30 March 2025 - Surly Long Haul Trucker Coastal Ride - + new Swift Industries Paloma Handlebar bag

 Rainy Saturday was spent finishing a service to the LHT so it is ready for this seasons hauling. Like most of these past 14 years or so will see it hopefully touring, audaxing, randonnuering and commuting without any major problems. 

I had already sorted the wheels and hubs so it was really just making sure everything was cleaned out and new grease/lube applied. Seatpost, bottom bracket, check the sealed headset, clean chainrings, remove and degrease the chain and cassette, lube the canti pivots etc.  Everything was still well greased thankfully and came apart easily enough which was great to see, so it was more a clean and freshen up. 

I also decided to swap out my old Ortlieb handlebar bag for a recently purchased Swift Industries Paloma bar bag. Just had to swap out the Ortlieb mount for a Rixon Kraul one and it was good to go. It looks like a great bag and it will have a lot to live up to as the Ortlieb one has never let me down, done untold miles in some really atrocious weather and is still working fine, it's just nice after all the se years to change it up now and again. 

So on to today and the weather was great this afternoon and while I had a family engagement late in the afternoon, it meant I still had a few hours to get out for a ride. Make sure I had serviced it right and tightened everything up. ;) 

Well, the Trucker was it's usual pleasure to ride and I had a really enjoyable cruise round my local loop on some quite roads and then around the coast.  Stopping for some photos here and there and just enjoying being out. 

I am often saying that I might change the bars or stem or gearing etc on the Trucker and then when it comes to it I am then very reluctant as I get on it and ride it in this configuration, pretty much the same as when I built it up from the frame all those years ago, and it is probably the best fitting, most comfortable ride regardless of terrain, fits perfect, gearing is spot on the feel is planted and connected and I can tour for a week in the rain or commute to work and it always has me getting off with a contented smile. It makes every ride that bit better.  

Jamie 

  

Monday 6th May 2019 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman ride - Local

Hopefully everyone has had a decent bank holiday weekend, I also hope the weather was a bit better with the rest of you than what it was up here.
I technically had today off but went and worked/ or sounded out work with someone else, maybe time for a change, anyways I was home for about 1.30.
The weekend up here seen me pottering about with several projects but no real riding, we have had snow, hail, sleet along with gale force winds since Thursday. Today was better especially this afternoon as the wind had dropped and the sun was out between hail and rain showers but did finally manage to get out for a while on the Jack Taylor. I had planned on swapping the bars out for the new Nitto B136 randonneurs along with the new 80mm stem. I was also going to take away the Dura Ace aero levers and put on some Mavic 419s I have. I have the three sets of levers and have earmarked the black hooded ones for a very distinct build but the other two are for the Taylor and the Mercian tourer. I just couldn't make up my mind which ones for which. The solid bladed set with the Dia Comp hoods are for the Mercian and the other drilled 419 pair are for the Jack Taylor I have decided. Earlier in the week I polished the two drilled pair and also washed the hoods as they were a bit manky from sitting around. Came up nicely. Just pottering really but after riding the Taylor this afternoon confirmed the decision about the bars and the shorter stem on the Jack Taylor. Fitted some bits up to the Mercian as well but this is really just to get it rolling while the other one is finished off. It will be a real parts mock up and then if it works then it may get built properly over time but the other King of Mercia is first.
Anyway a nice ride and then just playing outside with bike parts between playing with Caleb and the dog.
A nice weekend.

