Why should you let the air out of your tyres, AllTheGear?

I hired a Sand-Glider…
I tried it and took it back and got the standard rotating drum and edge sander, which do the job much better. If the floor has already been sanded, why not just get the edge sander and some knee pads?
If the floor has never been sanded before you are in for a treat…. Here’s my guide having done it in 4 separate houses and got better each time…
Before you go to the hire shop and waste a days hire, remove everything from the rooms you are in, including lampshades etc. If you can’t remove things, wrap them in plastic dust sheets and tape them so they are effectively air tight and sealed! Dust gets EVERYWHERE and spending time doing this will save you cleaning time at the end of the job.
Get a nail punch, a hammer and some knee pads. Go up and down each board carefully and punch every nail at least 2-3mm below the surface of the wood. Further if the boards are warped. If you’ve taken up carpet and underlay, the chances are that the underlay will have been stapled to the floor. Be careful when removing the staples that you get them out whole. Seal all doors and openings with masking tape and plastic dust sheets.
If the boards are old, (my house is 1930s), they will have warped and using a sander from the start to get rid of the ‘high points’ of each board will take forever, and use up lots of sandpaper, so start off with an electric plane and get the boards flat. Check for nails again. Remove any carpet gripper from adjoining rooms as ideally you want to be sanding right up to the edge of the carpet and replacing the gripper – it looks better at the end of the job.

Go and hire your sander… Be sure to get ear defenders, decent dust masks and goggles and if you haven’t got a ‘Henry Hoover’ possibly hire/borrow one, or risk ruining your wife’s precious Dyson.
Then proceed with the sander and coarse grain sheets and then subsequently finer and finer sheets. If you remove lots of wood, you may have to repeat the nail punch/hammer process. Any protruding nails that you haven’t already found will simply shred the sanding sheets which costs money and takes time.
Follow the hire instructions for the sanders, but be careful to keep the sander moving and when starting a ‘run’, lower it onto the boards whilst in motion or it will leave a groove that you might not be able to see, but it will show up when the light shines on any varnish.
A small detail sander, (like the ones that have a triangular sheets) are handy for sanding the last bits around door frames or radiator pipes.
Once the floor is as smooth as a baby’s bum, you’ll feel happy with yourself! Clean and vacuum everywhere. Remove dust sheets and repeat vacuuming!
White spirit the floor and then varnish. Waxes don’t last long on high traffic areas, so I’ve always varnished. Follow the instructions on the tin to the letter for the best finish. Use the best varnish you can get – it will last longer and at this point you won’t want to be repeating this job anytime soon… If doing a very high traffic area such a hall/lobby then pop an extra one or two coats of varnish on that area. Once the varnish wears after a few years water and mud from shoes will get through to the wood and it will always look dirty unless you repeat the whole process.
I’ve got an exterior halogen flood light that I found useful for showing up imperfections/nails etc throughout the process.

Have fun!

….when your ‘pre-drinking’ before a big night out changes from 4 beers, to wine, to a cup of tea – so that you can stay awake past 21:00.

…hangovers last more than one day and you no longer plan two ‘big nights’ in a row.

Hot Air Balloon Ride?
I’d want to know his back condition before I took him up, but it might be an idea?
If you do want a balloon ride contact me first and I can recommend someone in your area (and who to avoid).
If you are in the South East though I’m your man!!!

+1 for Metrinch

Why should you pay for the shifter?
If they gave you a bike that wasn’t fit for purpose, they should be kissing your ass and hoping you won’t call those scumbags at injury lawyers for you.

Saxons orienteering is normally good fun…

Trek Fuel EX
The ABP pivot thingy at the back wheel really makes a difference when you’re braking over rough ground.

Not sure how Singletrack I am, but as I sit here on my log pile cleaning my chainsaw (having just blown the sawdust off my Landrover and kayak with my air compressor), and wonder about whether I should try a posh razor or not, I can’t help thinking that I’m not that bothered.
(Sent from my iPad)

ACTiV Folkestone Kent
Staff that know what they’re talking about, friendly, helpful and they won’t try to flog you stuff that you don’t want.
They are Trek dealers and their customer service is great, (see my previous posts regarding warranty claims).
Kids come in wanting to pump up their ratty old BMX tyres and they lend them track pumps etc. If they haven’t got what you want and can’t order it, they’ll try to send you somewhere that can.
Organised rides road/MTB, for all levels throughout the week, where newbies are welcome. Organised rides to trail centres twice a year (Wales normally) and Passportes du Soliel, summer BBQs, Christmas Party etc
Bike fitting service, demo bikes (they’ll lend you lights on a winter ride) , workshop, clothing department and spares galore.

