Any question answered...

Spot on, cheers

A few pages back, I posted r.e. a missing split washer in my headset.

Stonehedge gave me a split washer, I put in in - the headset won'e tighten up properly (leaves a gap between upper race and steerer tube). I take it out - the headset wont tighten up properly (wobbles around).

It's one of these Ribble ones: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/Headsets-Ribble-Headset-Branded-Ribble-1-1-8-Hidden-ITS-45-x-45/RIBBHSTR200000000000

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

Do you mean a radial gap between the upper bearing ID and the steerer, or an axial gap between the top cover and the head tube?

If there's a radial clearance, the headset will still be wobbly, so I'm guessing you mean the latter

The gap between the top cover and the head tube should be about 0.1-0.2mm, but a bigger gap is mostly an aesthetic issue rather than a functional problem. As long as the headset is free turning and play free, you can live with a bigger gap until you find the ideal split collet.

The split collets are not a universal fit, some are taller than others; even though they have the same diameter and lead angle, there is often a short cylindrical part above the taper. This should be matched by the rebate in the top cap so that everything lines up (give or take a shim or two), it sounds like yours doesn't because you're mixing parts from two different headsets.

Thanks!

All that sounds right. However I don't quite follow you on this bit:

This should be matched by the rebate in the top cap

There's a spacer stack and a stem in between the split collet and the washer, non?

But yes, axial gappage is the culprit here. I've not yet preloaded the bearings via the expanding wedge bolt thingy, so, although I'm not 100% sure, I'm fairly confident it'll turn smoothly, meaning the problem is purely aesthetic as you said. Ta.

Anyone experience with Recycled Bikes From Amsterdam ?

http://www.recycledbicycles.org/

Thanks!

All that sounds right. However I don't quite follow you on this bit:

There's a spacer stack and a stem in between the split collet and the washer, non?

By 'top cap' I mean the headset upper bearing cover, not the stem cap/preload adjuster.

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What's the best budget chain option available from Evans for a shimano 3x10 xt groupset?
Any reason I can't use a 105 chain?

Just in case there's some difference between MTB and road chains, they have the SLX chain at the same price as 105

Anyone been on the main roads this morning? Hows it lookin'? Icy?

Can't decide which bike to ride...

Totally fine, just a bit damp

thanks

Will this charger:
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/batteries/ultrafire-cr123-charger.html

do the job of this charger?
http://www.exposurelights.com/product/000044/spark-charger-pack/

Will these batteries work instead of the Exposure ones?
http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/batteries/aw-123a-rechargeable.html

Why is my ViewSonic VG2436wm-LED monitor, which I have plugged in to my laptop, working fine for five minutes, then flickering black and white for a minute, then fading out to black? Been doing this for the past couple of hours since I arrived today.

I'm connecting it via an apple mini-display port to DVI adaptor hooked to a DVI cable straight into the back of the monitor. I've tried using a spare adaptor that I know works correctly. Same issue. Starts running fine for a few minutes, then flickers and dies. I've tried using a spare DVI cable which I know is working - same deal.

I've tried using an identical monitor using both sets of cables and adaptors. The identical monitor has the same fault in all circumstances which suggests the fault is local to the laptop.

The laptop display itself seems OK, i.e. when it flickers out I can just pull out the connection and I see a perfectly fine image on screen. It's just that it's only 13 inches. Not that there's anything wrong with 13 inches. (I went there.)

I upgraded the graphics drivers (nVidia GeForce 9400M) to Version 285.62 this weekend which I suspect has something to do with it as it worked absolutely fine before. Failing that, could I have knocked it (I don't think I have) but might I have loosened something internally?

No drivers for the monitor came with it to my knowledge.

anything crudding up the connectors (both cable and laptop)?

Looks OK externally.

buy a windows laptop.

I'm running 3.1, bitches.

I'm not.

7.

csb

is that like 2.5 children?

2.4

Just reinstalled drivers (earlier received an error about needing to remove some Forceware Adaptor thing from the control panel. Did so, then reinstalled. Same deal.

This is irksome.

was looking to get some 5700 calipers, but the SRAM Apex ones for £35 a pair are hard to resist for the price

any reason I shouldn't get them?

Are 5700 the same weird cable pull ratio as 7900/6700? If they are, Apex calipers won't work properly with 5700 levers, and Shimano's quest for total incompatibility suckers in another victim.

I got 6700 levers too, balls

Any alternatives?

Edit: 5700 rear mech, 5600 front, 6700 levers, FSA gossamer cranks, assumed brakes would be pretty much universal