Moto Philosophy: Charity and the “Poker Run”

Posted on June 3, 2015 by MotoADVR

RideForWarriorsPRsp2The “Biker” stereotype has certainly been dulled in my lifetime. While still alive, in general, there has been significant growth in the number of motorcyclists, and therefore greater “acceptance” that motorcyclists aren’t societal deviants. What non-motorcyclists may or may not know, is that “bikers” are some of the most charitable people that I’ve ever met. Much like the local charity “5k run”, motorcyclists in every major city across the country are hosting charity events virtually every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor day.

Based on the latest VA statistics, 22 Veterans and 1 Active duty member take their own lives each day, many attributed to Post Traumatic Stress. The Battle Buddy Foundation (www.tbbf.org), based in West Chester, Ohio, is a Veteran Run, Veteran focused re-integration charity. The Battle Buddy Foundation’s primary mission is to provide highly trained psychiatric and mobility service dogs to veterans of all eras suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, and physical limitations at no cost, a service currently not funded by the VA. Also focused on re-integration, “Battle Buddy” connects veterans with employment, housing, and peer support opportunities for veterans and their families. With this multi-pronged approach, The Battle Buddy Foundation is striving to eliminate the threat of suicide among veterans. After spending two years in the “sandbox” myself, this cause really hits home with me.

15GKpokerRun8.5x11Last weekend the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) chapter of the Green Knights (greenknightsmmc.org) hosted their annual “Ride for Warriors” Poker Run. The Green Knights Military Motorcycle Club (MMC) is a riding group focused on safety and mentorship for Military and DoD employees around Military Bases. Coincidentally, the local WPAFB chapter has supported military related charities over the past few years, specifically The Battle Buddy Foundation for the past two. For those not familiar with a “poker run”, the given event host will publish a start time and location, from there registrants will be given route directions to about five to seven destinations. At each destination each participant will draw a card; at the end of the event, the participant with the best hand wins a prize.

Poker Runs obviously come in all shapes and sizes, some are self-guided,RideForWarriorsPRsp3 others involve a group ride; furthermore destinations vary depending upon the host’s taste. This year’s “Ride for Warriors” event was about a 100 mile stretch through twisty country roads from Montgomery, Greene, and Clinton counties. Like last year, the Green Knights chose a blend of restaurants and motorcycle destinations, offering participants the opportunity to browse motorcycle merchandise at various dealershipsRideForWarriorsBuckminnsDD, or grab ice cream and a burger depending on the stop. At the final stop, the Green Knights raffled off several large prize baskets, 50-50, and gave away prizes for highest and lowest hand; after which participants could hang out for food, drinks, and live music.

While I undoubtedly spend a reasonable amount of time wandering around solo, I still do several charity rides each year. Is there a certain charity event you go to each year?

RideForWarriorsBuckminnsDD2RideForWarriorsTankArt

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Destination Menifee County: Gateway to Red River Gorge

Posted on May 28, 2015 by MotoADVR

With the long weekend at hand, the weather cooperated and I finally had a chance to head south to see family, while at the same time enjoying one of my favorite motorcycle rides. As previously mentioned, I make at least one trip to the Red River Gorge area each year; eastern Kentucky is really right in our backyard from southwest Ohio, so I jump at any opportunity to get down there. This first trip was more about seeing family than it was about taking in the sights, but I brought along the new GoPro anyway.

Since visiting took priority over adventure, my Dad and I took OH State Route (SR) 73 out of Dayton down toward Hillsboro to stop in to see my Uncle. 73 is mostly 2 lane, including a few stop lights, but I would consider it to be one of the better state routes leaving Dayton from the “scenic” perspectives. 73 isn’t the twistiest road, but it gets better as you leave Hillsboro headed toward Portsmouth. From Hillsboro my plan was to use SR 41 to skip over to SR 125 in order to ride SR 763 to the river. Friends have told me that 763 is one of the best roads near Dayton/Cincinnati if you like the twisty stuff. 41 out of Hillsboro is actually pretty decent, there are several sections that parallel some local creeks which made for good riding. 125 is also quite scenic from Portsmouth to West Union, however we were headed west out of West Union to get to 763, where 125 is relatively straight.

 

 

Finally turning on to 763 I was ready to film the stretch in full length after what I had heard. Suddenly the mood was dampened as I passed a sign reading “Road Closed 0.8 miles ahead”. As friends of mine will attribute, I occasionally treat “Road Closed” signs more like “Caution: Slow” signs. More often than not “Road Closed” is still “open to local traffic only” meaning that the road is passable, just under construction. I don’t have a GPS on the bike (Cell phone only), therefore searching for an alternate route involves stopping most of the time, so I’m known to take is slow and just plow through. That however was NOT in cards this weekend, as “Road Closed” meant “BRIDGE IS OUT!” Apparently 763 will have to wait for another adventure.

