A Blast on the Buzzraw

Well I got up this morning with the intention of having a blast out on my Coast Cycles Buzzraw, this is my small funky, retro type eBike. My idea was to try and get some drone footage of me just fooling around.

Coast Cycles Buzzraw E250

Needless to say unlike the A Team's Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith, when he would say "I love it when a plan comes together", well my plan just did not come together at all. For starters it was way to windy. Poor little Sparky my drone was getting blown all over the shop. Then there was also the case that I am very much an amateur at flying and using the drone. As the battery only lasts between 10 to 16 minutes I kind of panic as soon as I turn the Spark on. I mean even before I proper take off I am fannying on trying to set the manual camera exposure on the screen of my smart phone.

So what I discovered today was that although Sparky has quite a few autonomous modes, called quick shots. I think there are like 4 in all, 

Dronie – Your aircraft will fly upwards and backwards whilst fixed on your chosen subject.
Rocket – Your aircraft will fly directly up with the camera facing down on the subject.
Helix – Your aircraft will fly upwards whilst circling your target with the camera facing it.
Circle – Your aircraft will orbit your chose subject once whilst focussing the camera on it. This mode is currently only available on the Spark.
After your drone has finished the chosen action it will return to the starting point unless told to do otherwise.

and they work really well like described, for quick shots. The problem I had when I choose the selected shot was that it only gave me 3 seconds before it started recording and going on to complete the chosen routine, which lasted about 30 seconds. I just did not have time to pop my remote control inside my jacket, clip into my bike pedals and set off, before Sparky was off trying to do his thing.

I am therefore going to have to invest more time in experimenting with active track and preferably on a less windy day.

Anyhoo moving on. I got to have a leisurely if somewhat wind swept pootle around Chapman Wells Nature reserve. The Buzzraw makes it easy to get around without becoming too knackered due to it's 250W electric pedal assisted Banfang motor. I love the whole design of the bike, my only gripe is that it is a little too small for my 6 feet tall frame. I am very cramped. However as I rode around and upon returning home and having a look at some pictures I had taken using my Gopro I realised just how ingenious the BTK Crossover actually is.

I can recall when I first started riding using an Ossur Total Knee. The amount of flexion was limited by both the prosthetic knee and the socket, as the knee would only bend as far as the socket. This meant I could not ride certain bikes and quite often as not had to have my seat really high to get the total revolution of my cranks. Well just check out the BTK Crossover in this picture. The knee does not limit you in the least in flexion. Great stuff as it doesn't then limit what I can potentially ride.

BTK Crossover with Integrated Cams

I found it quite difficult trying to ride along with a mobile phone in one hand and a GoPro in the other, my camera set to 30 photo's in 6 seconds LoL Oh and lets not forget the wind.

BTK Crossover with Integrated Cams

BTK Crossover with Integrated Cams

Playing around doing little ride by's 

Electric Power

Coast Cycles Buzzraw

Upon almost getting to the top of the trail I encountered these friendly girls in the field. They were really inquisitive and checking out my ride.

Coast Cycles Buzzraw with the girls

Some friendly cows

Will definitely have to try and experiment with Sparky a little more. Had a little play around in the GSR Yesterday with my friend John. We were up on the moors near Smidey Shore and i got this bit footage using my drone.

A toy not used...

I think I have had my DJI Spark mini drone for about a year. Poor little thing has been sitting on my shelf basically just gathering dust. When I first got it I attempted to fly it in my bedroom. This is not recommended , it attempted to attack me, coming at me with an angry buzz of it's little rotor blades. I then managed to fly it into a wall and it ate my beloved dream catcher which used to be hung on said wall.

DJI Spark

VW Beetle GSR

I am terrible at reading instructions. I just do not have the patience. And I am of the same opinion as Elon Musk who stated "Any product that needs a manual to work is broken."

Shot with my DJI Spark

Shot with my Samsung Galaxy S9

Anyhoo yesterday evening both Ern and I had a ride up the moors stopping near Smidey Shore reservoir and I had a bit play with my little drone. To be honest it was a tad windy, so no real footage. I did mange a few snaps.

