Fresh Goods Sunday - Specialized Purist Fixy 22oz Waterbottle

I bought this water bottle a good while ago but I have never sued it. I was going through our cupboard where we keep all our water bottles and some were getting a little past there life if you know what I mean. So I decided to get out a new bottle from my spare stock - Specialized Purist Fixy. I have used Purist bottles in the past and never had any problems with them. The rrp is eye watering for a plastic bottle and don't really last any longer than a £5 water bottle tbh. The only reason I bought this one was because of its nice and bright logo, thought it would look good on my road Creo bike. I am not going to use it on my gravel or mtb as the grit will wear away the logo very quickly. The 22oz capacity works out at around 600ml so slightly bigger than a standard 500ml uk bottle. The mouth piece is easy to open with your teeth and plenty of fluid comes out. The top does not leak and its easy to wash. The opening on the bottle is large enough to get the juice / water in. It says in my the bottle cage securely and has not jumped out yet. What more can you say about a water bottle! 

RRP £15 and I paid £10 from Bike Scene

Manufacturers blurb - 

The Purist Fixy Bottle features an amorphous silicon dioxide coating that's infused into the inner-wall of the bottle. Essentially, this forms a glass-like finish that provides a totally natural, and completely inert, solution to the problem of your drinks staining the bottle or leaving behind any residual aftertaste. This infusion also shields your fresh water from tasting like plastic on very hot days, making it akin to drinking straight from a sparkling clean glass.

• Purist infusion shields the bottle from odour, stains, and mould to keep your water pure and your bottle clean.
• Self-sealing Heart Valve™ delivers a high rate of flow with a 100% leak-proof design, even when the valve is open.
• No push or pull is required to open and close the Heart Valve™.
• Easy-to-clean mouthpiece
• Ergonomic design of cap body provides easy grip.
• Made from easy-to-squeeze LDPE material.
• Clear viewing strip makes it easy to see the bottle's contents.
• BPA-Free plastic is made from 100% FDA food-grade materials, and it's printed with non-solvent base (UV Cured), CPSC-approved ink and materials.
• Available in 22oz and 26oz Purist Bottles.

Clocks change - lighter morning Durham ride - just beating the rain

 

Due to the clock / time change last night and me not getting out until a little bit later I only needed my lights for the first 1/2 hour on full beam. Again I was chasing the forecasted rain. with BBC having rain forecasted all day but it was dry when I looked out the window first thing. Met had rain from 8am and they were spot on. My last two miles was quicker than my previous thirteen miles as it was spitting rain and get darker again. Also after yesterdays near continuous rain the tracks n trail were wet n muddy this morning. There was a few more people out n about this morning so had some dodging and weaving to do! On the plus side the wind has died down slightly but its getting colder with the Garmin hovering around 5 degrees. I swapped my helmet light bracket onto my winter helmet as I have now dug out my 45nrth merino hat to keep my head warm. I am also going to retire my road and mtb cycling shoes to the garage and dig out my winter road and mtb winter boots out. 

All in just under 15.50miles in 1hr 15 mins with just under 8000ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Another dark Durham loop but with Exposure Lights Helmet mount - game changer!

 

I have used various handlebar mounted bike lights over the many years of riding. Some better than others but I have never used a front light mounted to my helmet. Riders have been using helmet mounted lights for many years now I have never really had a light suitable to use in this location with an integrated battery and was light enough, until now. 

My new Exposure Sirius light has an integrated battery and is very light so looked into a helmet mount for it. Exposure manufacture various different models of brackets but I opted for the front facing single mount model - EXPHM. It arrived this week and there is not a lot it. 

Anyway more on the bracket soon but I fitted it to my summer helmet before I went out this morning at 6am. After a few tweaks with the angle it was set up for approx 1.5m in front of my front wheel to brighten up the gap between the start of my main Lupine light. I also wanted to illuminate a short distance in front me when say I turn a sharp corner before I turn my handlebars. 

Well after 15 miles of pitch black riding I can say the helmet mounted light is a total game changer to riding in the dark. I should have started using ones years ago! After a few more rides I will do a Fresh Goods Sunday on the bracket / light. 

Anyway this mornings ride was very windy and cold. The Garmin was reading around 7 degrees with a 25+mph wind. The trails are still dry and we have not had the flooding like over in the Lakes. There was hardly a sole out and about, I had the tracks n trails all to myself. 

All in I covered just under 15.5miles in 1hr 15 mins and climbed 800ft. Below are a few snaps of the light on my helmet and of the ride. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Wheelbase Cycles bought out by JD Group

I read about this a few weeks ago. I am not too sure if it is a good thing or not. I suppose only time will tell. Lets hope the shops keep the local feel / service as they are now and have been for years. I remember going into the one in Stavesley many years ago when they first started up and thought it was unreal. Literally hundreds of bikes under one roof.