Thursday 31 October 2024

Bicycle Cleaning

I made an effort to clean the bicycle with a little soapy water and a little rag.  I removed a lot of the dirt around the forks and the wheels, but I tried very hard to brush down the grooves on the handle bars, it doesn't seem to shift the engrained dirt...

Wednesday 30 October 2024

Pork Crunch

When we were in a Melton Mowbray snack shop, I picked up a bag of pork crunch.  I am convinced it will be just like Cantonese pork skins.


They did turned out how I expected then to be.  I need to keep my eyes out for them.

Posh shops are selling them as high protein low carb keto snack, imagine that!

Tuesday 29 October 2024

Bike Hanging

Last year I used the existing hangers in the garage to hang the bicycle, as a result, it was hard to access and I rarely used the bicycle, I used the folding bikes instead.

This year, I have fashioned a low level bicycle suspension system using ropes, and it is working well.

Monday 28 October 2024

Leeds Bike Mill Maintenance II

So I went to Leeds Bike Mill again.  This time I brought my new folding bike, and a wheel from the big bike.

It was good to refresh my existing skills, give the bike a clean, help others.  Best of all, we got the bike on the stand and we got the gear sorted!

After that, I cycle to town for lunch and coffee.  When I got home, I put the wheel back on the big bike and made some adjustments.  A very accomplishing Sunday.

Sunday 27 October 2024

Lincolnshire Windmills

I wanted to visit a few windmills in Lincolnshire, but since some other bikers were coming with me, I have reduced it to one.

When we got to Waltham Windmill, I felt conned, they took the sails down for maintenance/restoration!

The cafe owners were happy to see us, I think they were expecting more customs for a dry Sunday.

I need to think about going to the two I missed, and check when Waltham puts their sails back up.

Saturday 26 October 2024

Light Night

I took 9 others around Light Night.  Many of this year's light shows were a bit trippy.  After just one show, one bailed.

There was a queue forming at St John', so we pass.

All in all, it was good fun.

Friday 25 October 2024

Google Wallet

Anticipating my future travel needs, I am experimenting with digital wallets.  First of all, I have loaded all my loyalty cards, and only loyalty cards in my Google Wallet.  It has worked well so far for the ones I have tried.

I have shared this experience with the Gen X-ers and other geriatric millennials, they are now also transferring their loyalty cards on their digital wallets.  The first step to the 21st century!

Thursday 24 October 2024

Cat Paprika

Whilst we are waiting for the cat pepper, I fashioned some cat paprika, apart from the red colour, let's hope it works.

Wednesday 23 October 2024

New Bathing Suit

A lifeguard had informed me my bathing suit was wearing a bit thin, so I finally broken the new swimming suit in.  It is a Speedo, but it is a single layer kind, not sure if it will last that long.

Tuesday 22 October 2024

Basic Heat Transfers

Before we have to use a thermal imaging camera, we can always use our normal vision to identify the worst areas of uncontrolled heat loss across the fabric and tackle those first.

Monday 21 October 2024

Pizza Roulette

We are treated to pizza roulette on a regular basis, and it is getting more adventurous.  

Sunday 20 October 2024

Comet Not

I tried a few time to look for the comet a few times this weekend, and failed.  I decided it is like needle in the haystack, even if you know it is supposed to be there.

Saturday 19 October 2024

Ramen that Isn't II

Just when I think all ramen should be pulled, because it meant pulled noodle.  The English are calling rice noodles ramen?!  Rice noodles are not even "mein", they are "fuin"!



Friday 18 October 2024

Ventilation

It is exhausting to explain basic physics to people who thinks dehumidifier can replace mechanical ventilation or manual ventilation luften.

Dehumidifier is an air condition unit that create a cold surface for the moisture to condensate, they tend to not have sufficient air movement to remove moisture already condensate on cold surfaces.  And it cost more to run than any ventilation systems.

Thursday 17 October 2024

Ramen that Isn't

Ramen means pulled noodles.  If it not pulled, its just mein, noodles.

There is a new Lanzhou noodle shop in Leicester, I am not convinced they pull their noodles.

