Saturday 9th May - Mercian King of Mercia - Service and local evening ride

 Out for an evening ride after dinner on the King of Mercia Mercian.

First time out this year for the Mercian and so it was a quick service this afternoon between jobs. Not much needed really as I tend to keep it always ready to go back out but after not being used since about November from memory I thought I better clean and grease everything ready for what we hope will be a great summer. 
Was a bit breezy but sunny and with the forecast looking rubbish for up here tomorrow I needed to get a ride in even if it was just a couple of hours meandering. Mercian rode sweetly as usual, a real stable and comfortable ride but never feels sluggish or unresponsive. 

Looking forward to maybe getting a bit further afield again this year and loading the tourers up and getting a couple of longer tours in. Last couple of years work has meant that time off was for shorter periods which meant with other things weekend tours were the longest I could manage. This year, fingers crossed for a few longer trips. 

Jamie 

Sunday 3rd May 2026 Jack Taylor Super Tourist - Service then local ride Olrig

 Weather forecast was good again for this afternoon so this morning I pulled the Super Tourist out of hibernation and gave it a good check over and service where needed as it hasn't been out over winter. A few adjustments and a bit of clean and lube and it was good to go. I normally run these Michelin World Tour tyres at about 50psi but both were bang on 37! I must admit I love the small details on this tourer, from the beautiful lugwork, both execution and painting, nicely hidden wiring front and rear, the fact the frame number is stamped onto not just the front and rear rack but the lowrider front section as well. Even after all this time I still spot something from a different angle and it makes me smile still. I do realise I am very fortunate and grateful to own this beauty. 

Anyway I had a few hours this afternoon so again just went out meandering locally through the backroads enjoying the sunshine. Bike was rolling along lovely, sun was out so it couldn't be anything but a good ride.

 I eventually found myself over the back of Olrig parish, not far from home, just a mile or so  over the hill, so very local when I thought I better stop at what is left of the ancient old St Trothens church and graveyard to pay respects to the Selkie grave . It is hidden in the ancient section and the dates are long worn away in a section that is from medieval times. Nearly all engravings and marking are gone and many lie in ruins as is the church itself, which dates from around 1633 in this guise but was a place of worship for a long time before this, and has been in ruin for several centuries or more, rarely visited even as a cemetery as there is a modern cemetery nearby. The hollow on top of the Selkie womens grave is said to never dry out and for a place that looks long abandoned other than the grass being cut now and again, and this being hidden away and unmarked, there were a good few offering left for her. Plants, flowers, shells, seaweed and various items. Nothing on anything else at all. She clearly still holds a place in peoples thoughts, local stories that have been passed down for many years. Like all Selkie stories she came from the sea, shed her skin, fell in love with a man who hid her skin so she couldn't return to the sea and so was stuck on land. She was shunned by the church as a witch and died in childbirth. Buried there in secret by the locals. I stop there when passing, have never seen another person as it is well out the way but there is always items left for her. As I did too.

A very good ride back out on the Super Tourist, great weather, very leisurely afternoon.  Hopefully will manage to get her loaded up and further afield this year.  

Jamie

Here's a link to information about the place and the Selkie lady that I found.

https://www.robbiemactours.co.uk/legend-of-the-selkie/

Sunday 26th April 2026 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman Coastal Ride - Caithness

 A bit late but  a couple from last Sundays ride.

I better post these now as hopefully weather will be better tomorrow and I will be back out. Now that it seems the weather has turned the corner and time for longer nicer rides I thought I better service some of my usual rides so they are ready to roll when needed or when the unexpected day off arrives or someone calls and says 'you fancy heading here or there.'
So while doing various chores on Sunday I had the Jack Taylor Super Clubman out for a clean and lube, while it is my go to classic it does see a bit of use in the winter so just wanted to check it over, lube and also check the rust spots that I try to keep at bay. So a fresh coat of wax as well.
I really like the way this Super Clubman rides and handles, the nicest of all I think, it is so relaxed and comfortable whether road or dirt, is super stable but quick enough with it. If I get another frame made then I would copy the dimensions of this frame to the millimeter.
Anyway, I had a couple of hours spare in the afternoon so just went out for a ride just for the sake of going for a ride. Got to the end of my road, left or right? and decided left, to head towards Dunnet and then see how far I could get back riding on the tracks around the coast. Just meandering.
I got out and then back to Castlehill and then turned onto the dirt tracks round the last bit of coast but the track seemed to go down onto the rocky slab coastal edge after a few miles and I didn't fancy carrying the bike over. Still it was good while it lasted and always good to ride the Super Clubman. I headed back up a dirt path and eventually came out on the main road about a mile from home. 

Good to be out. 

Jamie

25th April 2026 - Ogre Day ride - Loch More, Altnabreac out towards Forsinard in the flow country. North Scotland.

 Well from myself, it wasn't today but today last week when the weather was a bit better.

I had been fiddling with the Ogre during the week and still trying to figure what racks etc to put on it but decided to take it out on a run I had planned to Loch More, Altnabreac and towards Forsinard across the flow country. Was going to take the Trucker but seeing as I have a few longer off road rides coming up for the Ogre, I thought I better make sure it works on all surfaces. More so the fit and comfort.
Managed out early Sat afternoon, first off went south from the west side of Loch More but have a long haul on the straight roads before getting anywhere decent and with the weather looking rubbish I decided to turn and head north west and out past Altnabreac and then west towards Forsinard.
A lot of logging around Loch More meant a good few miles on some big gravel before smoothing out onto a mix of embedded gravel before the nice dirt west of Altnabreac. With no rack I put my Surly frame bag on and relocated my water bottle to the front forks and this along with my handlebar bag meant I had more than enough room for stuff (snacks). All was good.
I am happy with the Ogre as the setup and position was great and with rack on back and a couple of anycages on the front it will have more than enough carry capacity. The Rohloff works great, I really like it and it made no difference whether it was dirt, gravel, tarmac. The shifting was nice, always smooth and deliberate, no misses.  The wheels I built were still round at the end which is always a bonus. No rattles, bangs or bumps at all.
Here's a couple of photos.