October 22nd 2021 - Friday Ride with Brian - Ross Shire - Long Haul Trucker

 Yes a Friday ride for a change. 

Managed to wrangle out of work and with the forecast semi decent for Friday but looking rubbish for the rest of the weekend it was a good move in hindsight to head out for a nice afternoons riding. 

We headed out from Brians at Dingwall along the shore and eventually followed one of our well ridden routes around the back lanes and tracks of Easter Ross. 

We stopped and paid respects, as we always do, to the fallen motorcyclist who was killed where the old bridge crossed the line on the stretch of road from Conan Bridge to Muir of Ord. Now the story I have always known was that this young fellow was killed when the old bridge was originally being built back around the 1930's??  but could be wrong on the time, but anyway, the story is he was flying along the road  and hit the bridge that was being constructed. It is a dangerous spot as it is a fast road but it is on a bend as it crosses above the tracks on an angle, the old bridge more so. The story goes that the stonemasons who were building the bridge carved a motorcyclist  bust with a leather helmet and this was put on the top stones at one end. Brian remembers growing up locally and hearing this story but also hearing it from the bike shop in Muir of Ord especially. While the bust is well faded and worn and was even moved from the old bridge to the modern on in the 1970's it is very hard to tell the last couple of years what it is. I can even remember it in my time looking like a face with a helmet on top.  With both Brian and I being motorcyclist as well, we will stop when passing out of respect and also it is a good spot on this long road to stop and regroup, though we always say it is out of respect. ;) 

Not far from this point we headed up into the woods where there is an old or ancient Dunn or ground Fort. This time we went past and continued riding along some tiny track wondering where it may bring us out.

It bought us out onto a farm field where we could see a familiar road not far on the other side, though we had to find a place to cross as a few of the field had livestock in them. This proved a blessing as we had a heavy downpour of rain that thankfully the trees in the woods shielded us from. 

From here we hit the tarmac and took a more tarmac surfaced route back to Dingwall. 

The Long Haul Trucker doesn't always get much mention after owning this bike for about 11 years and many happy miles but it is the go to machine that fits like a glove and can cross any surface and always have me smiling. It's like an old friend. Love it. 

Another lovely afternoon out riding local. 

Jamie  

November 13th 2021 - Quick run into Town to drop of electric drive components to be tested - Bullitt

 Just a couple of photos from when I had to head to town to drop of the controller and components to Sam from the great bike shop 'the Bike Shop' in Thurso. He is a wiz with all things cycling and electric. 

Weather was certainly turning now and heading to winter. 

14th November 2021 - Strathconan ride - Jack Taylor

 After a week of non stop rain Sunday dawned heavily overcast but dry, as forecast. I rang Brian and while it would be a late start by the time I got down to his at Dingwall, wondered if he would be up for a ride out to the dam at Strathconan?  A nice quiet loop that is traffic free and even with the late start we could do in a couple of hours if pushed. Being November the light wasn't on our side at all. 

Brian was certainly up for it and while we accepted we may get a bit damp that we should be fine. As for the cold, we were well used to it and as we live in the Scottish Highlands we both knew to take any chance we can get as once the snow and ice come then our randonneuring rides will become a rarity and the MTB's will come to the fore. 

We were quite lucky as we had one small shower on the ride out to the dam. It was such a nice relaxed afternoon just rolling along enjoying the lovely autumnal surroundings. We ride this road or loop a bit and sometimes adding it in to other much longer rides and the views and scenery are never the same twice. It could be the seasons, the weather, cloudy, sunny but never fails to impress and make us thankful to have these loops on our doorstep. 

The Jack Taylor as always rode superbly. It is most at home on these small back roads through the Highlands. Always a pleasure to ride, very comfortable, handles the rough surfaces with ease. 

I must admit I really appreciate these rides and time spent with Brian just cruising along putting the worlds to rights, just chatting and generally enjoying each others company. 

Another last minute plan but well worth the effort. 

Jamie 

 

4th November 2021 - Kidical Mass Ride Inverness

 4th November 2021 - Kidical Mass Ride Inverness 

Caleb and I headed down to Inverness picking up Brian along the way, for the Kidical Mass ride. The weather wasn't very good though thankfully the rain stopped when we got into Inverness and miraculously stayed dry for the few hours of the ride and just started to rain when we were packing up to leave. Very lucky. 

This was a chance to try out the LvH cargo bike in the city environs and also another chance for me to get used to it. After riding my other 'normal' bikes, it does take a slight adjustment in thinking about steering with the small 20" wheel so far out in front of you. It also gave me a chance to use my new back board from Germany with two waterproof pouches on the back so I can keep things like wallet, glasses, phone etc handy just in front of me.

Jamie 

20th October 2021 - Larry V's Harry Stripdown and deep clean

 20th October 2021 - Larry V's Harry Stripdown and deep clean

So first thing to do with the new cargo bike was to strip it down, give it a deep clean and service, then see what we had to work with and work out a plan. 

Once stripped and the alu base board was removed there was a fair bit of dirt and built up stuff to clean as expected. There was also some black rubber remnants to scrub off but all came up nice with a bit of kitchen cleaner. 

I also replaced the front wheel with the original and stripped battery, harness, controller etc and put back to a standard Alfine 8 build. 

Even though my plan is to fit the side boards and cover to cargo area that I would for now keep the canopy and the seat until I was sure of the direction I wanted to take it in. 

19th October 2021 - New Arrival to the fleet - Larry Vs Harry Bullitt

 Well after selling my Big Dummy, Flying Scot Ventoux and Green Mercian King of Mercia, the time finally came to pick up the Big Dummies cargo bike replacement. A lovely Lizard King Green, Larry Vs Harry, Bullitt. 

I had saved the money from selling off the Dummy and other frames originally to buy a LvsH frame and build up from there and then I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time when Dan and his family were selling on their amazing son Rufus, Bullitt with quite a few accessories as well. This ended up being about the same as I was going to have to pay for a frame and fork. 

It was essentially an Alfine 8 build from LvH with Alfine running gear all round with 8 speed hub. Dan had fitted an electric front hub, battery and controller which had served their family well for several years, though there was an issue with the hub cutting out and as they needed to sell it to pay for Rufus new bike, the price was reduced to a non electric with anything electric seen as a bonus. More on this later but there is electric once again in it's future :)

The bike came with a lot of accessories besides the electric gear and suited us as it was to be for the dog as well so suited us. It came with the original 20" front wheel and Marathon tyre, fitted was a LvH canopy and cage along with a double LvH seat. So great value as these are expensive items on their own. 

So with a weekend in Glasgow to see family interrupted on a Sat morning to drive down to meet Dan just over the border and pick up the Bullitt and also to load Dan with the Jack Taylor tandem as he was going to deliver to the new owner on his way through. Sometimes the stars align.