28/10/2018 - Sunny Sunday coastal ride on the Long Haul Trucker

Out for a few hours this afternoon on the Long Haul Trucker, such a nice day very sunny minimal wind though definitely cold, crisp, but very cold.
Needed to set the Trucker up with it's lights etc ready for the winter, the darker days and evenings, ready for days out as well as the odd commute.
Once I had a few things sorted and a bit of maintenance finished it was nice to just get out and ride. First off I had to return some borrowed tools to a friend who helped me with some car work the other week but then it was just cruising round the coastline and up to Dunnett Head. No rush just enjoying the nice weather on a quiet Sunday. The weather was certainly turned to it's winter ways as it was only about 4 degrees celcius, though with very little wind and being wrapped up it was fine. The sun being out made it seem so much better. The Trucker as usual was a joy to ride and looking forward to doing a few more winter brevets on it.
I suppose I have had it a good many years now and have done quite a lot of miles on it as it's been the go to machine for all this time as it's just so reliable, well set up so that it fits like a glove but mainly because it rides so nicely over pretty much any type of terrain.  
Home to a bit of mock up work on the Big Dummy sidecar and trying to sort things with the standard front end, which now won't go back on until spring most likely. The SP Dynamo wheel build will fit both the Dummy and the Trucker so will get some spokes this week and get that done, ready to go. That's the plan anyway.

Jamie

10 OCTOBER 2018 - Jack Taylor ride Easter Ross/ Cromarty with Brian

With a forecast one day of respite between the days of rain and gale force winds over most of the north of Scotland, I managed to get the day off and head south to ride the Jack Taylor round Easter Ross and the Black Isle with my friend Brian MacLeod. 
When I seen the forecast yesterday I asked the boss for a well day to go riding, I wasn't sick, I was too well to come in and needed to ride in the sun before winter closed in once more. Thankfully she understands and approved it. 
Weather was fantastic and a  familiar route that took in some hills, quiet roads and some off road track round the Cromarty shore made the hours and miles fly by all too quickly. We stopped at a lovely café in Muir of Ord and enjoyed a coffee and a huge wedge of a brie scone for lunch which obviously was needed to keep up the energy levels.  
The Super Clubman rode brilliantly as usual, handling everything in its relaxed but superb way and this is it still in it's cobbled together with spares guise. Gave me time to make up my mind regards repainting it and for the foreseeable future I am just going to keep waxing it to keep the rust at bay rather than lose Jacks original paint. I will build it up with the parts I already have and set it up properly not just in a temporary way as it is such a nice ride already that it will be so sweet set up right. 
A lovely ride in glorious weather finished with a quick coffee at Brians before the couple of hours drive home.  
Well worth it though as it was a very enjoyable day with great company. Cheers Brian 
Also the best way to break up a working week.

Jamie

Mid September frame project - Bob Jackson 531c frame and fork

Spotted this lovely Bob Jackson frame and forks posted on a bob Jackson group for sale for a very good price. While I have more than enough bikes and project frames to keep me going forever I just couldn't pass this by. It was for sale down in Leeds in England and being pick up only I had to ask if was possible to get someone else to pick it up for me. Not a problem the gentleman said.
I put a pickup help needed post up on Retrobike and luckily for me a friend Chris was heading that way from York to Leeds to pick up one of his lovely Claud Butlers that had just been painted at Bob Jacksons and he said that the postcode I supplied was not far at all from Bob Jacksons itself. A deal was sorted and names and numbers swapped round with the plan being that Chris would pick it up early one morning on his way past and then send it up to me later on.
What I was looking at on the ad was a red Bob Jackson road frame and forks in 531c Reynolds tubing with mudguard eyes in a 21'' size. Paint looked pretty good with the odd scratch and chip here and there, to be expected on a ? mid eighties frame. It also came with a Campagnolo Chorus headset which to be honest if I sold it would most likely just about cover the cost of the initial purchase, it was that much of a bargain. The top of the forks had a sleeve on it to take a modern aheadset style stem and looked like this had been in place since new.
Chris sent the frame up packaged in a more than professional state and was so well protected, so thank you again mate for all your help with this, I am very grateful.
Picked the frame up on a Friday and due to being away on the weekend I had only a short amount of time to get it unpacked and give it a quick degrease and clean up. It cleaned up really nicely as you can see from the photos and the paint is generally very good with just a couple of small chips to touch up.
Once again I wasn't in any way looking for another project but even my long suffering wife said that it was a bargain and to just see if it was still there and if I could get someone to pick it up for me then just do it.
I have wanted a Bob Jackson World Tour for many years as the quality and workmanship on all they make is outstanding so this, while being a road rather than touring machine, should make a fine audax ride for long days on the road.
Plans? this will sit for a long while before I get round to it as I really want to finish my Mercian and Jack Taylor within the next 12 months as they are keepers and machines I love riding.

Jamie


Quick clean and degrease

Late August frame arrival - Carlton Continental 1966

Late in August whilst chatting on one of the Carlton groups I spotted this well used, needing some love,  1966 Carlton Continental frameset for sale. It was going very cheap with the owner just looking to recoup what he purchased it for rather than what I think it was worth,  and since being a member of several of the Carlton groups whilst not actually owning a Carlton I thought it was a great opportunity to change that situation.
The Frame number supplied with the photos showed it to be a 1966 model Continental. A proper Carlton but in a very rough state. No dents but with plenty of paint missing along with covered in rust marks, some big but most the small pitting that comes with age.
Not quite sure what the plan will be with this one as I have enough projects with my cherished bikes at the moment so it will head into storage for the foreseeable future. I automatically thought a repaint was in order but have had several people tell me to treat the rust and wax it as is.
Need to dig a lot deeper to get a lot more information on this one but that's half the joy of playing with these things. Learning something new is always worthwhile.

Jamie