I’ve just remembered, there’s a gynaecologist at Manchester University Hospital called Judith Gash.

Our chimney sweep is Called Hilton Basnett. It’s not funny, it’s just a bloody magnificent name.

I work with a Mrs Hoare.

I suffer really badly as well. At the weekend a mate had a charcoal powered one he thrust into my mitts. I was instantly sold! About 6 quid on Amazon. You light the charcoal socks on the stove, and then stick them inside, and they burn for hours apparently. Brilliant things.

Thermal socks and Freerider EPS highs next on the list.

Only when they’re not making anvils.

I’m billing you for my keyboard.

OP: I’m sure it’s the GRIP damper, not the FIT4.
As far as I’m aware it’s basically an entry level Fox 34.
Chassis is the same/ver similar, air spring the same/very similar, different damper, so unless you’re doing a damper service I’d be using service procedures for a ‘normal’ 34.

I think it’s OEM only isn’t it? Might limit the amount of literature for it.

Yeah, don’t put posts in, that’s passive aggressive wind-up territory.

The other alternative is a cockerel. Then they’ll want the thickest, highest hedge imaginable. A bantam with a high pitched crow would be best, as the hedge will have most effect, the lower frequencies of a larger man-bird wouldn’t be attenuated as much so the perceived benefit wouldn’t be there.

Or in a similar vein, start sunbathing naked. All hours. All year.

As above, In the spirit of neighbourly relations, I’d try to just leave it. It’ll grow back and green up, and stuff like this is not worth falling out with neighbours over. Neighbourly battles make life miserable for everyone and doubtless escalate.

Failing that, this is the perfect excuse for a moat.

Please please please don’t get a diesel for 6-8k a year. Especially one that’s on 60kish.
That’s a recipe for bills, especially in the DPF area. My wife has worked for several major car manufacturers in the business intelligence sector, and all I can say is that diesels reeeeeally don’t make sense for that little mileage unless covered by a comprehensive warranty and a willingness to part with cash.
Is there not a petrol option?

I’m a dyed-in-the-wool flat pedal user, but was curious about 15 years ago. Tried them for 6 months, didn’t have any real issues, but just preferred flats. My riding is dh/jump/fast trail stuff though, not much xc type stuff. Which sounds more like what you’ve done.
As far as I’m concerned you’ve done it the right way round though. You see an awful lot of people around who, although comfortable with SPD’s, have become lazy/never developed the technique that flats give you when it comes to moving the back of the bike around. That sort of skill pays dividends, even when clipped in.

I’ve got a road bike as well now so am thinking of trying spuds with some cheap shoes again, but I’m kind of enjoying trolling roadies with bright red v12s at the mo.

Cheers y’all :) Answers a lot of questions.

Unfortunately I have a peasant phone (Moto G4) so no ANT+ stuff in that.

The rollers are only a temporary thing to see how I get on with the idea of actually ‘training’ without investing too much. I’m after a smart turbo at some point with a view to making it more interesting. I’m not bothered about power outputs etc, but I’m using the rollers to do intervals and keep up certain levels for certain periods.

so, I think I’ve sussed out most for the questions (thanks again) but the main sticking point now is the watch/HRM device.
So I think I need something that can:
– Transmit live data to a phone via BT
– Store HRM stuff over a period of time
– A display would be a bonus

Any suggestions?

Report it to your local council. I can tell you categorically that if you reported it to the one local to me it certainly wouldn’t be ignored.

Ta :) I may be missing something, but I thought BT was a 1:1 interface? So If you had a BT HRM and a BT Speed/Cadence sensor, they couldn’t both be paired with a phone at the same time?

I’m trying to avoid a HRM strap if possible as I hate them!

REFLKT looks good, looks like it uses the phone as the master, which is OK, but depends on the answer to my multiple device question!

Regarding rollers/Trainer – grand plan is to move to a trainer, but I don’t want to spend too much (that could be spending on the main bike :D) if I find out I don’t use it. I’m going to borrow a ‘dumb’ trainer from a friend iminently as well :)

Main issue at the moment is no iPad/PC too rubbish to run Zwift :D Hence seeing what I can get through the phone :)

I wouldn’t put poly bushes on a normal road car, especially something plush like a Jag. You’ll get more NVH, and the car will feel more nervous.
I’ve got a fully polybushed car and while it’s magnificent to drive, it’s a lot noisier and more twitchy (although some of that is down to the geo).
I’ve also put some polys on my daily and it has the same effect to a lesser extent. People put them on as they are easier and often cheaper than OEM ones, but the trade off is not worth it IMHO.

