Morning Fatbike pilgrimage out to Lindisfarne...

Sunday morning ride out to Lindisfarne,  40 miles from home  and over the Border to Northumberland,
A while since been on a Fat pilgrimage across the sands to the Holy Isle, and for my sins i got Biblical rain on the return to Spittal :D

With the tide just on the turn i knew i would probably have to detour inland to use the causeway  but would still get along the sands ok...

Again here like back in East Lothian there is a lot of sand movement over the winter, dunes are huge again here!...

Out there...

Soft sand out here, never seen any quicksand that people talk about out here...

Over a mile away i could see cars using the causeway so knew i would get across...

Had to detour inland by the Beal Sluice...

Then around to the Causeway...

Back on to the sand and it was hard on top with a crust...

Seal was not to keen to see me so i kept my distance...

The spitting rain turned to constant rain as i reached the island...

Soon the rain was Biblical and the roads soon cleared of day visitors!...

Lindisfarne is indeed a place apart...

Though not so sunny today...

Changed back into rain gloves and camera packed away i rode back to the car at Berwick on the No 1 Cycle Route, a bit wet but happy to get in a ride before the rain arrived that i had left behind at home earlier...

Lindesfarne is a magical place...

Here is a film i made out there on the sands a couple of years ago on a New Years Day, probably one of the best winter rides i have done on the coast with the amazing light that day...

Blog post with pics of that ride; Here...

And the film from that ride,
Song is `Captain Coull`s Parrot`  by Peatbog Fairies

New Years Day 2013, The Sands of Lindisfarne from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon,,,

Salsa Bucksaw full suspension Fatbike visits town...

This evening i rode a Fatbike that is really impressive, and the first Fatbike i have ridden since the first generation Surly Pugs, Moonies, Salsa Mukluk, Beargrease, and 9Zero7 bikes that has really impressed,, Friend Mike stopped over Friday evening on route to a weekend in the Tweed Vally and brought his Salsa Bucksaw full suspension Fatbike, this is some machine to ride!,

Here the Salsa guys explain the Bucksaw...


We went a 2 hour ride and i looked for a hill to go try this bike,

We have one wee hill around here, and North Berwick Law was climbed and descended while i filmed and took some pics, then had a quick spin, oh yeah!, only a couple of minutes riding the bike but this bike i would love to ride on loose stone paths where it would be in its element,
This bike is not designed for the coast and salt water exposure with suspension seals and shocks, it is a mountainbike, and what a bike for grip! :)

Watching the bike descending on the film i made does not really show anything different to this Fatbike and any other regular full suss bike of normal 27.5 wheel/tyre size,  but it is the control and grip of these wheels that is so impressive...

Happy days!, time to head home...

Crack open the cider, fire up the Chimenea, and BBQ some food as darkness fell...

That is a real nice bike...

Here is a wee film from up on the Law,
Song is `back in the Game` by Airborne

Salsa Bucksaw; North Berwick Law from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...

Mid week cycling; Dry dusty trails!

Been a lovely dry and sunny week here in East Lothian!,
Some amazing sunrises cycling into work...

And been out cycling in the evenings and enjoying the longer evenings,
Mostly been riding the Surly KramPug...

While not true 29+ sizing the 2.5"  Maxxis Minions set up split tube-tubeless offer a solution to country hedgerow Hawthorn and Blackthorns, along with a quick rolling bike on the trails...

With the Surly Knard 3" tyres are better in these dry conditions i will mostly be riding with these when away from the beach...

The 29+ KramPug is prob my favourite bike to date...

I was keen to try out the tubeless set up with the smaller 2.5" tyres last night so went for a spin along my local part of the John Muir Way, with the woods not all out yet fully leaved you can honk on on the dry fast trails,

Here is a wee film i made with the Go Pro chest cam, and Canon compact on the Gorilla pod.
Song is `Pure Morning` by Placebo

Surly KramPug 29+, Local trails, April 15 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


More soon...