The All New Megathread

[Bibio]

https://www.worldclimatemarch.org/First

ohh look its funded by the EU.. money making scheme for people who cant get a real job..

why in the last 6 months is this all coming to a head? well there is nothing else that these asswipes can scam.

i'm all for helping the environment so why dont the powers that be tell supermarkets to stop using plastics which are the worst thing there is for the environment including the making of them. simple answer... MONEY.. they would rather side track the public into something else than tell the real truth. it would take a year to cut plastic usage to 10% of what it is now.

[redtrummy]

Everyone has to draw their own line. Being tight its easy for me to try and preserve what I have and not waste. (67 Cub 99 Suzy 03 car - we wont mention the age of my pushbikes!

Direction has to come from governments, we used to manage without plastic and we could do it again, but commercial pressure and government self interest stacks the cards against us.
It really pi---- me of when they preach one thing then do the exact opposite. BoJo thinks its his God given right to jump in a private plane so he wont be late for tea. Ursula von der Leyen jumps onto a private jet to travel 31 miles apparently - I could go on and on - But as Joni Mitchell wrote 'You don't know what you have until its gone' (Big Yellow Taxi')
I just don't want it on my conscience. Some things are changing- just not fast enough

[garynortheast]

I managed a 1.35 mile walk today to express my support for the climate cause

Good man for taking some supporting action. Numbers are going to be important in making politicians realise that folks are tired of empty promises and a lack of proper actions.

Absolutely astonishing turnouts in Glasgow over the last two days. 25,000 yesterday for the Fridays for future march (they were only expecting 8000) and early reports are suggesting over 100,000 today for the Global Day of Action. There were some pretty large turnouts in other cities too, quite a few thousand in Cardiff, similarly in London, Birmingham, Norwich etc.
Many inspirational, articulate, and passionate speakers from all over the world as well, with some heart rending accounts of many indigenous people being murdered trying to defend their lands from oil, logging, and mining interests.

I think we are going to see the pace, intensity, and frequency of protest increase globally now as more and more people realise where we are headed if we don't deal with this climate and environmental crisis.

And no, I will not engage in futile conversations about whether it's real (it is) or whether it's too late. I have no intention of sitting on my @rse and allowing this situation to envelope me and my kids without fighting back in whatever way I can.

[garynortheast]

Bore da/Good morning orgers. A bit grey out there but there's a bit of a funny light, looks like the sun is trying to break through the clouds.

[Craig380]

Morning Gary. Still got a steeeenkeeeng head cold (as have my wife & son) but sinus irrigation** helps.

(** I think I saw Sinus Irrigation play one of the minor stages at Glastonbury 1986)

[garynortheast]

Morning Gary. Still got a steeeenkeeeng head cold (as have my wife & son) but sinus irrigation** helps.

(** I think I saw Sinus Irrigation play one of the minor stages at Glastonbury 1986)

Supported, if I recall correctly, by Mucus and the Membranes!

Hope the cold clears up quickly Craig. I'm just recovering from a cold too.

[Sir Trev]

What is it with colds right now? Lady Poppy is just getting over one right now. I mean, I know the seasons are changing but even so, everyone seems to have one and I'm almost feeling left out...

[garynortheast]

I'll package a viral sample up for you Trev, if you're that keen! :smt046

[garynortheast]

Evening Orgers.....

[svenrico]

What is it with colds right now? Lady Poppy is just getting over one right now. I mean, I know the seasons are changing but even so, everyone seems to have one and I'm almost feeling left out...
You can have mine :)

[garynortheast]

Evening all.....

[Sir Trev]

Evening Gary. Wish me luck - I found a bottle of Ouzo in the cupboard courtesy of the Munchkin's holiday to Rhodes a few years ago and I've started into it. I shan't drink that much but I predict a crashing hangover in the morning...

[garynortheast]

Oh no! Make sure you drink plenty of water before you go to bed Trev. Good luck, see you on the other side!

[Sir Trev]

Well the good news is that I could not drink that much of it in one go so I feel fine today.

