Fresh Goods Sunday - Stanley Fatmax Pozi Drive Screwdrivers

 

Well you can never have enough screwdrivers can you. I have screwdrivers all over the house / garage and vehicles. We were looking around the factory shop at Spennymoor Co Durham one day to see what they had in and there was a tub of odd lose single screwdrivers probably from sets at a quid each! I had a good look through and managed to get a set of four pozi drive ones. I use this type of tip the most these days and they never come in wrong. I have some Stanley screwdrivers dating back nearly 35 years and they are still going strong. Yes the quality is not as good as the old days but what do you want for a quid. The tips last a long time and don't tend to round off easily and they dont round the screw heads either. The only down side if you have big hands the handles have slimmed right done over the years and feel quite small in your palm. Alot of people now a days would never even dream of using a screwdriver unless it had a battery attached to it but I am more old school when it come to smaller jobs around the home. Dont get me wrong I have a selection of cordless drills, impact drivers etc for larger jobs. 

If you are ever passing through Spennymoor call in you might just hit lucky with a bargain, stock changes on a daily basis so it is very pot luck. 

RRP around £4 to 6 each and I paid £1 each from the Dewalt / Black & Decker / Stanley Factory Shop at Spennymoor 

Manufacturers blurb - 

FEATURES & BENEFITS

• Also exists as VDE version
• Chrome vanadium steel bar allows for high torque and reduces the chance of tip breakage
• Colour coded ends make it easy to identify the correct screwdriver for each screw type
• Handle moulded direct to bar virtually unbreakable bond. Highly reliable and providing an extra long life
• Hanging hole for easy storage
• Large diameter handle offers great torque needed for driving wood screws
• Shot blasted tips ensure improved torque and corrosion protection
• Smooth domed end for fast spinning action – speed and comfort
• Soft grip handle – perfect combination of great grip plus reduces fatigue

SKU	Pozidriv tip number	Bar length (mm)
0-62-571	2	250
0-65-319	0	75
0-65-335	1	100
0-65-336	1	250
0-65-337	2	125
0-65-338	3	150
0-65-339	4	200

A ride of two halves up and down the C2C - Stanley to Rowley

Another day and another ride. Still feeling well rough but pushing myself to get a few miles in. Todays ride was a simple out n back along the old railway from Stanley to Rowley. The C2C line was not in too bad a shape considering the recent storm, one tree down and some large puddles but on a whole in good condition. Some of the local dog walkers must have a bad back / knees as they are not bending down to pick up their dog poo! The lines is pretty well splattered in places, the worst I have seen it for a long time. I set off with some sun then it clouded over and felt cold. Once I turned and started heading back down the sun came out but I also had a headwind. There was a few others out but no that busy. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

I have dragged out my full winter kit now - boots, long tights, full fingered gloves, soft shell jacket etc. 

Fresh Goods Sunday - Mountain Equipment Mens Senja Jacket

 

With the recent cold snap we are having I thought it would be a good time to post this Fresh Goods Sunday blog on my "puffa" down jacket. Many moons ago I bought a North Face jacket which was half price at the time (end of winter season) and it has never been off my back every winter when it is cold and dry. The down was getting tired and flat so thought I would have a look for a new one. The rrp on North Face has just gone through the roof the last few years so decided to look at Mountain Equipment. I wear their outdoor winter trousers every day for work and walking / going out when its wet and cold on a weekend. I also bought another spring / autumn jacket by Mountain Equipment and was blown away how good it preforms. I bought this jacket last year when it was coming to the end of season and they selling them off. It is very similar to my old North Face but this one has a hood which comes in handy. It has two big hand pockets on the front, one inner zipped pocket, velcro arm adjustment and two hem draw chords. It comes with its own stuff sack to pack the jacket down when going away. The 700 fill has been warm enough for me layered up with layers underneath. The rrp has gone up to £230 now but it was £210 when I bought it. They have also changed the colours for this season. The rpp is steep but the quality is there and as ever shop around at the end of winter / beginning of spring next year and you will get a bargain. 

RRP £230 and I paid £140 from Cotswold Outdoors (then reduced further to £120). Discount 39%

Manufacturers Blurb - 

A warm and resilient down jacket giving high levels of warmth with low weight and pack size.

Combining a lightweight construction with the weather resistance and durability of our DRILITE® Loft 40D fabric, the Senja is light and packable enough for remote journeys but with the features required for long term use. It’s the ideal insulation for trekking and mountaineering in cold conditions.

• DRILITE® Loft 40D outer fabric; totally windproof and highly water resistant
• 220g (Size L) of Pure Down with a minimum content of 90/10 700 fill power
• Stitched-through baffle construction throughout
• Adjustable Mountain HC Hood
• 2-way YKK® moulded centre front zip
• 2 zipped hand warmer pockets

Rough with a second man flu but managed a local road ride around the hills of Edmondsley / Moorsley

 

Well at the beginning of week I thought I was getting better and the man flu was on the way out but not sure if I have caught a different man flu but I have been dog rough again for days now. Also the storm we had I would not put a dog out in it but mid yesterday morning it stopped raining and the wind died down and the sun even come out yesterday afternoon. 

Today we had our third frost of the year so decided to drag my sorry arse out for a spin on the road creo. I am still suffering from man flu but had to make the effort to get a few miles in as we had a beautiful sun rise. I planned on just keeping it local so if I was dyeing I could just turn and head back. The more miles I was getting in the more I was feeling better, not sure if it was because I have not been out on the bike since Monday. I got a few climbs in at a very steady pace. I kept adding more and more sections onto the route and ended up doing 31.5 miles. Only one very close pass today so not too bad. DCC had no gritters / salt out but Sunderland Council had their roads gritted. All in it took me 2hrs 6mins with just under 2000ft of climbing and an average speed of 15mph, which I am shocked at considering how I feel. I washed both my Creo's when I got back, dried them and charged the road one up and all is well on the bike front. Enjoy a couple of snaps below and hopefully more soon-