Came here expecting a thread about pushing posties and binpeople over like tipping cows.

Still though, I have no idea who my postie is. Changes every other week and random times of the day. Majority of my post isn’t from them anyway. Junk flyers and packages from random delivery people mostly.

Bins, meh.

Apart from the words ‘certified vegan’ 🙂

I presume they verify all the staff in the factory producing it, those of any in the supply chain, the staff at the banks they use, all are vegan and never consume, own or use anything remotely animal based including owning a pet (though cats are allowed as you can’t own a cat, cats own you. Although has to be a vegan cat).

Odd really the vegan bit as Plant Based is an attempt to distance from the ideology and be attractive to those who just don’t want to/can’t eat meat or want to cut down.

If you’re struggling to sell a house currently, then something is going very wrong
on your end I’d say!!!

Getting buyers is fine but it’s often first time buyers who can’t get the mortgage wasting your time and money or someone in the chain causing your buyer to pull out as their sale has fallen through (again often the first time buyer triggering it). Also from things I’ve seen from friends, neighbours, first timers have no experience (obviously), jump into an offer but later read up on things, get advice and then decide they can’t go through with it, either for financial reason or just they’ve then researched the property and area and decided it’s not for them.

Hoping that the more people that step away from gas heating, the cheaper the alternatives will become.

Problem with ground/air source heat pumps isn’t the pump cost, but the cost of sufficiently insulating the home, plus upgrading rads and/or putting in under floor heating. My solid wall Victorian house would cost crazy money to get the insulation done properly and costs will only increase with popularity as it’s a labour and supply intensive job.

I’m thankful in a way for Covid and moving to permanent work from home. No more over enthusiastic younger office staff who decide they must do festive activities for the whole of December and you are required to “join in the fun”. Bad enough as an introvert being asked to be involved and enjoy work social activities at any time of the year.

Humbug

With age and no kids, all very meh. I like seeing family though.

I’d rather it was more like thanksgiving in US. All about family and friends and a nice meal. Less of the commercial crap and stress and expectations.

Dreaded words on TV and film ads… “This Christmas…” (occuring from October).

I think also it’s a signal that another year is ending and (with age again) it comes round too quick. When you’re a kid, you think life is endless. When heading towards 50 you’re realising time is precious both for yourself and more elderly relatives. Spending it with family is good though, but spending it shopping for gifts, going to awful work events etc, is just time wasted.

This one been mentioned yet?

This giant LEGO Death Star docking bay is large enough to hold the UCS Millennium Falcon.

Amazed me just how many Eagles were crashed. Not sure if they just had a massive stock of them or an Eagle factory on the moon that could churn them out quick.

Anyway, the Liberator gets my vote

https://www.deviantart.com/tenement01/art/Blake-s-7-Space-Fall-800642851

I was advised by one of the heating engineers who came out to service the boiler that using the built in timer in a 15 minutes on-15 minutes off rotation throughout the winter months is quite cost effective and keeps the house warm to a good level.

Another theory is with thermostats, just keep the timer always on. Theory being that energy/cost to heat a house from cold is greater than top ups to keep it at temperature.

Not sure, it may depend on the system and how efficiently the boiler and thermostats work, and insulation. I’ve tried it and not seen a noticeable cost increase but then I’ve switched to off overnight and not seen much difference either. i.e. cost of the odd top up overnight is much the same as the longer heat up in the morning.

Hive is godawful. It does have boost but doesn’t do anything smart

It does have “read-by” feature which works out how long it actually takes your system to heat to a particular temperature and will come on earlier than scheduled to be ready by that time, depending how cool the house is.

In technology terms the ‘smart’ like a lot of smart devices is that it can be integrated with other smart devices and systems. A smart bulb isn’t actually smart for example, but it can be integrated with a smart system. Hive will work with Alexa, Google, Siri, IFTTT etc, so can have complex schedules or triggers that way, or be triggered by other Hive products. Likewise most smart bulb manufacturer’s apps are fairly basic, but paired with a major smart system it’s a lot more “smart”.

