Does anyone know how robust the Microshift Advent X jockey wheels are? I can’t find spares online and because the likes of Uber and Superstar aren’t making patterns yet, I’d imagine these could be an achilles heel of the system.

initially it felt like it’d not had them that long and wore through quickly, but I guess they’re at least 3 years

Good luck getting three years out of Fox but it depends on the material. A lot of trendy lifestyle brands like Fox, TLD, Royal favour the thinner materials. Perhaps they look better and people end up having to buy them more frequently, but Endura Singletracks for me are much longer lasting because they’re made out of tougher cordura type material.

I’m still running a Huck Norris. Has never failed to stop pinch flats and always has dozens of nicks when I replace it each year. Old school design in comparison to the solid profile ones of late, so everyone probably thinks they’re rubbish but they seem to work for me.

Is Scalextric ever good? I’m always tempted by it but I remember how temperamental it was

I always thought it would be loads better if the cars went a bit slower and/or the controls were modulated a bit better. I only remember the cars flying off at each corner. Nice HMHB ref earlier too 👏

Your case reads subjectively so it’s hard to give advice without fully understanding the situation and both sides of it. That said, being open and honest about your feelings with your boss (and being honest with yourself) would be a good foundation to work from.

If you have quality ceramic or stainless bearings and know how to repack them correctly, you shouldn’t have to replace for years. Started doing this with quality grease and have been very pleased with the results so far.

There is nothing I despise more than being forced to do social activities with work people.

Exactly. Give me anything unconditional and I’m up for it, but the huge catch in trying to build team morale at work is… the number 1 motivation is to pick up a pay check. My previous boss used to throw money at this sort of thing and then kick off with everyone because he was a moody bugger, making the work environment a pretty miserable place to be. Glad to be working at a place now that expects me to do my job. After that, no other conditions.

Another Project Binky, another three months older…

So it’s been running for about ten years?

Been a fan of Retro Power since Gordon Murray project and hadn’t heard of Project Binky until today. Realised they’re only a mile from where I live too. Adds another subscription to growing YT list…

I tried to paste a pic of Reni but have lost the will. I’ll never suss images on this flipping forum

Sapim D-light spokes, 30mm wide XM481 on the front, 25mm wide EX471 on the back

@jonedwards do you use the DT Swiss nipples and washers that come with their rims on the Sapim spokes?

AZ first on Friday. Started to feel very tired and a bit cold-y Friday evening. Woke up Saturday with zero energy and feeling like I had a very heavy cold. Energy slowly returned Sunday, just about enough to mow the lawn. Slept like a log with some funky dreams. At work today but found it really hard to focus on all but the most tedious tasks. Only now starting to feel like I’m recovering. Fit and healthy 48 year old, two MTB rides a week, c. 70k metres vert ascent a year. Didnt expect to be hit quite so hard by it.

@z1ppy, re: the CSU, they said it would need a new one. It was out of warranty by a couple of months but they said they’d be hopeful Silverfish would honour it as it was in the first lockdown and I hadn’t been able to ride it a lot for a couple of months. Silverfish wouldn’t have it so I had to pay for a new one. JTech supplied and fitted it.

J-Tech have always been good.

I’ve been a customer of theirs for a few years and no complaints. If you think it’s expensive or you can do full servicing yourself, I don’t think the labour they charge is excessive and they will test much more rigorously. E.g. They noted my CSU was loose. I’d have never discovered that from just handling it myself.

I’ll happily take a brace to get the super low top tube.

No, I’m in the braces-are-for-supporting-weak-or-incorrect-things camp.

There’s no need for them to exist, given the available range in length of dropper posts.

Don’t normally read it tbh

^This, but thoroughly enjoyed the issue. It felt like a classic issue and had much more substance and variety than the usual travelogue articles. Great job guys, hoping for more eclectic range of articles in the future 👍

@johnx2, is the carbon frame stiff or does it have some give? Hard to quantify I know but it looks like a pretty stiff and strong frame.

