Wednesday 28 June 2017

Surly Blog....19 years rolling on Steel... `Thanks`...




Recent Surly Blog post i got a mention,  along side RUN DMC,  Sabbeth, and Neil Young...

Feel very honoured! :)

Thanks,Blog,Surly Bikes

Thanks straight back to the guys at Surly for making bikes that set me cycling on a new terrain not travelled (easily) before...

`Build it and they will come...`
I always said ` Imagine one day the guys from Surly came here to Scotland to check out the scene here`... and they did, and have 3 times now, hope to see them again...

Film from FORTH FAT 2013, that Saturday night in The Ship Inn will go down in Forth Fat history for the laughs and fun time, and we only got half way up the Scottish east coast on the Whisky tour...
`To be continued`...







More soon...

Tuesday 20 June 2017

Dawes Ulta Galaxy 853 Update; making more out of an ace bike- Pt 1 of 3...



I really like the Dawes Ultra Galaxy to ride. It`s a classic bike in it`s own right and there is already plenty of reviews, and stories written of big bike adventures across far flung continents on the Famous Galaxy tourer.  My Galaxy has only been rode around East Lothian and as a commuter it`s a bit over the top but it is a superb ride and a joy to ride on country roads.


Made from 1971 this English tourer has a big following with it`s `magic carpet` ride people talk of. and i get people come up to me when i`m out and stopped and compliment riding a Dawes.

As well as tourers on the road they are capable off road where the tarmac ends and the forgiving steel chassis with tall  bar height makes for a decent `Roughstuff` and gravel bike. Wide WTB rims and stronger 36 spoke wheel build make for a bike that can take on rough roads.

I have been looking at getting more use out of the bike, only owning 4 bikes now that i ride i want to make them as versatile as possible. I want to make it better for cycling off road to work on the John Muir Way, along with the many easy gravel roads and tracks and Old Railway line paths and gravel tracks in the local Lammermuir hills. 
At this years Capital Trail i rode along side Stuart for a bit who was riding a Surly Straggler and he told of also owning a Galaxy that he rides off road and it got me thinking that i don`t need to buy `another` frame set to get a drop bar gravel/adventure bike ideally with disc brakes, i just need to add a disc spec fork, swap the front hub out and i have an ideal bike for the job...

Pt 1; stripping extra parts and adding bigger tyres...

A search on line found what i was looking for, a pair of 41mm wide Surly Knard tyres,  the cheaper 60 tpi versions at £20 each and though heavier than 120tpi option half the price and helped cover the cost of phase 2 - finding a disc fork, 36 spoke disc hub and a brake calliper.
Some frame bags not used at present would be ideal for camera and such and time to get the spanners out.

So with the rear rack, mudguards and saddle bag removed tools were fitted to the bike via a smaller saddle bag and pump on down tube and Brooks saddle cover rolled up under the saddle....




Mounted up and miles of tyre clearance!...



What a difference a strip down and fat tyres makes!, looks good!...


Home from work and a quick ride, a 6 mile loop from home that is mostly off road...


The evening before the summer solstice and it was stunning...


The bike rolls ok on tarmac with the 41mm wide Surly Knard tyres and the comfort off road is good...






Where it fits into my bike collection...
Plenty of off road easy stuff around here ideal for this type of bike.  I have of course owned several drop bar bikes and played around with other bars on 29er and 700c bikes and although i came to to the decision i like a 29+ wheeled bike with Jones loop bars which you can read about Here...

So for most riding my 29+ old Pugsley is favourite esp near the coast with the odd sandy trail, but i inherited this Galaxy and i love the way it eats up country road miles.
This bike is a bike to keep for years and use for loads of riding,  and i really like riding it and i`m looking forward to more rides  where it`s nice to ride a bike where 40 -60 miles off road and on country roads in a day is easier than a MTB...

Pt2;  sourcing the parts;
I have a Dawes disc fork i have sourced and a Shimano disc front hub on the way so will soon get a disc brake up front to take care of stopping...

Here is a wee bit film from this evenings ride,
Song is `Sarah Dreams Of Summer` by Working For A Nuclear Free City...

Dawes 853 Ultra Galaxy; Gravel roads and local trails from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...

Sunday 18 June 2017

Saturday +ride with Sanny...

 All pics this page by Sanny...


I got a phone call late Friday from Sanny who was through in Edinburgh with Helen for the day and would be free for a bike ride so riding my Surly KramPug 29+ i rolled along on the Surly Wednesday with the 27.5+ wheels to ride a route to Archerfield Walled Garden for lunch with some detours along the way to make for a decent 25ish mile off road route.
The weather was roasting!, clear blue sky and temps hitting 20C, and i enjoyed the coolness riding through the woodland trails.
Sanny has not rode here in June and was amazed at the greeness of the countryside this now.
Mad to think that in under 8 weeks some of it will be golden brown as the Harvest starts!.
Any took loads of pics as usual and i shot some hemet cam footage with the Go Pro,
Here are some of the days pics with notes where needed....



Mr Blue Sky...







Fenton Tower...





The Lodge, North Berwick...


JMW to Yellowcraig...


Archerfield...





Met Jason at The Walled Garden, and we all had a go of a half size Penny Farthing!...



Quality produce for sale in the Deli...


And a lovely lunch...





Back through Yellowcraig Links....




And back into NB which was packed with day visitors.  Home on the JMW and a real hot day but great with he company, scenery and clean bikes that did not need washed!...

Here is some film i shot, with some of Sanny`s pics added,
Song is `Classic Girl` by Janes Addiction...


Saturday  +bike ride... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...

Wednesday 14 June 2017

Cool film on Vimeo; Winds From Morocco...

Cool Drone film of Moroccan landscape...


Winds From Morocco from Bernardo Bacalhau on Vimeo.

More soon...

Sunday 11 June 2017

Early bird catches the worm... and the low tide...


9am was a 1 meter tide so ideal for some rock crawling across the Carr rocks on the Surly Wednesday Fatbike. It was good to be back on the coast again cycling after a 2 week break!...
The rocks here at low tide have zillions of lines through them and depending on the seaweed and if greasy or not then there is always a new line to find as you thread the rocks together around the large rock pools that slowly drain after the retreating tide...








The Surly Wednesday is in my book the near perfect rock crawling bike with it`s modern Fatbike geometry and 177mmm rear hub being not to wide for threading through rocks standing up without your heels hitting the chain stays.  through axles increase stiffness and a threaded Bottom Bracket just makes sense for a bike exposed to the hostile environment below the high tide line.
Real wide handlebars also help lever the bike for step ups, and a 1 x drive system with a clutch rear mech makes for a perfect range of gears for on the coast.

Steel bikes suffer surface rust over time but i like toughness of steel for the occasional offs which can see the bike take a knock on the rocks.

5" tyres are ideal but i like the nimbleness of the Wednesday on 4" tyres on tight woodland trails,  and  being able to take the half way size 4.6" tyres which i plan to fit once the present tyres wear out will make for a perfect compromise in grip, float and trail handling.
Ghetto split tube tubeless also give the rims an extra bit protection from `rim strikes` from sharp rocks not to mention eliminating pinch flats.

Nearly 10 years of riding on the coast and i have found what is 99% ideal for the rocks.
Lauf Fork would make the bike even better but there pricy, and for now i will be soon settling for a used Rock Shok Bluto from a friend. It will increase the bikes potential of where you can go on a bike, which is what riding Fatbikes is all about!...




Did not do as much filming as planned but here is a couple of minutes on the rocks,
Song is `Constants are Changing` by Boards of Canada...


Surly Wednesday; Rock crawling. June 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...