Sunday cruising on the Moonlander at John Muir Park...

Sunday i headed to John Muir Park near Dunbar on the Surly Moonlander. Was an overcast day, quite cool in the onshore easterly breeze but what the heck!, it`s Sunday and the weekend!, time to get out and ride!...
The sign says to keep to the path with bridges across the salt marsh here to avoiding unnecessary erosion,
Do these horses really need to ride across the salt marsh? :(

No erosion problems with the fatbikes-we leave less of a foot print than humans walking :)

Met Davie who was going for a surf... his Pugsley transporting his board, real cool!,

Davie did not think he would get up on the board for long today but like myself was just happy to get out on the coast early in the morning when it was still quite...

Duck Island;
There is a lot of talk about coastal erosion in the UK-be it climate change, global warming, or the coming zombie apocalypse- ok i made that last bit up...:)
But a good indication of coastal generation from drifting sand is here at John Muir Park at Dunbar in East Lothian.

Here is John Muir Park from the air on Google Earth...

This sandy spit we see here today some know as "Duck Island" not sure where that name comes from, but my late father called it this when he was the Ranger and so then have i...
It has only evolved with drifting sands and stabilising by Marram grass in the last hundred or so years...

The view from the present car park was quite different over 150 years ago...

A good example of the dunes here growing is this WW2 machine gun pill box which would once have had a 360 degree view from it`s position...

It`s nearly disappeared beneath the encroaching sands...

Here is some film riding here today, light was poor with the overcast sky,
Song is `Everloving` by Moby
click on the cog icon to view in HD




Last weekend i enjoyed 2 mornings riding the Surly Moonlander which i had intentionally bought for cycling places where even a regular 4" fatbike can sometimes find the going a little bit of a slog.
As always this bike brings a smile to my face every time i ride it in these conditions...

And if Tonka made motorcycles...

It would deft be one of these!

Check out this Russian Tarus 2 wheel drive  motorcycle!,
weighs 110 lbs, so light enough to lift with one hand,
it also floats, and can be dismantled and bagged... what an amazing piece of kit!

Watch this...



Prob cannot be made road legal here in the UK but at 725 Euro once it is in production it could be a cool wee toy for around the Golf Course at my work! :)

Review here; http://www.insella.it/news/tarus-2x2-moto-russa-smontabile-trazione-integrale-video


This motorbike instantly reminds me of another amazing Russian offroader i blogged about: The Vityaz ATV
with a steel fatbike and a Tarus 2x2 motorbike on the back were ready for the Zombie Apocalypse...




But don`t forget about the "Ze War"  when it comes to Zombies...

If Tonka made bicycles...Surly Moonlander update;

They would prob be FAT... :)

The dunes at Ravensheugh beside Peffersands at Tyninghame have grown considerably since i have been riding here on fatbikes in the last 6 years, the last 2 years in particular has seen blown sand forming new dunes north wards towards the Peffer burn and the Marram Grass growing through stabilising it...

And there are a lot more tracks through the dunes to cycle on a fatbike. And your leaving less of a foot print than humans walking here!. I spent over an hour here riding in an area of less than a mile square!...

The big Surly Moonlander comes into it`s own here, with it`s huge 100mm rims and 5" Big Fat Larry (BFL`s) tyres set at 6psi front 6 1/2 psi rear (and they can go lower) it is a perfect sand surfer.
The lower gearing i fitted the other evening is better suited to this bike for on the coast.
The bike came with a 12-34 tooth 9 speed rear  cassette and 22/36tooth front rings.
Now it has a 12-36t rear and 20/33t front, and it is way better!
The 33t big ring up front allows a better drive chain alignment as not needing to go to low at the back while riding on the flat stuff, while the 20t smaller chain ring aka `the granny ring` allows crazy low gears to spin over real soft stuff through the dunes...

The Surly Moonlander is still for myself the best dune bike, proper chain alignment and all 135mm hub options are possible...

Made a wee film using the cheap Canon compact on a gorilla pod, and the Go Pro Hero 2 on a mono pod.

Song is `I`ll Hit You Back` by Janes Addiction
click on the cog icon to view in HD

The Kelpies-Monuments to equine history

You cannot miss them if driving up the M9 Motorway to Stirling, two huge 30m  high structures that have been created at the canal gateway by artist Andy Scott

The Kelpies from The Helix on Vimeo.

More info Here...

And the Facebook page

Surly Moonlander update; MWOD drive chain replacement...

