Sunday 31st March 2024 - Aviemore Easter Ride - Jack Taylor Super Clubman

 Easter Weekend ride part 2:

A weekend away south to Aviemore to meet up with family and friends from even further south and  spend some time together over the long weekend. We only really get to see each other once, maybe twice a year so it's always good. They are not bike people at all but seen as how this year we were meeting in Aviemore, which I ride regularly in the area and also I know that getting them all ready for breakfast usually takes until at least 10.00am or so, I put the Jack Taylor as well as my Pugsley in the van. As I have done in the past, I will get up early and head out before the others are all up and spend a couple of hours exploring, then back for a quick shower and breakfast with everyone.

The weather was a mixed bag with Saturday being fine first thing for my time out on the Pugsley for it to then rain for most of the rest of Saturday. The Saturday Pugsley ride is in the previous post. 

Sunday morning with the Jack Taylor ready and waiting to go I was up, washed and ready to go but was a bit concerned that it was foggy, minus 2 and, quite icy still, as I found out when I stepped out of the static caravan onto the plastic decking! looked like little puddles of water but it was ice! Everything was frozen. 
Not to worry as the path and the roads looked alright so I decided to ride the all weather dirt path up to Glenmore and see what the weather was doing once I gained some altitude.
Well it didn't take too long, just a mile or two before the sun was poking through and everything was steaming away, there was a bit of ice about but as long as you were careful it was fine. The track was pretty good and the freeze helped to solidify a lot of the mud, so more welcome than not. This 6 mile path, while dirt, seems to drain fairly well and with just the right amount of embedded gravel to hit that nice blend of grip while not being too rough. The JT ran nicely with the 33mm Jackie Brown tyres fitted, running around 50psi.  
With the sun out I kept going upwards, especially after the cafe at the Glenmore visitors centre was closed. 

The JT was handling the dirt and gravel superbly and was so comfortable even when it got dry and rough. Easy to ride in that environment for sure, so surefooted and predictable. I headed back after a while and stopped at one of the cafes near Loch Morlich, the Pine Martin bar, where Heather and I had camped previously, for a coffee and bacon roll, sitting outside just taking in the peace and quiet of a Sunday morning in the hills, before fully enjoying the sunshine and the mostly downhill run dropping back down to Aviemore. A thoroughly enjoyable ride and was so happy I took the JT with me. Love this bike. Really do. It has to be one of the nicest bikes I have ever ridden. It just fits right, handles superbly and no matter where I ride it leaves me smiling.
I did find when I got home tonight and unloaded out the van that all five chainring bolts were loose. Now loctited. Maybe it was a little rougher in places than I thought. :) 

Jamie 

Still foggy

Saturday 30th March 2024 - Aviemore ride out on the Pugsley

 I hope everyone is doing OK and managing to get a few rides in here and there despite the rubbish weather conditions lately here in the UK.

I spent Easter down in Aviemore visiting with family and friends who came up so we could all spend the weekend together. We had a big static caravan. It was a very nice weekend away. Now they aren't bike people but they also aren't the best morning people either. So that meant I slipped the Pugsley and the Jack Taylor into the van. As in previous years get togethers, in Callender and in Helensbrough that meant I would get up early, go for a ride for a few hours and return to head out to breakfast and the day together.
We arrived Friday afternoon. Saturday morning was sunny and I was on the track for Loch Morlich by about 7.30 on the Pugsley. It was nice but had a few spits of rain. Just spent my time following the all weather path to Glenmore and then exploring the tracks heading south on the other side of the road. Great fun. It was good to be back out on the Pugsley, now sporting a 1 x 9 gear setup. While I have ridden this area quite often over many years on the Pugsley, this is the first time with gears. While only a couple of hours and on the easier paths and trails, it was a great way to start the day.  

The rest of Saturday was spent dodging rain showers so certainly had the nicest weather for the ride.

