Show us what you did today, thread

[Jamiedyer]

Weather was meant to be good up here today but obviously someone didn't get the memo I had thought to get out and into town on the BD with Caleb and then get some other stuff done in the afternoon but unfortunately we awoke to the misty rain and bleak outlook all around. Luckily it did progressively get better and by early afternoon the sun was out and trying to dry things off. So a change round of plans and after getting the usual 'stuff' that needs doing done, I got a bit of maintenance done to the Dummy and the Trucker, then managed to get out for a couple hours late on in the afternoon.
As well as adjust the front mech cable now that the new ones bedded in, I needed to sort my light mount out for the Trucker before next weekends run and also fitted my Audax Ecosse mudflap :roll: that arrived yesterday. The cable I assumed was just bedded in as it just wouldn't pick up the big ring with out changing down at the back and with the downtube shifters there's only so far you can pull it.
I just needed to get a few miles in to get the legs back to working and to also check how the light would work mounted on the mid fork. The light has just been a major pain since I took the front rack off as with the handlebar bag there is nowhere to mount it that's not in the way. I do need a new light, but this battery type one works and with planning on putting a dynamo hub and new light on the Big Dummy, there's no money left in the bike fund at all.
It was a lovely late afternoon ride all round, weather was great, legs worked better than expected and the Trucker worked fine on all fronts. Hard to tell with the light until it's used in anger in full darkness but as good as it's been I think. I mounted it on the mid fork mount with the Nitto mount I got for £5 in the sale. The bolt size was a size bigger than the fork mount so a small spacer sorted it and it never moved during the ride.
A ride meandering around the coast just trying to get the legs working and keep up a decent average, but also to just enjoy the long overdue sunshine
Hope everyone else has had some decent weather and is enjoying their weekend as well.

Jamie

Light mounted on mid fork
DSCN3421 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Cockpit view with small battery in the handlebar bag.
DSCN3422 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3429 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3431 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

The other side of the bay
DSCN3435 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3442 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3443 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[epicyclo]

Bike looks serious Jamie. Better stick some miles on it.

 

[Jamiedyer]

First off apologies to Mr Panda, who I had said to that I may go and recce the trails west out of Berriedale. Unfortunately the weather this morning was pretty wet and looking rough, especially to the south. The forecast for Berriedale in the afternoon was also wet so that was that. It did brighten up around late morning and then the sun was out and it was really lovely for a while. This was when Caleb and I decided that a trip out on the dirt towards Forsinard from Loch More side. Looking at the time and the rapidly darkening weather closing in from the west as we got closer to Loch More I explained we would load the panniers with supplies and snacks but we may not get very far before the rain gets us. We decided to head towards Altnabreac rather than round the southern track through Dalnawillan lodge as we could see the hills to the south disappearing behind the rain showers.
We got about an hour in and before the station we started getting rain drops, we had already stopped and snacked so with it not looking like it would pass we decided to head back towards Loch More before it got worse. We came out of the forest section and thought about heading south across the Loch, just to delay heading back, but once on the open ground the temperature had dropped a few degrees and the wind had picked up.
I was riding along the side of the loch watching the clouds/rain to the south and west and said to Caleb I think we will out run them, he then informed me that that was good but he didn't think we would outrun the one just behind us to the north, which started sprinkling on us at just that moment as if on cue
We actually went past the parked car and turned right onto the tarmac (and that's a very loose description) to see if we could get to the weir as Caleb wanted to see it. We didn't get far before the rain got a little bit more persistent and Caleb said he was getting cold. At this we turned and went back to the car, Caleb sat in his seat behind mine having his drink and snack while I took the wheel of the Dummy and shoehorned it into the Meriva. Its a tight fit and I have to take the front wheel off, seats down in the back and the front seat reclined flat so the front end sits in the passenger seat From the fork ends to the back of the frame is about 2 metres.
Anyway, it was a good run out, Dummy was in it's element on these sorts of rough roads, bit of air out the tyres and a steady ride. Nothing fast, with plenty of stops as it's more about Caleb having some fun and just enjoying being out and he had a ball.
Hope everyone else has had a good weekend where ever you are.

