mondo enduro!

after 2 weekends of no offroad cycling,lots of painkillers and a bit cider too im heading offroad again this weekend,2 big days along the beaches on pugsley,tomorrow-sat the western end and sunday the eastern end of the countys coastline,tide times are all wrong with high tide midday so will be hogging the high tide mark,in the meantime ive been keeping busy and the other night watched 2 fantastic fiims i have on DVD,
`mondo enduro` made by a group of english friends who rode a 40,000 mile round the world trip (unsponserd) on suzuki DR350 trailbikes back in the early to mid ninetys and there 2nd trip `terra circa` a 20,000 mile route from london to new york...

mondo enduro RTW was done and filmed just before everyone owned a mobile phone and GPS,laptop with dingo etc..,hi 8 camcorder had just been released which allowed media quality filming though they used super 8 alot too to record there 40,000 mile journey,
so this was before a couple of hollywood stars spent an incredible amount of money on hiring crew and equipment to do a RTW trip yet still wine and wimper when things got a little tough for them!, the offspin of there televised trip would dawn a new trend of weekend motorcylist with the roads awash with big BMWs and there riders adorned in bmw gear and arai dual sport helmets,nice bikes but wouldnt own one myself now because of this stigma,
anyway so these guys DID ride across khazastan and siberia making it nearly the whole way across the gap to the east coast of russia on there little 350cc bikes until they totally ran out of roads and had no choice but put the bikes on the siberian express,in fact both films are to me most interesting when there in eastern europe as the people often had nothing (remember this was just after the soviet collapse) yet there kindness and happyness shines in the film,the bit where a wheel bearing collapses in the middle of siberia is priceless as is the ever changing haircuts!,they also capture on film the beauty of eastern european woman too...
theres a website where you can read about the trip and purchase the films,
even if you dont own a motorcycle but like travelling you will marvel at the guys mental attitudes,moral and comradeship within them all during the trip,,heres a youtube trailer for mondo enduro...



and heres a trailer for terra circa...



and i found a load of films of a mondo enduro slideshow and talk which is pretty funny,this is the first one...

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made in scotland...

its not just `irn bru` that was invented in scotland!!,rewind nearly 200 years and the start of some world changing inventions began in scotland.., some of which are still in use today..
i watched an amazing programme on BBC2 tonight on what shaped scotlands history,most interesting tv prog on for a long time..,
most original designs of metal ships,bridges canals and alot more were invented by scottish engineers,the programme moved through 150 years of inventions from robert watts steam engine that really started the industrial revolution and brought the railways and the amazing bell rock lighthouse built by allen stevenson which is only 11 miles offshore from my local harbour at north berwick...

an amazing feat as the rock was covered twice daily by the tide and this was out in the north sea,it has stood for 200 years of north sea storms and still continues to function and protect shipping today,
with the invention of steam came the steam hammer which enabled huge iorn castings to be made,best of all showed off by the construction of the forth rail bridge...

also featured is the work of thomas telford, famed for his vast viaducts that carried railways and canals across vallys,suspension bridges and the construction of the calidonian canal which allowed passage between west and east coasts of scotland for trade shipping and fishing boats,also the locks which enabled the canals to ascend and descend between lochs,unreal to think it was all built by pick and shovel,horse and carts and wheelbarrows...

john macadam of course takes the credit for his standardisation of road building,18feet wide,raised in the centre for drainage,these were the first proper roads built since roman road construction 800 years earlier and later tar would would be added on top of his design,just in time for a human propelled machine invented in the south of scotland which the victorians would go on to embrace,
thomas telford also opened up the highlands to the early motorists and the hugly popular bicycle with over 900 miles of road building,many of the same routes and passes are still in use to day..,built over by our present roads,
patrick macmillan was eventually credited with the invention of the human propelled bicycle but it was john dunlops pneumatic tyre which really got things rolling,

from penicillin to the telephone,television and much more that made scotland what it is i think that maybe were going full circle with scotland now leading in wave power research and development and we have embraced wind power technology...

and from the first bicycles which have become recognised as one of the most efficient and important inventions in the world, to now and scotland is now recognised as the number one mountainbiking destination in europe..,see if you can recognise the rider at glentress about 5 seconds in on this visit scotland film you need to be quick as only about 3 seconds of fame!...heres a still from the day they were there filming...

