July 28th 2023 - New arrival to the stable - Shand Bahookie MTB frame and fork!

 I have also been doing a bit of maintenance on my 1X1 lately, along with Brian as we have both decided to run our 1X1s in the StrathPuffer 24 hour race next January after we both once again managed to get entries earlier this month. Usually I run my Pugsley singlespeed but next year I think will be my last so time for something a bit different for a change.

I really wanted to make an effort for next year after the situation this year, don't get me wrong, I was thankful to be there at the start and pleased to be able to do a lap let alone three but I feel I am better now and am looking forward to a more normal Puffer next year. Though the only spanner in the works may be the 1X1, and while I really love my 1X1, my new dirt roads tourer is awaiting boost dropouts, it does have singlespeed dropouts to get me by. I see a plan coming together. 

This recent purchase was an opportunity too good to pass up. It was my size and was located just around the corner from Brians, whom I was on my way to visit, and it was a bargain. 

These Scottish built steel frames are super expensive new and are built to order so very rarely come up secondhand, so to find one in my size that was sensibly priced was very lucky indeed. This does have Alfine/Rohloff dropouts fitted which can run my singlespeed no problem, but my end vision for this one is geared with a 1 X 11, Johnes style bar with a rear rack and bikepacking type bags up front for some dirt touring. I am very thankful to Brian as well who has loaned me a nice Truvativ crankset and some BB7 brakes to kick off the build. Brian was also looking to build his Shand Fatbike prototype up into a +size dirt tourer. I see some winter builds happening here. 

Very nicely built frameset and fork and as usual I do know I am lucky I have an understanding wife. 

Jamie 

 

Saturday 27th July 2023 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman ride - Local coastal route

 Out last Saturday on the Jack Taylor for a nice afternoon ride round the coast. Was sporting one of my new JT water bottles just recently added from a fresh batch made in the states by group member Robert, who kindly packaged 4 bottles up and sent them across, being 2 for Dean Annison and 2 for myself. It was nice to have an afternoon off where it wasn't raining for once and as always, a pleasure riding this Jack Taylor SC. 

Went out on the high road then came home along the coast exploring tracks here and there. Just nice to be out riding.

Jamie

Sunday 28th May 2023 - King of Mercia Tourer - Beauly - Carrick, Glen Affric Loop

 Had a lovely ride out of the King of Mercia on Sunday with Brian on his Cube. We did the loop out from Beauly down Glen Affric to Cannick for lunch and then returned on the singletrack road on the other side of the river. Great way to spend the afternoon. 

We had nice weather for it as it was fairly clear, warm and with little wind, which made a change from the last week or so. 

The King of Mercia ran perfect whether it was climbing or just rolling along, it is so comfortable and stable. I did have one little incident early on when we were on a run downhill after a decent climb my chain jammed between the big and middle ring, which is unusual as this thing normally shifts really fine and I just put it down to me crossed the chain a bit much and a one off. I realised it was jammed and I was doing a fair speed at this point but managed to just cruise of the other side of the road into a driveway opening. Fixed it within a minute and was back on my way. Bike was superb the rest of the ride and didn't think of it again. 

I drove home and got the bike out the van the following afternoon after work as I got back up north quite late after the ride only to find the sound that I thought was my multitool jingling in the Carradice was in fact my chainrings all loose. All three rings were tinking away as I had lost one bolt completely off the big/middle ring and all small ring bolts were loose. Lost a spacer as well!  Never felt a thing and shifted its usual slick way so can only assume it was at the end. Very lucky as it could have caused a crash easily enough, let alone an injury. Anyway it's stripped now and new bolts all round ordered and most likely fit new rings while I am at it as the ones on it are getting a bit worn. 

Jamie 

Sat 6th May - Mercian King of Mercia Clean up and check over

 Well a busy couple of weeks at work but I managed to do a bit of fettling getting the newer Mercian cleaned and change of saddle etc, fitted the old Mercians wheels just to see how it would come up. Not bad actually and was well pleased. I will probably strip it right down now and it will wait until other projects are finished and I have some 650b wheels for it.

Bar tap is half white faux leather and the black is actually duct tape over a thick layer of what feels and looks like laminate floor insulation. Strange.
Cleaned up nicely though. Everything is free and not seized, which is always good.

Jamie

Sun 30th April 2023 - new addition - 1993 Mercian King of Mercia 653 Road Geometry

 Well a pretty driech day here today but I managed to get down to Brians and while the weather sort of dissuaded us from riding but we did make a car journey over to the other side of Inverness to pick up a bike, minus wheels that I had organised earlier in the week.

Perfect size, and complements my other King of Mercia nicely with this one being 653 like my tourer. This is road geometry King of Mercia and is due to be converted to 650b to allow slightly wider tyres. Besides it was a bargain as when I originally enquired about it, it was already a great price, and then the guy who was selling it said he needed the wheels for another project, I said that was fine as I wanted to try and convert to 650b and was there any adjustment on the price? He then almost halved what was a good deal anyway so I said I would take it. He held onto it until I was down at Brians and could go pick it up. When we got there it was far better condition than I was expecting so was well pleased.  
I got home and dropped my other Mercian wheels in to see if there were any surprises and no, all was as smooth. So this will join the project Que.
It is 653 tubing, 21" square, two bottle cage with rack and mudgaurd fittings, 105 shifters, crank, derailleurs, with Miche brakes and levers and a nice Mercian stamped Tange headset. This was the guys fathers bike but was too small for him so was moving it on. He did know it was on the cheap side but wanted it gone and also to a good home if possible, so I will do my best. 

Will strip it, deep clean it and regrease it next weekend hopefully. Then we will see where we are up to with components etc. I have new bar tape and a saddle put aside already for it.
I really like the colour and is what drew me to it, others not so much. 

After selling my other green road geometry King of Mercia I often regretted it and wished I had been able to hold on to it just to see about converting to 650b to allow a slightly wider tyre. So now I am lucky enough to be able to have another King of Mercia and also thankful it was a very good price which is what allowed me to do it. 

Here are a few photos from when I got home Sunday night and dropped the wheels off my other Mercian in.