Any question answered...

@edscoble @mdcc_tester

They haven't been torqued.

The bottom bracket is tight in the shell. Bearings feel slightly gritty and some slight play on the drive side bearing.

If it feels as though the axle is wobbling, more so on the drive side. Which is the side with the slight bearing play. Both crank arms move together, side to side play.

Cranks are sram s300.

Sounds like a B screw issue. Check the distance between the top jockey wheel and the sprocket. There should be about 1 and a half links in the gap.

New bottom bracket time.

That's what I thought it might be, so I'd already checked that, but just had another go - didn't help. In fact, I find on modern Shimano rear mechs the B screw doesn't really do much at all. I remember the days when fiddling with the B screw actually did something... thanks though.

Cheers. Looks like my local Evans has one in stock.

Is there a lot of play in the jockey wheels?

So... rear wheel had a small knock and is now slightly out of true. Problem is the spokes are soldered and tied. How can I solve this? Can it just be trued like normal? Is there a way to remove all the tied? Or would it need to be rebuilt on new spokes

Can it just be trued like normal?

Yes.

Great news, cheers

My advice is to take it to a LBS and get them to change it.

This way they can inspect your bb and crankset properly and inform you if there's an issues.

My Serotta did this- the jockey wheels had frozen, the chain was running over them rather than around them

Frozen as in wouldn't turn at all or do you not mean literally frozen?

Mine seem to be turning fine but it's almost like the chain doesn't fit onto them properly, or at least onto the top one. But they used to be fine and KMC chains are meant to be smooth!

I am looking into going to Tuscany region late summer. Debating whether I should bring bikes or rent bikes.
Anybody have any recommendations for rental companies around Lucca? Road bikes or cx bikes preferred.

Service the jockey wheels, it's a 15 minute job on a bad day.

I should definitely do that anyway, but had a feeling something wasn't right and a quick trip to the LBS confirmed rear mech hanger was slightly bent. Now all sorted, gears reindexed and running smoothly.

In a way kind of relieved that my gear adjusting skills weren't the problem as I was starting to wonder...

Should've thought of that, I had the same issue once and it was a tough one to diagnose. Glad you got it sorted.

In a way kind of relieved that my gear adjusting skills weren't the problem as I was starting to wonder...

We've all been there.

Where can I buy NSK R8D (or equivilant R8-2RS) bearings in the UK online? I am only getting US websites when googling.

They are for a phil wood front track hub. Bricklane bikes sell the phil wood 'branded' bearings (PWXR8) for £9.90 each.

EDIT - found these. Are ENDURO a recommended brand? (I know nothing about bearings)

equivilant R8-2RS

Simply Bearings have Enduro:
http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p20000273/ENDURO-R82RS-Rubber-Sealed-Deep-Groove-Ball-Bearing-1/2x1-1/8x5/16-inch/product_info.html

Are ENDURO a recommended brand?

They're fine. They specialise in helping people like you who have bought bike products with weird sized bearings :)

My main kitchen light fitting uses bulbs with the Small Edison Screw. I'm fed up of crap low energy bulbs and 'traditional' bulbs pop after a few weeks or months for some reason in this light (I think its condensation from cooking).

I'm trying to a bright bulb to go in, on paper this is the best I've found:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Small-Edison-Dimmable-Mini-Globe/dp/B01KHIM7E6/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1488549317&sr=1-7&keywords=mini+edison+philips

Its 8 W (60 W equivalent) and Energy Class A+.

Does anyone know anything better and brighter?

LED bulbs use very little energy and go very bright.

Thread ends.

Thanks for the tech update!

I tired some LED bulbs but when there are 4 in a strip light the fact that cycle at a specific Hz becomes very obvious and you can see trails off anything that moves, it made us instantaneously nauseous.

That one you posted is an LED bulb... The Philips warm glow ones are very nice though - I have a candle-y one in a desk lamp.

Also are you using a dimmer? LED shouldn't cycle otherwise...