Jamie 

Sunday 24th March 2024 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman shakedown ride - Caithness

 Yesterday was the first decent weather day when I hadn't been super busy so with a few hours to spare I decided to head out for a bit of leisurely riding on the Super Tourist. More of a test ride of sorts as I had been tinkering away here and there trying to sort some of the shifting issues I have had since I got it.

There are several issues I believe all coming together to make it inconsistent on shifting and when it goes wrong, a bit dangerous on two occasions. Minor and niggles to be expected really but on an otherwise sweet ride they are annoying.
It would shift onto the large chainring but was rubbing the front Arabesque guides on the derailleur, I retrimmed this on a couple of occasions thinking it was sorted, though the Arabesque cages are very narrow, I did check against another I had and they were both the same. After the weekends ride I managed to put it down to a slightly warped chainring by 1.23mm and a joining link where the two pins stick a couple of mm past the backing plate, enough that now it's just a very annoying, rythmic tink, tink, tink. The other issue was the rear Suntour derailleur being a bit 'sticky', I would get trimmed up really nicely when at home and very slickly clicking through the gears to then get out on the road and it would not go onto the largest gear and would rub, that was easy enough to see as it was hitting the metal pie dish spoke protector before it could shift the chain onto the gear. The main issue though is while it was trimmed and working fine at home it would then hit the spokes on the rear, would try and over throw the chain only to land between the spoke protector and cog and would generally miss the odd shift, this too got a bit better with a good strip and degrease and then lube up the pivot points and the springs and then the third issue being the freewheel itself, have tried to clean out the old grease, regrease and make sure it is well lubed but it still just randomly will disengage, most noticably after a run with a bit of pressure, say on a long flat and then when you shift to go up a hill, it takes a second to realise that it's not engaged and you are just spinning, then hunt both directions to have it engage before you topple over still clipped in  These are legacies of a bike sitting unused for 30 odd years with grease hardening, things drying out etc so minor things in the scheme of it but definitely must get it sorted soon as I couldn't trust it on a long tour and to be honest the three things combined would drive me mad on a long tour. I will most likely swap out the rear derailleur, freewheel and replace the joiner on the chain and, if then needed, the large chainring, I am sure this will cure it.
Otherwise yesterdays ride was a really nice ride out to the southwest of the county. Sticking to the quieter single track roads I could ride along getting more and more familiar with this Jack Taylor. In a similar style to my Super Clubman it has that very relaxed but responsive feeling. You can certainly feel the touring geometry being longer with more relaxed angles and more rake on the front. I think that this one, even more so than the Super Clubman would handle even better with a bag on the front. Maybe if I try a brevit down to Dingwall to Brians overnight as a test run I will just have my trunk bag and a couple of small front panniers and see how the handling goes.
I have adjusted all the contacts to fit and it feels very comfortable and everything just falls to hand. So once I get niggles out the way I am looking forward to some good quality miles in the spring and summer.

Jamie

18th January 2024 - Surly Pugsley - snow ride attemp to commute

 The last couple of days has been quite snowy here in the north of Scotland. 

Lots of snow lying, which is good fun for the dog and our playing in the fields but can be a pain getting into work in the morning. Usually once out our quiet road and up to the main road into Thurso it is plowed and gritted. Last night we had a lot of snow come down and we also started getting 30 to 40 mph winds drifting it across the roads. Our small road being one that doesn't get gritted or plowed meant that it was soon built up in waves a couple of feet high. 

I had the work van home with me the night before and there was no way it was getting up the road as the 4X4 of the farmers only made it half way. I then decided that I would commute in on the Pugsley, or at least give it a half hearted try, might not get into work but at least I would get a ride in the snow :) 

Our road was pretty deep  and on the main road there was a good three inches of snow blowing around hiding the ruts underneath. I tried a couple of the back roads to stay of the main road and out of the way of what minimal traffic there was, but these were just a couple of tyre tracks in the snow for the most part. 

