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Tuesday, December 31 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Beth, Then, determine if you have metric or American sized nuts and bolts. You should be able to figure this out by looking through your service manual (do they call for 12mm or 5/8" for example). Still not sure? Then call or stop by your local Honda dealer and ask for the service department -- they should know what type and exact size that drain plug is -- and what exact tool they would recommend. Do NOT feel silly about asking -- remember that asking how to do something is a matter of learning -- and learning something new is ALWAYS good! Armed with this information, get thee to the hardware store or Wal-Mart to update your tool collection. Sorry I don't have the exact info you needed, but each bike is different and requires different solutions. Hopefully my information will give you a good start however. Mama Monday, December 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Shorty600, For tips on traveling by bike, including camping and paying bills while you're on the road, I've put past discussions on this subject in a new VTwin Mama section called Trip Tips. Check it out! Mama Monday, December 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Which is great because I know no other female riders or any other females that really are serious about wanting to learn and owning their own bikes and that is very hard because I am so excited about the whole thing and no one but the guys to talk to. The guys are great, very supportive and full of info. but it is just not the same. Not to mention most of the women here seem to be the about the same age as my self (turned 40 last June) and are at about the same point in their lives as I am. My son is 17 and will be graduating high school this coming June, and then leaving for the Marines shortly after graduation. My husband has a bike and I always ride on the back and although I have talked in the past about taking the course I was never really serious about it. But this past spring my husband had an accident on his bike and the bike was in the shop for a while not to mention he was not up to riding for a short time. Then we got the bike back and had a couple of short months to ride before he had to have surgery to repair damage to his shoulder from the wreck. Add in the fact we do not always have the same days off and he is a motorcycle cop which means he does not always want to ride at work for 10 hours drive the 50 minutes home and come in the door and have to take me for a ride. (who would blame him for that) So I decided enough is
enough. If I wanted to go for a ride then I was going to have to be
the one who took the steps to make it happen. So I am and I cannot
wait for winter to be over with so I can put the ball in motion. And if
learning to ride and buying our own motorcycles is one way we women deal
with mid life than I say Good For Us. I cannot think of any better
way to express ourselves at this time in our lives than taking on a new
challenge, over coming the fear and obstacles of learning something new to
obtain our own piece of freedom and self expression, all the while
creating a great common bond we can share with our "better
halves." Dear Laura, Thanks soooo much for sharing your own personal story -- because you are right -- when we share, we create a bond and find out how much our hopes and dreams are similar to others. And when we share the trials and tribulations that accompany any great undertaking, we don't feel so isolated when a challenge presents itself. Whatever it may be! As you've probably already seen, there are a ton of links to women riding clubs as well as riding/safety courses, books and magazines for women riders and much more on this site. It's all there for the navigating. Have a great winter exploring your options and formulating your plan for spring. You can do it and we look forward to hearing more from you as you begin your odyssey into the world of solo riding. It's a great trip! Mama Friday, December 27 For Elda who is just getting the hang of shifting and riding: You sound just like me when I started out. I went to the MSF course and FAILED by 2 points. I was riding a Honda 250 Nighthawk and I had such a problem getting into first gear. I either let out the clutch too fast or didn't give it gas and I would constantly stall. One time I got stuck on a hill at a red light and couldn't get going. It took 3 red lights and a lot of honking horns before I made it to the other side! Thankfully I have 2 great friends who were teaching me to ride and they were very patient! Even after I managed to get my license I always managed to stall at least once during a ride. But with practice and a brandy new Yamaha VStar650 Silverado I have overcome my clutch problems and enjoy riding. Practice Practice Practice! JoAnne