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2003Tuesday, February 4 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Megan, I did have one letter in response to that newsletter item from a former ER nurse who noted that the least of your worries when in an accident is having your $100 chaps or jacket cut open to allow paramedics access to put in IV lines or examine for possible pelvic breaks. It's a good point. – Mama Wednesday, February 5 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sarah, Absolutely do not skimp on the helmet -- and a helmet is an absolute must. While you may be led into thinking a used helmet is ok, if it's endured a hard enough knock already, there may be internal cracks that you cannot see that might render it useless in another crash. Then, she needs clear goggles to protect her eyes if the helmet you choose does not have a built in face shield. Next -- riding boots. Used boots are ok, but at a very minimum they must protect the whole foot and ankle area. Better yet, for off-road zooming, protection up through the leg's calf area is a total need. For the rest of the clothing, full length pants and long-sleeve shirt and jacket are important. Road/dirt rash is NOT funny. While your daughter might see more experienced riders in short sleeves, this is not appropriate for beginners. Period. You might want to consider knee and elbow protection in the beginning practice rides as this is the point she is more liable to fall at any time -- and I do mean any time. Used gloves are ok, but are cheap enough to buy new. Fox gear is the main name is any of these items and you can find a local dealer by visiting their website. Call your nearest dealer to see if they have used items. Or, visit eBay for Fox gear there. Also, consider doing another search on the Internet for a forum that specifically caters to the exact type of riding she will be doing. You'll get lots more hints and tips there. – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Tuesday, February 25 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear NN, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kiara, As someone with long arms, I understand that your quest of gear can be a bit daunting. If you're hunting for gear online, the good news is that many have sizing charts that at least keep you from ordering something which you can see is not going to meet your needs. Good sites will offer some type of communication means so that you can ask more questions, or inquire about customized versions to accommodate your body type. One great often mentioned by the VTwin Mama sisters is the Woman Biker site -- with apparel specifically for women riders and sizes up to 2XL (in some cases) and the ability to customize -- if you would only ask!. Another site I like, and just discovered, is All Together Leather -- and they have a Sizes Link right at the top of their page so you can quickly determine if they've got what you need (check the link below to give them a visit). – Mama For Kiara who is looking for riding gear to fit her longer arms: Good for you! You're shopping for safety gear first. I have long arms and legs and have so tired of wearing men's clothes that just don't fit right also, so I went on a quest for the perfect jacket. First Gear company supplied me with the perfect fit, arms and all! I have the "Pearl" and love it! It's not expensive compared to a lot out there, it is totally waterproof, armor included. They arms are almost too long!! Whoo Whee! It also has an adjustment in the waist to make it fit you perfectly. I ordered a size larger because I ride in cold weather and wanted room for layers. It comes with a full sleeve liner also. Last week, I was hit in the side by an older gentleman at an intersection. Although the impact caused a compound fracture to my left leg, I have no road burn or bruises thanks to this jacket! I slid down the asphalt for several yards, rolled down then back up a rocky ditch. The jacket doesn't even show any rub places. I can truly say this Jacket offered great protection. Just as a footnote to everyone else, I also had "Cruiserworks" boots on. Dr. said it saved my foot. Great boots, great protection, but not the least expensive out there. My foot was certainly worth the extra few dollars. – Joyce (note from Mama: thanks for sharing your specific suggestions and adding information about the difference it made when you were hit. Best wishes for your speedy recovery!) Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Cindy, Monday, April 21 For Cindy who is wondering how good Frogg Toggs rain gear is: They are the greatest! My husband and I got caught is some nasty Gully washers while on vacation in Florida a couple of years ago and they kept us completely dry. The bike was wet all around us....but we were dry! Like Petra said....they breathe with you, so you do not get hot and sweaty when wearing them The pants come in two types...regular or bibs. We were fortunate in that we were able to go to the dealer's home and try them on. The dealer allowed us to mix and match the sizes. They come in many colors as well. One thing that Frogg Toggs do not like is the heat from your bike, so if you think you may have your legs too close to the heat shield, you could make a protector out of an old ironing board cover to prevent any damage from that. By the way...did you know you could take a bucket of water and stick the jacket and pants into it....yet when you take them out....they are still dry? I have seen this done, and it is true! Again....they are the greatest. Oh yes...one other thing is that they fold up really compact and you could put them in a large zip lock when not wearing them. Try them...you'll like them! P.S. I have recommended them to a lot of other bikers and they all love them. One individual bought himself two sets! – Bootygrandma aka Betty (note from Mama: thanks for your in-depth review and the added note about legs too near hot bike parts!) We have found Frogg Toggs to be the nicest rain suits, wind protection, and great for when it is just a little chilly out. We have had ours for about 5 years, they are just showing some wear. Just machine wash and hang dry! I hope you will love them as much as we have! Stay dry! – Julie (note from Mama: nothing like first-hand knowledge! Thanks for sharing your insights.) Wednesday, May 7 Dear VTwin Mama, Jacket - I had recently ordered a First Gear "Pearl" jacket, not being able to spring for the "Kilimanjaro" yet. It is 320 Denier Hypertex with removable Hiprotec comfort armor in shoulders/elbow area and EVA foam back pad. When I got the jacket, I liked it but worried that the armor wasn't really heavy enough to be functional. Well it was. No tearing or wear on the jacket where I skidded, none from the rocks. No scratches or burn anywhere the jacket was covering my body. No bruising where the armor covered my body. It performed flawlessly and still looks great! I got the jacket for $135.00...it has been worth way more than that already. Besides the safety factor, I have found it to be comfortable in the high 30's with the included full sleeve liner and a light Polortec sweater and thin thermal top. I have also been stopped in a traffic Jam in Florida at close to 80 degrees with a tee shirt under it and without the removable liner...still comfortable. Any higher temps would call for mesh. Very pleased with this purchase. Boots- Cruiser works lace up. Can't say enough about these boots, they are the reason I still have a foot attached to my leg. Kevlar reinforcements at ankle, military toe guard and buttery soft leather. I has also wondered if the soft leather would be enough protection...it was. The bumper of the car hit my leg just above the ankle. The bone barely came through the skin, then stopped at the boot. I lost one lace keeper, but through the impact, skidding and rolling, there is a little scuff on them and that's it. They held up remarkably well and will be on my feet each time I ride in the future. Still a few accidents left in them LOL HJC Full Face Helmet. Another winner...would never wear anything but a full face. No damage done to face, head or neck. Olympia Gel palm gloves. Cant remember the style, but they have double leather on the fingers and thumb and a gel filling in the palm, gauntlet style. Another winner...no abrasions on hands no bruises on palms, which I of course landed on. The gloves will also be riding with me again as they have only a small scuff. I have found these to be the most comfortable line of gloves for general riding, and I have a perf pair too. They aren't cheap, about 55 bucks but wear well and keep your palms comfortable over long miles. I've ridden in excess of 600 miles in a day with no discomfort from the throttle. Bottom half- Levis and generic leather Chaps. One small bit of road rash about 1" x 1/4" on my leg where chaps rode up during the accident. I have a good sized bruise on my hip where the chaps don't cover. Was pleased with the performance of this set up, but will be looking into some sort of over-pants with armor. That's about it folks, I would be happy to give any info I left out. I came away from an accident that had the potential to be much worse in great shape, and I owe much of that to the safety gear and the rest to the fact that God just isn't finished with me here on earth yet. Either way, glad it worked!!! LOL The bike flipped end over end after I kicked it away, looks pretty rough, the adjuster called today and it was totaled. The frame was not bent according to them but had some damage from hitting the concrete. A "gouge" The adjuster said if there is any damage whatsoever to the frame, they will not put the bike back out on the road - bent or not. I'll throw in a good word for Progressive insurance here....they were called Saturday, had an adjuster there Monday, and an offer today. The first offer was very fair and included them paying me for taxes and license fees on the bike. They also paid me 1000.00 in "add-ons" without a stutter. Since I listed over that amount, they waived the 100 dollar deductible on the number. I am pleased, can pay off the bike and still have a good chunk of change for a down payment on the next one! I have invited the