Fresh Goods Sunday - Assos Mille GT Clima Jacket Evo, Black Series

 

It has been many years since I bought a new lightweight, small packable showerproof jacket, or pertex as I call them. I come across this model from Assos when I was looking for other Assos items of clothes in the sale a good few months ago. It seemed to fit the bill so added it to my order. Yes its lightweight and packs down to a small size but does not have a stuff sack or folds up into one of its own pockets, not that it has any pockets! At first I thought the material was very bin bag like feeling and noisy but when in use it is way more comfortable than it looks. When the wind gets inside it is not that noisy compared to other jackets I have owned in the past. Yes its showerproof and defo windproof. Now this is where the biggest downside is, as I find it not very breathable and even after not much effort even on a cold day the sweat build up soaks my jersey underneath.  Its a bit like a boil in the bag jacket which is a shame as everything else is spot on, the zip is smooth and easy to use, the two holes on the back is spot on for getting access to your jersey pockets. It also washes and dries very quickly. The material is highly reflective in headlamps etc. The rrp is never worth the money in a million years but at £83 it is reasonable value. I will find one of my old stuff sacks so can put it into my handlebar bag or rear jersey pocket. The season is nearly over for it now as I am into full goretex jackets for the coming months. 

RRP £165 and I paid £83.57 from Sigma Sports inc 48 hour p&p - Discount 49%

Manufacturers blurb - 

A highly reflective outer layer that rides the line between rain shell and wind jacket, fighting back when the ride turns wet, windy, dark, and cold.

Whether used as an emergency jacket or back-pocket insurance plan, the MILLE GT Clima Jacket brings safety and protection to the forefront. To give it its reflective properties, we’ve constructed the jacket using a unique silver membrane made with microscopic spherical particles that reflect light, ensuring you “light up” when vehicles’ headlights make contact with you in low-light conditions.

• Silver Haze: Lightweight, packable 2L textile consisting of a thin mesh bonded to a hydrophilic membrane infused with highly reflective glass microbeads. Windproof, water-repellent fabric helps regulate body temperature in changing conditions.
• Glossy: This warp-knit windproof material is applied to the side panels to provide stretch and breathability.
• Dual-Layer Collar Construction: Ensures added protection, comfort, and freedom of movement in this vulnerable area.
• Full-Length Zipper: Temperature regulation courtesy of an ultralight full-length zipper with camlock.
• regularFit: Optimized for total comfort in the riding position, with a more relaxed cut than our second-skin racingFit.

Catch up and Tubeless repair on my Continental mtb 27.5" x 2" tyre

 

It has been a funny old week, very busy with my new job, the rain has been mostly relentless. Loads of flooding all over Co Durham with roads closed and rivers bursting their banks. I think the photo above sums it up, one long narrow track ahead with some glum in the distance! Anyway - 

I finished early yesterday afternoon to check on my Creo gravel bike after the previous ride. I had charged it up but the back tyre was completely flat. I fired up my compressor and aired the tyre up. I found the cut which was leaking, signs of Stans around the area, so I whipped out my tubeless puncture repair kit. Firstly, I spiked the hole with the rasp driver, as it was a small hole I used my smaller / thinner bacon plugs. These are horrible sticky things but managed to pull it through the eyelet and gave it a twist then applied the glue to all sides. Pulled out the rasp and push the plug through. The eyelet driver come out clean with the plug remaining in place. I tend not to trim the excess plug off until at least the next day for the glue to dry / go off. I was going to wash / dry and lube the bike but the pitter patter of rain started yet again.  

I will check to see if the tyre is still holding air and hopefully get it washed, dried and oiled up today but again the forecast is not looking good, in fact it's raining now as I type this. I also have a couple of other small jobs on my other bikes but again that will have to wait until it dries up. 

No Fresh Goodies this week but some small consumables as I call them might land back end of next week or the week after at the latest. 

It's time to drag out every piece of Goretex clothing / equipment I own looking at the long term forecast on the BBC! 

Hopefully more soon but I cannot guarantee anything apart from a Assos Fresh Goods Sunday tomorrow! 

A cold and damp spin up the old railway line to Leadgate and back

 

After nearly 12 hours solid rain yesterday's todays ride was damp in places but not too bad. It was freezing cold, overcast, cloudy and miserable. It was a straight out n back ride with my head down but stopped to take a few photos. On the plus side there was very little wind but the Garmin was still reading 3.4 degrees. On the way back down with just over three miles to go the back end felt funny, puncture! I kept going until it was too soft. Just under two miles left so I decided to whip out a Co2 and top it up. This got me back safely over the last two miles at a higher than normal speed! I will have to have a look in daylight to see what has gone wrong. As ever it was a little stop start with dog walkers but not too bad. All in just over 20 miles with just under 900ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride enjoy and hopefully more soon -