Fresh Goods Sunday - Berghaus Men’s Stormcloud Prime Insulated Jacket

 

I am one of those people that has a jacket / coat for nearly every weather condition possible. I have full on three layer Gotrex jackets to massive down jackets for well below freezing temperatures to showerproof coats to lightweight ones for the summer. The weather we have had alot more of over February and some of March was not too cold with sunshine one minute then a heavy showers the next minute. Now I did not have a coat that was suited to this type of weather so was looking for a softshell type. We were passing Go Outdoors a while ago when we were walking around Team Valley and this model of jacket was on the end rail of one of the isles. I thought this might be just what I was looking for, not totally waterproof but good enough for some heavy showers and it was insulated inside so ideal for colder temperatures but above freezing. When we went away for our 8 day break to the Lakes, Scottish Borders and Northumberland it was never off my back. We had mixed cold’ish weather everyday and there was only one time I had to take it off as I was too hot. I should have bought this type of coat years ago and as with most Berghaus products the quality is spot on. Any problems email them and they sort it out. The price was spot on as it was half price. The size is alittle to big for me as the next size down was sold out. It has lovely deep warm pockets for your hands, comfortable and adjustable hood, draw string hem. The sleeves have velcro tab adjustment and a full length zip with a flap over fastened by press studs, not velcro. 

RRP £150 and I paid £75 from Go Outdoors. Discount 50% 

Manufacturers Blurb - 

The coloured fabric backer makes this a stylish jacket with technical features to ensure you’re protected during colder weather. Experts of the outdoors, Berghaus offers a jacket constructed with Hydroshell™ waterproof and breathable technology designed to keep you dry inside and out. The jacket is coated in a durable water repellent (DWR) finish ensuring drizzles and splashes bead off. The jacket is highly insulated and can be worn alone or over layers to keep you cosy in colder conditions.

The jacket has an adjustable hood, cuffs and hem for when you need to lock in warmth and ensure the cold wind is kept out. Two zipped hand pockets are ideal for safely storing your outdoor essentials on your person. Perfect for rainy walks with the dog or hikes on the hills.

• Popular, fully waterproof shell from Berghaus
• Highly breathable, waterproof construction with a Durable Water Repellent finish
• Highly insulated
• Adjustable hood
• Coloured fabric backer
• Drawcord hem adjustment
• Adjustable cuff tabs
• Centre-front reverse coil zip
• 2 x zipped hand pockets
• Weight: 285g
• Colour: Blue

Trip upto Gateshead and the Quayside for the half marathon

 

Angus had pre entered the Gateshead half marathon so we all had a drive up and dropped him off at the start, Gateshead Stadium. We then parked up and had a walk down to the Sage, quayside market then watched him passing us a few times before going back to pick him up. The weather was cold and wet but most of the runners seemed to be enjoying it! Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Start Cycles - Local Bike Shop Day Offers

 

This weeks Fresh Goodies - Assos MILLE GT C2 Shifter SS Jersey, Cyclist Magazine, Clif Energy Bars & Fox Pinnacle Technical T Shirt

 

Yes another item of Assos clothing, treaded myself to a new short sleeved jersey for when we might get some warmer weather - Mille GT C2 Shifter - Eucalipto Green rrp £110 and I paid £66.99 inc 48hr p&p from Infinity Cycles 

This months edition (June 23) of Cyclist magazine - £6.45 from Sainsburys

A few more energy bars - Clif Choclate Chip rrp £2.00 and I paid £1.53 each from Go Outdoors 

And a T shirt form Go Outdoors - Fox Pinnacle Technical T Shirt rrp £30 and I paid £11.67

more all all of these in up coming Fresh Goods Sundays. 

NE XC MTB Round 2 @ Hetton Lyons Country Park 29th April

 

Some of County Durham’s smoothest gravel tracks - 80km in the sun and freezing cold wind.

 

An early start today as the there was a sunrise forecasted around 5.45am and a few hours of sunny weather before cloud and rain showers were going to start. I was up and out just before 6am from Broompark picnic area. I hoped straight onto the old railway line to Consett then turned left and all the way up the C2C to Parkhead. There was a sunrise and I had the sun for most of this leg of the ride. The only downside was the freezing cold wind. All the puddles and track was frozen all the way up but the sun had started to melt it when I was coming back over the open moor section from Parkhead. It was lovely and quiet all the way up and only a few others out around Lanchester, Langley Park and Bearpark on the way back down. It was a simple enough out n back route and I stopped at Parkhead for 1/2 an energy bar and a slurp of freezing cold juice. Once back at Broompark I peeled off my gillet and fitted my range extender battery as I wanted to make the ride up to a 50 miler, I also had my other 1/2 of my energy bar, it was solid with the cold. I probably had enough in my main battery but fitted the top up just in case. I then headed off down the old railway towards Esh Winning n back to make it up to just over 50 miles. The sun was still shining and temperature went from minus -4.3 degrees up to plus + 9 degrees. 

All in just over 50 miles in 3hrs 42 mins, ave 13.5mph with 1800ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride and a short video clip at the bottom, enjoy and hopefully more soon -