Any question answered...

Use a pivottable?
If you want to use the results in a formula, see GETPIVOTDATA

Note that I haven't used Excel in anger in over 4 years and my life is definitely no worse.

I soaked some shoes in medicinal alcohol, thinking it would kill off any stinky nasties, then evaporate away.

It didn't really work out. The shoes for ever more stank of medicinal alcohol, and some bits with red dye ran a little bit. Would not recommend.

What is a cheaper version of the nitro technomic, I.e tall stem with 100mm reach?

I'm looking at new mtb shoes. I currently have sidi's (sole unit is replaceable). Are there other brands that do this? I like the look, well not the look but the price/rep, of Shimano but the sole isn't replaceable.
I also like the bont vaypor xc.

Anything else I should be looking at?
WILL BE GETTING MUDDY.

I normally find the lining and the upper wear out before the sole, especially the padding around the heel cup.

Buy 2 pairs of whatever Shimanos are cheap in a sale.

Follow on from the last post about the right shifter / RD on my GFs bike.

After a bit of a ride the shifter keeps jumping back to the smaller sprockets. It can sit in the middle, but it won't stay in the largest two. Anyone got any idea why it won't hold?

Shit shifter?

Could the B tension screw have any affect?

Could the cable housing be a little short (I used the pre-cut length included in the pack)?

In terms of a solution, does anyone know if there is a better shifter I could use? Or could I upgrade to a 7 speed - my thinking is there are more shifter options? It has a screw on freewheel and 99% sure the rear spacing is 126mm (definitely not 130mm).

I like thisnthinking

Have you looked through SJS?

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/stems-1-222mm-quill-threaded-dept277_pg1/

Is there a thread anywhere on here for "gravel" bikes? They seem very popular at the moment, was surprised I couldn't find a thread.

The Bonts are very stiff, makes running almost impossible.

Is there an easy and safe way to make 120mm Phil wood track hubs work in a 130mm spaced frame?

I guess worst case scenario I mount 2 chain tugs on the inside.

I expect they get covered mostly in the "what cyclocross bike" thread and possibly in the"functional" thread.

One more thread won't break the forum any more than it already is though :-)

We need a HHSARB thread

Gnarmac bikes

I think they're covered by the occasional canal tow path thread.

Here they are. Gravel ( Gnarmac ) Bikes

I've also realised that until we get an oven I can trust, heat moulding is prob not a great idea....

Bok bok bok, BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK

It's not too hot. It just decides to turn off. Cue much fucking around before it stays on.

Would anyone recommend treating the inside of their steel frame? I was chatting to a chap this morning who recommended doing it with (I thought he said) AS50 (but was probably ACF-50).

There could be a couple of things leaving you with problems. Firstly is that that the indexed shifter has a very slightly different pull ratio to that which is required by the mech which is why you're only experiencing some of the difficulties at the top and bottom end of the cassette. It's been a while since I've worked in a bike shop but cheap plastic thumbies were notorious for being awfully stiff at the top push.

Without seeing the cable outer length it's difficult to say for certain if it is long enough but if it makes one smooth curve from one end to the other and sits neatly in the boss/adjuster at each end then it's probably fine.

Does the penultimate ferrule sit in the braze on, or is the ferrule too big and so is sitting outside and on top of it so to speak? - This would have a significant impact on shifting accuracy.

I'm sure you've got it covered but the H/L screws should only just engage enough to prevent over-shift into the frame/spokes, if the L screw is set too far it will make the final push to get in to the largest sprocket even more difficult.

If you exhaust these possibilities or just don't care you could indeed swap to a 7 speed screw on block and get a matching 7 speed shifter and mech which would definitely all work together so any problem would be with cabling.

Oh one other thing that you could check just to be certain is that the mech hanger isn't bent.

I would like to buy a pair of Vibram Five Fingers running shoes, in Londons famous London, today if possible.

Does anyone know of a stockist? Zone 1 if possible.

http://www.primallifestyle.com/About/Fivefingers-Stockists-UK/England-London

Thanks for replying, I really appreciate it. I shouldn't let it bug me as much, but I struggle with not being able to do things.... and this is properly beating me.

cheap plastic thumbies were notorious for being awfully stiff at the top push.

That's good to know.

Does the penultimate ferrule sit in the braze on, or is the ferrule too big and so is sitting outside and on top of it so to speak?

It sits outside. One of these:

...when it stepped to sit inside sort of like these:

(I know that there are also tonnes of different stepped ferrules - I guess a trip to my new LBC)

if the L screw is set too far it will make the final push to get in to the largest sprocket even more difficult.

I will double check that. It's good to know.

certain is that the mech hanger isn't bent.

Pretty sure. But I've read this regularly from reading around so I will double check once the bike is back. I don't think it is though because it shifted fine when the DT shifters were on the DT, and other than the problems listed it was alright with the DT-thumbie conversion.

I will have a think about a 7 speed conversion. But the original plan was to change the handle bars and shifters so it could be used for commuting purposes. Then if she liked the bike (which she does) spend a bit of money making it "nicer" in the Spring/Summer next year. In which case cold setting the frame and making it an 8 or 9 speed seems more sensible from a compatibilty POV (ie use some of my parts bin).

Someone on PBP had a lovely handlebar bag.

He did tell me the manufacturer, but it seems to have been lost in sleep-haze. I do know/think that it was made by a woman in california, who is a singer, and cycles to all her gigs, sometimes hundreds of miles from where she lives. My google-fu is apparently weak, ring any bells for anyone?