So I didn't succeed in getting into work, not quite what I would class as a failure, but I did get a good ride and solid workout in, as well as spent quality time with Pugsley. So a pretty good day I think. 

Later on one of the locals came with a teleporter and bucket and scooped the road clear but the wind and snow was coming in so fast within half an hour it looked like he had never been. So may not be able to get in tomorrow unless something else happens overnight.  

Whatever the weather I hope your making the most of it. 

Jamie 

Monday 8th January 2024 - Local Ride - Long Haul Trucker

 Today was the first nice sunny day we have had this year and while I was busy in the morning I now have a few days off work. So wanting to make the best of it I thought i would get a quick ride in this afternoon. 

It was very cold today despite the sun being out, though this time of winter there is not much heat in it and so the ground, ie, the road was quite icy all day. 

I decided that I really should get my Long Haul Trucker out for a ride, check it over and get it ready for a couple of late winter/early spring audax rides that I am hoping to get to. I must admit I haven't really had much time on the Trucker this last year, a bit of commuting but not used for audax or touring  much at all. Despite not being used much for several months all that was needed after a quick check was just some air in the tyres and we were good to go. I on the other hand was well wrapped as it was only just, if at all above freezing, which was also evident by the ice on the roads. 

I was out for a couple of hours just meandering along the quiet back roads trying to stick to the higher roads that had maybe defrosted fully. This seemed to be fine as there was some frosty parts to these roads with puddles still being ice but generally not too bad. It was only as soon as the sun starting dropping away that the temperature quickly followed and sections that were merely wet before were now freezing up. Just had to take it steady deliberately. All fine.

The Long Haul Trucker ran superbly. I realised while I was riding that I built this bike up about 13 years or so ago. It has been used for touring, audax, commuting as well as pulling my toddler at the times trailer, then his Yepp seat and always a pleasure to ride. Besides replacing consumables as well, I think it is pretty much in the same setup as well. I suppose if it works why change and it works, rides and feels brilliant :) 

Happy New Year to all. 

Jamie  

 

Sunday 7th January 2024 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman Local Coastal wintery ride.

I hope everyone has had a happy Christmas and New Year. Here is to a safe and peaceful 2024  

Well back to the start of another year and I must admit I am off to a late start with my Jack Taylor, or any of my road bikes. The weather has been so abysmal since New Years last week that I had one mtb ride so far.

I managed out yesterday, Sunday, on the Super Clubman as it was the first dryish day we have had. The roads were still quite wet in places but the temperature was up slightly so thought to make the most of it and try and kick the retro ride year off. The state of the roads was pretty bad even on this often used backroad route I do regularly.
Still, always a pleasant experience riding this bike, It is nice to ride regardless of the conditions. Just fits so nicely.
I was thinking when riding along about maybe fitting it with the 8 speed triple kit and using it for a couple of audax rides this year. Hmmm....

Jamie

Saturday 02nd December 2023 - Global Fat Bike Ride 2023 - Strathpeffer, Knockfarral

 Well not today but yesterday was Global Fatbike Day once again.

Similar to last year, Caleb joined Brian and myself for a ride down Brians locality. 

Brian and I were on our trusty Pugsley and Caleb on his Baby Fatty. That may be it's last ride as he is rapidly outgrowing it. I had to raise the seatpost yet again, by almost 3 inches this time!  Also move the seat back on the rails so he could spread out. 

We headed out through Strathpeffer and this time upwards to the stone circle then followed the hill along it's side slowly climbing to emerge up on knockfarral. We then rode along the top and descended down the Dingwall side and then rode back along the valley on the Peffery way to Strathpeffer station and then back up the road to the deli for another warming cuppa and some cake. We did stop there on the way through to start this loop when we had some coffee and warm rolls for lunch.
Weather was glorious, sunny, dry though very icy and very cold. I don't think it got above 0 degree all day.
Brilliant afternoon out riding, just getting back on dark, which was cutting it fine with no lights between us. Caleb and I then drove back up the road before it was too icy.

Jamie