Any question answered...

I'm pretty sure the ratios are 4:3, 1:1, 3:4 giving uneven steps between gears (epicyclic gear box).
It might be worth checking the maths - 46/19 should give 87 65 and 49GI which could be quite usable, depending on the full implications of "a girl who isn't a very good cyclist".
I'm finding 91 69 and 51GI about right (55 yr old / 85 kg male on the Clee Hills) but given how cheap and easy it is to change the sprocket (search YouTube, disconnect cable, remove wheel, remove spring clip, take old sprocket off, place new sprocket on, replace spring clip, replace wheel, reconnect cable, adjust cable) I'd be tempted to leave the front end and tinker with sprocket sizes until your girl is comfortable and approves - there's little point in gearing you think is correct if it doesn't get used (voice of experience - Mrs. E and myself disagree significantly over ratios and correct use of gears)

My TV is behaving oddly and will only pick up 9 channels - Film 4 HD, BBC 1 & 2 HD and a couple of other HD ones.

It's a Samsung smart TV with built in freeview and it has previously worked fine with the same aerial and found all channels. All that is different is that we've had the aerial which did come straight through the wall put into a plate on the wall, and then replaced the cable with a new one which runs from the socket on the plate to the TV.

I can't see how any of those problems would let me find some channels but not others.

Has anyone experienced anything similar or got any suggestions? Googling has drawn a blank.

Check your connections sounds like there is a break somewhere, do a continuity test if you can . A £10 multimeter will do.

Can anyone recommend some cycling water bottles / bidons?

Cages are those ugly but good Elite ones, if that matters.

Currently using a mix of free and cheap ones. I don't want to spend a fortune, but it would be nice to have a matching pair that don't leak out of the top when shaken and have valves that don't retract when they feel like it.

Thanks.

Camelbak Podium

Crank bolt question (this is my first time building with Campag so I'm fairly green here).

Some old Campagnolo cranks, which came with actual bolts for the cranks (so need a socket to attach them), is it possible to swap them for some modern crank bolts which have allen key heads?

Cheers.

Agree with the Camelbak Podium. Easily the best I've used.

Tacx Shiva. Podium valve craps out after a while.

They all go crappy after a while. SIS or High5 and bin after 9 months

^Yeah, I regularly get £3.50 High5 packfrom Ribble, which also comes with some gels, carb drink and electrolyte stuff, to take my orders over the free delivery threshold. Bin them when they get a bit stinky.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/high-5-high-5-energy-foods-high-5-trial-pack-inc-750ml-bottle/highefoo111000000000

yes you can. thread is the same.
only thing exotic bout them original campag crank bolts is that they used a 15mm socket instead of the standard 14mm.
original bolts do looks betterer though

I'm sure a friend did something like this via Groupon - may be worth checking for a deal.

It's been a long day.
130 mm rear, fixed, hubs.
Surly?
Anyone else?
Is there a system ex or something?

5mm spacers on a Novatec?

Would there be any problems in spacing out an existing wheelset or is that just daft?

only thing exotic bout them original campag crank bolts is that they used a 15mm socket instead of the standard 14mm

15mm is standard, it's everybody else who is odd. Look at your peanut butter wrench if you don't believe me :-)

Would there be any problems in spacing out an existing wheelset or is that just daft?

As long as the axle is long enough to fully engage the track nuts, there's nothing wrong with adding a 5mm spacer each side.

Ha, the High5 is the free one and the worst offender!

I'm not expecting a Bottle for Life™ just a pair that matches and spends less than 75% of its time mugging me off.

Camelbak it is.

i reckon getting a peanutbutter wrench around a crank bolt in a crank arm is quite the challenge..

but really, when you buy a bog standard crank puller these days you get it standard with a 14mm socket innit? well thats my experience after the third cheapo one from my local market stall..

getting a peanutbutter wrench around a crank bolt in a crank arm is quite the challenge

Peanut butter wrench works fine, but common 15mm sockets often don't fit, you need a thin walled one. The Campag crank extractor has 15mm hex drive to be used with the said wrench.

Re bottles.

I agree you can buy nice camelbak or purist or adidas bottles but they're all semi-disposable so the best ones are free ones. The problem with High5 is you then might be tempted to put those products in yourself >>>>>

I've been storing bottles lids-off for a while now and this seems to keep them fresher. #protip

I keep the same bottles until I am shamed in to buying some new ones because my mother is disgusted by the sight of them. Sometimes she breaks first, which is how I have acquired my incredibly ugly pale blue Sky branded bottle.

Whats wrong with High5?

Yep always tops off.

Personally I'm not a fan of the taste (of the carb powder or gels). It tastes of chemicals! And most of their stuff has either artificial preservatives or sucralose.

I like Torq.