M. from Dumont, NJ (note from Mama: and then practice some more! After 20 years or so, you'll still need to practice -- it just won't seem so obvious!) Friday, December 27 For Linda who is battling gloves that stick and hamper her winter riding: I'm sorry but I have no solution to the "sticking" gloves problem, but I too have the same problem as Linda. My thin leather glove bunches up under my hand and catches when I reach for the clutch, preventing my hand from reaching the clutch comfortably. I too have to lift my palm up off the handlebar in order to free my glove and reach the clutch. I too have very small hands. I ride a 1984 Honda Magna VF700, and I've been told my bike has hydraulic clutch and brake levers and I cannot replace them with customized/easier-to-reach levers! Just wanted Linda to know she wasn't alone! Thanks. Beckie (note from Mama: sometimes letting another reader know that they are not alone is enough! More solutions anyone?) Thursday, December 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Next item...handle bars that are too far away (for Richard and Kim)! Consider using different risers. That is what my husband did for me on one of my previous bikes. It was much cheaper than replacing the handlebars. Now...if you still want different handlebars, there are some places that you can go where they have a mock bike and they can put the various handlebars on it so you can see just how they would feel for you. The place I saw this was called Easy Riders, and I understand there are a number of these franchises in different areas. Take care and ride safe. Hugs. Bootygrandma (Betty) Dear Betty, Tuesday, December 24 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Fonz, You can find VLX maintenance schedules and exploded diagrams of just about everything at a VLX Forum: http://vlxdiagrams.20m.com/index.html. You'll have to blow by the many pop-up ads, but you'll get there. Or, I would suggest you purchase a full service manual for your bike. Visit your local dealer or try MotorBooks.com. Mama Tuesday, December 24 Dear VTwin Mama, It is excellent that more women are getting into riding. The encouragement, experience and wisdom shared on the VTwin Mama site is outstanding. This is a link to the ARC, Alpha Riders Club forum which I'm the owner/moderator and Co-Founder of the ARC. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlphaRidersClub I will be adding a link to the 'Links" section for VTwin Mama. Keep up the great work! Gary DeLong Dear Gary, Monday, December 23 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kim and Richard, First, read this article on their site about to correctly measure your current handlebars so that you can accurately describe how much pullback you have, or how wide your bars are, etc. If you know what you've got, you can define what it is you are looking for. Second, now that you've got that information, sit on your bike and place your hands were you would like them to be. Have someone measure the distance changes between your current handlebars and where you want your hands to be. If might be helpful to draw a sketch for yourself of the old and what you would like to see in the new. Now you can describe the exact amount of rise, pullback, width, etc. that you want. Armed with this information, you can look at aftermarket products with confidence. Larry noted that the JP Cycle catalog has these measurements listed with every offering, so one thing might be to get a free catalog from J&P Cycles so that you can compare what you've got with what is available. Or, you can visit your local dealer with exact measurements that you want and search their offerings accordingly. I hope this helps. Mama Monday, December 23 For Elda who is having some general jitters after a less than perfect ride: You go girl!!! Don't be fooled -- everyone is a little scared when they climb on their bikes for the first time and many after that. A few bikes ago I purchased a shiny new Honda Shadow 450 or something (many bikes ago). I hadn't ridden in a few years but it's just like "riding a bike." Well I hopped on, popped the clutch and ran down several and over one brand new Gold Wing. I wanted to crawl in a hole. Riding around your neighborhood is a great way to get accustomed to your bike, you'll be in familiar areas where you know all the curves etc. I swallowed my pride and have been riding since that awful day. Since then I have moved on to a Harley Lowrider and just purchased a beautiful Indian Spirit Deluxe. The safest riders always have a little fear in the back of their minds. You'll be comfortable in no time, enjoy riding and thank your husband for being a sensible, loving riding partner. Rubber down, shinny side up. Connie W. in Virginia Beach, VA (note from Mama: I came close to creating the same calamity you described! It's true -- we all find our faith in riding tested at one point