Aside from being a bit of a closed system, uses it’s own hub and not that cheap, I can’t say Hive is awful. It does the job far better than the “dumb” wireless thermostats British Gas supply, and battery lasts massively longer. Noting Hive is owned by BG/Centrica.

Hive say not to put their thermostat in the same room as a TRV. Though I wonder if that’s because they sell smart TRVs.

you know about the other valve on the radiator, the non-adjustable one?

Yeah, don’t adjust them when they’re old rads. They leak when you do! 😄

It’s definitely Groundskeeper Willie, a scot, voiced by an American.

Puzzles me how Groundskeeper Willie doesn’t require cancelling and yet Apu does.

Email yesterday saying they’ve completed the merge and ViewRanger service goes away “soon”.

I’ve got a lifetime premium sub that goes way back to old Nokia days before all the smart phone stuff and was a tiny price for a lifetime sub.

So do I lose that? They say the sub remains valid after connecting to OA but not for how long and mentions a 1 year sub offer, which is frankly rubbish and an insult.

Offline maps is key to me. Not fussed about OS maps so long as I get OSM and OCM, offline option, and with the same quality as VR maps, and ability to overlay tracks I’ve uploaded. For no extra cost than my existing lifetime sub. I suspect this is not the case?

Funny this topic has come up and has never been an issue for me until the other day and then as soon as I’m going down a trail and especially into a compression, sweat pouring down my face. Odd as although it was humid I’ve ridden in conditions like that loads and not had it before.

Just exceptional conditions maybe, or I’ve hit an age where overnight this has kicked in? 🤷‍♂️

TMP Directors Edition is a big improvement. Better effects where needed, some scenes cut, edited with better pacing. It’s still a show off visual experience rather than all action but I like it (much prefer it to Star Wars action style Abrams Trek flicks).

For its time it was a wow experience given the original series and cartoons were all that existed before.

Wrath of Khan is still massively superior though even if on a much lower budget.

Anyway, Directors Edition has finally been green lit in HD (4K even), at least on streaming initially.

https://trekmovie.com/2021/07/07/star-trek-the-motion-picture-directors-edition-to-be-restored-in-4k-hdr-for-paramount/

And ST 5 is not all that bad either. Has fun moments and tongue in cheek throughout.

First four films are also getting 4K releases as a set, but not the Directors Edition on TMP yet.

https://trekmovie.com/2021/07/07/paramount-releasing-star-trek-tos-movies-4k-uhd-blu-ray-set/

My earliest I did skiing in US was actually a little under a week after busting my wrist trying to snowboard 😄.

Two week trip, did the wrist on the second day, got a cast a few days later and they asked if I could ski, set the cast suited to holding ski poles and off I went. Then I was rushing for a bus in lobby of hotel, shiny floor, ski boots, and slipped crashing on my ribs 😄. Pain kicked in later, partly due to also being wiped out on the slopes by a snowboarder. Still managed to ski the rest of the trip with pain killers.

Used to swap or replace chain early. I was binning several good chains and then cassette at 1500-2000 miles as new chain won’t mix.

Last one I ran one XTR cassette + one KMC chain for 3800 miles, all weather crud and grind MTB. Teeth proper pointy and just starting to skip on some gears, though otherwise shifting fine. Chain rollers loose but no hint of breaking. I reckon could have done 4000, but felt it was time to replace.

Squirt lube. 1x chainring, which helps perhaps as less likely to drop when ridden to death. Though chainrings are often soft and need replacing earlier but I never have issues with old chain and new chainring.

Mileage may vary on use obviously, with double probably on road.

Flakey PlusNet connection a few months back and 0.5mb down often. PN tech guys ran loads of tests their end and could see there was a fault, likely dodgy wire. BT guy sent and he spent ages trying things. Ruled out internal wiring. Fiddled in the box down the road, said nothing wrong but I did see speed improve a lot, but his test kit said it was still faulty. Ended up being the box the overhead cable goes into on the house.

Intermittent issue sorted, was only up to half speed though and he said to get PN to send a new router, which they did (PN rebrand of the BT Home Hub 5), and get 75 down now which is what I had originally on the old router. Noting originally I had the BT Openreach Fibre Modem plus PN router, and now I just have the PN hub as it has the fibre modem built in. So maybe it was the BT modem at fault.

