Senor j – you stole my record collection! Although hand on heart, has Ryan Adams reached the heights of Heartbreaker since? Great output no doubt, he’s a creative one.

Reginald Dwight is a prime example – classic albums during the 70s, some real poppy guff through the 80s/90s, nothing worth crossing to road for since 30+ years yet still milking the public dry. And Taupin.

Better range with 2.4 GHz too. Lack of lethal aerial not to be underestimated also (know someone who lost an eye on older set up).

So!

Back to LBS, no joy getting bearing in place with soft mallet etc, and recommended I fit new headset. Asked them to remove top cup to see if possible to press bearing in without it being in frame (ie, when not under tension), removed top cup – I literally pressed the bearing in fully by hand.

Moral of story, press top cup in to frame with bearing already in situ. Amazing how tight the tolerances must be.

Andy Murray just died on court at the Aussie Open

Tubeless tyres – the solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. After reading of countless experiences like this, I really don’t know why anyone bothers. Unless you really are a proper race snake.

Only once have I ever had a problem running tubeless, and that was a flint slash to one of my tyres. Plus I’m a heavy rider.
I instantly noticed improved feel/feedback and lighter rolling resistance when switching to tubeless, plus have heard/witnessed umpteen punctures seal themselves almost instantly whilst on the trail.

This is a combo of running stans set-up or ghetto set up with gorilla tape, on various bikes.
Clearly horses for courses but I would never switch back to using pointless tubes. I carry a spare in my bag for emergencies and that’s it. I would urge anyone having bad experiences to practice their set up, seal any gaps, and crack on.

Thanks for answers so far.

So, same headset with no new parts, same fork from previous set up which went together perfectly, frame is literally the only new component.
Bearing is correct side up, with chamfer pointing down.

Only thing I can think is that I attempted to fit headset cups with my own press, but couldn’t get them to go in straight as I don’t have 44mm adapters – I ran down to LBS who fitted cups for me with no issue. Everything looks straight but I suppose a small amount of kink to upper cup could cause interference problems with getting the bearing in?..

Can anyone confirm if their upper bearing seats below the face of upper cup – or level with it?

Agree with Cave

Also think Sonic Youth pulled it off. Sure they had a catchier period in late 80s / early 90’s, but the last few albums were also superb.

I can’t help but feel there’s more to it than the angst of youth. Sure, albums written at a younger age may sound more brash, but doesn’t the 10/20/30 years of solid craft that follow mean anything?

I’m certainly much angrier with the world and far more cynical in my late 30s than I ever was as a teen/20 something

How do we feeel about Robert Plant then?

Arguably churning out his best stuff.. ever?

I think that’s the crux of it – it’s all about opinion and I’d say Arcade Fire are in no way predestined, I’d be quite happy to never hear their music again!

Of course, its all completely subjective. But in popular terms, its undeniable that AF have a large following and a lot of industry respect. There are of course acts that I probably wouldnt cross the road to see – but I can appreciate that they offer something to the mix.
I’m not a big classical listener but I can respect the craft and commitment. I can easily understand why many people would listen to nothing else.
It’s all about firing the right synapses.

Amen to that brother

Most musicians can’t change their sounds as they get older – they don’t become crap, just less interesting. Paul Weller is a great example. Technically I’m sure his new stuff is great, but he just doesn’t make current music anymore.

Im not sure. If you took a current Weller album and went back in time, I very much doubt people would enjoy it any more than do currently. Same goes for all artists – if its a great album there’s just no denying it.
I do sometimes wonder what would happen if a great artist hid away an album/painting right during the peak of their powers – and released it 20 or 30 years later – if it would have anything like the same impact. More, or less?..

I still like music but there’s no way I can hear something new and feel the passion and connection to it which I used to feel so readily when I was in my teens.

No doubt, I have changed as i’ve aged. But if anything I find myself increasingly open to new genres and styles, and rediscovering albums that I once thought were not for me – and finding that they are brilliant after all. I have recently been move to tears (of joy) at certain gigs, by bands I previously barely knew of. I ‘think’ I still connect/obsess in the same way I used to.

