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    

October 6th 2025 - RIP Ken Taylor

 It is with great sadness I learnt the passing of Ken Taylor on the evening of the 6th October 2025.

One of life's true gentleman. A privilege to know him, however briefly in his long and well lived life.
Condolences and thoughts to Honor and family.
Rest in Peace with your brothers now.

'Have a nice ride'

Jamie Dyer

Wednesday 5th August 2020 - Mid week off and bike fettling

While having the week off with family and doing lots together, this afternoon was getting those small bicycle jobs out the way. The weather has been really bad the last four days since I started my holiday, suprised, not really :) We are hopefully away tomorrow in the canoe for a day or two as like most people around the world our summer holidays were cancelled and put on hold due to covid 19. This and the fact that Heather is just out of shielding as well as a huge influx of tourists to the north of Scotland means we are quite alright with not travelling or staying outwith our area for the time being. With our usual campgrounds, wild camping spots, lochs etc currently being overun, coupled with todays news of Aberdeen and possibly other areas going back into lockdown makes it safer to stay local or at the very least just stay in the north for day trips. 

So todays cycle jobs started out with a bit of spraying some clear coat over the decals on the Flying Scot Ventoux. I really needed to finish doing this before I started building it and as I now have decided on, and put together the components it was definately time. So these were masked off and a quick spray of Plasticote clear to seal them and then let to dry for 2 hours. 

While I was at it I really thought I better mask off and clear the 'have a nice ride - Ken Taylor' signature on my Jack Taylor Sports model. It is almost 12 months since Ken signed it for me at the JT weekend so thought it prudent to get it done while I had the clear out. Then there was a bit of sun came out and I managed to sit outside at the bench and clean up some of the Shimano 600 Arabesque gear for the Ventoux. It came up really nicely as it was just quite grubby, so a good clean, degrease and quick polish. The only problem is one of the downtube shifters is misssing a washer so I will have to source another one. 

By now the postman had arrived and with came our parcel from SJS Cycles, our crank shorteners for the tandem! Great item, great instructions too which mad instillation simple. Our only problem and a decent one at that is that the crank arm that now has a bolt on the back where the pedal normally mounts is hitting the chain. Tried a few things like tapping the eccentric bottom bracket over a fraction, which allowed us to ride but every now and then it would catch a link and stop the chain dead. Lucky we were just going up and down the road testing. At least it allowed us to dial everything in and Caleb is happy with his pedal height and position etc and was a very happy little man with the tandem for sure. Tommorow I will take the bottom bracket out on the front chainset and order one about 5mm narrower which should pull the chain over enough to miss it completely. It is a TA chainset so will need to source the appropriate bottom bracket. We are getting there though. 

Then as I was putting the Ventoux and the Sport away once dry I thought I should offer up a set of guards that a freind, Chris or Peachy as he's known, gave me. They are shorty Bluemels but not just any shorties, they are matching canary yellow. He says the rear one will suite as it will allow the signature to be seen. Not usually a fan of shorties but they do suite. 

Anyway that's a few jobs sorted. Stay safe 

Jamie 

Sunday 5th July 2020 - Jack Taylor Sport - Build contemplations

A slight update, though not much new happened so far beside a wipe down and rethink on the build. 
Pulled the 1963 Sport down from the loft and thought I better start making some plans to get it built. Has sat in lofts for far too many years. Has had the BB and headset fitted but other than that, never had a brake bolt, seat post or seat bolt. tried to get a decent photo but there isn't even a paint chip or scratch at the brake bridge or binder bolt. Colour is still as great as when it was painted as the photos don't do the yellow justice. Not bad for being 57 years old in a couple of weeks.
Still not a 100% sure on direction and I change my mind often about how I want to build it but it needs to happen as I am itching to ride it.
Plenty of clearance even with the 27'' wheel fitted. These wheels are spaced for a wider frame but Brian has me a pair of very nice Weinmann rims that I would like to build onto a set of High flange first generation Dura Ace hubs, I know, sacrilege, though they are 120 and screw on 5 speed freewheel. I was toying with fitting a double chainset but this would mean fitting band on shifters and a cable guide for the front Derailleur as it only has these for the rear with only a right hand side shifter mount.  Keep then going back to just keeping as a single front 5 speed.
I have ordered a new 531 decal from HLoyds, I went with the standard one that is on it rather than the Jack Taylor version that says SPORT across the decal. This original one is flaking off due to not being lacquered.   
Would love to find some yellow Bluemels to fit as well if anybody knows of any.
I do have a couple of projects on the go but this keeps tugging at me to sort. Have been super busy with work since the start of the year and besides weekends have only had a day or so off so have spent the time with family and used the spare time to ride more than build.
Slow going but will try and bring this to the JT weekend which is at the end of August now,  instead of the trusty Super Clubman.
Anyway a few photos to keep it updated
Jamie