Category: FGCX
THE DIRTY REIVER 2019
These days if you haven’t tackled the Dirty Reiver can you even call yourself a UK gravel rider? The Dirty Reiver has become a gravel season opener here and a tough benchmark to measure how favourable the winter months have been to fitness. If you have been hiding inside from the grimness of winter the Dirty Reiver is going to quickly remind you of all those missed training rides. Even the diligent winter riders will find the 130km cut off to be very tempting, an opportunity to end the suffering by cutting the route short to find sanctuary and beer at the event village early. The full 200km demands some serious grit and determination from riders.
Continue reading “THE DIRTY REIVER 2019”SNOW DAY!
I went for a gravel ride with Euan Camlin, Andrew Cullen and Christo Gallagher. We had planned out a route but when we saw that it had snowed over night we decided to scrap our plan, make things up as we go along and the ride worked out even better.
Continue reading “SNOW DAY!”EAST LOTHIAN ROUGH STUFF
As per Rich’s birthday tradition we go for a loop of the East Lothian Rough Stuff Audax gravel route. Some swoopy trails, standard pie stop and a top shelf selection of Rich stories.
Continue reading “EAST LOTHIAN ROUGH STUFF”GRAVEL RIDE TO AN ABANDONED SAWMILL
Matt and I went on a Huckleberry Finn gravel adventure through some old railway tunnels and find an abandoned sawmill hidden in the woods.
Continue reading “GRAVEL RIDE TO AN ABANDONED SAWMILL”GRINDURO – SURLY STEAMROLLER BIKE CHECK VERSION 2.0
Grinduro has come around again and you are probably thinking, “He is still riding that silly olden times/fashion trend fixed gear bike and hasn’t learned any lessons since last year”. Well you would only be half right. I am still riding fixed but this year I have made some vital upgrades to maximise shredding. Here is my Surly Steamroller Grinduro v 2.0.
Continue reading “GRINDURO – SURLY STEAMROLLER BIKE CHECK VERSION 2.0”
BOMBTRACK DIRTY REIVER VIDEO
Bombtrack have put together a top notch grav grav shredit of the Dirty Reiver that really captures all the good vibes and is well worth a watch . Especially as I make numerous wheelie, whip skid and chatting with Mr Vear at a feed station appearances.
THE DIRTY REIVER 2018
Gravel is the new frontier. The roads are clogged with speeding cars and the forests are crowded with artificial mountain bike trails yet miles and miles of gravel lie ignored waiting to be explored. There is an abundance of routes that are too bumpy for road bikes yet too far for mountain bikes which contain staggering views, lung busting climbs and ripping descents. It is no wonder that the gravel scene is exploding right now.
DIRTY REIVER – SURLY STEAMROLLER BIKE CHECK
For the last few years I have been super stoked to do the Dirty Reiver and then when it actually comes round to committing money to tickets I have faltered and backed out. No suitable bike, no time off work or lazy legs, I have probably ticked all the classic excuses. This year is different, I was organised(ish), equipped and fairly keen. I say equipped, in the eyes of most riders my bike choice is probably deemed as a form of sadomasochistic torture.
Continue reading “DIRTY REIVER – SURLY STEAMROLLER BIKE CHECK”
MASTERS OF FAFFING
The goal was simple, we were to ride some bikes to commemorate the anniversary of our comrade Rich’s birthday. The route we set was 50 or so miles of easy East Lothian mixed surfaces following an Audax route. No hills paired with a gentle pace would assure a good time for all and that nobody would be broken physically and unable to enjoy evening beers and eats. What could go wrong, even the weather looked like it would cooperate.
MOSTLY BY BIKE 