My Surly Moonlander is over 2 years old now and on its 4th chain and second cassette to the Surly MWOD

 crank set. The stock bike came with the 3622 t ring set. I have wanted to swap these out to the lower geared 33/20t for a while to get lower gearing but there was no point doing this until the original chain rings were shot. Although the fourth chain is not worn out yet the front big ring is missing a few teeth!.
Time to get the job done..

Replacement rings were cheapest and in stock at Triton Cycles so ordered up. I ordered the usual 9 speed stuff i have on all my fatbikes; a 36t Shimano Deore HG61  cassette and Sram nickle plated 991 chain from CRC, still having 9 speed means cheaper components these days with the 10 and 11 speed stuff that's coming,...
Instructions come for the MWOD rings along with outer bolts and spacers...

The whole thing looks quite complicated but is not to hard to do/ I removed the complete ring and bash set from the crank arm and sat these bolts in the new ring-easy enough as 2 hole sizes...

Then removed the inner...

Leaving the bash ring and outer ring...

I split these..

With the outer ring on the bench it was easy to swap over the bolts and spacers...

All threads got the usual treatment of some copper grease- a cut down brush can be kept in the tin that makes this wee job easy...

Outer ring attached to the bash ring...

Then i added the inner ring bolts and spacers...

And then attached the inner ring itself and tightened it...

Lastly the whole ring set to bolt to the crank...

Clean up the crank shaft and then stick the cranks back on...

Off with the old cassette...

Steel Cassette to alloy free hub removal;
If your running a steel to alloy cassette/free hub on a Hope Pro 2 the whole lot will prob pull off when you try to remove it!, not a problem, just sit the drive end spacer on the bench and head to your vice...
With an alloy Hope Pro 2 free hub you often have to tap off the free hub, this will never come off if beach riding and you never copper greased the free hub body!, i found this out 5 years a go and since greasing i use this method every time. Sit the free hub body on the vice with the vice no gripping it. A bit rag or tissue underneath to catch the free hub pawls if they come off...

Gently tap the free hub down until level with the cassette, it should drop down now, if not a gentle tap with a drift or socket that will not damage the bearing seal inside will do it...

You can see the alloy damaged by the steel cassette, nothing to worry about though...

A spot of grease on the pawls   then reline the seal and pop back on the cassette-check the spacer washer is on the axle first!...

add the end cap then re grease with copper grease the alloy interface where the cassette contacts...

And do the same to the new cassette..

All done...

New chain on next...

Easy enough to get correct lenght, smallest cogs each end then a small amount of tension on the rear mech-that`s your correct chain lenght...

An old spoke makes a handy third hand while you shorten the chain and fit the Sram Quick link, or rivet link if a shimano chain...

And nearly all done...

Just the chain to degrease before using a dry lube for beach riding...

I have found Squirt lube best for beach riding, seems to be better on Sram nickle plated 991 chains too instead of Shimano XTR- dunno why! it just does!...

Off with the old...

And on with the new (and lower geared) set for summer...

2014 Surly Pugsley! ; still `Fit for Purpose`

I am glad to see the good old Surly Pugsley available for 2014 on the Surly Bikes website...

With the launch of the new inline Surly Ice Cream Truck (ICT) many folk who are Pugsley fans like myself wondered if the old Pugsley will change to an in line fatbike too. But looks like the old stager is around for another year at least!,

Versatility;
It is still a great bike to ride anywhere and is so versatile with all options available;
135mm rear hub set up allows a regular 8,9,10 speed hub and derailleur, single speed, or Internal hub gear (IGH),
rack mounts,
The 29+ compatible wheel opened a bigger door to the bikes versatility, and also regular 29er tyres can be used on these rims...

Fat loving...
The Pugsley has a huge following of fans, just have a look at `The Amazing Surly Pugsley` page on Facebook.
The original production fatbike still ticks the boxes for many owners, many have no interest to change for anything newer, well except maybe another new Pugsley!.
Things like the lighter Marge Lite rims and  Nate tyre have been a welcome addition adding to the concept. The frame once it had the top tube dropped has largely remained unchanged...

`Fit for Purpose`
If i was to try and explain my love of this bike it would be that it is `Fit for Purpose`
To some it is a bike they cherish and polish and take care of, to others like myself it is a `tool for the job` to be used and get dirty, inevitably chipped,  covered in coastal salt water and sand, and to enjoy cycling up to 40 miles in a day...
But it is`Fit for Purpose`, it does what is written on the tin and does not need to be replaced by anything until it is worn out...

