22 October 2025 - Cairngorm holiday ride with Caleb - Pugsley and Karate Monkey

 I have spent yesterday and today down in the Cairngorms with Caleb doing a bit of riding. I managed to blag a few days off while Caleb was still on school holidays and not working during the week.

Yesterday afternoon when we got down was a complete washout, so not much happening there but today dawned lovely and we made a plan. So from where we were staying at Kincraig, to have breakfast at Rothiemurchus, then head out the Eanaich valley to Loch Eaniach. A past favourite from Macretro and Brian and I rides. Maybe not Zigzags 

Was pretty chilly early on with cloud still covering the tops of the mountain but otherwise sunny.  I was on my Pugsley with the Nate tyres removed and the old faithful Endomorph rear and Larry front, Caleb was on his Karate Monkey 29'er.

We did a lot of exploring and side tracking, went down to Loch an Eilein loop before heading back to the junction to head down the Eanaich valley.

One surprising section was the little loch at the sort of five way trail junction where you turn towards Loch Eanaich through the gate was virtually empty!  It took me a minute to realise where I was. We only made it a a bit down this track to just where you turn off and up the steep hill to start with the shower that was covering the whole valley and hills. We pondered for a few minutes whether to get soaked or turn round and head to Glenmore and Loch Morlich where the sun was still shining. We headed for the sun 

It was a great ride to Glenmore and as with the loch the river was very low. Another observation was a junction not far over the river where I remember having a photo taken with my 1X1  on a Macretro ride. Caleb duly took a photo and I told him of the Macretro ride and it was a couple of years back from memory.  I have just had a look and it was the Macretro Cairngorm ride back in 2015! , the one where we went Rothiemurchus, Glenmore and Boat of Garten then back to Aviemore.   Time flies hey, and I did well to spot the place as the log has seen more solid days that's for sure.

We had some lunch at Glenmore then the rain became more steady so we retreated back to Aviemore down the trail. With the rain still coming down as we packed up. It was forecast for the afternoon so we made our way back north, stopping for refreshments at Brians along the way.

Good to get out for a few days.

Jamie

Saturday 16th November - Pugsley gets new bars!!!

 With winter fast approaching thoughts recently have turned towards the off road side of my cycling and with Global Fatbike Day fast approaching, meaning recent plans for the Pugsley needed to get put into action.  The first of these was the fitting of my new handlebars that arrived this week. 

After having H bars and Geoff bars fitted for the last couple of years, actually I think it was 2016 I last used straight flat type bars, my Surly Torsion bars, at the Strathpuffer 24. So to shake things up a bit and change it round after 13 or so years on the Pugsley I purchased a bar very similar to the Torsion bar but a bit wider. This being a Sim Works Nick bar, again like the Torsion bar, it too is made by Nitto for Sim Works. Slightly different bend but as can be seen by the photos it is very similar. I even used the same Race Face Deus stem that I used to use on the Torsion bar, As the Torsion bar is a Surly 1x1 Torsion bar it will eventually make it's way back onto the 1x1. 

Everything swapped over easily and the stem was perfect as I had bought the 25.4 clamp version of the bar to suite. Due to 45mph winds and rain I only managed a quick ride round the yard but initial impression was nice. Similar to the Torsion bar, though everything fell back easily to hand even after a long time on the swept back Jones type bars. The width felt comfortable as well, so all good. Really looking forward to trying them out properly on a much longer ride. 

I have also recently picked up a pair of the grey Rolling Daryll rims that I am looking forward to building up. Will most likely use XT 756 rear hubs, one singlespeed and one geared. Hoping to get those sorted in the coming weeks. The Pugs will feel like a new bike. 

Jamie  

In the photo below you can see the similarities in the bars with the Torsion bar being the one with the stem still attached

Sat May 28, 2017 - SSEC - SingleSpeed European Championships - Evanton Scotland

Some more photo's from SSEC 2017
These were taken by Tom Winterbottom and the side on one of me riding was by someone else whose name I have mislaid.
This is the macretro crew in fine form at SSEC 2017.
We missed Jimo, but there is always next year in Holland 

Jamie

Yesterdays ride saw Brian heading up my way for a gravel type ride out to Altnabreac once again and then out towards Forsinard further to the west.
We were just out exploring/recceing a route to the west for a gravel grind type ride later in the year.
Brian arrived at mine before lunch and so the 1X1's were checked and loaded into the car before we had a pre ride lunch, introducing Brian to French toast, bacon and maple syrup. This and a ride on a 1X1 could only ever be brilliant
We had a very mixed bag of weather with the main constant being the headwind belting in from the west, though we did manage a bit of a tailwind on the run back, though by this stage we were both mumbling about the wind abating slightly, it was still a noticeable push in certain sections. We had sun and rain, some of the blowing through lightish misty stuff through to big fat drops that turn to heavy downpour for a few minutes before blowing on and letting the sun through.
The run to the west of Altnabreac station was similar dirt road to the miles leading to the station in that it was not too rough and only a few water damaged sections. I know further on you can stay on the dirt roads and head north west, but we were looking for the small tracks heading directly west for about 8 miles or so before coming back onto the north south road to Forsinard. Had a usual drink/snickers stop at the station/shed before putting in a few miles more to the west and then heading back. We had a couple of decent though thankfully brief showers on the way back and I think we headed back at the right time as the sky grew darker and darker with the patches of sun and blue sky eventually disappearing altogether. With a very wet drive back to mine.
A good afternoons riding and thanks to Brian for coming all this way. As usual the 1X1's were great
Hope everyone else had a good weekend and got a ride in.

Jamie

Sat March 20th, 2016 - Velo Joins Brian and I in the Highlands - Garve -

On Saturday Velo came to the Highlands!
Brian and Velo had be wheeling and dealing and swapping very old bike parts and Brian thought while Velo was up he would organise a bit of a ride to show him the scenery.
Brian and I were on our 1X1's and Velo was riding Brians hub geared titanium 29'er.
We had a gentle ride through from Strathpeffer over the hills to end up at Garve, a bit of an unhealthy lunch then further up the river and then retrace our steps back with a few deviations. Up one side of the river, back down the other, high roads instead of low trails etc.
It was a very enjoyable, sociable ride. It was great to catch up with Velo and show him some of our local trails. I say local as I used to live in Garve before moving north. I used to run the huskies all around there.
Velo soon realised how we get waylaid by exploring odd trails up in the hills, quite often leading to dead ends. Brian unfortunately hurt his recently healed pulled leg muscle, he got home alright but the last few miles looked a bit of an effort.
It was a very enjoyable day and I believe we were out for about 5 or more hours before dismantling bikes and bits and pieces before dropping Velo in Inverness before heading home.
I had a great day and really enjoyed myself. We need to do it again with more macretros

Jamie



Brians Photos