[garynortheast]

Ha ha! Small mercies......

[Craig380]

I'm happy to drink almost anything apart from:

- Guinness (or any 'stout')
- Anything flavoured with aniseed
- Snowballs
- Bloody Maries
- Red Bull

[Seeker]

I'm happy to drink almost anything apart from:

- Guinness (or any 'stout')
- Anything flavoured with aniseed
- Snowballs
- Bloody Maries
- Red Bull

When I was at RAF Akrotiri, there was a local red wine called Kokinelli. It was not a high class wine, in fact it was often free if you brought your own container. It came with a guaranteed headache.

[Craig380]

On Santorini? Sounds like a good posting :)

Greek wine doesn't travel well but it doesn't half slip down easily when you're there.

[Seeker]

RAF Akrotiri is on Cyprus. We would go there to service the ILS.

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers.

[Craig380]

Morning Gary. Frosty and freezing cold this morning around here. I gave up yesterday (dry, 12 celsius) for a visit to the mother-in-law. That makes me practically a saint, right?

[maviczap]

Morning Gary

Just coming too after getting home from work at 01:30 this morning

Its a lovely sunny day here, so all's good

[garynortheast]

Morning Gary. Frosty and freezing cold this morning around here. I gave up yesterday (dry, 12 celsius) for a visit to the mother-in-law. That makes me practically a saint, right?

Ha ha! St Craig! Watch it or you'll have pilgrims trekking over to steal bits of you to set up shrines and charging the faithful a fee to view them!

Morning Gary

Just coming too after getting home from work at 01:30 this morning

Its a lovely sunny day here, so all's good

Sunshine and clouds here too Mav, noticeably colder as well!

[svenrico]

Still riding when roads fairly dry but coming in colder now , and need to set off home about 3.30 pm to avoid riding in dark which I don't like. Could do to have Oxford heated grips fitted.

[SV650rules]

Still riding when roads fairly dry but coming in colder now , and need to set off home about 3.30 pm to avoid riding in dark which I don't like. Could do to have Oxford heated grips fitted.

Fitted handguards, they keep the wind off hands remarkably well.

As for riding in the dark you need this

https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/headlight-led-bulbs/products/latest-led-headlight-h4-motorcycle


Got them in both our cars and on my motorbike, major improvement on existing bulbs, they are now OK for MOT pass on motorbikes ( our cars always passed MOT because beam pattern is perfect, but now may not pass due to new legislation, but all motorbikes and classic cars exempt from new rules.... ( cheaper by the pair ) Price is ex-VAT they sell a pair inclusive of VAT for about £70...


https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/collections/headlight-led-bulbs/products/latest-led-headlights-h4-philips-z-es-hi-lo-beam-conversion-9-32v


.

[Sir Trev]

Fitted handguards, they keep the wind off hands remarkably well.

As my fingers seem to feel the cold a lot more these days I quite fancy hand guards next time I change the bike. Don't think they'd look right on my T100 so I'll just have to carry on leaving the bike in the garage over winter for now.

[garynortheast]

Evening orgers.....

[Craig380]

Morning all. How's your knee doing, Gary?

[garynortheast]

Morning Craig. Knee is improving slowly thanks, hoping to venture out on a short jog/run in the next few days to see what happens.

[Craig380]

Hope it continues to improve. Just back from a walk over the frosty fields nearby, under a cloudless blue sky. My pineal gland feels thoroughly stimulated :)

If it was a few degrees warmer it'd be a lovely day for a bike ride, but I'm enjoying sitting in the warm with a coffee.

[Craig380]

First snow of the season here: a light dusting of the fields etc. It's already melting, though.

[garynortheast]

No snow here, instead, a heavy dusting of fallen trees in the area!

[svenrico]

Electricity been off most of the day Saturday here, but back on about 6.30pm ,thank goodness. Storm caused a lot of damage.

[Bibio]

dusting of snow in the wee hours... who said it was to be a mild winter.........

