The Retirement Thread

[monkers]

I have returned from the MOT station brandishing a pass certificate. I managed to get the airbag warning light to go off. The tester discovered a misbehaving front marker light, but he fixed that with a new bulb for me. then reported on some corrosion on one section of the exhaust and a split front ant-roll bar joint boot. Both inexpensive jobs to fix, so I'll see to those when I feel up to it.

I now have the prop.shaft removed from the stricken Suzuki, which was the most major (I mean expensive at £800 for a new one)) of the fail items. The car doesn't actually need to have one, so once the other work is done, the car can go for a test without a prop.shaft on it. Suzi will live to fight another day. That saving means that I can tackle a few other advisory items on the list instead and still save some money.

It's dry here but pretty windy, so I don't think I'll chance a ride out but will probably get on the turbo for an hour later this afternoon once my toast has gone down a bit. I'll start by trying 120W, but if my heart rate gets to 150 reluctant throbs per minute, I'll knock the power back.

@gavroche ... how did you get on with your tyres?

A pleasant afternoon to you all. Catch you again later. xx

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Checked the forecast this morning - said it would rain soon - so I waited until it stopped and re-checked

No rain for the rest of the day

SO I set off on my normal loop

to find it is a lot colder than previously
Then, crossing the Silver Jubilee bridge some grumpy old man shouted after me "You're not supposed to ride on her you know"
OK - it does say "Cyclists Dismount - Share with Care" - but I had slowed down and almost stopped behind them after ringing my bell some distance away
and everyone ride along the bridge - most people just smile and say hello - butnot him
wonder it he ever breaks any rules ever - probably not
grrrr

anyway - carried on - veryone else seemed to be in a good mood - lots of smiles, 'thank you' comments and generally nice people

then , once I got the the furthest part of the ride - basically the edge of Warrington - it started raining - naturally just as I turned into a head wind
Thanks Met Office!!

anyway - it stopped when I left Warrington - wonder if someone from round there has annoyed the rain gods???

got home with a muddy bike - tried the hosepipe followed by leaf blower trick

now for a cuppa!

 

[gavroche]

I have returned from the MOT station brandishing a pass certificate. I managed to get the airbag warning light to go off. The tester discovered a misbehaving front marker light, but he fixed that with a new bulb for me. then reported on some corrosion on one section of the exhaust and a split front ant-roll bar joint boot. Both inexpensive jobs to fix, so I'll see to those when I feel up to it.

I now have the prop.shaft removed from the stricken Suzuki, which was the most major (I mean expensive at £800 for a new one)) of the fail items. The car doesn't actually need to have one, so once the other work is done, the car can go for a test without a prop.shaft on it. Suzi will live to fight another day. That saving means that I can tackle a few other advisory items on the list instead and still save some money.

It's dry here but pretty windy, so I don't think I'll chance a ride out but will probably get on the turbo for an hour later this afternoon once my toast has gone down a bit. I'll might start by trying 120W, but if my heart rate gets to 150 reluctant throbs per minute, I'll knock the power back.

@gavroche ... how did you get on with your tyres?

A pleasant afternoon to you all. Catch you again later. xx

They are ordered and will be fitted tomorrow after 11am. £320 for all four, Kumho tyres.

 

[Dirk]

I heard the best definition of " death" this morning by a 83 year old French artist.
" Death is a woman with black hair who follows you all your life and one day , you will sleep with her."
I like that.

Bit of a bugger if you were gay.

 

[monkers]

They are ordered and will be fitted tomorrow after 11am. £320 for all four, Kumho tyres.

Ouch, but I've recently seen 700c tyres at about £60 each. I'm not sure of the tyre size you've ordered but I will bet they look like more material value than four bike tyres.

 

[screenman]

2 + hours online with Ryanair, mainly on no help. The flights came to £306 so redeemed my £300 gift voucher went to pay the balance and got logged out after a few minutes with managing to pay. So now I have no flights and no voucher as it seemed they have taken it. No help says try again tomorrow.

 

[monkers]

2 + hours online with Ryanair, mainly on no help. The flights came to £306 so redeemed my £300 gift voucher went to pay the balance and got logged out after a few minutes with managing to pay. So now I have no flights and no voucher as it seemed they have taken it. No help says try again tomorrow.

@screenman

Must watch < click here.

 

[oldwheels]

I heard the best definition of " death" this morning by a 83 year old French artist.
" Death is a woman with black hair who follows you all your life and one day , you will sleep with her."
I like that.