or another -- but that is part of the learning process. Kudos to you Connie for finding faith within yourself to continue, despite the mishap. It happens, and by sharing this you have shown Elda that she is NOT alone!) I have been riding for a year now. Started on a 250 Nighthawk and now I have a 750 Shadow Ace. I have scared myself a number of times and have scared my husband more. When he rides behind me then I don't have to worry about the cars in the rear same as you. I've dump the 750 twice. The first time was the first ride I went on, rode 200 miles that day. Had a great ride was within walking distance to my house. I took a turn to wide and clipped the curb. The other time I was following another bike he went a little wide on a curve and got into wet leaves. He had the experience to correct. I didn't, I guess. It makes you frustrated, but I have learned from my mistakes. I think it just takes time to be a good rider. Stick with it -- this was my first summer riding and I went to more places than I thought I would the first year. Also every so often I go to empty parking lots and go over the exercises I learned at the MSF course. Ride within your limits. I have had horrible riding days where I was so nervous then the next time out was more relaxed. Thank god for patient husbands. Practice Practice Practice Be Safe! Linda (note from Mama: yes, it does take time, and mistakes are bound to happen. You've got to put forth the effort to work through the learning curve, and every good rider discovers that because they kept trying and eventually succeeded. Thanks for sharing your own trials and tribulations.) Friday, December 20 Dear VTwin Mama, I went down a road that is posted at 50 mph a little ways, then off to the country. I was so nervous that I wasnt downshifting, so I would try to take off at the stop lights in second gear and the bike would die! I would start it up and take off again. I figured Paul was a nervous wreck watching me act like a fool but he kept telling me I did fine! He rode behind me and said screw everyone else behind us, they can wait until we get going. That was a big relief! It was so comforting seeing him in my mirrors! I hope next time I go I wont be as nervous and I think I will be able to do better! I just didnt know if I would be able to get my speed up. I did okay with that but like I said was scared to death. Paul said that the next time we go riding we would cruse around the neighborhood until I get comfortable with that, then we would hit the traffic. I was just wondering if anyone else has had an experience like this. It seems like (hearing everyone else talk) most people are just naturals and take to riding like a fish to the water. I don't want to give up because I am determined but goodness, I felt like a freak out there! Ha, ha. A freak without a brain. I had forgotten everything I learned in the MSF class until I turned the corner to turn into my driveway. I was very discouraged but like I said, really want to try riding! PLEASE let me know if anyone has ever had such a wonderful ride......the whole ride only lasted about 30 miles. I don't think I would have been able to do much more! Ha, ha. I either have to laugh or cry. Elda B. in Norman Dear Elda, Natural riders my backside. Sure, lots of folks started riding when they were just wee ones, but like a lot of women riders, we didn't start until later in life. Granted, I'm sure that some people master riding a motorcycle quicker than others, and some are better riders over the long haul of it all, but they all have one thing in common -- it simply takes time to become a skillful rider. We've all either dumped one, put one in the ditch, and generally scared ourselves at some point (make that many points), but how are you going to learn if you don't get out there! You are blessed with a loving and non-judgmental husband. You are also blessed with a real desire to ride. So, like your hubby suggested, get some riding time in areas that pose as little dangers as possible, stick to first and second gear to get the hang of shifting and stopping, and before you know it, you'll be ready to tackle a little bit more. Take your time -- you've got a lifetime to ride -- and the road will be there when you're ready. I'm laughing and crying with you, and so is every other VTwin Mama sister who reads this. So get cracking and send a picture of you on your bike! You are SO not alone! Mama Thursday, December 19 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kathy, Thursday, December 19 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Linda, I simply haven't got a glove solution for this. What I can offer is this: check the Working on the Bike archive section for discussion on clutch lever solutions designed for smaller hands (you'll see it's the very first question on that site and then goes on with responses and insights). Just an option to