I verbally placed an order for a new Surly Wednesday Fatbike and sold the big Surly Moonlander to help fund one. Well the bubble burst last week and a big car bill for much needed work for the annual MOT has seen to the end of that purchase, but to be truefull i am in some ways glad as it has unloaded a huge burden to find the money for yet another new bike. So while sad to have sold the Moonlander it has been a good idea now as nothing worse than worrying about lack of spare money as many folks know these days...
Need to keep up with the Jones?...
After today's ride on the old Pugsley which has two wheel sets i was asking myself why i really need another beach bike to ride the 40 odd miles of local coast and other beaches further afield?. Why do i have to skin myself to keep up with the Jones?, It`s why i like Fatbikes as they stay away from that mainstream marketing, hence why many folk ride their original fatbikes with no feel of needing to `upgrade`...
If i can find the money to buy a used one cheaper later on then that would be great, but for the foreseeable future it won`t be happening. Anyhow i cannot fault the Pugsley as a coast bike and with it`s value of 6-700 quid that`s enough to to be of no concern when riding through salt water on the coast :)
Burn out from spending on bikes?...
With so little spare cash these days i think i am!, No pay rises for 6 years now and the cost of living is not getting any cheaper it is getting harder and harder to justify/feel the same love on being skint to own more bicycles.
Having spent every single spare penny and living like a student to build the last two bikes over the last 3 months no wonder i am single again! lol...
Back to old faithfull...
After Saturdays ace high tide trails with mates i swapped the Puglseys wheels to the 29+ wheels for a repeat ride on Sunday of the same route in part from Gullane to Yellowcraig with trails from home there and back...
Takes a couple of minutes to transform the 4" tyre Pugsley to a 29+ `KramPug`...
Rear brake calliper needs moved out the way on 1st Generation Pugsleys...
Then rear wheel out and unbolt the Surly New Ultra front hub and remove...
Install front 29+ wheel...
The rear...
Remount the rear calliper...
And vola! 29+ Pugsley - aka `KramPug`!
Also swap the spare fat tube for a 29er tube...
Off and along the roadside beside the East Coast Line...
Then down a dead end tarmac road towards the former RAF Drem airfield...
View inside a long forgotten old road with Beech hedgerow-now trees with no maintenance...
Autumn gold along `Drem Ride`...
View from the old Railway line to Gullane past Saltcoats castle...
Down to the coast on sandy trails and attacked by these seed pods ...
With a very high tide it was a bit of a struggle along Freshwater Haven on 29+ tyres but possible...
So i took to the sandy singletrack through the dunes...
From Marine Villa it was trails above the coast to yellowcraig where i caught up with Ali on my old Purple Pugsley who i had been following in his tyre tracks wondering who was in front. Nice to see you Ali and thanks for the chocolate! :)
Home via some of the JMW trail and field boundaries to Balgone estate...not much else to report on the ride except it was nice to ride solo and listen to music on the ipod...
Was listening to this album by New Order, Movement from way back in 1981....
More soon...
Yet another grand Autumn day out bro!
ReplyDeleteI've been feeling the urge for a new bike, but facing the same issue with $$ vs. using existing bikes. I can't honestly say I need a new bike as I have a 7yr old 26er FS MTB that's rocking as well today as it ever did, but I want to try a new 29er FS bike for something different.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I keep thinking about is I'd rather have that $$ in the bank as an investment earning me interest and being there if I need it for something really important vs. adding another bike to the fleet.
That doesn't make looking at new bikes online any less tempting.
Great warm weather for time of year but need more sunshine again big bro!
ReplyDeleteHi Vik, yeah know what you mean!. Saving for a rainy day is what we all should be doing, It also allows you to up and go away for a weekend etc..
ReplyDeleteAlso if you have money saved in the bank then you get the option to purchase a used bike that someone is selling cheap and so they take the depreciation hit, as they are chasing the carrot of the latest next new bike out there!,