text:
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread
|Display Modes
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Chch, EnZed
Oddometer: 1,786
The Toolkit Thread
After participating in a couple of Neduro's clinics, and having had to use my toolkit several times during, it's become obvious that a formal list of toolkit and trail(road)side repair neccesities would be a useful item to have for both noob's and senior ADVer's alike. That said, I've taken a few hours on a recovery day after a very intense ride yesterday to photo-document my toolkit and essentials. Special thanks to Dan for letting me use his epoxy-painted garage floor and digital camera for the photoshoot!
That said, I would like to open for comment/criticism my toolkit, it's contents in considerable detail, and why they're in there. The stuff I carry is the product of many years or trailriding, dual sport riding, trials riding and more recently my short streetbike excursions. I ride primarily dirt, race alot as well - desert/enduros/scrambles/GP's - and generally have an observed trials and dirtbike background.
Thus, experience with repairs and essentials has honed my toolkit down to the items listed here, and I can only disclaimer that these are the things I carry on any ride(and sometimes when I race) that I expect to have bike or body drama on from one or more of the participants. I have carried things I eliminated later, and things I have only needed once or twice but that would have prevented a night spent in the cold or otherwise miserable.
A lot of this stuff might seem self explanatory, but oftentimes I'm the only one on a ride of 10+ people that has what someone else(or I) need. Everyone agrees that it's good to have, but no one seems to remember it when they are sitting around drinking beer later and have the chance to hop on the internet and mailorder the stuff they needed hours before to avoid a major catastrophe!
Anyone that spots anything I've missed, or has a worthwhile addition/suggestion for a situation I haven't yet encountered
is welcome to chime in about it - just provide some background and a reason, and try to keep it realistic by stating what form of riding it might work best for, or if it's bike-specific or the like. Everyone has different needs, and this should just be used as a guideline to developing your OWN toolkit. You get the idea!
For general riding where my tools and spares can't be carried on the bike, I carry a waist pack - or fannypack as we call it here in the US. I used to carry a tool wrap inside a backpack, but that proved too cumbersome to access and carrying the weight up that high was no help to moving aroudn ont he bike either. Obviously, some of us can't or won't wear a waistpack or even a backpack but I think the following banter should outline the important points of packaging all of your tools wherever you choose to carry them...
I looked all of the commercially available waistpacks, found them in stores and opened every pocket and un/zipped every zipper until I had figured out which ones had the features I wanted and fit me. Fox, Thor, Moose, MSR, Oneal, Fly, and Ogio, were the primary brands I looked at to name a few(I get by a lot of different shops). I also considered some stuff made by Mountainsmith and others at the outdoor sports shops, but I settled on the Ogio MX 450 for the following reasons:
- Fit. It fit my waist, and I'm a skinny white guy. Many I tried on had to be adjusted as small as they could go when strapped on to my 31" waist. I don't know why but whoever designs these things makes them long enough to fit around a big person and still have strap to spare. Perhaps this is flattery? I dunno...bottom line is that if you're not inclined to wear your toolpack because it's uncomfortable, there's a good chance that the ride you take without it will be the one you need it the most on. This should be a seriously motivating factor in selecting any baggage, IMO, even at the sacrifice of some other important factors in many cases.
- Security. Zippers on the MX450 were twice the size of comparable Moose or MSR packs. I know, I know, weight is an issue but not if all your tools fall out because a zipper didn't stay zipped or burst behind the zipper itself! Zipepr pulls must be easy to grab and use with gloves, or worse yet, wet/muddy gloves on without having to take them off to get into the pack. Larger zippers also tolerate sand/mud better, because they are less sensitive to the inevitable wear caused by them and evacuate them more readily when being cleaned or used. Buckles on the Ogio were high quality, and I could stand on them in the store without them breaking. Brittle plastic is not welcome on equipment that sees an environment like a toolkit on a motorcycle, whether riding or in storage in the bed of a truck or gearbag. The buckles on one of the Fox bags were broken in the store!
- Flexibility. The side pockets on the MX450 have expanding bottoms to carry an oil bottle, water bottle or other more voluminous cargo in an emergency. This feature is very similar to many of the expandable tailbags, backpacks and panniers out there, and is a small sacrifice in weight for a great gain in versatility.
- Stayputtedness. Is that a technical term? I don't know, but you get the idea. The MSR bags have an oval patch of grippy material in the center of the pack where it rests on your back. It seems good, and is better than the Moose ones or any of the others which just seem to have bare cordura in this critical location. But the Ogio one has this same grippy textile material all the way around the inside or contact surface of the pack. It stays put and does not slip down even after miles and miles of sand whoops at a good clip. A side benefit of this is that things that do not move at all do not chafe or rub raw, either.
Another benefit to the grippy material that it stays put when it's off your waist and open and sitting on the seat of your bike(inevitably angled so that most packs wont *quite* stay on there when your bike is on the kickstand or leaned against a rock/tree). Non-grip packs slide off and dump your tools in the sand/grass/mud/dirt = bummer.
These are my priorities, not yours. You may have different needs or different body shape or other issues that another pack works better to minimize, but the theme here is to think ahead to how you're really going to use the pack and look for features that look like they will solve those.
Make sure everything in your kit will work/fit/swing/loosen/tighten where you think you even might remotely need it to, and try it out ahead of time. There is no sense in carrying something you don't know how to use or that won't work on your bike. This is especially true of tools that need to fit in tight spaces, like to get to the underside of carburetors or backside of rear sprockets or the like.
Tins - Silly me, I pack individual tools in tins like the ones you get Altoids mints and other candies in. The above example has been used to carry spare chain and masterlinks, and is now my patch kit storage facility.
WHY ar tins so great? They make a tool that might otherwise poke through or wear through the compartment of your toolbag that it's in sit neatly in place, and stay there. If the tools are properly packed/wrapped in foam or felt, they can keep moisture out better than the tool bag alone and will not rattle like a maraca with each whoop you pound over. If the lids want to pop open, throw some rubber bands around each them and they'll come in handy sometime too.
Acerbis Sparkpug caddy w/plug - these are very common and made by others as well, do a good job of keeping spare plugs dry and will tolerate free-fall without allowing the porcelain part of the plug to crack. They work better if the plug cannot move within them, so I pack the end cap with a bit of open-cell foam to pad the electrode and keep things from shaking themselves to pieces:
If you own multiple/change bikes for some reason, be sure and update the plug so you're lugging around the right one! If your ride a twin cylinder, or more, carry that many plugs!
Sparkplug Wrench - I use the stock KTM one, because it's light and simple and fits my bike nice...BUT...there are many, many different varieties of these and what's most important is that it works. I'll be rounding up one for my 990 Adventure as soon as it comes in... As with all of your tools, use it at home before you need to use it on the trail so you're sure it will work when you are depending on it.
200, 400 and 600 grit sandpaper - I prefer the Testor's variety, from the model car/airplane shops, because it is abrasive bonded to a mylar backing that will tolerate oil, water, coolant and brake cleaners(petroleum distillates) without becoming useless, gritty pulp. It rolls up nice, and weighs .1 ounces to carry. Many uses, too:
Why carry it you ask? It works great to prep painted or anodized engine cases for the Quiksteel(below) to adhere properly to, even when they've leaked oil all over the place the grit will nor come off the sandpaper.
Ever fallen/crashed and put some big gouges in the stanchion of a fork? If you notice it before it eats your forkseal alive, you can rub it down with the sandpaper and preven leakage.
Got a leaky forkseal? good chance it just needs dirt removed from beneathe the lip. Flip over the 600 grit so the abrasive side faces the fork, trim it with a knife or scissors and it can be used to clean the lip of fork seals and dust seals out.
Quiksteel or equivalent - the best way to patch an engine case or sidecover with a hole/crack in it. Even if you can't find all the pieces of the case, you can use a pop can and make a patch on the outside of cases and use the epoxy to hold it in place and seal oil in. This stuff tolerates incredible heat and bonds amazingly well to almost anything but plastic. Not strong enough to use as a major structural repair, but in sufficient quantities will hold on chainguides, hold a busted cable into a lever where the barrel end pulled out, I have also seen it hold a stripped rear brake master cylinder rod into the pivot barrel on the end of the lever.
