FORTH FAT 2019 Dates

The annual FORTH FAT Fatbike Gathering this year will be on the weekend of 20/21st April 2019
Here are the details  you need to know;

Friday evening;
Anyone arriving on Friday there is usually a meet up on Friday evening at Steampunk Cafe where usually there is the Big Blue Pizza van, usually there is a collection of folks there, or later at the Tantallon Campsite

Saturday;
Meet at the Celtic Cross near the harbour and be ready to ride at 9.30am sharp for the usual ride west to Gullane via the John Muir Way trail then after regrouping up on Gullane hill ride down to the coast and out to the WW2 mini sub wrecks out in Aberlady Bay. Then the ride back along the coast towards North Berwick, regrouping several times as we go. We may diverse inland to Archerfield Walled Garden for snacks/drinks weather depending, then along to NB and regroup at the harbour.

Sunday;
Meet again at the Celtic cross to ride at 10am, as usual out east to Seacliff`s amazing wee harbour with amazing coastal views of Tantallon Castle and the Bass Rock. then time for some technical rock crawling as we ride east across the CAR Rocks exposed at the low tide.  Some dune riding at Peffersands, then through Tyninghame woods via the Secret Trail then through Binning woods and return to North Berwick Town on the John Muir Way Trail.

What you need/should have/and can do!;
Be self sufficient and capable of carrying out own bike repairs, carry own tools, be advised to top up tyre sealant for the Hawthorn hedges here, and/or carry spare tubes.
Both days rides are covered on OS Landranger sheet 66.
Riders should have a decent level of fitness and off road skills-coastal riding includes technical rock riding and sandy single track and possible strong headwinds.

Two campsites are in town, and  free camper parking along the east road-this can be busy at weekends, and loads of B&B`s.

Being April on the Scottish East Coast the weather can be unpredictable with baltic onshore easterlies so pack warm and waterproof clothing. Fingers crossed the sun gods will shine!

`We will see you on the beaches`

FORTH FAT 2018 Dates and info...

Dates for this years FORTH FAT 2018 is the weekend of 5th/6th of May 2018.
This is the only details that will be posted online for the weekend.

Anyone with a  +3"  `Fat lite`  or regular 4"/5" tyre Fatbike is welcome to come along to the Gathering which kicks off on Thursday evening when the first folk will start to arrive in the coastal town of North Berwick for the weekend.  There is three meeting times on three days for the weekend for two beach rides, and a Friday afternoon social ride;

Friday;
Meet at the Celtic Cross 2pm for a  beach ride/trails probably to the bar of the Walled Garden, Archerfield Estate...
After that we will ride along to SteamPunk Cafe for 5pm. where the Big Blu Van for Pizza should be set up, then probably a couple of pints at the Ship Inn afterwards...


Saturday;
Saturday at 9.30am ready to ride from the Celtic Cross at North Berwick harbour, usual ride west to the subs and then back along the coast line to North Berwick. We may diverse to Archerfield Walled Garden for snacks and optional beer - to be confirmed. Then a social hangout/beer outside and in at the Ship Inn in North Berwick town...


Sunday;
Sunday meet at the cross at 10am - for the usual Sunday ride east to Seacliff`s amazing wee harbour with more amazing views of Tantallon Castle then ride the Car Rocks along to Peffersands,  and some dune riding for those that want to partake, good viewing for all others!, we will then return from Tyninghame to North Berwick town via Whitekirk and the John Muir Way.


What you need/should have/and can do!
Anyone coming along for the whole weekend or just for either day has to be self sufficient and carry own tools and advised to prep their bikes with tubeless sealant and/or carry tubes, and bring/buy an OS map 66 if visiting the area for the first time and/or unsure of the routes. I can mark days route on OS maps when people arrive.  There is no GPS of this years routes.
Decent offroad bike skills and fitness are required for coastal cycling that includes technical rock riding and sandy single track and possible strong headwinds.

Two campsites are in North Berwick , the preferred is Tantallon Caravan and campsite where wigwams are available if your quick to book, phone if unable to book online, mention the Fatbike cycle Gathering as they will be aware of the weekend.

