Saturday 26 December 2015

Retrospect 2015...



Another year nearly wrapped up, Done some great stuff this year...

Friends;
This year i have met even more friends who have come to fatbikes and our lives have crossed. And there has been many rides with friends old and new, great laughs and good times...

And you don`t realise how important friends are until you need them.
Sadly becoming single again 4 months ago has been a disappointment, Life goes on though as before and i just keep myself busy and stay positive...
I will miss helping out at the Horse Endurance events but i did that to support my partner...
I miss the fun adventures with Mowgli too!...


The last 3 months i have been real busy with the usual riding, solo and with friends, some running-yes running!, and sawing and stacking firewood for the house, along with some DIY. Always stuff to do when not out cycling...

Selection of pics taken by friend Craig...








Kindest friend in the world!;
Good friend and fellow Pugsley owner Gary B gave me two huge piles of bike parts that he wanted me to put to good use, how kind is that?!!!,

Included was a Dawes Ultra Galaxy-a classic English Reynolds 853 steel tourer, everything was in boxes and i soon had the bike built up, and i ride it every day...

Also some Surly 29+   29" x50mm wide Rabbit Hole rims and Surly 29x 3 " Knard tyres!, There was loads of small Surly parts and most of the stuff i have put to good use on my bikes this year, and the unused parts i have passed onto other friends to use for their bikes...
The 29+ wheels ended up on a Karate Monkey build that then morphed int the Surly ECR...
I love riding the Dawes, a real smoothie...Build blog Here...


No more thorn punctures or pinch flats; Ghetto Tubeless sorted!

I cured the nagging issue of pesky flat tyres from the Hawthorn hedge thorns that litter our country roads by making all my fatbikes Ghetto Tubeless...
No worries anymore on what is an Achilles heal riding thin Fatbike tyres around the roads here...



Work;
Still no change at work!, we will see what next year brings. I still love being outdoors every day and soaking up the views up on the hill,  being able to cycle to work- on or off road,  and have new staff that seem to be enjoying themselves...



Forth Fat 15;
Forth Fat was a month later this year in a cold May weekend. Once again the biggest gathering of Fatbikes in Europe to date, 53 this year!...You can read all about it Here...
Next year will be even bigger!, and i believe Surly reps will be making an appearance again! :)




The Capital Trail;


The inaugural Capital Trail Event in June was a great weekend.  The longest off road riding i have done over 2 days- 83 on the first day!, a great experience with friends... Blog link...


Capital Trail 2015 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



Lincolnshire Roadtrip;
Visiting Lincolnshire and some of the many former WW2 Airbases of Bomber Command, including East Kirby and seeing the Lancaster Bomber `Just Jane` taxi and run engines at full power was amazing...


East Kirby Avro Lancaster `Just Jane`  July 2015 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


And the next day visiting RAF Conisby, home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) and getting real close to operational Spitfires and Hurricanes...



Hurricane taxi at RAF Conisby from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

Blog link...

No more chimneys;
Last ride past Cockenzie Power station with friend Sanny before they blew the chimneys a week later...

Scotsman Newspaper picture...



Harvest Bivi Ride;
East Lothian Harvest Bivi ride with friends, I invited friends up to see our county`s harvest scenery. The main harvest was late in getting underway and some of the guys could not make it but hopefully will next year.
We were never more than 20 miles from my home yet so much to show friends and explore...

Jeff and Mike...

Blog link...

The film...

Fatbike August holiday weekender Bikepackingride 2015 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Harvest;
Harvest time is my favourite time to be out and about in East Lothian...


Riding shotgun with friend Drew, in i think East lothians biggest Combine!...

Harvest Cycle; Surly ECR-CLAAS 760 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




Harvesting; East Lothian August 2015 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.





Vulcan Bomber farewell flight;



Witnessing the last flight ever of the only remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan Bomber,
We did a beach ride then headed to East Fortune to witness the last ever time we will see this massive relic of the Cold War...



Farewelll Vulcan Fatbike coast ride 11,10,15 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Wheel Building;
I taught myself to build my own bicycle wheels!, after a brief show how from friend Colin, and some advice from Mike, and i find it very therapeutic and rewarding to now ride a bike you fully assembled yourself...



The First Highlands Fatbike Gathering;
Met more friends on a ride up in Angus at Glamis Estate, Was a great day!...


Angus Cycling festival; Fatbike ride! from coastkid71 on Vimeo.





Late Summer evening cycling;
Making the most of the mid week light evenings...


Wee film riding the Surly ECR on one of my favourite local loops...

14; Sept;  Surly ECR evening cycle... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Run Away!;
Started running!, not far just around the Golf Course after work which is around 6km, I don`t want to run much further, or get any injuries from running, but i feel good from it!

Fear The Krampus!;
New bike built up... Build info here...


And it`s a hoot!

Surly Krampus - Quick blast through the woods... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



Other Recent films;
On the coast;


Fatbike cycle to Gullane Point; Nov 15 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.





Surly Pugsleys; Sandstorm Beachride; Aberlady Bay Nov; 15 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




Global Fat Bike Day 2015; East Lothian Midget subs pilgrimage... from coastkid71 on Vimeo.




My Bikes;
My bike set up has changed a lot this year selling 4 bikes and buying 3 frame sets.
I sold the two Surly Karate Monkey 29er frames and moved from 2 good full fat bikes to One good fatbike and two good 29+ bikes. Did i say i really like 29+ wheels?...  :D

It was sad to sell the big Moonlander and the spare Pugsley then see a plan fall through...


The plan was originally to use the money to go towards the new Surly Wednesday, then the car needed loads spent on it for the annual M.O.T so that was that.  But there is always other options. The old Pugsley frame is 8 years old now..

Yes Sir!!!

3 great bikes now all on new frame sets...


I will do a 2016 bike line up blog post as usual after New Year...


DIY; Destroy It Yourself;
After 9 years i have finally started to get moving upgrading my house!, All repainted, Multi fuel stove installed and new flooring, living room finished and nice to sit and relax in the evening now. Thank you good friend Eddie helping me fit the stove!, it`s a roaster!....


Slange!,  `Lang may yer lum reek!` as they say here in Scotland!...


Have a great Hogmany and see your next year...







3 comments:

  1. Have a happy new year and keep up the blog posts. Your adventures inspire many of us to pursue fat tire fun around the world. Hoping to ride your trails and beaches some day.

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  2. Happy New Year and many thanks for all the posts. Its a great read and I've picked up some tips and ideas too. Cheers.

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  3. Great post Bruce. I might not always comment but I do read and I always enjoy your movies. You get to some interesting corners of our wee county.

    T'was great to catch up again last week and have a couple of beers. It had been far too long. Let's make it a more regular thing this year eh?

    Awra best for 2016. Keep on pedalling!

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