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`

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...