And Japanese never pulled their noodles, even though they call all their wheat noodles ramen...

Wednesday 16 October 2024

Cha Siu that Isn't

Cha Siu means forked roast, once upon a time, they were roasted on a skewer.  You could still see cha siu that has a skewer hole.

Then obviously, the so call cha siu from Japan is not very much not skewed or roasted, it is a porchetta, roasted.

Then cha siu buns and cha siu baps were once believed to use leftover cha siu, I only to learn they were just cooked sweetened/seasoned pork!  Never had they been skewed or roasted.

Tuesday 15 October 2024

Lumo

Lumo has not come under my radar until recently.  I looked it up, it sounds like a First offshoot.  I am always up for a cheap train ticket, so if it pops up, I wouldn't hesitate to give it a go.

Monday 14 October 2024

Chilly Autumn Ride

Autumn is definitely here, this week is cooler than last week.  I was planning to wear my cold killers socks, but since I thought we weren't actually riding, I left them.

I did convinced Gary to take us up Cannon Hall, as to not waste Dave's journey to the West.  Dave's GS has heated drips AND heated seat! Gary and Andrew bailed after Emley Moor.  

Every farm shop we passed were full, people making use of the fair weather...  I am glad I made the decision to warm up at Cannon Hall!

We went home after Cannon Hall on Dave's Calimoto route.

Sunday 13 October 2024

Spa Hotel

I went to a spa hotel.  I thought I missed out for not having bought a swimming suit, but when I took one look at the pool, it was a paddling pool, so I didn't miss much.  I remember when I went to Castle Hotel in Scotland, their pool was also quite poor...

So I did some Sauna instead.

Saturday 12 October 2024

Cat Pepper

Chatting with the local allotment people, "What would you do if a neighbourhood cat likes to xxxx on your patch?", they said, "Cat Pepper." 

How do I not know about this!  I must get some!

Thursday 10 October 2024

Tomato Pest

On close inspection, I finally find the culprit, the thing that damaged my tomatoes, snails!  Some of them were eating my tomatoes when I was taking the plant down, so they all had to go to the compost bin...

Wednesday 9 October 2024

Bicycle Tyre Sizing

So I went out looking for a 700c inner tube, a guy from Evans told me, 700 is also known as 622, also know as 28".  At the same time, 29" is also known as 622?!  Such that, I could give them a think also.  How very strange!

Tuesday 8 October 2024

External Mechanical Impact

So in the repair cafe, I landed another impossible task.  It was a 240V mains hedge trimmer.  The most typical problem is broken wire, it wasn't.  Everything was held by each other within the plastic hub, so once it was undone, it was impossible to put back together... And a floor full of grease...

But I did find out what was wrong with it.  The carbon brush was worn, not making contact...  So in hind sight, it needed an external impact to help the brushes be seated, a good old wack!

Monday 7 October 2024

Back and Beyond

Making the most of the end of riding season, I went to the back and beyond, the back side of the Pennines.  I went up from Heptonstall, through Slack onto Widdop to the Pendle Hills.





The scenery so nice that people were not keeping their eyes on the road and really bad thing can happen in a split second in such narrow roads...

Sunday 6 October 2024

Worn Inner Tube

As it appears that the busted tyre might have damaged the inner tube, it has popped.  I need to go some a new one...

Saturday 5 October 2024

Local Bicycle Shop

I finally used my local bicycle shop.  I thought I might as well shop local and tried Dave Rayner.  He sold me a pair of part worn 700c tyres for £15, tiny cheaper than if I went to Halfords.  So let see.

Friday 4 October 2024

Modern Pies

Whilst I was looking up Delia's pies in Norwich City, which I am not convinced exists, I found an "Aussie pie shop" in Norwich, and another pie shop in Nottingham.  Their pies are "modern", "inventive" and most importantly, not "economical!...  Is it just Pukka and Pieminster, nothing in between?

Thursday 3 October 2024

Wednesday 2 October 2024

Tuesday 1 October 2024

Sturgis No Thanks

Someone at Sofy's wedding knowing I ride and lived in the States asked if I went to Sturgis. No Thanks!