Retrospect 2014...

Another year nearly done, and Life is Good indeed! :)
It`s been a great year, many happy days spent with my partner Francis and of course Mowgli the hyper Springer Spaniel-one amazing dog who just loves to run!, and we have had some fun days out and about.


2014 has also been a hard year with our Dads passing in February. I have not really been able to, or want to write about this on the blog, maybe it is something i am still dealing with, but i have been doing what my dad asked me to day in the last conversation we had, and that is to make the most of my life and enjoy every minute that you can, words i will carry in my head forever...

Bicycle wise there has been a lot of frames and bikes purchased, and sold again!, but things are settling down a bit finally in the bike collection as i have kinda found what i want/need for cycling in East Lothian, more of them in a bit...


2014 started with a lakeside party followed by a dawn beach ride with Francis, and of course Mowgli!...

I started hauling free firewood off the coast to saw and dry for this winter...

And many cold winter days wrapped up out cycling on the coast...

I bought a Genesis CDF commuter CX bike in the January sales which i would sell as i converted a fixie bike given to me by my big bro to another steel CX bike when i bought a used Surly Cross-Check...

And the Public Meeting about the local Byway Becky`s Strip was a majority vote against the old green Byway being resurfaced as a cycle route- i was very happy about that...

I made a wee film of the old historic route later on in the year...


Back on the coast and many days riding along side Francis on one of her Endurance horses, i have really enjoyed these days shared on the coast...

And Mowgli is the ultimate trail dog!


I wrote a blog post on 29ers and 29+ wheel sizes and a year from now i am finally getting to where i planned with two 29+ bikes planned for the stable in 2015...

I am a bit behind everyone else who went out and bought one as soon as they were released but with the Surly Dirt Wizard tyres finally arriving soon it is time to get a Krampus!

Dog sitting Mowgli- beach, fireside, cider!

And out with friends...

Dads health was not so got and i was not out cycling much, but did get down to Seacliff on what was a lovely winter day...
I think this is my favourite solo Bike ride film this year...



I finally finished upgrading my big Surly Moonlander Fatbike with bling Hope hubs and stuff, and Surly announced a new inline 5" tyre 4" rim Fatbike- The Ice cream Truck!

I blogged more about Surly Karate Monkey 29ers - the original production 29er, and added some `Bel Lap` drop bars to mine,
I rode it like this with racks and stuff for a while...

 then turned it into a Monstercross with Woodchipper bars, these frame sets are so versatile...


26th of February our Dad passed away, on this day the first Gannets arrived on the Bass Rock...

Both news was reported in The East Lothian Courier
If you knew my dad or ever met him while out in East Lothian then you will know his knowledge of the countryside and nature left an impression on many who met him....
Dad in the 1970s with Prince Bernard of the Netherlands, and Lord Weymss Earl of March...

I promised my dad i would make the most of my life, we all have too...

Once back at work after some time off i went a ride along the coast at Tyninghame after work, as dad would have liked me to do. I did not know what music to use so did not use any, no need to with the sound of the coastal bird life, and woodland bird song...
Oh and i cleared the dry ditch on a drop bar 29er at 1.35mins!


You want to make the most out your life?
Well take a leaf out of my friend Glenn from Northumberland....
Glenn turned up at the second UK Fatbike meet and despite being through the wars and losing a leg, Glenn never moans about life and is out there making the most of life...
I have met some amazing friends riding Fatbikes and Glenn is a living legend...
A `feel good film` that closed doors for myself and opened new doors to move on...


And the following weekend i went out and  rode a corker 6 hours with friends Sanny and Colin, an epic in out own back yard of little East Lothian...




I really enjoyed the road trips with Francis, like when we went up to Argyle, and went cycling in Glencoe...

Then i took a daft turn and bought some orange tyres for my Pumpkin Pugsley for a giggle...

I rode the bike at FORTH FAT
It was an ace weekend, i had first UK ride of a Surly ICT (Ice Cream Truck) and Tyler brought Trevor over from Surly Bikes and the weekend was a blast!

Roll on Forth Fat 15 next May!


In May we did an ace Road trip down to RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, Francis rode an Endurance ride, i went cycling...

Ideal trails on the 29+  KramPug...

And we went camping again a few weeks later down in the borders for the Eildon Endurance. Friday evening we helped course mark and it was superb cycling...

Go Mowgli go!

Lol!

In June we went to the Netherlands for a few days for a wedding, fantastic trip, we also went sailing and cycling...

Mid June was the Seacliff Horse Endurance event and  i helped mark  some of the course then cycle it while Francis competed in the 160km ride, and won it!!!

Francis and her 100 mile horse Aphrodite!...

Warm light summer evenings... Cycling, Chimineas, chainsaws, cider...

And a great 2 days course marking with Francis then riding around the Lauder Endurance, great trails again and big skies...

I blogged about my Drop Bar Bikes and it has been good fun trying out different set ups for riding off road...
This is my favourite set up now; Karate Monkey 29er with Woodchipper bars...

I had a CD dropped into my work from Boards of Canada duo Michael and Marcus a week before it`s along anticipated release-how cool is that!
Tomorrows Harvest  has been a long awaited Album but been worth the wait as it is an amazing album by the Scottish brothers...

BOC are my favourite Scottish band, a unique music which goes so well to the rhythmic motion of cycling, i have used many of their tracks in my films.
When are guys wanting to come for a beach ride on the coast?, get in touch and we can get out, sure you will love it :)



Francis was vetting again this time at the local Lammermuirs Endurance ride and i offered to be Broom Waggon and lift the course markers after the last horse... i got a rosette for helping :)

End of July and the combines were out early in East Lothian!  Harvestime was on!

The skies of East Lothian were once again filled with the roar of Rolls Royce Merlin engines as the mighty RAF Avro Lancaster Bomber, Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane flew over at the annual East Fortune Airshow, amazing sight, and sound!...

V for Victory



Harvest was well on mid August and i did some great rides after work...

Francis broke her collarbone in September, and survived my cooking attempts!,

Happily she is nearly mended and was soon back cycling and horse riding again...



I had some great days out Cycling with friends and some great solo rides too...

In October a film came out on youtube that once again moves the goal posts on what can be done on a bicycle. Filmed where else but here in Scotland. the land where the bicycle was invented...


The first of the winter storms rolled in here on the SE coast...

I am always in awe at the power of the sea...


I had a great days cycling with friend Sanny on the drop bar bikes under a Clear blue winter sky
And blogged about my original Pugsley now it is over 6 years old

And December has seen some more clear winter skies while out cycling on the coast...

See you next year...