Microshift Acolyte 1 x 8 Group set; possibly the best budget/bombproof Fatbike Beach riding drive system?...

 

Top marks to Microshift for bringing out a 1 x Group set for mountain bikes at an affordable price;

Shifter £12, Cassette £30, Rear mech £30,

It may be marketed at those new to off-road cycling and on a budget, but there are plenty of folk out there - myself included who been riding off-road for years who have sat up and took notice of this newly released group set, and i am one of those folk that frankly want to buy bike parts that last and are good value, and stuff like weight and what is in fashion come later...

I`m not sure when this new 8 speed 1 x 8 wide ratio Group set will be available here in the UK but I`m on the waiting list for getting my hands on it as this could be the ideal bomb proof set up for coastal cycling as being wide ratio 8 speed allows a stronger rustproof 8 speed chain and a Surly Bikes stainless steel chainring to be used with this set.  

Coastal cycling is not just along flat beaches like mainstream cycling magazines seem to think, maybe because it is a lot easier to take photos one handed when on a flat beach that on soft sandy single track, or tackling rock fields and slabs exposed at low tides. And reliability and value for money are high on the list when using a bike in such environments. strength and reliability are foremost, while at the same time not expensive to replace all come into play when choosing a group set for your bike to suit your budget,

My past experience of over 12 years of coastal cycling on Fatbikes has taught me that Shimano`s Alfine internal Gear Hubs (IGH) looked like a good choice in the early days on the early Fatbikes with its mech free drive chain on steel sprockets - including the much proved Surly stainless steel chainring and KMC stainless chain. I also tried single speeding Fatbikes,  but it is akin to owning a Landrover to drive off road without having a low ratio box of multi range gears. The Internal Gear hubs don't like to be submerged in salt water (they seize eventually) and they need a chain tensioner on vertical frame drop outs, and are a bit fiddly to remove easily on horizontal drop outs like on my own Surly steel Fatbike frames. An IGH also puts a lot of weight right on the back wheel and makes bike shifting a bit different when your unweighting a bike -say to hop on rocks etc...  

So despite being the oldest remaining part of bicycle part design the humble derailed chain drive is an easier choice - make sure  the chain is rust proof of some description and use a good Dry chain lube so sand does not stick to it for obvious reasons. 

So I was always going on about not needing 11 and now 12 speed 1 x set ups for coastal cycling and happily settled with 10 speed group sets with everything available from Microshifts good value 11-40t cassettes on a small tucked in Derailier like the Shimano ZEE, to their 11 - 46t cassettes on regular length rear mechs. 10 speed stuff has become cheaper with the bike industry chasing the latest must have stuff (at an increasingly ridiculous price). 

I have said to friends for years `why don't you get a wide ratio 8 speed group set at a budget price?`...

Well folks careful what you wish for!, here is a wee film...

So watch here for some of this stuff getting used and reviewed riding in the harsh coastal conditions when it arrives in the UK, I will be trying it as a kit and with also with a  Microshift 8 speed thumb shifter along with rust proof stainless chains and stainless chainring. I think it will be bomber at the price..

More soon...

Midweek cycle, JMCP, back on the beach...

 

Not actually been out on the beach the last few rides so it was good to get along the sands again last week. I was riding my 4" tyre Fatbike today - the Large size Mk1 (non drop top tube/Canti brake mount) Surly Pugsley...

G was riding my 5"  tyre (Surly Moonlander Wheel set and fork)  Surly Pugsley 2.0 as I had just fitted new tyres the night before, then discovered the chain was needing replaced, and decided to do the whole drive chain but it was late that night so she took the Orange Pug instead today....

Out around the point we followed the high tide line around all the way to the Biel burn then along Hedderwick sands...

You can see here at Hedderwick the recently collapsed edge where the John Muir Way path has been getting closer to the edge in parts for several years now. A new path has been cut several yards inland now and the dangerous section fenced off...

Being Friday morning it was nice and quiet today, not so quiet here at the weekends now which is why we have been cycling elsewhere as it is mobbed with day visitors, but hopefully now that shops etc are now opening up many `Pandemic pedestrians` will return to there old haunts...

Wee film, Song is `Buckie High (Remix) by Boards Of Canada

More soon...

Willys Hotchkiss M201 Jeep; Dodging May rain showers!

 

May often is a glorious month as temperatures start to heat up and the countryside bursts into bloom. while the trees and hedges have opened up everything else sums to be on hold as onshore cold easterly winds continue and although we have had much needed rainfall we could do without getting it in heavy downpours!.  

After not being satisfied getting a soaking in the last cycle out around the WW2 tank blocks i took the Jeep out the next day wanting to make the most of days off and basically drove around two huge downpours, which you will see in the sky and on the ground in a short film I did driving down to Seacliff. I planned to go a wander over to the harbour  but it was two busy with visitors so just stopped for a couple of pics...

A wee film around the access road in and out...

Happy that the Jeep drove home ok on wet roads last weekend with no misfires that would indicate something electrical like a coil or lead is cracked etc I`m feeling more braver every drive to venture a bit further - anyhows the phone is always in my pocket and G can always be deployed with the van and tow arm stashed on the Jeep to us get home!

