Sunday 9th August 2026 - Annual Jack Taylor Ride - Stokesley

 ​Sunday the 9th seen the annual Jack Taylor ride/get together take place at Stokesley with 2 ride loops taking place, a long and a short, with lunch in Swainby before looping back to Stokesley. 

For Caleb and I our journey began on the Saturday when we left home around 7.30 am heading to our hotel in Stockton on Tees around 450 miles away. We had loaded the bikes on Friday evening, mine being my Jack Taylor Super Clubman and Caleb taking his Wester Ross, his own classic rather than riding one of my JT's. 

Saturday seen us leave in the cool morning with some rain for the first few hours with a stop just out of Edinburgh to catch up with Andrew to make our apologies for not being able to attend the annual Flying Scot BBQ on the Sunday. It was a shame to miss but the JT weekend is one of, if not my favourite classic get together. 

We eventually made the hotel around 8pm after getting dinner on the way.  Compared to home the weather was great, very warm, sunny, nice. 

Sunday dawned sunny, we were in Stokesley quite early as we used to have breakfast here with Ken, Eric and a few others in earlier days. It's always a great social gathering with the nicest most welcoming group of people, all there to enjoy each others company and ride with many other Jack Taylor cycles. Lots of bikes on display, various items people had bought to show, and with Eric having everything from bike tags to the various fitment nut and bolts from the old workshop to give away to anyone that needed them, along with the plans for the JT workshop in Church Road, there was plenty of things to keep the conversation flowing. 

Another of these and a historical piece was the Radmore tandem of Mark and Lorna's. I will put up the photos with information but it was the tandem that went back to California with the Radmores in the 1950's and opened up the American market to the Taylors. It was a two way street as bikes went to the USA and Americans came often to pick up bikes they had ordered, ride around the UK and Europe and then ship them home. We are not quite sure how it ended up back in the UK but was found by Derek in a very sad state and then restored by Mark and Lorna. An interesting story for sure. 

Once the ride got underway it started raining!!!  Everybody said it was the driest summer and we couldn't believe it, but it was short lived and even Caleb said as it was so warm it was kind of refreshing compared to riding in the rain at home. All dried by the end of lunch/cake stop.  Even the ride is a great social affair with people riding along in groups chatting away, stopping to help each other with any problems, checking out each others rides whether Jack Taylors or other classics. The racers who have raced them or time trialled them most of their lives, the tourers, the tandem riders, the commuters, all out for a ride and smiling with it. 

After returning to Stokesley in the afternoon Caleb and I had a drink with others before having to leave and get to Glasgow that night for a late dinner with family, before I headed home on Monday morning, seeing Brian in Dingwall on my way up the road. 

A very social weekend and having covered just on 975 miles it was a long one for sure, but well worth the effort. So if you are free next year I highly recommend it, you don't need a Jack Taylor, doesn't even need to be a classic really as there were a few people from the local club on gravel bikes and a few nice modern racers, so come along I am sure you wont be disappointed. This was Calebs 3rd year and he loves it, he's been coming since he was 13, always made to feel welcome and included. 

Sadly our first year since Ken has past away not long after last years ride. While he hasn't attended the ride the past couple of years he was always keen to hear any stories or have a visit. RIP. 

Jamie    

Sat 6th December 2025 - Global FatBike Day 2025 - Strathpeffer

 Having realised I haven't posted to the blog for a while I thought I better bring it slightly up to date with some of the rides done lately. 

Saturday 6th December seen Global Fatbike day roll around once again. We haven't missed a ride out for many years as it is always a good excuse to get out with friends and enjoy a sociable ride on our Fatbikes, which is what it was always intended to do. 

We were a bit worried the week before as Brian had not been well recently and we had our fingers crossed he would be fit for the ride, especially as I have done most of the GFBD rides with Brian, this combined with the constant rain and flooding meant picking a route was a bit of a juggling act. As it turned out Brian was good to ride but could only take it relatively easy due to some ongoing health issues so it meant finding an easyish flat course for the ride. Had to keep his heart rate well in check. We decided on a simple route from Dingwall to Strathpeffer for lunch taking the long winding route there and a straightforward route back. 

So it was just myself on my Pugsley, Caleb, my son, on his Karate Monkey and Brian on his Pugsley. 

We were very lucky with the weather as Caleb and I drove the couple of hours south in very heavy rain, only easing/stopping just before we arrived at Brians. It stayed relatively dry, just the odd spots here and there before reverting back to heavy rain once we left Brians.  

It was good to be out on the Pugsley and while it was a very sedate ride just riding along easy tracks and pathways it was good to be out with Brian and Caleb. We were both pleased to have Brian join us and knew it was an effort for him so we just enjoyed rolling along, thankful and enjoying being out and in each others company. 

