Show us what you did today, thread

Re:

Think you will like the 2.5s jamie.

I’m running 29x2.6 on the Solaris which are great and also 27.5x2.8 on the full suss now which is a riot.

Like you say I think they are the sweet spot after trying full fat.

Had the full suss out in the snow the other week and it coped perfectly well.

Cheers Keith
Well as it would have it I laced up the rim last night for the front with the Dyno hub. I haven't got the trueing stand as I usually rely on Brian for either trueing or borrowing the stand, but lockdown being lockdown I may have to rig something up in a pair of forks, at least for this front one.
Anyway, I laced them up last night sitting in front of the fireplace thinking a bit of snow yesterday and the forecast now for rain so will put the fat tyres, fork etc away for another time. Only to wake up this morning to a good bit more fresh snow. Not a huge amount considering we are on the coast but more than enough we could go out and play.
So the semi fat Dummy once again got a reprieve and headed out to tow Caleb around of his sled. This Dummy is such a fun bike and as Heather said, Caleb will soon be big enough to ride it himself and I just love it even though there is no real need. So it will not be getting sold anytime soon.
So we spent a good while out in the field on the tracks toward the beach and up and down the road which was best as it was compacted and the sled just glided. Great fun.
Yesterday we had a bit as well and while no riding I did manage to get the dog out into town with me so we went for a walk up Thurso river, then played in the snow at home and late on we went to the beach across the fields from home. Tide was coming in so it was snow down to the water
Hope you all had a nice weekend and manged a ride as well.
I seen Brian was out on his Pugsley playing in the snow as well. Shame we can't travel mate otherwise I would be there with you on one of the days at least .

IMG_4841 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_4835 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

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Spot by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Spot by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Looks like good fun. Out with my mate for a few hours this morning. Thankfully been cold but dry here for the last three days, so the worst of the sheet ice has started to retreat. Was a real danger last week after too many freeze/thaw cycles.
Some of the trails today were running like summer, hard, fast and grippy. Then you came to other still with an inch or two of snow is sheltered corners. Good fun.

I’ve never had the luxury of a truing stand, I always just finish my wheels off in their intended bike. I know it’s not “by the book” but I reckon that if the frame or fork is slightly off, the wheel will run more evenly. May need a wee tweak if it swaps bikes but that’s quick and easy. Even the last rear I did without a dishing tool and it was perfect.

Yeah, that was my plan Clubby, though I will be doing it on the fork it's going onto on the workbench as the fork is sitting there anyway. Plus I really don't want to try and tip the Dummy over to do it, I might not be able to right it again.

Jamie

Bloody heck Jamie, dragging a sledge. Im surprised your knees can take it :shock:

Anyway, what did you pay for the tyres, i asked earlier but it slipped past I fancy some specced size and all I have is 2.0" fitted, or is it 2.25" Bontrager :? , which dont seem that wide by todays standards

Hi mate
My knees can take it for so long only but it's my legs in general that find it hard dragging 25 to 30 kilo round. Which is why we don't go as far now on the Dummy and he is on the tandem for touring as he now has to help
The tyres, well that is a good question, as I have been looking at changing tyres on the Long Haul trucker as well. That is what I was actually in the process of doing when I got distracted by the Dummy and lets just say that I cannot change both bikes tyres in one or two pay checks. The ET's for the Dummy, the larger 2.5 were £60 each, which were only purchased for the Dummy as I got a really good price from the lads at Bikemonger as elsewhere they come in around £79. Pretty expensive but I figured that the Dummy is getting completely revamped with the wheels, dynohub and everything else, which has been waiting in the loft for a couple of years so may as well make it exactly how I want and these tyres really will give me the best of both worlds. I should also more than make it back if I sell the Fat front end as there are the wheels, fork, Old Man Mountain rack as it wont fit the standard fork. So not too worried.
Now for the Trucker I was looking at getting the Rene Herse 26 x 2.3 Rat Trap Pass which come in at a staggering £74 each which is a very discounted price from a certain friendly shop. These may have to wait now but I don't think I will ever be able to get them this cheap with the new costs of importing. Normal rrp for these is usually up around £90 to £100 so may just have to stick with my tried and tested Marathons. These get amazing write ups in how they really make a huge difference to the comfort and handling but are a bit over the top price wise. Just the usual low volume, high quality stuff from Jan Heine that makes them so expensive.
I have pretty much dried up the bike pot already with 2 tyres and we aren't even out of January.
To be fair and balanced I don't usually spend much on the way of upkeep on any of the bikes I run so it's just the unusual hit of two expensive tyres at once that smarts.

