3rd January 2026 - New Year ride on Pugsley.

 Happy New Year! 

I was hoping to get a ride out on the 1st or 2nd day of the New Year but with rain and gale force winds it just wasn't happening. 

After getting some snow on the afternoon of the 3rd and the wind abating a bit I decided to get the Pugsley out and head down the local trails to the beach and coastal tracks.  While the wind was still fairly strong I thought the lower beach track and hedges may offer some respite from it. It was also a full moon so tried to capture it on my way home but a bit too dark for my phone and struggled to hold still in the 50mph winds. 

Not much snow but in the following four days there has been quite a bit with these trails now being covered by about 6 inches in the fields with the track being about a foot deep due to the drifts. Unfortunately I am back at work and unable to get out on the Pugsley, but hopefully this weekend. 

A slightly later start but it's always good to start the year riding. 

Jamie 

End of 2025 Rides - Boxing day 26th and also 28th December Local Rides

 Despite the awful weather we have had to finish the year off, there were a few calm breaks that allowed me to get out between Christmas and New Year. 

Neither were long rides, more just to keep the legs turning away from commuting or errand type rides.  

It was boxing day first off and after a lovely Christmas with family I needed to pick up a couple of things in town and also drop off some keys for work, before they were needed on the 29th. It was well after lunch and while I was aware I only had a couple of hours of daylight left I made sure my lights were charged and headed off on the Bullitt cargo bike. A nice ride into town and out the other side to work first, then back into town, pick up a couple of things from the supermarket, stop and take a look at the Christmas lights which might soon be gone and then, with lights on, take a few of the back roads home. All this while trying to dodge a few lite showers.  Good to be out and stretch the legs. 

 

 

The 28th of December seen a break in the rain again and I managed to get out for a few hours for a ride around the coast. Nowhere in particular to be or a planned route so just took one of my regular routes with a few side tracks mixed in.  Again not a long one but just enough to feel like a nice ride and keep the legs turning over. This time I took out the Long Haul Trucker as it is my go to ride when I just want to ride without  having to think about the bike. It is just such a comfortable ride, handles great, fit's like a glove, never lets me down. 

Jamie 

Sat 6th December 2025 - Global FatBike Day 2025 - Strathpeffer

 Having realised I haven't posted to the blog for a while I thought I better bring it slightly up to date with some of the rides done lately. 

Saturday 6th December seen Global Fatbike day roll around once again. We haven't missed a ride out for many years as it is always a good excuse to get out with friends and enjoy a sociable ride on our Fatbikes, which is what it was always intended to do. 

We were a bit worried the week before as Brian had not been well recently and we had our fingers crossed he would be fit for the ride, especially as I have done most of the GFBD rides with Brian, this combined with the constant rain and flooding meant picking a route was a bit of a juggling act. As it turned out Brian was good to ride but could only take it relatively easy due to some ongoing health issues so it meant finding an easyish flat course for the ride. Had to keep his heart rate well in check. We decided on a simple route from Dingwall to Strathpeffer for lunch taking the long winding route there and a straightforward route back. 

So it was just myself on my Pugsley, Caleb, my son, on his Karate Monkey and Brian on his Pugsley. 

We were very lucky with the weather as Caleb and I drove the couple of hours south in very heavy rain, only easing/stopping just before we arrived at Brians. It stayed relatively dry, just the odd spots here and there before reverting back to heavy rain once we left Brians.  

It was good to be out on the Pugsley and while it was a very sedate ride just riding along easy tracks and pathways it was good to be out with Brian and Caleb. We were both pleased to have Brian join us and knew it was an effort for him so we just enjoyed rolling along, thankful and enjoying being out and in each others company. 

Jamie   

October 6th 2025 - RIP Ken Taylor

 It is with great sadness I learnt the passing of Ken Taylor on the evening of the 6th October 2025.

One of life's true gentleman. A privilege to know him, however briefly in his long and well lived life.
Condolences and thoughts to Honor and family.
Rest in Peace with your brothers now.

'Have a nice ride'

Jamie Dyer

22 October 2025 - Cairngorm holiday ride with Caleb - Pugsley and Karate Monkey

 I have spent yesterday and today down in the Cairngorms with Caleb doing a bit of riding. I managed to blag a few days off while Caleb was still on school holidays and not working during the week.

Yesterday afternoon when we got down was a complete washout, so not much happening there but today dawned lovely and we made a plan. So from where we were staying at Kincraig, to have breakfast at Rothiemurchus, then head out the Eanaich valley to Loch Eaniach. A past favourite from Macretro and Brian and I rides. Maybe not Zigzags 

Was pretty chilly early on with cloud still covering the tops of the mountain but otherwise sunny.  I was on my Pugsley with the Nate tyres removed and the old faithful Endomorph rear and Larry front, Caleb was on his Karate Monkey 29'er.

We did a lot of exploring and side tracking, went down to Loch an Eilein loop before heading back to the junction to head down the Eanaich valley.

One surprising section was the little loch at the sort of five way trail junction where you turn towards Loch Eanaich through the gate was virtually empty!  It took me a minute to realise where I was. We only made it a a bit down this track to just where you turn off and up the steep hill to start with the shower that was covering the whole valley and hills. We pondered for a few minutes whether to get soaked or turn round and head to Glenmore and Loch Morlich where the sun was still shining. We headed for the sun 

It was a great ride to Glenmore and as with the loch the river was very low. Another observation was a junction not far over the river where I remember having a photo taken with my 1X1  on a Macretro ride. Caleb duly took a photo and I told him of the Macretro ride and it was a couple of years back from memory.  I have just had a look and it was the Macretro Cairngorm ride back in 2015! , the one where we went Rothiemurchus, Glenmore and Boat of Garten then back to Aviemore.   Time flies hey, and I did well to spot the place as the log has seen more solid days that's for sure.

We had some lunch at Glenmore then the rain became more steady so we retreated back to Aviemore down the trail. With the rain still coming down as we packed up. It was forecast for the afternoon so we made our way back north, stopping for refreshments at Brians along the way.

Good to get out for a few days.

Jamie