Jamie   

Sat 13th September 2025 Pugsley Loch More Loop

 I was out and about on the Pugsley around Loch More on the weekend.

I was out with a friend just exploring the back loops and logging roads so nothing too strenuous, just a relaxing way to spend the afternoon in some great scenery. Also got to try out the Surly frame bag I got Caleb for his Karate Monkey. Worked great and for once I didn't need my backpack to carry my stuff. I may be borrowing it more often ;)

The Pugsley is still a great riding bike, built it up from frame about 12 or 13 years ago now and still enjoy it as much as ever. It's had a few changes over the years and the last couple of years seems to get a slight makeover before the Autumn/Winter to keep things a bit different and fresh.  Biggest change a couple of winters back was the addition of a rear derailleur and cassette after 10 years of single speed, then last year a change from the tried and trusted Jones style bars to the Sim Works Little Nick bars, which I am still really loving using. So for this year,  I am finally going to build a new set of wheels next month for it as the rear hub is shot so picked up some Holy Darylls and will get a couple of rear XT hubs. These should come in a bit lighter than the Large Marges.  
Hopefully will get them done in the next month as the Pugs always see's more use once the weather turns.

Jamie

Sunday 10th August 2025 - Jack Taylor ride, meet up - Stokesley - Jack Taylor Super Tourist

 Sunday the 10th of August seen myself and Caleb once again making the 900 odd mile round trip south to Stokesley for the annual Jack Taylor ride/get together.

This year I was on the '83 Super Tourist while Caleb chose to ride his much loved Wester Ross. While my Super Tourist is always ready to roll it was still given a quick once over and lubed as it hasn't seen too much action the last 6 months as my Super Clubman is my everyday ride Jack Taylor.
Caleb's Wester Ross had a set of SKS guards fitted and while a bit tight in places on the front due to the close clearance, they worked fine for the weekend and the trip away.
We left home early hours of Saturday morning with a 9 hour drive in front of us according to Google maps. It was a bit wet when we left but just got sunnier and warmer as we went south. We had a hotel booked at Stockton on Tees so arrived there late afternoon, grabbed some dinner and then some much needed rest.
Sunday dawned sunny and warm which was a welcome sight. We were up and out pretty early for the 15 minute drive to the start where we pulled in to be greeted by Eric who was just getting setup. We quickly pulled the bikes out, adjusted and sorted and parked up while we got some breakfast. The rest of the morning was spent catching up with fellow enthusiasts, friends, many of which I only really see here these days, and looking at bikes and chatting about bikes. I really love this event as it is so sociable. It was great to see Caleb off on his own discussing the different bikes, components etc while being so welcomed. Quite a bit of interest in his Wester Ross especially as his is a Scottish built one where most down that way were built just out of Whitby.
We then set off on the ride over now familiar ground on a route that would take us to Swainby where we would all regroup for lunch at the Rusty Bike cafe. The day had gotten hotter as it went and it was brilliant riding weather as usual, over rolling hills through farmland on small, narrow, and very quiet back roads. Perfect.
Again a very sociable lunch before a similar ride back to Stokesley completing a really lovely circuitous route. It seemed to go by very quickly as it was a relaxed and chatty ride.
Once back we packed up and then sat about with a cold drink before eventually saying out goodbyes and heading for an early dinner at a nice hotel recommended by one of the locals. Nice it was as well.
Unfortunately Ken couldn't be with us again this year, he has been in care getting physio after a fall and so we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery and Eric will often call in and see him and give him our best wishes as well as visiting passing on our best wishes to Honor.
Somehow came away with some bits and pieces as usual, Eric had given me one of the original NOS cycling caps he got from Ken many many years ago, and then realising he hadn't any for Caleb he gave him one from the batch mad from one of the bike shows in America in the 1980's. Caleb didn't take it off for the next three days!
I did also buy Kens old musette bag. It was for a good cause the money being raised and the fact it was Kens I was happy to have it.
Caleb and I stayed at Stockton on Tees again as we had planned on heading to Grossmont to ride the North York Moors Heritage Railway. Caleb had been working so hard this school holiday with his job and with Heather being not well for most of it I thought he needed to have a break away before heading back to school.
So we had a great few days away as the glorious weather continued and the steam train trip and engine sheds etc were the perfect break. Old bikes, old trains and we both had a great few days away.
Caleb was back out on his Wester Ross again today so long may it keep him enthused for old bikes.

So here are some photos though Caleb took quite a lot with his film camera so once they are developed I will copy and post them here.

Jamie