change that out. I don't know if there is any similar for the brake lever. You might also want to check out the Short Biker site and pose your question to them (I'm assuming that most height-challenged riders have comparatively smaller hands, so they might know a thing or two!). Mama Tuesday, December 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Secondly, apparently my hands are too small to adequately reach the clutch with gloves on. Without gloves, I still have a reach, but with them, it's more difficult because the webbing between my thumb and forefinger prohibits me from having the same reach I usually have. After riding with them awhile, I took them off and tolerated extremely cold hands until we got home. I felt very unsafe with them on because I wasn't able to do things the way I normally did them. I guess I could get gloves made of another material that will slide over the grip without being too slick, but I don't know what to do about the other problem. Has anyone else had this problem and, is so, what did you do about it? Linda Dear Linda, Your glove problem poses another challenge, and I have to admit that I've never noticed my leather gloves giving me the sticking problems you've mentioned. The biggest cold weather problem I've encountered is what I can aptly describe as "fat paw" -- too much glove material bunching up in the palm of my hands when I try to curve them around the handlebar ends to ride. So now when I consider the purchase of gloves, I check to see how much they bunch up in the middle when I curl my hand around. VTwin Mama sisters -- any ideas about the sticking problem? Mama Tuesday, December 17 Dear VTwin Mama, The reason why I felt inspired to write you is because I've had my eye on a Shadow Spirit 750 but am low on cash. Can you give me any suggestions as to how I can make money for my future bike (I already work and all that money goes to pay for college tuition and expenses). Any help or ideas would be appreciated. =) Thanks VTwin Mama! Sincerely Marisol Dear Marisol, Since I don't know what your riding experience is (have you ridden before, taken a riding safety course, etc.) and also don't know how much the seller is asking for that 750cc bike you are considering, you might want to consider a smaller, used 250cc bike for the time being that won't tap your resources quite as much. Lots of women riders start on that size and are perfectly satisfied with the experience. My only advice as to getting the funds for any bike might be to barter with a seller of a bike -- perhaps they need a babysitter or help around the house or computer lessons or something like that -- work off the price of the bike they are selling with tasks you are good at. You could negotiate a deal where you would uarantee a certain amount of hours a week and number of weeks that equal the price of the bike. Yes, it would be a strain on your time resources (kudos to you for working so hard to get your education!) but if you're really gung-ho for a bike, this might be the way. It never hurts to ask a seller because you never know! VTwin Mama sisters, what say thee? Mama Monday, December 16 For Kathy who is planning a trip to Spain and needs tips about riding: My Spanish coworker said that it is pretty safe to ride, because the cages are more aware of you considering there are more motorcyclists on the road. The other piece of advice she had was that if you go into a store, make sure that you can either lock your saddlebags or take everything inside with you or else it might get stolen. She said that there are a lot of great areas in which to ride, and to have fun. Terri in Baltimore (note from Mama: thanks for asking your coworker about this!) Monday, December 16 Even MORE for Sunishine who is looking for cold weather riding solutions: While looking over the Gerbing's literature (http://www.gerbing.com) I noticed that there are accessories you can get so that you could wire the gloves to the battery without going through the liner (if you wanted a vest rather than the jacket). Also can hook up the heated socks without going through the pants. Suzy (note from Mama: Suzy wrote in and supplied great info posted on Dec. 13th, so this is an addendum! Thanks!) Hey there, I'm in Toronto, Canada and am still riding my 883 Sportster thanks to an electric vest and gloves that connect to my battery. More information can be found at http://www.widder.com. I have ridden in some pretty chilly weather, down to 20 degrees F or so and my digits and torso have remained toasty warm. A thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature. This rig is not cheap but it works, and if you really want to ride in the cold, this is the way to go. (as long as it doesn't snow!) Laura (note from Mama: boy do I feel like a wimp, but now I have an excuse -- we just got pummeled with snow and it doesn't look like it's going to let up for some