Axle Wrench - Be sure it fits your bike! Be sure you're prepared for front and rear flats! There are new Motion Pro 7075 Aluminum Combo Lever tire "irons" out there that have a 6-point hex axle nut wrench on one end and are very light and STRONG.
Chain ToolsMotion Pro T-6 Chain Tool - This is the lightest, easiest and only way you're going break and re-assemble an O-ring chain in the field with the same tool that I know if. Small and compact, it comes with it's own zippered case with elastic bands(just like my Ogio toolpack) to hold all the components in place and keep them from abrading themselves into uselessness. It works with all 520 and 525 chains, I don't know about 428 or 530...It even includes storage for spare parts:
Chain drive is one of those things like the spoked wheel - it has always been there and probably won't go away anytime soon. With rare exception, nearly every bike made in modern times uses a chain to transfer torque to the rear wheel and having the right tools/spares to deal with all of the common problems associated with this system them seems like a no-brainer to me. Even on a simple dualsport ride, an innocent little rock can bounce up into the chainline and cause all sorts of mayhem - its just a matter of statistical chance. If you haven't had a chain problem yet, you will, just keep riding.
Chain Parts
Stored in the Chain Tool pack. Why? I have knarled chain on a rock, and twisted chain up, and folded chain the wrong way:
Minimum Two(2) Spare master links - amazingly, I have never had one come loose, but I have had to repair one for another person. A single random chain link repair usually means you'll need two master links.
Minimum Two(2) Links of Chain - this means two inner, two outer...in a continuous piece, precut...you can cut what you need on the spot or cut one link for extra orings lost in the process or...keep using your imagination. This is just plain old spare parts, really.
Spare Chain O-rings -
hilslamer screwed with this post 06-07-2010 at 05:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Chch, EnZed
Oddometer: 1,786
Chapman Tools - This is the best compromise of weight and functionality I have found in a miniature ratchet. It can be used with all of the above bits, as well as the 1/4" drive adapter and any sockets you carry. The Chapman ratchet mechanism itself is a light but a little fragile, especially if you use a cheater on it as is neccessary sometimes. I substitute the Husky ratchet below and use all the rest of the chapman stuff, for a very versatile and capable set:
Driver Handle
4" Extension
Metric Allen bits - 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6mm*
1/4" Drive adapter
#2, #3 Phillips bits*
#2 Flathead bit*
*I keep these separately stored in thin felt in an Altoids Smalls tin:
Chapman 1/4" Drive adapter:
This allows you to use the sockets listed below on the extension, to get down into that sidecase bolt or up through the frame to toghten that shift lever with ease. Note set screw on the bottom of the extension in the above pic; it will retain any bit or adapter inserted into the extension to prevent accidental loss of the tool.
The Husky 1/4" & 5/16" reversable mini ratchet complements the good parts of the Chapman stuff. There are many other similar products out there ,but this one stood out to me for a couple of reasons, following. It also provides it's own well-retained snap-in 1/4" drive adapter for the larger ratchet(read: higher torque capacity) on the 5/16" end for close quarters use:
It's proven itself time and time again for me. The fact that the ratchets are robust AND reversible is a dead sell over other designs IMO.
Craftsman Stubby Combo Wrenches - 8, 10, 12, 13, 14mm sizes - These are off the shelf items at any Sears or mailorder from same. Strong enough to put a wrench-on-a-wrench for the same leverage as a typical long-pattern wrench, without the bulk/weight of same:
Thick chrome plating resists abrasion and scratching and most of all rusting in a soaked toolbag. You'll notice that I also carry a Yamaha-issue 14&17 combo open end wrench - most rear brake master cylinder adjutments require TWO 14mm wrenches, and there are occasionally 17mm hex heads on bolts that need attention on my bikes.
Craftsman Short 6-point sockets, 1/4" drive - More off the shelf items I keep on a trimmed and shortened and lightened socket rail. 12 points are a LOT more likely to strip seized fastener heads, and the Husky ratchets have very fin indexing to accomodate the better 6-point socket variety. I I used to keep these in a tin too, but they fit nice on a shortened rail in my new Ogio MX 450. Sizes: 6mm(Kiehin or Mikuni Mainjet wrench), 8, 10, 12, 14mm standard, 8 & 10mm deeps- all common sizes on my bikes. I'm not a fan of redundacy in trail tools, but oftentimes you need the deep sockes to loosen brak bleeders, adjust levers, you name it. On my bikes, I have found a need, so they're in my kit. You decide accordingly for your bike and it's possibilities.
Beware of bikes with oddball 15mm, 13mm and 7mm hex head fasteners - check your bike for critical fasteners the might need attention in the field, and stock the appropriate tools!
Inconel 600 tie wire, .025 or .032 - Available from MSC Industrial Supply or McMaster-Carr...Expensive nickle superalloy, but you'll find more and more uses for it. It's about 200% better than bailing wire: lighter, stronger(60ksi yield strength, 3x that of common bailing wire) and it doesnt rust instantly when immersed in moisture and turn the inside of your toolbag orange! It is especially strong even at very high temperatures, so it can be used to hold bent or broken exhaust pipes and expansion chambers and silencers on to get back to the truck.
Other usage examples: It can easily be used in place of a missing or broken exhaust spring. The .032 or larger can be bent into a cotter pin shape to hold a footpeg pivot pin in or similar. The .025 stuff can be bent carefully into a carburetor needle clip in the even one is lost. I carry about 18" of it in a small bundle or two.
Tweezerman tweezer kit- I live in AZ, and everyone knows how cactus remind you not to bump into them next time. Not to mention you can find all sorts of other uses for these, just lik you would at home. They weight nearly nothing and are indespensable on the trail IMO. These are SS so they don't rust, and come in their own case, which I orient in my toolbag so that they may never escape and get pointed at me while racing. Why is this important? A friend of mine had his come loose in his toolbag, get poked through the side, and gave him what was basically an "inkless tattoo" for the better part of a long lap in a harescrambles race...
Comb - Any small comb with fine enough combs to pull an entire chunk of Cholla cactus or similar out. Also doubles as a way to sift gently through the sand should you drop a bolt, etc., in it while making a repair.
SOG Paratool or equivalent - This hits a lot of birds with one stone: pliers, powerful needlenose pliers(due to doubler mechanism - SOG unique!), wire cutters, knife, a single- and double-cut file, a wood saw that trims broken plastic fenders etc. nicely, and even aluminum if need be, straight blade knife, a serrated knife, miscelaneous screwdrivers(although they never seem to be long enough to get to anything...hence the Chapman screwdriver bits), Scissors on some models that are good enough to trim tins/pop cans for patches in crankcases, etc. Some models have ViseGrips incorporated into them, which can be used on a broken shift/brake lever or stripped shift shaft so you can at least shift. The biggest thing here is to know what it has so you don't carry it twice or separately and also so you know what can be used where!
hilslamer screwed with this post 04-21-2011 at 12:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Chch, EnZed
Oddometer: 1,786
more still
Radiator StopLeak - a small, motorcycle-sized portion stashed in a 35mm film cannister. This stuff can save a long trip or a short ride where a stick, pebble or complete all-out getoff mangles a radiator but leaves it jut weeping or leaking. Dump it in and keep riding/racing! It's light, useful and the 35mm cannister will come in handy for something at some poitn even if you have to dump out the stopleak. Just remember to get it out of there ASAP as it's very hard on waterpump seals and the like...
BIC lighter - you never know when you'll need fire, whether it be for signal or warmth or both. Put it someplace in your toolpack where the button can;t get held on accidentally, and it will be there, ready to go, for a looooong time.
Allen Wrench assortment - Socket head capscrews have become more and more common on motocycles, both for their weight-savings and also because the look really cool! Allen wrenches can be great little leverage devices, cheaters, etc. so carry as many sizes as you can - even ones you think you might not need.
I prefer the ball-end type, and buy the good ones because these are some of the most highly-stressed tools in your toolkit - especially when used at odd angles.
Hemastat or equivalent - Otherwise known as a "roach clip," although tey can be used much more constructively! These can be used for many things, from holding something in place while glue dries to pincing off fuel lines that dangle from a gas tank that's been removed. They are $5 at the fishing store and come in handier than you might think.
Roll of wire - 12 guage or larger, enough to get from the handlebars to the rear of the bike in case of a short or switch issue or etc. This is another one that has a million uses - you can use one strand of copper to clean a clogged carburetor jet out, tie off somethign really tiny, etc.
Duckbill Shorty Crescent Wrench - these models from Craftsman open very wide, enough for a 28mm hex fastener, and also have narrowed jaws for getting into tight spaces and small fasteners. Will also work as a 3rd tire iron should you need it.
Zip Ties - Everone knows how handy these little guys are, and also how versatile, and light! I carry a variety of sizes, from teeny tiny ones for wiring harness repairs through mondo ones that can hold major compnents of a wrecked bike in place, or used as handcuffs like they do in Mexico!