 

Today I went somewhere quiet at the top of Wilka's Bank, the Stream Valley. There is a little car park there and again I had a bit play with the drone, trying to get used to the controls. 

Oot with the drone

Crap I know it's around here somewhere

VW Beetle GSR "Grandma"

I also placed the drones gimball in Follow rather than FPV, so the images were a lot steadier when flying. This little aircraft is so cool, just wished the batteries lasted longer than 16 minutes. By the time I set stuff up and figure out how to fly it, it is time to land the thing LoL Sure I will get better with practice. I have to figure out which joy stick is up and down and which rotates. I know it sounds easy enough, but when you are trying to fly and adjust your camera, well I find it difficult. I just cannot multi-task LoL

When a design becomes even better.

Hello
As usual I have neglected my blog for quite sometime. Oh sure there have been things going on, but unlike people who like to tell you on Facebook they are on to their 3rd Jaffa Cake  I figured I would contain myself until I had something of interest to share.

I have been off work, almost all of this month after being rear ended in Tango my Smart car and suffering from a spot of whiplash, so that hasn't been great. Especially as I just thought I had turned a corner health wise. The respiratory consultant I visited, appears to have done the trick with a combination of anti-acid tablets and a nasal steroid spray which makes me sneeze. I guess a cough is a fair trade for a sneeze. I think what has really helped me of course is knowing I am clear of requiring further treatments for the Non Hodgkin's. Back to watch and wait.

Anyhoo rather than bore you with why I have not been around, here is some news and info that I know a few people will be excited to read, well those missing legs, for the rest of you....Err did I happen to tell you I am on to my 4th Jaffa Cake LoL

Some of you may recall that last year I was blown away when Fabtech Systems announced, without my prior knowledge that I would be one of the first people to receive the new BTK Crossover Integrated Cams. It came totally out of the blue. I just happened to pop Facebook on and that is when I found out. Well that was well over 6 months or so ago. Greg Mattson the founder and CEO of Fabtech Systems had been keeping me up to date alongside the designer Brian Bartlett of the situation with the new design.

BTK Crossover Integrated Cams

"I Have a Dream"

As many of you know this is a famous quote by Dr Martin Luther King Jr from his iconic speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Well I too have a dream, and whilst it may not bring me fame and hopefully will not lead to me being shot,for me it is no less ambitious.

My particular dream started back in 2016, when I took a few days annual leave from work and decided to visit Scotland with my then girlfriend. We choose to visit Oban and the surrounding islands of Mull, Staffa and Iona. Oban is a lovely part of the Sottish mainland, however nothing could have prepared me for the beautiful Isle of Mull. I was in total awe of the isle as we trundled along in our tour bus. I believe I have Scottish ancestory, going way back, the Johnstone name being associated with Dumfries and Galloway, so maybe this Scottish heritage called to me, regardless I fell in love with the rolling hills and glens, the wildlife and the overall beauty of the place.

Upon arriving home from our short trip, it was all I could talk about and I began looking at different parts of Scotland with property and land,it became an obsession, a sort of waking daydream,followed by the usual night time dreams, my imagination running riot. Obviously my passion is still afire, probably more so. And when browsing the web I discovered this house,
  

Dream Big

THE house, is situated in a place of unrivalled beauty. I have never been to this particular area, however I know it is just me and deep inside I feel I belong there. Hopefully in this life, if not I will have my name down for first dibs in another. I can just see myself standing proud outside the front door "Johnstone" kilt a fluttering in the breeze...calm down ladies.

Mentally I can fall into the scene of images I have printed off. I can envisage every detail. The smell of the pine needles from the nearby woods, walking beneath the canopy of trees the sound of gravel beneath my feet the waves of the loch gently lapping at the shore. There I can taste the early morning dew, licking my lips against the chilly morning air. An eagle flying above hills and rolling glens. His view far superior to mine and yet I am more than content to just be there. The sky a hue of various blues, with white fluffy clouds, which all reflect upon the loch,creating a mirrored image which takes my breath away. All of my senses attuned to this natural magnificent gift. The scene plays as if on a giant screen in my head. Time paused,mentally I capture the image as if taking a photograph within my mind.
  