time! Thanks for the info and website address!) I was out riding yesterday and thought of a couple of more things people can do to keep warm. One -- a Polartex shirt. I can ride without the lining in my jacket with it and don't feel so restricted. I got mine from Whitehorse Press. They can be found online. You can also ride with sock and glove liners. What I would like to see people who make leather pants do is to put a pocket on the front of the upper leg part of the pants to put a heating pad in. My stomach and upper legs get colder than anything. Bobbye (note from Mama: I agree -- it's always my thighs that seemed to get the coldest, right after my fingertips. I'm a great believer in super thin silk or cotton/rayon mix thermal underwear for lining all parts of the body! Still, some days are just sooooo bloody cooooold that nothing seems to really help -- unless you're on a toy run and then the mission always is such a great cause that cold doesn't matter as much!) Friday, December 13 (gulp!) For Larry who was looking for Hippo Hands: Here is a link to some
Handle Bar Gauntlets. I hope this helps. Friday, December 13 (gulp, gulp!!) For Sunishine who is looking for the right cold weather riding glove solution: I tried the gloves with the batteries and found them hard to wear with a motorcycle jacket and things like that just eat batteries alive. I use heated grips and the kind I have are not connected to the battery so if I forget to turn them off the bike will still start. They are controlled by a switch that my mechanic installed on my handlebars so I can control the heat. If I can keep my hands and feet warm, the rest of my body stays reasonably warm. You can get the little heat packs that hunters use and put them in your gloves and boots also, but be careful not to wear them next to the skin; they will burn. There is a product called the Insolator that can be put into boots. It is like an insole. I don't remember where I got them -- either from Cabela's or Sportsman Guide. The only disadvantage with the grips is they cannot be removed. They have to be put on with a special glue and they are a little shorter than my stock grips, but they are fantastic. They are called Pro Grip. I don't know the company they were ordered from because my parts man at the Honda shop got them for me. I also use baclavlokia inside my helmet. I have no idea if my spelling is right. I hope this helps. Bobbye (note from Mama: one source for the Insolator is at Motorcycleville.com. I couldn't get a better spelling on baclavlokia, so I'm not sure what it is!) How about those heated grips that Harley Davidson just came out with? Those have got to be just about the best invention next to heated seats! You go, girl! Chris (note from Mama: I also found the Hot Grips site which seems to have something for everyone! ) I don't ride in the winter because I don't like riding feeling "all bundled up" like a snowman. I've heard from experienced riders who ride year round that heated handle grips really help. Also, JCWhitney has windscreens for your hands that mount on your handlebars. I think they run around $69 or $79 a pair (not sure). I've heard those help. Sherry (note from Mama: I'm with you -- a typical fair-weather rider, but appreciate that you passed on info learned over time!) I purchased the Gerbing heated jacket liner and gloves at the huge bike show at the Javits Center (NYC) last winter and I'm super impressed with their performance. They keep me toasty warm which feels really good on a cold day. The problem with the vest is that you can't attach the gloves to it--only the full liner with the sleeves is wired to accept the gloves. It cost me $440 including all the wiring and a thermostat so you can control the temperature (like an electric blanket!) Pricey but definitely worth it if you want to do any serious cold-weather riding (in which case you might want the pants too). My only complaint is that they only came in men's sizes--someone needs to make these things in women's dimensions!!! Their website is http://www.gerbing.com You can also order them (another brand) from the Aerostitch Rider's Wearhouse catalogue--which, by the way, provides some very entertaining reading. Check out their website and get a catalogue sent to you. http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.store Hope this helps Suzy (note from Mama: a little pricy, but I agree, serious winter riders need serious gear, otherwise the cold just sucks the enjoyment out of the whole thing!) I checked out the Winter Hands and although they look really neat, my husband and I have used a less expensive idea (as the Winter Hands are $99). We found "ATV handlebar mittens" through Cabelas which are nylon on the outside and fleece lined, and are attached with Velcro strips that wrap behind the mirrors. We had to alter the slit (make it a little longer) so it would fit a bit better