I’m not quite sure I understand what most of the OP’s objection was.

They’re involved in food banks, helping the homeless, giving back to communities but my point is this is hypocracy when they’re only giving less than 10% of what they make through these very worthwhile activities. I haven’t got an issue with them making money but it’s hyprocracy when they’re keeping hold of the vast majority of it whilst peddling their holier than thou crap. Why can’t vicars fund their own pensions and they free up most of what they’re sitting on to charitable causes? To the vast majority of modern society, vicars don’t provide a worthwhile public service so why should they get a free pension? Or maybe they should declare themselves a profit making organisation that has a religious charitable arm. In any case, in my opinion, it just stinks to keep projecting a raison d’etre of being for the greater good.

They have running costs which they try and find via investments

Come on, have you seen how much the commissioners’ investments are raking in? Who sees the benefit of the majority of this? Only a fraction goes back into the church and through their “charity”.

Church Commissioners own Hyde Park Estate, not the park itself.

What are they not paying taxes on?

Given they’re a registered charity, I’d imagine they’re doing a good job of avoiding tax, in comparison with a commercial, for-profit asset manager. At least I hope the increasing focus on environment, social and governance investing regs will force them to invest more ethically. That size of portfolio has the potential to do some good in the world.

Not a student of history, then?

I can’t claim to be. I was referring to the recent returns on their investments.

WTB Raddler. Rolling efficiency with grippy side knobs.

Pick any two out of your three requirements and work back from there.

I’ve just checked. Total fees are 0.62%

I’ve just set up a couple of mixed funds through my current account provider. A “high street” bank but given my risk appetite is low to medium at its raciest, I’m not too fussed about performance over the long term. Anything is better than cash at the moment. Fees were 1% I think.

Bump-a-dee-bump…

Good old hire purchase eh?

Wow that is awesome, especially cockpit detail, chapeau.

No.

I’m building a 8′ x 10′ shed this w/e onto a timber framed QuickJack kit with 11mm OSB on 45mm x 95mm timbers. Not the cheapest option, but far less work and no base laying required and as long as the galv components stand up to it, a base you can take with you or transfer onto another shed.

I use my Inbred as a rigid XC / road / gravel SSer. With an old 60mm stem on it feels short compared to my modern hardtail, but nimble and comfy. It feels retro but I bought it from new only in 2014. Scary thing is, I remember getting the frame from On One for £125. Doubt you’d get much change out of 500 nowadays.

Hopefully it’ll be less than these prices on the online mega stores. There’s always NX AXS no doubt at some point in the future. 350ish would be a no brainer for me.

I have downsized to 18″ alloys

How did this work? Did you have to find non-Cupra wheels? Have you kept the originals or sold them on? Did you have to make any other changes (e.g. recalibrating speedo/trip)?

this could be a good hobby. Any other suggestions?

If you have a bit of space, plant a couple of Dabinett trees and make your own. It becomes a great hobby. Failing that, you can buy cider apples around September/October time. You just need a scratter, press and homebrew kit to get started.

Spokes and build quality make a big difference. Do you know if you’ve been running the wheels with butted or non-butted OP? Factory or hand builds?

Needle or pin to very gently pick the seals off, bath in degreaser, air dry, repack with high quality marine grease, refit the seals and good for another few months (if decent quality bearings).

I gave up trying to solve the STW image challenge years ago. It means I no longer post New Bike threads, but I’ve learned to live with that.

Now, should I make a framebuilder’s life a misery and ask him to split the difference between a 70.5 degree head angle and 71 degree HA. 70.75 degrees?

Ignore the usual pedants on here. Instead, ask your framebuilder for a proper head angle 😁

I’ll always strip a wheel before scrapping it so have brass nipples that have been used several times. Never had one fail

Another point in favour of brass. As long as the rims look good, I’m assuming it’s just spokes that you shouldn’t re-use in subsequent builds?