Done ribs so many times, both bike and skiing. Most of them probably bruised but hurt like hell for month or so each time.

Two maybe broken. One hitting the deck skiing at stupid speed down a steep run into compression and that took months. Another landing hard on a big root on the bike, huge imprint on chest and could feel something moved when I poked it, likewise several months to not notice the pain when sleeping.

I only ever went to hospital on first one I did and they just said like above, nothing they can do (and that was a US hospital too, so you’d think they’d be interested in cashing in on treatment. Though they did still charge me just for walking in the place).

Gave up with it years ago as it struggled to work and caused other issues on the PC. Uninstalled and I just copy the FIT file off the Garmin via USB, then upload.

Or sometimes sync to Garmin Connect on phone but more Garmin quality software means I have to power cycle the device to get Bluetooth to connect (I don’t leave BT on for battery life reasons).

On rare occasions needing to do firmware update, there’s Garmin Web Updater. Another reason I don’t like Express is it used to try to update firmware without asking and Garmin firmware is often buggy so I wait for the reviews before updating if at all.

Yeah, mine has an allen key hole. Make sure you push the key right in as it’s soft plastic and could round off easy.

I pop the thing off to clean it, partly to wipe crud that may get inside and not sure about submerging that part in water to clean, though probably okay. I do have to remember to put it back the right way round though each time, else I learn the mistake when putting it on the bike.

Only their gloves split quicker

Couple of weeks on mine from new and they split!

Crotch rip on the shorts is another common one.

They used to be good stuff and last for ages but haven’t been happy with more recent stuff.

In some cases UK shops don’t stock or supply individual parts like some of the EU retailers do. Okay groupsets are fine, but a lot of SRAM components for example, to repair bits are unavailable in UK for the consumer and have to go through an LBS to repair or try to convince them to sell the actual part. Main use I’ve had for EU bike retailers is to buy those (genuine) parts I just can’t get easily in UK.

Do FREE materials even incur import tax?

Import to UK, maybe. They would be treated like gifts I would think. Gifts still attract duty (though can have a higher allowance before due, but it has to be for personal use for that).

The recipient hasn’t paid for them but there’s a value and depends on the value and duty rate for the item. Then VAT is chargeable on shipping and fees even if not the item itself.

Duty itself is largely about competition and leveling the playing field. If an item is produced in the same country the duty on an import may be high else it could undercut the local price. If it’s not made local, the duty may be low.

Chinese sellers you say? Maybe a fire extinguisher in the other pocket also 🔥😄

Out of interest, I’ve got a powerbank that has a heat mode built in. I don’t trust it though, plus it’s draining the battery and I need it for charging 😁

The part has just been delivered and I’ve not been asked to pay anything further; seems like I’ve got away with one!

From distant past experience when I used to import stuff often from outside EU, Parcelforce I was in the clear if they haven’t demanded I pay on receipt, but almost always they charged me if it was due, and the handling fee was twice that of Royal Mail.

Royal Mail was a lottery depending what gets selected for charges, but most stuff avoided it.

All the other main couriers either charged up front or sent me a bill later and I’d always get charged. Some also made their own judgement on value rather than what was declared.

Unless I really needed insurance of a courier I tried to get the sender to use something that would arrive via Royal Mail (eg in US, USPS usually okay, but avoid any option for express or expedited delivery as that came via ParcelForce once in UK).

What’s the wheel size? A 30T on a 29 can be similar to a 32T on a 27.5 and 34T on 26.

I run 34 on my 26 and 32 on my 27.5.

If 30T on 27.5 it may be a bit limiting, but depends on you and your riding. If you head for Surrey Hills and do fair bit of climbing you may appreciate it.

Also tyre size may have an impact on gearing. Big fat tyres may increase the effective wheel size. Though more contact area so potentially more draggy, but then again more grippy on the technical stuff. More so tubeless and low pressure.

