July 10th 2014 - 1X1 Ride

July 10th 2014 - 1X1 Ride 

Strathpeffer

Tuesday was such a glorious day up here and mid afternoon I said to my boss 'its far too good a day to be working, I should be out riding' then cheekily added ' can I have tomorrow off as I need to go for a ride as weathers great' To my suprise she hesitated and then replied 'sounds good, why not, enjoy yourself'
So a quick text to Brian (epicyclo) to see if he was up for a mid week ride and a plan was hatched. His son and his girlfriend were up from Edinburgh and had their singlespeeds so they would join us.
I left about 7 and drove down to Brians for about half 9 and we spent the day riding to Strathpeffer and then up into the hills along some great trails. Some were pretty overgrown and the nettles and ferns were taller than me ( dont laugh) but it was a great mix. A good bit of climbing, some bits dry and others a bit wet so a good variation.
Brian and I were on our 1X1's equiped with dirt wizards, obviously the choice of men with taste I must say that running them with low pressures felt great all round and didn't slow me down like I thought it would on the road section. Its been a while since I gave the 1X1 a good long ride and with these tyres its makes it better still. I really love this bike and the way it rides and after spending most of my time on the Pugsley lately it now feels even more spritely
Anyway, thought I would share what was a bonus day when I should have been at work.
Thanks go to Brian for the company.

Jamie

July 2014 - Orkney Trip - Long Haul Trucker

July 2014 - Orkney Trip - Long Haul Trucker 

I took a few days off this last week as I needed to lose some holidays and with Heather working there were no plans other than enjoy the sun, get some home stuff sorted and get some rides in here and there.
Got out for a few hours here and there and wends was foggy all day but Thursday was really bright and sunny so got out on the Trucker in the afternoon/evening for a ride inland towards the west then back to Thurso then home along the coast. Got in about 75 - 80 klms and it was glorious weather. Drank loads and ate a couple of yum yums I picked up on the way through town.
Friday I was supposed to meet Brian and ride the 1X1's on a long loop up and around Ben Wyvis but seen as how the weather was and also forecast to be so good, I rang Brian before I even got home and seen if he would rather come across to Orkney in the morning instead.
Friday morning had me racing out the door on the Long Haul Trucker about 6.45 to make the Scrabster to Stromness ferry and meet Brian at the terminal. Brian had a much earlier start as he had a 2 hour drive to make the ferry, whereas I just had an hours pleasant ride.
The plan was to leave Stromness once docked just after 10 and do a loop in the north then head south stopping at various spots, a stop in Kirkwall then south again to get the last ferry at St Margrets Hope for 5 for the 6pm sailing.
After a great crossing, very calm, sunny and hot we headed out of Stromness towards Skail and Skarra Brae as our first stop. An early lunch and then a good look around the historic Scotland site was worth the trip alone, really amazing place. Then it was into the wind towards Ring of Brodgar to the south. Again another really magical place helped also I imagine by the glorious weather and while it was very warm and sunny, we could see to the south east that the sea Harr was rolling over the big hills. After another stop at a busy dig happening down the road we then turned toward Finday and hit the headwind of all headwinds. My reaction made me laugh as all I could think of was the Scotsman from Dads Army ' Doomed, we're all doomed'. On the climb before Finday we hit the cooling sea harr and slowly made our way to Kirkwall, though there was a few Snickers stops along the way.
In Kirkwall we found a nice coffee shop and had a nice cuppa only to look at the watch and think 'holy s**t! is that the time?' as it was now almost 4 pm and we had to get a fair way south for 5 to make the ferry. We figured that they would let us on right up to sailing as I have dealt with the ferry guys on the other side a bit, but it was still a good ride to make it. It was beautiful countryside with a few biggish climbs but generally big rollers for a large amount of it. The climb out of Kirkwall is a cracker for tired legs though
We made the ferry but I must say I was flagging for sure, I had the Trucker with a bit of unneeded weight having both panniers and bar bag onboard but I was using it as a recce for when I take Caleb across in a few weeks in his trailer.
At least the return ferry was going to Gills bay just a few miles from home, so a short ride once disembarked and Heather was at home waiting with fresh fish and chips.
A great day out and my little computer said I had done 98.7 klm. We got home at 7.30pm so a long day but a great ride and also visited some very cool places so well worth it. When I go back across with Caleb we will be there a few days so will see more.
For me its not far as I can see the islands out my front window and the ferry is £17 from Scrabster and £15 from Gills bay so not too expensive. I thought its probably for me what Arran is for Kaiser
Anyway I've had a good couple of days riding and so thought I'd share.

Jamie

Global fat Bike Day 2014 - Pugsley

Global Fat Bike Day 2014

Some photos from Global fat Bike Day 2014 with Andy Laing. 

Otter Ferry along the shoreline and round to Dornoch Bridge. 

Pugsley singlespeed. 