adjuster to come to our forum, he rides a BMW and loves the wind. Nice guy. Well pleased with the performance of this company and their handling of the claim. OK, I've gone on enough, or actually way too much here...but PLEASE folks, wear that safety gear...the best you can afford. Living is so much better than looking "cool"!!! – Joyce Dear Joyce, Top Friday, May 9 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Betty, Top Dear VTwin Mama, I love using them and I wanted mama's opinion as they are not denim and thin, kinda' like chino's. – Angela -- Lady Harley Dear Angela, Still, you are an adult, so the ultimate decision is yours. I'm a firm believer that if you have thought through the consequences, and are willing to accept the risks, then go right ahead and wear whatever. I do. I ride in a T-shirt fully knowing that if I go down at any speed, I will not have the protection that my thick leather jacket would have given. This is an informed decision. And we could argue from hear to eternity over the issue, but again, in the final analysis, it's my decision. So, the answer is, be informed and then make your decision and don't feel guilty or defend it. It simply is. – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Wednesday, June 4 I am big into safety, and knowing/seeing what happens when a person falls on their bike is not a pretty site. I would suggest wearing chaps over the jeans, and then when you get to the party, just wear your shorts. Yes, it is a decision you have to make, but for me it is better to be hot, and have less scars, than to be "cool" and have a ton of road rash. I don't think you would feel so cool after it happens to you. – Terri in Baltimore (note from Mama: this is a possibility!) I checked in my Ride Texas Magazine where I read a review of some cool new convertible zip-off legs RIDING pants. The riding pants that zip-zip into shorts are made by BMW! Even though they only make them in men's sizes, the female reviewer was able to cinch up the belt at the waist and found them to be a decent fit. They go for $179 and come in khaki only at this point. By the way, I would heartily recommend Ride Texas Magazine, even for women riders not in Texas. It's the only magazine I have found yet that is not explicitly designed for men. There are no scantily clad women in the advertisements and there is always good coverage of new products for women. I really feel like I am an intended member of the audience for this magazine! – Marina (note from Mama: this sounds like a cool product to consider and thanks for the heads-up on the magazine!) Share Your ThoughtsTop Friday, June 6 I picked up a pair of Knee-necks at the last Motorcycle show in Dallas. They are leather wrap-arounds that cover knee to ankle with Velcro strips to secure them around your lower leg. They are great! Quick on, quick off. And add protection to the lower leg -- just in case the unthinkable happens. I ride to work on my motorcycle and our "dress code" is business casual, implying dress pants are OK. The Knee-necks are great coverage and much easier than chaps to get into and out of at work. Granted, they're not full leg coverage but they sure hit the balance between chaps and nothing but material. – LJH (note from Mama: what a useful alternative! I found these at www.kneenecks.com for abut $30 in nylon (in many colors) and $75 in leather.) I, too, wear jeans when I ride, but I can understand the reasoning of after you arrive someplace and jeans are too hot. I found a site that has Bluejean chaps you can wear over your shorts. They have Kevlar in the knees and look really good and comfortable. Your rider might consider something like that. The name is Zone-tailed, and website is www.zonetailed.com. Maybe that will help a little. I am slowly increasing in my confidence the more I ride and I truly love it. – Snoma (note from Mama: another useful alternative!) Share Your ThoughtsTop Dear VTwin Mama, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear VTwin Mama, Also, after I bought my bike, my husband bought me a set of leather chaps (which I love) and a leather jacket (which I don't). The jacket weighs a ton. I can't lift my arms hardly and it is so uncomfortable. Isn't there something out there that would be protective yet attractive and light and comfortable. I have looked at some web sites for jackets but get confused as to the terminology used when describing them and they sort of look like jackets worn by motorcycle racers. I would also like something that is well vented (I guess). I love reading your website and very glad I subscribed to your weekly newsletter. Thanks, – Snoma Dear Claire, Diana, and