[garynortheast]

The mountains here in Wales all have a good covering now.

[svenrico]

Covering of snow here today. When it is a finer day I need to get bike washed and dried and waxoyled where appropriate before putting away for winter (or at least most of it )

[munkygunn182]

Right, who ordered the snow!? Got home at 4am, no snow. Woke up, got riding kit on, threw open the curtains, only to be denied a winter bimble.

[garynortheast]

Right, who ordered the snow!? Got home at 4am, no snow. Woke up, got riding kit on, threw open the curtains, only to be denied a winter bimble.

Lol. I think I'd have opened the curtains and checked first MG.

[svenrico]

Lol. I think I'd have opened the curtains and checked first MG.
or watched the weather forecast the night before !

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers. Up early and off out for a walk with a friend. Going to be a cold one I think!

[Craig380]

I do love a walk in the countryside when the earth is hard as iron. You just have to avoid the boggy bits that only have a thin frosty crust on top ...

[Sir Trev]

We only had a centimeter or so of snow last night but it still amazes me how pathetic people around here are at driving in such a situation. True, most folk this far south won't bother with winter tyres but even so, tiptoeing about or not slowing for conditions at all...

Oddly, I ordered two all season tyres for my car on Saturday after the traction control light came on a few times on the chilly wet surfaces. Glad I did now. Nearside front is pretty worn out so I get to junk the dreadful Dunlops that were on the front when I bought the car two years ago. Fine in warm weather but terrible over the last two winters.

[garynortheast]

Evening all.

I have the joy of a drive up to Manchester tomorrow, leavened at least by seeing one of my daughters, who I shall be collecting from uni.

[redtrummy]

On Wednesday we are booked in on a campsite in the Peak district, the idea being I can try cycling on the Tissington trail (flattish old railway line) to try out the bike as the op recovery progresses. (We will be in a motorhome I hasten to add, and it is at the back of a pub so the ride could be very short!

[garynortheast]

Morning orgers. We have a light dusting of snow here this morning. Don't know that I want any more just at the moment!

On Wednesday we are booked in on a campsite in the Peak district, the idea being I can try cycling on the Tissington trail (flattish old railway line) to try out the bike as the op recovery progresses. (We will be in a motorhome I hasten to add, and it is at the back of a pub so the ride could be very short!

How did the cycling go?

[Sir Trev]

I certainly don't Gary. Got a trip to the office on Thursday next week for the first face to face staff meeting in nearly two years - we ALL really want it to go ahead. I have a depot visit lined up for the week after up in Yorkshire, a flippin long day trip for me, and on Christmas Eve I get a round trip to Norfolk to pick up my folks with a repeat on Boxing day taking them home. If can snow in January but NO MORE IN DECEMBER PLEASE!!

[garynortheast]

I'd be happy not to see any more snow for a while Trev. I need to clear the veg beds and slather them in horse muck first, so that it breaks down and gets absorbed before next season.

[redtrummy]

QUOTE=garynortheast;3133709]Morning orgers. We have a light dusting of snow here this morning. Don't know that I want any more just at the moment!
How did the cycling go?[/QUOTE]


Just back! Great thanks Gary, 40 years ago we would often cycle up to the Peak district on a Sunday, sometimes doing a round trip of 70 miles - now we can take the van and cycle/ walk more leisurely. (the roads were much quieter then so we could utilise the A roads to get up there.)
We did a twenty mile round trip with a 3 pint beer stop and a light lunch.

The air temperature was 0C or below with a slight sprinkling of snow on the ground, which made the trail and surrounds quite scenic. So we had a good ride and a good walk the previous day. If you can get good winter conditions it does lift ones spirits!


Did you sort out the Electric bikes Trev? We got one for the wife a couple of years ago since Arthritis began taking its toll. Been a revelation, she would easily get 60 miles out of a charge an it means I am not always waiting for her at the top of every hill (she waits for me now)

[svenrico]

I certainly don't Gary. Got a trip to the office on Thursday next week for the first face to face staff meeting in nearly two years - we ALL really want it to go ahead. I have a depot visit lined up for the week after up in Yorkshire, a flippin long day trip for me, and on Christmas Eve I get a round trip to Norfolk to pick up my folks with a repeat on Boxing day taking them home. If can snow in January but NO MORE IN DECEMBER PLEASE!!

