Sunday 12th July 2026 - Jack Taylor Super Tourist - Coastal Path ride Caithness

 Well after having my few days off last week with plans to do the Badger Divide on my Ogre dashed by the abysmal weather, I then thought I would take the Jack Taylor Super Clubman somewhere at the start of the week, again we had 4 days of rubbish hit and miss weather and with my window shrinking this trip was put back to the original date of second week of August when I am off work.  Plan then is to stop and visit family in Glasgow on the way back from the Jack Taylor weekend in Stokesley, Heather will meet Caleb and I there, Heather will take the van and Caleb and I will ride home, cycle route 7 Glasgow to Inverness then Cycle Route 1 from Inverness to Home and should take about 5 days or so. That is the rough plan, though we may have to shorten if Caleb needs to be home for his summer job. If we do we may shorten it by getting picked up in Inverness or maybe even starting in Ballinluig. We will see as we get closer. 

So this afternoon I had a bit of time and wanted to make sure Calebs Wester Ross was ready to go as he had an issue with the front brakes and make sure the Super Tourist was ready for the tour home, make sure my panniers and my Carradice Longflap were fitted properly so when we go away I can just pack them and leave in the van.

Anyway it was such a glorious day here today that it seemed a shame not to go for a ride, with no where in particular to go I decided to try and get round as much of the local coast on the walking path as I could manage while just enjoying a few hours in the nice weather.

Much of it was just too overgrown in places but besides the stinging nettle, it was all enjoyable.

The Super Tourist was it's usual joy to ride, not much to say but that really doesn't do justice to such a well handling, stable, comfortable go anywhere ride.

Really love this ride and while my Super Clubman maybe just wins in the stability and handling when unloaded, though when I loaded the Super Tourist last week with a set of smaller front loader Ortliebs on the back with the Longflap and the front Randonneur bag loaded with tools and clothes, the small test ride showed it came into it's own once loaded. It was super stable, more planted but didn't notice the weight at all. No shaking, no shimmying at all. This made me very happy and relieved as I had my Ogre loaded in many different configurations for the off road Badger Divide and couldn't get it handling confidently. Maybe I am not a modern bike packer, maybe should stick to my usual four panniers and bar bag touring. 

Jamie

Saturday 30th May 2026 - Jack Taylor Super Tourist - Afternoon local ride

 Well we don't seem to be getting the sunshine this week that others are getting down south. It's not been too bad and temps are up but we seem to be windy and overcast for the most with rain forecast for this afternoon and pretty much all day tomorrow.

So plan was to get a couple of things sorted here this morning and I had a few things to do in town so thought if I get away just on lunch I should be fine to ride to town, do all the errands and maybe meander back home the slow way, hopefully before the rain.
Was certainly nice enough and warm enough as well so I checked the tyres on the Super Tourist as with both bags on I had enough capacity without having to fit the panniers. Made a beeline for town, got done what I had to, then ended up at the Old St Peters Kirk as thought to get a photo for the bikes and churches section as it's a nice old church and while a ruin it still has solid walls and worthy of restoration, with sections of even the viking additions still solid and straight. Anyway it is normally closed with the gate locked but I rode past and it was open so went in and spent a while chatting to the volunteers about the restoration. It was open as there was a cruise ship in Scrabster so it was open for visitors. Paid a visit to the The Bike Shop seen as I was in town and chatted for while. I then went out along the harbour and round the front to get a coffee before heading back out of town and Thurso east on the farm and dirt tracks trying to get through the old walking trail. Unfortunately it is now cut off due to the Americans putting a 'listening' post over the hill. It's meant to be a secret! So don't tell anyone 
Anyway I then headed back towards town and along the shore track before turning back on the main road towards home. Thankfully I wasn't on it for long and used my usual back roads home. Had a few showers but nothing much but it started in earnest about 20 minutes after I got in and hasn't stopped since. All in all a very relaxed and social afternoon for a change. Super Tourist handled all in it's stride and was a pleasure as always. Though the one thing that has caught me out a few times is that it is nowhere near as stable without a load, especially at the front as the Super Clubman. Once there is a bit of weight at the front, even just putting heavier items in the rando bag makes it much better. It is only in certain situations and better to be this way with a bike that is built to be loaded than the other way round. It's nothing dangerous or even that noticeable, just a shimmy of the front or a lightness through the steering but as soon as it's loaded then all is super stable. 

