2017 Retrospect...

Time to look back at this year and some of my favourite stuff i got up to.
Been a rebuild year for me, finding my way in a new job that is ace and working with lovely people,
`Fairy Management`... who would have thought it! :D
Cycling to work and cycling in work time when it allows,  ace!
In cycling i finally got my bike collection where i wanted it and nearing the end of 2017 the collection is back to full squadron again with the addition of a couple of ongoing builds.

10 years later...
My original fatbike - The Surly Pugsley was ` 10 Years old last Halloween, `
10 years has seen a lot of changes in fat bikes and took me until this year to keep up but got my Surly Wednesday all finished.

2017; a pic and film per month;
So a highlight of each month and link to the blog post, one pic from the day, and film to sum up the place i went to...




January;
15 blog posts
A  ` Windswept Dune ride ` with friends Sanny and Donald,
Tyninghame beach with its ace dunes at Peffersands...

Film; Song is `Running Wild` by Drenge

3rd Jan beachride; Tyninghame from coastkid71 on Vimeo.





February;
7 posts,
This ace ` Sandstorm Cycle ` at Peffersands, i really like days like this on the east coast, wrapped up and despite the cold wind an amazing winters day...

An easy to make film mostly with the mono pod but lots of different views with a nice sound track `Je Suis le Vent` by `Working For A Nuclear Free City, a great band i discovered this year...

Sandstorm Cycle; Peffersands from coastkid71 on Vimeo.





March;
14 posts,
Choosing this one `No time to ride?, all you need is a half hour ` which shows it is all you need to get out, and get a quick fix, stay off the wet sand and you don`t even need to wash the bike!,

I do a lot of rides like this now i have a van, usually on dry sand, no mud or salt water to need cleaning straight away,  gets you out and makes you feel good after driving home with the heater and tunes on and a few pics and/or film to edit in the evening...

Song is `Open The Light` by Boards of Canada

Open the Light - Boards of Canada; Beachride at Broadsands March 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.





April;
11 posts,
Offroad commuting is a joy and pleasure i can do and if i get up early enough i can enjoy the John Muir Way from near my home all the way into work, around a relaxed hour if stopping for pics and it`s a great way to arrive  at work and relax returning home, nearly all the JMW is `all weather` man made or sand trails so i don`d get too filthy or does the bike arriving at work,
I now have around 7 detour commute off road options weather dependent and the time of year for access...
A micro heat wave for April seen me do this route several times into work on the Surly KramPug 29+(Surly Pugsley with 29" x 3"  wheels)...

Song is `Music is math` by Boards of Canada...

Surly KramPug; Midweek detour commute April 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




May;
13 posts,
A lot of fun stuff in May, but has to be ` FORTH FAT 2017 ` of course!
A magic weekend sharing the love of fat bikes and the amazing coast line of East Lothian, mixed with laughs, booze and loads of different people and Fatbikes from all over the UK and The Netherlands, all united by the draw of these bikes...

Here is 3 days of FORTH FAT 2017 crammed into 3 minutes with music by Kasabian, song is `Club Foot`...

FORTH FAT 2017 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




June;
8 posts,
` Capital trail 2017 ` a roasting weekend with friends of the 2 day 150 mile route through stunning Borders scenery and 6000 meters of climbing thrown in.
Kalzie Hill Drove Road descent to Peebles...

For myself a challenge that every year i ride it  i discover more about my self and have to push the envelope to finish and this year we rode 92 miles off road on the first day... for average riders this is a tough challenge and the feeling of achievement after finishing is a great reward for the physical effort,

It started to make me realise just how fit i was starting to get and wondered what i can achieve if i stopped goofing around and with a careful diet could do in an event, and i would find out at the next event i entered...

Film with song `New Seeds` by Boards of Canada

Capital Trail 2017 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.






July;
14 posts,
Back on the coast and time for some serious ` Rock crawling at Seacliff `, now i have been told i make this look far too easy lol,  i do love this type of riding and it proves how amazing fat bikes are for where they can go,  and despite the slow speed and no descents how challenging this type of riding can be, as all types of cycling can be, trails, BMX, road climbing, all have there place, though not many to this and ride in such places as the exposed sea bed at low tide. With a 6 meter tidal difference we get miles of rocks exposed between Seacliff and Tyninghame and the Car Rocks is an ideal playground for a Fatbike,

Would i be the first person to properly cycle across here feet up? possibly, deft the first fatbike and back in the early days posting pics and later films of here drew a lot of interest from all around the world, not too hard to when you add in stunning coastal vistas, ship wrecks and the stories of the `The Wreckers` as written by famous author Robert Lewis Stevenson and it is a great place to explore at low tide, on foot or Fatbike.
Adding a suspension fork to my Surly Wednesday has made it even better for riding out there, this is a superb bike for rock crawling, the 177mm rear hub means the chain stay`s are not to wide to hit your  heals on while riding out the sale and leaning the bike manoeuvring through the rocks...
Here is a film to a tune unknown name and artist but on the `Lock Stock` soundtrack...