Here is a place where you DO NOT want to skimp - sure, you can get the jar of 10,000 colored cheap-o zipties in a giant jar at DollarMart, but do you really want to rely on those in a desperate situation? I buy only Thomas & Betts High-Performance UV-resistant models when I can, and in specific the versions you see here with an overmolded stainless steel tang that will NOT release and is infinitely adjustable - no tugging the lead ont he ty-rap for that last click only to have the ratchet mechanism slip back three notches like a cheap-o zip tie will:
Duct and Electrical tape - This is pretty common knowledge, add bubblegum and you can fix anythign right? It can all come in very handy, as long as it's stored so that when you go to use it, it's still sticky and functional. Seen here stored on a tire lever, with zip ties to prevent this from happening:
Lubricant, cable/pivot/kickstarter arm/footpeg etc. - I carry a small dropper bottle of WhiteLightning Epic silicone-based chain lube, because it works everywhere and while it attracts dust it works very well and LASTS. It can be used for anything that squeaks and shouldn't, and will not dry up like WD-40 - nor is it aerosol that will get bumped in your toolkit and soak everything with oil.
Miniature Hacksaw blades - How many times have you seen somethign so magled that you could not get it out of the way just to ride back to safety? I have see such predicaments many times, so I carry a couple of two-dollar mini hacksaw blades for just such occasions. They can be held by hand or in pliers, bent for use in a tight space, used for tough material or spacers/shims, used as a brace or stent for busted fenders..the list goes on. Cheap, and handy.
I prefer the 32 tooth-per-inch variety in the case I need to cut steel. They will load up if used on aluminum unless you stick them down intot he crankcase and dope them with oil before you bgin your cut.
I'm out of time right now - I'll finish this up tomorrow. I have many more things to discuss!
back at it:
Whats this? Isn't that a bicycle cable of some sort? Why yes, in fact it is. You can buy a bicycle deraileur cable at any bike shop on your way home from work anytime for a meager sum, and it will double as any cable on your bike(although most modern bikes have only a throttle cable anymore...). Should you break a throttle(or clutch, or ?) cable, you can anchor each end of a temporary replacement with clever use of the aforementioned Quiksteel by simply using your pliers to put a kink in each end and casting the quicksteel into place around it, on the throttle or carburetor pulley, or even in the slide as I have done on many occasions. The same goes for a temporary clutch cable. For whatever reason, bicycle deraileur cable is VERY strong for it's OD, and is usually smaller than most cables on a bike. This means it's easy to cut, and thread through the old housing without removing the housing/adjusters/etc. from the bike. I also used a length of cable recently to hold the flywheel still on a YZ125 while I retightened a flywheel nut come loose - long story - but carrying aything this strong with this sort of versatility for a minimal weight penalty is justified IMO.
Tire Tools
A tire iron is a tire iron...except when it isn't iron. I passed my old forged steel tire ironson the day I got these in the mail from MotionPro - forged, 7075 aluminum tire "irons," complete with hex ends for loosening axles and rimlock nuts. They flex less and are stronger than any steel iron I've ever found, are 1/3 the weight and are easier to hold onto with gloves on your hands. The spooned tip of the one on the left in theis picture even has a lip forged into it, for biting the rim on that last pull that gets the bead of the tire over the rim. I've owned quite a few tire tools over my riding career, and these ones take the cake over all others - even the Titanium ones a freind of mine has.
There's no point in carrying tools to remove a tube if you can't patch it - so of course I carry a patch kit. Nothing too special here, other than that I always carry more vulcanizing compound that I know will be neccessary in case I need to make some sort of special repair due to a rock slash or the like. A variety of patches is always good too, of all sizes. Also, carry spare Scraeder valve cores and valve stem nuts - they always get lost at some point it seems.
If you use Michelin airstop tubes by chance, or they came in your new Euro bike, you must buy special patches for these. This is yet another case of proving the tools/repair items you carry out BEFORE you need to use them in a pinch...
In the dirt world, a CO2 cannister will fill a tire - I know this isn't neccessarily true with an Aventure bike, and I'll be changing this up when I get my 990...but int he mean time, any of the CO2 kits out there these days are pretty good. I find a lot of variability in the quality in the pumps ont he market, though, so be sure yours works before you haul it out into the wilderness and find it doesn't work fast enough or get pressure high enough to seat beads, etc...
Everyone probably knows already that this is a towstrap. The can also probably see that the end loops of this one are held fast with pop-rivets. Yeah, I know, you're probably all skeptical but this strap material is better known as "mule tape" - and it's tubular nylon webbing with extremely big strands that can have a rivet popped through them without ever really compromising the tensile strength of the webbing. This one is about 15 feet long, and while I only ever tow a motorcycle with a motorcycle as a very last resort, it is handy enough for it's weight that I carry it for other reasons too. Reasons like: many of the places I ride have trails that traverse inclines so steep that a bike ridden accidentally off of the trail can be an all-day job to get back on the trail - unless you have a strap that two or three people can tam on to pull the bike back up the hill. There are a million other ways to use this item too - think of it as a bike-sized version of the bicycle cable I recommended carrying earlier.
CLICK THIS to take you to the next post.
hilslamer screwed with this post 02-05-2009 at 03:09 PM Reason: finishing up....
Needs to get back to work
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Oddometer: 771
I'm sure this has been done before...
but I'm not sure if has been done this WELL before.
I can't wait til tomorrow.
Experience is the worst teacher; it gives the test before presenting the lesson. - Vernon Law
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Somewhere on two wheels!!
Oddometer: 2,590
This is one usefull thread.......
Thanks Tim for putting the effort into sharing this with us.
For all the times I have had to bum tools off you and Ned, I am going to head down to Cycle Gear and start building my own tool kit......TODAY!
Lyndon Poskitt Racing
Currently racing my way around the world at: www.facebook.com/LyndonPoskittRacing
Blogging at: www.racestoplaces.com
My Dakar Rally Experience and blog www.LyndonPoskittRacing.com
My KTM 950 Story
Chicken Rider
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: The third dimension
Oddometer: 1,278
Very nice work, both as to pics and explanations. Thank you.
I love tools. Now I have an excuse to go buy more.
Studly Adventurer
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Monterey, CA
Oddometer: 984
Tool me
One of the best threads I have seen, Thanks for the excellent work!
Joined: Mar 2006
Oddometer: 3,568
Y'all ridin' Harley or sumthin'? I doubt my old KLR will haul all that stuff. I do carry a spare plug on long trips (more the 10,000 miles). Instead of carrying it in a giant plastic case, I gap it, put anti-sieze on the treads, put it back in the original box with the cardboard ring around the treads and then wrap the box in duct tape. You now have a plug that you will never use and a handy supply of duct tape.
swjohnsey screwed with this post 09-03-2007 at 11:21 AM
Needs to get back to work
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
Oddometer: 771
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Leeds, UK
Oddometer: 1,120
Fantastic, I've been waiting for a thread like this. Thanks
A small reccomendation if you have never tried it..
get shut of the electrical tape and use self amalgamating tape instead -far superior. It doesent leave that sticky goo behind when you remove either.
Improvisational Engineer
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: OK, USA
Oddometer: 55
If you put a small zip tie aroung your lighter (under the thumb lever) you won't need to worry about the lever being depressed and your fluid going bye-bye. You can fit them tight enough to stay on in a bag or pocket, yet loose enought to flick off easily with your thumb.
Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Mar 2002
Location: N.E. Ohio
Oddometer: 1,071
NIce Kit
Did I miss the J-B Weld and volt/olhm meter? I carry those two for sure.
Joined: Mar 2002
Location: Sydney, Australia
Oddometer: 6,593
Nit picking ..
I do not carry tools on my person!
They are heavy ... so take effort to lug around everywhere.
They will hurt if you fall on them.
They should be packed on the bike .. and packed low due to their weight/density.
2) Spares are not tools - zip ties, spark plugs, J-B Weld, wire, patches, tubes etc are spares. I only take one of each type of spark plug used on the bike. Yet to have more than one spark plug fail at a time. Spares are things that go on/in the bike and stay there .. tools get used and removed from the bike to be used at another time.
Old Hemastats can be had from medical/denitstry people .. ones that can no longer be cleaned well enough for their use are fine on a bike You can also get inspection mirros from teh same source .. buyt they go in the home tool kit - you won't want to break one on the road.. Arr they also have probes .. good for scratching things .. and removeing that bit of dirt/tar.. and checking connectors
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Oddometer: 12,053
Now THAT is a tool kit.
Can we just buy the whole thing from you?
Doubletake Mirrors- Folding D/S mirror that is both useful and indestructible.
Dual Sport Riding Techniques DVDs: Clear instructional DVDs to improve off-road skills.
|Thread Tools
|Search this Thread
|Display Modes
Linear Mode


