Wednesday 17th July 2024 - Jack Taylor Super Tourist - Contin - Meig Dam

 Was out yesterday on a lovely ride from Contin out to Meig dam with my usual wingman Brian (epicyclo) and my young son Caleb. Calebs first time down this road.

It was certainly a good day for it, bit of cloud, no wind but quite warm.
While not a big epic ride it was good 4 or so hours out and about enjoying the beautiful scenery.
I had the Super Tourer sorted, I hoped, everything cleaned and regreased, BB, headset, hubs, new tyres and it didn't disappoint. It really did finally feel like riding a new bike, quiet, everything slick, even the dyno that I inadvertently clicked on was hardly noticeable.
I got Caleb to take it for a ride, he doesn't like drop bars at all, but put it in a gear and said just ride the tops and see what you think. Well when I could finally prize his backside from the seat, he was all full of wonder at how nice it was. It's a start. 

It was nice to finally have the Super Tourer riding as it should. While technically it is a new bike in the sense it had only done 20 miles, it was unused for 34 years and as such had dried up/thickening grease as well as naturally perished rubber. So was nice to feel it how I always imagined it would. 
Anyway, good to be out mid week and getting a ride in with my boy. Hopefully he will be out with us on a few more of these randonneur type rides. 

I think it tired him slightly as he was asleep in the van on our 2 hour + drive home. 

Jamie

Sunday 07th July 2024 - Flying Scot Group BBQ - East Lothian - Scotland

 Sunday seen what was an informal gathering of a few Flying Scot enthusiasts gathering for a social Sunday BBQ at Andrew F's lockup near Edinburgh.

The plan was that a BBQ would be on from 11am with Andrews own very impressive collection of Flying Scots as well as many other historically significant Scottish frames on view, a couple of Graeme Obree bikes, and anyone wanting to come encouraged to bring their own Scot for everyone to see. I took the old tandem down with me.
What a turn out it was with a very big gathering of enthusiasts from the facebook group, ex racers, friends and new faces gathering to admire the many bikes, have a bite to eat and make new friends. A few Scottish racing royalty in attendance as well with Vic Polanski with a few of his grass track title bikes, Brian Temple who Andrew has his 1970 Commonwealth games silver medal winning bike, Ron Gardiner who raced the Peace Race on a Flying Scot early in the 1960's amongst other national and international races, Sandy Gilchrist and other very accomplished road and track men.
A great day was had by all for sure.
I travelled down to Brians the night before and we both headed down, spent the day down south before the long slog back up north. Very well worth it. Lots of people I had talked on line with and finally got to meet face to face and to catch up with a few old friends that I hadn't seen for a long while. Nice to meet up with Matt and Kenny formerly from Shand and especially to hear of Matts frame building now for himself in Glasgow.
Here is a couple of photos.

Jamie Nans Rattrays Star model

July 2024 - Jack Taylor Super Tourist - New Tyres - Michelin World Tour 700c X 35

 Finally the new tyres arrived. 

It was time to replace the original World Tours with a set of new fresh versions. While the old ones had only done about 60 miles over their life, they were fitted in 1983 and when I bought it last year they were splitting and cracking on the sidewalls. 

Once off you could really see they were splitting all over the tread as well. Even with such low mileage I  am lucky I hadn't punctured on them or even worse, had a blowout. 

All fitted and hubs greased and adjusted now as well so it is rolling superbly. While the old ones looked fine to me, you could certainly see the improvement with the new ones. 

Felt noticeably nicer on the test ride as well. I would imagine they are a bit more supple, though whether this is because they aren't 34 years old or because of developments in the tyre over the years, but either way an improvement. 

Jamie 

Old and New