Forth Fat 2019...

FORTH FAT 2019,
After a mild dry winter March cooled down and cold easterlies rolled in off the coast and the last couple of weeks were baltic cold winds and as always seems to happen the temps rose just in time for FORTH FAT weekend!, dunno how we always get this but again the sun gods shone on the coast of East Lothian!,
In it`s 7th year were still going and although this year showed how less interest in the mainstream cycling scene of Fatbikes has also seen less new Fatbike sales and new riders appear over the weekend,  This year the weekend also coincided with Easter weekend so many riders could not make it with family commitments, many others have visited a few times and i guess are doing other new stuff now, but not  to worry as most who made it over the weekend were regulars and with 2 new local faces turning up made it still worth while advertising the weekend on here, Facebook and the UK Fatbike Forum,

Friday;  NB Law...
For me a day to ride 29+ wheels and i stuck the new Surly Pugsley, along with Chris`s  Surly ECR in the van when i got home from work 1pm (great to be back in my new job Greenkeeping again as early finish Fridays) and we headed down to North Berwick to meet up at Steampunk Cafe  for a cycle up NB Law, the weather was glorious and we were soon up on the summit...

 Met up in NB up we go...

Descending...

One thing that has also changed about the FORTH FAT Gatherings is no Pub!,  little drinking now with few people staying at the campsite or going to the Pubs with both not being cheap visits these days.  I don`t drink much anymore having had Kidney surgery, a couple of bottles of cider once home does me fine these days, i was also working 3 hours this weekend so being up at 5am it was 2 long days!

Film of the ride up and down NB Law...
Song is `Perlandine Friday` by Chris T




Saturday; Cycle to the sub wrecks...
Saturday dawned clear and temps were soon hitting 20 Celsius as we rode out inland to the Sub wrecks out in Aberlady Bay, then returned along the coast back to NB. A spring tide saw a fast incoming tide and a narrowing beach as we neared NB town...

Back in town we sat and baked in the 20C + temps...

 Film of the ride out and back from NB to the sub wrecks...
Song is `Fragments` by Thievery Corporation

Sunday; Seacliff and Tyninghame...
Back to the cross for 10am and  we rode out to Seacliff and around over the challenging Car rocks exposed at low tide  to Peffersands where the big dune waited to be surfed-though this year the sand was all fluffed up and real soft after such dry weather so we soon moved on and after the Secret trail we headed to Tyninghame cafe to refuel before heading back to NB through Binning Woods and Balgone Estate and home on the John Muir Way...

And lastly film from Sundays cycle,
Song is `Whacko King Hako` by Peatbog Fairies




And that`s it for FORTH FAT for now, see you next time next year, dates and stuff will be posted in January 2020,
`We will ride them on the beaches`...


More soon...

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`