Jamie

DSCN3448 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3451 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Rains coming
DSCN3455 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3453 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Back on the luxurious tarmac
DSCN3460 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[kaiser]

Re:

Can I make a really belated entry? Last weekend saw us doing a Loch Doon loop, cracking day. The reason I'm posting now is to see if there is any interest in an organised ride?

Loch Doon by Bigbroondug, on Flickr


Loch Doon by Bigbroondug, on Flickr


Loch Doon by Bigbroondug, on Flickr


Loch Doon by Bigbroondug, on Flickr

 

[RobMac]

Re: Re:

The reason I'm posting now is to see if there is any interest in an organised ride?

It looks pish but aye

 

[Jamiedyer]

I would definitely be interested mate!
Can you organise the weather and get back to us

Jamie

 

[Hawmaw]

Re: Re:

Loch Doon loop any interest in an organised ride?

I had to google Loch Doon . Yes I'd be interested as long as I'm not working and can get a pass from the fun polis

 

[kaiser]

Re:

Good stuff folks, its a wee hidden gem of an area.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi guys and the ladies, of course.
Unfortunately today I was unable to get all the way down to Selkirk for the Border Randonee Audax. Due to having to go to Inverness on Thursday for Heather and then catching up yesterday and not getting away in time to get down and get accommodation sorted for the 8am start. Sometimes life just gets in the way and has other plans
So after doing a few things chore wise around here, rebuilding and old road hub and then eating a late lunch and watching Milan San Remo, I managed a late ride out on the Merckx.
After what seems like ages riding the Trucker, Big Dummy and even the Mercian it was great to be back on my old faithful Corsa. Lightweight, fits like a glove, rolls and changes slick, just nice. Sometimes it is all about the bike.
A few hours in the fading light around the coast, dodging showers and blowing off cobwebs from the week and regret and disappointment from not getting to Selkirk. A great ride and with the constant showers around me and the changing light made for a great skyline.
Had a nice ride to nowhere in particular, so just thought I would share.
Hope the weather was good with everyone else

Jamie

DSCN3464 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3469 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3475 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3481 (2) by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3478 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3483 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3484 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[Jamiedyer]

Well another day and another changeable type of forecast. Woke this morning to it really coming down, heavy and consistent.
After heading out for lunch with the family and between showers taking the dog out, it started to show signs of it being sunny for longer periods.
Decided that I would head out for a bit, do a rough type loop to the south and inland and maybe head back along the coast as it was really crazy wind blowing about 30mph. can't escape the wind up here so I manned up and decided to head straight into it and then if I needed to get back quickly I would get the benefit on the return run. I was really just meandering and thought I would take a couple of back roads and some gravel as well rather than just push into a wind on the open country up here. While it has been quite wet, the wind was so strong it was drying the tarmac out quickly as well as some of the gravel stretches. Out from the loft came the Mercian as I wanted to see about it's setup and how to improve it as it's still pretty much cobbled together build wise and I do have some new Nitto stuff ready for it.
Ride started sunny, though the wind was pretty bitter and after cruising a long for about an hour or so, always into this wind, I stopped after one of the local villages and noticed that the rain was sweeping across the coast where I was headed. Went a few more miles and noticed that it was closing in on me pretty quickly. Decided to turn and race it back, as I could see it was already closer to my place than I was on the coast.
It was a very fast ride back, one of those where I turned around and was moving along an open stretch thinking that the wind had died down, only to see my speed up a long gentle rise was almost double what it was rolling down it
I also felt the wind when about a mile from home I turned across it and it took me from one side of the road to the other, and then I felt the rain drops. Just made it back and even took a pic out front of home as you could barely see the water let alone Hoy across it.
Hope the weather was better with everyone else, but hey, any rides better than no ride

Jamie

Starting out looking south west, storm had passed so a clear window opened.
DSCN3486 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3488 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

A short stretch of gravel
DSCN3491 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Turned round, rain coming back in
DSCN3495 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Rain coming off the water, closer to home than I am
DSCN3498 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Looking back to the south west just before home and taken not far from where the first one in this post was taken.
DSCN3500 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Out front of home and can barely see the coast or water let alone Hoy.
DSCN3502 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr