Sorry, to add to that and actually answer your last question…

Yes, you could register your card to those accounts – the account can be in a different name/address etc to the cardholder.

Yeha, you could create separate accounts for them (just set up a free Gmail account or something for each just to have as an email address). Problem is, if they work out how to browse and buy books from the kindle unit itself, you can only use 1-click ordering where it just buys it straight away without any need for you to enter a password or card details. There might be some access controls, but can’t remember seeing any. That would work though.

Yeah, it will always go back to Paypal if you paid that way. What usually happens is that it will get refunded but you can’t access it for a few days while PayPal “verify it” (or get interest off it…whichever way you want to look at it :S…). Then you can do a payment back to your bank account that it usually comes out of. All very easy to do but does take about a week to finally get the funds back.

Never heard of a charge though.

The emissions tests for which engines will be calibrated for feature brisk-ish accelerations. They certainly aren’t fast, but you have to put a reasonable amount of pedal in to hit the target trace. If/when Europe goes to a more ‘representative’ test trace, then the accels will be even brisker as the aim is to mimic how the majority of people drive – the US FTP75 emissions test has some brutal acceleration parts in it!

The robustness of an emissions/FE calibration is pretty strong these days so the gains from accelerating one way or another will be minimal – it would be more efficient to concentrate on keeping momentum up so you do as little accel/deccel as possible rather than going for a perfect acceleration rate.

Not bought anything myself, but a colleague has and had great service. It does come from Hong Kong, but they are a completely legit company and are definitely British ‘based’ if that makes any sense.

They do some good (well…can be slightly annoying, but generally good and quite amusing) video reviews, tips etc as well.

While Apple Maps is obviously a bit of a backwards step from Google in terms of coverage and features, the base mapping does look wonderful. Since its vector based it scales perfectly and quickly. It might be confirmation bias but it seemed a lot faster to load on celular data than google was.

Once they start getting and intergrating user feedback I’m sure it will improve very quickly, but to get to this point Apple needed to rip off the band aid and release the thing.

If anyone can do it Apple can as to get decent maps it needs the one thing Apple have in spades. Money.

This. It’s a bit of a dissapointment at the moment, but with a 6.1 or 2 or whatever release, or even iOS 7, I can imagine they will get it pretty damn good. In the meantime, it is inevitable that any day now Google will release a Maps app for iOS. OK, not quite the same as built in, but will do the job. There are rumours that it will sync between devices so you can look up directions on the PC and then they will be available on your iPhone when you actually need them – pretty cool stuff!

The Rab VR stuff has a brushed lining in it so gives a wee bit of insulation (not much in the Lite, but it is there), whereas the Dyno is just plain Pertex Equilibrium. I love my Dyno and reckon it’s the perfect biking softshell – really breathable as it’s non-membrane and because it is just a shell, you can throw it on over whatever else you have and you have weather protection, whereas the VR stuff means you are adding another (albleit small) insulation layer. I suppose it depends if you run hot (like I do) or cold. But the Dyno is certainly a good shout!

Yeah, the DS3 definitely has a telescopic steering column. I’m really impressed with the interior – it’s far better than any other small car in the same class I’ve been in (ok, maybe a bit biased as I own one, but most passengers I have comment on it being good) – although the one minor annoyance is there are no cupholders anywhere! The Short gearing does plague the smaller engined ones, but the THP has a 6 speed box which is miles better (in terms of gearing and not being floppy). I’ll agree about the pedals being a bit close though…

Add Citroen DS3 to that (the 1.6 THP engine best but the others are all still fun) – forget previous Citroen build quality, these things are screwed together properly! Had mine for just coming up to a year, with 12,000 miles on it and absolutely no issues whatsoever, nothing has even looked like falling off! Great fun to drive, surprisingly spacious inside (much more than a Mini or the others above), looks good, and the THP is even reasonably economical (45mpg crusing on the motorway). Sorted!

The others on the list above are all good as well to add to that – the little Twingo is meant to be great fun.

Yeah, really is another great record – so simple but so space filling. Make sure you have a listen to the live session they are doing with TE BBC Philharmonic orchestra on Wednesday evening. Can imagine that will be a bit good!

I think not playing much music was the best bit about the show! The Radio 1 playlist is generally awful these days so the less of it the better (and any complaints that “any records he did play were crap” – do you really think he had any choice as to what he plays on a mainstream breakfast show?…)

Why do they keep trying to stop the snowmobile? It’s not like it’s going anywhere – will just end up at the bottom of the slope?!?

