A Sunset and a Heated Jacket

On the Friday before we left for San Francisco we gave SpartanBabe (aka Meg) a ride to Eugene to pick her beloved Bella up from the Triumph shop.  Bella has been in the shop waiting for a new gas tank from England since October.

I did take one picture as she was suiting up for the ride home, but since Meg doesn't really like her picture taken I'm refraining from posting it on the interweb.

THE SUNSET

Meg was lucky in picking her day to ride Bella home, as I think it was the only sunny day we've seen in a month.  Since we had a box full of parts in the trunk and the original gas tank we followed her home.  While Troubadour was driving I managed to catch a few pictures of the sun setting across the valley.  I couldn't resist.  It was the most brilliant sunset I'd seen in the valley in months.  

(Sunset over the Willamette Valley - January 4, 2013)

THE HEATED JACKET

(Very similar jacket)

While at REI the weekend prior to this I'd looked at some jackets made by Columbia, North Face and Marmot, but I couldn't justify the $150-$200 price tag.  I thought if I was going to spend that much money on a jacket, it had better be heated.

While wandering around the Triumph shop waiting for the last minute details to be taken care of I spotted an Ansai heated jacket I'd admired last year.  I've been searching for a new waterproof jacket for the last month or so since the one I have is too big around, the arms are too short and I hate wearing it.

I tried on the Ansai Softshell Heated Jacket.  Meg decided it was 'definitely a Brandy color'.  I liked the way it fit so I brought it home. I wanted something comfortable and waterproof for the trip to San Francisco.  And In fact I think I am wearing it in every picture taken of me in San Francisco except while eating lunch.

(Picture brazenly stolen borrowed from Bobskoot)

Not only is it nice to have a mobile heated jacket, but notice the long cuffs that reach part way down the hand. They have a thumb hole stitched into them to keep your sleeves in place which is a feature I appreciate because I have really long arms and it is very difficult to find jackets with the sleeves long enough. It is also a nice feature when wearing gloves.

(Nice stretchy cuffs with thumb holes)

The jacket is powered by a small 7.4v/2.2Ah lithium ion rechargeable battery.  

(Rechargeable lithium ion battery has 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% power)

The left pocket has a small inner pocket closed by a Velcro tab.  If you open it up and pull out the wire you can plug in the battery and tuck it in the pocket which leaves the main pocket area open for your hand, camera, keys or other goodies.

(Long enough cord to pull it it out and see it to change the temperature setting)

The battery pack is also the four-setting controller.  At 25% the battery will last 10 hours.  The longest day I used the battery was Sunday and it was starting to run low by the time we got back to the hotel.

There are three heated panels in the jacket.  One on the upper back and one on each side of the upper chest. 

It was nice to have that bit of heat while wandering the city.  It especially came in handy while waiting in the chilly airport terminal for 5 hours.  Troubadour was chilly and there were only so many times he could put his hands down my jacket to warm them up without getting kicked out of the terminal.  Maybe we should have picked him up a jacket too.

I paid $179 for the jacket and feel it was a good value compared to what a non-heated jacket of equal quality is priced.  I haven't found the exact same model online but I think this one is last years model.  Did I mention it is machine washable too?  

I think for cold weather riding I will stick to my Tourmaster heated jacket liner since it has full heated sleeves and a heated collar, but for general purpose trying to keep warm when walking around or hiking in the cold this jacket was the perfect choice.

Did I mention they have heated gloves too........

- Au Revoir

"Every mile is two in winter." - George Herbert

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