text:
Moderators: Tonyblack, Jason, Toothy
Mycroft Vimes wrote:Got ^that on a playlist,great song/band!
Dotsie wrote:Well my iTunes library is bursting, thanks to Tony
Some examples of what I've been listening to:
Someone's stuck in the 80's
Catch-up wrote:Heard this on our road trip and loved it!
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Yahoo [Bot] and 4 guests

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Part of the Active Training collection, the Fox Competition L/S Crew was designed to elevate your traning experience. With a focus on function, this tech piece brings you ergonomic details and body temperature control. Fox Tech Tees are lightweight, breathable and have a soft premium feel for ultimate comfort. Made with Dri-Release permanent performance moisture wicking technology that won't wash out. Keeps you up to 6 degrees cooler than normal tees and dries 4 times faster than cotton. Fresh Guard built into the fabric eliminates retaining body odor.
- Crew neck.
- Scalloped hem.
- Fox tech branding.
- Stash pocket.
- 84% polyester, 11% wool, 5% Dri Release French Terry.


text:
Family Storytime
Wednesday, April 30 @ 11am
Join Miss Kristine and Miss Alex every Wednesday for a fun-filled hour of stories, songs, and crafts. This program is geared toward a wide range of ages, including families with toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children.
Be a wilderness explorer at storytime this week!


text:
This new winter activity is a snow sport practised in off-piste ski areas bordering the normal ski areas or in adventure areas offered by large spaces outside pistes. It combines Freeride with paragliding, using a paraglider mini-sail that is easy to steer. Wearing skis, speed riding entails playing with relief, making jumps and then landing gently on snow. Speed riding is a real sporting discipline: modern, fun, but demanding...
Do not hesitate to contact professional instructors for beginner's lessons in total safety.
The ski-taxi is a new way of skiing for non-skiers, retired people and people with impaired mobility.
So take a ski-taxi to enjoy the thrills of skiing, guided by a qualified monitor. Alone or with your friends or family, you will (re)discover the pleasure of dashing down snowy slopes in the ski areas of Chamonix Valley.
You will sit comfortably in a fitted armchair with your legs outstretched and your head on a headrest.
Useful information :
You can take a taxi-ski in the ski areas of Brévent-Flégère, Le Tour and Les Houches. You can also go down the Vallée Blanche high mountain route.
ESF de Chamonix - Tel : +33(0)4 50 53 22 57


text:
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Management Plan Amendment (2013)
Travel Management Plan | Final Travel Management Map (August 2011) and Information
National Park Service website
A geologic wonder in a uniquely preserved volcanic landscape whose central focus is the Great Rift, a 62-mile long crack in the Earth's crust.Craters, cinder coves, lava tubes, deep cracks, and vast lava fields form a strangely beautiful volcanic sea on central Idaho's Snake River Plain. The Monument is jointly managed by the BLM and National Park Service.
Located approximately 160 miles east of Boise, the Monument was established in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge. It was expanded in 2000 and now includes 661,000 additional acres of federal land, which are jointly managed by the BLM and National Park Service.


text:
Travel like a local: Your Neighbourhood Guide to the Cape Town CBD by Day
Rob PetersThe CBD is the heartbeat of every major city and it is no different for Cape Town. The city centre is the pulse of the Mother City, providing the lifeblood of the surrounding areas. It is a melting pot of diversity and culture, a smorgasbord of historical influences and a place like no other on earth. If you really want to get underneath the skin of Cape Town, you need to start in the city.
Travel like a local: Your neighbourhood guide to DurbanvilleDurbanville is not your average Cape Town neighbourhood. There is so much more going on than the daily school run. This is a neighbourhood filled with great experiences for everyone to enjoy.
Take Advantage of Winter in Cape Town
Jenny MorrisI'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth and I love to get a quality deal at a good price. My working season is all year round, but it does slow down ever so slightly in winter and that is when I get to take advantage of all the specials on offer.
Your #lovecapetown weekend: What's on from Wednesday 01 July to Sunday 05 July, 2015
Rob PetersWith a wealth of natural beauty, unrivalled mountain trails and sublime backdrops, it's not hard to understand why Mother City locals spend the majority of their time outdoors and on the go. The good news is that it's even better in winter with the cooler temperatures making it an awesome option for sport and fitness fanatics!
Most Popular
Travel like a local: Your neighbourhood guide to Durbanville
Most Popular
Take Advantage of Winter in Cape Town
Most Popular
Unlocking the Elgin Valley
Most Popular
Make a difference on Mandela Day in Cape Town
Most Popular
Your #lovecapetown weekend: What's on from Wednesday 24 June to Sunday 28 June, 2015
Loading blog articles, this will just take a moment!
Do it in the dark in Cape Town: things to do to celebrate Earth Hour
Mother City lovers, it's time to dim the lights and do great things in the dark in Cape Town for the annual celebration of Earth Hour on Saturday 23 March, 2013. Earth Hour is the largest mass global participation event, in which people the world over switch off their lights for one hour, to reflect on our impact on the environment and renew our commitment to protecting our planet.
Cape Town's stars win top honours at 2013 Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards
It's official … Cape Town, the inspirational Mother City, is home to the most talented thespians! Homegrown stars walked away with top honours at the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards at the Artscape Theatre on Sunday 17 March, 2013.
Cape Town Carnival 2013: Photos
The fourth annual Cape Town Carnival once again had the streets of the Mother City awash in colour, festivities and entertainment when it was held on Saturday 16 March, 2013.
Get cooking with cuisine courses in Cape Town
To truly experience the culture and people of a city one needs to indulge in local cuisine. While most of the Mother City's culinary offerings are steeped in Dutch and Malaysian culture – legendary curries, bobotie, koeksisters, milk tarts and samoosas – Capetonians also draw inspiration from the cookery of Greece, Morocco, Nigeria and America.
Infecting the City 2013 in Cape Town: photos and video
Cape Town's biggest public arts festival, Infecting the City, is currently enthralling locals and visitors alike as it reawakens an appreciation of creativity and artistic expression in the streets of the Mother City.
Your Cape Town weekend: top three things to do
5, 4, 3, 2, 1… It's the weekend in the Mother City Cape Town fanatics – and you know what that means, right? It's party time! I know it's the middle of the month and you're feeling the pinch, but with the range of events on offer this weekend, you don't need to break the bank to have a good time.
Where Would You Rather Be Wednesdays: Cape Town lovers' top photos
Happy Where Would You Rather Be Wednesdays in Cape Town, Mother City lovers! As is now our custom on a fine Wednesday in our inspirational city by the sea, we'll be sharing suggestions and photos of places we'd rather be today.
Top 3 Capetonian entries for My Destination's Biggest Baddest Bucket List competition
Usually we Mother City lovers don't need much to boast about our amazing hometown. But when you're dangling a six-month trip around the world and a US$50 000 cash prize in front of us in exchange for a video tour of Cape Town, like My Destination is currently doing with the Biggest Baddest Bucket List competition, you can be sure that not only will we grab the opportunity with gusto, we'll also blow your minds with our entries!
Your Cape Town weekend: What to do in the Mother City
With 48 hours of glorious free time in beautiful and exciting Cape Town, there is time to see and do so much, Mother City-lovers! If I had to narrow down my choices, though, I'd prefer to be out and about on the streets of my hometown, enjoying the sunshine, the culture, the people and the oh-so-delicious cuisine.
A music aficionado's guide to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival
With just a month to go to Africa's grandest music gathering, the 14th Cape Town International Jazz Festival on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 April, 2013, the Mother City is abuzz with excitement. To be held once again at the impressive Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), this year's festival is set to thrill jazz lovers with world-class music.
Where Would You Rather Be Wednesdays: I ♥ Cape Town fans' top places in photos
Four weeks, four questions and over a thousand suggestions … Mother City lovers, you're amazing at letting us know Where You Would Rather Be on Wednesdays in inspirational Cape Town!
Fuelling Cape Town's creativity at Design Indaba Expo 2013: photos
The Cape Town International Convention Centre was abuzz with designers, interior decorators, architects, fashionistas, photographers, artists and students at the 2013 Design Indaba Expo on Friday 1 March, 2013.
Your Cape Town Weekend: top 3 events
Mother City lovers, it's time to gear up for one EVENTFUL weekend in inspirational Cape Town! From the Grand Parade to the Cape Town International Convention Centre and trendy De Waterkant, we want to see you out and about on the streets of Cape Town. Join me at the following events from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 March, 2013, and discover why the fun never stops in our vibrant Mother City.
Where Would You Rather Be Wednesdays: top 3 food and outdoor spots
It's Wednesday, Mother City lovers, and you know what that means … we want to know, Where Would You Rather Be in Cape Town? You Cape Town-crazy folk seem to love the outdoors and food, judging from the following Facebook comments.
Colourful fun in Cape Town with Holi One Colour Festival
Things are about to get colourful in Cape Town with the Holi One Colour Festival on Saturday March 2, 2013. The festival will feature massive explosions of colour as festival-goers throw safe, eco-friendly coloured powder into the air – to a countdown, every hour on the hour – while dancing to slick beats.
Second-hand book stores in Cape Town
Nothing turns my pages quite like a marvellous second-hand bookstore and in inspirational Cape Town, there are plenty to keep me happy. As fantastic as Kindles, Nooks and iPads are, there is nothing the feel of a book in your hands and it is for this reason that having a plethora of great second-hand bookstores in the Mother City is such a joy. Join me at the following bookstores in Cape Town and rediscover the wonder of reading.
A creative's guide to Cape Town's Design Indaba 2013
It's that time of the year again when hundreds of creative folk descend on Cape Town, the 2014 World Design Capital, for THE innovative event of the year: the 2013 Design Indaba. Held at the impressive Cape Town International Convention Centre and various venues in and around the chic city centre from Wednesday 27 February to Sunday 3 March, this year's Indaba features four inspirational events you cannot miss.
Cape Town-filmed Searching for Sugar Man wins Best Documentary Academy Award
And the 2013 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature goes to … Searching for Sugar Man, a film focused on the rediscovery of elusive musician Rodriguez and partially filmed in Cape Town, the inspirational Mother City!
Sizzling Mexican restaurants in Cape Town
Cape Town's diverse multicultural ancestry has enjoyed the influence of many traditional cooking styles; but Mexican food, in particular, is on an upward trend in Cape Town these days. Chilli poppers, quesadillas, tortillas, fajitas, taquitos, enchiladas … you name it, we have it! And here's where to satisfy your cravings …
Seeing Rodriguez in Cape Town: video
Sometimes a girl like me gets really lucky twice in a lifetime … on Wednesday 20 February, 2013, I had the privilege of once again seeing my much-admired idol, Sixto Rodriguez, live in concert at the Grand West Casino and Entertainment World's Grand Arena.
Your Cape Town Weekend: top 3 pink events
It's time to paint Cape Town pink, Mother City lovers! The über-fabulous Cape Town Pride Festival kicks off with dramatic flair this weekend, so let your inner feather boa-loving diva out and come and play with me at the following pink events from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 February, 2013.
Exploring South Africa on a motorcycle with Kaapstad Tours
It isn't every day that you meet a dashing English biker with a passion for Cape Town who is determined to travel thousands of kilometres through South Africa and explore its national parks. So naturally I was impressed and intrigued by Alex Jackson when we met recently for coffee to discuss his travel plans.
Where Would You Rather Be Wednesdays: top 10 places to be
You know what, Mother City lovers? You sure know how to show a writer some love … I mean, I put out one simple request for you to tell me where you would rather be on a Wednesday in Cape Town, and not only did you respond in your thousands but boy, did you blow my mind with suggestions!
Put the Mother City on the world's Biggest, Baddest Bucket List
As locals, we already know that Cape Town, our inspirational hometown, should be at the top of every traveller's bucket list. But what if you could win an all-expenses-paid, six-month trip to six continents – and US$50 000 on your return home, for proving it?
Your Cape Town Weekend: Top 3 Outdoor Events
It's going to be a scorcher of a weekend Mother City lovers which means that you simply cannot stay cooped up at home. Pack those picnic baskets with tasty goodies, slip into those sexy swimsuits (or running shoes) and join me at the following fabulous outdoor events in Cape Town from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 February, 2013.
Where Would You Rather Be Wednesdays in Cape Town
Call me crazy, but if you had to ask me where I'd rather be on a Wednesday in Cape Town, I couldn't tell you … simply because I'd want to be all over the Mother City at once!
African legends to descend on the Mother City for Cape Town Carnival
It's the stuff of legends … one magical night when locals and visitors come together to celebrate their vibrant diversity by marching to the beat of drums, wearing fantastical and colourful costumes, and enjoying world-class entertainment. The popular Cape Town Carnival, which has delighted spectators since 2010, will once again fill the Mother City's Fan Walk with vivid colour and boisterous energy on Saturday 16 March, 2013.
Rodriguez the Sugar Man live in Cape Town: Photos and Video
It's a Cold Fact, Rodriguez fans: the legend himself rocked the Grand Arena at the Grand West Casino and Entertainment World in Cape Town on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 February, 2013.
Your Cape Town Weekend: top 3 cocktail spots
It's Happy Hour in Cape Town, Mother City lovers, and you know what that means … delicious, fruity, half-priced cocktails to kick start your weekend in our gorgeous hometown! Whether you're a Cosmopolitan, Sex on the Beach or Mojito fanatic, you'll find them all right here on our sunny shores, so join me at the following cocktail spots from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 February, 2013:
Magical Madame Zingara's Seaside Spectacular in Cape Town
A glimpse behind a magical velvet curtain, a whiff of sea breeze in the air and a feeling deep within your soul that anything is possible … this is what a night at the enchanting Madame Zingara's Miracle Tour promises – and boy, does it deliver!