I do like how you can play around setting up the Jeep with no tools to suit what you want, a genius design in so many ways...

More soon...

DCC Sunday MTB social cycle...

G and I joined the newly formed Dunbar Cycling Club. It has a growing membership of both Road cyclists and off-road cyclists. 

With G chairing the Mountainbike section for the first year to help get off road routes and rides rolling we have both been providing routes for Sunday social rides which others also take part in ushering the group having previously posted the routes prior to the weekend. With a no drop policy being a social cycle the speed is relaxed and cater for most folk who regularly cycle off-road,

Today was a foray into the Hillfoot trails on the edge of the Lammermuirs. It was nice to feel a bit warmer after 3 weeks of bitter onshore easterly winds, maybe, just maybe warmer weather is on the way!. It has been dry so a wet evening and days rain last week was needed for farm crops and gardens, not to mention wildlife....

Roll some pics from my handlebar mounted Go Pro...

The 23 mile loop started under a blue shy with patchy cloud but the cloud increased and we ended the ride cycling back to town in light showers, but it did not dampen the spirits of everyone who seemed to enjoy the route and were looking forward to more similar rides. I will post a ride this coming Sunday around my old haunts of a similar distance that is far enough for folk to enjoy...

Here is a wee film from the day, Song is `Fear Eile` by Peatbog Faeries, 

More soon...

 

Cycling catch up...

Back to work last week after 5 months Furlough and back part time now working a 3 day week, Thursday finished and i parked up at Gullane and cycled out to the Reserve for a cycle around the WW2 Coastal defences, all the time watching a darkening cloud moving up into the wind across the Forth Estuary, it would pass over later delivering a cold heavy downpour for 10 minutes that would see me heading back to the van!, however it was good as it always is to get in a wee cycle however short it may be...

The lines of blocks here are well preserved and here is a good overhead film that good friend Phil made a few years ago...

On the ground they are still good to see and follow the paths around them...

I popped out here to uncover a Spigot Mortar mount I discovered around 10 years ago by accidentally tripping over it, I found another similar one at Ferny Ness at Gosford Bay, both I had never seen documented online before...

Grid reference NT 465 828,  I planned to do more filming after uncovering it but the heavens opened and I abandoned the ride and sped back to the van at the car park soaked!, warmer days are coming to to stuff like this!...

A small film, check out the threatening sky!, 

Song is `Farewell` by UNKLE

More soon...

Willys Hotchkiss M201 Jeep; 6 month update; A walk around talk...

 

Thats nearly 6 months I have owned my Jeep, and clocked up around 1000km/600 miles, so thought time to do a walk around film of the Jeep and tell you some of this Jeeps history and what I have read up on the French made Jeeps which were rebuilt WW2 examples eventually with French made parts.

If you want to read more on Hotchkiss Jeeps you can start on the Wiki page here; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchkiss_M201

Also have a look on M201.com;   http://www.m201.com

And lastly here are the key differences between the Willys/Ford/Hotchkiss Jeeps, small details; http://www.classicjeeps.co.uk/differences-between-jeeps/

And here; https://www.sacarr.co.uk/mymvs/jeep/m201mb/m201mb1.htm

So you can see my Hotchkiss is indeed a French manufactured tub, chassis and axles etc...

Here is my walk around film...

Willys Hotchkiss M201 Jeep Update;

 

Not done much in the last week Jeep wise, added a brew kit in the 50 Cal ammo box...

Alpkit Brew kit stove, two plastic cups, plastic spork, and bag of 2 in 1 instant coffees...

These bottles keep every thing tight and stop anything  rattling, I will keep them incase needed for the radiator and add cycling bottles in the dashboard holders if were going up the hills to park up for a picnic - that won't be until that freezing cold easterly disappears and the days warm up a bit!

I resprayed the silencer with matt black heat resistant paint and it looks a lot better...

And added a second Poppy to the rear bumper...

Another pack of 4 bottles of Redex Lead Additive arrived which will keep me going for a while...

I also got the spray cans out and an old Raleigh 1953 roadster got the army treatment having added a wartime black out headlamp I was recently given...

It needs an old rear rack so I can add some canvas bags I have...

While at it i resurrected an old bicycle pump refitting a new air tube and it too got the Olive drab treatment...

And a 1980 stamped Bulldog shovel I had previously fitted a new handle too, along with a pick axe...

All adds my collection of military and military themed items...

Today I sorted out the rear rails and hood and they are fitted properly now,

Parked down the harbour after a drive around town and I chatted with local residents who are fans of the Jeep and like seeing one being used instead of in a museum, it has a lot of friends a Jeep!,

And i was given some old items for my collection which I will need to research to find their age and country of origin,

An alloy water bottle and mess tin,

And an old glass water bottle in leather case, thought to be cavalry related,

before heading home I went a short drive this afternoon around the local back roads to do some film, Wee film, Song is `Exit` by Tangerine Dream

More soon...