Don't leave home without itGear: Clothes to be prepared for anything. What
you wear can be the difference between a good tour and an I-didn't-even
make-it-there tour. Besides the usual safety gear that James, obviously,
recommends, he also says you should consider bringing along a second pair
of gloves."Just like you carry a heavy jacket and a light jacket, you should carry different pairs of gloves for different weather conditions. Nothing feels better than riding through a heavy rain and being able to put on a nice set of dry gloves afterwards." Weather conditions can change rather suddenly while on the open road. Here in the Midwest, the only certainty we have about the weather is that it's going to change. To combat this, James says think about getting heated equipment. "People sometimes forget, when you start out on a 70 degree day, it might be 45 when you're returning that night," he says. "Heated anything is a good thing." And you can get heated equipment real cheap. "Battery heated socks and gloves go for $20 or $25 at hunter's supply stores," James says. "You might not need it, but the option is there all the time." Then there is the rain that usually makes an appearance at least once on any long ride. When it comes to staying dry, James cautions us that the waterproofing on our riding gear isn't always permanent. "You'll want to check with your manufacturer," he says, "but generally you need to re-treat your stuff every couple of years with something like scotchguard."  James
has one last piece of advice for continued enjoyment of the motorcycling
experience. While out on the road, remember to keep your significant other
happy. If he or she is with you on the back of the bike, or riding along
on another machine, you have to make allowances for different touring styles.
If your significant other is back at the house, make sure you stay in touch
while you're on the road."If you're out riding, and the ride is taking longer than you thought it would, pick up the phone," James says. "If the person has been worrying about you since you went out, it's going to be harder to get a pass the next time around." next —>
© 2002, American Motorcyclist Association |
