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The Hilltrek jacket is a bit of a bag, but the publicity shots I've seen of the Lancashire Pike one looked pretty good I thought. I'd agree that if you're dropping that kind of cash it needs to be well made and tailored; to my mind it's really competing with fashion gear rather than cycling kit.

AIUI epic cotton's proofing should last for the life of the fabric, but it needs reactivating by tumble-drying. I've got an old Vulpine jacket and it's so-so; it's​ reasonably water-resistant but will wet through in heavy rain, and while it's as breathable as regular cotton I run hot and so will cook if it's not cold and I'm giving it any welly.

I'm not that taken by the Demon jacket; for the money you could get a replica Greenspot Nomad in double Ventile from Lancashire Pike, or Hilltrek will make you an updated version of the Greenspot for about £200 less. Unfortunately Ventile has the drawbacks of epic cotton at even higher cost: when it eventually wets through it gets stiff and heavy, and the breathability drops; it then takes ages to dry. Which isn't to say that I'd never consider getting one - just that it would be mainly as an about-town jacket, and would be unlikely to be worn on serious bike trips.

Back from Bob Jackson, who've done a lovely job - the paint looks great. Ideally would give it a month to cure, but am itching to get back out on the road...

Decent cable hangers for a 1" threaded headset? The current stamped metal one flexes like a bendy thing. Or can I use an uphanger with Weinmann centre-pulls?

Do you need a retainer - can you not just convert it to loose balls and add an extra couple?

Sure this has been mentioned before but hypers can be a bit slippy in the wet until they wear in; it's worth giving them a decent scrub when first fitted to clean off all the mould release agent. Otherwise great tyres; I run 35s because I'm lardy and they were dirt cheap, even if the clearances are a little tighter than I'd like.

OTOH if it's that far off the excise man may take a close interest...

(Entertainingly (OK, I'm easily entertained), historically the authorities didn't give a crap as to whether your beer was safe to drink, just whether you'd paid the correct amount of tax on the malt used. The consequence was watered-down beer pepped up with (amongst others) caramel, liquorice, spices, and strychnine, all to give the resulting brew the same mouthfeel and pep as actual beer. It was only in the 19th century that the public health implications of beer adulteration became enough of a concern to government for it to be banned. /csb)

I think most staff would struggle to > explain why 2x10 gears are better > than 3x8 to the general public.

Tbh so would I; given equipment of similar quality (admittedly high-quality triples are becoming a rarity), it's really a matter of personal preference and/or preferred application.

Perhaps its the beard-and-Carradice circles in which I pedal, but I reckon square taper is still on half of the bikes I see, and the overwhelming majority still use tubes. I accept these numbers would be different if I raced, but I still wouldn't call either technology dead just yet.

Ta; my localish indie coffee place sells the rhinowares so I will probably pick one up next time I'm in.

@withered_preacher looks ​shiny; what is it?

Double discount you mean? I placed an order and the Flanders discount just got applied to the non-base-layer items; the base layers were still 30% off.

What's the current forum recommendation for a decent hand grinder? Rhinowares, skerton, something else? I never have more than a cup or two most days, so rate consistency over speed. Ideally suitable for Moka pot, aeropress, and pourover grinding.

So, strap recommendations. I've got a mechanical Mondaine Swiss railway watch that must be at least 20 years old, and the straps have worn again. In the past I've replaced them with OEM straps, but it's a smaller watch than most of the current models and I was never crazy about the quality of the Mondaine ones. Suggestions for a 14mm plain black strap? IIRC one of the Nomos horween straps should fit, but I don't know which of their watches has 14mm lugs.

I've also got a Timefactors Speedbird III, which spends most of its time on a NATO or the bracelet, but I quite fancy a formal-ish black leather strap. Any suggestions?

Possibly of interest? http://www.glowtec.co.uk/reflective-paint-info.htm (not used myself, but have seen it discussed on another forum.)

Can I ask which one you went for? I'm currently looking for a sofa bed with a near-identical set of requirements, down to the 1.95m height stipulation.

Bavaria? Recall that being ok.

Did it have low-riders on the front? Occasionally saw a Pedersen on my commute when I lived in Cambridge; once it was in full touring mode with Super C front and rear panniers and looked fucking ace.

Harlequin wrap using both, obvs.

Picked up a couple of back issues of Mondial in the sale, and finally got round to reading them. I have to say they're truly excellent - obviously full of the kind of posey stuff that appeals to a Rapha wanker like myself, but very nicely done. Will pick up the current issue next time I'm in a cycle club.

Not tried any higher, but I've used friction on 9-speed spacing and it was fine. Lacked the satisfying clunk of 6-speed shifting into place, mind.

Helicopter tape maybe?

That's so obvious it's surely a knowing parody/in-joke rather than a rip-off, no?

Frame is at Bob Jackson's and should be back with me by the end of the month (I assume; they're not exactly voluble), but bottle cage bling has arrived!

Still need to sort out the cockpit. It looks like VO randonneur bars are suitably long reach and are 26.0; I've managed to find a 150mm stem so hopefully the combination should end up in more or less the same place. Hoping to be back on the road in a couple of weeks.

I've found them fine down to about freezing, though haven't been on longer rides in those temperatures.

I like the merino gloves, but then I run very hot - they cut enough of the wind to keep my hands warm but remain really breathable. Not sure how long they'll last though, being thing and fairly fragile.

a) yes, especially as I recently read a book about the year record, and many of the record holders signed the Golden Book; I was vaguely aware that it was still going.

b) not heard of/no opinion.