29 November 2023

Feeling more like a proper winter day by day - mainly frozen lines

 


I had an early finish today so I took the gravel Creo out for a nippy spin up the old railway line to Consett from Langley Park. The sun was out for most of the ride which made it a lot more pleasant in freezing temperature. The old railway lines were mainly frozen apart from the wooded sections where it is still cold brown sloppy water / leaves. From Consett I turned left and over Hownsgill viaduct where Durham County Council are resurfacing another short section of track under the little tunnel area. Once I reached 10 miles I headed back down the same way where there was a few more other users out n about. By now the sun had melted the top layer of the track where it was not shaded making it soft going in places. Below are a few snaps from the ride. All in 20 miles on the nose with 800ft of climbing in 1hr 38mins. Enjoy and hopefully more soon- 











26 November 2023

Fresh Goods Sunday - Assos Mille GT Jacket Spring Fall, Black Series

 


I am sure I bought this last year but only wore it a couple of times last winter / spring time. This year it has finally stopped raining and we are getting more wintery conditions so I have dug it back out again. It is thicker/ warmer / more showerproof than my Assos winter long sleeved jersey but not as thick as my Gorewear Thermo softshell jacket but is ideal when I want to wear my waterproof jacket. The Mille GT is ideal thickness with a merino baselayer under then my waterproof jacket over the top. Or I use it when the temperature is above freezing and the forecast is dry with LS winter jersey underneath along with my merino base layer. I sometimes even wear my thicker gilet over the top to offer more warmth / wind protection to my chest. The quality of construction is superb and the cut / shape of the jacket is perfect. I has a full length zip to the front with a pull tab on the zipper. Three large pockets to the rear which are easily accessible. There are a few reflective tabs etc but not much. The only thing I can kind of fault is the cuffs don't have too much stretch in them. As ever with Assos the rrp is just eyewatering but as ever shop around for some good deals at the end of the season. 

RRP £165 and I paid £77 from Sigma Sports inc 48hr p&p - Discount 53% 

Manufacturers Blurb -
A versatile windproof and water-repellent softshell that’s perfectly suited for mild days in the saddle and essential when conditions take a turn for the wet and windy.
We conceived the MILLE GT Spring/Fall Jacket as a fine cross between a thermal long-sleeved jersey and a membrane-equipped shell. To ensure that your chest stays fully protected from rain, road spray, biting winds, and low temps, we constructed the upper front panel from a softshell material with a bonded membrane. To protect exterior areas exposed to the cold, we added a touch of insulation along the abdominals and tops of the arms, while the arm undersides and central back panel benefit from boosted breathability. Built-in safety precautions take the form of reflective strips on the lower left and right sides.

  • NEOS 7: A 2.5 layer soft-shell with a PU bonded membrane construction that renders it waterproof and close fitting. Highly breathable, it is used on the upper frontal panel to protect you from the wind and rain
  • RX: Deployed on the lower frontal panel, proprietary RX is a brushed bi-stretch warp knit fabric with wicking and thermoregulation performance
  • Type.157 Stripe Tex: Breathable and stretchy circular-knit Stripe textile on the back and under the arms. Formulated as a light knit with high levels of ventilation, it offers UV protection, supreme levels of comfort and features odorControl
  • Triple ramp pockets: Thoroughly tested pocket design with a new, game-changing layout that ensures your contents are secure and stable regardless of your exertion
  • 2W waistWave construction: For a cleaner look and more ergonomic edges
  • Raglan cut: Comfort-led sleeve design with a raglan cut for easy, free movement and reduced drag
  • Enhanced safety: Added reflective visibility features for alerting other road users to your presence, incorporated without detracting from aesthetics, including reflective stripes on the pockets
  • Silicone-free cuffs: The stretchy cuffs elevate comfort and effectively retain heat
  • Full-length camLock zip: Slim, lightweight zip for individually adjusting to the conditions