TOPIC:

Dear Riding Gear,


It's funny, even though I ride every day and often do 100+ on days I have to go into work, I still somehow manage to frequently end up without you at least once or twice a month. Usually it's the same old story. It's Friday and it's a beautiful day and...well, I don't really want to shove all this "stuff" into my bag so I'll just come back this weekend for it sometime. But it never works out that way, does it?

That's okay because I've got my trusty backup jacket, gloves and full face and...oh....yeah, that's right, that's at work too because this same thing happened last week. You and "backup set" are probably both going to have a big laugh at my expense when I come in, toss my stuff under my desk and wander off to find a faucet with hot water to run my hands under, huh?

Now, in all honesty, my residence the past 16 years in Washington state has left me with the mindset that mornings anywhere in the 50 fahrenheit range are pretty comfortable and anything approaching 80 is nearing downright toasty. Most of the year, I get by around town with just a k-shirt and an overshirt, a little shorty helmet and my glasses...a little messenger bag or backpack tossed over my back.

Some mornings, however, the temperature can really dip down there. 35 fahrenheit isn't extraordinarily uncommon on days that reach 90 in the afternoon and the occasional torential downpour is not to be unexpected. You know that, that's why you (with your nice, if bulky, zip out liner and leathery exterior) and I get along so well most of the time. And yes, maybe it's callous and heartless of me to leave you in my desk drawer while I'm out enjoying the sun but really, there must be a solution to this. Maybe you could catch a ride with someone and we can meet each other back home? That way neither one of us feels tied down.

Sure, I know that we talk about getting bags so that you'll always have a place at my side but...well...I don't really care for bags (as you know) and you've done little to even try to fit into that little cup behind the battery under the seat.

I guess, when it comes down to it, you've given me your ultimatum. Embrace this relationship for all it's benefits and faults or ride cold in the morning. What choice do I really have? I only wish you understood how bulky and hot you can be in the afternoons...

Love,

-Wolfie

Post edited by: Virii, at: 2007/07/02 15:40

any place else and they would be calling the guys in the white coats and padded rooms

BSKZ650 wrote:

any place else and they would be calling the guys in the white coats and padded rooms

Yeah, I understood perfectly!

I don't know why anyone else would think otherwise.

ATGATT - Read this.

Not preaching, just giving a friendly suggestion.

Post edited by: pyxen, at: 2007/07/02 15:13

Well met, and you're certainly not the only person who's felt it was underdressing to rely on essentially just a big patch of kevlar.

A K-shirt is about the only viable alternative to leather I've come up with so far, however. One hot summer of sitting at a near standstill on black asphault for 2 hours a day is enough to tell me that there has got to be a reasonable alternative to leathers in summer. Everything else I've tried either is just as hot, sticks, sweats, stinks, shrinks or crinkles (which is hard to deal with when you're wearing it all day in and out of an office)

Post edited by: Virii, at: 2007/07/02 16:16

I just googled "K-shirt".. COOL stuff! You may have just sold some of their products It gets HOT here and even my mesh/armor jacket is pretty freekin uncomfortable.
~A

And here I thought this thread was gonna be about riding naked.... Been there, done that, bugs hurt!!

Yep...learned (sort of) my lesson too...t-boned a Ford Ranchero w/ my first GPz1100 and did the big skid down the Island Road south of Port Aransas, Texas. Was wearing a helmet, shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops. Lost the skin off my back, hands, shoulders, ankles...ground off part of an elbow, dislocated a shoulder, and the ickiest of all (besides totaling my scooter), ground off all my toe nails.

Post edited by: Mcdroid, at: 2007/07/05 13:18

Barber wrote:

And here I thought this thread was gonna be about riding naked.... Been there, done that, bugs hurt!!

Yeah, tell me about it. Kevlar is light, breathes, takes an increadible beating but a bee at 70mph still stings...

I know the bee sting, had one come over the faring at 70, the sob got me twice, damn near crashed trying to get him off of me

I have a Scorpion exo 700 helmet, has a boatload of vents but every now and then on a hot day it just needs a good "flush". I flipped my visor one day on the freeway and a bee picked just that moment to tag my cheek. I realized real quick he was still in my helmet and probably pretty pissed off if he was still kicking. Luckily, a quick sideglance "sucked" him right out before either of us could really panic about it.

Post edited by: Virii, at: 2007/07/05 14:41

Virii wrote:

Barber wrote:

And here I thought this thread was gonna be about riding naked.... Been there, done that, bugs hurt!!

Yeah, tell me about it. Kevlar is light, breathes, takes an increadible beating but a bee at 70mph still stings...

No... I actually ment riding naked.. as in the buff, nothing on but sunglasses... Oh to be young and stupid again...