Garmin uses a barometer and needs calibration to be accurate and even then it can vary during a ride (I leave home above sea level and often return 100ft or so below).

GPS altitude alone is very poor.

Corrected data via Strava or Garmin Connect works on topographical elevation data but this is an average within square areas and on a mountain bike in particular there may be much variation within that square.

None of it is perfect. Key thing for me is consistency. Though it’s mostly just a curiosity.

Most of Woking should take their planning officers to court and/or the council exec for the monstrosities they’re building in the town and some of the frankly corrupt* stuff that’s been going on with some planning decisions. But most of Woking are Tory voting sheep.

* – seemingly, just my opinion of course.

I was losing pressure over time in my combi system and suggestion was pressure relief valve. Realised it was doing it when boiler hits max temp and cuts out, then there’s water dripping out. I turned down the central heating water temp on the boiler and problem solved.

Used to turn it up thinking I get warmer house but doesn’t work like that. It’s just based on the temperature of the return water pipe I believe on my boiler (as that’s where the sensor is). With thermostat in the house set the same as normal and boiler temp lower (more around what the manual recommends) it comes on more often but for shorter periods while heating to thermostat temp and temp is still maintained right and I don’t lose pressure. Also might be why the temp sensor kept failing. So far it’s working fine.

@wwpaddler
Except that Britain was the leading campaigner for the abolition of the tampon tax within the EU.

While at the same time Tories voted against scrapping the tax in 2015.

Something this numpty who voted against it seems to have forgotten.

I'm delighted after years of fighting for it we have axed the hated #TamponTax https://t.co/nBFnjlNn4s

— Steve Baker MP (@SteveBakerHW) January 1, 2021

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tampon-tax-here-are-mps-who-voted-against-amendment-scrap-it-a6711606.html

It was reasonable. Just the soap opera bits were unnecessary especially the lengthy Yaz clearly has a crush on the Doctor (while not showing any interest, just continuing to look grumpy).

Cut out the fluff and could have been more fun at 60 or 45 mins. But still, Jack and gold Daleks were good, and a hint of Torchwood S5 or a special.

Children Of Earth was one of the greatest pieces of UK SF ever

Torchwood suddenly became great, when Chibnall was no longer involved. Funny that.

Was just checking if there is any impact on postage from some EU bike shops, looking at Bike Discount and I can’t find UK in list of countries at all.

@gravesendgrunt

@tjmoore I think you may have answered a question I had not posed.A few years back I climbed out of the Northern Monkey trail (Jelleys Hollow)to see a load of filmy type vehicles there .

Yeah, they had filming trucks and they’d put down some surface stuff to drive things on. Then sprayed loads of fake snow but I missed that bit. Think I was elsewhere for couple of weeks. They’d cleared up by the time I went back.

Being Surrey based, as many of the above, there’s loads of stuff around Surrey/Hampshire areas with all the woodlands, commons and MOD lands.

Just a few I remember / know-of in places I ride…

Borne Woods – Gladiator, Robin Hood, Transformers something-or-other and loads of others. Busy filming spot.

Minley – Various things including the Pokemon film at the bridge.

Deepcut/Frith – a couple of Netflix things, Cursed and The Witcher. Kingsman was filming at the church in Deepcut too.

Hawley – Jurassic World 2, Avengers – Age of Ultron (also at Borne Wood)

Hankley – Bond stuff like Skyfall, and many others

Long Valley – Die Another Day

Caesars Camp – Doctor Who back in the 70s!

Surrey Hills – Beuaty and the Beast @ Jelly’s Hollow in Winterfold, The Mummy (Tom Cruise one) around Winterfold. Jurrassic World 3 recently in Winterfold. A few things in Redlands (Thor? amongst others).

Chobham/Longcross – Longcross is a studio so plenty of things, but on edge of Chobham Common they did have the Millennium Falcon tucked away. Also long ago, Superman II had stuff shot on Chobham Common!

Swinley – Hairy Potter of course.

More here

They were there twice with various green screens. Harry’s original house was around the corner in Martins Heron also and they’ve done stuff at Virginia Water.

Then there’s non-riding places. Guildford Cathedral – The Omen (and found out recently a posh stately home near me was used in it too).