Jamie

January 2nd 2019 - Happy New Year! ride - Long Haul Trucker

I managed to get out on the LHT this afternoon, first time for what feels like ages. I fitted my lights as I needed to see that they still worked as they will be my backups for the Puffer and also to sort the lights generally as I have entered the Musselburgh Tour of East Lothian Audax in Feb so no doubt there may be a bit of winter bleakness/darkness there as well. Still undecided about the Scottish Borders Randonee in March but that is more just down to logistics but am definitely sorted for the Feb.
I fitted my front Cree light to the mid fork mount as this is my backup for the puffer but it is my main commuter  headlight for the Trucker and I mount it on a Nitto stub mount that screws into the mid fork mount. The battery is for the Trucker just sitting in my handlebar bag. This will change soon for the Trucker as I am building up a wheelset with the SP Dyno hub and dedicated front light. My other lights that I can use on the Trucker are the super bright set that Chris Troutie made for us in the Fatty Owls team for the Strathpuffer 24 hour race. These are fabulous lights and are definitely my 'good' set. They get used on rides when I am in the dark proper and for long periods, they are like car headlights, can't miss seeing them but they also light up the road a long way in front, such a great depth to them.
I went out along the coast and down a few dead end tracks to the shore off of the main road out towards Mey as I was looking for an old croft that someone had mentioned, didn't find it but still had an enjoyable ride. Was very cold as the temps really dropped the last few days but again, still nice to be out riding, better than no ride.
I will also give a big shout out here to Carradice as well. My rear trunk bag that I have used for a long time on the LHT, as well as all my other bikes with a rack, had started moving about on the rack and loosening off the Velcro tabs that hold it on. It's seen many years of abuse in all weathers and while it is worn with the tags off the zip pullers etc I think it still has a bit of life left and besides I like it as it fits everything perfectly. I contacted Carradice to see if they could repair it they said they could but it that the issue would be that the original Velcro is sewn on and it would destroy it to take it off but it needs the stiff side of the Velcro to be sewn onto the tab that's already there as that is the section that will just be worn. The lady said that to be honest anyone that can sew could sew them on for me and so it probably wasn't worth sending it down and then postage back plus they would have to charge me.  Just before I went back to Oz last month an envelope arrived with the pieces inside, free of charge. I thought that was really good of them especially as they could have tried to sell me another one. Really pleased, so now my old carrier will see a bit more action. No more bungee strap to secure it as some may have seen in recent photos. It was heading into town to get the train to head to the Brevet from Brians house back up to Caithness that it ejected from the rack on a bumpy road whilst fully packed. Luckily the car behind stopped right behind it and waited while I ran back to retrieve it from the middle of the road.
I do have a Carradice longflap as well so I am not just being tight :)

Hope everyone else has had a great New Year and wish everyone a safe and happy 2019

Jamie

Sunday 23rd December 2018 - John O'Groats with Brian - Big Dummy and sidecar

Well after a rather rubbish month on the personal level it was good to be out riding with my riding buddy Brian.
I had spent the best part of 3 weeks during November/December back home in Australia for a family funeral. A lot of that travelling between times so not much riding during the last short while.
 So it was good to get back to normality with riding in the wet and cold ;)  back here at home in Scotland. Genuinely nice to be back home with family and friends, lovely as it was to see my family  in OZ, the circumstances made it not a holiday.
Anyway, I needed to put a few more longer miles in on the sidecar before doing any long rides with the dog or touring gear though with being off the bike for a few weeks I knew it was going to be interesting. Brian was happy to head up this way and thanks for that as I was more than happy to be hanging closer to home. We were going to head out to Altnabreac but the weather turned slightly this morning and while the rain stopped before we headed out towards 'Groats the roads remained very wet with some sections quite icy, so had to be careful.

Brian was on his Rudge rod braked roadster which was his closest match to weight and performance of the Big Dummy, he was right as anything else from his stable and I would have been struggling a lot more to keep up. 

Due to the weather never getting much better we knew we made the right decision as on one section we were riding along wondering if it was water or slush we were on and soon realised it was turning slushy so had to remember to watch this on the way back. I think being on the sidecar I may have a few moments more at staying upright than Brian if we caught some ice unexpectedly. We had a quick catch up stop at the memorial at Cannisbay and then on to John O'Groats and a photo of Brian and his old Roadster at the northern most sign post on the mainland. he gets one with all his bikes when up, though we didn't do the usual miles to get there ;)   

A stop at Groats for coffee and a scone to refuel and warm up for the ride home seen us hitting the road and making a bit more of an effort as we soon realised we had a fair way to go with not that much daylight, or the poor excuse for daylight, left.
Brian had his lights on the roadster, which worked as they probably did 70 odd years ago when it was made but I don't think they would have given a lot of depth once the Caithness darkness descended. I had rear lights, reflectors etc on the Dummy but no front light, which meant we would be seen by anyone else on the road so we were fine in the end. We made it back before dark, just. This is where we have been caught out before around the solstice. I think the solstice was Thursday and the sun rose at 8.39am and set at 3.25pm and the light is not brilliant even when it's up. I certainly noticed the light being muted on my return from Oz.
Hope everyone else where ever you are has had a good weekend and also hope everyone has a lovely Christmas/Festive break.
Jamie

