking on it (though the mechanic at Sigma did show me a tip to make sure the post is tightened correctly in the frame relevant for any aero / wedge fixing tyre post).

My tips are go for a leather boot as the colourful synthetic ones tend to stink after a while (black boots for the win) and some pitches won’t let you use blades so go for the moulded studs.  My feet fit Nike so I use whichever leather Tiempo were on offer.

My eyes are set on a Supersix next I think

You won’t be disappointed, very happy with mine.