Dunsfold has had a number of things. Bond – Casino Royale, and of course is Top Gear test track.

Shere – The Holiday & Professor Branestawm are ones I particularly know of, but been bucket loads more.

The app is non-binding. There’s no identifying information, unless you agree to send information which I think it may ask once it says to isolate. i.e. it would then link up with Track & Trace.

And yes, it could be through your walls from neighbours. I turn Bluetooth off at home and I’m glad of that because my neighbour did test positive with symptoms.

I’ve also got the Zoe app and through that I’ve had a test for research purposes, though it came back as “no idea”, as test failed. Had another research test via letter from King’s College / Ipsos Mori, and that said I’m negative. On one day at least.

Still on an antique (25years maybe) combi, non-condensing. It’s incredibly simple, does the job and low maintenance. From what I’ve heard from friends/family with condensing, they seem to have more issues and are costly to fix, or replace them after 10 years (though that may be the boiler/service industry pushing them into it).

Purely anecdotal and me being sceptical 😄

However, at this stage, is it worth looking at non gas alternatives? Given I think it’s not long now, if not already started, when new houses are not going to have gas supplies.

Been looking briefly at stuff like heat pumps and not convinced they’ll give enough heat (and is there really enough heat you can draw from the air or ground during a British winter?). It sounds like going back to the horrors of night store.

I could never get used to a phone that won’t fit in my pocket. I don’t carry a handbag as a guy (not that guys can’t have handbags if they want of course) and I’m not carrying a phone in my hands in the open.

Riding bike, yeah I know shouldn’t keep phone in pocket anyway, but I’m getting so minimal on some rides now I have no where else to put it, and I still prefer to risk the pocket for the convenience of whipping out the phone to check a route or take a photo. Depending on the ride type. If I’m going to do anything gnar (not that I’m ever “gnar”) then yeah, I’ll find somewhere else to stick it. Uplift, it may even have to stay in the car as I’m probably not carrying a backpack.

Anyway, this is my biggest problem looking for a new phone. They’re all stupid size. Why did we change from phones getting ever smaller, to wanting a massive tablet type thing as a phone?

Of course another solution is the smart watch you can pair with the phone. Can’t be doing with that as I’m finally glad I no longer need to wear a watch so not going to start wearing one again.

Manual (in true confusing fashion, covers multiple models) – https://www.servicearchive.sram.com/sites/default/files/techdocs/95.4218.001.100_rev_f_user_manual_reverb_eeu.pdf

Loads of other manuals inc service for various models – https://www.servicearchive.sram.com/service/rockshox/50

What type of Reverb remote is it?

Does it have the push button type remote, or more of a shifter type lever (new “1x” lever)?

Push button remote

1x lever

If push button, is it mounted over or under the bar? RockShox intend they go over but almost everyone puts them under to avoid snapping them when flipping the bike over and under the bar they are bit easier to push with thumb in my opinion. Though under bar has to be opposite side lever to where it goes over (RH lever goes under on left for example).

Also with the push button, how is it attached to the bars? Its own clamp, clamped to brake direct if a SRAM brake, MMX or some other attachment to brake or gear shifter?

Though however it’s clamped, have you got it attached correctly? It shouldn’t move on the bar when you push it.

The push button remotes tend to be a bit squishy and not much travel in the button. Although this depends how well bled it is. Does the seat go up and down quick/easy, or is it slow? Try adjusting the speed adjuster on the remote. Otherwise it might need bleeding if the seat is not quick or difficult to drop/raise.

If the 1x style lever, don’t know as haven’t got one, but I’m under the impression they’re easier to use.

Interesting thread. I love chili and paprika. I don’t have anything serious, though thinking about it I do sneeze with paprika. Noticed it especially when cooking chorizo and European chorizo tends to have paprika.

Now I’m also wondering about stuffy blocked nose I get a lot at night and wonder about dishes I have in the evening, often with chili. I tend to stick the stuff in most dishes to give them a kick.

Probably nothing though. Anyway, I’m more convinced the stuffy nose is alcohol related.