Surly Wednesday Fatbike; Rock Crawling, Seacliff, July 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.





August;
19 posts,
Good friend Dave visited from Skye and also Jeff up on holiday with family so got an ace ` Weekend Cycling with friends ` with local friends Craig and Jason on the Saturday and we did a lot of miles and smiles, booze and laughter... i have some truly great friends!...
Yellowcraig...

I made a load of films that weekend, here is one
Song is  ``  by Thievery Corporation...

Saturday Cycle; Aug 17 Pt 4 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




September;
10 posts,
I have ridden mountain bikes since September 1987, and had never entered a race, ever...this year i entered 3!, the second was Single speed UK championships ` SSUK 2017 ` at Staveley in The Lake District, i single speeded my old original Surly Pugsley and stuffed the car with camping kit and drove down to what would be a breath of fresh air and a fantastic weekend meeting (and drinking) and racing a real tough but brilliant course, the weekend was brilliantly organised and the countryside very scenically different to back home,  yes it was dry! a rarity i believe down there! with clear skies...
Fantastic weekend and one of the best of the year...
friends old and new...

Now i entered this just for a social weekend away with the plan to meet up with friends Tony and Mike, and after a walk to the bikes and a massive long climb that involved standing up the whole way with only one gear i do remember passing a lot of people to try get my legs spinning better, when told at the beer stop (mid race!) we were in the top 20 i got my skates on and went for it along with a lad i mostly rode 2nd lap with, for my sins i rolled in 1st Fatbike and 14th position!, add the fact i prob had the oldest heaviest fatbike there i felt real chuffed inside, so err yeah i guess i am currently ranked 1st SS Fatbike in the UK! lol!!!

Here is some film of an ace race!
Song is`Perladine Friday` by Chris T...

SSUK 2017 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




October;
10 posts,
In keeping with the original theme of my blog an update on one of the bikes i ride, why i ride it and what i like about it, time for a `Surly Wednesday Update; 18 month review

Modern Fatbike trail geometry with suspension fork and dropper post fitted and 3 wheel sets, 4" regular Fat,  27.5+,  29+ and still old school steel frame which i like...
The blog will tell you all i know and like about the Wednesday - you worked out yet it`s Pugsleys sister?  (Addams family)  :)

Song is `It Came To Me` by The Barr Brothers...

Surly Wednesday 29+ local trails Oct 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




November;
16 posts,
Bought a wee van and loving it, throw the bike and gear in and go, gather firewood, or as i did have a road trip!, and it was down to Druidge Bay for the inaugural ` Sandblasted Beach race `and it was a superb weekend with friends...
The race itself was great, a long blast down the beach tailwind assisted then a brutal short headwind back to cut inland and ride nice trails,
Although a race i still managed to take pics and film and we blethered most of the time, as is the Fatbike way on the coast! lol...

I rode with Jason and we finished 3rd and 4th in the Fatbike class and 16th/17th so Jason would have been on the podium if there was one, anyhow it was fun and a great weekend away with friends

Song is `Queens Of The Breakers` by The Barr Brothers...
Sandblasted beach race 2017 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




December;
11 posts,
 A frozen solo cycle on my local hills, and a celebration of mid winter nearing and what better than stunning winter light in sub zero conditions....

Days like this are great, mud free as everything frozen the bike did not need a wash etc...
And here is the last film from this day,
Song is a favourite,  `Cello Man` by Nick Drake...

Winter sun cycle; Garleton Hills; Dec 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



So been a cool year...
Here is a wee film of pics from the coast, keeping in line with the original theme of starting this blog...
Song is `In The Waiting Line` by Zero7...

East Lothian coast (slideshow) 2017 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



Thanks...
A lot of new music and new people i have met have influenced my life this year and gave me inspiration and new ideas, i want to thank all of you and wish you all the best for 2018!,
Next year is going to be an amazing year - and my blog will be 10 years old in March, and i got some fun ideas for what you will see on here as the months roll on, and hope you come along for the ride,


Happy New Year folks!