Before paying for an alignment I’d get someone who knows what they are doing to look over the bushes. Alignment will need to be done, but if you need bushes doing it’ll have to be done afterwards anyways.

The fact it’s even on both sides suggests that the rear toe is at least pushing the car in a straight line is a good start!

That much wear on the inner edge is not normal when compared to the rest. Many cars will feather the edges but not to the extent you describe.

Oh, and FWIW, unless super extreme, camber has negligible effect on tyre wear. It’s toe that feathers tyres.

I did one in June last year, hurt. A LOT. Probably not helped by trying to ride through the pain the next day with lots of painkillers. Jumping was painful…
Took about 2.5 months to get most function back. I still get the occasional twinge now. Bloody painful, you have my sympathy. I think it hurt me more and took longer to recover than breaking a rib. But was nearly 15 years younger when I did that.

On both tires or one? It’ll be either excessive toe out or worn bushings, usual suspects would be track rod ends or lower arms.

I’ve got a 160 bike I regularly ride around Cannock. It’s great. Over the top for most bits(well, all of it really, but it’s nice in some of the humungous braking bumps) but certainly doesn’t feel like lugging a dh bike up a fire road. A lot will totally depend on the bike anyways.
Would a 130 bike be more appropriate? Yeah, probably, but I’d rather have the bike that’s a bit OTT for a lot of my riding, with a bit in reserve, and epic for the bigger stuff, than be totally under biked on the gnar.

I’m sure a Spark or something would be faster, but it’s not what I’m used to, and it’s not what I like riding. And I’m only riding for fun, not times. Remember that 1 160 bike is not the same as another. My Transition Patrol Is a lot more fun on those sort of trails than my Capra was, or the Enduro I had for a bit.

If, however, that’s the gnarliest riding you’ll ever do, then I’d say it would be quite OTT. But the right bike will still be a crapload of fun, and happily save your bacon at times that a 100 mil bike would have spat you off.

I had an elite for a weekend, was alright but I wasn’t blown away. It did everything competently, but I never found it too exciting. It was quite old school in terms of lengths, quite a short TT an the BB was quite conventional. I ended up with a Capra which was very similar geo. I then sold it at a few months as I rode a mate’s Patrol, and it was a huge leap forwards. Really highlighted how much I preferred the feel of a long/low bike.

The bike in itself was well made and the spec was ok, it just felt a bit dated. Plus it turned out that Guide R levers are made of cheese, and bend in a light breeze.

http://Www.masterofmalt.com :)

Give them a bell, they’re crap at email.

I’m in the same boat, almost – but even more specific! I need a 35mm clamp one with a bit of rise and light weight!

Defy seems to be the only one close, but it#s not the lightest :(
Ragley and fun aren’t available in 35mm. What I really need is a low stack Renthal, but I want some stack in reserve in case I want to fit an angleset.

Cheers, had thought about that but I’d quite like to keep my phone out of harm’s way if at all possible! I haven’t got a waterproof case or the like.

Totally depends on the bike. Different leverage ratios require different pressures.

Base it on what you need to get the manufacturer’s recommended sag, then tweak it for personal preference.

A ‘raw’ aluminium frame will need frequent polishing to stop it oxidising and looking ropey. It needs a clear coat of something to keep it looking fresh.

A lot of how the top coat takes depends on the surface finish – if you properly polish it, it’s very, very hard to get a hard wearing long lasting top layer. If you finish it with a ‘brushed’ effect it will be a lot easier as the top coat has something to key to.

Sounds like a ganglion cyst, aka ‘bible bump’, so called because people used to try and pop them by hitting them with the heaviest thing to hand in the house, which was usually a Bible.

I get one that pops up periodically on the back of my hand, but if a pain as I catch it on stuff, but it usually buffets off after a month or so.
My GP said the NHS don’t do anything about them a general rule.

@Whitestone – it’s a valid point, but after years of riding on trainers, I’d quite like something ‘proper’ and purpose made, and something with an appropriate warranty as well. Creating a custom solution appears to be a little bit trial and error and guesswork.

Watching eagerly. I’ve found nothing to fit the brief. Made even harder for me as I have wide feet, so none of the Freerider range fit, and I have appalling circulation, so need warmth.
In summary, warm, waterproof, toe protection, grippy sole, wide feet: not gonna happen.

Whyte T130 would be the perfect place to start IMHO.

Telling someone with depression to MTFU is about the least helpful thing you could possibly do.
There will be times when all you want to do is grab him and yell exactly that in his face, and trying to avoid this can be incredibly challenging. But it’s potentially a very destructive move. If that is a person’s response to someone with depression, then the patient really needs to be distanced from that person, as it’s an incredibly counter productive attitude that can make things worse.