My in laws used to invite us to visit boxing day, about 150 mile round trip, which I didn't like because it was too near xmas day - drinks etc, and couldn't have a drink because I was driving and was never sure what weather was going to be like. Covid stopped that anyway but summer visits more likely now.

[Sir Trev]

Did you sort out the Electric bikes Trev? We got one for the wife a couple of years ago since Arthritis began taking its toll. Been a revelation, she would easily get 60 miles out of a charge an it means I am not always waiting for her at the top of every hill (she waits for me now)

Not yet RT. We had an order in with Volt but their estimated delivery went back to Q12023 due to supply issues, so we cancelled. Now waiting for the 2022 models from Raleigh to come out and we'll probably order two of those.

[svenrico]

Not yet RT. We had an order in with Volt but their estimated delivery went back to Q12023 due to supply issues, so we cancelled. Now waiting for the 2022 models from Raleigh to come out and we'll probably order two of those.

Must get a new /better/ longer range battery for my D Cycle Delight 8 pedelec
(original only lasted about 1 year and only had a range of about 16 miles )

[SV650rules]

Must get a new /better/ longer range battery for my D Cycle Delight 8 pedelec
(original only lasted about 1 year and only had a range of about 16 miles )




Anyone with a phone or laptop knows the problems with life and fading capacity on Li-ion batteries, so why will electric transport powered by batteries be any different. I guess there will be no secondhand market for electric bikes or vehicles.

[Bibio]

I guess there will be no secondhand market for electric bikes or vehicles.
there will be plenty of 3 year old leccy cars due to motability.

[SV650rules]

there will be plenty of 3 year old leccy cars due to motability.




Was thinking if someone would buy a secondhand EV due to maybe having to have battery repaired or replaced - as I said about other things with rechargeable batteries, life is a bit suspect... 'if its got t1ts, tyres or a battery, it is going to give you problems'.....

[Bibio]

'if its got t1ts, tyres or a battery, it is going to give you problems'.....

:D

i think the days of buying cars outright have gone. i dont think you will get a leccy car for under £20k so i would guess that every single new leccy car sold will be on contract and i would hazard a guess that second hand ones will be the same, minimum of £300 a month on a car.. fek right aff, thats half the price of a low cost house mortgage. so lets say £1k a month just for rent/mortgage and car..... i'm glad i'm not bringing up a family in today's climate.

[Sir Trev]

As long as you don't constantly top up lithium iron batteries they last a lot of charging cycles. Check out the Fully Charged channel on YouTube - Robert Llewellen (Kryten to most of us) has a gen 1 Leaf from 2011 that's only just had a battery swap for a better used one. Cost per mile, even factoring in the newer battery pack, is peanuts so so well worth doing.

I still buy my cars outright as keeping one six to eight years before replacing gives you a lower average annual cost of ownership. Anything older has a higher risk of parts failing. Plus you have a trade-in asset. I've had older cars in the past that needed minimal cost to keep them going and I don't see leccy cars being much different.

When we're forced to go 100% leccy for cars and bikes I'll invest in solar panels and a power wall battery or two.

[garynortheast]

Brrr! That was a cold morning, spent riding around Oswestry on an open top lorry playing Christmas carols with Porthywaen Youth and Training Band (local silver band), as part of a big Christmas procession.
Finally warmed up now!

[SV650rules]

As long as you don't constantly top up lithium iron batteries they last a lot of charging cycles. Check out the Fully Charged channel on YouTube - Robert Llewellen (Kryten to most of us) has a gen 1 Leaf from 2011 that's only just had a battery swap for a better used one. Cost per mile, even factoring in the newer battery pack, is peanuts so so well worth doing.

