Any question answered...

Handkerchiefs. Is there some sort of super fancy version or is 100% cotton the best I'm going to find?

Silk for a top pocket, and tissues for blowing your nose.
Never understood cotton handkerchiefs. Why would you want to carry around all your snot? It's not wartime.

Tight cables? Headset installation? Wheel straight (both the wheel itself and it's place in the dropouts)?

I'll check all those tonight.

When trying to determine what is making my bike pull to one side when riding none handed, what should I look for?
The frame has been checked for alignment.
How would a carbon fork cause a problem, I would have thought if it was bent it would be broken?

Posture. Are you sure it doesn't happen on your other bikes? Few people sit, stand and move symmetrically.

^ This. When riding without hands I usually have to slide a few mm to the left to keep the bike aligned.

Posture. Are you sure it doesn't happen on your other bikes? Few people sit, stand and move symmetrically.

I'm quite sure.

There is a definite pull from the front end.

If i was to buy Shimano RS501 (bladed) and a Shimano 8spd HG50 cassette will I be able to get it to work with virtually any old shimano rear derailleur and down tube shifter? Considering the price of a new set of wheels + cassette I'm finding it hard to see the value in an old second hand set for my RC tt build. Correct assumption?

Are there any disc brake hubs that take an 8 speed cassette?

They're not for me. Want to get some new ones for my dad with his initials on. Before anyone says anything yes it is something he'd like/appreciate.

I like handkerchiefs except when you've got a streaming nose and you end up with a soggy bit of fabric in your pocket.

Silk for a top pocket, and tissues for blowing your nose.
Never understood cotton handkerchiefs. Why would you want to carry around all your snot? It's not wartime.

I wear a plain white cotton handkerchief. I wouldn't blow my nose into it, but it can be a useful thing to have.

If i was to buy Shimano RS501 (bladed) and a Shimano 8spd HG50 cassette will I be able to get it to work with virtually any old shimano rear derailleur and down tube shifter?

In friction mode, any RD from the last 20 years should be fine

Are there any disc brake hubs that take an 8 speed cassette?

Pretty much every MTB cassette hub ever made will take 8-speed. The Shimano HG pattern freehub rotor fits 8,9 and 10-speed.

In friction mode, any RD from the last 20 years should be fine

Excellent, thanks. So steer clear of indexed shifters and all should be well?

I wear a plain white cotton handkerchief. I wouldn't blow my nose into it, but it can be a useful thing to have.

Excellent, thanks. So steer clear of indexed shifters and all should be well?

Or get 8-speed indexed shifters and a matching dérailleur.

They're not for me. Want to get some new ones for my dad with his initials on. Before anyone says anything yes it is something he'd like/appreciate.

I like handkerchiefs except when you've got a streaming nose and you end up with a soggy bit of fabric in your pocket.

http://www.organic-ally.co.uk/26026.html
flannel or lawn cotton hankies with custom embroidery

might be the camber of the road?

When trying to determine what is making my bike pull to one side when riding none handed, what should I look for?
The frame has been checked for alignment.
How would a carbon fork cause a problem, I would have thought if it was bent it would be broken?

Or get 8-speed indexed shifters and a matching dérailleur.

Yeah, I could. I'm trying to be super cheap and use whatever second parts I can get, so going for versatility. I am failing though as new parts are temptingly cheap. I'm also struggling without the required knowledge...

At the risk of being spoon fed information, what would you suggest for a functional 1x7 or 8 setup with a DT shifter?

Handkerchiefs. Is there some sort of super fancy version or is 100% cotton the best I'm going to find?
Look for hand-rolled edges.

Look for hand-rolled edges.

Nice one.

Ordered from here in case anyone in the future comes looking:

http://www.goldstitch.co.uk/gifts.htm

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