First Ride Of 2010

[Old_Rider_54]

Just got home from a 2-week business trip today, it was 39F and sunny.  Filled up the tires and took a spin - sure felt good!  Only a few "pucker up" icy spots in some shady areas of the back roads.

[fishmeister]

               You look really young in that outfit.....the cougars will be pouncing on you soon.

[Old_Rider_54]

You look really young in that outfit.....the cougars will be pouncing on you soon.

Heck, in that case I'm buying another one just like it!

[fishmeister]

                             You want multiple cougars? Trust me, one at a time's enough.....

[Old_Rider_54]

                             You want multiple cougars? Trust me, one at a time's enough.....

Nah, one cougar is enough, I'm going for younger! 

[Adam Roby]

Old_Rider_54 :  What kind of attire do you have on, is that a snowmobile suite or bike gear? 

[Hangster]

Lookin sharp     

[Old_Rider_54]

Old_Rider_54 :  What kind of attire do you have on, is that a snowmobile suite or bike gear? 

Standard bike jacket and pants (for northern climates!).  My jacket is a Joe Rocket Ballistic which comes with a warm liner.  Pants are Tourmaster Venture, also with a very warm liner.  Both with decent armor.  Gloves are Ski gloves,planning on the Tourmaster Winter Elites for next season.  Boots are just your basic Columbia winter boots.   I was good for arout 45 minutes at 38F.   Any longer (or any colder) and I wear a balaclava and fleece vest.   Note that the windshield is a huge help for cold weather.

[happycommuter]

That's the way to do it.  Roads are clear, no problem. 
Glad the occasional ice dribble was manageable.
Gear is good.

[Adam Roby]

Yeah I really need to invest in some decent gear.  The season up here is short enough as it without being held back by the cold.

[Old_Rider_54]

Yeah I really need to invest in some decent gear.  The season up here is short enough as it without being held back by the cold.

Yeah, some decent gear makes it much more pleasant.   For me, the windshield is for riding in Michigan.   I'm still not completely happy with the turbulence, so I continue to fiddle with positioning, but I can't imagine riding without one except on the 3 days it hits 90+ here. 

I'm going to upgrade my jacket to a Tourmaster Transition 2 in Hi-Viz Yellow this spring.  I'm trading my fashionable red for shocking yellow.  I figure if just one more cell phone texter notices me, it will be worth it.

[Adam Roby]

Yeah might be an idea.  I tend to wear all black, black Teknic leather jacket and jeans, (sometimes black) with black boots, black bike, black helmet.  Let's say I do not stand out very well...  :)   But even with my liner, I freeze.  I picked up some rain pants to add some wind protection but when it hits 50 degrees and less, it is just not as enjoyable.. ( out of the sun, like in the evening coming home from a ride ).  I have a small windshield, but the turbulence it terrible, have to play with it again this year.

I am considering doing some glow-in-the-dark paint on my bike this spring, maybe test it out on the helmet first.  That should help with the texters...

[Hangster]

Nothing helps with Texters NOTHING ...they are the most ignorant people on the road and i wish they just crash into one another and Wake Up , the worst ones are business people who can't stand not making money while risking everyone else's lives around them (isn't money grand ) ...Sometimes i hate my own kind

[Adam Roby]

I think it's the lack of understanding about just how dangerous they are being.  I think anyone that has or has had a motorcycle has a new appreciation for just how dangerous the road is.  Unless you've been in a crash, you don't see how much damage can be done.  In Montreal they have banned the use of cell phones in the car, well you need to use a blue tooth - yet every time you see some cager going off the road they are in the middle of texting.  I really don't want to generalize here but most of the time the texters I see are women... sorry girls, I think most men are just not advanced enough to use those kinds of phones.  :)  Men on cell phones are just as dangerous though... don't be hating ladies.