around the mirrors (giving you more room inside). The only drawback is that sometimes on my bike (Wide Glide), the wind blows so hard against the mittens that the brake light periodically comes on. (My husband's fairing shields the wind from doing that on his.) However, the comfort level is remarkable, and a lot of the times I'm able to ride with just my half-gloves or light leather ones. This has made a world of difference -- and has certainly lengthened our riding season (and we live in Wisconsin). The cost of these "life-savers" is $19.99 for black and the camo ones are $24.99. You can order them on-line through www.cabelas.com -- the catalog number is #QN-520269. That's just my money-saving tip for us die-hard bikers who don't want to park the 2 wheelers just yet! Looking forward to you, Petra, helping us survive the dreary winter months ahead. Have a wonderful holiday! Judy from Wisconsin (note from Mama: appreciate the alternative solution with specific notes and all related information on this. By the by, I'm planning on returning to a weekly newsletter again after the holidays to help chase those winter PMS (parked motorcycle syndrome) blues away, at least a little bit!) I've used the D-cell powered gloves Sunishine referred to in her letter and just wanted to share my thoughts. As she mentioned they are inexpensive and they work pretty good for the price. Unlike the Gerbing gloves that are made for motorcycling with heating elements through the fingers and back of the hand, these gloves only have a heating element in the palm so your fingers still get a little chilly. Although I have been visiting the Gerbing website a lot lately, dreaming of all their goodies, I haven't made the leap to drop that kind of money so I can't make a comparison. This is my final rambling thought for Sunishine and her SO: If you ride throughout the winter, and it's as cold by you as it gets here in Wisconsin, I would ask Santa to swing by a Gerbing distributor on the way to my house. Take the money you would've spent on the D-cell gloves and get yourself a pair of the D-cell heated socks :) I loooooooooove those!!! Happy riding. Paula (note from Mama: rambling, schmambling, nothing! There's plenty of room on this site for complete thoughts and sharing! Thanks for taking the time to offer your own personal insights -- the hallmark of what makes this site work!) Thursday, December 12 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kathy, Meanwhile, a little research on the Internet revealed that there are certainly places you can rent from. One example is the BreezeNet.com site, go to http://www.bnm.com/motorcycle.htm and click on Spain. There's even a U.S. 800 number to call for reservations and a list of rules and regs. Also, check out Motoeuropa for info at http://www.ideamerge.com/motoeuropa/renting/links/. Then there's the DMOZ site which has a directory of sorts which you can sort through. I envy you sister -- be safe and have fun -- I'll be thinking of you! Mama Thursday, December 12 For Alex who is wondering about the ACE 750 or the VTX 1300 Retro for he and his wife: A friend of mine has an ACE 750 and he and his wife ride 2-up all the time without a problem. He loves the bike and has never complained about it lacking power for the both of them. His wife did complain that the seat and backrest were uncomfortable and he replaced the passenger pillion with one from a Valkyrie and the backrest with a wider one from Mustang. Hope this helps. Robyn C. (note from Mama: as always, every little bit of information DOES help!) Wednesday, December 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Larry, Wednesday, December 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kip, As we preach time and time again on this site, the type of bike you choose is based on your comfort level. In the MSF course, you'll most likely learn on a 250cc bike. This is a good start. Guiding points for choosing a bike include the following: sit on the bike and make sure your feet are flat on the ground so that you have maximum control of the bike at all times. Now, stretch your arms out and see if the bike handlebars and controls are at a comfortable distance for you. Same for your legs. Next, how did you do in the course and how is your physical strength -- you don't want a bike too powerful right off the bat if this is a concern. So, what does your budget look like -- consider checking ads in the local paper or Cycle Trader or something similar for a used bike -- which by the way is a great way to get your first bike cheap and figure out what you really want! Get some miles logged in! Also, check for motorcycle shows in your area -- many of these shows are held in the winter -- the Motorcycle Events site is a good place to look (Events Calendar -- check for Cycle World shows in particular). That way you can sit on tons of bikes and get a feel for the whole thing. So wad da ya think? Enough information already? Hopefully enough to get you started. Mama Tuesday, December 10 Dear VTwin Mama,