05 November 2018 - Caleb and Big Dummy ride - Hot Chocolate and cake at JOG's

Made the most of the nice day up here in the north of Scotland. 
Caleb and I got the Big Dummy sorted and ready to go before lunch as we knew we had to make the most of the sunny weather as it hasn't been too good lately. Sun was out but as usual for this time of year there wasn't that much heat getting through as it was quite cold, which meant getting well wrapped up. 
There was also a very strong wind coming from the south west which did help with decision making on where we would head. We were just out for a ride with no particular destination in mind this morning but we had decided to head along the higher non coastal road towards John O'Groats taking in a few detours and small tracks to explore with a warming afternoon tea at Groats. 
Luckily we had the wind behind us at the start but I knew I would pay for it later on the return leg but tried to block that from my mind. 
It was a great ride out to Groats with lots of stops for photos, watching Buzzards as well as lots of the smaller birds making the most of the good weather. 
We made it out to John O'Groats eventually and warmed up with a coffee and hot chocolate for the little man along with a couple of good sized cakes. After this we were outside playing, well Caleb more than me as he loves climbing the sculptures each time we come. Great fun but the afternoon was getting on and with a few clouds coming in and an already low sun we had to make a move towards home. 
We encountered the wind of all winds head on for the first 5 or so kilometres which quickly burnt out the scone I just had but once back up onto the high road and then turned towards home it was a lot better. A sort of 3/4 head wind so not too bad.
We had a few more tracks to explore on the way with some potentially good ones to check out at a later date. 
We managed about 38klm over the afternoon which at the very relaxed pace of the Big Dummy suited us fine. Mum was home studying so we gave her a good four hours or so of peace as well. 

Jamie

Mon Jan 08, 2018 - Big Dummy ride out to John O'Groats with Caleb

Seeing one of those face book reminders of a post exactly 12 months ago and also seeing as how we hadn't had cake for nearly 24 hours Caleb and I decided to load up the Big Dummy after lunch and head out round the high road to John O'Groats where we would meet Heather for a cuppa.
It was a pretty cold day, I think colder than last year with the temp sitting pretty much between +2 and -1 throughout the afternoon and evening. We wrapped up really well, full merino, buffs etc and headed out. Another lovely afternoon, dry, with a stiff breeze from the north. Some ice on the back roads but generally pretty dry so could see it in patches easily.
Compared to yesterdays ride it was a slow trip due to the extra weight of the Big Dummy as well as Caleb growing like a weed. We headed round a few detours zigzagging about but must have got about 30 or so klm in which isn't to shabby on the BD.
Caleb had a blast and was laughing and chatting away the whole journey. By Groats he was getting cold especially his face and hands. He had his thick gloves and had his buff across his face but the temp had dropped as it was getting on and the wind made it feel worse. I had the benefit of being hot due to pedalling and moving about but he was just sitting there holding on so I stopped at Canisbay so he could have a walk round and warm up a bit. He was happy enough but came home from Groats with mum and I don't blame him as the car was already saying 0 degrees and it was just getting dark so would drop a bit more. I rode home in the dark and thought I was being well prepared when my front light died as I had spare batteries, well seeing as they were cheapos and they were so cold they barely kept themselves flashing on the way back. If I turned them on full they just died. Once back at Mey I turned up a dirt road to find it full of frozen holes so the light was put on a low beam as I needed a solid light to dodge all these surreal looking holes all over the road, looked like an ice minefield and hoped the light would last. It did thankfully. There was no real fear of nobody seeing me as the rear lights I have are very bright and as I carry Caleb all the time on it, everything is reflective and safe, the magic carpet seat has reflective trim and I have spoke covers that are reflective as well. you can see them in one of the photos. So another grand though cold afternoon out locally. Good to get some more miles in and always fun with the little man.
If he looks a bit strange in the way he is sitting in the photos it's because he naturally sits forward with his feet on the bar end pegs at the front but for a couple of these he just jumped on for the photos. The one of the two of us we put the camera on a stone bridge and put the timer on first time it didn't work, the second it took us a second to notice it was working and had to run to the bike and jump on before the 10 seconds was up

Jamie

Sun Jun 18, 2017 - Big Dummy with Caleb to John O'Groats for an ice cream.

After having to postpone plans for a run down to Torrindon due to the weather yesterday, fathers day was thankfully spent with my little man. We got some stuff sorted after a very casual breakfast and catching up with Le Mans before we thought we would load the Dummy, brave the weather and head out to Groats to meet up with mum, have a coffee and cake for me and an ice cream for Caleb.
Weather was really hit and miss with showers early on and the clouds looking worse as the morning went on. Thankfully it held off and actually got a bit brighter later on, though did darken just before home and then had the usual rain showers not long after getting in. The wind was virtually non existent on the run out, though the wind picked up on the way back and as per usual it was a direct headwind On the way out we stopped for a couple of pics and the midgies were bad, very bad. We rode a good few miles back with a couple of older guys who had ridden up from Preston and were now heading home. They had had 2 days out of 12 without any rain!
Groats was heaving but managed to get a nice scone, jam and cream and large coffee with the family. Good couple of hours out and while it was only about 35klm with detours, it was a solid workout pushing it into the headwind.
We used our front Ortliebs as we thought we were going to get wet and they are waterproof compared to our old ones we normally use. This week we did get our new bags for the Dummy and hopefully I will get these fitted this week and we will get away for a solstice campout next weekend. I will put a separate post up about that as hoping to get a few along on a family friendly ride campout for the solstice, was thinking maybe Aviemore/Rothiemurchus.
Hope everyone had a good day as well.

Jamie