Jamie

Re:

So I should add mate, if you did want a pair then I think Bikemonger are one of the few with any left. Another shop that usually sells Surly stuff at a bit cheaper checked when they could get me some and the next delivery is September!! New normal apparently.

Jamie

What a nice day today! The weather helps of course and today while maybe just getting to 0 degrees briefly it was sunny for the most part. Not much heat in the sun just now but the change it can make to your attitude is amazing
Not that I need the sun to have an amazing attitude, why people tell me all the time 'that's some attitude you've got!'
Anyway, after a chilled morning pottering about I thought the roads are dry so time to get out for a lockdown ride on the Jack Taylor.
As mentioned before it is getting harder and harder to find varied routes close to home now that we have been at this for a while.
But I thought I would do my usual coast route and head inland coming back to the coast if time and head out toward Dunnet Head.
I had planned to cut through a couple of the woods, hoping they would be passable, especially as it hasn't warmed much the last few days so the ground might still be frozen but that might mean it is ice anyway. Really wanted to see as there is one part where the old slate works was that is so overgrown that in summer you can't get to certain sections as they are so overgrown and one particular walled off section that most people have no idea is there as it is hidden away by trees and thick overgrowth. The winter sometimes exposes the paths that the deer use to move between these areas and that with the die back in growth means you can get to them. One of these walled areas has a door that is completely obscured for about 11 months of the year. It's only a very small area with the door maybe 60 metres off the main track but I like that it is hidden from most people, I like to stop and have a snack and drink there as it is so peaceful. There were two small Roe deer in there today.
So I ended up tacking the various tracks and trails through the wood taking a few photos as the light was really nice, not that they ever come out how I see it when I look back, but near enough.
I spent quite a while traversing through this wood so when I came out I decided just to cruise round the backroads and a couple of dirt roads and head back towards home. I must admit I was a bit surprised, and disappointed when going past the western end of Dunnet beach as the carpark was full with three vans set up having a BBQ fire with everyone sitting around it, horse floats everywhere, just crazy, so much for stay at home except for exercise and don't drive anywhere just exercise from home.
Home it was to then get the pizza oven out and split some hardwood and fire her up for some of Heathers fabulous pizza for dinner. Lovely mmmm!
Then while sitting eating the pizza I look outside and it is now snowing! Crazy times indeed

Jamie

IMG_4890 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

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The other side of the wall
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pizza by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Wow! what a difference a day makes.
It started snowing as we were eating our pizza last night and while only light, it was a nice white scene that greeted me this morning. It is also very fortunate that I have today and tomorrow off work, a couple of days before we go into a busy spring once again.
So with everyone sorted with Heather busy and Caleb doing his schoolwork online I thought it best if I get out on the Pugsley and see how the beach looked
The snow was great to ride on and while I didn't go too far or for too long it was nice to be out in the snow and sunshine. The tide was incredibly high so couldn't get too far in either direction off the beach so just had to be satisfied with a bit of playing and meandering on the farm roads higher off the shore. What a great way to start the day, then home, lunch, help Caleb with some work then a family walk to the beach with the dog and now just about to do some resto/maintenance work on the non acoustic bike. And..... I still have another day off!!

Jamie

IMG_4990 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_4992 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Good snow on Hoy. You can see it in the centre out past the headlands
IMG_4995 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

IMG_5002 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

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IMG_5009 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

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IMG_5021 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Re:

What a difference a day makes indeed Jamie!
Yesterdays ride was a 100% FAIL!!! I drove out to some trails just on the outskirts of the city, no snow at all in the town, but I could see some on the hills as I approached the trails.
What started as wet slush turned into snow as I climbed up towards the forest, then into around 3 inches of snow as I reached the fire road, it was the heavy, slightly wet snow and I just couldn't ride in it. Began walking but it was hard work in the deeper snow, and I reckoned I had at least a mile to push before I reached the cover of the forest, plus I'd have to walk the bike back as well, and then it began to snow, which a minute later turned into a full on blizzard, at which point I thought "F*CK THIS!!" :x and headed back to the van







So today I thought I'd better stay around the city, and despite a thin covering of snow this morning I knew I'd at least be able to ride and not have to push my bike!
I may have spoken too soon though as by the time I reached the beachfront it was blowing a gale and hurling icy snow and hail in my face :x the urge to go "F*CK THIS!!!" for the second day in a row was strong
I stopped by the harbour entrance just as a ship was heading out into the stormy North Sea, rocking and rolling in the swell, and suddenly my day didn't seem so bad after all

Once away from the shore though it was better, the trails in the woods were frozen just enough to make them fast but not icy, and a light dusting of snow made the trails easy to follow as well.
A much better day than yesterday