text:
Find hotels & motels in Brookville using the list below. Find discounted hotel accommodations in or close to Brookville, IN for your personal leisure or group travel. Discover the most favored Brookville Indiana hotel/motel rooms. Review the Brookville hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. We also have a map of the Brookville hotels.The Brookville center point is around 15 miles from Mc Cullough Hyde Memorial Hospital and 15 miles from Miami University Speech.
Brookville Hotels/Motels & Accommodations
Next 20 Brookville Hotels > [1 - 20 of 50]
Next: See My Brookville Hotels with Pricing >


text:
Thirteen of the Nation's Top Men's Tennis Players Descend on Tulsa for the Eighth Annual Hurricane Invitational
Sept. 28, 2000
Tulsa, Oklahoma - The University of Tulsa men's tennis team will host the Eighth Annual Hurricane Invitational at the Harwell Tennis Courts on the TU campus and the Cascia Hall High School Tennis Courts. The tournament begins on Friday, September 29, and runs through Sunday, October 1. The matches are set to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Tulsa's individual players will open the tournament against Texas Tech at 1:00 p.m. on Friday at the Harwell Tennis Courts.
The eight-team field consists of Arkansas, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Southwest Missouri State, TCU, Texas Tech, Tulsa and Tyler Junior College.
Thirteen of the nation's top singles and doubles players will compete in the three-day tournament. Highlighting the ranked individuals is TCU's Esteban Carril who enters the Invitational as the sixth-ranked singles player in the nation. Other ranked individuals include Arkansas' Oskar Johansson (#9) and Henrik Tofft (#35), TCU's Daniel Wajnberg (#46), Scott Eddins (#47), Petr Koula (#53) and Antonio Gordon (#56) and Northwestern's Brad Erickson (#83).
Four top-50 doubles teams will also participate including TCU's Eddins and Jimmy Haney, Northwestern's Erickson and Joost Hol, OSU's Matt Prentice and Eru Lyndon and Arkansas' Johansson and Oggie Kolev.
Leading the Hurricane will be junior Dane McGregor and senior Micah Zomer. McGregor led the TU singles attack a year ago with 19 wins, while Zomer was second with 16 victories. Tulsa returns seven letterwinners from last season's 12-12 squad.
Friday's Schedule-
Cascia Hall
Fax: 918.631.3666


text:
Jump to content
|Last action by
|Windows 10 Insider Preview in Microsoft Beta (Windows 10)
|Tizen-powered Samsung Z3 to come with mid-range specs, launching soon in Front Page News
|Louisiana won't Recognize Same-Sex Marriages in Real World News
|Tyson Fury to fight Wladimir Klitschko in October in The Sporting Arena
|Meet the browser: Firefox Next in Web Browser Discussion & Support
Posted 20 September 2011 - 05:20
Posted 20 September 2011 - 05:36
Posted 07 March 2012 - 22:17
Posted 10 March 2012 - 19:32
Posted 10 March 2012 - 19:38
1/10 for me for the 2nd 'hope-I-change-my-mind' viewing. Should be 0/10 actually. The reason is the chick. She's cute. (acutally she has more emotion and dialogue than the main character). . The main character does not have a name, emotion or dialogue. Love how the camera is setup for a dramatic close up shot to Gosling's face and then it's like looking at a plank of wood. The same emotion throughout the entire movie.The movie gives the audience nothing to root for. I understand what the director is trying to accomplish, but imho, it's just doesn't work. The pace of the whole film is very .. extremely slow. It keeps dragging and on and on. Thank goodness that this was not nominated for an Oscar. The movie was more of a waste of time, and I'd rather watch paint dry. Not ever watching this again.
Posted 10 March 2012 - 20:19
I kept making jokes to my girlffriend like. "this is my happy... this is me sad... this is me kicking your face in..." There was no acting range besides "wooden" for the main character. No wonder Nic Cage movies do so well, if this is the type of crap that can be considered a good movie
Posted 17 March 2012 - 12:10


text:
By Claire Walla
So, you wanna be part of the Cash Mob? Here's all you gotta to know:
You're going to spend $20.
So will dozens of your friends.
You don't know where you're going to spend this money.
And you won't know until minutes before you actually do.
Ok, despite how it may sound, Cash Mob is actually a concept that refers not to illicit black-market activities, but to an international movement meant to spur commerce on a hyper-local scale.
The idea stems from a movement called Flash Mob, which brings a large group of people to one particular destination for some pre-planned, yet seemingly random event for a brief period of time before quickly dispersing.
"It's about bringing together a group of community members en masse to descend upon a local business — with cash," explained Cash Mob East End organizer Laura Houston, "the idea being that when we come together as a community, our $20 can have a big impact on a local business."
The element of surprise is an integral part of the Cash Mob experience, which will take place for the very first time this Sunday, May 6 in Sag Harbor Village. All participants — with $20 in tow — will gather at the Sag Harbor Windmill at precisely 3 p.m. with no knowledge of where they'll be going from there.
After a brief introduction, finally, the name of one Sag Harbor business will be revealed, and the mob will migrate accordingly.
It's not difficult to imagine the benefits such a mob would bring to the business. With roughly 100 people expected to show up, that's at least $2,000 spent in one place in the span of two hours. But, Houston continued, the long-term benefits exceed this singular act.
Not only will neighboring businesses see more traffic, but community members will get the chance to meet and converse. (Houston said local efforts have already come together to make Cash Mob East End a reality: freelance graphic designer Jill Kampf designed the event logo, and Montauk Printing and Graphics donated "Cash Mob East End" stickers.)
The event is more a celebration than a shopping spree, Houston continued, inviting participants to come with "spirit" in addition to cash. Houston said participants are encouraged to dress-up and make Cash Mob-inspired posters, like this one from Cash Mob Charlotte: "Give 'Em All Your Cash!" or this simple design from Cash Mob Lakewood: "Mob Boss," the words creatively scripted with bullet holes for 'O's.
"I really hope someone sings me a song," Houston mused.
She said mobbers will get major points for creativity, because, in the end, the person with the most spirit will receive a gift certificate for dinner for two from Muse Restaurant, which just opened in its new location on Main Street Sag Harbor. And it is to Muse where the mobbers will head immediately after spending their $20 for an after party of sorts with hors d'oeuvres and drink specials.
Houston first learned of the movement from a New York Times article published last December. She said it sounded easy to organize, and she liked the fact that it promoted both local commerce and community involvement.
"I thought it was inspired and simple," she explained. "I mulled it over for a couple weeks, then I thought: this is something we should do here!"
The first official Cash Mob was organized by Andrew Samtoy, a lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio on November 16, 2011. Since then, the movement has spread to 45 U.S. states (including Washington D.C.), as well as nine other countries, from Canada to South Korea.
Houston immediately called Samtoy, then got in touch with Terri Hall, a teacher in Southampton, who organized the first Cash Mob Bellport in January of this year. Through conversations with Hall and by scouring the "suggested rules" on Samtoy's Cash Mob website, Houston said she picked a business that fits the Cash Mob profile: locally owned, gender neutral and within one block of a locally owned "watering hole' (in this case: Muse) where the after party will be held.
Houston — who works as an ad sales associate at The Sag Harbor Express — already spends a great deal of time with local shop owners and said she knew how helpful it could be for the business community.
"Working in sales, I spend a lot of time getting to know our local businesses," she said. "This is just another way to support a community that continues to give the Hamptons the flavor of being home."
To learn more about the event, visit Cash Mob East End's Facebook page.