He split opinion which is no bad thing

Completley right – nothing worse than the mediocre, pandering to everyone, dull drivel you get on 90% of radio stations. Local stations are just awful, most sounding like they are stuck in the 70s with a “good morning pop-pickers, its a quarter to eight and here’s some music from the hit parade” type smarmy crap DJ. Moyles might not be your cup of tea, but he was certainly something different.

you’ll love this then. I know that he is crap but I don’t listen to him, and I know that I’m right because he is an utterly contemptible ****

Brilliant….

I think that’s good in a way though. There is a Jony (seriously, does he realise he’s missing some letters?…) Ive quote from the video of the iPhone 5 apparently where he says:

When you think about your iPhone, it’s probably the object that you use most in your life. It’s the product that you have with you all the time. With this unique relationship people have with their iPhone, we take changing it really seriously. We don’t want to just make a new phone, we want to make a much better phone.

Which I think rings very true. A lot of people equate better with introducing some fancy new technology. Which is true up to a point if said technology genuinely introduced something novel and useful (i.e. the whole touchscreen smartphone thing to start with), but not if its just there for the sake of spec top-trumps. The iPhone is the longest I’ve ever had a phone which basically works the same – gone are the days of having to get your head round new button configurations and crazy new technologies. The thing just works and the novelty has completely and utterly gone. I couldn’t care whether it’s the fastest or whatever out there as long as it does what I want it to slickly. Which it does. And to be fair, so do a lot of Android phones. At the end of the day it just comes down to what you ‘bought into’ first and whether you are happy with it. If you are then success! If not, then there are two other very good options to try.

Quite a good little article here on it:

The iPhone 5 is Boring and Amazing[/url]

How about a Chromebook of some sort? Does web, word processing, email etc. Blindingly fast. Great battery life. Seems pretty good – it’s almost the advantages of a tablet but in a netbook form.

Google ChromeBook[/url]

Is there any actual proof that the iphone is a ‘better’ rpoduct, or is it merely subjective opiniion?

In terms of hardware to hardware, then its’ probably not the best.

In terms of the iPhone ‘ecosystem’ (which I know is a bit of a buzzword, but it does actually now make sense), then yes I would say, and most ‘official’ sources would say, that it is better. The ease with which apps, data, etc are accessible, shareable, and above all usable, seems to be a lot better than Android, Windows etc. This is where Apple really excel and their hardware/software integration is widely regarded as second to none.

Having said all that, of course if it doesn’t do something you need to do then it might be garbage to you, but I don’t think anyone can say that the iOS system is not a massive success – even if you think it’s crap.

(I have to admit, I’ve only skim read the previous 8 pages so apologies if I’m repeating something that’s already been said..)

I think what Apple is doing is actually very sensible. OK, there is no amazing headline new feature, but it’s precisely because of this that the iPhone 5 will probably be so good. I was never convinced that the rumors of the bigger screen would be good, thinking it would just make it weird – but in slide 1 Apple showed that having the slightly longer screen actually makes the useful parts of the screen sit in your hand better. People are/were complaining about lack of NFC. I have never even seen anywhere I can use NFC in the UK so far! The camera didn’t get a massive upgrade – it’s already ridiculously good for how teeny it is, a lot of the time it takes a better quality photo than my real camera does.

But what, from early reports, the iPhone 5 seems to have done is almost the Apple mantra – it all works together even better than the previous one did. My iPhone 4S already is WAY more powerful than I need, and to be honest, the 4 and 3G probably were too – it is a phone after all. But each one added that wee increment of how everything fitted together and it does make the experience better and better. At the end of the day, most people couldn’t give a monkeys about the specs, they just want it to work well and do what they want. I haven’t got any personal experience with Android phones, but people I know who have them do seem to have to fight the OS some times to do stuff. There are some reasonably big limitations in iOS, but if you just recognise what they are and accept they are there then there are some pretty easy get-arounds.

All in all, I can imagine the iPhone 5 will be rather spiffing to use. Am I clamouring over it? No. Will I upgrade when I can. More than likely yes.

My 2p anyway.

+1 for Troll Hunter – not usually a fan of the found footage type films but it actually came across really well – almost believable! Apparently it was mostly improvised as well I think?

