Short tough ride, is it because I am getting old?

 It has been well over 2 months since I last had a ride out with my friend John. He has had a few days off work, so suggested we have a little look out. Both of us aren't exactly as fit as we used to be. I mean I have ridden every day for 579  days now, and I am on Day 161 of this year, however that has mostly been on my turbo trainer, and although I get quite the sweat on it is totally different to being out in the real world and climbing hills and going over rougher terrain. Not only that I decided to take my Fat Bike and although it is so much fun it can be a bit harder work.

Out with John Day 161 x

Did I mention I am riding every day this year for Arctic One, a charity who have supported myself and many other people? Arctic ONE is not one of these big, well known charities, however the work they do is nothing short of amazing. If you can spare anything great or if you just would like to see what Arctic ONE is about and what they do, either search for them on Facebook or checkout www.arctic1.co.uk

Virgin Money Giving Link

This morning I had to re-attach my tendons to my Bartlett Tendon. I got the first bolt in, tightening it up with my mini torque wrench and went to put the second bolt in for the cam and the bloody bolt snapped. Fortunately I had a spare and the broken piece came out fairly easily by using a screwdriver.

 

Broken stud in my knee

By the time I had fannied on with my leg, John had arrived, so as usual he had to wait a little while till I got my gear sorted.

We were soon off just making a route up as we went and deciding as we were not exactly fit just to stay local and not go too far. It was more just about being out than how far.

Basically, we headed over to Chapman Wells Nature reserve and just had a tootle around whilst chatting.

Out on the BTK and my Fat Bike

John patiently waiting for me to position camera

My Silverback Synergy Fat developed a horrible clicking sound, which progressed to a screech at times, so I think my bottom bracket is on its way out. Ern is going to inspect it for me, never mind the bike got me home and nothing dropped off or seized up.

John and Glenn

John

Not a very exciting tale I am afraid the heat has zapped my energy over the last few days, not complaining mind you. I just feel so fortunate and grateful to be able to do all the things I am able to do.

Riding back up the trail

Fuel

   Next week I am away to see the Cancer Specialist Nurse for a review, so far the treatment has kept my Non Hodgkin's at bay and I haven't felt any lumps or bumps. I am still having a few minor issues with socket fit, however again feel fortunate as it has been probably 3 or maybe even 4 years since Pace Rehabilitation  designed my current socket and in that time I have only been back to the Disability Service Centre maybe two or three times.

All about the things you can do

Longest ride out to date in Myrtle

 I awoke proper early again this morning, firstly around about 5:30 am and then again at bang on 6:39 am, the exact time I have my alarm set, for getting up for work, however today I had taken Annual Leave so why Oh why can't my brain understand "TODAY IS A LIE IN DAY". I browsed my phone to see if there was anything interesting, hoping desperately that I may have won the lottery and I could then put my dream of buying a house in Scotland and buggering off to live a pretty isolated existence. "Pah" nowt again...

Love this Wee car

Out for a tootle with John

   

The Joker

 

I then decided to get up, get ready and go out and wash Myrtle and give her a quick polish, knowing I was going to meet up with my mate John around 9:30 am'ish. I had suggested to John we could have a ride through to South Shields and in passing pop in to the VW Workshop. I just wanted to have a chat with the lad who runs the garage about a few things on Myrtle and kind of get a second opinion as it were, mainly about her rear wings and why one appears to be wider than the other and what I could possibly do to sort the issue.

Myrtle 65 @ Souter Aired Up

Myrtle 65 @ Souter Aired Out

It was very nice talking to Darren who provided me with some bits of advice and of course it is always nice when someone who knows a little about these cars passes on a nice comment about your ride.

Following popping in to the garage, John and I took Myrtle down to South Shields and the sea front and rode along as far as Souter Lighthouse, getting a few pictures and thoroughly enjoying our catch-up. It has been a few months since I last saw John, life just gets in the way I guess at times.

 

Aired Up

Aired Out

Me and the Wee Bug

Got to love my custom mini surf board

We drove from Souter down to Seaburn and then headed for Sunderland, heading down to Penshaw Monument and turning in at Herrington Park where we parked up, and I grabbed us a couple of delicious double ice creams from the ice cream van.

Delicious

Bloody Lovely on a hot Day

Herrington Park with John

Travelling back home and up the Chester Road, Myrtle started coughing and spluttering a little bit, just felt like a lack of fuel. We pulled in at Grange Villa and just stood for a minute or so and surprisingly Myrtle then drove off and was fine again.

We then just did a local loop heading over to Craghead, and up Wagtail Lane, then headed down and through Burhope, going down the back road where the Wind Turbines are. Again a few snaps, then down to Sacriston coming out by the scrapyards and from there back home to Stanley.

Myrtle at Burnhope

Driving this wee car is a lot of fun I am having to watch out for the numerous potholes, as with having the low profile tyres on her, it feels horrible if I hit a hole. It just felt so good to have the windows down on such a warm day and potter around.

Me and Myrtle

Oh and my dad fitted my new Garmin 56W dash cam. It is really small and quite unobtrusive. At a later date I may get a rear camera too, as this is where I figure I will get most of my problems from irate drivers who don't understand Myrtle is an old car and has to take her time. So beep right back at ya!
  

Garmin 56W is tiny

Another very kind comment from a lady in Sunderland as we were waiting at the traffic lights, saying "I Love your car". It's awesome the positive reactions and when the wee car makes people smile...

Myrtle is starting to take shape!

 It has been what has felt like a never ending road to get Myrtle to where she is now. It just popped up the other day on Facebook that I have owned her for 2 years. In that time I had never driven her due to me being a professional cripple, and having my leg off, it's ok for free parking, but that is about it.

This was Myrtle when I went to see and buy her.

I instantly fell in love with Myrtle upon seeing her advertised on eBay and arranged a viewing asap, she was up at Lockerbie. As soon as I saw her in the flesh my mind was made up to buy her, I didn't even haggle over the price.

It wasn't until a few days after we got Myrtle that my dad and I started discovering what we thought were small, easy fixes. It all started with her horn not working from the steering wheel push. Instead, she had a small toggle switch under the dash...weird we thought.

My dad downloaded a wiring diagram and discovered that the wire may have not been earthing correctly on the steering column, so we set about removing her fuel tank to get to the column. This is when we saw that Myrtle had no shock towers on her 6-inch beam and at some point someone had bolted shockers directly to her body. Obviously I couldn't leave the old girl like that and this is where what I thought would be a car that just required a few small bits here and there started eating away at my money.

Myrtle as she is now

Due to Covid Myrtle was away for a long period of time last year having her semi-auto clutch fitted. She then required taking back so that the mechanic down at Bewick Mobility could have a tinker with the operation to get her driving better. Apparently because Myrtle has had LED tail lights retro fitted, and they flash quickly 3 times before the brake lights light, it was confusing the ECU of the semi-auto clutch, and it was acting up. It now appears to be a lot better, and just takes a bit of time to get used to. Pulling away and hill starts need more practice, me thinks.

Myrtle was booked in for an M.O.T today at 2pm, so my dad and I changed her wheels this morning as the tyres on my smoothie rims on the front have cracks in them. This came about when her tracking was all over the place following tinkering with her front beam and air shocks. Once we had Myrtle laser aligned at The General Garage, her steering and handling drastically improved.

My dad has done the majority of the work on Myrtle, thanks dad

The new John Browns SMA's from R&R Alloys look pretty darn good, even if I do say so myself. I have 17x7's on the rear and 17x5's on the front. I had to have the fronts specially narrowed as they were catching terribly on the beam and pan. I'm not sure if putting a 6-inch beam on would have cured the problem, but I didn't want to go back to a 6 inch, preferring a 4 inch instead. This still has limited her turning circle and I have to watch if I encounter any really tight turns.

Oh and running 17's requires low profile tyres, so I am an ardent pothole watcher, and as you know there are loads about waiting to destroy your car and kill you.

Myrtle now has working suspension, she goes up and down on her Limebug equipped beams and Air-Lift 3p set up. She has Limebug's Gold Top MOA front air shocks and these have really helped her lift at the front. I am also running Cage66fabrication extended arms, which make the front wheels sit centred and stop my wheels hitting the buckets of my headlights.

Myrtle 65 SMA Wheels

We installed a full custom Aircooled Auto Elec loom and blade fuse box from Iain Burns, who was awesome in his support and service, so now among other things I have a working interior light. I know some people won't get it, but that little light brings me so much joy as I open the door to Myrtle. It's just the little things. Myrtle is also equipped with brighter LED headlight bulbs, and instrument cluster bulbs.

Me and Myrtle

 

I sent the wiper motor away to have a terminal fitted and also to have the motor serviced, apparently it is off a 1968 model, so we now have working wipers which park and my dad fitted an electric washer, using a micro switch in the original button and plunger. I also have stealth USB ports in my ashtray just in case I need to connect anything.

Wee Myrtle

Still lots more work to possibly carry out, however at least I can now enjoy cruising about in Myrtle whilst we plan the next stage in her evolution.

Things I am looking at are all mega bucks, stuff like paint, interior and possibly engine & gearbox.

Me and Myrtle

And so to today's little adventure, a rip down to the Arnison and calling into Halford's to pick up an extendable wheel brace, to keep in Myrtle just in case. 

I also need to pick up a scissor jack. I took a few pics in the car park, and then we headed back towards home stopping off at Waldridge Fell for a few more snaps. 

Looking good

It seems as if I have seen more speed humps in the last three days than any other time in my life. Myrtle still tends to catch now and again, and I hate the scarping noise. I am going to set one of my air ride presets to speed hump mode LoL

Myrtle 65

 

As for her M.O.T, passed with no problems at all...