Any question answered...

Is the national lottery actually a tax on the stupid?

No it's a tax on hope

At best, the hope that you might win, the feeling of taking part in something positive (all that money for charity), the excitement of waiting for the draw, all can be worth paying for even if you never win. It's not that different from spectator sport.

At worst, it is cynical exploitation of people who have so little hope in their lives that the above transaction makes sense to them.

^ I've bought a handful of tickets in my life, one for the novelty when the lottery started and others when that glimmer of hope felt useful.

I'm getting a new set of wheels built for my everyday bike (commute, shopping, occasional tow path). Hubs are miche primato low flange track hubs and rims are 2012 open pros.

Two questions:

• What spoke pattern is best for front and back?
  
• What spokes should be used?
  

I moved my number to giffgaff from virgin and it took a day but worked eventually, i had some probs because i'd lost the original simcard they sent me and put in the replacement, but they didn't know that.

My gf did the same but hers was done in an hour.

took a day but it seems to be working now, thanks. pity they're website is on the fritz

I'm getting a new set of wheels built for my everyday bike (commute, shopping, occasional tow path). Hubs are miche primato low flange track hubs and rims are 2012 open pros.

Two questions:

• What spoke pattern is best for front and back?
  
• What spokes should be used?
  
  

I have this exact wheelset except 2011 open pro. 3 cross is the norm, and personally i would get double butted spokes such as the aci ones that cyclebasket sell.

At best, the hope that you might win, the feeling of taking part in something positive (all that money for charity), the excitement of waiting for the draw, all can be worth paying for even if you never win. It's not that different from spectator sport.

At worst, it is cynical exploitation of people who have so little hope in their lives that the above transaction makes sense to them.

Since we're being serious all of a sudden, it's not a tax it's optional. Aside from your points, lottery funding has done a lot of good, not least to the British film industry.

^^Thank you kindly. How have you found them?

Excellent. Open pros are great all purpose wheels. Very durable too and truing them is a piece of cake. You won't be dissappointed.

Three and a half wheelsets built with them. No problems for the duration of my use.

mdcc Tester approved.

Stainless steel.

Reasonable weight.

Cheap.

Nuff said imo.

One thing about the primato hubs they, they have different threading for the lockring so you can only use ISO threaded ones. The cog thread is standard though. Other than that, they spin smooth enough and are sealed pretty good.

Open pro's are great. I've had 3 CX seasons and 4/5yrs road riding out of mine. Laced up with Sapim Race spokes to a 105 hub and you're laughing.

I will do it for £5

here is an example of my previous work

I've noticed over the past week or so that I've not been able to walk quite right and this morning I've narrowed it down to my left foot not being able to move up (bending at the ankle so my toes point to my head).

I can't seem to bend it no matter how hard I try but it doesn't hurt, time to go to the doctors?

After seeing Dr Google I've had the fear put in me, going to see the quack tomorrow morning.

I'm 22 and partake in 0 activities which could have lead to this, fuck sake.

aah. typing symptoms into the internet - guaranteed to shit you up.

Not that I'm aware of, I think it might be linked to tight calf muscles. I haven't cycled recently or done much exercise and have spent lots of time working sitting down so maybe I've just got all tight.

Hopefully I'll get a definitive answer tomorrow

Drop foot was one of the after effects of my operation earlier this year.

At one point it looked like I might never walk normally again, and would have needed a spice girl shoe on one foot, and a 4 inch high heel on the other foot.

why are ebay so damned greedy?

so irritating, remembered why I don't really bother to sell on there any more

This is my new front rim:

Which is to go with this rear:

Now I'd like them to match- which means making the rear matte.

What's the best way of doing this- giving it a rub down with a high grit sandpaper or similar?

Brillo pad? Something else?

So, this wheel...

Its straight as an arrow. He's used shitting silver nipples which im not overly pleased about as i took it in with black ones. I can live with the colour, but is there any way to tell if they're brass or alu other than bite them?

Also, you can see on the hub the direction it was originally laced. Its now been laced in the opposite direction once rebuilt. I always thought you were supposed to go in the same direction?

Please advise, Cyclists of the Internet.

bueller?

What do you call a latch or catch, the type used on flight cases where you have a snappy cam action lever with a hook or loop on the end which then engages a hook on the door?

Need the magic word for googling.

Drawbolt latch.

Amazing - thank you :)

This is my new front rim:

Stop posting the same stuff in multiple threads.

Anyone got this before and fixed it? Win 7 (I think, it's not my machine).
All the basic automatic repair options have been tried already.

"the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible"

by basis repair you mean change the boot order to go to CD first and run the windows disc repair stuff?