Update, after procrastinating for ages, looking on-line and visting PC World nearby etc, went completely the other way and got an iMac 4k retina – just liked it so much more than the laptops I’ve been using to date and ones I looked at in the shop. Spent a fair bit more than original budget, got with the office package and they gave us some (free) expensive Beats headphones. I was swayed by daughter who also wants to use it and fortunately her unidays discount knocked a big chunk off the price. Hope it works out and thanks for original leads which I rudely ignored…

Thanks for help all, dell outlet search beckons

Should have said, it will need to move between home and my workshop sometimes, so desktop not really suitable, but it’s not like I commute and use it on a train or anything so weight etc isn’t really an issue. Thanks again

ps – mikewsmith will look at dell outlet again, but when I looked at their reviews it was a very mixed bag

Phil H – correct, yes just figured that out after sodding about for a while, the dual filament one is a tail light/fog light, it was the top little bulb that’s the brake light, bah….

Swapped that and at least fixed now, thanks

Big Bike Bash is on in the New Forest (if you can get a ticket, heard through the grapevine more might be available soon)

Just had thunder and a downpour here in the New Forest, lasted 10 minutes and has now stopped…hope for more later

Here’s a podcast about the bands we saw there, had a great time: http://petecogle.co.uk/blog/2018/05/25/pcp565-great-escape-2018/

Definitely going again next year

British people in hot weather?

OP – also look at a later Toyota Hiace SWB van with the D4D engine, should get a good one for budget, very reliable and enough room to kip in with bikes without being too big – will fit in normal parking spaces and in car parks with 2m height restrictions. Had a few over the years and never had to do anything other than change oil/filter once a year.

I recently swapped a set of these from one frame to another with internal routing. Didn’t have any easy joints though so just undid the hoses at caliper ends, snipped off a bit at the end, fitted on new frame with new olives and hose inserts (a couple of quid) and then re-bled. I got a bleed kit with the funnel thing that goes on the brake shifter top off ebay. It did take a bit of time to get air out and working spot on again. It’s doable, plenty of youtube vids to show you how. Be interested to know how an ‘easy joint’ works without losing fluid and/or letting air in.

That’s great thanks, yes been listening to various on the spotify list. They have a good app too with the schedules and venue finder but I guess will just play it by ear and see what happens.

^ Thanks, that’s it

We had a similar small leak in shed problem and couldn’t work out where it was coming in from, though there was an overlap on the felt. Replaced with those felt roof shingle tiles that come in strips, easy to do, looks much smarter and no leaks now for 5 years.

Thanks for advice, have rowed before some time ago to a reasonably high level/standard – confirming what I thought, cheers.

Sorry for delay, it passed, all okay now. Oil change, posh petrol, a bit of additive and some long drives to warm it up properly did the job so good for another year at minmal cost. Thanks for your help all!

Changed the oil today, the air filter was very clean, put some posh petrol in and some of that cleaning additive, took for a long drive Italian tune-up holding in higher gears to blow the cobwebs out. Will give it a long hard drive to make sure it’s thoroughly warmed up  before it goes back for the re-test tomorrow, fingers crossed.

What’s not to like?

Cougar – Petrol (1.3i), it’s great, yes not cool, old & battered, boring old farts car etc but does still go really well, always starts, runs quiet and nothing has gone wrong until this, 2 bikes fit in no problem. Not bad on fuel too and cheapish insurance. If we can keep it going for a few quid for another year, why not? It’s a pool family car mainly used by kids when they come home, saving our newer ones, who gives a toss if it gets trashed.

Yes, MOT station is only a mile away so that probably didn’t help driving up there this morning, not warmed up and running rich still probably

Molgrips, he said sensors all fine, no codes showing problems, said rest of car was really good for age.

Got some of the Prime 700c disc wheels off CRC, pretty light too, but not used that much so far but seem good. Though those Hope/PX builds sound good too.

Not near you sorry OP but Trestan Finishers in Soton do a great job powder coating bike frames/forks/components, they do loads and cover threads properly, zinc phosphate prime etc. £45 a frameset one colour so a good price and have been pleased with the many bits and pieces I have taken there, tough shiny finshes too. You can post stuff to them.Time – ranges from a couple of days to a couple of weeks depending what big jobs they have on. http://www.trestanfinishers.com/

Was in Aldi yestersday and they had these down ones which pack up small, looked good: https://www.aldi.co.uk/crane-down-filled-sleeping-bag/p/081656189838300?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInoOYoZmI2gIVCrcbCh2UpgVkEAQYASABEgKkdfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CKCC4aSZiNoCFZOG7QodP58HLg

This with a decent mat, wearing thermals, socks, beanie type hat, and getting the middle spot in tent, be fine

The video that comes up following this one is really good too, about the battle of the bikes between him and Boardman in 1994, an hour long but great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIDQH3FeG7Y

Big bike bash & end of the road as usual

I got a set of those prime pro’s from crc, seem pretty good so far, and are light and under budget.

Good news, Wiggle do have BikeINN on their list for price matching so after a webchat just got the saddle I wanted with £20 off to beat BikeINN advertised price. And says delivery by Monday. Thanks for all your help.

Thanks, will try wiggle to price match

Thanks, will check both out

Says ‘GA Cycles 42 Great Cambridge Road Tottenham London’ on it drnosh

Thanks both, will try

Sticking out of the metal skip at our local tip poopscoop. Fortunately we can buy stuff there, I know you can’t at some places, ‘4 quid mate’ etc

Thanks for the links joshvegas, appreciated, will take a pad out and see how close it is to a Shimano one

Happy 1980’s memories of driving down through  France following tdf, past sunflower fields in a t2 camper van listening to soul mining on the tape deck, perfect, still love that album

Thanks for advice, taking it all up looks like a lot of work but probably best in the long term. It is about 7-8cm when you dig down around the edges but I guess could be a lot thicker further in. I’m getting too old/lazy and never seem to have enough time which is a factor now so maybe I’ll get some quotes to get it done, proper stone paving is my prefered option. Pics to follow when starting to finish

If you aren’t sure, best get a HETAS qualified person to view and advise, for your own and others safety.

One of my all time favourite bands the Fall. What a shame, RIP.

Castles in Christchurch if down south, staff still in brown coats and little wooden drawers full of stuff. When I lived in Reading years ago there used to be one with a giant spanner up on the wall outside that said King Dick on it which always made us smile.

Recently ordered a stem off tredz website, nothing for a few days and then an email saying it was on order from supplier and could be 10 days. A moany reply and got a refund. Pee’s me off when they show stock and this happens, so as others, if in a hurry go elsewhere.

Good pub that one. Not all of us NF residents are anti’s although yes some are and they seem to have a disproportionally loud voice about it.
Been told the ‘Hobler Inn’ on the Brock Lymington road has new owners who welcome cyclists, not been yet to verify