Over the years I have been through some tough times and faced quite a bit of adversity. There have been times in my darkest days where there was no rock bottom, it went far beyond that. I felt as if stood on the precipice of a dark chasm. Endless, eternal darkness before me, a stiff wind at my back. It was as if I was on the brink of being lost mentally. Somehow there would be no return. With the support of some fantastic people and arming myself with various bits of knowledge, some taught, some experienced and other bits read I was able to fight back. I have learned that your life is mainly guided by your mindset. If you are feeling lost, negativity can shield you from the light and  when you expect bad thing to happen, then guess what you are going to get exactly what you expected. Yeah some things are out of our control, but hey it doesn't half help if you can change your mindset and try and see beyond the here and now and discover a more positive you.

A simple analogy...

Imagine you have your alarm set for an early morning start, it doesn't go off, you get out of the “wrong side of bed”, stub your toe as you frantically get ready for work. You hobble through to the bathroom to give your teeth a quick brush and drop toothpaste on your clean, now dirty top. As you rush to get down stairs you stumble and sprain your ankle. Now you can't find your car keys and when you finally do, on the way to work you hit every red light. Wow a pretty bad start to the day it can only get worse...Right? WRONG!

Lets look at this morning again. Your alarm doesn't go off, “crap I am late”...“Oh well I had better get ready”. You stretch, it takes a few seconds. You get yourself out of bed, thinking “Mmmm I got out of the other side this morning”. Off to the bathroom you go. “Oops I dropped some toothpaste on my top”, no big deal, “I'll either give it a rub up or change my top”. You take your time down the stairs and discover your car keys are not where you usually leave them. “Ahh that's right I got in late last night and left them???”  Soon you are out the door and off to work. You appear to hit every red traffic light, “ah well I am late anyway and it is a lovely day, plus I am almost there safe and sound”. You get into work a little late,apologise and no one bats an eye. Bonus no bruised toe and no sprained ankle. The rest of your day goes smoothly.

Armed with positivity I am now trying to attract more of what I do want and a little less of what I don't into my life. Yeah the dream or vision of achieving my goal is a very ambitious one, however if I doubt myself then I don't stand much chance. I am sure you have all heard of this Law, it is called the law of attraction. It is a proven scientific phenomena. How many times have you actually thought something was going to happen, or focused on something and as if by magic, not necessarily immediately that thing appears in your life. The majority of the time we don't give it a second thought. 

A bit like the earlier example think bad thoughts and poor me and bad stuff will start flowing to you as that is your current mindset. Start thinking positive and about what you do want and you are more likely to see good things come into your life.

Ok back to this dream thing. Of course, my dream is not just about having this place of exceptional beauty. Although it would be amazing to live there I would still want to do something with my life. It would be no good just owning a house in a beautiful area and saying “well that's it, Job Done”, all I am going to do is retire and find the odd job or go for a ride or walk now and again. 

I have gone on to think ahead, what would I find rewarding and fulfilling. Could I possibly share my dream or parts of it? Yes of course I could. There are many places of natural beauty in Scotland. I would like to invest in some kind of guest/holiday accommodation, within this area I have discovered. From there I would like to go on and offer the opportunity for people to visit, walk, ride or even paddle in the loch. Over night camps and just a real sense of adventure, taking in the sites with amazing photographic opportunities, as well as learning some of the history of the area. I would like to create some sort of retreat, accessible to all, so that people can gather their thoughts and just relax.

It's nice to have peace and quiet at times, however I would not really want to be socially isolated as I enjoy meeting new people and hearing their stories. I could imagine sitting around a camp fire upon an evening and listening to various tales and adventures.

