Hiut Denim open day

This time yesterday I'd just ridden through some fabulous countryside in the warming morning and arrived outside an innocuous Unit 2 on an industrial estate just outside the coastal town of Cardigan.
A good number of people milled about outside with the open space behind a roller door enticing and welcoming us. This is the manufacturing home of Hiut Denim. There are many explanations of the brand elsewhere so to me this is the company that makes the best jeans I have found, makes them 110 miles from my house, stands by their products and knows how to make the small be big.
"Come and get a tea or coffee" sounded out from inside the building, and in we went.

The day was a great relaxed affair, we queued for coffee and tea, patiently handed out by whomever was by the machine (thanks Steph) then David ran through what was going to happen. The first of the things was Norman talking about pattern making and how to be efficient at it followed by Claudio (more later) demonstrating the cutting of the denim.

Onto the Grandmasters; the ladies who with great charm had fielded the tens of staring faces and accompanying questions from our attendance. I'm sure there are many synonyms for describing what these ladies do, and how they do it but to be blunt they're bloody good at making jeans. That's Jean by the way, she made my jeans. She's lovely.  Elin (2nd right) provided us with a blow by blow narration of the process and kept us in order

Here is one of the machines which does one of the many processes that go into making the jeans. Amanda is just out of shot here working on sewing the yoke into the jeans. Two things occur on this machine as firstly the denim is folded and then sewn. Amanda has to get things lined up correctly, modulate the speed of the stitch and then snip the free off. All I could focus on was the thread oscillating as I was astounded by the skill involved.

Paul gave us a demonstration on how the jeans were repaired when we, the customers had holed them, torn them or just plain worn them and then it was lunch. Still reeling we descended on the delicious empanadas, falafels and custard tarts. None of which are Cardigan native I believe but frankly I've not tasted a nicer tart or empanada so couldn't care less.
There was limited clearance stock to be purchased if we so wished and I took fancy of a pair of raw organic jeans and decided they'd make nice shorts for summer so planned to cut them off once home. Word of this spread (thanks for dobbing me in, Emma) and Claudio volunteered to do them properly. After a quick measure they were marked up, checked and cut

then I had some shorts. Pictures of my pasty white legs will not be shown, no worry there.
Clare handed out maps and we wandered down to the Theatr Mwldan for some outstanding live music from a 14 year old lass (edit to add, her name is Hana Evans ) followed by David describing the plans ahead for the company. Ladies, your time is coming with stretch denim. Other plans were presented and the ambition of the company is both measured and also bounding.
It was a great pleasure to meet the people who made my jeans, other customers and in total a great quality company with real full vision of making small big. The lure of the pub for discussions was strong, but the lure of the evening road back was stronger.

Mini Milestones

The mighty Princess Sugar Sprinkles ticked over 38,000 miles in my care yesterday.
That's the same distance as Rick Mereki travelled in 44 days,
The same distance as this lovely Datsun 240z has covered in it's life so far, and about 1 and a half times around the Earth.
Thanks my lovely.

Stir crazy

I am now fed up of snow.
As the cars disappear under it and blend into the landscape the white stuff keeps falling.

I can safely say that it's the most I've seen fall in the 7 years here.
I got busy with the shovel last night and got a path clear and was able to get the bike from the shed. Of course then it froze overnight.
Nevermind, and steady does it.

Man it was good to be back on two (motorised) wheels.

The month that was

Well, January.
I always think that a new start comes in a new year, cliched I know. I'm hoping January won't be indicative.
A rough start when I had two massive anxiety attacks whilst on a business trip to London. It's no fun waking in the night shaking hard and being unable to get your breath.
Still the trip itself was good and worthwhile and I got to meet some great people and talk about some exciting things. If you're an iPad user, check out the Museum of London's; Dickens' Dark London App...

I had a pedal along the local canal and noticed a dam in place. This was because of bridge repairs as I found out further on.

Also interesting were a load of freshwater mussels down in the water. About the size of your fist they were.

Next up was an MTB enduro race, the Brechfa Frostbite 40. Dropped in length down to 23 miles (according to Jay's GPS tracker) it started off well and I put in some reasonable times on the first two special stages, not 'setting the world on fire' times, but good enough. Then I suffered the most massive set of cramps I had ever had in both quad muscles. I'm not normally one for outbursts, but I couldn't help but scream in agony until after about 5 minutes I was able to overcome the muscles and actually bend my legs. This was at around the 3/4 mark of the race. I began to walk off the cramp and then got back in the saddle. Every time there was a long bout of effort required though, the cramp set back in. Cue a shocking time on the final stage due to having to half walk it. So disappointed, and a crap start to the years races.

After that I decided in a huff to shave, so the three/four months of good beard and 'tache action was bade farewell. I couldn't do a full shave, but the grade 3 guard was fitted and all the style and panache was gone.
Bye.

A few days later I was on the way to work on the Tenere and got sideswiped by a guy changing lanes from middle to outside and not seeing me. I've no idea how I didn't crash and it was as scary an experience as I want to remember feeling the bike shunted a couple of foot sideways. Thankfully they have admitted full liability so I am waiting repairs to the mighty Princess.

As the weekends came around I went up to a friends farm in the Forest of Dean and helped continue the work begun in December in making and fitting a set of 3 bay doors and a partition. The front doors are 10x8' and the partition doors 14x10'. Made from 40x40x3 box section there's some weight behind them...Pic courtesy of Debs.

It was a long weekend with work done late into the night Sunday courtesy of Transit van lights.
But it was done.

Whilst waiting for bike repairs I have an SV650 courtesy bike. I've always liked the little SV and I am enjoying using it as a replacement for the Tenere.

To finish off one month and head into another I headed up to the Fens to catch up with friends and have a pedal. I took the pushiron up in the mighty Quickspaz and was glad of my mud and snow tyres when on Saturday evening the snow fell, and fell some more.

It was still around on the drive back Sunday morning.
Still the little van did good.
Here's hoping February turns out better, so far it is onto a good start thanks to good friends.

Don't care

Out and about yesterday on one of my favourite little runs and spotted this in a pull off. Stopped and chatted with the guy and gave him some more road recommendations and then we were away.
Trying to find an open hostelry can sometimes be rather difficult. Should have brought a thermos with us. High points include going into a bend that wasn't the 2nd gear screamer I thought but was actually a 1st gear switchback, and riding alongside a Red Kite that was just over the hedge.

Milestones

Why is it that certain combinations of numbers in certain contexts seem so important?

The Tenere rattled over 20,000 miles today, in 25 months almost to the day. I got a feeling of satisfaction seeing it.

Chores and more

Had to go out and pick up a lamb from the butchers over the valley yesterday morning. Roads were fine, just slush. Got home and went out exploring.

The lanes were a little more snowbound, I got stuck going up a few of them. The horses didn't have as much hassle.

You're an idiot

Prod the snow long enough and it will prod back. Turning around 2up in some woods and the bike slid over on the sloped verge edge. All fine. I don't think me laughing went down too well with the girlfriend.

Bored?

Read my self-indulgent book!

Mule

My order from OJZ Engineering turned up today, and as always the Ténéré got loaded up and hauled things home. Can't wait to start making the system for the DR.