Any question answered...

Why isn't there an engineering thread?

Everybody is just DM'ing @mdcc_tester

Nope, don’t DM @mdcc_tester - I got a very direct answer many years ago when I tried that over a hub. If you have a question, ask publicly.

@dr_frankenbike maybe check for an access/evening course locally? Maybe find a local college tutor who would happily give you a list as long as your arm for books to read?

I was fucking joking

Woahhhhh....

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It's to read on the train so courses are no good!

Today this little fella stopped returning to its position when I shift up on front derailleur. I can't shit down without pushing it back down with my thumb. Not sure what to call it to be able to Google fixes. Any ideas on the name / how to fix it?

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can't shit down without pushing it back down with my thumb

maybe try some laxatives?

So you're saying I should lubricate my system?

can anyone recommend a small multitool that does not have a blade?

Yes. And if this doesn't work lubricate the thumb.

The Leatherman Style maybe. Depends what you want on it? Is it for flying with or just something that's less potential hassle to carry?

Also be aware that some multi-tools that advertise as no-blade still have a saw on them which strikes me as a bit weird.

Is there any fabric or similar that allows air through but blocks light? Would like something to cover my open window so the sun isn't coming in at 5 in the morning but I can still get a breeze.

What should it have?

Black hole mesh?

Screwdrivers, bottle opener, hex keys if possible. It's for my daughter, who will be 9. It can have a blade but I'm seeing what options without there are.

Is there such a thing as a small speaker with a screen for choosing tracks that plays from an SD / micro SD card?

Any recommendations for a trustworthy person for an opinion on carbon damage? Bike fork on car rack rubbing against another QR lever for 4 hours of highland driving, on the fork just above the axle. Am kicking myself, serves me right for tightening straps and not re-checking. Not much use dwelling on it, but would like to figure out if the damage is structural or not...

Maybe search under carry on TSA compliant tools?
Like this https://www.leatherman.com/tsa

I’ve got some old mechanics and structures textbooks I can pass on, not sure if I’d recommend them though - I mostly used them as reference rather than for learning.

There’s a fair amount of online video lectures that could work for the train, most of the big universities have started producing them - MIT have a searchable database of courses, like this intro to mechanics: https://www.edx.org/course/engineering-mechanics

Ah brilliant, that'll work a lot better as I won't have to lug books around with me either. Thanks!

That sounds more like a bike multi tool or something

If you're interested in the steam system side of things at all, this is a good place to start https://www.tlv.com/global/UK/steam-theory/

Mainly bikes as a system I'm curious about - bearings, tubes, materials, the properties of frames and wheels and so on. And anything that would be applicable in a DIY project or whatever. Steam is cool though, but no prospect of it ever really being useful in my life!

Haha fair enough, although I would have said the same until my current job!
I would have thought most of that stuff is fairly universal until you get down to bike specific parts (weird tube shapes etc) - searching 'mechanical engineering bearings' for example brings up some interesting stuff at a range of depths.

Yes, I need some of the general principles of engineering and don't think I need to go far beyond first year undergraduate or into any niche bike stuff. Just want to learn how to calculate the strength of tubes and having an understanding of the load on it and things like that. But I don't even know what I don't know, so I prefer to start from the basics with a well rounded course or textbook. Think those MIT lectures are my best bet