Snoma, Claire, as you can imagine, your body shape is not in the "mainstream," and just like I'm sure it's a challenge just for regular clothing (just like my long arms are a pain in the patoot), so it is for riding stuff. You might check for dealers who offer the Dainese line of clothing for Cordura jackets and pants. Also, I might suggest having a heart to heart talk with the gals over at Woman Biker by calling 1-(877)-WM-BIKER. If anyone knows woman and riding clothes, they do, and are highly recommended by the readers of the VTwin Mama site. They also offer several Cordura jackets which might interest you (just scroll down this page to see them). Now, the problem with lightweight summer riding jackets is that they are thin and don't offer much real protection, unless they are Kevlar based, and therefore have the "racer" style look that we don't all like necessarily. Still Diana, I can appreciate that wearing something is better than not for some level of protection. I would check the same links for Woman Biker to get an idea of what's available in the lighter weight gear that is vented and yet still looks sturdy. If I sound like a shrill pitch-person for Woman Biker, well, all I can say is that it's a great place online to begin your explorations! Snoma, those three links at the beginning of this letter have lots of great helmet reviews and will give you a better overall "look" at what's out there! Same advice on the jacket I'm afraid. The fact is that leather has a unique look and style and shape and cannot be duplicated by using another material. At least not that I've ever seen! I'd visit a local leather shop to help the process of defining exactly the weight and fit of a good motorcycle jacket for you. At the same time you can discuss what's up with grades of leather. There's some basics about leather on this site, but for some reason I had a hard time coming up with the right combination of words in the search engines to find the definitive site on the subject. Readers, any more thoughts on any of this?!?!?!? – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Thursday, June 26 For Diana who wants a jacket for summer riding: Aloha, Petra -- I just wanted to respond to Diana in N.C.'s inquiry about jackets to wear in the summer. I live in Hawaii where the weather is warm pretty much year round and when I started riding 12 years ago all the experienced riders encouraged me to wear a leather jacket every time I rode while learning. The thing about leather is if you fall down it can really save your hide. I've seen some pretty bad cases of road rash. Some of the jackets also have a lightweight removable lining - I have one like that so if it's cooler I can zip it in if needed. Take care. – Renee (note from Mama: point well taken!) Share Your ThoughtsTop Thursday, June 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Lisa, I suppose you could wrap your shifter with something but would be worried about it slipping (and not looking nice!), but the more normal solution is to protect your boot. Take a look at the Shu Bandit as an example. – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Bonnie, For Diana who is seeking a summer-riding jacket solution: I agree about the leather and road rash, but I’m a bit demanding and want other protection. I just ordered a Joe Rocket Phoenix 2.0 Sport Jacket. This is a double layer of specially constructed mesh (to resist roadrash) and it has armoring in the shoulders, elbows, back, etc. The armoring is in pockets to hold them in place. This gives your joints some protection from impact if you get hit or go down. The mesh lets the jacket breathe air goes through it. I got mine from a website www.newenough.com. They carry several different brands of motorcycle wear at a discount (last years styles at BIG savings), and they are great folks to work with. – Gloria (note from Mama: sounds good! Another source for Joe Rocket gear is MotorcycleUSA -- and they are having a sale until July 6th. Just click on the link below to explore! They've got the Phoenix 2.0 for $99.95!)
Saturday, July 5 For Diana who is seeking a summer-riding jacket solution: Well, tried the jacket today (a Joe Rocket Phoenix 2.0 Sport Jacket) and it truly got the acid test. 96 degrees and 47% humidity. We were to have heat warnings for part of the day -- heat index up to 105-110, and I can believe it. The jacket was THE BEST!!! I also dipped a 100% cotton bar towel in ice water and put it around my neck before putting the helmet on. The air blowing across it also added to the cooling effect. No trouble until stopping for any length of time, then just the ambient air temp was a pain. My next purchase is going to be matching Joe Rocket pants. I was wearing light weight leather chaps. I’m also going to look into some summer weight boots. Please also consider buying one of the travel water bottles. I have to look into this. As soon as I got to my destination (about 50 miles), I stopped and chugged down about a 20 oz. glass of ice water. I think I was getting kind of dehydrated. Hope this helps. Best wishes. – Gloria (note from Mama: thanks for the product review and your additional thoughts on handling higher temps and humidity!) Wednesday, July 16 For Bonnie who lost her first pin when the backing fell off: http://www.thesabregroup.com/pinkeepers.htm: the barrel portion goes around the sharp pointy bit and the part you screw in to the barrel secures it in place. Very nice! – Anonymous (note from Mama: thanks!) Thursday, July 17 For Diana who is seeking a summer-riding jacket solution: There is a company out