Mountain Bike Scotland @ Yahoo! Video

heres a good film on scots designs...



and a really nice film...

cool tune

i was on itunes the other night,(an increasing habit!!) downloading tunes and i was looking for a band called `the brian johnstone massacre` and a song called `you`ve been disconnected`,like alot of new stuff i download on itunes i find it from watching some of the excellent mountainbike films of the last few years,probably the best have to be the collective`s 3 films and the earthed series although they mainly focus on the world cup downhill series there some great footage between the races of the riders just out riding and enjoying themselves,on earthed 4 the above mentioned track was used for a sequence filmed up on the isle of skye here in scotland,it is probably one of my favourite clips of all the 5 earthed films to date as its at a place ive been several times (walked not biked), the `old man of storr` a pinnicle of rock below momentous cliffs often shrouded in cloud and rain which adds to the amphitheatre of the place,
now the good bit...,somehow someone has managed to upload the scene onto good old youtube so sit back and enjoy a great song,some of scotlands finest scenery,and talented riders...enjoy...

winter nights arrived

with the clocks gone back an hour satuardy night the early dark nights are once again here, yipee!,i dont mind as i get out for a nightride earlier around 5-6pm,

back to blinky lights on for riding to work too for a month or so as it of course is lighter an hour later,lights are on the pugsley and karate monkey now ...
im looking forward to cold clear sky days out along the beach on the pugsley...

then home at sunset..,

for a hot bath then feet up in front of a roaring fire...

and a few tins of cider...,i dont want for much in life...

pugsley specs

blog follower SJfsr had asked if i had listed the build of my pugsley and i dont think i have so here it is with links to some of the key parts,the spec is still the same as when built a year ago with the extras added as time went on...

18" medium surly pugsley frameset,
rear wheel; surly large marge offset rim,stainless spokes laced to a hope pro2 rear hub,shimano SLX 9speed cassette 11-34t,
front wheel;surly large marge offset rim stainless spokes laced to rear hope singlespeed hub,20 tooth SS cog,
tyres; surly endomorph 4" tyres,regular 2.7 downhill tubes,
crankset; phil wood stainless square taper 100mm BB,middleburn 170mm crankarms, 22,32t chainrings,blackspire bashring,
frontmech; shimano XTR e-type (BB mounted)
rearmech; shimano XT shadow
shifters; shimano XT
drivechain; shimano dura ace (xtr)9 spd
brakes; avid BB7 mechanical,160mm rotors,sinterd pads,rear caliper mount for the front offset fork and its rear hub,
FSA sealed headset (bearings are same as hope headsets)
USE suspension seatpost
brooks B17 saddle (also have SDG bell air with ti rails)
hope 90mm lenght stem,10 degree rise with hope H.I.D mounting bracket
azonic worldforce 50mm riser handlebars
ergon grips
DMR V12 pedals

extras added,epic designs framebag and gas tank bag-main bag lower compartment has tools,pump,2 tubes,
revolution rear mtb racks front and rear,fitted for future camping trips but left on full time as mudgaurds,hope H.I.D stem light,

before riding on the beach the bike was prepped for the exposure it would be getting to sand and salt water...
the bike has full lenght outer control cables,inner cables and anything threaded or moveable (seatpost/QR skewers etc) was copper greased,frame was coated inside with castrol motorcycle chainwax,the chain is lubed with squirt dry lube which dosnt attract sand or dirt but is also quite waterproof for a drylube,

only the crankset was completely replaced at 500 miles after the truvantiv BB was shot,the chain was replaced after 6 months (800 miles) along with the original avid brake pads with sinterd pads and thats been it, in 1400 miles of sand ,mud,salt water,
the bike has been cheaper to run than when i visited glentress trailcentre on a weekly basis with full suspension bikes-yes i know totally different kind of riding(and enjoyment) but pugsley has proved all the sceptics wrong who said before i got it that;
you cant ride on sand...
bike parts will last no time...
it will be hard work cause of its weight...
impossible to ride far with the weight..
cant ride far on tarmac with those tyres...
it will be crap fun with no suspension...
wont be as much fun as a full suss bike...
why would you bother?, well thats just not worth bothering answering!!!!!!!!,the same unimaginative folk will still be doing the same cycling route every satuarday at glentress probably in 2 years time still if i want to catch up with them,let them be the mould on the bread i say...
mention the pugsley,riding on sand,filling it full of water etc.. on a UK site like singletrack forum and you get no response?,nothing..,no "oh thats a great idea", only doubters who say all the above..,hence why i dont go `those sites`
everything you want to know or find out about fatbikes as there collective term is you can find here on the fatbike forum

the future..
still got the 8 speed alfine hub gear to fit then keep on cruising...

winter progect

tied up in my garage loft is a 1987 ish Peugeot triathlon bike that my big brother bought new and raced when at uni,

its a nice old bike,reynolds 501 tubing 700cc wheels and as was often done then the forks are chromed...

hes left it to me now and i fancy doing something with it over the winter to use the odd day as a high speed commuter,
ive already decided im not going to repaint it or cut any lugs of the frame,probably spend around £100 on it to keep it cheap,parts i will keep will be the nice sugino cranks...

and also the nice short stem...

so im thinking a pair of continental contact reflex 32 x 700 for a bit comfort and gravely backroads i often use,quil pedals with toe straps,singlespeed fixed,ive never owned a singlespeed since a bmx teenager but like the clean lines,
lastly a pair of on-one midge bars, think ive went over the £100 budget...

still rolling...