Good points maccruiskeen – Id argue that there are many solo artists with long careers that have also struggled to be anything like as creative/innovative in later years – despite having a life long love affair with being a musician, and in many cases not being particularly wealthy on the back of their catalogue.
This despite making massively popular music initially – without the help of thier teenage buddies.
Most great albums have hopefully got more than 3 pertinant tracks too.

Agred that visual artists generally ply their trade for much longer before finding success – but this isnt always at odds to the music industry.

had an interesting conversation about Paul Weller with the other half recently – Im not his biggest fan, but enjoy Stanley Road.
I asked her if she realised that we are older now than Paul Weller was when he realeased SRd..
Way to feel old.

He seemed ancient back then!

Maybe most of the “great” young musicians are not that great after all, and just have one good idea?

True, but great is a horrendously overused word. There can be great singles, but you need a real body of work to be great.

so the creativity only comes from being young?

I don’t really disagree with you. But I think the greats should possibly be capable of more?

I think expecting any artist to continue to produce their ‘best’ work within the same genre over a period of 50+ years is perhaps unrealistic.

Clearly, and I agree. Although with The Who – they had a purple patch of what? 6 or 7 years? Maybe a few more if you consider one or two great racks a reasonable output for a decade of work.

I love The Who by the way, Baba O’ is one of the greatest things ever put together by man IMO – plus several other truly great tracks. But multiple classic albums? Nope.

Slimjim at least I won’t have to listen to his shit radio show…

I discovered Public Service Broadcasting thanks to his show! Actually, not quite sure if thats a defence or not..

Either way, he’s dead now. Sheffield mourns.

As you hear more and more of an artist/band you get used to his/their “sound”

I’d counter that with an example that IMO are destined for legendary status – Arcade Fire. Their sound changed drastically on their last album, but I happen to love it pretty much the same as their other great offerings. I think i’m particularly open to new ideas/fresh directions.

Anyway is pop music meant to be long lived?

I suppose it depends on your definition of ‘popular music’. It we extend it as wide as everything you’d tend to hear in every day life, and perhaps beyond that – to niche genre’s and indie labels, I think the same usually rings true.
They usually call themselves ‘artists’, is this perhaps not the case then? Most artists seem to desire longevity. In fact, we all seem to desire longevity.

JARVIS COCKER IS DEAD??!!!!!

He studied at St Martins college. One of the common people. Havent seen him since the year 2000. He was always sorted for e’z and whizz, maybe it all caught up on him.

Tragic, tragic news.

RIP Jarvis.

so LBS confirmed that they were completely happy with tolerance when I demonstrated it. Commencing with carbon paste for a bit of added friction, and a deep fitting Straitline seatclamp winging its way to me.

even if its (j)ust a placebo I’ll keep taking them.

It is. It really is. Really Really.

There is overwhelming scientific study which by and large concludes that taking multivitamins has no provable effect on increasing good health – but can lead to side effects such as kidney stones or in one famous case – a huge uplift in cancer amongst the volunteers.

For some kind of balance – I used to get chest infections/sniffles farily frequently – then I got fit, ran hundreds of miles, lost loads of weight. for the years I remained fit, I recall no particular bout of ill health. Since putting weight back on and losing CV fitness I have had fairly regular respiratory issues. All this whilst taking no supplements.
Now seeing as this is a real case, do we conclude that:
a) being fitter quite probably contritbuted to a stronger immune system and better health
b) multivitmamins would cure my fatness
?

Crack on with your placebo guys – i’d also recommend a faith healer, for a good double dose of magic.

I repeat for the genuine benefit of all – READ BAD SCIENCE BY BEN GOLDACRE – once you have read this, come back here feeling suitably futile and all will be forgiven.

THAT IS AWESOME!

Vitamins = good

also readily available in nearly all everyday food stuffs

Multivitamins in soluble/supplementary form = impossible to break down to a format that a human is capable of absorbing into blood stream.

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre would be a valuable read for many here.

I would be willing to accept a potential minor benefit to be felt by taking Berrocca being due to sugar/salt/isotonic properties.