Having been shut down by the Ohio Department of Transportation, we headed back south via SR 41., while not amazing, 41 got better as we neared the Ohio River. 41 dead ends into US 52 on the Ohio River in Aberdeen, from there we took the US 62 bridge across the Ohio River into Maysville, Kentucky. Time permitting, I plan on returning to Maysville later this year to try out some of the local food; I don’t know if it’s a Cincinnati thing, or just an “adventure” thing, but I love stopping in river towns to take photos and try the local pub fare.

In east Maysville we picked up Kentucky Route 11 (KY 11); from there it’s usually 11 all the way through Mount Sterling KY, then US 460 to Frenchburg where my Grandma lives. KY 11 is two lane highway for the most part, but considering Kentucky elevation changes, there are sections of “truck lanes” so you can pass slower traffic when headed up hill. 11 is typically 55 mph through gentle rolling hills from Maysville to Mount Sterling, which is pretty much what I envision anytime someone says “the Bluegrass State”; two lane highway lined with grass blowing in the wind, barbed wire fences, livestock, and sprinkled with hay bales, silos, and tobacco barns.

Last year when I was planning a Red River Gorge ride, a buddy of mine pointed out an alternate route which I actually prefer now. Just after Sherburne Kentucky I take KY 1106 east off 11 headed toward KY 36. 1106 is arguably one-and-a-half lane highway through the boondocks, for a motorcyclist, it’s fabulous. 1106 sweeps through the hills and skirts several creeks as it merges with KY 36. 36 is more of the same from Sharpsburg to Owingsville. Unlike Mount Sterling (which is on 11), Owingsville is essentially a one-stoplight town, probably worthy of a visit sometime when I’m drifting about. Out of Owingsville 36 crosses Interstate 64, after which the Appalachian foothills start to appear. 36 enters Daniel Boone National Forest not long after passing I-64, where it stays all the way into Frenchburg. As you near Frenchburg 36 starts to carve through the limestone foothills which starts to make for good photos.

Frenchburg, County seat of Menifee County, really is a one stoplight town. On a Red River Gorge tour I typically stop at the Subway across the street from the courthouse for a sandwich and a bathroom break before getting into the twisties.  There are a couple “Mom & Pop” restaurants, an IGA, and couple gas stations, but it’s essentially another sleepy Appalachian town. From here my Dad and I cut down the county roads to my Grandmas house hiding back in the Holler. For folks looking to see Natural Bridge, Sky Bridge, Nada Tunnel, and the rest of Red River Gorge, I recommend taking US 460 from Frenchburg to KY 77. 77 sweeps along the ridge and through the limestone cliffs to Nada Tunnel, then on to KY 11 in Slade, Kentucky. From Slade you can take 11 over to Natural Bridge, or KY 15 to KY 715 to see the Sky Bridge. If things go as planned, I’ll take you on a tour later this summer, photos included. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a few photos from this weekend and a few from years past.

 

Bridge2Frenchburg


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Random Blurbs: Spring mowing and The Wall of Shame

Posted on May 22, 2015 by MotoADVR

It’s funny how “motorcycle weather” tends to compete with “golf weather”, but especially “lawn mowing weather”. The past week has mostly been “waiting on rain to stop so I can mow” weather, and unfortunately has delayed any cool adventures to share. The bit of riding I’ve been doing has pretty much been the daily commute; while not particularly exciting, tends to have its peaks of excitement provided by some of my impatient, ignorant, and otherwise distracted fellow commuters. My ride to work is about a half hour, which isn’t particularly long, but since it’s through downtown, still under construction, let’s just say “I meet people”. Now that the new GoPro has joined the team, I started a new page MotoADVR: The Wall of Shame so I can highlight all the silly things that I see when traveling from A to B. Please feel free to comment about your similar experiences, and stay tuned to the page for new updates.

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Pubs and Street Eats 7: Random Street Tacos

Posted on May 13, 2015 by MotoADVR

MotoADVRtacoTruck5Urban legend had it that there was a taco truck located somewhere in New Carlisle; I heard this rumor for some time after starting my new job in Huber Heights back in 2012. A few weeks back, in a completely random occurrence, I ran into the president of the local RAT pack at the Triumph dealer. Tacos in hand, he not only confirmed the existence of this mythical food truck, but also told me where to find it.  I realize that this sounds pretty silly, but apparently there were several rumors of where a Taco truck could be located in New Carlisle, who the operator was, and what the menu was like. Having been there myself at this point, I confirm, it does exist, and you cannot find it on any website. Without further ado, on to the food.