I still buy my cars outright as keeping one six to eight years before replacing gives you a lower average annual cost of ownership. Anything older has a higher risk of parts failing. Plus you have a trade-in asset. I've had older cars in the past that needed minimal cost to keep them going and I don't see leccy cars being much different.

When we're forced to go 100% leccy for cars and bikes I'll invest in solar panels and a power wall battery or two.


If EV owners fall for the 'let the grid use your battery as storage' because renewables are so damned unreliable the number of charge discharge cycles will be disconnected from car mileage or age, you could buy a 5 year old EV with 40K on the clock that has run out of charge discharge cycles supporting the grid... Also fast charging damages the battery, and some vehicles will only allow a fast charge once a day at most.

[redtrummy]

On the homebrew forum there are examples of 8 yr EV cars for sale with the battery indicator showing 80% battery charge still left. Battery life is a big concern although they may last longer than anticipated.

[Bibio]

i would like a leccy car for jumping about the town.

i take it with them being automatic the manual transmission driving test will become a thing of the past.

[svenrico]

As long as you don't constantly top up lithium iron batteries they last a lot of charging cycles. Check out the Fully Charged channel on YouTube - Robert Llewellen (Kryten to most of us) has a gen 1 Leaf from 2011 that's only just had a battery swap for a better used one. Cost per mile, even factoring in the newer battery pack, is peanuts so so well worth doing.


How do you not constantly top up rechargeable batteries ,you have to top them up when they run out of charge ?!

[svenrico]

These problems with electric vehicles will become apparent to everybody when the internal combustion engine has been banned !

[Bibio]

How do you not constantly top up rechargeable batteries ,you have to top them up when they run out of charge ?!

charging them at say 90% full all the time is bad for them. its best to run them down to 10% but not completely empty.

soap battery's :smt082

why cant leccy vehicles have dynamo fitted to the wheels to help top up on the go. when i were a lad we had dynamo lights that were run off a wheel, its a pity we never had rechargeable battery's back then.

[Sir Trev]

charging them at say 90% full all the time is bad for them. its best to run them down to 10% but not completely empty.



That was the very issue. Doing 10 miles from full then charging it again is not great for longevity.

[svenrico]

That was the very issue. Doing 10 miles from full then charging it again is not great for longevity.
I didn't mean fully charging again after doing a few miles. I assume vehicles will be driven similar to petrol cars - drive until about quarter full or just below then top up. Problem with electric vehicles is people will not want to go too low for fear of running out because they can't find a charging point.

[Sir Trev]

Problem with electric vehicles is people will not want to go too low for fear of running out because they can't find a charging point.

Very true, with the current infrastructure.

[Bibio]

On the first day of Christmas, My true love gave to me, A partridge in a pear tree.

[Sir Trev]

Eye Eye - Bibs has been on the hooch :smt030

[Bibio]

nope sober.. lol

it was 12 days till xmas. i know the song is about from the 25th-5th.

its only week till solstice, depressing thought.. well no as thats when we start to get more daytime :-)

[Sir Trev]

More daytime again soon - that should be in the SOTD thread!

[Bibio]

a week to go....

[Sir Trev]

I have a royal visit this year - my parents will be staying with us. By this time next week I may having a lovely time or planning something involving a cosh, a shovel, and waste ground after dark...

[garynortheast]

..........and waste ground after dark...

I thought under the patio was the approved place!

[Sir Trev]

I thought under the patio was the approved place!

But it's the first place the authorities would look...

[Bibio]

I have a royal visit this year - my parents will be staying with us. By this time next week I may having a lovely time or planning something involving a cosh, a shovel, and waste ground after dark...

nearest pig far m8... :smt106

[svenrico]

nearest pig far m8... :smt106
Don't give people ideas ! :grin:

[Sir Trev]

nearest pig far m8... :smt106

They go through bone like butter.

The fantastic mashup that is Snatch Wars (//https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kDKiQfBs9lo&feature=youtu.be) is now wandering around my head.

