Halverssons Briads

After my winter gloves ripping themselves to shreds on the road (better than my skin) and still doing a good few hundred miles it was time to find something new. Custom Lids in Newcastle had a cracking choice of gloves to try on and flex about in. Surprised to find these at only £50. Skin tight and airy yet well protected, apparently made of goatskin or something. No more  sweaty fingers grating and rubbing with each twist.Oooh-err. 

Raincoat, Muc-off and various helmet bits

I've been through a few varieties of helmet care gear and found most of it worse than useless. A few bits stand out though and after a year or so of riding through sun rain and snow in all temperatures I'm fairly set on my little bag of tricks that keep me able to see! 

Muc-off helmet cleaner and Anti Fog. This stuff has lasted me forever. I'd buy the entire range of Muc off products if it weren't for the price. Their cleaners and lubes are excellent. It's just a shame for the price of one bottle of degreaser, I managed 3 tins of Gunk which will last me forever in a spray bottle. The helmet cleaner needs two or 3 sprays and a wipe for a streak free removal of sand, salt, blood, flies, squirrels etc. Great stuff and the anti fog treatment, if applied before every ride, works perfectly. After losing my pinlock insert (visor flew off) I've had to go back to this stuff and fortunately it does the job well. 

The Raincoat Visor Rain Repellent does exactly what it says on the box. Still on my first box after nearly a year of daily riding. Lasts forever and has saved my skin a few times. Well worth the £10 or so. Bear in mind I do tend to clean and treat my visor after almost every ride in the rain. 

Bikey bits

Been busy with the bike amongst other things. Managed a long trek to Liverpool and back with a detour through the Yorkshire dales. Excellent fun. 

Mechanically the bike runs better than ever now. Ignition timing, valve clearances and the carb mixture is finally perfect. Remarkably the greatest improvement was made by synchronising the carbs with my 35 quid eBay gauges. Idles great, revs up with no lag or bogging down from cold. 

The fire in the headlight switch circuitry eventually became apparent when my headlights cut out in the pitch black on the motorway one night. The bodge was to twist all the wires together in a vague hope of it working. Now all sorted out with a replacement unit. 

Now having a garage and dozens of cleaning tools. I have the bike a proper deep clean. Layers of gunk and dirt washed off, the bike protected by plenty of acf50. Polished up great and given a good thick coat of acf again. Only annoyance now is a clicking from the front sprocket. Although I adjust he gain fairly regularly. This seemed to come about since I switched to Wurths Dry Chain Lube. This stuff seems great. Forms a hard wax coat over the links meaning no rust and no flung oil or gunk. This clicking is only apparent on the front sprocket probably indicating worn teeth. Money is far too lacking at the moment to replace them so it'll have to hold in there. 

The local sheep didn't seem impressed by "lamby". My smelly yellow sheepskin seat.