MotoADVRtacoTruck1So, last week my buddy Jeff dusted off the Thruxton and rode it to work. It only seemed right to take the Triumph twins out for a spin at lunch and try out this highly anticipated Taco Truck. “Behind a gas station” was really all I had to go on, but after checking behind the speedway (that’s a tricky one, there are two speedways, and they face one another), we located the Taco Truck behind the Marathon on the North end of town.

MotoADVRtacoTruck4The Menu is simple, burritos, tacos, or quesadillas; along with a small selection of Jarritos Mexican soda. Naturally, this food truck is a cash only affair, having only a few bucks in my pocket I got a taco and a quesadilla. The soft tacos are good, but not what you’d expect if you’re craving Taco Bell. This taco truck is authentic (so I’m told), so the tacos are extremely tame by American standards, probably bland for most folks. The proprietor has hot sauce available if you’re looking to spice things up a bit, but for simplicity sake, the tacos are good, just not special. MotoADVRtacoTruck6The quesadilla is where I was truly surprised; having no idea what to expect, I figured a quesadilla would consists of a tortilla and cheese in some fashion or another; well… there was a tortilla. Quesadillas in this case are flour tortillas served with your choice of meat (shredded chicken in this case), salsa, special sauce (I have no idea…), and ample amounts of cilantro, which is really what sealed the deal for me.

MotoADVRtacoTruck2Extremely happy with my first initial trip, I decided this week that it was necessary to make a return visit to try the last item left on the menu, the burrito. Six bucks may or may not seem like a reasonable price for food truck fare, but considering the price for a Chipotle burrito, and having seen the serving size during my last visit, I figured it was worth a shot. The infamous Taco Truck didn’t disappoint, flour tortilla, shredded chicken, salsa, a hint of refried beans, a sprinkle of rice, salsa, hot sauce, red peppers, jalapenos, and more of that delicious cilantro; Chipotle, you’re officially fired.

TacoMapFinishing off my Pineapple Jarrito, I asked the gentleman when he was open. To my surprise he said he opens at 10 AM, closes at 9 PM, every day. Remember: cash in hand, behind the Marathon station in New Carlisle, if you find something on the web about this place, let me know!

MotoADVRtacoTruck3

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Random Blurb: Stop means Stop right?

Posted on May 12, 2015 by MotoADVR

Over the weekend I managed to zip down a few miles of my favorite local roads. After coming around a bend I caught a glimpse of an object moving at high speed on an intercept course. Fortunately, the early warning permitted me to brake and downshift before entering the intersection. Unfortunately my GoPro was unable to capture the indignant look on my face as I passed the impatient driver whom I was convinced was going to completely ignore the stop sign.

They say “Ride like you’re invisible”, and I agree that’s a good plan; but seriously, is there any adherence to common traffic laws anymore? They still sell cars with turn signals right? Does stop mean stop or just “yield”? It’s not just limited to me riding a motorcycle, this exasperates me in a car as well. Is there no driver etiquette anymore? I assume it’s not just me?

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Motorcycle Awareness Month: Sun’s Out, Guns out versus ATGATT

Posted on May 11, 2015 by MotoADVR

For most of us “motorcyclists”, we’re well into the riding season at this point; old man winter held his grip for as long as he could, but it was 80 plus degrees most of last week. Apparently May is Motorcycle Awareness Month; truth be told, I had no idea until I saw MEMEs and taglines from various social media outlets. Considering that in recent days more than one of my friends has been involved in a motorcycle accident (with dissimilar results), I’ve stepped up my game about safety gear and on-road vigilance.

Coincidentally, I find people watching to be entertaining, and occasionally thought provoking. If I haven’t mentioned before, I find the “Helmet, shorts, and flip-flop” crowd to be an fascinating group. Without a doubt, the helmet is probably THE most important part of safety gear, but I beg to question, why stop there?

To avoid pontificating from my “high horse”, I admit that I am no saint. When I first started riding it was pretty much helmet, shirt, jeans, and boots. Weather and money pretty much determined the gear, but it wasn’t long before I hunted down a trusty riding jacket. Completely ignorant of the abrasion resistance of denim vs. asphalt, I wore jeans for some time until hearing that denim holds up for less than a second in a crash, at which point I started searching for safer alternatives. Over the years (all 5 of them…) I’ve collected various gear options for different circumstances, many of which are primarily for combating the cold.

As an Army guy, I fully appreciate the pros and cons to protective gear, ballistic plates could save your life when the shooting starts. That being said, the additional weight, movement constriction, along with skin coverage raises the risk of limited maneuverability (when it really counts) and heat exhaustion. While I’ve said before, city riding is a battlefield, the heat and cold are still prevalent concerns when selecting gear. Finding gear that can protect your limbs, but not cause dehydration is pretty much the biggest hurdle in my opinion, and I’ve yet to truly find a happy medium (I mostly just tough it out and sweat…). There are rare occasions when I might slip down a country road in jeans, but if it’s another morning headed to the office, I cover all the bases, fully expecting someone’s text message to supersede my right-of-way.