my hips still black and blue and real sore esp when i get up in the morning but im still cycling to work,dosnt seem sore sitting spinning,work was sore today sitting in a tractor it felt like constantly being thumped in the kidney but hey-ho could of been worse,talking of cycling to work i got the free winter catalogue through the door from edinburgh bicycle cooperative and it has a few writings in it about riding to work in winter,alot of the reading is all true-it aint as bad as you think cycling in to work in dark,wet,cold winter mornings,all a matter of being prepared for it,in clothing and bike,i actully love it,i prefer it to arriving soaked in sweat om a muggy august morning anyday,no flies or bugs either,also the sunrises are often better too,this now there up about 7.30-7.45am depending if a cloudline on the horizon,a common occurrence here but the perfect time for a sunrise pic or two,this morning i beat the sunrise...

but got some pics of my old tree and its usual gang of sqauky crows hanging out...


cycling to work really is one of the most healthy things you can do,more mentally than physically.you arrive at work with a buzz because you`ve exercised and opened your senses to your surroundings,the smells,scenery and adrenaline of exercise set you up for the day,alot of days at work im thinking all day just about the ride home,although only 3.2 miles its a big part of my day,work gets left behind as you peddle for home,even if its torrential rain,or blowing a gale..,bad weather dosnt bother me at all,i love to embrace all the seasons for what they offer,ive worked outdoors all my working life,now 22 years so although i dont want to do the same type of job forever it will always be outdoors related,and hopefully i can always commute by bicycle..,some birds arnt meant to be caged...

Autumn Stroll...

Sunday and i went another walk up around another old estate, I'm a bit early for getting the trees at there best autumn colour but that's good cause i would rather see them when cycling which i hope to be doing again (off road) by next weekend/
There is some lovely old trees on this estate near the old village of Gifford .these are the same woods where i made the Goblin Castle film...



I hope to cycle to it soon now the leaves are dropping and the view of it will be better.
Its a cracking trail into it and pugsley territory though is a bit soft going/
There is some nice colour in the trees here already...



There are a lot of mature trees here,including redwoods...

also Beech and  Oaks that date back 300 years.
These were once used for Royal Navy sailing ships. I  find trees fascinating. You look at 300 year old painting and the trees in them are still growing today, they see a lot of change...

There is a burn that runs down through the woods which meanders under a track with lovely old stone bridges...


I went to the old 15th century church...
,



The church is probably unique in having a dogs cemetery...


Down stream a bit i came across this big tree over the water about 6 feet up...


I thought about it making a cool bit to film riding over on the pugsley then thought better not try!,
it was bad enough walking over it as it started bouncing halfway across...

I did find some nice bits of trails in the woods here made by local dog walkers. Iwill come up in a couple of weeks time and do a bit filming. In the meantime here's some film for you too watch...

autumn stroll

i went a walk late afternoon around the ponds of the estate where i grew up,this place has changed alot since i grew up and my parents moved,we had a house on the main farm of the estate which we got with my dads job as county ranger,you hardly met anyone here when we grew up except people who lived on the estate and permit holders-yep you paid a small fee to the estate for the `privilege` of being allowed to walk around the 3000 acre grounds-that sounds like living in england now!,thankfully i had around the ponds to myself today and took some autumn pics,maybe a week or two early...
















this is the curling house where the curling stones were kept,up until the 1960`s when winters were alot colder curling was a comman winter pastime with alot of local curling clubs and winter leagues, i only remmember 1 winter when there was curling on the ponds,

this is the boat house...


and this was the ice house...



i once saw inside this-a drop of around 50-60feet with a ladder descending down,
in victorian times when winters were alot colder blocks of ice would be cut from the frozen ponds and put down there then meat would be lowerd down and preserved,in the bit film i made you can here the echo when i thump the door from the drop inside...
leaving the ponds over the white gate bridge with its waterfall theres a tunnel nearby hidden from view..,

which is an overflow from the ponds...

the nearby Mausoleum is the burial place of only one earl when it was built for several,

the statues above the gates are prettty cool...

i have seen inside it when it was broken into by theives expecting to find silver goods buried with the coffin,i was at the time at the local gamekeepers who went along to close the door,i will never forget what i saw..,steps descended inside to a stone coffin in the middle,the surrounding walls had encloves for coffins,the gamekeeper pushed the top back onto the coffin while we stood at the top of the stairs too scared to walk down!!!,it was like something out `return of the living dead!!`
the place used to be coverd with ivy and was cleared a few years ago,shame as it was well spooky before then,i dont scare easy in places like this having growen up around them but have taken friends here at night under a moonlight sky and when you thump the door of the tomb and they here the echo there quite happy to leave!!!,
nearby is a giant redwood,these were planted back in victorian times...

the holes are made from the native bird here the tree creeper...

its a shame to see the old greenhouses (knowen as glasshouses when made) fallen into disrepair...


in victorian times these glasshouses would have been the hub of future trees and plants that are now found around the estate...,its a shame to see them in this state now...,nothing lasts forever..,here a short film of todays walk...