A short spin up and down the old railway to Bishop Auckland n back

 

It has been a while since I have slung my leg over the saddle but it was time to get back out n about again. It was a very simple route - out along the railway line to Bishop n back. The line was very wet and muddy with some big puddles in places. Someone has decided to remove nearly all the timber fencing at the roads crossings for some reason, probably for fire wood, who knows. There was not many out at 6.30am! so there was very little slowing down and speeding back up again. The forecast was for some lovely sun but it was overcast and cloudy for most of the outward leg but it finally  come out when I reached Bishop Auckland. The temperature has dropped again, hovering around 8 to 10 degrees but no wind at all. My bike was lovely and clean but it is now covered in mud ! The polish has worked, most of the puddle spray just beads off the frame. Below are a few snaps from 19 miles with 500ft of climbing, enjoy and hopefully more soon- 

Catch up inc Fresh Goodies - Specialized Fjallraven Socks and new tools

 

Apologies for the lack of blogs at the backend of last week but one thing or another I have not managed to get out on my bikes etc. On the plus side I treated myself to a new pair of socks for when I can wear my shorts or 3/4 bib tights. I looked at these last year and did not buy them as they are pricey but I bit the bullet this year and treated myself. I have loads of new socks now ready for some good weather riding. More on these in an up coming Fresh Goods Sunday later in the year. 

Yesterday morning was bike washing and fixing time. I washed, dried, oiled three of my bikes and gave them all a polish with Autoglym Super Resin polish. After that I adjusted the rear mech on my Creo road bike as it was struggling to get into the large cog on the cassette. A full turn of the B tension screw sorted that. I also topped up the Stans tubeless sealant in the rear tyre. Charged up the Shimano Di2 battery. On my Creo Gravel bike I removed the bar bag and moved the foam spacer back into place on one of the straps, apart from that this bike is running good. I had nothing to fettle on the Trek Procaliber.  They are already for some more miles under the tyres. 

Also a couple of weeks ago me, Angus & Arran had a day off work to go down to a Professional Builders Tool Fair at Harrogate. It is first time we have been to the event so was unsure what to expect but we were all very impressed with the fair and if it comes back up north again next year we will defo be going back. You had to pre register and book in on the day. It was on over a Thursday and Friday. We got there before the doors were open at 10am and there was already hundreds of people already signed in and waiting at the doors! we were not expecting that. Inside the show hall the companies had set up their stands and it was busy first thing but calmed down after dinner time. If you are are into your tools then this was the place to come. The Wera stand was unreal, there must have been 10's thousands of pounds of stock there. It was good to see, feel and handle items instead of looking at them on websites. The Knipex stand was also very busy. I also got a voucher for a free T shirt and a free bacon butty. We all come away with some goodies, below are a few of my buys - 

Fresh Goods Sunday - Assos Mille GT Evo Winter Jacket - Black Series

 

If you follow my blog you will have noticed that I have dont purchase much Gorewear & Endura clothing now and have moved over to Assos over the last year or so. I found this GT Evo winter jacket and the Ultraz version in the sale back in January this year. I have just started wearing a spare Gorewear softshell windstopper jacket last year as the zip was starting to play up on my older one. I have used three Gorewear Softshell jackets over 20+ years and cannot fault the quality or fit and is my go to jacket when its cold, windy but no heavy rain.

When the Assos models turned up I was very impressed with their quality and feel. This model is not as thick, warm etc as my Gorewear one but the Ultraz model is. I put them into storage for when my Gorewear one finally gives up the ghost but recently we have had some weather where it was too warm for a full on softshell but too cold for winter jerseys and gilet. This is when I decided to try out this Mille GT Evo jacket. I have used it several times with a short sleeved merino base layer and either my winter or showerproof gilet on and has been perfect for keeping me warm to not too hot. With the increase in some of our day time temperatures I have also worn it without a gilet and has also been spot on keeping the chill off chest on descents etc. It is a more snug fitting compared to the Assos Ultraz and Gorewear Soft Shell version. As ever the quality and feel of the garment is top notch and has a full length zip to the front with a large tag on the zip pull. There are three rear pockets to the rear which are easy to access with gloves on. There are few reflective strips but not many. I have not worn it in heavy rain but the odd light shower has not been a problem. I will use this jacket more in Spring / Autumn seasons when its not too cold and not too warm, an in between seasons jacket! As for the rrp well as ever with Assos it is eye watering but always keep your eyes peeled for sale items as Assos clothing is normally around 30-45+% off.

RRP £225.00 and I paid £144.90 from Sigma Sports inc 24hr delivery. Discount 36%. 

Manufactures Blurb - 

Boasting a blend of advanced materials, the Assos Mille GT EVO Winter Jacket shields and insulates from chilly winds and drizzle but remains tremendously breathable to award the perfect performance for cool spring and autumn days or milder winter conditions. Although not fully waterproof, an outer jacket should only be required in heavy or prolonged rain, especially when training hard.

A full front panel of NEOS Medium material totally shields the chest from the chilly winter air thanks to its wind and water resistance and a high degree of insulation. The lighter but still wind and water-resistant RX Light fabric protects the arms and upper back but boosts the breathability of the jacket tremendously. To combat excessive perspiration during intense efforts, sections of RX material are positioned under the arms and on the back to grant rapid moisture wicking and prevent the wearer from overheating.

These three sophisticated materials are linked together with a form-fitting but unrestrictive cut, which is optimised for the riding position but also facilitates the comfortable wearing of insulating layers underneath. The raglan sleeve-to-body junction improves freedom of movement and comfort in the shoulder zone, even when riding stretched out, deep in the drops.

Three rear pockets store all ride essentials and protect the contents thanks to their innovative lid design. These pockets are accented by reflective strips to enhance safety when riding in low-light conditions and a full-length zip completes the jacket by providing the opportunity for tailored levels of ventilation.

FEATURES

• A perfect jacket for milder winter conditions when medium-weight insulation, wind shielding and high levels of breathability are the priorities
• NEOS Medium front panel is insulating, 100% windproof and waterproof
• The upper back and upper arms use the windproof, waterproof and breathable NEOS Light textile
• RX material features on the underarms and back to afford higher levels of moisture management
• regularFit cut is optimised for comfort in the riding position while allowing for layers underneath
• Raglan sleeve design is free of a traditional shoulder seam for a greater range of motion
• Triple Ramp Pockets are flexible and possess “lids” to cover the contents for added security
• Full-length zip grants easy temperature regulation
• Reflective strips placed on both sides of the centre pocket add visibility in low-light conditions
• Assos Climarange: Winter 3/3