Fresh Goods Sunday - Gorewear Spirit Jacket (Mens)

 

I bought this new jacket last Autumn as my older Gorewear C3 Goretex jacket was getting a little tight when I have full winter kit / layers on underneath. It was ok when I wore it in the summer / late Spring / early Autumn when it was cold or there was showers. I was looking for a larger replacement that was a similar basic design / materials etc. Gorewear has discontinued the C3 in jacket form just the thermal jacket which I already have. 

So I found this Spirit model in a sale and is still discounted.  It come in three colours, all black, fluro yellow with black and blue with black. My C3 is all fluro yellow with no black. I opted for the black version this time which was more expensive than the yellow and blue one in the sale. Sizing is from S to XXXL, please do check the new Gorewear sizing chart as the sizing has got a lot more smaller than older days sizing. 

The jacket is very basic but I did not want anything too heavy with loads of features. It has a zipped chest pocket but the first thing I noticed which annoys me is the bottom of the zip is level with the bottom of pocket. I like the zip to start up around 1/2", so say when I am putting my camera in it does not come back out whilst trying to pull the zip up with one hand. The rear pocket is on right side with a vertical zip. I don't use this pocket, its too small for me. My older C3 has one larger horizontal pocket in the middle of the rear with a horizontal zip, which I do use. The Goretex material is different - Infinium instead of Active. I don't now the technical differences are but the first thing I noticed when taking the jacket out of the bag it felt and sounded like a crisp packet. The Active materials is completely different, soft and noise free. It does not feel as comfortable to wear as the C3 and is more noisy when the jacket gets wind inside or flapping around with wind. On the plus side it keeps the cold off your upper body very well and is showerproof. I have not used it in heavy rain so cannot comment on that. It also wicks well but if the temperature gets too hot you can start to cook in it. It has a few reflective strips and logos, see photos below. The arms have velcro adjustable cuffs and there is an elasticated hem with pull chord. Overall I have had no real problems with the jacket and it washes well. The price I paid was enough for a basic Goretex jacket. 

RRP £149.99 and I paid £102.49 from Wiggle inc 48hr p&p - 32% discount . 

If you want the blue version Wiggle have them in the sale for £68.99 - absolute bargain. 

Manufacturers Blurb - 

Designed to offer proven and reliable weather protection at our most accessible price point.

As your passion for cycling increases you need the best equipment to support it. We created this jacket to provide your first entry into GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER® and the cycling apparel of Gore Wear. It is versatile for all your needs and great value for every day wear. Once you experience the difference good kit can make to your bad weather riding experience you will never look back. PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS Water resistant Totally windproof Extremely breathable Designed for warm weather Engineered for Cycling Stretch Lightweight Weight: 288 grams Product Details GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ fabrics with GORE® WINDSTOPPER® product technology: totally windproof, extremely breathable and durably water resistant, lightweight protection Close fit high collar Adjustable cuff Adjustable hem Napoleon pocket with zip Zipped back pocket Zip tags for easy opening Full length zip with underflap and zipper garage Contemporary look Reflective details

A sunny & cloudy but very windy spin up and down to coast to South Shields from Sunderland

 

I was over in Sunderland today and had my bike with me so thought it would be a good idea to have a quick spin up and back down the coast. The last time I washed my bike I swapped the 650b wheels over to my 700c version. I have not used them since buying my 650b wheelset. The sun was shinning when I set and nearly lasted all the way to South Shields including a massive tailwind. There was quiet a few others out enjoying the summer holidays so it was slow going in places. At Shields I turned and come back via the coast road with a 20+mph headwind. It had clouded over and the temperature had dropped. Just as well I had my gilet on it was fresh to say the least! Below are a few snaps from the 18 mile ride. There was not mush climbing, just under 500ft, enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Fresh Goods Sunday - Attacus CC Premium socks (Black)

 

You may not have heard of this small cycle clothing brand as its not a main stream cycle shop / website shop clothing range.  They don't have any distributors and sell direct themselves to customers via their own website. They were based in London but moved to the North East a few years ago with offices at Tanfiled Lea, then Langley Park and now they are in Consett. 

Attacus have a good range of clothing from cycling to the leisure side. From gilets, jerseys, baselayers, shorts, tights, gloves, socks and warmers. They have a huge range of colour options and sizes. 

On their first pop up shop day was my first chance to see their clothing in real life. I was after some more summer socks and they come in various different colours but these were for off road I mainly get black to hide all the muck! The socks comes in two sizes with small to medium going upto size 9. My feet are are 8 to 8.5 and they are on the max stretch but still comfortable. If i was a 9 I would go up to the medium to large size. 

I have worn them on quite a few rides now and not had any problems, they are comfortable to wear and cool enough with the material they use. The top part stays in place and does not drop down in use. Only time will tell how long they last in use. The feel and quality of the sock is good quality. The rrp is on the high side I feel compared to other manufacturers top end socks. If you see my previous post they have got 30% off at the mo so make sure you make the most of it. 

RRP £15 and I paid £12 from Attacus CC pop up shop. Discount 20% 

Manufacturers blurb - Our Premium Cycling Socks are made with a technical, lightweight, durable, elasticated yarn that's specially designed to regulate temperature and wick away sweat, keeping your feet dry longer.  Their woven mesh finish also offers a touch of compression to keep them firmly in place and aid circulation.

It's what makes them so damn good for cycling in.

63% nylon 37% elastane. Made in China.

Size Guide - S/M - 5 to 9 & M/L - 9 to 13