text:
Great Explanation Of Trade Deficits And Surpluses By Michael Pettis. A Must Read.Monday, June 27th, 2011
I'm going to start reading this guy regularly and I'm posting a link to China Financial Markets, his blog, particularly a recent piece explaining national trade and how various policies affect who's going to have trade surpluses and who's going to have deficits. Here's Pettis' resume.
Michael Pettis is a Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a finance professor at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management, where he specializes in Chinese financial markets. He has taught, from 2002 to 2004, at Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management and, from 1992 to 2001, at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business. He is also Chief Strategist at Shenyin Wanguo Securities (HK).
Pettis has worked on Wall Street in trading, capital markets, and corporate finance since 1987, when he joined the Sovereign Debt trading team at Manufacturers Hanover (now JP Morgan). Most recently, from 1996 to 2001, Pettis worked at Bear Stearns, where he was Managing Director-Principal heading the Latin American Capital Markets and the Liability Management groups. He has also worked as a partner in a merchant banking boutique that specialized in securitizing Latin American assets and at Credit Suisse First Boston, where he headed the emerging markets trading team. Besides trading and capital markets, Pettis has been involved in sovereign advisory work, including for the Mexican government on the privatization of its banking system, the Republic of Macedonia on the restructuring of its international bank debt, and the South Korean Ministry of Finance on the restructuring of the country's commercial bank debt.
I'm particularly interested in having Capt. read this post, entitled How To Become Virtuous And Save More. So read it Capt! Here's a small sample from the piece.
For this week's blog entry I want to go a little abstract in order to suggest how different countries that participate in the global imbalances are going to adjust. The debate over the root causes of global imbalances is as fierce and as confused as ever. The confusion isn't helped by the vast army of moralizers who like to contrast the hard work and thriftiness of households in high-savings countries with the laziness and binge-buying behavior of households in high-consuming countries. The world cannot possibly rebalance, they argue, until the later become more like the former…
There are nonetheless some obvious flaws in the argument. First of all, if the high-consumers become as virtuous as the low-consumers, that just means that global demand will decline, and with it, global unemployment will rise. In that case global savings won't go up. They will go down, since rising unemployment causes income to decline faster than consumption.
Second, lazy spendthrift Americans are actually more productive and work longer hours than people in almost any other rich country, including the harder-working and higher-savings counties in Europe. Still, the argument does anyway fit in with a lot of cultural stereotypes about Spaniards and Greeks, with their wild lifestyles, long siestas, and dissolute charm, or about Germans and Dutch, whose tasteless food, boring sex lives, and grim movies leave them no choice but to work away at office and factory.
But is this really why people in some countries love to save and people in other countries love to consume? No, it isn't. Aside from the satisfaction it brings, this moralistic argument is almost meaningless. Individual preferences may cause some of us to save more of our income than others, but we have to be very careful about generalizing. When entire countries have abnormally high or low savings rates, individual preferences are never the reason. Abnormally high or low savings rates are almost always caused by trade, industrial or tax policies at home and abroad that distort the relationship between consumption and production.
As with any well written article, particularly one that seems to dismisses cultural tendencies, the article sparked a terrific series of comments, pro and con. One in particular details a specific German company that the author says exists because of German culture. My take is that culture does matter, but in most cases not as much as most people assume. Here's one of the exceptions.
I really value your blog and read it regularly. But with a caveat: like almost all modern economists you configure the world into monetary relationships and disregard culture, education et al into a black box.
Unfortunately the real world is very different. Spain might devalue its currency as much as it likes; it simply has nothing to the world to sell.
Conversely Germany (or Japan where the Plaza accord of the Eighties had no long term effect on the trade balance) can consistently hike their currencies (as Germany did with the mark appreciation from 4 to the Dollar in 1973 to 1,5 to the Dollar in 1979 and will still run a surplus (in this case with the States).
Case in point is a factory complex making low voltage circuit breakers near Mannheim in South West Germany, which I helped to evaluate for a bank loan. It was formerly called Stotz then became a unit of ABB. (Won´t be more specific for obvious reasons)
The product is not high tech but these 2000 employees churn out a good part of circuit breakers in the world and forced from the market factories in the US and in GB and companies like GE. The workers at ABB are all unionized, get huge salaries, five weeks paid vacations a year and can´t be fired without a very, very good reason.
Now people who are for unions say that is the reason for the success and other people might say it is, because workers are represented in the workers council of the factory. But the real reason why they manage to dominate the market for such a low technology product that could – theoretically – be produced everywhere (they just try in Shanghai up to now in vain) is very simple if you look closer.
It is their production line called Goliath and that was preceded by David. These are in house developments costings upwards of a hundred Million Euro. These are hugely complex machines requiring the harmonisation of workers and engineers skilled in anything from cutting metal to a thousands millimeter to an advanced knowledge of chemistry and take years to build. (Three years in the case of Goliath) These production lines take huge up front investments but once they are in place they deliver a quality product with unbeatable low productions costs. No matter how low the wages anywhere else as wages are anyhow only a small fraction of production costs as soon as something like Goliath is up and running.
And these are not machines like a car that anybody can drive. Only the people who built them can operate them as it just turns out in Shangahi where they shipped David.
First, that something like that is possible has something to do with German business culture. In the US after a take over by private equity they would have never renewed the line but squeezed profits from it until it fell apart. That would have been the end of the factory and it happened in a good many cases which are well know to their German competitors. But that is only one and not even the main point regarding culture.
Goliath and all the other in house developments in German factories are the result of a combination of fabulous in house training of the shop floor people; strong emphasis of tradition (old teaching the young) and the non existence of barriers between engineers and the people implementing their designs.
These are not simply reproducible around the world. ABB is a multinational with branches all over the world and they would love to relocate and get rid of the pesky German wages and workers rights. But they tried and didn´t succed.
In Great Britain you can´t build something like that because there´s no vocational training that´s good enough. Also there´s the problem of the cultural barrier between engineers and workers. (In Mannheim they all talk the same dialect). In the US (as BMW has discovered in its plant in Savannah Georgia) only college graduates have the required reading and mathematics skills to do, what shop floor workers in a German factory are expected to do. But these people are difficult to motivate to get their hands dirty.
In Spain there are similar problems.
These are cultural problems and in China at the moment the greatest problem is, that shop floor workers are afraid to think for themselves. But without it you can´t operate a machine like David.
About China I believe they will learn and eventually become a strong competitor. But only if there is a cultural and probably concurrently also a political shift. Right now the hierarchies are too rigid and there´s no chance for workers to think for themselves. I am confident about China because the Japanese managed this as well. And their culture is ultimately derived from China.
I don´t really see a way out of the crisis along the line that Michael Pettis has sketched. I see no way out in fact. Regarding the situation now in Europe there´s only one solution: for Germany to pay up and shut up. For indeed the advantages of Germany are not due to harder work (they work less hours that Spanish workers) but simply the product of a unique set of historical and cultural circumstances. Best would be for Germany simply to pay the Spanish to buy their products. And the Chinese (which do have the advantage of extremely low wages) to pay the US to buy theirs. Which both did until now in a way. But that will not happen I am afraid so there´s only one solution: default.
How come?
Beezer here. Pettis writes clearly and I believe very accurately. That said, the comment reproduced above, clearly shows that culture does matter. This doesn't negate Pettis' arguments but it does show that strong cultural preferences (another comment points out the Japanese and Chinese preference for liquidity) do matter and cannot be dismissed entirely. Great post and several great comments too.


text:
Product Description
Produced in a different geographic location each year, Conclave Theatre Tour showcases a region's contributions to theatre architecture and the role its theatres have played in the social and cultural history of the region.
Over 100 people from all over the globe join us for this week-long tour that includes unprecedented access to 15-25 local theatres including neighborhood venues, playhouses, opera houses, music halls and movie palaces.
During the week, attendees also enjoy various programming that includes private dinners, a silent auction and our annual Awards Ceremony.
Sponsorship options are available for all activities during the week and are guaranteed ways to reach our audience.
Sponsor our "Souvenir Program Book" this year for $2,500 and receive the following benefits:
- Listing on historictheatres.org
- Listing in the Conclave Theatre Tour Souvenir Book
- Logo on Sponsor Display in Welcome Area
- A one-year subscription to Marquee
- Listing in the THS Annual Report
- 1 Page B&W ad in the Conclave Souvenir Book
- Promotional materials included in "Welcome tote"
- Logo placement on all Conclave Theatre Tour print & digital materials
- 1 complimentary registration to Conclave Theatre Tour (Including afterglow)
Note: 1 sponsorship of the "Souvenir Program Book" is available. View the sponsorship brochure for more information about all sponsorships including benefits at each sponsorship level.
If you have any questions, please contact Janine Pixley, Development & Marketing Director at (630) 782-1800 x302 or via email.


text:
(based on 6 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Best Uses
Reviewed by 6 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-6
Back to top
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Love this
By lulu403
from Michigan
Comments about 1 Year Large Calendar:
big spaces and easy to read
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
I buy this product year after year!!!
By 1 crazy lady
from Scott City, Mo.
About Me Value Oriented
I use it to log appointments for every thing to dr. visits and vet appointments for my 2 dogs. Also for school closing dates during the holidays and and just things I need to remember.. birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
2014 calendar
By Gramma of 10
from Henrico County, VA
This new calendar was not what you have sold in the past. It has no space at the top for special notations. I was disappointed!! I would only recomend it to someone not familiar with the one you used to sell.
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Excellent Gift idea!!!
By Wendy
from LeRoy,Wi
My mom buys these as gifts for my oldest daughters. She also fills in everyone's birthdays as an added gift. There are alot of us, so beleive me, it is a great idea!
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
love this
By NCMOON
from Asheville, NC
Have reordered this calendar for many years now - perfect size!
(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
Perfect Stocking Stuffer
By DJ
from Louisville, KY
I put this calendar in my nephew's stocking as he loves to use it to keep track of when bills are due and special appointments. The day squares are large enough to record several items. Yes, even the adults in the family get stockings.


