Any question answered...

I'm looking for shampoo, shower gel etc that just smells of wood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byg5nh-WJRQ

Why do lines of longitude converge but not lines of latitude?

They're different things aren't they. Lines of longitude always circle the entire globe and always pass through the poles. Lines of latitude are always parallel to each other and so never meet and change in size.

Here's one of the worst diagrams I've ever seen (note latitude lines never meet):

If you're asking why we define positions using one converging coordinate and one non-converging coordinate then it's more complicated but basically it's mathematically nice/convenient especially for calculating distances on the surface. It's effectively the spherical coordinate system. We could use Cartesian (x, y, z) coordinates but they're horrible for spheres (great on a flat plane though). We could use cylindrical coordinates (r, θ, z) and that would be okay but the z is less convenient than a latitude (great if you live on a disc - we use them for galactic coordinates).

One or the other must converge, because we're on a curved surface. As we are on a rotating body there is a good reason to align the symmetry of the body as it rotates to the symmetry of the coordinate system we use. This is why we choose the lines of longitude (the meridians) to converge and maintain (local) parallelism between lines of latitude.

If you really wanted, you could arbitrarily define an east and west poles, with converging lines of longitude. It would be a pain in the arse, but you could do it. However, the north and south poles would still be important because they arise from the symmetry.

If you want to talk more about the curved geometry then the maths thread is a better place I suspect.

A bike sizing question...

I have a bike that fits me that has a top tube of 545mm, a stack of a 556mm, a reach of 375mm and a head tube angle of 71.5

I'm wondering about buying a bike that I can't try for size but has a top tube of 561mm, a stack of a 585mm, a reach of 385mm and a head tube angle of 72

My gut suggested that it'll be a bit too big due to the top tube length but I don't really understand stack & reach so can anyone help?

There is a thread on stack and reach

My bluetooth headphones have a sound delay compared to the video on my phone's screen. I can set an audio offset on the video player but it's tough trying to do this with people talking or whatever on a normal video.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a video which is just a prompt on the screen and some noise tied in with it to make the offsetting a bit easier. Cheers

Maybe there’s better ones, but something like this?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=szoOsG9137U

I don't have a TV: can I get a Freeview box to work with my computer (Linux)?

Yeah, couldn't really fathom it out so asked in here hoping someone could do it for me...

Cheers, that's the kind of thing I want but I need a downloaded file so I can do the offset in Kodi. Time to look into downloading youtube videos.

You can get a variety of TV tuners which can work with your PC, Hauppauge are a big brand. I'm not sure which are Linux compatible but plenty will be as lots of PC use them for HTPC setups.

Or you can get a network tuner like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silicondust-HDHR5-2DT-HDHomeRun-CONNECT-Tuner/dp/B07BFNRGN9/ which anything on your network can access. This will work with Linux (I use it with Ubuntu and Kodi on mine).

Thanks, but it has to be a Freeview box: it's just one channel I want and apart from Freeview, it's only available on satellite.

Isn't Freeview just the name for the over the aerial digital tv. It doesn't matter whether it's a Freeview box or another digital tuner in a box or tv, the channels are the same. The Freeview specification is that it adds internet connectivity and IPTV, is it a digital channel rather than aerial?

But if you really need a Freeview box does your monitor not have a HDMI or DVI port to plug it into?

No idea, I'm completely clueless in this regard: I haven't had a TV since before digital.

The channel is Talking Pictures TV.

I've got DVI, not sure about HDMI.

So the tuner just plugs into the monitor, rather than the PC? Sounds more straightforward than I thought.

DVI will just carry the picture, HDMI will carry picture and sound. Most monitors have a HDMI on the back and some small speakers built in. I recently did similar, got a now tv hd smart box and just plugged it into the extra port.

I'm using this box, make sure to cancel the subscription it wants you into.

https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/now-tv-smart-freeview-box-3-month-entertainment-bundle-a39yj

If you use DVI you'll need a separate speaker/headphones, HDMI should be fine so long as your monitor has a speaker (otherwise you'll obviously need a separate one).

Or any of the USB sticks, the HDhomerun or whatever will get that channel as well but are a bit pricier and not quite as user-friendly as a freeview box. You may need an aerial upgrade if it's an old one

Thanks both!

Are there any Rapha men merino jersey models left with a relaxed fit?

The Manfriend had bought one he loved much, but it died after 12 years.

Do you mean the sportswool ones? Brevet and Classic are both club rather than pro fits, no? (I'm carrying excess winter weight at the moment and both are fine on me.)

Torm.cc?

@Scilly.Suffolk
I've got one of these you can have for the cost of the postage.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Peak-DVB-T-Channel-Scheduling-Recording/dp/B0018D8J60
You should be able to get it working in linux if you have 2.6.30 kernel.
https://www.linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/DVB-T_USB_Devices

I've never used it although it's opened.

Tx can try those. They all seem rather tight on the Rapha photos :)

Tx will have a look

Leaving present woes. Anyone know a physical shop in central London where you can buy DOP balsamic vinegar?