Sat 13th September 2025 Pugsley Loch More Loop

 I was out and about on the Pugsley around Loch More on the weekend.

I was out with a friend just exploring the back loops and logging roads so nothing too strenuous, just a relaxing way to spend the afternoon in some great scenery. Also got to try out the Surly frame bag I got Caleb for his Karate Monkey. Worked great and for once I didn't need my backpack to carry my stuff. I may be borrowing it more often ;)

The Pugsley is still a great riding bike, built it up from frame about 12 or 13 years ago now and still enjoy it as much as ever. It's had a few changes over the years and the last couple of years seems to get a slight makeover before the Autumn/Winter to keep things a bit different and fresh.  Biggest change a couple of winters back was the addition of a rear derailleur and cassette after 10 years of single speed, then last year a change from the tried and trusted Jones style bars to the Sim Works Little Nick bars, which I am still really loving using. So for this year,  I am finally going to build a new set of wheels next month for it as the rear hub is shot so picked up some Holy Darylls and will get a couple of rear XT hubs. These should come in a bit lighter than the Large Marges.  
Hopefully will get them done in the next month as the Pugs always see's more use once the weather turns.

Jamie

Sunday 10th August 2025 - Jack Taylor ride, meet up - Stokesley - Jack Taylor Super Tourist

 Sunday the 10th of August seen myself and Caleb once again making the 900 odd mile round trip south to Stokesley for the annual Jack Taylor ride/get together.

This year I was on the '83 Super Tourist while Caleb chose to ride his much loved Wester Ross. While my Super Tourist is always ready to roll it was still given a quick once over and lubed as it hasn't seen too much action the last 6 months as my Super Clubman is my everyday ride Jack Taylor.
Caleb's Wester Ross had a set of SKS guards fitted and while a bit tight in places on the front due to the close clearance, they worked fine for the weekend and the trip away.
We left home early hours of Saturday morning with a 9 hour drive in front of us according to Google maps. It was a bit wet when we left but just got sunnier and warmer as we went south. We had a hotel booked at Stockton on Tees so arrived there late afternoon, grabbed some dinner and then some much needed rest.
Sunday dawned sunny and warm which was a welcome sight. We were up and out pretty early for the 15 minute drive to the start where we pulled in to be greeted by Eric who was just getting setup. We quickly pulled the bikes out, adjusted and sorted and parked up while we got some breakfast. The rest of the morning was spent catching up with fellow enthusiasts, friends, many of which I only really see here these days, and looking at bikes and chatting about bikes. I really love this event as it is so sociable. It was great to see Caleb off on his own discussing the different bikes, components etc while being so welcomed. Quite a bit of interest in his Wester Ross especially as his is a Scottish built one where most down that way were built just out of Whitby.
We then set off on the ride over now familiar ground on a route that would take us to Swainby where we would all regroup for lunch at the Rusty Bike cafe. The day had gotten hotter as it went and it was brilliant riding weather as usual, over rolling hills through farmland on small, narrow, and very quiet back roads. Perfect.
Again a very sociable lunch before a similar ride back to Stokesley completing a really lovely circuitous route. It seemed to go by very quickly as it was a relaxed and chatty ride.
Once back we packed up and then sat about with a cold drink before eventually saying out goodbyes and heading for an early dinner at a nice hotel recommended by one of the locals. Nice it was as well.
Unfortunately Ken couldn't be with us again this year, he has been in care getting physio after a fall and so we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery and Eric will often call in and see him and give him our best wishes as well as visiting passing on our best wishes to Honor.
Somehow came away with some bits and pieces as usual, Eric had given me one of the original NOS cycling caps he got from Ken many many years ago, and then realising he hadn't any for Caleb he gave him one from the batch mad from one of the bike shows in America in the 1980's. Caleb didn't take it off for the next three days!
I did also buy Kens old musette bag. It was for a good cause the money being raised and the fact it was Kens I was happy to have it.
Caleb and I stayed at Stockton on Tees again as we had planned on heading to Grossmont to ride the North York Moors Heritage Railway. Caleb had been working so hard this school holiday with his job and with Heather being not well for most of it I thought he needed to have a break away before heading back to school.
So we had a great few days away as the glorious weather continued and the steam train trip and engine sheds etc were the perfect break. Old bikes, old trains and we both had a great few days away.
Caleb was back out on his Wester Ross again today so long may it keep him enthused for old bikes.

So here are some photos though Caleb took quite a lot with his film camera so once they are developed I will copy and post them here.

Jamie

12 April 2025 - Mercian Coast ride - Mercian King of Mercia

 What with work being so busy lately, as is normal for spring time, it means that I have barely any time at home during the week to get things done and so when the weekend arrives, with jobs needing attention I seem to be able to grab only a few hours here and there for riding. Which means short local rides the last few weekends. 

