Any question answered...

@coventry_eagle and @rj thanks for the intel. You've helped me advise a mate overseas.

Long shot but does anyone have recommendations for good places to eat and drink in Hull? I've got to plan a stag do there, despite having never been. It'll be relatively tame, after nice pubs rather than lairy clubs and food for a variety of dietary requirements (vegan, veggie as well as meat eaters).

Not a proper answer - it's many years since I've been to Hull, but if you're caught short (or even if you're not) the Victoria Pier toilets are worth a visit!
I mean after drinking etc, not actually for a drink...

The Hull bike polo lot are all very nice, not really on here but you could probably brave Facebook and they'd give you some tips and they've got a nice bike shop if you want to reminisce about London a decade or so ago.

My TRP hylex lost it's piston so I need a new caliper, which seems impossible to find. Does anyone know if there's other calipers that match? The lever and hose is fine!

Tom at Polo is from Hull

Most TRP, tektro, promax, Clarks etc. pretty much anything mineral oil except magura seems to be licensed old Shimano designs and I've found swapping between any of them works fine, no guarantees but you'll likely be alright whacking a Shimano caliper on there.

Didn't realise that! Will shoot him a message.

Any managed to locate a Wald 139 front basket in black (with no mounting hardware)? I thought they’d be super available but I can’t find anywhere in the UK with one in stock…

Why does Sudoku not get easier and faster (within one puzzle) as you fill in more numbers? Am I just quite bad at them?

I'd have expected exponential ease and speed, but my progress tends to be jumpy...stoppp...jump jump...stoppp...jump...

Wizard works have 2 in stock (apparently).

Cheers - I got an auto email from them saying back in stock about ten mins after your message! Appreciate the heads-up!

Kinda guessed this is the case, hit me up if any parts are needed and I'll have a rummage in the parts bin!

Well created Sudoku puzzles are solved by a series of rules/techniques/methods.

At any one time there are one or more rules that can be applied to get another number.

Some times the easiest technique is a simple one such as "where does the 3 go in the top left box?" and there's only one place it can go which is quite easy to spot.

But once these easier items are dealt with you end up with some of the harder rules/techniques/methods such as x-wing, swordfish, singles chains, etc as the only way to make progress. Ref: https://www.sudokuwiki.org/X_Wing_Strategy

Often getting the number from those harder rules/techniques/methods will unlock a bunch of easier to get numbers. Sometimes it just leads to harder and harder rules/techniques/methods needed to get the next number.

So it's not just as simple as it getting progressively easier the more numbers you fill in.

Saying that, once you do get right near the end it's often a case of filling in the last few numbers quite quickly.

I want cardboard boxes for posting multiple parcels and 16x10x6 inches seems to be the sweet spot that isn’t too small or too big and seems to be a standard size in USA but can I find them over here?

Specialized FACT carbon, full monocoque fork from a 2018 tarmac. I'm guessing the steerer is 1 1/8?

16x10x6 inches

That's: 406.4mm x 254mm x 152.4mm

https://www.ryman.co.uk/office-supplies/postage-packaging-supplies/mailing-boxes?product_list_limit=48

The closest of which are:-

• 345 x 245 x 155 = https://www.ryman.co.uk/parcelbox-small-345x245x155mm-1
  
• 440 x 340 x 140 = https://www.ryman.co.uk/parcelbox-440x340x140mm-1
  
  

Other Stationery shops are available. I'd check Viking and Staples if neither of the above appealed.

Viking: 395 x 250 x 140 = https://www.viking-direct.co.uk/en/colompac-mail-box-shipment-box-brown-264-x-400-x-144-mm-5-pieces-p-5637078

seems to be a standard size in USA but can I find them over here?

USPS has different box standards from the Post Office. The largest PIP "Small Parcel" box at the box shop I use is 12"×10"×6", although the max allowed by the Post Office is about 18"×14"×6" . There's a 17"×10"×5" single wall box which is within that limit

Might have a stupid 1 1/4" lower.

So the answers no then

I frequently get headaches some hours after exercise (cycling, swimming, running, whatever). I think I might be getting dehydrated. I make efforts to drink more water but it's either not enough or I need other stuff. Anyone had similar in the past? Do the various recovery powders and shakes help or do I just need to drink more water before/after and lay off caffeine? Any other suggestions?

Generally before. If you're waiting til you're thirsty then you're already dehydrated.
Grab some hydration tablets, keep a bottle of water at your desk. Sip often.

I've always found a pint of whole milk is one of the better recovery drinks. I'll frequently head into the nearest shop at the end of a longer run or on the way out the gym.

If it's warm out then I can underestimate how much fluid I've lost though. Even if I'm drinking properly before and throughout then sometimes a few hours later I'll realise I'm parched. So I tend to do the pint pretty much straight after, then just try to remember to keep sipping.

And keep an eye on the colour of your wee etc. Easy to tell if you're a dehydrated if it's not pretty clear.

Actually yes, I'm very keen to find a 38-39t (even 40t) 130 BCD chainring, for 8 speed. Got one?

I was hunting on eBay, got let down by a seller, so now I'm gonna struggle to get parts to the mate unless I find one today/tomorrow.

Seem to remember a sports nutrition person saying skimmed or semi-skimmed milk is good. Same protein content but the fat in whole milk isn’t doing anything useful, may even slow absorption of sugars and protein.

ah interesting, I tended to pick whole milk on the assumption the fat wasn't doing anything bad and it tastes nicer

but first search result suggests whole milk 95% of the time, then skimmed if replacing a recovery drink. as you said, the fat may slow protein usage