Sunday 2nd May 2021 - Ride with Caleb and Big Dummy ET tyres shakedown ride

 A few photos from a ride out today with my son Caleb on his tourer here in the north of Scotland.

After switching the fat tyres and wheel around on the Dummy last weekend down in size to the Surly ET's I found once I had the rear fully inflated it was rubbing on the back brace bar, only just, by a midges baw hair, it's a unit of measurement in Scotland, equivalent to a mosquitos scrotum hair. After taking it off and reseating it, it was better and usable with no rubbing but still close. The issue is the 60mm rim so after trying it on the rear Spank rim which is 42mm it seemed to clear fine. So it looks like I need to find a 36 hole Spank to lace to my Alfine as well as a front, so this one can go back on my 1X1.

Such a lovely day up here so we just meandered out and about the back roads above home enjoying riding together. Getting Caleb used to going further and getting used to the odd car before tackling the main roads.

Even though it was a naturally slower pace while riding with my boy , the Dummy felt back to it's old ways with the ET's on, far more nimble and far less drag than the 4inch tyre on the front and hookworm rear we have been using the last couple of years. I just think now the little mans riding on his own that these may even do for the dirt and gravel we ride, not that I am dismantling the Fat set up or moving it on just now.

These will certainly make the commute to town a bit quicker.

Jamie

Sunday 25th March 2021 - Big Dummy dropping the Fat wheels and back to a Plus size

 Well spent bits and pieces of the day sitting in the garden in the sunshine transforming the Big Dummy from it's 4 inch front end back to a more tarmac manageable 2.5. After a breakfast of coffee and cannoli it was into it. The back end was easy enough just take off the cargo fitting, release the Alfine hub and swap out the tyres. The front while easy enough meant dropping the whole lot out and swapping the Hope headset back, adding a few spacers and then fitting the original fork and a temporary wheel from my 1X1 until my new one is built. Add the ET tyre and test ride. As I want to use this for commuting this summer I needed to change it out as the Fat front is a drag on tarmac, not usually a worry but when the next few months will be about 80 - 90% tarmac then this change makes that so much easier. These high volume ET tyres will be pretty good in the dirt as well, especially the gravel roads we ride.

Added a few spacers to the original forks for a bit more upright stance. It's been fat for a few years and so felt much quicker and far more nimble :) We'll see how it goes but a change is always good. :)

Still figuring out what the Dummies place is in the fleet now that Caleb is riding and touring on his own bike which was the Dummies main purpose for years. No one in the family wants it to go as even Heather says that it has helped make so many cool memories. Now to find it's new purpose......

Just thought I would share.

Jamie

24th March 2021 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman Ride - Local last weekend of lockdown - Hopefully

 I hope you have all been enjoying this nice weather we have had for the last couple of days. Work has been pretty busy lately so it was really nice to once again have the sun carry over into the weekend.

I had a few jobs to sort this morning and then after lunch managed to get a few hours out on the Jack Taylor. Stayed fairly local and managed to cross over to Loch Watten staying on all the nice singlelane backroads with no traffic at all. Roads, like everywhere I imagine, are in a pretty rough state but the lovely Super Clubman was the perfect machine for it, just soaks it up with no complaints.
Anyway just thought I would share a few photos. Look forward to the time soon when we can all ride together once again.
Stay safe
Jamie

18th April 2021 - Local lockdown tandem ride. Flying Scot Continental tandem - Caleb and I

 A short ride out locally to keep our legs spinning and to also go and visit some of the animals Caleb helps with during the week. Including his horse Chico. 

A good ride despite dodging the rain showers that were blowing in thick and fast. Still quite cold despite the lambs and flowers coming through making us think springtime is finally here. 

Jamie

March 21st 2021 - Highland Classic Bicycle Groups Crocus Ride - Inverness - Flying Scot Tandem

A few photos from March 21st socially distanced ride with the Highland Classic Bicycle Groups Crocus ride in Inverness.
Caleb and I were on the Flying Scot tandem and had a great day out together riding through Inverness and along the canal with Brian and everyone else with a picnic lunch along the canal. Great to see Brian everyone again. Caleb had a ball and did him no end of good to get out.
So glad he decided to come so we could get some miles in on the tandem. He almost didn't come as when I asked each time on Saturday he just kept saying no he didn't feel like it. I even tried to convince him just before he went to bed as I was loading the Jack Taylor into the van as I had to leave by 6am to drive the couple of hours south to Inverness and get Brian on the way. No he wasn't coming, Ok can't be too hard but knew something wasn't right as he had been shielding again since Christmas due to Heather and he was just anxious about being out around people and also about leaving Heather on her own, though she really needed the time alone. Anyway as I was leaving at 6 am heading out the door with a coffee in my hand, van warming up he came out of his bedroom half asleep saying he had changed his mind and wanted to come. I said too late my boy as I had to leave and didn't have time to unpack, get him ready, then dig out the tandem and load it up. Said goodbye and left, well I only got about a mile down the road, rang Heather and said get him ready and I would be home in a minute to swap bikes etc but he needed his breakfast to eat in the van and I would make his sandwiches for lunch. I'm far too soft. 
Well we had a great day out and you can see by the smile in the photos that he did too. He always loves riding the tandem and I knew he would be fine once he was out. He loved the ride all along the river and canals all over Inverness and really liked that there were other children on the ride.
A grand day out for sure

Jamie

Sunday February 28th 2021 - Mercian King Of Mercia Tourer - Local lockdown ride

 Lovely weekend and nice dry roads so itching to get out. I had lots to do yesterday and a few things to finish off but as we are still in lockdown and I can't really vary the rides too much after all this time I would vary what I take out. So as I was working on the changing the tandems handlebars I thought, 'I might just throw all the Arabesque stuff back on the Ventoux Flying Scot and take that out. Shouldn't take too long, I had most of the morning to organise as Caleb wanted us all to go and have a picnic at his horse seen as it was such a nice day. It is also the only time he and Heather can leave the yard as they are still shielding. So a plan was hatched that I would build the Flying Scot and I would meet them up there. 

..... well, it didn't quite work out as the only thing that was holding me back was I couldn't find the safe place where I had put the top tube cable clamps. I even tried the Dia Compe BMX ones I have in the loft, but no, they were a slightly bigger size. Almost out of time, what will I ride now?   I pulled the Mercian King of Mercia tourer out the loft and gave it the once over and thought, it will do.  

I ended up riding up to the farm where Calebs tiny pony is and having a nice lunch next to the watering hole with the horses. Afterwards I said to Heather I would take a longer way back but shouldn't be too long. Well the Mercian was riding so nicely, smooth, slick and setup lovely that I spent the next few hours wandering the counties back roads before taking the scenic coastal route home. This one rides really lovely and seems to fit a bit better and the geometry suites nicely as well. Oh well, maybe I painted the wrong Mercian ;) 

What a great way things ended up as I am so glad I took the Mercian out, such a nice riding machine and it was just one of those satisfying rides. 

As it was I made it home to set up the pizza oven once again for a lovely dinner with the family. Think I am ready to face another week now. 

Hope you all had a nice weekend and hopefully had some nice weather. 

Jamie