I’m genuinely interested to know if there’s a correlation between those who can convince themselves of anything, despite a complete lack of evidence.

Damn, I just described 650b didn’t I

Just out of interest, are those claiming to not care if it’s a placebo effect also religious types?

I’ve been putting Berrocca lozenges up my bum for months now. Haven’t got a single cold AND I like the way it feels.

Win/Win. And it’s science.

yes it’s quite possible that the frame is the culprit – perhaps being a smidge oversize. No more in stock anymore so if I send it back im unlikely to have a new build at all.

Im much more comfortable with an inteference fit, and would be ok if the seat tube fitted more snuggly the further down inside the frame – but even at its lowest possible setting there is a small amount of play – you can hear/feel the seat post knocking still.

I’m not a whippet either so need a bloody tight fit to prevent the post turning.

anyone else find their Thomson dropper a bit on the loose side?

NS Eccentric cro-mo

Ok, flipped wheel, it’s now virtually straight, with tiny bias towards non drive side.
This is good, right?

Ah ha! – ok here goes..

One slip when installing a Hope, and it’s goodbye knuckle skin

One slip when istalkingn a King, and it’s ‘ooh, smooth’.

Whenever I’m late for arrival, i just think Gillian, FHM/PVC c1997.

Works nearly every time, all the time

Rega RP6 through Rega Elicit-R amp here, sounding nuetral and uber clear. Started out with a mint Rega Planar 2 through an older Marrantz amp with decent built in phono stage which for a budget set up sounded bloody brilliant.

3 best tips for turntable mostly covered already:

A decent cartridge for turntable is money well spent.
Isolate on a wall bracket or decent stand.
Budget for decent phono stage.

Think of the above as fitting 650b tyres, they will bring your music alive. In a cellar you should have the basics of a nicely soundproofed room to begin with, by isolating the TT well, the noise floor (noticeable hiss and background noise) will all but disappear.
Incedently, most Rega amps come with quality phone stages built in (rare these days), including (I think) their budget Brio amp – which pound for pound seems one of the very best options.
My current set up genuinely outshines any CD player set up I’ve ever used – and I honestly never thought I’d admit to that.

Coffee king – I take it you haven’t been to a Flaming Lips gig?

Flew out to see Alt-J in Berlin last November with big expectations. Have rinsed their albums over the last couple of years and convinced myself they are on some kind of higher plain with their amazing sound – however, live, I found them lacklustre and completely devoid of any ‘cool’. Sound stage didn’t meet my critical standards either unfortunately. Wasn’t until last handful of tracks did I feel they had properly warmed up and I found myself immersing with the music.

Actually, pains me to say it, but Faith No More at The Roundhouse last year was also a bit flat. Great venue, just didn’t rock out half as much as I expected. Didn’t even sell out which I couldn’t believe, this probably contributed to atmosphere.
Saw them at Brixton in 09 for the second coming reunion which was excellent though.

Keep reading about how good the new fiesta is, can’t get away from the fact that it looks like a small girls car though (apologies to any fans).

I remember seeing a new 100hp in that lovely dark metallic grey pulling up in Soho a few years ago, it was better looking to me than the beemers/porkers etc that were trying their best to steal the limelight.
Cracking little toy car

If in doubt they are usually happy to watch one of you enter on a ticket before your mate purchases the second..

Just saying.

used to live next to the ground, loads of touts on match day. dirty sweaty scrotes they are.

When I was a lad there was a match on 5th November so we made a ‘Guy’ and effectively begged for money. Gary Lineker chucked me a quid, I asked for his autograph but neither of us had a pen..

Yep.

Found £20 in the car park after a match once too. how I rejoiced.

True story

drlex – must be a pain passing the salt on that table

reasonable shout Fopster, does seeem to tick boxes in terms of value. Think if I am to part with 12k Id much prefer to look at my car and think its smart looking though..

Jury is out on that one

Way overpriced the 500’s are. Plus I dont think I can physically fit inside one, same platform as Panda but oval shaped instead of square.

Look good though.

I like the look of the Monte Carlo Fabia – whats the 1.2 Tsi like in real world driving then?