Yeah, I thought it was a bit mediocre as well. Between Eric Bana and Saoirse Roman’s mighty dodgy German accents, the annoying British kid, and the bloke from The Thick of It playing a camp German assassin it kind of lost me a bit. Wasn’t atrocious, but was expecting/hoping for quite a bit better.

The Behringer SM58 copy is meant to be great for the money and is about £20. Clearly not as good as the realt thing or alternatives, but for the pound you aren’t going to find a lot better I’d say.

Been playing with my Dads Nexus 7 this weekend and it’s a very impressive bit of kit. I have an iPad myself an the Nexus is as good if not better in some ways. Wasn’t convinced by a 7″ screen originally but it fits very nicely in the hand. Screen is great, very quick, feels great. And great price!

Taking a slight diversion off topic, but impressed by the honesty in this:

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16865&category_id=253

A lot of other manufacturers would just sell it at full price, just cope with the complaints they may get, wait for it to go out of stock and bin it. To openly admit you are selling something a bit crap (although depending on use still could work well) is quite brave. Always admired Alpkits approach to stuff and this has sturdied that reputation quite a bit.

I believe the Ax rating gives an indication of the performance of the oil under ‘stress’. So the xWxx rating is the viscosity when cold and hot and is the main number you want so that all components are lubricated fully when running normally. The Ax is how it reacts under stress such as when lubricating cams etc. A1 can be thought of as being a bit thinner under these conditions (high temperatures and loading) so friction is lower (better fuel economy), but you also have a thinner oil film (lower durability). A3 on the other Han will give you a thicker film, but higher friction.

So, an engine designed for A1 will probably use designs and materials to limit wear and probably wouldn’t ever put the oil unde much stress whereas an A3 may be required in an engine that sees high loading (performance engines basically). From that, I’d say go with why is reccomended as you would with the xWxx grade – the FE gains would be minimal at best probably but you might see quite a lot more wear.

Hope that helps a bit!

I’ve got a white car – looks brilliant I think (Citroen DS3). Depending on what you drive through, it will either not look too grubby or look pretty manky. Most dust and stuff in the summer is light in colour so you don’t notice it (but would on a black car). But in winter, it can get a bit grubby round the wheel arches. If you can get it with any black accents (wheels etc) then they tend to look better. Mine has a black roof and black wheels and looks ace (well, I think so….)

Not had any experience, but the little one man lightweight one is meant to be excellent for the money. I’ve generally heard very good things, and unless you are going to be pitching it in the most utterly horrific conditions halfway up an Alp or something then I can’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be great. Maybe a bit heavier than the pricier ones, but even then they don’t look that bad.

Another Satmap user here – as all have said above about it, highly reccomended. The things is bulletproof and has survived a lot of crashes on my bike as well as being dropped whilst walking/climbing. Battery life is excellent even in the cold and once locked on the signal is exceptionally stable. I mainly use it with 50k maps on the unit combined with a 25k paper map if more accurate navigation is required – I find the 50k map with pinpoint accurate location great if you are following a pre-planned route and if you need to negotiate some terrain more accurately then the position can easily be plotted on a ‘real’ map.

Had a situation a few years ago walking in Snowdonia where due to the terrain (i.e. about 2-3ft snow everywhere) and some of the members of the group being a bit slower than we thought, we ended up doing the last couple of miles in total darkness. Accurate location and a map on the Satmap was (possibly literally) a lifesaver.

Worth every penny in my opinion.

The newsstand app is completely separate I think – I believe there isn’t a way to link the two up. Hopefully this might be able to change (if its possible at all) as the app is pretty good and easier to get the magazine than the PDF route (which, to be fair isn’t that challenging) but would be nice to have the premier stuff on here as well.

Oh well, have to see what happens I suppose…

I wouldn’t think they do. If it’s a gore-tex type jacket (or eVent or whatever…) the waterproof/breathable bit is a PTFE membrane which would be pretty stable if sat indoors in a cupboard or something. Generally when a jacket wears out it is due to the membrane actually being worn through rather than it just disintegrating so if you aren’t using it you should be good to go when you finally do. The only thing you’d perhaps have to do is ‘top-up’ the DWR coating on the surface material, but that is pretty easy to do with some Nik Wax or Grangers spray/wash.

Yeah, I thought it was great – nice to hear the second verse as well, don’t think I’ve ever heard it at a sporting event before!

