Sunday 07th July 2024 - Flying Scot Group BBQ - East Lothian - Scotland

 Sunday seen what was an informal gathering of a few Flying Scot enthusiasts gathering for a social Sunday BBQ at Andrew F's lockup near Edinburgh.

The plan was that a BBQ would be on from 11am with Andrews own very impressive collection of Flying Scots as well as many other historically significant Scottish frames on view, a couple of Graeme Obree bikes, and anyone wanting to come encouraged to bring their own Scot for everyone to see. I took the old tandem down with me.
What a turn out it was with a very big gathering of enthusiasts from the facebook group, ex racers, friends and new faces gathering to admire the many bikes, have a bite to eat and make new friends. A few Scottish racing royalty in attendance as well with Vic Polanski with a few of his grass track title bikes, Brian Temple who Andrew has his 1970 Commonwealth games silver medal winning bike, Ron Gardiner who raced the Peace Race on a Flying Scot early in the 1960's amongst other national and international races, Sandy Gilchrist and other very accomplished road and track men.
A great day was had by all for sure.
I travelled down to Brians the night before and we both headed down, spent the day down south before the long slog back up north. Very well worth it. Lots of people I had talked on line with and finally got to meet face to face and to catch up with a few old friends that I hadn't seen for a long while. Nice to meet up with Matt and Kenny formerly from Shand and especially to hear of Matts frame building now for himself in Glasgow.
Here is a couple of photos.

Jamie Nans Rattrays Star model

22nd November 2022 - Highland Classic Bicycle Group Inverness Ride - Flying Scot Tandem

 Haven't posted for a while so thought I better put up a couple of photos from the Highland Classic Bicycle groups ride in Inverness that Caleb and I attended last weekend with fellow macretro Brian.

We have done this ride before on the tandem and it just happened to coincide nicely with a family weekend away where we stayed with friends near Grantown on the Friday after work, took Caleb on a surprise journey on the Sants Express steam train from Aviemore after which we stayed in a hotel in Inverness on Saturday night. We had planned on going on Sunday mornings ride and so had put the tandem in the van all set up and ready to roll. We met the others at the start while Heather went shopping for a few hours in peace in Inverness.
It was good to catch up with everyone and have a leisurely ride down the canal to Dargaroch and after a brief stop we headed back up the other side of the canal back past our starting point and further up to the harbour itself where we stopped at the lovely cafe for a warming coffee and cake. After this nice lunch stop and catch up we had to head back up the canal because we had to pick up Heather and drive the couple of hours north to get home in time to get the dog from kennels.
It was good to be back out on the tandem, something Caleb and I hadn't done for a couple of months as he is riding more and further on his own bikes these days. Despite this we fell easily back into the rhythm and both had a great time. I enjoy these rides with Caleb as I realise now he is in High School it may not be too long until he rather ride on his solo than on the old Scot.

Jamie

Both bikes in this photo, the Scot and the Wester Ross were owned originally by the late Margaret Berwick, the wife of George Berwick.

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

25th December 2021 - Christmas Tandem ride with Caleb

 Merry Christmas! I hope that anyone reading this has had a fantastic Christmas spent with those who matter most to you. 

What a fantastic Christmas so far, out at the horses this morning, great food and ride out with Caleb on the Flying Scot tandem.

Jamie

Cold!

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.