Still learning this one but loving it more each time out.  

Jamie

Overlooking the Island of Hoy

Saturday 9th May - Mercian King of Mercia - Service and local evening ride

 Out for an evening ride after dinner on the King of Mercia Mercian.

First time out this year for the Mercian and so it was a quick service this afternoon between jobs. Not much needed really as I tend to keep it always ready to go back out but after not being used since about November from memory I thought I better clean and grease everything ready for what we hope will be a great summer. 
Was a bit breezy but sunny and with the forecast looking rubbish for up here tomorrow I needed to get a ride in even if it was just a couple of hours meandering. Mercian rode sweetly as usual, a real stable and comfortable ride but never feels sluggish or unresponsive. 

Looking forward to maybe getting a bit further afield again this year and loading the tourers up and getting a couple of longer tours in. Last couple of years work has meant that time off was for shorter periods which meant with other things weekend tours were the longest I could manage. This year, fingers crossed for a few longer trips. 

Jamie 

Sunday 26th April 2026 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman Coastal Ride - Caithness

 A bit late but  a couple from last Sundays ride.

I better post these now as hopefully weather will be better tomorrow and I will be back out. Now that it seems the weather has turned the corner and time for longer nicer rides I thought I better service some of my usual rides so they are ready to roll when needed or when the unexpected day off arrives or someone calls and says 'you fancy heading here or there.'
So while doing various chores on Sunday I had the Jack Taylor Super Clubman out for a clean and lube, while it is my go to classic it does see a bit of use in the winter so just wanted to check it over, lube and also check the rust spots that I try to keep at bay. So a fresh coat of wax as well.
I really like the way this Super Clubman rides and handles, the nicest of all I think, it is so relaxed and comfortable whether road or dirt, is super stable but quick enough with it. If I get another frame made then I would copy the dimensions of this frame to the millimeter.
Anyway, I had a couple of hours spare in the afternoon so just went out for a ride just for the sake of going for a ride. Got to the end of my road, left or right? and decided left, to head towards Dunnet and then see how far I could get back riding on the tracks around the coast. Just meandering.
I got out and then back to Castlehill and then turned onto the dirt tracks round the last bit of coast but the track seemed to go down onto the rocky slab coastal edge after a few miles and I didn't fancy carrying the bike over. Still it was good while it lasted and always good to ride the Super Clubman. I headed back up a dirt path and eventually came out on the main road about a mile from home. 

Good to be out. 

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

12 April 2025 - Mercian Coast ride - Mercian King of Mercia

 What with work being so busy lately, as is normal for spring time, it means that I have barely any time at home during the week to get things done and so when the weekend arrives, with jobs needing attention I seem to be able to grab only a few hours here and there for riding. Which means short local rides the last few weekends. 

This weekend was no exception with finally managing to grab a bit of time late on Saturday afternoon for a meander around the coast roads. Not very long but a nice ride to help clear the head. 

I pulled the Mercian out as I wanted to change the tyres  over from the 30mm to the 30.33 as they look a good bit larger volume on the Jack Taylor Super Clubman and ride really nicely, very supple and quite forgiving on the rough tarmac around here. So I thought I would swap wheels around and see how they felt. Having been commuting on the Mercian recently I was confident I would be able notice any difference.  They are both Jackie Brown tyres from the old Rivendell moulds just different sizes. 

This now gave a slight purpose to the ride and so I picked a route that would take in the various types of tarmac round here from bad potholed main road to better but gravel strewn singletrack farm roads through to dirt farm tracks. From the first ride out of the yard it was apparent they felt better and certainly are part of the planted solid feeling of the Super Clubman as it felt even more stable and planted than usual. This secure feeling extended to all surfaces so certainly a noticeable difference. Now to try and find another pair, not easy I think. 

Jamie