[redtrummy]

I have been bullied into having Christmas at the future in-laws. This is a great concern I am basically anti social, miserable and like to be fairly quiet - they apparently are party animals - so it will be survival mode, hopefully without putting my big mouth in it sometime over the couple of days LFT permitting.

[garynortheast]

No such feat of endurance for me. I am putting the walking kit on and clearing off into the hills with Mabel the lurcher for the day. My girls are coming over to me on Boxing day for a belated Christmas celebration, but I have Christmas day to be as curmudgeonly as I wish.

[Craig380]

Son has just tested positive, so mother-in-law visit to here for 5 days is OFF. Bullet dodged.

[chris8886]

They go through bone like butter.

The fantastic mashup that is Snatch Wars (http:////https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kDKiQfBs9lo&feature=youtu.be) is now wandering around my head.



Brilliant line from an excellent film.

[svenrico]

I have been bullied into having Christmas at the future in-laws. This is a great concern I am basically anti social, miserable and like to be fairly quiet - they apparently are party animals - so it will be survival mode, hopefully without putting my big mouth in it sometime over the couple of days LFT permitting.
You will be visited on Christmas eve.

[svenrico]

No such feat of endurance for me. I am putting the walking kit on and clearing off into the hills with Mabel the lurcher for the day. My girls are coming over to me on Boxing day for a belated Christmas celebration, but I have Christmas day to be as curmudgeonly as I wish.
You will also be visited on Christmas eve.

[garynortheast]

I'll be waiting for the wafty b@5tards with a big cosh.

[svenrico]

I'll be waiting for the wafty b@5tards with a big cosh.
Beware when the clock strikes one !

[Sir Trev]

That's me done work-wise for 2021. Now got the fun prospect of a 300 mile round trip to collect my folks tomorrow and a repeat on Boxing Day to take them home. Then I can relax :D

[svenrico]

That's me done work-wise for 2021. Now got the fun prospect of a 300 mile round trip to collect my folks tomorrow and a repeat on Boxing Day to take them home. Then I can relax :D
Good luck with that. Still, if your folks are still around to spend Christmas with you that is the main thing. Merry xmas.

[Sir Trev]

Back home with the Oldies now. Time for a festive drinkie I think.

Have a good one Organs!

[garynortheast]

Evening all. Everyone survived without cracking up or committing murder?

[maviczap]

Yes, getting a bit bored with the weather now. Haven't seen any decent sunshine for weeks it seems.

[garynortheast]

I'm finding the weather to be a bit worrying tbh Mav. It was 13°C here today. It really should be considerably colder at this end of December.

[maviczap]

Saw 14°c on the car temp readout. Not normal

[garynortheast]

Indeed, definitely not normal. :shock:

[redtrummy]

Survived the visit to the future in laws ok, but the continuation to have a look around Sutton Hoo didn't happen - just too damned wet!


Happy New Year one and all!

[svenrico]

Yes, warm for the time of year. Very windy walking about in Ripon today, a gust actually moved me sideways.

[Craig380]

Indeed, definitely not normal. :shock:

Upside: should be good for a ride Friday / Saturday ...

[Sir Trev]

No murders at Trev Towers, thankfully. The Olds got delivered back home safe and sound on Boxing Day and we've all recovered. Got stacks of food left so no worries about going hungry but the new year diet will have to wait for a while...

Ended up carrying my jacket after a while on our countryside ramble today as its so warm. Only another couple of days of it left though around here before it gets cold again.

[Bibio]

long may the mild weather last.

[Ruffy]

long may the mild weather last.
I suspect a proper cold snap, or at least extended periods of single digit temps, will arrive sometime around March/early-April.

Part of my own hypothesis that UK seasons have 'slipped' a bit, i.e. 'summer peak' is nowadays generally more like Sep/Oct rather than July/August and 'deep midwinter' tends to be Feb/Mar rather than Dec/Jan. (Conclusion drawn from anecdotal observation/recollection, not good scientific process.;))

[svenrico]

Highest new years day temperature on record today.