This weekend was no exception with finally managing to grab a bit of time late on Saturday afternoon for a meander around the coast roads. Not very long but a nice ride to help clear the head. 

I pulled the Mercian out as I wanted to change the tyres  over from the 30mm to the 30.33 as they look a good bit larger volume on the Jack Taylor Super Clubman and ride really nicely, very supple and quite forgiving on the rough tarmac around here. So I thought I would swap wheels around and see how they felt. Having been commuting on the Mercian recently I was confident I would be able notice any difference.  They are both Jackie Brown tyres from the old Rivendell moulds just different sizes. 

This now gave a slight purpose to the ride and so I picked a route that would take in the various types of tarmac round here from bad potholed main road to better but gravel strewn singletrack farm roads through to dirt farm tracks. From the first ride out of the yard it was apparent they felt better and certainly are part of the planted solid feeling of the Super Clubman as it felt even more stable and planted than usual. This secure feeling extended to all surfaces so certainly a noticeable difference. Now to try and find another pair, not easy I think. 

Jamie 

 

Sunday 6th April 2025 - Jack Taylor Super Tourist - Out of winter hibernation, serviced and ready for the year ahead

 It's been a while since I updated and while my JT Super Clubman gets most of my attention as it's my go to JT for pretty much everything, especially over the winter, I thought with the weekend being such good weather up here that I should get the Super Tourist out, give it a quick going over and a grease and oil and then take it for a test ride.

I had some some time after lunch on Sunday so it was nice to bring it out of it's winter hibernation, sit in the sun making sure everything was ready for this seasons riding. Then with some time just to go out for a ride, just local but with nowhere in particular to be I could just meander along the quieter farm roads on a bit of a loop.
It's funny as while it is a good age now, it is still relatively new and with no miles on it when I purchased it, it was the headset bedding in that needed adjustment along with brakes etc.
It certainly rides like a new bike and is a really nice, smooth and stable ride. I am really hoping to get to load it up properly and get away touring on it this summer.
This was a good easy ride to get it going again and of course it rode superbly.

Jamie

30 March 2025 - Surly Long Haul Trucker Coastal Ride - + new Swift Industries Paloma Handlebar bag

 Rainy Saturday was spent finishing a service to the LHT so it is ready for this seasons hauling. Like most of these past 14 years or so will see it hopefully touring, audaxing, randonnuering and commuting without any major problems. 

I had already sorted the wheels and hubs so it was really just making sure everything was cleaned out and new grease/lube applied. Seatpost, bottom bracket, check the sealed headset, clean chainrings, remove and degrease the chain and cassette, lube the canti pivots etc.  Everything was still well greased thankfully and came apart easily enough which was great to see, so it was more a clean and freshen up. 

I also decided to swap out my old Ortlieb handlebar bag for a recently purchased Swift Industries Paloma bar bag. Just had to swap out the Ortlieb mount for a Rixon Kraul one and it was good to go. It looks like a great bag and it will have a lot to live up to as the Ortlieb one has never let me down, done untold miles in some really atrocious weather and is still working fine, it's just nice after all the se years to change it up now and again. 

So on to today and the weather was great this afternoon and while I had a family engagement late in the afternoon, it meant I still had a few hours to get out for a ride. Make sure I had serviced it right and tightened everything up. ;) 

Well, the Trucker was it's usual pleasure to ride and I had a really enjoyable cruise round my local loop on some quite roads and then around the coast.  Stopping for some photos here and there and just enjoying being out. 

I am often saying that I might change the bars or stem or gearing etc on the Trucker and then when it comes to it I am then very reluctant as I get on it and ride it in this configuration, pretty much the same as when I built it up from the frame all those years ago, and it is probably the best fitting, most comfortable ride regardless of terrain, fits perfect, gearing is spot on the feel is planted and connected and I can tour for a week in the rain or commute to work and it always has me getting off with a contented smile. It makes every ride that bit better.  

Jamie 

  

Sunday 16th March 2025 - Late afternoon ride on the Merckx Corsa Extra - Spring is here?

 In honour of what is starting to feel like spring and the start of the spring classic races I thought as I had a couple of hours spare that, I am well past due to get the Merckx out of winter hibernation, stretch my back into shape, resume the racer pose and put some quick miles in on this fast machine. 

It didn't disappoint either. After buying this from the factory nearly 14 years ago now, it still never fails to make me smile and appreciate just how nice it is to ride. Even by modern standards it is a racy feel but ever so rock steady and compliant, comfortable all day in the saddle. Plus after all this time, it doesn't matter how long since I last rode it, it fits like a glove and just feels so natural fitting back on it. 

Love it. 

Jamie