Saturday 3rd December 2022 - Global Fatbike Day 2022 - Contin on the Pugsley with Caleb and Brian

 GFBD Saturday 3rd December and so keeping with tradition I ventured out for a ride with Brian, on his carbon singlespeed Chinese Fatbike, though this time we were joined by Caleb, who on his Baby Fatty had his first taste of the Puffer course.

Another grand day out though we did have to stop ever more regularly to pump up Brians slow leaking rear tyre. I just don't think it likes this Puffer course as Brian had used it the last couple of days with no problem but soon as back on the Puffer track it behaved how it did several years back during the race where I think Brian went through about 4 tubes or so and then parked it, drove home, rebuilt his Pugsley and returned to finish the race, vowing the carbon rubbish was headed for the great cull and to be sold off. From vague memory that was about 6 or more years ago now and it seemed like Daja vu to see him start the ride full of praise and joy for the carbon fatty only to finishing wondering whether he was going to sell it or toss it in the bushes. We shall see. Caleb had a real blast riding his fatty in the mountain paths and trails as he is usually using it for crawling through the sand and round the coastal rocks so it was great to see him enjoying himself while learning some new skills, but nice to see his confidence growing as he tackled new terrain. 

It all made for a fun day out and good to be back on the Pugsley again. I think I worked out I have been running the Pugs for about 11 or so years now and always been singlespeed, even though I have a 9 speed cassette, a Sunrace thumbshifter and an XT long cage mech sitting in a box just waiting for when I get old. 

I did buy a set of Geoff bars from On One to fit, but I may treat it to another repaint this winter as well, not sure yet.

Jamie

22nd November 2022 - Highland Classic Bicycle Group Inverness Ride - Flying Scot Tandem

 Haven't posted for a while so thought I better put up a couple of photos from the Highland Classic Bicycle groups ride in Inverness that Caleb and I attended last weekend with fellow macretro Brian.

We have done this ride before on the tandem and it just happened to coincide nicely with a family weekend away where we stayed with friends near Grantown on the Friday after work, took Caleb on a surprise journey on the Sants Express steam train from Aviemore after which we stayed in a hotel in Inverness on Saturday night. We had planned on going on Sunday mornings ride and so had put the tandem in the van all set up and ready to roll. We met the others at the start while Heather went shopping for a few hours in peace in Inverness.
It was good to catch up with everyone and have a leisurely ride down the canal to Dargaroch and after a brief stop we headed back up the other side of the canal back past our starting point and further up to the harbour itself where we stopped at the lovely cafe for a warming coffee and cake. After this nice lunch stop and catch up we had to head back up the canal because we had to pick up Heather and drive the couple of hours north to get home in time to get the dog from kennels.
It was good to be back out on the tandem, something Caleb and I hadn't done for a couple of months as he is riding more and further on his own bikes these days. Despite this we fell easily back into the rhythm and both had a great time. I enjoy these rides with Caleb as I realise now he is in High School it may not be too long until he rather ride on his solo than on the old Scot.

Jamie

Both bikes in this photo, the Scot and the Wester Ross were owned originally by the late Margaret Berwick, the wife of George Berwick.

November 13th 2022 - Mercian King of Mercia - Easter Ross ride - Randonneuring with Brian

 Well it was such a nice forecast today and with the family having other things organised I decided to head south and ride with my usual fellow retrorider, randonneur, co pilot and great friend, Brian.

A nice if delayed drive south seen us heading out of Brians in Dingwall planning to go out towards Maryburgh and then over the dirt roads into the hills out of Easter Oury, over the back roads and drop down into Marybank and then back to Dingwall via one of two ways. The plan was going well even after a nice coffee and cake stop paused proceedings for a bit. The weather was lovely, some high cloud, some sun, quite cool but no rain forecast made for some really nice autumn riding.
We also made a quick stop at the bust of the fallen motorcyclist on one of the railway crossings. I have mentioned this in other posts on the blog if I remember right. The story goes that a young man back in the 1920's or '30s crashed his motorcycle into the bridge when it was under construction. The stonemasons put a bust of him, which even I can remember when I first seen it many years back, was a head with a leather style motorcycle helmet. Brian, who is slightly older than myself  ;) was told this as common knowledge even when he was a young man riding these local roads. When the new bridge was built in the 70's, the engineers put the sandstone bust, as it was, into the new brick wall. It has now worn away and is looking more and more like a skull. With us both being motorcyclists ourselves, we always stop and pay our respects. Today we pondered whether anyone who knew him would still be with us? 
But I digress, the small backroads were still wet from yesterdays rain and also covered in leaves. It made the clear sections of dirt and even the dirt climb up to the back of Marybank a bit more predictable than some of the wet slippy tarmac bends.
We were also delayed slightly at Marybank as Brian needed to stop in and see a friend who then plied us with mugs of tea and cake which meant we had to really race the darkness back to Dingwall. As per usual, we didn't bring lights as we weren't going to be out long.
We made it back just on darkness by sticking to mainly the dirt tracks through the estates and then the cycle path into Dingwall. A long section that runs parallel to a very fast and busy section of road leading into Dingwall. We often make use of this when we get caught out without lights. This happens mostly when the clocks change at the end of autumn, from then on we make sure to carry them. 
Another great ride and always made better by being on the Mercian. 

