As mentioned above 240V for sure! Nothing is worse than having to lug your 110V transformer around the place. Although I’d say get as many cordless tools as your budget allows, then 240V for bigger tools.

Bikebuoy, would you mind sending my the gpx too please? spectraken@gmail.com ta

What andyl said. I have a Makita Abrasive Chop Saw (355mm) with an Evolution tct blade for cutting metal running just fine. Blade is slightly heaver than the abrasive one, but much cleaner cut.

If you enjoy the outdoors, Iceland is great, especially in summer. I cycle toured half of it a few years ago. Lovely long days in the summer, beautiful scenery and lots to see and do. If you find car rental too pricey, then the buses are a great way to get around, you can stick bikes on them too. Lots of camp sites along the way, all with hot showers. Every town has a swimming pool too. Petrol stations sell most things for camping too.

The weather can be pants, windy and rainy during the summer, but so long as you’re prepared for it. And if the aurora activity is high, you might get lucky and see the northern lights. I did in July for about 20 mins, was magic!

My experience of Katz’s was pants too. Overcured pastrami sandwich, what a plate of mush. The Reuben was better. I prefer Carnegie Deli.

I have one, great for commuting and touring. Tough as old boots too.

[/url]Kona Dew IMG_6558 by mynameisken[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Mine’s an old one from 2007 or so, bought the frame for £30 on eBay and then built it up. Project 2 forks, Exal LX17 rims on Deore Hubs with Schwalbe Mondial 35mm, Avid BB7s, Deore 10 speed groupset, Tubus Disco 700C rear rack, Tara low rider front, SKS full mudguards and an old Brooks B17. Toured Iceland with it fully loaded, 25kg of panniers, steered like a tank but it worked.

running mine about 90psi

I have one, great for the price, packs up nice and small. Have used mine cycle touring and bike packing with no complaints.

Nice one! Thanks

Ha br, you beat me to it! :P

@ JoeG, great video!!

Cheers for the replies, a strong sticky mortar mix it will be.

Horizontal and vertical cable routing is fine so long as it’s relative to a socket outlet or light switch etc. Just don’t go too deep when chasing lol ;)

Personally I don’t twist, cut back just enough insulation on your twin and Earth, tighten the screw, pull each conductor to make sure they don’t come out and you’re good.

Sorry no pics yet, but keep on practising. I’ve just learnt too, I’ve made handlebar feed bags, a small top tube back with zip and a 13L seat pack. All three have survived and my stitching is rough but functional.

Keep an eye on your seam allowance. I noticed that when I was sewing curved panels to straight ones, sometimes one of the panels would shift a bit leading to small holes. I always start and finish with some backstitching, don’t have to worry about the threads undoing. Check your thread tensions too, and adjust to suit the fabric you’re using.

Use good thread too, I use Gutermann Tera 40, nice and strong. Fabric wise I use 500D Nylon. Can’t quite justify XPAC VX 21 yet.

Doh forgot to mention that I’m planning on hanging 2 x 600mm, 1x 300mm cabinets and a boiler. Scared it’ll fold in half 8O

If it hasnt quite healed up by the time you need to ride still, try putting a corn plaster on it, like a small padded ring shaped plaster, that’ll keep some of the pressure off it. Get them from Boots and Superdrug etc

John just get out there and ride, drink beer with your mates and keep yourself/mind occupied. Don’t sit at home and mope though, it’ll just consume you otherwise. Have a good one in Wales!

The sooner that tube trains are automated, the better. Luckily I don’t have to get the tube too often, but I’ll feel sorry for commuters tomorrow.

Yep this year’s one was good, great weather, not too hot nor too cold. Luckily I missed the morning rain unlike last year, when I got drenched. Fair play to anyone who did the double!!

I used a vice, it went horribly wrong lol

Hora, in addition to the edx course, also worth looking to see if there’s local Chinese Sunday school type thing in your area. They normally have kids and adults classes. Good luck!

Well, you’ll all be glad to hear we survived! It was bloody tough as most of you said it would be but glad we did it. Definitely in at the deep end quite literally for our intro to hike a bike/bikepacking.

