Isolation Cycle 45; Atkengall Windfarm Pt 2,

Rolling on and descending off Moneynut Edge we rolled down to the ruin cottage of Friardykes...

Wee film, song is `All Rise` by Phontaine,


Isolation Cycle 45; Aitkengall Windfarm Pt 2, May 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...

Isolation Cycle 44; Aitkengall Windfarm... WW2 Beaufighter Crash Site Memorial visit...

Another hot day and with increasing numbers of people out exercising along the coast with the recnt new of loosening of Lockdown Restrictions in England (but not here in Scotland until end of May) we decided to get up the hills where as expected there would be no one out walking or cycling,

Today we cycled to visit a memorial near to the site of a WW2 Aircrash involving a Beaufighter which was stationed at RAF East Fortune...

Climbing up onto the maintenance tracks of Aitkengall Windfarm we stopped by the Fairy Glen and Fairy Castle, an amazing wee Glen...

It was a cool wind up here although a lovely blue sky as we climbed up the tracks, pulling in for Forestery Lorries hauling Timber out of on going works...

Soon we were at the Memorial...

We descended to continue our cycle with thoughts of the many tragic loss of lives in the Hills here to young airmen, many far from their own home...

Wee film, Song is `Love On A Real Train` by Tangerine Dream


Isolation Cycle 44; Aitkengall Windfarm Pt 1, May 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...

Isolation Cycle 43; Surly Moonlander and Surly Wednesday - time to get Fat as possible!, and some V.2 Pugsley views...

Never thought i would type this, but the sand above the high tide line on many areas along the coast is getting too soft in places for regular 4" tyre Fatbikes, really!, on my old Pugsley and Glenda on her Genesis Prototype we have been struggling a bit in places often with front ends tucking in or rear tyres spinning out!, time to call in the big Guns....

Step forward the Surly Moonlander which easts up soft conditions with its huge 100mm rims and 4.8" tyres that can be aired down to 4psi or even lower if required.
Glenda is searching for a Surly Moonlander at a good price or even just a frame set as i have a spare pair of Moonie wheels and all the spare parts to build one up, so in the meantime she can ride the big Moonie and i am reverting the Surly Wednesday back to stock set up with original fork and seat post,

The Bluto suspension fork and drooper seat post is at the end of the day just things with something else to go wrong with so after washing both bikes after a cycle out to the Sub wrecks i  soon had the parts swapped over....

A new Race Face Ride seatpost i bought a while back would soon be on after adding some Coppergrease to the seat bolts and Marine grease to the post...

First i had to remove the dropper post and it`s internal cable routing...

The post was in a state as you can see with not betting moved at all, this is why i use Quick Release seat clamps to reguarly check and regrease posts, and i just order a Salsa Flip Lock seat clamp from the USA ans none here in the UK  in the required 33.1mm, costing me £40 posted but they are the best seat clamps....

Disconect the cable to remove and a clean up of the post and  back in it`s box to sell on to someone as i don`t need a dropper post riding here in East Lothian, and i have never went to the Borders to Glentress trail centre etc since i have built the Wednesday, Been there and done it and happy Cycling here in the Shire on natural trails...

New post greased and fitted...

With the forks swapped out and they also cleaned down and boxed to sell on the bikes had both chains re lubed with Squirt Dry lube and good to go...

Down to Peffersands and while only a 4.6" rear tyre  the 5" front tyre on 80mm rims is pretty close to the Moonlander for float, i was running 5 psi in both tyres while Glenda was down to 3 psi on the big Moonie, and we were managing to cycle the real soft sand we struggled on our 4" bikes a few days earlier...  you can see it at the start of the film...

Big Sky Day...

 This was some day!...

As a matter of interest once back home i tried the Moonlander rear wheel in my new V.2 Surly Pugsley, which is suppossed to to take a 4.8" rear tyre, and i was wondering if it will fit with a 10oomm rim?, and here is the answer;

Yep!, with loads of tyre and also tyre to chain clearance!...

The Definitive Surly fatbike frame?
So this kind of sums up where i am at with my Surly frames, the Wednesday is a dam fine trail bike with it`s handling which is basicly the same as the Surly Krampus but with a 100mm wide bottom bracket which also can take 4.6" tyre Fat wheels, and while the Moonlander is a tried and tested full float Fatbike, the V.2 Pugsley with a Moonlander fork as Surly also state allows 4.8" tyres up front and now i know 100mm wide rims can be used,
If your not interested in ever using a suspension fork or dropper post the V.2 Pugsley with it`s taller Headtube and 100mm threaded bottom bracket is in my opinion the definitive Surly Steel Fatbike Frame for Full float 5" (4.8') Tyres on 100mm (4") rims as Fat wheels and 29+ wheels for trail bike / Bike packing duties,

Now why has no one else said this yet about the new Surly Pugsley?

Anyway an offset Moonlander fork is now ordered and on it's way from France :)

Wee film, Song is `Hungry Face` by Mogwai



Isolation Cycle 43; Surly Moonlander and Surly Wednesday, May 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


More soon...

Isolation Cycle 42; Gilmerton Woods...

Another film from near home out cycling daily, and south of the former RAF East Fortune Airbase some great trails through woods of a local Estate, the leaves are just starting to come out now so thought best film before it is not safe to cycle though to quick and chance meeting other people out exercising,

Wee film, Song is `Infinite Regression` by Thievery Corperation,


Isolation Cycle 42; Gilmerton Woods, May 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...

Isolation Cycle 41; Garleton Ridge Road Descent....

The dry days continue with high pressure and riding daily close to home is a pleasure on bone dry mud free trails, up on the small local group of hills -The Garletons give rewarding views of the County and out across the Firth of Forth Estuary to Fife and beyond...

Were averaging  16 -18 miles daily staying close to home and going where we can stay safe and away from other folk out exercising, so avoiding narrow trails, and near farms with gates etc...

Wee film,descending west from Barney Hill, Song is `Actium` by Apex Twin


Isolation Cycle 41; Garleton Ridge Road Descent, May 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.