of Israel (talk about hot! yeah, but it's a dry heat) called Brosh that makes a jacket from a Dupont fabric with Kevlar reinforcements. I have one and also a Joe Rocket Phoenix. The Joe Rocket is pretty cool but a bit heavy and bulky even with only the built-in pads. The Brosh has removable pads and is super-light and really keeps you cool. Even the Israeli motorcycle cops wear them. I have only seen this jacket on-line, but they have their own site. – No Name (note from Mama: thanks for bringing this alternative solution to our attention! The website is www.brosh.com.) Wednesday, September 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Patti, What's your local dealer's parts department telling you? Might as well get the skinny straight from the horses mouth if you haven't done so already! Sure, HD is pricey, but if it's the simplest and most reliable possibility, then tighten your belt a bit to get the right solution. Hugger readers -- what say thee? – Mama Thursday, September 18 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Marina, Dear
VTwin Mama, I'm sure I am not the only one out there......although I don't see too many up here in New England. Specifically I am looking for pants that I can slip on over my work slacks, so I don't have to change when I get to work. Again I have a couple of men's jackets which will suffice for now, but with the colder weather coming I'd really like to find a nice pair of pants, leather, Cordura, whatever, so I can keep riding thru October & early November.....yes I stretch it out as much as I can!! and I've only been riding 2 seasons. Even last year I was riding in November. And it gets cold here. Thanks for any help you can provide. – Claire Dear
Claire, Monday, September 22 For Claire who is looking for clothing solutions for shorter and bigger women: Try Aerostich. Try REI and Patagonia. – Sarah (note from Mama: hmmm . . . Aerostich is big on biker gear and the other two shops specialize in general outdoor sports clothing: REI and Patagonia. Worth a look-see.) Tuesday, September 23 For Claire who is looking for riding gear to fit her shorter, stockier frame: In the fall 2003 issue of Woman Rider magazine there is an article "Gear for Big Gals," pages 64-67. Womanbiker.com was one place mentioned and there was a list on page 66. Maybe this will help. – Hikerhawg (note from Mama: what timing!) Monday, September 29 For Claire who is looking for riding gear to fit her shorter, stockier frame: A repeat reminder that WomanBiker.com has the standard run of sizes from petite to full figured. – Lots of VTwin Mamas Tuesday, October 21 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Angela, Dear
VTwin Mama, Thanks for this wonderful site! Every day I can't wait to get home from work to see what everyone has to say. This is my favorite site! Hopeful this site will get me through the long sad winter months of no riding. I am already looking forward for spring and adding new toys to my bike (like a radio and CB). Just
spent a fortune on porcelain crowns on my front teeth, now I need to
invest in a full face helmet to protect my investment! Anyone have
any favorite? Dear
Shorty, Too bad I couldn't find a fanny pack that converts to a purse with strap. I know with my fp I just elongate the strap and sling it over my shoulder if I want it to be more "purse" like. Help sisters! Tell me if you know where to get something like this 'cause the search engines just spit out garbage (the words are too common, ie leather, fanny pack, purse strap). As to helmets, well that's a subject that could get us going for a long time and quite frankly, what fits and works and just is the cat's meow for one person doesn't mean it will be for the next (it's the same thing with shaved heads -- it doesn't work for everyone! What I would suggest however, is to hit one of the many concentrated sources for helmets, starting with my specific Riding Gear - Helmets page (just scroll for underlined parts which are links), which includes the DMOZ directory link for every manufacturer of helmets. Some of those links are to articles about proper fit, etc. and what to consider. That would be a great place to start. – Mama Tuesday, November 25 For Shorty who is looking for a fanny pack that convert to a purse: Saw on your site lady inquiring about fanny packs (we call them bum bags) that you can convert into purse. Black Wolf backpack and camping company has small flat bags that can be slipped onto a belt or attached with straps. We actually went to a camera shop and bought a couple of small camera bags, they can be threaded onto your belt or you can slide a strap through the loop on the bag. Instant bum bag/purse. – K&T downunder (note from Mama: this is an Australian company and I'm not aware that they are offering their stuff in the U.S. yet, but worth taking a look for our Australian/New Zealand readers, of which there are many!) Tuesday, November 25 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Judy, Wednesday, November 26 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Marge, |
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