Here are some things that are fit for purpose for example;

Spear and Jackson hand tools;
UK made with Sheffield steel and with replaceable Ash wood handles...
The No2 Shovel (RHS) is a classic in my trade and these last for years, these shovels, along with Spear and Jackson Spades, Turf Edging Tools and Turf lifting irons are 15+ years old now...
I bet the shovel i used over 18 years ago when i worked in my previous job at Gullane is still in use by someone today...
Their design has not changed for years. They work, and can be repaired with new handles if needed and if you do a lot of manual work then you will know that a good Shovel or Spade makes a big difference...  `Fit for Purpose`..

Record vices;
If your a shed geek then these are a must, i have two in the man cave; a smaller No100,  and No5 (pictured), and a rusty No 3 being used as a door stop outside that i need to soak in Diesel to loosen the threads and clean up...
Again quality made and lasts for years, does what it needs to do fine so not much need to change it;
again something that is `Fit for Purpose`...

Snap On Tools;
I have a few and like the ratchet in the picture it is well made, lovely to use, can be serviced and internal parts replaced and will last for years, no need to change it, as they are tools that are `Fit for Purpose`

Glenfiddich 12 year old Malt Whisky;
Their signature malt and the pioneer of the single malt Scotch whisky category...

Westons 8.2% Traditional Cider;
Aged in 200 year old Oak Barrels. Westons cider has been produced for over 130 years. It hits the spot...

Ok you get the drift... enough said...

Some things do not need to change if they work fine...

Long live the Pugsley! ;
If the Pugsley was to be dropped after 2015 then i would just buy another frame set and stick it under the bed for when the time comes to use it.
My Pugsleys are 7 and 8 years old and still fine....

How long will steel Pugsley frame sets last? ;
Good question!, Raleigh posted their bikes were built to last a hundred years, and many indeed have...

A Pugsley  ridden on the beach may last at least a quarter of this if prepped right, if so then i have another 16 years fun with my two!... lets see...

They still do whats written on the tin, they are still `Fit for Purpose`

The 29+ wheels `KramPug` concept is as i said a great no brainer- two bikes in one...

The Salsa Woodchipper bars/levers, bar end, set up can be lifted off the Karate Monkey 29er, complete with control cables and fitted to the KramPug if i want to-opening up another Pugsley set up!...

New fatbike designs and developments are great. Things move on and newer designs and can be lighter and stronger...
But i also hope things that work fine as they are like the old Pugsley stay the same as they still do the job required for some of us and they continue to remain largely unchanged and available as an option :)

I posted a link to this blog post on the MTBR Surly page,just to see what other folks thing about the old Pugs. it is an ongoing thread, click for the reading Here; Surly Pugsley; still fit for Purpose

Update 2015;
I have since sold the Purple Pugsley and bought another Pugsley with an 8 speed Alfine hub, and also sold a Karate Monkey frame set and bought another used Pugsley frame set and built a 2nd 29+ KramPug  which also has 4" fat wheels... 3 bikes and 6 wheel sets!

Landrover Green Pugsley; replacing a ridged 29er bike;

This is replacing my ridged Karate Monkey 29er which i bought as a used but un built frameset but only rode it twice since building it up, I like it and it rides lovely,
But i feel this now i don`t really need a 29er having had a taste of riding 29+ with my Surly  #KramPug#  and the roll and comfort of those 3" tyres on the 50mm Surly Rabbit Hole 50mm wide rims, i class that as Fat-Lite, running around 12-15 psi... this has been the ride that has re sparked my cycling away from the coast...

So what about my other Surly KramPug 29+?
It is still as it is, kinda my answer to a Surly ECR, and for long XC days out, maybe even some bike packing weekends this year!...
The Pumpkin Pugsley is my good Pugsley, all the best parts,  it will not see too much salt water exposure, but can if needed share the wheels of the Green Pugsley, so all 3 Pugsleys can go 4" fat on the coast.

DIY Rivinut cage mounts on offset forks...

And down tube Crud Catcher mounts and bottle cage ...

Spare wheels...

The old original Pugsley;
Original Grey Pugsley (black for now)  is the run around Pug,  rear rack and Alfine 8 speed internal gear hub, my partner Francis rides this bike when were out and i use it too scoot about, often commute with detour offroad rides after work, panniers on the rear rack and it goes to the shops etc...

Enjoying the Pugsleys as much now as when i bought the first 7 years ago...

More soon...