Any question answered...

I don't have them but these Edifier ones are very popular and should outperform a portable Bluetooth speaker
https://amzn.eu/d/e2gAaKL

It's the end of October, so why is my car covered in pollen?

The trees are feeling frisky.

Well I wish they'd keep it to themselves.

JTek

I just found this guy in a box of camera and garmin parts where it's been sitting for about 4 years

anyhow the JTek website says: "For matching Campagnolo 11s Ergo Shifters with wide Shimano 11s cassettes using the 10s Shimano mech which was originally designed for max 36t. In practice with some adjustment of the ‘B’ stop screw 40 and probably 42 are achievable." "This solution WILL NOT WORK with any Shimano 11 speed mech."

I'm assuming this means it can be used with a Shimano 10 speed (which I thought were compatible with 11 speed?) MTB rear derailleur?

It doesn't say anything about this in the printed directions which I says that it's for front derailleurs.http://www.jtekengineering.com/shiftmate/shiftmate-7/

Are tyres classed as ‘winter’ with metal studs of any use on frosty/icy tarmac roads or intended more for packed snow/ice?

Considered putting them on my old mtb for the early morning commutes when the road sparkles but suspect they’re something of a gimmick?

I bought some years ago but only rode them once. They are for hard packed ice/snow, you will probably end up losing most of the spikes if just riding on lightly frosted tarmac.

For unpacked snow big knobblies are better.

But I used Schwalbe Marathon Winter spiked tyres for commuting in Winter when there was ice about.

The first km of my commute (from home) was generally on ungritted roads, and so there could be big swathes of ice. The Marathon Winters had spikes either side of the main ridge, so they didn't contact the ground in normal riding (with enough pressure in the tyres) but as soon as the wheel started to slip, or you were cornering, they'd dig in and stop any slipping.

Once I was onto main roads that had been gritted/cleared the studs gave a bit of whirr and were harder work than normal tyres, but I was happy to put up with that.

But the studded tyres gave a huge amount of confidence in snow/ice conditions. I remember cycling one-handed up a hill past a Police car that was just wheel spinning at every attempt to move forward. They wondered how the hell I was keeping upright.

I probably only used them about 5 days a year but they made the difference between being able to get in to work by bike or being forced onto rammed/damp/cold public transport with everyone else. I had them on a spare set of wheels so it was easy to change in the morning if I decided I needed them.

There are others (Nokian?) that have a line of spikes down the middle. They'd be really tricky to ride on tarmac, but the Marathon Winters were good as long as you had enough pressure in them.

@eskay
@Greenbank

Thanks both for your replies. I ride Marathon Supremes on my commuter and would be looking at their studded tyre in the first instance anyway.

Not having studs on the main tread but on the shoulders certainly makes sense, doubly so given what you’ve both said.

Cheers.

Ah, one extra detail: I did 1km on snow/ice/etc and then 10km on wet tarmac, never lost a stud, but the tyres were pumped up quite hard.

They most definitely work on tarmac when conditions call for them, I mostly rode them in Sweden though. You'll need to bed the spikes properly first to avoid losing them.

Ah ok, any stud bedding tips for a stud riding novice?

I was pretty drunk last time I bedded a stud, so can't be 100% sure on the method.

The internet suggests riding gently for 25miles? 2.5minutes is a task for me these days.

2.5minutes is a task for me these days.

That's pretty normal mate

Code used - thanks!

Thank you for the credit! Hope it works, although not too well as Barbados is fantastic.

Topical memes.

2 Attachments

It certainly did but I have no idea which tree is ejaculating all over my car at this time of year. Unless the warm spell is confusing them.

I need to work remotely from Brighton for 4-hrs this week.

I think I'm staying near the pier, but could travel within reason. However would like easy access to the station.

Does anyone have any handy locations?

@Retro_Bastard ?

My mum bought a heated electric throw last winter from Lakeland and it died within 12 months. She’s just come back from returning it where she was told they don’t make that model anymore and the new version costs £45 more.
What are her consumer rights here? Is she not able to demand a replacement without having to stump up the extra cash?

Hotel du vin do. Might be more than what you need but it's nice in there 5 mins walk from the pier and 10 minutes from the station. Otherwise most of the large coffee shops in the north laine are full of people working remotely if you don't need privacy. Everywhere I checked out locally seems to be cold working spaces with membership.
https://www.hotelduvin.com/locations/brighton/meetings/packages/

Did Lakeland admit it was faulty?

Yes, there’s no disputing it’s broken