Any question answered...

Does anyone know the cheapest way to get USD (US account) into GBP in the UK?

Cheers.

TransferWise or similar

I want a horizontal pull down single bed in a nice enclosure - anyone know anyone who can sell me such a thing without a six week lead time?

You mean like a murphy?

Yep

First google, these guys claim 2-4 weeks.
http://www.wallbedking.co.uk/cart

Good morning.

I'm looking for shampoo, shower gel etc that just smells of wood.

Boots used to do a cedarwood one as part of their Aromatics range which was cheap, nice and clearly aimed at old men but they discontinued it about 10 years ago and I think I've bought up all the old stock from ebay now.

Is there anything I can replace it with that's similar and not mad cash?

I use this, it's very nice:

https://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Faith-in-Nature-Blue-Cedar-Pure-Hand-Made-Soap-Bar/289224011?from=search&tags=%7C20000&param=cedar&parentContainer=SEARCHcedar

Nah they sell the same type of (naff) kits you can get on eBay for less, and they don’t do enclosures for horizontal singles.

Ok, good luck.

Got my first road bike recently after years of riding fixed, rear shifting is fine but I'm finding the front derailleur a big faff to use. The commonly used range seems to be right between the two rings, plus the highest 3 gears are useless on all but the steepest descents. It's currently 50/34 with an 11-23 cassette (campag).

Considering a 1x setup to even things out, keeping the 50 up front, ditching the fd and switching to a 13-29 cassette. A gear range of 45 to 101 GI looks good on paper, but

1. I'll be cross chained on the climbs, is this a big deal?

2. Would I need a chainguard to prevent droppage?

3. Is this a simply a stupid idea born from my inexperience with gears?

Is this a simply a stupid idea

Elements of it are, others are on the right track. If you're not racing, the 50/11 top gear is, as you've discovered, a bit of waste of time. My road set up is 48-34/12-27, which for most purposes is a 1× with a bail out option. Since the FD adds very little weight and serves as the chain guide you'd be thinking of adding if you went to a true 1× set-up, you might as well keep it. If you can get a 13-29 cassette, that will make your set-up pretty similar, i.e. front shifts are not needed until you get to proper hills.

I'm finding the front derailleur a big faff because campag

FTFY

Shimano are the only people who have really nailed decent front shifts

Older readers will remember "half step and granny" - my road gearing philosophy adapts that to the modern age by using 10 sprockets instead of 5 to provide the half steps without ever having to touch the left lever.

Nice, yeah that all makes sense. I'll try to get my hands on the larger cassette as a first step. Thanks.

My rear shifting has lost its accuracy and I noticed yesterday when changing wheel that when I tighten the rear QR the mech and hanger moves inward like it’s bent slightly out and the skewer pulls it back in. Alloy frame. Problem?

Which frame?

If the hanger is removable I'd look at replacing it because it might be damaged. Obvs. check everything else first, shifters, cables, stops, mech....

As a bodge, you could straighten the hanger using the alignment tool (or other hack) with the QR done up 'use tight'.

The arkose. I’ll try a new hanger first. Needs new cables too so overhaul time

If you have a wheel with a threaded axle, you can use that as a hanger alignment gauge.

Use the same spot on the HAG wheel (eg next to the valve hole) to check alignment, in case it's not true.

@Howard
Apologies for vertical video but it’s easier than explaining.
I took a closer look. Looks pretty fecked to me

https://youtu.be/CW2JyUl21vA

I think it’s more twisted than bent in the usual way

it’s more twisted than bent in the usual way

I think twisted is one of the usual ways they get bent

Helpful answer as ever Jorj

Woah! That freaked me out the first time I watched it (cf the tap worm meme).

Does the wheel still track straight? Looks like the whole thing moves, not just the hanger.

Appears to. Reckon it’s the frame not the hanger?