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