19th March 2022 - Flying Scot Continental Tandem ride - Forsinard - Strathnaver.

 

We had great weather up here for a change and while it was fairly breezy over the weekend the sunshine tended to make up for it.
Caleb and I managed a couple of rides this weekend. As well as the previously posted Sunday ride in Thurso we also managed out for this one on Saturday. 
First up was on Saturday afternoon when we managed to get out for a ride down to Forsinard on the Flying Scot tandem. We drove out to near Strathy and then rode south off of the main road. We did about 25 mile all in riding from just in on the Strathy road, down to the tower at Forsinard and then back up the valley. Caleb did really fantastic as this was by far the furthest he had been and we were also pushing into the mother of all headwinds on the way down. We did manage a very fast run back up the valley which he was so excited about. We stopped at the tower for snacks we had brought with us and fuelled further with Wine Gums for the run back. despite the wind he loved it and now just wants to go further and further afield which is great. He keeps asking to go back to Orkney for the weekend with him on his small tourer and me on the cargo but now he wants to go on the tandem, fully loaded. So all good. 

Jamie

September 2021 - Flying Scot Tandem rides.

 Well after the disappointment and hassle with the Jack Taylor tandem we got a few rides in on the trusty Flying Scot Tandem. A few local rides for the tandem. 

18th April 2021 - Local lockdown tandem ride. Flying Scot Continental tandem - Caleb and I

 A short ride out locally to keep our legs spinning and to also go and visit some of the animals Caleb helps with during the week. Including his horse Chico. 

A good ride despite dodging the rain showers that were blowing in thick and fast. Still quite cold despite the lambs and flowers coming through making us think springtime is finally here. 

Jamie

March 21st 2021 - Highland Classic Bicycle Groups Crocus Ride - Inverness - Flying Scot Tandem

A few photos from March 21st socially distanced ride with the Highland Classic Bicycle Groups Crocus ride in Inverness.
Caleb and I were on the Flying Scot tandem and had a great day out together riding through Inverness and along the canal with Brian and everyone else with a picnic lunch along the canal. Great to see Brian everyone again. Caleb had a ball and did him no end of good to get out.
So glad he decided to come so we could get some miles in on the tandem. He almost didn't come as when I asked each time on Saturday he just kept saying no he didn't feel like it. I even tried to convince him just before he went to bed as I was loading the Jack Taylor into the van as I had to leave by 6am to drive the couple of hours south to Inverness and get Brian on the way. No he wasn't coming, Ok can't be too hard but knew something wasn't right as he had been shielding again since Christmas due to Heather and he was just anxious about being out around people and also about leaving Heather on her own, though she really needed the time alone. Anyway as I was leaving at 6 am heading out the door with a coffee in my hand, van warming up he came out of his bedroom half asleep saying he had changed his mind and wanted to come. I said too late my boy as I had to leave and didn't have time to unpack, get him ready, then dig out the tandem and load it up. Said goodbye and left, well I only got about a mile down the road, rang Heather and said get him ready and I would be home in a minute to swap bikes etc but he needed his breakfast to eat in the van and I would make his sandwiches for lunch. I'm far too soft. 
Well we had a great day out and you can see by the smile in the photos that he did too. He always loves riding the tandem and I knew he would be fine once he was out. He loved the ride all along the river and canals all over Inverness and really liked that there were other children on the ride.
A grand day out for sure

Jamie

Saturday 20th February - Flying Scot Tandem lockdown ride - To Thurso

 Out today for a ride into town with Caleb on the Flying Scot tandem. 

The weather was nice this morning but rain was forecast so knew we had to head into town before lunch. Needed to speak with Sam in the bike shop and so the destination was set. Had planned on just going for a ride solo but glad Caleb was itching for a ride as it meant we could ride in on the tandem. I still haven't stripped it or changed the bars or levers despite them all sitting on the bench. It was just nice to be out riding together. 

Anyway just after we left the wind picked up and the sun was soon lost behind the clouds growing darker and more menacing as time went on. We had wet roads in town so must have just missed a shower but luckily for us we stayed dry.  

We still managed a good ride to town, a loop round the harbour and sea front before racing the rain home. 

Great to be back out with my wingman. Cold still but a really nice ride. 

Jamie

January 3rd 2021 - Flying Scot Tandem ride - 1st for 2021

 I am so enjoying the long weekend and having a great time with the family starting the year off in a good way. 

It looks like most are trying to do the same with their riding judging by the cool photos being posted on the various forums and social media the last few days. 

Well this morning I put together Heathers pizza oven and we fired it up as you have to fire it for about an hour at temp and then let it cool before wiping clean and then ready to use properly, so we did this in the hope the weather stays nice, ie; not raining and we could have pizza for dinner. 

Once this was sorted and we got a few other things done I thought after riding solo the last few rides I would see if Caleb was up for a run on the tandem, which was a silly question really. So we were all suited and booted tandem out, tyres pumped and with the sun shining we were ready to go when all of a sudden from over the roof where we couldn't see, it started bucketing down, a quick retreat to the shed for 10 minutes while I cursed the seldom dry road now absolutely running with water. Oh well, bright side was as least it stopped which meant we could still ride :) 

Didn't go far just a loop of about 10 miles to keep the legs spinning. Was definitely nice to be back out with the boy just cruising along. Tandem was running nicely and I have still to strip and overhaul it but plenty of time left for that. I have an idea that winter isn't yet upon us properly. 

So a lovely ride then home to fire up the pizza oven and see how it goes. Heather had mad the dough earlier and the sauce she makes is always lovely but after the first one where I got it sussed for temp and how much to open the flu we soon had the most beautiful pizzas for dinner. A little while to get to temp, then a bit to keep it consistent with feeding it wood and then just a couple of minutes each pizza. 

So how good a day is that, long weekend with no work tomorrow, a great ride with my boy and beautiful pizza with the family!  

I really hope tomorrow is dry.  

Great start to the year and I really hope everyone else is having a good one too. 

Jamie

Thursday 22nd October 2020 - Flying Scot afternoon tandem ride - Local

Today up here the rain of the past two weeks finally stopped and this afternoon the sun even came out. So making the most of my time off I adjusted a few little things on the tandem and told the little man to suite up as we were off for a ride. No need to ask him as he is always asking to go for a ride on it. 

 We didn't have too much time but we got about an hour and a half scooting round the hills to the south east this time. 

It was a glorious afternoon but it was also very cold on the way back. As soon as the sun even looked like it was starting to drop the temperature went with it. Still a nice ride out. 

 The tandem is going well and more importantly the little man is loving it, not only that but he has adapted to it with no problems at all. It is a bit different to riding solo and the fact that you are inexplicably linked and need to work in...tandem makes it a much more conscious thing, such as saying when you need to freewheel, change gears, brake, put the inside pedal up when cornering quickly etc but we just seem to do it and it is only now and again with the gears where I need to even say anything. So very pleased with how it's going. One thing I am finding though is that because I have put his bars across from the Big Dummy where I had the Jones bars so they were very similar in width, I now notice how much leverage he has with them now I am on very narrow drop bars, also the fact they are higher. It's not deliberate from him but the input from him maybe turning round and then pulling himself back on one side etc is really felt especially at any sort of speed. We are still on 28c width tyres too. 

I was thinking when riding back that maybe if I put some touring bars on it like butterfly bars or such then our postures would also be the same both in being upright and also more relaxed for myself. I was already going to see about slightly wider tyres, maybe 30's if they would fit and also some Randonneur bars. 

Will see how it feels over the next few days before making any decisions. 

 Anyway here's a couple of photos as usual. :) 

 Jamie