At my advanced age I prefer not to have such thoughts although given the age my parents died at I may have a few years yet.

 

[screenman]

@screenman

Must watch < click here.

Thanks for reminding me I have seen it before, they are a brilliant act and one I would like to see live. If we did not have the voucher they would not be out choice of airline.

 

[oldwheels]

Forecast was right for here. Dry but cold and a brisk north wind so got out on the trike before the storms in the next couple of days. Temp 4C when I went out and bitter wind but nice to be out in the dry.
More traffic than usual but local traffic all give me a friendly wave or quick burst of the hazard lights as they pass. Still some tourists around tho' and a couple of motorhomes on the campsite. Since we are level 2 I doubt they are here legally.
One annoying scenario which also applies to driving. I see them coming and pull into a passing place. They are so gormless they cannot see that and stop several passing places away and sit flashing their lights at me. Local drivers just keep coming as is normal practice. I waited for another lot who took forever to reach me and I could see their knuckles shining through the windscreen as they crept past.
Cleared some stuff out of my polytunnel/stickshed after lunch as I have doubts about the polythene lasting another winter. It must be approaching 20 years old now.

 

[welsh dragon]

My weather so says I can expect rain at 3 pm.....or sooner

 

[PaulSB]

I have returned from the MOT station brandishing a pass certificate. I managed to get the airbag warning light to go off. The tester discovered a misbehaving front marker light, but he fixed that with a new bulb for me. then reported on some corrosion on one section of the exhaust and a split front ant-roll bar joint boot. Both inexpensive jobs to fix, so I'll see to those when I feel up to it.

I now have the prop.shaft removed from the stricken Suzuki, which was the most major (I mean expensive at £800 for a new one)) of the fail items. The car doesn't actually need to have one, so once the other work is done, the car can go for a test without a prop.shaft on it. Suzi will live to fight another day. That saving means that I can tackle a few other advisory items on the list instead and still save some money.

It's dry here but pretty windy, so I don't think I'll chance a ride out but will probably get on the turbo for an hour later this afternoon once my toast has gone down a bit. I'll start by trying 120W, but if my heart rate gets to 150 reluctant throbs per minute, I'll knock the power back.

@gavroche ... how did you get on with your tyres?

A pleasant afternoon to you all. Catch you again later. xx

May I ask two questions? I've known a number of women who had a real interest in cars but never one who would consider removing and replacing a prop shaft.

Did you work as a mechanic or is this a hobby?

If the Suzuki has a prop shaft why doesn't it need one to drive? Surely the manufacturer wouldn't put one in unless necessary?

I should say my working knowledge of cars is limited, very limited. I thought the prop shaft transfers the power from the engine through to the rear wheels?

 

[12boy]

The wind continues unabated and will do so through tonight. Spent about 3 hours yesterday trying to pull get the new router to work but couldn't succeed. I've ordered an Ethernet to USB dongle which will arrive tomorrow and will rejoin the fray with that in hand. I will do a little yardwork today and perhaps a short ride.
Old wheels, looked up polytunnels, which is what we call hoophouses. A few years back I got to help a local non-profit build a 40 x 20 one which was interesting. I've had little ones in my garden made with rebar stakes and 10 ft PVC pipe, but I am toying with making one that wõuld cover my 16 x 25 garden. Every year the damned robins, who return in the spring, arrive in time to devour my snowpeas as soon as they are planted. I could halt their predations if the peas were planted inside the hoophouse. They go for beans, too.
My kids are pressing us to move to the Longmont Colorado area as they are 300 miles away. I really don't want to because it is a lot to take on considering Mrs 12's health and the expense of housing there. If I knew we'd be here for a long time there are lots of xeriscaping/gardening things I would do, but that doesn't make a lot of sense if we were to leave in a year or two.
Be well and content.

 

[screenman]

May I ask two questions? I've known a number of women who had a real interest in cars but never one who would consider removing and replacing a prop shaft.

Did you work as a mechanic or is this a hobby?

If the Suzuki has a prop shaft why doesn't it need one to drive? Surely the manufacturer wouldn't put one in unless necessary?

I should say my working knowledge of cars is limited, very limited. I thought the prop shaft transfers the power from the engine through to the rear wheels?

My guess it is 4wd in which case it will not miss the propshaft.

 

[Dirk]

My guess it is 4wd in which case it will not miss the propshaft.

Mine too.
My CRV runs in front wheel drive if you remove the propshaft. Simple job to remove it.