Any question answered...

I've got a 105 5800 groupset and I'm looking for a replacement chainset (mine is 175mm and I'm vertically challenged). What budget options do I have?

Planet-X (spit) have Rival cranksets with bottom brackets for sale at £55 a pop. Can't remember which lengths, but they definitely have 165mm. I was tempted to get some at that price, but @Cycliste says I'm not allowed to buy her any more 165mm cranks.

Do you not lubricate stainless spokes in brass nipples?

Sorry, no idea. I wanted specific hubs so I built mine. 20 1 1/8 is the bmx racing size and wheelsets come up on eBay but not necessarily cheap.

Anyone know how to disconnect a shower cord from bath tap? Doesn't seem to have a thread, and can't take a wrench anywhere.

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The choice is yours.

Don't know about the copper bit on top, but the hose itself is just screwed on, usually by hand.

Do you not lubricate stainless spokes in brass nipples?

Brass nipples are usually either nickel plated or have some form of chemical conversion process to make them black. That changes both the electrochemistry and tribology questions.

Can anyone recommend some roof bars and a bike carrier? Trying to get everything Thule is working out very expensive. My car has roof rails and after a quick bit of searching this combination looks like it might be good...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/201560835124

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/181473804473

That combo looks fine but if you want Thule; the way I did it was as follows. Go on the Halfords or Thule website and find out the relevant part numbers you need and then either search for them individually on ebay and/or find other cars that take the (same feet or) bars that you need. Then instead of searching Volvo V50 roofbars you might search Vauxhall Zafira (an example out of thin air) and find someone selling used what you need but described under a vehicle you haven't got. I'm not sure that makes as much sense on the screen as in my head but there you go.
I had a set of bars just like your example and it was like a full-on Hammond Organ at 45mph as the wind whistled over the holes. judicious use of masking tape cured that.

If you have a two-hook mount I'd use that, I have both a roof mounted and a two-hook mounted bike rack(s) and tow-hook is way easier.

Any tips of removing bike grease/oil spots from my carpet?

What's the #TesterApproved flamethrower?

Are both of these holes for different mudguard types?

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I suspect the one on the seat post is for a front derailleur pulley. If the frame has braze-ons for a front derailleur cable long the top tube rather than under the down tube then that'll be what it's for. Not really relevant when you're running 1x, and I can't see any reason why you couldn't use it for mounting a mudguard if you really wanted to.

You are correct. And I am stupid, I forgot I took the pulley out...thank you!

I'm trying to think where to go on holiday, any body got any good ideas for cycling?

Would love to attend a cycling event or something!

I've had decent results scrubbing with swarfega, then plenty of warm water with lots of detergent and a bit of white vinegar, then rinsing and blotting

Erm... what is a ribbed downtube?

This has saved me from domestic abuse a few times...

I suppose I could get a tow bar fitted and one of the Thule rear carriers. Is this on you 850R? - did that come with a tow bar or did you get one fitted/fit yourself?

In reality I'm only likely to use it a few times a year to drive to Hampshire or Devon. Having been a passenger with my bike on both the roof and a rear-mount, I was a lot less anxious with the latter.

Getting a full Thule roof set up is going to cost somewhere in the region of £250 (as per image). This Thule rear carrier is £150 + number plate + tow bar + installation, which might work out better value once psychological stress - or lack thereof - is factored in.

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It came with a removable tow-hook from the factory, the tow-hook itself plugs in when needed, lives on a shelf in the garage when not.

Why do ISBN 13s start with 978 (or 979)? How were these three numbers chosen?

It's the UCC (unique country code) for "Bookland".
The barcode on a book is a 13-digit EAN (European article number) which requires a country code. 978 was the UCC allocated to the International ISBN Agency so they could extend their 10 digit ISBN to 13 digits (therefore making the ISBN-13 and EAN identical) at the same time as extending the ISBN number space (by allowing the use of 979 and further UCCs).

Aha, thanks. That led me to this which makes it clear now https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GS1_country_codes