They started off as a windsurfing shop and still have a water sports department, but have evolved since the mid nineties into an excellent bike shop and its the only place I take my bike. They still sell windsurf kit and have digressed to kids scooters/roller skates/kites/kite boards/kite buggies/snow boards/ski wear/kayaks/bodyboards/wetsuits/triathalon kit/dive kit/fashion/skateboards. In all departments someone in the store does that sport, but the bikes is where the excel. The owner Steve is a former windsurf instructor, ski instructor, MTB/road rider, orienteerer, adventure racer etc. Other staff have ridden at elite level, do cyclocross, road race, are part of the local freeride scene and the shop sponsor local riders and teams, (Steves wife came second in the world championships a couple of years ago).
They’ve just got a mini coffe shop (one table and chairs!!!) and it’s a standing joke in our house that a trip there never takes less than an hour because you just end up chatting with the staff or other customers. You make think I’m waxing lyrical about this shop and that I’m sponsored by them, but I’m not – I just get good service and I’m happy to fly the flag.

Try the Stratos instead of the Talon.
I’ve got the 26l and the 36l versions. The 36 is comfier than the 36 for walking and above the Talon, (which a mate of mine bought for the 3 Peaks Challenge), it has a wire frame that holds the main pack away from your back, making it much cooler and in my opinion, comfier too. Top loading AND zipped access to the front make it really practical too. The best pack I’ve ever owned.

Apparently Cal Crutchlow had done some training with Cavendish on the Isle of Man…

I’ve got an Osprey Stratos 26 and I use it most days and I did the South Downs Way with it a couple of years ago. The main pack is held away from your back by a vented mesh frame and it’s VERY cool in the summer. Much more so than either my Camelbak Octane or MULE.
It’s got loads of good features and is well built and can be tightened with the compression straps to stop it moving around when it’s not full.
I liked it so much, I then bought it in the 36 size too!
So +1 for Osprey
PS, they come in S/M/L so you can get the right fit for your torso

I knew a guy who had a Sierra XR4x4. He had bought an exhaust system from Krap Fit, (it may have been stainless?). It went at the rear box. He sent his wife in who acted ‘all blonde’ and instead of just replacing the broken section, they told her that it would all need doing… “Oh dear, well if that’s what you think, then I guess you’d better do it then…”
Apparently the change from the grin on his face to red rage was hilarious when instead of getting her cheque book out, she slapped the lifetime warranty on the counter.
Presumably he wouldn’t have hit his target that week…

A kid at school had a multi coloured luminous Cinelli hard tail in 1991. I always thought he’d nicked it as it was expensive at the time…
I love the look of the Ibis Mojo now and if I had space in the shed (or permission, or more money) I’d buy one tomorrow.

+1 for Jawbones, or any other Oakleys (especially the lens changing ones).

When you check to see which one is toast, disconnect one ( or the beeping noise) and the working ones should make a quiet ticking sound…

Priest lane near Stowting, the Scar on Tolsford Hill and a couple near Bodsham/Hastingleigh that I don’t know the name of. Linda’s Crack from the Valiant Sailor, end of the North Downs Way near Stowting.
Not quite like Glentress, but probably the best that Kent has to offer.

Thought is was fun so made it into a career!
Still enjoy it although it turns more into work each year. But I have tons of time off and the mortgage gets paid.
I kind of wish I’d gone into the fire service after uni, but I’m happy with my lot.

Done
Bump

Looks normal to me. My EX9.9 has those sorts of lines in the carbon.
When the “Armour” came off my frame on its first ride, ( it protects the seat stays), I was told to use Gorilla glue by Trek to stick it back on. I asked specifically as I thought some glues might be detrimental to the epoxy, or whatever the carbon bonding agent is.
If you do use Gorilla Glue, be careful to read the instructions and apply sparingly, as it expands x4!!!

