bonio

Got a phone? Then get the AuroraWatchUK app. Last night at about 10 it put out an alert saying aurora should be visible over the whole UK. Rushed the window. Raining and cloudy. Two hours later the stars came out, but the aurora had already stopped. Last night was supposed to be particularly good one.

I've borked.

Here you go

Mine's the Oxford XA14, too.

I've got an alarmed disc lock. I reckon it was the easiest and cheapest way to fit an alarm to the bike, and more effective than a fitted alarm, since it acts as a lock too.

My guess is your problem is having the instructor behind you, more than anything else? If so, perhaps some shorter sessions with the school would help, like @goat suggested. Just to get used to the idea of someone behind you all the time. Alternatively, look around for another instructor, one who puts you more at ease. Some instructors do this naturally, others don't have the same gift. If you wanted to do this, might be an idea to tip up at the school and chat to those that are about.

I'm no expert but here's what I'm thinking: It's hard to see from the pics what state the splines are in, but you can test it out, I'd have thought. Is the front sprocket ok? If so, when you put it on the shaft with the clip in place, is there any play between it and the shaft splines? It should be rock solid, otherwise, you're going to get bumpy transmission and perhaps put excess wear on the engine. If the sprocket is damaged, you can get a new sprocket to test it out with; should be able to get one for under a tenner.

First dose was end of July. I took part in the Novavax vaccine trial, during which I got 2 shots of Novavax. I left the trial in June, because I wanted to get approved vaccine such as AZ or Pfizer so I could travel. So I went to the GP, but the nurse refused to vaccinate me because I'd been on the trial. She spoke to the GP; GP said I should contact PHE; PHE said I should contact the people running the trial; The people running the trial didn't have AZ or Pfizer to give, they only had Novavax. Went to a walk-in clinic in July and was lucky and got my first AZ shot. Went to another walk-in for the second shot 10 weeks later, in September, but the nurse refused to vaccinate me, because I'd been on the trial. She said I should contact my GP; when I said the GP had already refused me, she said to contact PHE; when when I said I had, she said I should contact the people running the trial. Then last month I got a call from the hospital running the trial saying they will give 2 shots of Pfizer to any of us who want them. Yesterday I got a voicemail from them saying they won't vaccinate me, however, because I've already had one AZ. They won't give me a second AZ either. Don't know why. The only light at the end of the tunnel is that Novavax seem finally to have got themselves out the mess they made of the approval process, and it looks like the vaccine will soon become an approved one, good for travel. The fly in the ointment is that when I got my first AZ, the NHS managed to lose the record of my first Novavax shot, so now it appears as if I've had only one Novavax and one AZ. Can't travel with that. My son in Oz is asking if we can come out to see him when their borders open. As things stand, not much chance.

I feel like the character in The Castle. Always being told to go somewhere where it will all be sorted out. Always coming up against another bureaucrat who speaks like a politician and gives me a perfect excuse for doing nothing to help. Never being able to find anyone who will act like a reasonable human being. I hated reading it.

Mornin' @rennie. Hope you're doing ok.

Hi Dan. Welcome in.

I've now got myself my first AZ vaccination. Can I get myself a second one so I can travel? No chance. I can't find anyone who's prepared to give me a second jab. At this rate I will be doing my touring in Scotland for the rest of time. Starting to get a frustrating.

It's dismal. The old XSR was beautiful. But this is so Frankenstein I reckon I can see the stitches.

Last time I stayed in a Travelodge was when the Tiger was nicked from the car park. Not been back since. What you need to pass the time is this 10-episode series of "The Idiot": https://russianfilmhub.com/episodes/the-idiot-1x1/. Brilliant acting, great storyline and it can all be yours for free. Make sure you go to settings and turn on the English subtitles.

Premier Inn? Travel for work is overrated. Is beer included in expenses?

Pretty normal, I think. Harpic is good for getting it off. Try a bit where it doesn't show first, just to be sure.

You'd have been fine a couple of years ago, but the 2nd hand market has gone a bit crazy. Can't honestly recommend a chinese bike; I had a chinese scoot once and it was built out bits of plastic held together with cheese. Lasted 18 months. Don't know what to suggest for you.

Went out to fill the VanVan up with petrol for winter storage. 30 mile round trip on dry roads in beautiful sunshine. I don't really ride that bike enough.

Dunno. I thought it was a friendly response to the the cheery greeting "4Q".

Three bikes: one's a proper middleweight and one's a flyweight and the other's a 125. Do I pass?

First things first: what's your budget?

Funny. The guy passed by here just the day before you posted.

Some time back I was giving some customers a course on programming our system. It was all in C++. It wasn't meant to be hilarious, except when I showed them some sample code where I'd missed the "l" from "public". Odd thing is, I still make the same mistake now.

Are you looking for someone here to sell one? Or advice on what you should buy?

Dainese is what you buy in order to look beautiful. I had a great pair of Dainese jacket and trousers; wish I'd not sold them! Seemed to me to be well made too. RevIt do some really nice stuff I reckon, especially if you want something more cafe racer or retro. Good quality too. RST are good value for money, but being American, even their size S is way to big for me, so I've never owned any.