Is it just me, or was it a bit short before the athletes started coming in? Unless there is more after they come in rather than before I suppose. Might just be me…Quite liked it though!

Montane Dyno is great for riding in.

Montane Dyno Jacket

As reviewed by this here Singletrack as well (although only seems to be premier accessible – gave it a good review though). It’s a non-membrane jacket, so you give up a bit of water-resistance, but is much more breathable than a Windstopper, Power Shield etc jacket. Good cut, hood which rolls away when on the bike, nicely breathable, tough, light, sorted! Casual enough to wear to the pub as well without looking like you’ve just come of the North Face of the Eiger….

The Marmot one above would be good as well (both are similar in design/features).

Tech Wash and Base Wash are essentially the same, but the base wash has a sort of “conditioner” in it to make sure your base layers stay soft (so say Nikeax when I asked them a year or so ago anyway). There isn’t really any reason you couldn’t use Tech Wash though. TX Direct is the re-proofing part.

But surely if you can’t help leaving it then it isn’t your fault? You aren’t allowed to drive off the track in F1, but if you get forced onto the runoff then the race officials have enough common sense to not penalise you (unless you take the pi$$ of course, but VP didn’t in this).

If it’s in the wheel arch, it’s unlikely to be engine oil, but DEFINITELY still check it! More likely to be power steering or brake fluid. As others have said, check all three and see what the numbers say!

I dd all my training on a skid car and woul thoroughly recommend it. It can replicate sudden changes in grip and surface very quickly and frighteningly realistically. Being able to repeatable practice controlling a car hitting an ice patch on a corner etc is very useful. They can also simulate the reactions to a loss of grip of both a FWD and RWD car (ours was an Astra at Millbrook but were training for controlling big RWD cars so spent most of it in RWD mode – very strange feeling but realistic handling!)

A seatbelt isn’t a crumple zone. It stops you impacting with the steering wheel, dashboard, or windscreen at speeds that would kill you. A helmet is designed to come into play if there is nothing to stop you hitting solid objects.

With the kind of speeds your head is going to be hitting things in an RTC half an inch of polystyrene is going to be as effective as wearing a bunch of bananas.

I realise that, but both are designed to dissipate energy when you decelerate in a crash (which is what a crumple zone does).

And who says what speed a car hits you in an RTC? It could be at 5mph, it could be at 105mph. Same as in a car. If you get hit at 5mph you’ll be fine. If you get hit at 105mph, the chances are you probably won’t be. No safety device can guarantee safety, but using them to potentially limit impact will do a lot more than not.

In an RTC, seatbelt prevents injuries

In an RTC, bicycle helmet does SWEET **** ALL You’re absolutely certain about that yeah? Because as far as I can see, both are doing exactly the same thing in terms of the physics of limiting the amount of damage you sustain. Ok, one might be more effective, but you are going to be potentially a lot better off with a crumple zone around your head than with your skull being the crumple zone.

How hard can it be to drive considerately ……. REALLY

which is all well an good – but what I’d a pedestrian steps out, you swerve, hit a kerb and smash your head open. Or you hit some ice, skid an load balance and hit a wall. Or have a component failure and come crashing of the bike. All the good driving in the world isn’t going to help you there. Ok, definitely some responsibility needs to go to drivers and standards need to be improved – but there HAS to e some responsibility by the rider as well!

So, so many assumptions and half truths in that it’s difficult to know where to start.

well, yeah they are assumptions and I’m pret sure I said they were! You are absolute right, in each crash situation where a helmet is involved we don’t know how much it helped. Likewise, in a situation where someone doesn’t wear one we don’t know if it would have helped or not. But, e chances are that strapping something round your head, which down to simple physics will lessen the force of the impact, will certainly help somewhat! Difference between life and death, who knows? Each crash is very different and the tiniest variation in where someone is hit an make a huge difference in the injuries they sustain – but again, doing everything in your power to protect yourself can only be a good thing!

Wear a helmet by all means. Just don’t claim it makes the roads safer. Infrastructure not victim blaming.

don’t get me wrong, there needs to be changes to car drivers attitudes, better PROPER cycle paths etc, but again, if a car driver was killed in a crash because they didn’t wear a seatbelt, then I’m pretty sure the majority of anti-helmeters would be calling them a moron and not praising the fact they had the right to not wear a life saving device (which I realise they don’t, but you know what I mean)