Bit of a selfish one this - and I'm only really doing it so as to highlight a website I personally support. Namely; Wittypedia.
An underground sensation, WittyPedia was originally an encyclopaedia containing funny articles on a whole range of subjects but it has since evolved into an entertainment mega site. Now rebranded as the Witt, here are my top 5 tips for getting the most out of using it;
5. Browse
Simply go to www.wittypedia.com and browse - you will discover many funny things and check out the original WittyPedia section to see some of the funniest articles ever written by humans.
4. WittyMedia
Click on the title and be transported to a world of funny videos, humorous articles and hilarious photos from around the internet.
3. WittyPeople
Click on the title to see a list of our favourite funny comedians (slight UK bias) along with quotes and a video from each of them.
2. Murraying
Do you Murray? Click on the link - it's funny. No explanation necessary.
1. Contribute
You can easily contribute to the site. Funny pictures as well as video and article URLs can be submitted here and, if you have an idea for a funny article for WittyPedia you can log in or create an account (for free) and type away.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Top 5 bicycle maintenance tips
Nearly all bicycle related issues can be fixed by the owner with a little bit of patience and guidance.
I've been biking a lot lately so this list is based on my personal experience about the most common problems and best solutions. My bike is old and possibly outdated but hopefully most of these tips are universal... they're all fairly obvious probably but I hope someone finds these of use.
5. Repair Kit
4. wrench
3. Right stuff for the right job
2. Brush up (and down)
1. Spares
5. Repair Kit
Repair kits are cheap, small and invaluable - there's no reason not to ride with one. On the road your biggest problems are likely to be a puncture, loose nut or potentially, loss of brakes (due to pad moving) and whilst you should check your bike regularly it is always best to have the correct tools ready for these eventualities.
4. Pliers
An odd one but absolutely crucial for me with my old bike. Some of the nuts are odd sizes and rather than carry a multitude of spanners I instead have a couple of adjustable wrenches or pliers with me when riding. Any problems with my derailleurs or wheel nuts loosening are easily remedied.
3. Right stuff for the right job
Many people, myself included, use household oils such as WD-40 to oil their chains etc. It contains solvents and is not actually designed for this purpose - although it's very good for rusty locks and stubborn nuts and bolts etc. A trip to your local bike shop will give you a plethora of options for different parts of your bike and if you do nothing else you should buy a specialist lube for your chain.
2. Brush Up (and down)
After a muddy ride it is best to clean your bike as soon as possible. If you can put it away in a dry place then hosing down may suffice - although I find a quick scrub with an old brush (off the end of a hose in my case) shifts the stubborn dirt. Take special care around your derailleurs and gears to get all the gunk and bits out - and remember to regrease it all after.
1. Spares
It's always good to have reserves but really all I'm talking about is inner-tubes, nuts and washers cable end pieces - and possibly a gear cable and chain. If you get a puncture you may want to replace your inner-tube - giving you time to find the puncture on the old one and repair it making an instant spare. On a personal note - my girlfriends seat became lose and it transpired that somehow all of the nuts had been lost somewhere along the track... if I'd had spare nuts this wouldn't have been a problem... live and learn.
Recommended Reading:
I've been biking a lot lately so this list is based on my personal experience about the most common problems and best solutions. My bike is old and possibly outdated but hopefully most of these tips are universal... they're all fairly obvious probably but I hope someone finds these of use.
5. Repair Kit
4. wrench
3. Right stuff for the right job
2. Brush up (and down)
1. Spares
5. Repair Kit
Repair kits are cheap, small and invaluable - there's no reason not to ride with one. On the road your biggest problems are likely to be a puncture, loose nut or potentially, loss of brakes (due to pad moving) and whilst you should check your bike regularly it is always best to have the correct tools ready for these eventualities.
4. Pliers
An odd one but absolutely crucial for me with my old bike. Some of the nuts are odd sizes and rather than carry a multitude of spanners I instead have a couple of adjustable wrenches or pliers with me when riding. Any problems with my derailleurs or wheel nuts loosening are easily remedied.
3. Right stuff for the right job
Many people, myself included, use household oils such as WD-40 to oil their chains etc. It contains solvents and is not actually designed for this purpose - although it's very good for rusty locks and stubborn nuts and bolts etc. A trip to your local bike shop will give you a plethora of options for different parts of your bike and if you do nothing else you should buy a specialist lube for your chain.
2. Brush Up (and down)
After a muddy ride it is best to clean your bike as soon as possible. If you can put it away in a dry place then hosing down may suffice - although I find a quick scrub with an old brush (off the end of a hose in my case) shifts the stubborn dirt. Take special care around your derailleurs and gears to get all the gunk and bits out - and remember to regrease it all after.
1. Spares
It's always good to have reserves but really all I'm talking about is inner-tubes, nuts and washers cable end pieces - and possibly a gear cable and chain. If you get a puncture you may want to replace your inner-tube - giving you time to find the puncture on the old one and repair it making an instant spare. On a personal note - my girlfriends seat became lose and it transpired that somehow all of the nuts had been lost somewhere along the track... if I'd had spare nuts this wouldn't have been a problem... live and learn.
Recommended Reading:
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