Back to the OPs question, I notice that one guy is usually the first to post on most threads, regardless of subject (you know who you are). Must be a likely candidate for Mastermind if ever there was one!

Screwfix trade bare plaster emulsion works well and no need to thin! NEVER use PVA!

Running (road, x-country and fell) was the greatest thing ever in my life. If my arthritic knees miraculously got better I’d give away all my bikes tomorrow. For me, cycling doesn’t even come close!

Thanks to all those who recommended FIP.

Once upon a time many commercial jet aeroplanes had four engines, then the bean counters realised that two big engines were more economical.

Have any of you noticed that in the latest version of Planet Earth the big cats go home hungry, and have any of you wondered why?

Sorry, OP, but I’m with the seller on this one and I’m surprised she even took the time to reply.

I don’t like driving anymore, especially at night.

Absolutely, Rusty!

When I was in my teens I was car crazy and, as a poor council house kid, all I could afford were rust-riddled bangers that I maintained myself using parts from the local scrapyard. Now, I could afford to buy ANY car I desire, yet choose to drive a Fiesta and hate driving on congested roads, hate the many confusing road signs in and around towns and cities, hate the constant worry of speeding through a camera. Yep, I’m definitely post-middle age!

All my life it seems I’ve been either too young or too old for whatever I contemplated doing next!

Gloves? Are you worried about your nail varnish? 😀

Do people actually have houses that tidy?

Sorry, Wilburt, but that room is cluttered in my minimalist world!

None, and I drink very little when cycling, while my mates get through two bottles. Pee normal colour as well – should I be worried, doc? BTW, I rarely perspire either!

60″ here and all I see is the big picture, but I just put a 32″ HD TV in the bedroom and was watching a movie on it last night and I was conscious that I could see the TV itself as well as the picture. Go back to the 90s and a 32″ TV would have been huge!

His Live Aid performance eclipsed every other act on the day – I transferred my old VHS tape of it to DVD and still occasionally watch it.

No problem, done it lots of times. Just make sure your PayPal payment isn’t what used to be called ‘gift’ and make sure you describe the item fully when you make payment. You then have 100% protection.

I’m pleased that someone else takes radiators off to paint behind! I thought I was OCD – and I can’t stand any sign of paint on the brackets either! I know I should get out more.

Sorry to hear about your problems, OP, but don’t pay out another penny here. You are only throwing good money after bad!

Meltham still do NHS if you don’t mind some 12 year dentist old straight out of dental school!

For private try Upper Denby, purpose built surgery and easy out of town parking.

Thanks, crashtestmonkey, you are absolutely correct, as I’ve tried it out with the bike on the work stand. However, I would hate to think of the consequences if, after a long and tiring ride, I inadvertently selected the 32t with the chainset still on the 50t

I’d lay a fiver on the shortcage working just fine with a 32.

Coz i seen it on youtubr

Thanks, but everything I’ve read online on this suggests that it’s a risky approach.

From my experience you would be better off opting for an immediate extraction, which you will require in a very short time anyway despite your root canal treatment! Sorry, but that was what happened to me!

Long screws!

The knitting industry was once my day job! If you want a heavyweight, 100% wool pullover it’s going to cost you serious money, whether hand knitted or machine knitted. You get what you pay for, be it pullovers, bikes or whatever. Sorry!

Thanks, Leonard, for your songs and all the pleasure they gave me, RIP.

This time of year I wouldn’t bother. I had an underground nest at the back of the garden all summer. I just ignored it and there is no activity now. In my experience wasp don’t return to the same nest and that active nest that’s the size of a small football now will be empty and the size of golfball in no time.

Rake out as much of the old mortar as you are able. Give the joints a good soaking with diluted PVA and make sure you force the mortar well into the joint as you repoint, and it should be OK for a few more years.

My only advice is that you buy a package which includes two batteries. Nothing worse than to be almost finishing a job when the battery runs out!

No CH yet, but we put the winter quilt on the bed this weekend.

To be fair, it is 6 years old dude.

Fair comment, thanks.

I have a 6 year old Toshiba i5 laptop which won’t have anything to do with Win 10. I started with the upgrade from Win 7, which was OK until I tried to restart it. I fitted a brand new SSD and performed an absolutely clean install. Again, everything was brilliant until I restarted it then all the problems began again. Checking online brought up the news that Toshiba don’t support old models like mine with Win 10 compatible driver updates, where I suspect the problem lies. Reverting to Win 7 now! Note to self: Never, ever buy another Toshiba product.

Slightly off topic, but I bought my last year’s home insurance from Kwikfit, via Top Cashback. My only reason for choosing them (no bike insurance, BTW!) was that the £30 cashback made it the cheapest quote, by far. Fast forward to now – 11 months later – and still no cashback. Each company blame the other and I’m pretty well screwed! Beware cashback deals!

Great thread, OP. I’m glad it all worked out well.

iPlayer, thanks but, I don’t have that! Just an ordinary TV.

What channel is this on please? My red button doesn’t seem to be working tonight!

A great place to visit if, like me, you have read all Le Carre’s and Deighton’s Cold War espionage books. I loved it. You must go up the old East German TV tower – the view are amazing.

I had an Ultegra 12-30t with short cage mech and it worked perfectly. I switched to an XT 11-32t cassette and, while it worked sort of OK on the bike stand, I wouldn’t have trusted it out on the road, so went for the medium cage mech and again it works perfectly.

Question: would I get away with an11-34t cassette with the Ultegra medium cage, as I live in hilly West Yorkshire and have serious knee problems. (Sorry, not trying to hijack your post, OP!)

Tumble drying is the best way to prematurely age any article of clothing.

My neighbours at the last house were loosely involved in the music/festival industry and used to keep their Glastonbury, Leeds etc, access all areas and shit stickers on their SUVs all year. They had so many it was a miracle they could actually see out of the windscreen! Like we should all be impressed!

The difference between SD and HD is like night and day

Absolutely, if you can’t tell the difference then something isn’t right!

both my hardtail frames where £40 or possibly £35.. i cant quite remember! both with metal flake powder too.

Bloody hell, that is cheap! Triple S did my Genesis Fortitude frame and forks for about £90, they did a good job, though.