text:
The Mammoth area offers Southern Californians the best, closest, most varied fly fishing for trout. There are several different types of waters to fish, giving anglers the opportunity to fish many different styles of fishing. Fly fishers visiting the Mammoth area have the option to fish all four basic types of angling water: spring creeks, tailwaters, freestone streams and stillwaters (lakes). As an added bonus there are quite a few fisheries that are open to angling all year around.
Dave Neal is Reel Mammoth Adventures and is a full-time year around fly fishing guide who is licensed, bonded, insured, and carries forest service permits for all the necessary waters in the region. Dave also has a BLM permit for the Trinity River where he guides for steelhead in the fall & winter months.
Born in the Sierra foothills east of Sacramento, Dave was very fortunate to be introduced to the High Sierra at an early age. His family spent winters skiing the mountains and summers hiking them. This early and sustained exposure - to this day- leaves him with a greater sense of place being out-of-doors than in.
A culmination of life experiences brought him to the Eastside of the Sierra. Dave lives in the Mammoth Lakes area with his endearing wife Tracie, their daughter Bella, and their faithful border collie.
Dave has been a fly fishing guide since 2001. In 2002, He attended the Guide School at Clearwater House in northern California and promptly began working & guiding in the Mammoth Lakes region.
Since 2005, Dave has been operating his own independent guide service, Reel Mammoth Adventures, while also working with a local "guide group" of other top independent guides in the Mammoth region.
He is licensed, bonded, insured, and carry forest service permits for all the waters in the Mammoth Lakes area. CA DFG Lic. #3765
A quality guide will find situations to challenge the most experienced anglers, while facilitating the confidence in the beginner by teaching a solid foundation of the basics. Allow him to share his passion with you…Go'n fishin'!
The Eastern Sierra area boasts of at least four different strains of Rainbow, wild and reproducing Brown Trout, a couple of different species of Cutthroats, a few Brook Trout and the occasional Golden or Golden/Rainbow hybrids.
Fly fishers visiting the Mammoth area have the option to fish all four basic types of angling water: spring creeks, tailwaters, freestone streams and stillwaters (lakes). As an added bonus there are quite a few of the local fisheries that are open to angling all year around.
Trinity Steelhead - In the fall/winter months of November – January, Dave splits his time between guiding locally in the Eastern Sierra, squeezing in some waterfowl or upland hunts, and guiding in Northern California for steelhead on the Trinity River.
Dave is among a limited number of independent fishing guides issued a Bureau of Land Management permit for the public lands along the Trinity River.
The Trinity River is consistently one of the best rivers along the west coast to hook anadromous steelhead. The river experiences healthy runs of wild steelhead along with thousands of returning hatchery reared steelhead. These fish average between 4-10 pounds.
In addition to steelhead, the Trinity boasts runs of Chinook "king" salmon, Coho "silver" salmon and an added bonus of special sea-run brown trout, which are very rare anywhere on the west coast.
You will primarily fish from a drift boat, but you can get out of the boat and wade fish when desirable. Depending on the situation, Dave will focus on several techniques of steelheading with a fly rod - from nymphing with or without indicators to traditional swinging techniques with single or double handed Spey or switch rods.
They base their operations in Weaverville CA, minutes away from the banks of the Trinity River. Weaverville is about an hour west of Redding CA on Hwy 299. The town has several excellent restaurants and many options for accommodations.
Where To Fish
Hot Creek
This is one of the most popular fly fishing streams in our area. Located 15 minutes from Mammoth, this fantastic spring creek contains one of the highest densities of trout per mile in the country.
The Upper Owens
Another local spring creek, this river has beautiful scenery with the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains as a backdrop. The Upper Owens features big meandering bends with undercut banks. There are no trees or bushes along most of the public water making the Upper Owens popular with beginners who want to keep their flies on their line and not in the branches.
The Lower Owens
This tailwater river is open all year long and a favorite with anglers who just cannot put the fishing rod away in winter. Excellent for beginners and experienced fly fishers, the Lower O. has an incredible population of wild brown trout. One can experience some of the best spring dry fly fishing here. In winter the river is an excellent place to hone your nymphing skills.
The East Walker
The East Walker is our best trophy trout river. If you are game for a technical fishing challenge, this is the place. The fish in this river are often measured by the foot!
The Gorge
The required hike in may not be for everyone. The Gorge is an excellent choice for anglers looking for dry fly fishing for wild brown trout.
The San Joaquin
This river is surrounded by designated wilderness and is breathtakingly beautiful. There is a lot of fishable water with secluded sections where it's rare to come across other anglers.
Crowley Lake
This is our premier stillwater fishery. Probably better described as a "Hawg Farm" because the fish grow big and strong in this lake. There are days where 20 fish to hand per angler is common…averaging 16"-18" with plenty of girth and attitude.
Twin Lakes (Mammoth)
Twin Lakes is only 5 minutes from the front door of the fly shop. Probably the best lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin for fly fishers thanks to its extensive weed growth which supplies the fat trout a healthy supply of damsel flies, leeches and one of the best local callibaetis mayfly hatches.
Bridgeport Reservoir
This lake is Crowley's little sister. It has the same high altitude alkaline personality as Crowley and produces some absolutely monster fish with less crowds.
There are a wide variety of lodging options in the immediate vicinity and range from hotels, motels, cabins and condo rentals.
Dave also has access to much of the area's famous private waters, some of which are only availale by booking the accompanying nights stays:
Half Day . . . 5 hrs drinks provided
1 or 2 anglers . . . $280.00
3rd angler add . . . $95.00
Full Day . . . 8 hrs lunch provided
1 or 2 anglers . . . $380.00
3rd angler add . . . $120.00
Please inquire about pricing for groups 4 anglers or more
Drift Boat Trips Lower Owens River
Full Day . . . 7-8 hrs w/ lunch
1 or 2 anglers . . . $380.00
Crowley Lake Fly Fishing From Boat
Same as Half Day or Full Day rate schedule


text:
Events Calendar
February 2013
Letting Go – Dealing with Loss Workshop
Letting Go – Dealing with Loss -- In order to help students who have lost a relationship (parent, spouse or friend) due to death, divorce or separation, this workshop is designed to facilitate the process of rebuilding. Stages of grief will be reviewed, as well as the core tasks of dealing with denial, fear, loneliness and guilt. Students will address anger, worth and transition so they are more open to letting go, trusting and finding purpose in their present situation. Remembering the important lessons learned from the relationship and celebrating the positive memories will be balanced with the opportunity to manage the frustration and disappointment associated with loss, especially premature or unexpected loss. Please call to reserve a seat, 797-1012.


text:
|This 14K Gold Diamond Designer Engagement Ring set consists of a diamond engagement ring and matching diamond band. The ring showcases a 0.50 carat round diamond in the center and 0.60 carats of baguette diamonds on the sides for a total of 1.10 carats of dazzling diamonds. The Engagement band showcases 0.87 carats of dazzling baguette diamonds. This set is available in Platinum, 18k or 14k yellow, rose, white gold, various sizes, and can be customized with any color and quality diamonds. Please contact us if you would like to customize it.
Item Information
Contact us 24/7 using Live Chat, call us Mon-Fri 10am-9pm EST toll free in USA: 1-866-423-6262, outside USA: 212-398-3123, email us at email@example.com or use the form below:


text:
2013 Subaru Forester Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter
Print this page
Condition: Brand New
Free Shipping
Same Day
100% Guaranteed
60 Day Warranty
Need Help?
Contact us at:
In Stock - Free Shipping - Ships within 24 hrs - 60 day Warranty
You are able to program a 2013 Subaru Forester keyless entry remote by yourself using the simple programming instructions we send with the remote. They are very easy for the average customer to follow without any automotive experience. If you are having problems with programming a 2013 Subaru Forester you can call our technical support line for help. This keyless entry remote comes with brand new battery installed and is tested for functionality before sending.