There is no arranged eating out this year due to unpaid bills last year. Good food is available around the Town, recommended and visited on Friday evening is The Big Blu Pizza van at Steampunk Cafe, and The Ship Inn on all evenings, also the usual gathering place for beverage!

Being May on the Scottish east coast it could still be cool with possible onshore easterly winds, so pack warm and waterproof clothing!,  Fingers crossed though for good weather!,

Will see you on the beaches...

Another Fatbike Gathering!, October 21st/22nd 2017

pic by Tony...


A long weekend holiday, and another Fatbike Gathering,
The plan was simple-ride the Forth Fat routes  Saturday and Sunday,
Friday afternoon and Tony and Kath arrived and we spent a couple of hours sitting out front the house in baking sunshine-in October!,
The unsettled forecast never happened and we would get 3 dry days with sunny spells and mild conditions...

Friday afternoon i cycled to town then west along the coast to meet Tony who had booked into there B&B,  we met up below Archerfield and returned to NB to meet Kath with their two Patterdales and we sat outside at the Ship Inn until dark,

Last light of the day...

Tony`s first visit to our coast and he was blown away with it`s beauty and the riding !...

No binge drinking this year and i rode home for an early night after a couple of pints...


Saturday;
Saturday i was down early and sat in the van and had breakfast then folks started to turn up,

The day would see around 20 riders of regular and new faces as some joined the ride late and some left early...

Heading out and west on the John Muir Way (JMW) to Gullane then up Gullane Hill for a regroup and banter...

Descending to the cliffs it was then along though the Reserve and out to the WW2 midget Sub wrecks...

First time visitors to these tiny ships crewed by 4 men are always in awe at there tiny size (51 feet long and 5 feet diameter inside),  and their story of how they were used to train submariners who volunteered for a mission that is a real David and Goliath story of how they were towed 1000 miles across the North Sea and managed to attack and disable the pride of the German Fleet - the mighty Tirpitz Battleship,
Read about the subs and `Operation Source` Here...

A pause of thought for the crews that were lost and a raise of a hip flask in their honour before riding east...

Tail wind and sunshine along Gullane sands...

A yacht washed in after breaking it`s moorings somewhere, biggest beach find yet!...

Rocks and sandy single track navigated we turned inland at Archerfield Estate and rode up to The Walled Garden for Tea/coffee/Beer and snacks, then returned to tackle the rocks of `Scorpion` and along to Yellowcraig racing an incoming Spring tide that would beat us at Point Gary and we rode up over the headland and onto the West Bay and Harbour, and regrouped at the slipway wall...

Again an early evening after food and a drink at The Ship Inn...

I never got that much footage leading most of the day but managed to put something together,
So from the Punk era (for Sheera) song is  `Feelin` alright with the crew` by 999


Fatbike Gathering; Saturday 21st Oct 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




Sunday;
Only 5 of us for Sunday`s ride out to Seacliff, so a tweaked route so we could visit other stuff being a regular size small group and would include a cafe break at Tyninghame, the `infamous five` headed east to soak up the views of Tantallon Castle perched on the cliff, then a look round the ruin of Seacliff  Castle and then a visit to the tiny harbour with amazing view out to Bass Rock...

From the harbour it was then along across the rocks to Peffersands, stopping for a chat with a couple out walking interested in our Fatbikes and could not resist having a go, and being amazed at the bikes abilities...

Quick surf on the dunes then along to the woods and the `Secret Trail` passing this impressive sand castle...

After great soup then cake at Tyninghame Cafe we rode to re join the JMW back to NB after a loop around Binning Woods, the Beech trees starting to turn gold...

More Tea/coffee and cake again in NB at The Seabird Centre before we parted as some had long drives home,
Again the weather turned up trumps, the sun lit up the coast with great light and i think everyone went away with great memories and some nice pics of an ace weekend...

Here is a wee film from Sunday`s ride, again leading but got more than the previous day,
Song is `I Wish` by Jane Weaver...


Fatbike Gathering; Sunday 22nd Oct 17 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


More soon...

Forth Fat 2017...

