Easter Weekend ride part 2:
A weekend away south to Aviemore to meet up with family and friends from even further south and spend some time together over the long weekend. We only really get to see each other once, maybe twice a year so it's always good. They are not bike people at all but seen as how this year we were meeting in Aviemore, which I ride regularly in the area and also I know that getting them all ready for breakfast usually takes until at least 10.00am or so, I put the Jack Taylor as well as my Pugsley in the van. As I have done in the past, I will get up early and head out before the others are all up and spend a couple of hours exploring, then back for a quick shower and breakfast with everyone.
The weather was a mixed bag with Saturday being fine first thing for my time out on the Pugsley for it to then rain for most of the rest of Saturday. The Saturday Pugsley ride is in the previous post.Sunday morning with the Jack Taylor ready and waiting to go I was up, washed and ready to go but was a bit concerned that it was foggy, minus 2 and, quite icy still, as I found out when I stepped out of the static caravan onto the plastic decking! looked like little puddles of water but it was ice! Everything was frozen.
Not to worry as the path and the roads looked alright so I decided to ride the all weather dirt path up to Glenmore and see what the weather was doing once I gained some altitude.
Well it didn't take too long, just a mile or two before the sun was poking through and everything was steaming away, there was a bit of ice about but as long as you were careful it was fine. The track was pretty good and the freeze helped to solidify a lot of the mud, so more welcome than not. This 6 mile path, while dirt, seems to drain fairly well and with just the right amount of embedded gravel to hit that nice blend of grip while not being too rough. The JT ran nicely with the 33mm Jackie Brown tyres fitted, running around 50psi.
With the sun out I kept going upwards, especially after the cafe at the Glenmore visitors centre was closed.
The JT was handling the dirt and gravel superbly and was so comfortable even when it got dry and rough. Easy to ride in that environment for sure, so surefooted and predictable. I headed back after a while and stopped at one of the cafes near Loch Morlich, the Pine Martin bar, where Heather and I had camped previously, for a coffee and bacon roll, sitting outside just taking in the peace and quiet of a Sunday morning in the hills, before fully enjoying the sunshine and the mostly downhill run dropping back down to Aviemore. A thoroughly enjoyable ride and was so happy I took the JT with me. Love this bike. Really do. It has to be one of the nicest bikes I have ever ridden. It just fits right, handles superbly and no matter where I ride it leaves me smiling.
I did find when I got home tonight and unloaded out the van that all five chainring bolts were loose. Now loctited. Maybe it was a little rougher in places than I thought. :)
I did find when I got home tonight and unloaded out the van that all five chainring bolts were loose. Now loctited. Maybe it was a little rougher in places than I thought. :)
Jamie