Bealach na Ba - July 2015 - Merckx

Bealach na Ba - July 2015 

Merckx

After being away the last few weekends with family and friend commitments I thought it might be nice to get a good ride in on Sunday so gave Brian (epicyclo) a ring and we decided that 1: a road ride was needed and 2: that we should go and climb Bealach na Ba climb from the Strath Carron side and head to Heathers ancestral homelands of Applecross, a quick cuppa and then back over the mountain from the easy side. What could go wrong with such a simple plan, executed by, well yes, simple men
The weather wasn't exactly summer but after heading south after an early start and picking up Brian we arrived at the turn off to the start of the climb just before midday. the wind had certainly picked up and the was rain blowing in and then blowing away pretty quickly. We were more than likely going to get a bit wet so the rain jacket went in the back pocket and the longs were on as well as a thermal top under my jersey as it was sitting about 10 degrees and felt cold so it would be a bit colder up top. Brian was on his Ragley TD1 with big apples and unbelievably he had a 4 speed hub gear onboard. I don't think he's ever changed a gear before so I don't know how much use it was
I did have my gps thing on but from memory the climb was about 11 kilometres and rose from sea level to about 2230feet/626m. I think the switchbacks are about 20% or so.
It was long and it was long which of course at these gradients it was hard. The road surface of the singletrack road was broken up in quite a few places but generally pretty decent, narrow but decent.
Not far up we spotted a dirt track going of to the right behind a gate and up into the next valley. Brian had a look on his gps map and said it headed a short way up to a dam. We took this slight detour up the dirt track despite me being on my Merckx with very narrow tyres. It was a good move as it led to a very picturesque little dam with more track to be explored at a later date.
Onwards and upwards we went with what was basically a slow, steep, relentless climb with occasional stop for picture taking, letting cars past etc. There was also a strong headwind blowing down the valley for the last half. Towards the top on the last long open stretch you think 'it doesn't look too far now' only to realise that the 4x4 that went round you now looks like a tiny ant on the landscape. I stopped before the switchbacks near the top and ate my banana and refilled my bottle from a waterfall while Brian and I watched several vehicles having to make two or three goes at a hairpin. As we got to the top of the switchbacks there was cloud blowing around us more often than not and an occasional bit of rain. Once up the top and to the lookout just at the start of the descent to Applecross we decided to actually just head back down the way we came. This decision was taken in part due to the time it would take us to get to Applecross and back but mainly due to the rain that we could see blowing in from Skye and the north west. It was a magnificent view from the lookout even with the bleak weather. It looks right across the mountains on Skye to the west with the mountains to north, some of which were still showing snow lying. This decision was proven to be the right one as we ventured about 300 metres down the road towards Applecross and it started, what I was sure was sleet, not just heavy rain. With this justification we decided to turn and head back past our starting piont to a new cafe along the road.
It was a deceptively quick ride down the 11 or 12 klm. The road was wet as the rain was coming in and the brakes were getting a good workout just trying to moderate the speed. It was one of those balancing acts with wet slippery road with rough surface, trying to keep things steady in case a car came up round a bend, not let the speed build too quickly and certainly on the second half, to try and keep the crazy strong gusting crosswind from blowing me off the road. At one point I thought ' these newish Mavic wheels are not as stable as my old open pro's with Ultegra hubs' as everything just felt a bit skittish over the rough patches of road and then I thought I had a puncture, only to realise I was actually OK, it was just that I was doing about 53klmh over a broken surface with the wind trying to take out my wheel and push me off the edge. I didn't realise the speed as I had been keeping the brakes steadily on but was riding on the rough section to minimise sliding on the wet tyre tracks that were smooth hotmix. The last 1/3 was dry and so we could go with more confidence in braking for the cars coming up. The majority of corners were blind and the steepness and vegetation meant you didn't get any warning on a lot of the corners.
It was certainly a great descent and to have a steep run for 11klm is crazy fun and more than made up for missing out on doing the full run.
It was then into the café and coffee and cake before heading back to Brians to a very welcomed dinner before I headed back up the road.
I've put a couple of pics below, a couple are Brians and a couple are mine. I was really p'ed off as my camera ran out of battery at the start of the ride, despite checking before I left home. I obviously read the battery check wrong. I did get a couple of pics near the top before it died again.
Anyway I hope everyone else had a good weekend.

Jamie

SSUK 2015 - Surly 1X1

SSUK 2015

Singlespeed UK 2015 Championship was held in Yorkshire this year. 

I drove down with Brian with both our 1x1s in the back of the car ready to go. We camped on site with fellow singlespeeders, fatbikers and retrobikers we know from around the country and had not only a great weekends riding but the usual singlespeed social event of the year. 

It was a great course over quite a few miles on the one estate. Quite a few decent climbs as well as some nice technical downhill stuff. Weather was nice and warm for raceday in glorious sunshine. After the singlespeed race there was a six hour race that I entered just to get a few more laps in and so I could just keep riding in the sunshine really. Lasted a couple of hours before the beer stop and the cider and burger Mike gave me came back to haunt me. Then we settled in for a nice night of entertainment which was great fun for all. 

My riding buddy Brian Velo, Brian, Si and Gill

STRATHPUFFER 24hr Race 2015 - Pugsley

STRATHPUFFER 24hr Race 2015

After a solo effort at the race the year before and ending up as the lantern rouge (last) I joined my friends in the Fatty Owl team. It was a very different experience racing in the team compared to solo and the sitting in front of a fire guilt free when it was so cold was a bonus. 

We came second in the team of 10 group which was a major step up from the year before, though I should say I am a rider not a racer. I raced my motorbikes when younger as well as my bikes and now I like to compete but it's not anything serious. This race though is a challenge more than a race, having a 24 hour mountain bike race  in the Highlands of Scotland in the middle of winter is all about surviving till the end. Great times with good friends. 

Brian who was riding solo as usual with his trophy for having ridden in all ten events. Team Captain and Manager Chris 'Troutie' Si ready to go

SSEC SingleSpeed European ChampionshipMay 2010

SSEC SingleSpeed European ChampionshipMay 2010 

A couple of photos from the SSEC 2010 held at the Forest Of Dean in England. 

A great weekend away, glorious sunshine, great course and just a wonderful social weekend. 

As well as all our racing friends this is where I first met Brian MacLeod, a great guy would go on to become a great friend. This race also seen heather was heavily pregnant with our son Caleb. 

We were also joined by our great friends Paul and Jenny who came down for the day. 

It was a really great singlespeed track. I was on my old M2 Stumpjumper 32/16 gearing and a SID fork. A great machine but I was missing the ride of steel. This though would have to be one of the lightest singlespeed I have ridden to this day.