Jamie

About to race the darkness 

November 12th 2022 - Mercian King of Mercia - Local coastal ride

 Out and about pretty late on this afternoon and you can certainly tell winter is starting. Lucky with the lack of rain today as it has been pretty damp most of the week, right through to early this morning.

Decided to make the most of the small break in the weather late on. Ride was a nice couple of hours with just a little bit of off road while meandering round the coast but a bit too muddy to be mucking about on wet clay in the semi dark conditions, so mostly tar and gravel bike path.
Sky was its usual loveliness for this time of year and everchanging which made the dark creep in unexpectantly. This meant the last few road miles were done at a good pace just so I could beat the darkness home. 
The KOM was its usual joy to ride, really loving this now that I have it set up how I wanted and imagine it will be a bit better once I tidy everything up. It is such a sweet ride and ranks right up there on a par with my Jack Taylor. The more I get it sorted the better it gets, and it handles and rides so stable and comfortable it's not surprising it's similar to the Jack Taylor. It's definitely the long wheelbase and rake that work for me these days. 

I am sure I have mentioned this before that it may be an age thing or natural progression of a life spent riding bikes but as I am getting older, and I imagine a bit slower, I am, like the rest of life, not in such a rush anymore and while I have always loved my touring bikes I find I appreciate the more subtle qualities of the ride now. This I cannot always understand myself let alone put into words.

Jamie

30th October 2022 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman Ride Westerdale/Loch More

 Yesterday was a nice day up here in the north of Scotland, the first nice weekend for many. I was due to head down for a ride with Brian on the Black Isle but a few chores before I left meant I would really be pushing it for time and also daylight. The pin was pulled and the ride cancelled as it would mean about a 5 hour round trip for about an hour and half ride. So as thought where do I head locally that I haven't been for a while?

I decided to head out Westerdale/Loch More direction and see where I end up, should keep me occupied for a good couple of hours and still leave time to get home and do something with Caleb when he gets in.
It was once again a nice enjoyable ride out into the flow country, sunny to begin with though with a very strong headwind from the southwest. I figured I would feel the benefit on the run back.
Well, what started out sunny and clear soon started getting darker and more threatening by the mile. The wind was bringing in clouds and rain with it. I did manage to get out to the dam and pushing on just after on the gravel sections wasn't the best due to rain the previous night, so it was only a mile or so off road this time. No big disappointment as I had already had a couple of drops of rain and could feel the moisture in the air so the decision to head back was taken before this anyway.
So, another enjoyable ride out on the Super Clubman. This is my go to classic and I really love the ride, though I do find it demotivates me to build anything else, it just does it all and I really enjoy riding it. 
This is a similar run to the one in July and you can see the difference in season, even without the off road sections.

Jamie

21st July 2022 - Strathcarron ride - Brian - Mercian King of Mercia

 Wednesday 21st July I managed time off so Brian and I hatched a rough plan to go on a road ride, I know, I know, not what anyone was expecting ;)  

First thing Weds I headed down to Brians with the plan being to head out to Marybank way and ride down the other side of the river to Meig dam and then head down into the estate roads and head to the end of the road. As usual we would take detours as and when required.
Luckily the weather was decent and stayed that way for most of the day though it was quite breezy heading out.
We were out for about 5 hours or so riding through some lovely scenery going from glen to glen being spoilt for views around each bend. Spoilt also in that we seen very little traffic, around half a dozen or so cars all afternoon. 
I was on the King of Mercia and it was it's usual well riding, enjoyable self. Sure footed whether on or off road.
We did discover a few well off road loops that we will investigate further on the 1X1s later in the summer. If anyone wishes to join us just let one of us know and we can work around it.

Jamie

Brian crossing one of the footbridges