Angus Bike Chain

You know when you go onto a website and there's a million variations of the same thing and how the hell do you decide between the one with the thingamejigger v2.3 and the thingamebobber v1.8 and the chat bot sends you round in circles.

And then you get your item, in a bashed up box left in your neighbour at 76' recycling bin. And you get it, and realise it's the totally *not* the thing you need.

We like to think that shopping with independents is the complete opposite.

They can decipher the questions you're actually trying to ask. Identify the things you need from the thing you're looking for. And narrow your options down. Find the thing and get it to you packaged beautifully in a timely fashion.

Well, Janice is the real person behind our bearings shopping. Because like bikes and every other component, there are variations of, forever being updated or even discontinued - which can affect your ride, their longevity, your bank balance and your mechanic's hair follicles!

Her specialist subjects are MTB frame bearings kits and workshop sweeties, though she also creates headset bearings kits and stocks single bearings - and is a font of knowledge, so, even if you don't know exactly what you're looking for, she definitely will!

The Grizzly Bearing Co. 🐻

Usually we reserve any 'controversy' for our personal outlets, but we really need to talk about this.

We've spoken before about "the state of the High Street" - and there's a *lot* said about it all over online community spaces.

If you can't already tell we're very much fans of Arbroath and the High Street. We'd be foolish to suggest it's not without its problems, but we also understand there's a host of interconnected issues that make it look like it is in fact dying. It's not too disimilar to any other High Street.

However, alongside the empty units, and the lick of paint much needs, there are some longstanding businesses, some new ones, and even multiples of!

We walk it daily, meet people we know, and even make new friends there.

We worry, as residents and as business owners, that the constant negativity around the town leaves Arbroath in very real danger of fulfilling the prophecy of the negativity.

Recently, Arbroath has been recognised as in need of some financial support to avoid that. £20 million over ten years to be exact. And Our Arbroath has been tasked with facilitating *our* ideas around improvements in and around the town. Some of that money is to be spent regenerating the town centre.

Now, we're old enough to remember the chants that the community wasn't involved in the previous charrettes that resulted in the redesign of the A92.

So it was surprising to find only a handful of people beyond the OA regeneration sub-committee at the discussion points on Wednesday's walk where we were *all* invited to discuss our ideas around regeneration of the town centre.

There's another walk planned tomorrow, Saturday, where you can bring your ideas, hear from others - not least because healthy exchange promotes real change. But also, because we really don't want to be pointing out in another ten years that 'yes, we were consulted' should there be cries to the contrary - just saying!

Stop-off points and approximate timings:
• Community Centre: 10:20am-10:40am
• Discussion point two: Old and Abbey 11:10am to 11:30am
• Discussion point three: The Railway Station 12:00pm to 12:20pm
• Ending at Gayfield from 12:40pm to 1pm.

📷 Kelly's own.

🚲 Gently easing Jason back into the saddle today with a wee assisted pootle along some of the Cateran Trail from Kirkton of Glen Isla.

🌧️ Second thoughts were had on our way up for a night in the van as we encountered about three weeks worth of rain in the last mile to our pitch for the night.

🏞️ Angus is so often overlooked for outdoor adventure (we're often guilty of jumping the county lines for wir fun times ourselves), despite having some of the most beautiful glen roads and trails (almost) on our doorstep in Angus. The Glen Isla roads are proper chefs kiss tarmac - though it was a shame to find most of the previously helpful simple off road signage along the way was either in disrepair or faded to the point of being illegible.

🧭 So, while we were trying to avoid the reliance on 'tech', a few of our miles were spent turning back on wirselves - always uphill, of course - much to Jason's displeasure.

💨 Highlight was the avenue of heady gorse warmed by the blazing sunshine as we upped the short (and steep) section of Kilry Road. Though, Jason reports he couldn't smell it for breathing through his bahookie!

🍽️ Refuel at while the hounds kept guard of wir bikes, though they are in fact very dog friendly there!

🚲 One of our favourite things at ABC is hearing all about everyone's cycling adventures. I hate a yap, ken?!

It's not everyone uses their bike for every single trip ever made. Not everyone is away to the Alps every summer on a mountainous mission. Jumping off stuff on your steed isn't everyone's jam. And that's alright. As far as we're concerned, if you ride a bike, you're a cyclist.

My ride buddy today won't mind me saying, came to cycling *much* later in life not having learned as a child. Once an avid (read: addicted) runner, she took to cycling when an injury meant she could no longer put in the miles on her feet.

And she still gets nervous on new roads on the bike she's ridden for many years. And that's alright too.

Stronger State Sunday Socials are not about mountainous missions, nor race speeds, and definitely not jumping off stuff.

They're the kinda rides you get to know that kinda of stuff about your riding buddies while enjoying some of our quietest country roads.

Ride whatever you have
Wear what you want
Conversational pace
No woman left behind

If that sounds like your jam - DM for WhatsApp group link.

P.s. if Granny Gray's Gingerbread is as good as the scones at - we're on to a winner! 10/10 for simple and effective bicycle storage too!