One bit of advice I’ve heard from many people is to not to everything for that person – it’s a very easy thing to do – try to take the load off by doing stuff for them, however that can leave them more time to dwell, and cause them to become even more distanced from reality. The mundane bits of everyday life are some of the things that can help that person keep in touch with their day-to-day life.

It’s not the answer you want to hear, but basically, most people don’t. But what they can do is find mechanisms for managing and coping with it.
Unfortunately, mental health provision in the NHS is very, very poor, but there are processes there. Unfortunately it often seems to be the patient that has to really push to get the treatment they need, and even then it may not be what they need. It sounds like he’s already been to the GP (as he’s already got medication) but IMO medication is a temporary coping mechanism and not a permanent ‘fix’. The change needs to be driven by something deeper than that. NHS provide a service called IAPT which can give you a limited number of sessions with a counsellor, which, if nothing else, is a good start. If you get to someone you are happy speaking to. However, the process is long, and there’s a long waiting list. :( Even if someone is having dark thoughts, literally the only way which a person will get priority treatment is if they have a razor blade in their hand at the time of assessment.
IIRC the waiting list is around a couple of months.

Does he have private health care? There is often treatment available in that. It’s also worth him speaking to someone at his work or looking through their documentation – many companies have what’s called an EAP (Employee Access Programme) Which gives employees access to psychological therapies through private practices. Again, it will likely be a limited number of sessions but can be the catalyst that’s needed.

The Charity MIND also have a helpline available – there’s information on their website about an advice line – they can advise you of the help that should be available, and what needs to be done to access it.

From your point of view, I can totally empathise. Looking after someone who suffers from depression is a massive strain. It’s frustrating, isolating, demoralising, and soul destroying at times. But your help to a mate is invaluable. Make sure you have a support network in place – someone you can talk to about your mate. It’s very, very easy to get pulled down into a dark place.
You may not realise it, but you will be being an amazing help to your mate. It sounds like you’re doing everything right – the best advice I’ve been given is to just listen. The sufferer more often isn’t looking for a friend to give them ‘solutions’, they just want someone to talk to. Knowing that you are there to do that will already be helping an infinite amount.
The taboo around mental health is one off the biggest obstacles to overcoming mental health issues.

I’m seriously thinking about building a single skin brick one to house 3 or 4 bikes. My only reservations are around making the doors as secure as one of the Asguard jobs

I’ve got a150mm reverb in mine. 5’10ish, about 31 inch trouser, monkey arms, large frame.

Could people not just, you know, help with the question, rather than having to be ‘right’?
I’ve got narrow shoulders and much prefer a wider bar to a narrower one. Horses for courses.

Anyone got any experience of Chromag BZA Carbon 35s? Got a feeling they’ll be horribly stiff, but tempted by a set.

Daughter’s ‘Not To Disappear’ is one of mine – it’s a hauntingly beautiful thing that makes my skin go all tingly. Never quite reaches the glory of the first album, but it is very, very good.

I’ve got a set of TRS+
They came on my Capra and I transferred them to my Patrol. After less than 10 rides on the Capra this summer the BB was already showing signs of bearing wear!
Put them on my new frame with a Hope BB, no such issues.
The preload thing on the cranks is a bit pony, but once I’d played around with spacers and stuff on the BB and axle it was all good.
Other than that, totally unremarkable, as in I’ve had no problems with them, which I guess is what you can hope for with cranks :)

Oh, and regarding removal – you don’t actually need to buy a specific tool :) The threads on the crank are standard crank thread, and you can get over the hollow axle issue by grinding the flange off an old crank bolt, and threading it through the axle from the drive side, giving the crank extractor something to push against :)
The above is immaterial if you buy aftermarket, though, as I believe they should come with the crank tool.

Does anyone know if they do anything with a stiff-ish sole that’s warm and waterproof? Not that I’m trying to cheap out on winter shoes for flats or anything.

Not a Jeffsy, but I’ve had a Capra CF.
It was really well built. Well put together, brakes needed a little adjusting, but other than that, all really good. Service was good, had a minor warranty issue which was sorted super fast with no quibble, and it rode really nicely.
I know it’s carbon not ally, but I’d say that the frame was better made than my Patrol.

I’d happily buy another YT. If I were in the market for a short travel trail bike I’d be all ove ra Jeffsy right now. Astounding value for money.

The straighty onny green lane bit.
It’ll be grand. Wet days I’ll just Endurommute my way in on the full suss. Grr.

About the worse I’m likely to be facing is this:

EDIT: Boo, no iFrames. Corrected.