Many of my family, friends and work colleagues think I am off in La La Land. I have even spoken to complete strangers whilst out and about, some of which have gone on to wish me the best of luck with my dream. I am teased openly at times, all good fun. I guess the majority of people never have their own dreams come true so how can they expect mine to. I figure I am putting in so much more effort than most so lets just see. Hey this could be a kind of “I told you so”, watch this space LoL

I wake up on a morning and the first thing I do is think about this house off on the shores of the loch. I have a “dream board” which has various pictures pinned upon my wall. First thing on a morning and last thing at night I look at each picture and visualise, being there and add to my plan. Because I am thinking of this so much and talking about it, yes even to myself lol it kind of feels real and obtainable.

I will leave you with a few of my favourite quotes of the moment.

Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions”.
Henry Ford (1863 - 1947)
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, either way you are right."

And in ending I started with 
Dr Martin Luther King Jr (1929 -1968) so here is a quote from him.

“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step”

Oh and hey this is my dream, so go get your own LoL

Time to say goodbye

After much thought and consideration I have decided to thin out my fleet of bicycles. It's a bit of a sad day, well from a blokes point of view, as we tend to build up more of a bond I guess with inanimate objects, such as cars and bikes.


For sale on Pink bike

Ns Soda Air 2013

Transition Klunker 2013 

NS Analog 2011

3 bikes for sale

Looking through some of my old photo's it surprised me at just how long I had had each bike. It was nice to peruse some of the images as it brought back some nice memories of fun times, with both family and friends.

All in good fettle

All 3 bikes, a 2011 NS Analog a 2013 NS Soda Air and a 2013 Transition Klunker are in really good fettle and a real credit to me in how I have cared for them over the years. Yeah there are a few chips here and there, some of which poor Ern got blamed for as he tends to be more wreck less than me when moving my bikes around or putting them away.

Of course I will be continuing to ride, as even if I manage to get these 3 bikes sold I will still have another 5 to pick from. Oh plus my little Benneli TNT Monkey bike if I fancy something motorised.

How many beautiful messages the kintsugi technique conveys

I discovered this rather interesting topic and page on-line. The art of Kintsugi can convey many beautiful messages about resilience and how even though we can become damaged throughout life, it can make us more beautiful, unique and precious.

Upon reading various pages on the subject of  kintsugi, or kintsukuroi, literally golden (“kin”) and repair (“tsugi”). It has made me think of my own journey and the adversity I have faced. From an amputee point of view many of us go on to display our limbs, as a kind of badge of honour. I believe the psychology of this could be as a result of us just trying to say "Yeah I may have lost a limb, however look at how I am overcoming this situation". Of course many people suffer from hidden disabilities, this can include mental health problems. A daily struggle with one self and the world about them.

Hopefully by sharing this, once read it will bolster some people and give them a little room to reflect. What ever they have or indeed are facing, should be with the knowledge that they are unique and although they may feel broken, they can be repaired and are a one off beautiful creation. We can only really receive love and respect from others when we love and respect ourselves. Those that do try to bring us down are generally insecure about themselves.

Hope you enjoy the read., which you can find below

Kintsugi

The Japanese art of kintsugi teaches that broken objects are not something to hide but to display with pride.

A couple of articles about my journey.

Hi guys...

Out on my Silverback Synergy Fat with BTK Crossover

A few weeks back I was approached by Silverback Bikes and their Brand Communications Specialist Temarah Galant. I recall mentioning this in an earlier blog. Well today I got an email notifying me that a couple of articles had been released about my journey. From taking ill to the years of pain and misery and finally electing to have my leg amputated. Both articles are just a short time lapse affair, however for those interested they are a canny read.

I hope there are some people that can take inspiration and discover that you do not have to be super human to find the support you may require in wanting to achieve your goals. There are genuine people and companies out there that are willing to offer support for the ordinary guy or gal in the street. Of course you get nothing for nothing. You have to prove you are not a quitter and that you are tenacious, motivated and have the ability to accept your failures, learn then move on to your successes.

I cannot thank everyone mentioned in the articles enough for their support, as well as quite a few people who are not mentioned, but who have helped me achieve my victories along the way.

Anyhoo hope you enjoy

https://spycycle.uk/


http://ablemagazine.co.uk/able-gets-the-latest-from-silverback-cycling-ambassador-glenn-johnstone/