Sat/Sun 20th/21st June - Surly Ogre Rack Fitting and test pack for the Badger Divide

 Not a great deal of riding this weekend as had family things on so will try and make it up by commuting this week.  

Though Saturday I did manage to fit my Surly Nice racks from my Long Haul Trucker to the Ogre. I had to buy a different set of brackets for the front one and a pair of longer stays for the rear but they swapped across pretty easily, once I got the rear mudguard adjusted to suite.  Had to take the rear wheel out to do which surprised me how quick and easy despite so much going on with that rear dropout.  

I  'borrowed' them from the Trucker as I have 2 weeks off at the start of July so plan on doing the Badger Way from Inverness to Glasgow off road or Glasgow to Inverness depending on weather and visit family in Glasgow at the same time. They will return to the Trucker as it is my favourite but it makes no sense paying Surly's £160 per rack when I can only use one set at a time, and the Surly brackets only cost me about £20. 

Sunday afternoon had a bit of time so put my tent up to make sure all was still good and everything there before a quick dummy load up to see where to put things.  Had my tent and sleeping mat on the front rack, so while a bit bulky on the front, there is very little weight and sleeping bag in a pannier, may even use my smaller front roller Ortliebs on the back instead of my Back rollers if I can get a weeks gear in them. All was good and rode well though it was just up the road around home but nothing noticeable to worry about.

I wanted to get everything semi sorted as with limited time off work and being away next weekend I wanted to have the basics sorted so if the weather looks good for the week when I get home I can just pack and go, if it's for the week after I will load it and go to Glasgow and ride home. 

At this stage that's the plan and if all else fails I have another fortnight off in August, but that is a busy couple of weeks. 

If anybody reads these posts leave a message and let me know. It has a really high visitor count lately but not sure whether it's human or BOT.  

Jamie 

   

Saturday 30th May 2026 - Jack Taylor Super Tourist - Afternoon local ride

 Well we don't seem to be getting the sunshine this week that others are getting down south. It's not been too bad and temps are up but we seem to be windy and overcast for the most with rain forecast for this afternoon and pretty much all day tomorrow.

So plan was to get a couple of things sorted here this morning and I had a few things to do in town so thought if I get away just on lunch I should be fine to ride to town, do all the errands and maybe meander back home the slow way, hopefully before the rain.
Was certainly nice enough and warm enough as well so I checked the tyres on the Super Tourist as with both bags on I had enough capacity without having to fit the panniers. Made a beeline for town, got done what I had to, then ended up at the Old St Peters Kirk as thought to get a photo for the bikes and churches section as it's a nice old church and while a ruin it still has solid walls and worthy of restoration, with sections of even the viking additions still solid and straight. Anyway it is normally closed with the gate locked but I rode past and it was open so went in and spent a while chatting to the volunteers about the restoration. It was open as there was a cruise ship in Scrabster so it was open for visitors. Paid a visit to the The Bike Shop seen as I was in town and chatted for while. I then went out along the harbour and round the front to get a coffee before heading back out of town and Thurso east on the farm and dirt tracks trying to get through the old walking trail. Unfortunately it is now cut off due to the Americans putting a 'listening' post over the hill. It's meant to be a secret! So don't tell anyone 
Anyway I then headed back towards town and along the shore track before turning back on the main road towards home. Thankfully I wasn't on it for long and used my usual back roads home. Had a few showers but nothing much but it started in earnest about 20 minutes after I got in and hasn't stopped since. All in all a very relaxed and social afternoon for a change. Super Tourist handled all in it's stride and was a pleasure as always. Though the one thing that has caught me out a few times is that it is nowhere near as stable without a load, especially at the front as the Super Clubman. Once there is a bit of weight at the front, even just putting heavier items in the rando bag makes it much better. It is only in certain situations and better to be this way with a bike that is built to be loaded than the other way round. It's nothing dangerous or even that noticeable, just a shimmy of the front or a lightness through the steering but as soon as it's loaded then all is super stable. 

Still learning this one but loving it more each time out.  

Jamie

Overlooking the Island of Hoy