Saturday morning, we went from Aviemore station through Rothiemurchus forest, past Loch Eilein and Morlich upto Cairngorm Base Station. Stopped for cake and coffee, decided not to go up to the top of Cairngorm as it was far too gnarly on top. Decided to do Lairig an Laoigh instead, so dropped back down to Glenmore Lodge towards Ryvoan Pass. Crossed the footbridge over the Nethy then took the path around Bynack Beg and More down to Fords of Avon Refuge. It was a hard slog in the rain and wind, barely rideable, pushed the bikes through lots of boggy water logged ground.

Fords of Avon Refuge was great though, no one else there, so just me and my mate, bedded down there for the night. Then Sunday, down to Linn of Dee then westwards along the Geldie Burn. Horrible and boggy again until near the waterfall. Had to ford the river a few times, worst was near An Cagain, a few km before Feshie bothie. Almost dropped the bike in waist deep water, was close.

Feshie bothy was great, there were a few hikers there with the log burner going when we arrived so dried some of our gear. Then Monday, we just headed back to Aviemore via Inshriach Forest and Rothiemurchus in time for some proper food at the Mountain Cafe and the bar at Cairngorm Hotel and a train back to London.

Glad we did it, definitely more extreme bikepacking, but all good!

Cheers folks for the replies, just packing my bags now. Probably going to play around on the lower levels, avoiding the snow and high winds. First backpacking trip so all an adventure for me :)

My friend was visited by the puncture fairy 3 times on ride today. It was really nice that each time, at least one cyclist stopped to see if we needed any help. Nice one!

My tarp and bivi should arrive today, bring on the bike packing!!

Munrobiker, it’s spectraken@gmail.com thanks!

Munrobiker, would it be possible to get the gpx file too please? Cheers

Was touring in Iceland on a newly built bike. Had this annoying clicking sound which I thought was from my wheel, unloaded all my panniers by the side of the road, bike upside down, rear wheel off, couldn’t figure it out. figured it out eventually, it was the bloody cable end of the front mech sticking out and hitting the drive side crank on each pedal stroke, grrrr!

Got 6 of these in the garage and they are rock solid.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Piranha-Boltless-Industrial-Heavy-Duty-Shelving-Garage-Steel-Racking-Storage-Bay-/380592930687?pt=UK_Storage&var=&hash=item589d1b3f7f

same for me, used all manner of tubes from dirt cheap to conti/schwalbe and so far so good.

For any technical clothing with a waterproof or water resistant finish, I would use Nikwax Techwash or Graingers Wash in Cleaner. Just make sure your washing machine drawer is clear of built up detergent and conditioner.
If after cleaning, water doesn’t bead up on the fabric like it used to, it would be worth applying a treatment to restore the DWR (durable water repellent) finish again. If your board clothing is insulated, I’d probably go with a spray on treatment like Nikwax TX Direct Spray On otherwise use the TX Wash In.

2009 Froggy 518, bought it second hand last year and loving it!

The 3200 is a great starter SLR. I still have my 3100, its predecessor and it’s fine for a what I do. Spend your money on glass instead.

Crimp connectors are more than suitable for flex cable so long as they have been stripped and crimped properly with a ratchet tool. I tend to do a pull test just to make sure. Ideally all the crimps would have been staggered and then heat shrink applied over all the inner insulation. And B&Q sell boxes of crimp connectors next to the choc blocks and JBs too but they are way overpriced.

An alternative to crimps would be to boot lace ferrule each core and then put into terminal block mounted inside a junction box.

Have a look at carhire3000 and see how their prices compare. My friend booked through them whilst renting in the US and it worked out cheaper than going direct.

I shredded my Marmot shell going over the bars. Used Tenatious tape inside and out and now, rounded the corners of each patch. No problems with them lifting up and it’s gone through the washing machine a few times too.

I think you want one of these ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr6yopBUI-c

Definitely give La Sportiva a go. I’ve narrow feet and they fit me better then any other brands, Zamberlans, Scarpas, Meindls etc. Good luck!

I have an Air Arms S200 Mk1, great for ratting in the garden.

I have a boney arse and love the Endura FS260 Pro. And size up if you get a pair.

Cheap tools aren’t worth the money imo. I still have a yellow Stanley hacksaw from when I was an apprentice over 10 years ago. Still solid and cuts just fine. Got a Bahco as well, slightly lighter and smaller but very good too.