Another April and another FORTH FAT Gathering...
This years weekend saw a lot of the regulars not able to make it due to other events and commitments, though numbers were made up with new faces and it was great to meet other folk who travelled from near and afar to enjoy the coast, the banter and most i think left with a smile on their face :)
FORTH FAT this year was a longer than usual weekend as i had and are still on a weeks holiday and still riding daily with friends.

Thursday;
Thursday 4pm and it`s party time!, and folk had already began arriving, i cycled into town on the Pashley and bumped into Jeff and John who had just arrived from Wales who headed to sort out there accommodation. Phil had already arrived and gave me a lovely pressie of a framed Ariel pic of the westerly WW2 sub wreck in Aberlady Bay.
Down to the Ship Inn and Lars and Tommy along with Ken and Jason enjoyed a couple of pints and banter...

The Welsh are here!...

Friday; Brewery Tour...
Good friend Mike arrived on Friday to stop over at my house for a weeks riding,
As usual he brought some Cider made by Lilleys Cider... along with a load of different bikes for the week...

Check out this Hydro coat Tomac frame he is building soon, Alien meets engines...

We rode to the meeting points each day so got in some trails and with the lights on going home made for more laughs...

We met at the Cross at 2pm for a short ride to Archerfield Estate for a guided tour of Knops Brewery
Keith gave us a very imformative  tour and the process of brewing and it was real interesting the work that goes into make a pint of beer. A couple of pints after hit the spot before we rode back via some nice sandy single track as the high tide lapped below us...

The end product...

More folk arrived Friday evening, and for those that were thirsty there was plenty options of ale in The Ship Inn...

Saturday;  Subs pilgrimage...
9.30am and a load of riders left the Cross, new faces and old regulars for the ride to the sub wrecks out in Aberlady Bay...
The count at the subs was 53 riders as we were joined along the way and a few late arrivals ...
Photos done and we returned east with a detour this year to the Walled Garden in Archerfield Estate again for food and a pint if anyone wanted at the Canteen Street Food Market where we lay about in the sun eating and drinking listening to the groovy tunes by the resident DJ, out of the cool easterly breeze and it was quiet an effort to get rolling again!...
I never shot much film on the return leg as i honked on back to NB along the coast with a load of great riders and it`s fun watching folk who are riding what i ride weekly with only a year old memory or for some riding blind for the first time, good riders all of them...
Back to NB and the usual half hour and regroup seat on the harbour wall...

The high street roll out...

Some film, 30 odd riders, to be joined by more along the route...

FORTH FAT 2017 Street ride by... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

Across the the Field on the JMW to Yellowcraig and this year shoulder high through Oil Seed Rape, so i rode ahead to film the procession ride through...


FORTH FAT 2017; The Field Crossing... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

Re grouped on Gullane hill then down hill and out across the sands to the sub wrecks...

Ace!  :)

Pics done and time to get rolling east...

Refreshments at Canteen...

Heading back to NB and it was a crew of Surly bikes that i joined leaving Archerfield for the coast...
3 Surly Ice Cream Trucks and 3 Surly Wednesday`s we rolled down at a good pace,
Short film on the West Road...

FF 17; West Road... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



Next up was `Scorpion` across the rocks below Marine Villa, i hooked up and hence the sections name-i got stung!


FF 17; West Road... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Last bit unedited film was across the Xylophone rocks, the name from the noise from the black rocks as you cycle across...

FF 17; Xylophone trail from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Riding back to NB alongside Phil most of the way...

Saturday evening and food and drink at the Ship Inn before a torch lit night ride back home...

Sunday;
This year we rode from the Cross to Seacliff and the coast before returning back via the JMW...

A fleet of Trucks (ICT`s)... there was 3 more but they had split before i got them rounded up for a pic...

And that was a wrap, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways...
The week was just starting for myself with another 7 days holidays- first hols for over a year and a half after the previous nightmare summer at Whitekirk, i came home with another T shirt for the collection, stickers and that ace picture made by Phil...

3 days into 3 minutes film...
Song is `Club Foot` by Kasabian...


FORTH FAT 2017 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


More pics from the weekend here on my Flickr FORTH FAT 2017 Album album...

See you all who make it next year...


More soon...