Fluffer…
I’ve never met one, but it’s on my “To Do” list…

Born – Nottingham
Reside – Hythe, Kent (via Ilkeston, Leicester, Ottawa, San Diego, Sydney)

PS my wife has Juicys and changing the pads is a pain and if I’m honest they’re not particularly powerful, but I’m also comparing her rotors too, which are only 160mm front and rear…

Elixir CR Mags on my bike – love them!
I bought the bleed kit and I’ve never had a problem doing it. Just RTFM!!!
They’re better than the XTR brakes I have on my other bike as they seem to have more initial bite and better feel. I love the way you can adjust the pad contact point plus lever reach and now I’ve updated my discs to 203mm front AND rear I only use one finger braking. Nice.
The new rotors have been upgraded (last year) as people were having them warp on “Alpine descents”, but they have obviously identified a problem and fixed it. I would need a bit of convincing to go back to Shimano…

I’ve got a pair of Adidas adizero. Comfy, light and grippy.
I also have various pairs of Salomon trainers and boots that all seem to fit me like a glove – so much so that I am prepared to order them online without trying on.
Go to your local SweatShop (or similar) and try something on. They should chuck you on a running machine to analyse your gait for free and will be able to advise you of what would be best for you.
I’ve used pod+ down here in Kent and have not had problems…

Using the Myfintnesspal App, I have got down from 14st 13lb to 14st 5lb, in 3 weeks.
The App has helped me control what I ingest (both portion size and alcohol) and if I am going out for a boozy meal then I offset this by doing a bit more biking/running/kayaking/hiking. My diet wasn’t particulaly bad previously but I was taking on too many calories (that seems obvious now I know what’s in the food I eat). It really was/is an eye opener for someone who has never really read the side of a packet or worked out how many calories were contained in a piled high Sunday roast + bottle of wine.
I like the fact that you can offset what you take in with more exercise. Whilst I realise that is a dumb statement (before you take the piste), actually quantifying things has helped me.

Odlo – all day long and the next day etc!!!

My wife has an Ex 9.0. She never rides it. I probably won’t divorce her over it though as it makes a great second winter bike for me.

3 rubbish years just gone by, so surely we’re due a decent one?
Our Hot Air Ballooning business flew 122 times in 2007, but only 47 times last year… It would be nice to think that we could have a decent one.

YES!
Normally to eat our chickens… A 6ft wooden fence is no real obstacle when there’s lunch on the other side…

Went on a stag do at the weekend in Lisbon…
Put on 8lbs, which is hopefully just water retention. If your on the lash for 48 hours with only 4 hours of sleep, does that count as binge drinking, or just a sustained assault on your liver?

Bugaboo.
Insanely expensive, but extremely practical and easy to use.
Initial outlay will be offset with the excellent secondhand value.
We had a sling too and a baby rucksack…

I’m 5′ 10″ and my ’06 Top Fuel at 17″ is small, but my 2010 Fuel EX at 18.5 is perfect…

I’m 5′ 10″ and my ’06 Top Fuel at 17″ is small, but my 2010 Fuel EX at 18.5 is perfect…

Re; Gala Apple story above…
A local farmers got approached by Tescos to produce more spuds than he would’ve preferred so he bought new equipment and geared his whole farm up to go spud crazy. They squeezed his margins over the next couple of years and then pulled out completely leaving him in debt.
I avoid Tescos like the plague. Apart from their shoddy ethics, I find visiting the local store an unpleasant experience. Checkout chicks that converse about their Friday night antics and have a ‘1000yd stare’ expression when you ask them a simple customer service question leave me cold and unimpressed. The local Asda is marginally worse and both are populated by the sort of people who I feel the need to put soap in their trollies.
Our local butcher is amazing but I go to Waitrose for most other things – a much more pleasant shopping experience.

Be careful where you point the gun when it’s loaded. A punch in the face often offends…
Get set up for where you are going to hit the clay, not the point where you first see it.
Mount the gun (address the bird), follow through, (the amount of lead you give the bird will depend on the speed and distance to it) and squeeze the trigger.
Simples
Wear ear defenders.

Southern trains have a policy of not allowing bikes during commuter hours in their small print which stuffed up our South Downs Way expedition a couple of years ago. Check and double check with the actual staff (not online), to see how the land lies…

Berghaus for warmth.
Odlo for being flipping amazing in a wide range of temperatures and lasting for ever and remaining very comfortable to wear.