Dr Mark's Tardis

A set of Military split rims What? These are wheels in three pieces: wheel, removable rim, and a split locking rim. They also have a sealing ring of rubber, called a splat ring. Plus a bolt in valve with a sealing o-ring. Why? They allow you to do a field repair on a tubeless tyre, using "ordinary" tools. The two part civilian split rims can be removed without garage tools, but they need to have inner tubes to hold the air because the split rim itself is not air tight. The trouble with inner tubes is that most punctures are the result of inner tube failure, not the tyre being pierced - that's my experience anyway, the smallest bit of grit eventually wears a hole. Admittedly, the problems are exacerbated by movement of inner tube and tyre, low tyre pressures, poor tubes, old tubes and tubes that are the wrong size! Why not? The military rims are quite rare, they were only original equipment on military versions. They are 6.5" wide and there is a...

A few last minute jobs ready for the big Morocco trip. Thankfully none were essential. 1. Eberspacher ducts: these got rather hot. I lined them with aluminium duct wrapping 2. Catches to stop the cupboards coming open, Simple ideas are best, and after much deliberation, this was very simple. 3. Step fitted to bike rack. For stability it is best if a step hangs down from the vehicle rather than resting on uneven ground. This is part one of the solution. Ideally we want one more step down. 4. Moved waste water to other side to accommodate the step. It still leaves a dangling drain from the shower. 4. extension for kitchen worksurface. Again a very simple solution after much deliberation ... thanks to IKEA. 5. Replaced hand brake cable.  The liner was clearly ruptured after the trip to the exhaust place. This time I took a slightly straighter route for the cable. 6. Bike cover quickly made from a discarded cover for an AV screen. Plastic eyelets are so much better tha...