Tuesday, December 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Elda, Monday, December 9 Dear VTwin Mama, I would really appreciate your feedback on trying to decide if I should invest into the ACE 750. Awaiting yours, best regards Alex V. Dear Alex, One note that I could add: how did your wife feel when you saw each bike? It's my experience that often times the passenger gets the "short end" of the seat and her riding comfort is easily compromised, which make longer rides less enjoyable for her. VTwin Mama sisters -- any sage advice on this subject? Mama Thursday, December 5 For Mama Sally who is looking for 3X motorcycle jackets and for Cathy who was looking for motorcycle-related jewelry: I just got a new subscriber to the VTwin Mama Newsletter -- Pat -- whose address intrigued me enough to want to check it out. It's Biker Girl Hardware, and she's got jewelry and a selection of jackets that run up to 3X. So check out her link because it looks likes she's offering solutions that might prove useful! Mama Wednesday, December 4 For Sunishine who is looking for the right cold weather riding glove solution: Sunshine, here is my $0.02 worth. If you can afford it go electric, at least the jacket/liner with a collar. Then if you can still afford it, go with electric gloves or heated grips. I wouldn't bother with the heated pants. But do buy snowmobile bibs or a good winter set of rain pants that are waterproof. Those with long johns, jeans, and the bibs will keep you warm. Also Kamik boots help your feet. Another idea is do a search for "handlebar gauntlets" or "Hippo Hands." They are mitts for your grips and Velcro to the handlebar with your hands fitting inside. Hard to explain but a search will get you a picture. The Gauntlets run around $30-50 and the Hippo Hands run $100. Also Giali makes an electric grip wrap that is removable that looks interesting. Cheryl (note from Mama: I did a search for Hippo Hands and handlebar gauntlets and you'll find suppliers by typing in those words in a search engine. Also, Kamik boots are available through a lot of distributors, so type that in as well to find them.) Update note from 12/11: finding Hippo Hands was not as easy as I imagined. They've been renamed Winter Hands. Click here for more info. Wednesday, December 4 For Running who wants a cool bike for an 8-year-old by Xmas time: Bite the bullet and buy your child a Honda or Yamaha 80cc bike. Better yet, find a used one as he/she will out grow this bike quickly but is a very good starter bike. Even a 80's 80cc bike would be great. Cheryl (note from Mama: there's lots of used bike sites that Running could check into simply by typing those words into any search engine -- or even call a local dealer to see what they might have available. Thanks for the suggestion.) Tuesday, December 3 Dear VTwin Mama, There seems to be two schools of thought, and I'd like to know what other VTwin Mamas recommend. One school is to use the heated gloves - either with a little D-cell that's attached to the back of the glove (very reasonably priced, but I wonder how they feel), or the Gerbing-type system where you plug your gloves, vest, pants, etc. into your battery (way more expensive). Then the other school is that your hands get cold because your blood is trying to keep you torso warm, and what you really need is a heated vest, not gloves. What have other women experienced, and what would you (and they) recommend? Thanks again for the great site! Sunishine Dear Sunishine, I take my cue from winter hikers who protect their feet with silk liners and then a layer of wool. And the thinking goes that mitten-type gloves, where all your fingers are in one area together, keep you warmer than gloves with individual fingers. I've never tried heated gloves, so let's see what kind of input we get -- it sounds like a fantastical idea (but keep spare batteries in your pack!). Mama Monday, December 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Short Nurse, Monday, December 2 More for BJ who has fallen for the Honda Shadow ACE Deluxe 750 but wonders if it's right for her: I own a Honda 1100 Shadow ACE Tourer. I am about 5''7". It is a great bike but I have never ridden a bike smoother, easier to handle, or more comfortable then the Honda Goldwing. Everybody that I have referred to it has brought one home. I am still in the market for one as soon as the finances get right. As I told my mother, for my 50th birthday I will be riding my Goldwing across country. Keep on riding and don't rule a bike out until you've test driven them all. No Name (note from Mama: so little time, so many bikes!) Monday, December 2 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Running, |
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