Turf Zone – NewtonChurch
In the TURF Ultimate Region Fight 2024, after two weeks, Team Scotland is sitting in 4th place with 47 points with Team Västmanland and Team Norrbotten both in the lead with a healthy 62 points each. With three weeks of the game still ahead of us we have a challenge on our hands, quite a challenge perhaps but not mission impossible. So, get out there do whatever you can, take zones, collect points and find those uniques. Every little helps even if you are not in the Top 20 or even in Team Scotland.
A change of scenery today and a venture into the wilds of East Lothian. My route took me out along the Pencaitland railway path as far as Ormiston where I’d spotted a group of turfer unique zones held by a turfer called skellum. This brought my turfer unique total to 375. Then the long climb up to Tranent and thank goodness that the pavement here is also a shared cycle path. The speed of traffic in this very fast and straight road is horrendous. One point I would mention is that some of the zones require you to cross the road from the cycle path. It would be easier and safer to take them if they were across the other side on the cycle path.
Turf Zone – HolyOrmiston
After Tranent, taking a few zones in the passing but not clearing the entire town, it was downhill all the way to the sea and the Firth of Forth at Cockenzie. My next target zone was HiddenRailway, a unique for me on the grounds of Prestongrange museum. It’s easy enough to find, just follow the old railway track east into the woods. The railway track is not used. You can either hop along the sleepers of the actual track, or if cycling, follow a rough twisty woodland path alongside. The path is quite overgrown and I had a fight with some brambles. And the result of the fight? Brambles 1, PlanetGary Shins 0.
From there along the shore section of the John Muir Way through Musselburgh, taking care on the slippery seaweed patches and carrying the bike across the sand. It just picks up sand that gets onto the drive train. Then back home following the River Esk upstream. I did feel slightly guilty about targeting some zones for personal gains but in the end managed 82 takes, most of them Round uniques and a good 16000 points as well for Team Scotland. By the time I was home the 20 plus temperatures had taken their toll and I was fair puggled.
Turf Zone – HolyTranent
Now, sorry, but straight onto bikes. You may recall some time ago I procured funding to purchase another bicycle, one dedicated for off-road turfing, for example, in places like the Pentlands Hills, the Eildon Hills and even the Lammermuir Hills. At one stage I actually decided against the purchase but after considerable consideration, sleepless nights, gallons of coffee and some of my mother’s home made fruit scones, have finally taken the plunge, or rather filled in the online order form, and ordered another bicycle.
I considered e-bikes in some depth but discounted them on the grounds that they were too heavy to lug about, weighing in at 25Kg plus, far too complicated and basically not really me (at the moment, but in the future who knows?). I also looked at hardtail and full suspension bikes but again not really me and I’d never ride to the full potential that suspension provides. I was also very tempted to purchase another fat bike, the carbon fibre framed Trek Farley 9.6, which is just so, so very nice. So very tempting.
Something else I also looked at was a gravel bike, namely the Sonder Camino Ti which, with bigger tyres and a few accessories, would fit my requirements almost perfectly. I find the Ribble CGR very easy and comfortable to ride and was thinking of something similar but more off-road orientated. Anyway, that left rigid mountain bikes and that’s where I’ve gone. So, here we go. Are you ready? The new off-road turfing bike is – the Sonder Broken Road – described as a wilderness trail bike, in nice sparkly titanium, with the Shimano XT group set and an optional rigid carbon Pathfinder fork. Now the wait.
Turf Zone – HiddenRailway
So, why the Sonder Broken Road as my off-road turfing bike? First thing is weight with this wee beastie only weighing in at around 10Kg though that will increase slightly when I add pedals, bell, mudguards and phone mount but still light enough for carrying and pushing at all those turf zones that require that type of thing.
Next, big comfy 29 x 2.4-inch tyres offering plenty of grip off-road. And lastly, I’ve always wanted a bike with a titanium frame. My Ribble is carbon fibre and now I have titanium to complete the dream set. Hopefully, it should be here in about 3-weeks’ time. Fingers crossed. And, since ordering the bike yesterday, Sonder Bikes have started a sale and guess which bike now has £400 off the price. Aye, the Sonder Broken Road. Grrr!
And to finish a few recent observations while turfing:
- mature overweight men should not wear skin-tight cycle clothing.
- a £10000 road bike does not mean you are better than me.
- dogs will always get in your way especially when told not to.
- watch the road, not pretty ladies in skimpy clothing out running.
- anyways ring your bike bell, even if you think they have seen you.
- keep calm when your turf app crashes or suddenly shuts itself down.
Copyright ©2024 Gary Buckham. All rights reserved.