Everyone has the right to choose, and I defend that; at the same time I have the right to poke fun at flip-flop silliness, and intend to do so.

So at what point do you ditch the jacket, helmet, or gloves; or are you in the ATGATT crowd?

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Random Blurb: Afternoon Lunch Encounter

Posted on May 7, 2015 by MotoADVR

I’ve been slammed in the office the past few weeks. Fortunately the weather has been spectacular which has increased riding opportunities, but for the most part it’s just been the daily grind.

Since I’ve not had anything pithy to write about in the past few days, I figured I’d drop off this random blurb today. While riding, I’ve come across a countless critters in the roadway over the past few years (i.e. turkeys, squirrels, vultures, mice). This week on my way back from a local taco stand (more on that later), I apparently interrupted lunch of a nearby hawk. Fortunately, both of us were frightened enough by one another a collision was avoided.

To date, that’s probably the most bizarre form of wildlife I’ve passed on the roadway (or near), what’s the strangest animal you’ve had a run-in with?

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Dressing for the Apocalypse: 2015 Indy Mad Max Run

Posted on May 1, 2015 by MotoADVR

MadMax2Last weekend was the 2nd Annual Indy Mad Max Ride and I wasn’t about to miss it. Being the guy who loves taking photos of slums, graffiti, and the like, a Mad Max themed event is like Halloween in April! Unfortunately, life events prevented me from dedicating a lot of time to putting together a costume, but I went anyway.

MadMax15I caught wind of the event last year through the local Triumph RAT Pack. The Dayton Chapter tends to be “in the know” about local motorcycle events like “Cincinnati Mods vs. Rockers”, Mid-Ohio Vintage Days, and other motorcycle meetups around the tristate. The event was basically a costume party, with an 80 mile ride around Indianapolis, including a few stops for photos and food along the way. Quite a few people took the time to get totally decked out in the Mad Max theme (including their bikes), some folks, like me, who were there just to see the carnage, while there were still many flavors in between.

MadMax3For folks looking to attend the event next year, be warned, this year’s route was a steady mix of inner city and country roads. I estimated that there were around 100 bikes participating in the ride, according to accounts on the Facebook event page, around 130 motorcycles started out from the first location. The ride began at 11 AM and didn’t finish until after 4 PM with 3 major stops on the route (not including the end point). New Riders, or riders new to group riding, would probably want to avoid settling into MadMax9the middle of this group. Trying to corral 100 riders on city streets, through construction, traffic, and stop lights was a major task. I’ll give credit to the event coordinators, they did a good job getting folks from point A to point B without losing stragglers in the rear of the group. That being said, folks who are very rigid about obeying traffic laws while on a motorcycle would be best to meet the ride at the designated stops.

MadMax8I tend to be an advocate for safety gear and vigilance when riding a motorcycle. As such, I want to reiterate the safety concerns of events like this one. For folks new to riding, familiarity with your motorcycle, and your gear, including costume and items mounted to the motorcycle, is essential for participating in an event like this one. With over 100 riders from all spectrums of riding taste, discipline, and experience, it’s pretty much chaos weaving through Indianapolis traffic; considering the threat of a traffic accident, riders cannot afford “wardrobe malfunctions” that will only compound the danger. In my case, putting together a costume was that much more difficult because I didn’t want to sacrifice safety; it’s a 2 hour ride from Dayton to Indy; a lot can happen in 2 hours, especially when riding on Interstate 70.

MadMax21While the Police did stop by the event, it was simply a misunderstanding. I mean, when random city folk witness 100 bikes rolling down the street with air soft guns, I don’t see how they might get the wrong idea? When someone informed the cops it was  just “Nerf”, Indy’s finest had a good laugh and told us to have a good time.

MadMax20All and all, it was a great time and I collected my war trophies (event patches & stickers); hopefully next year I will have my costume together way in advance. This year weather prevented me from making the trip to Indy the day before, hopefully that will not be the case next year. If you’re also into the post-apocalyptic genre, I recommend keeping tabs on the 2016 event next April.

 

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MadMax14 MadMax17MadMax12 MadMax11MadMax13 MadMax10 MadMax9MadMax7 MadMax6 MadMax5 MadMax4

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Motorcycle Shopping: 7 Reasons to buy an Adventure Bike

Posted on April 23, 2015 by MotoADVR

20141019_092327Since the commenting that I’m in the market for an Adventure bike I’ve been met with apprehensive responses from a lot of different people. In attempt to better explain my interest, I started looking for articles outlining the advantages of owning an adventure bike. To my surprise, I couldn’t find very many; especially considering how the “adventure” niche is growing in popularity. Thus, I figured I’d write my own.

 

Why you should buy an adventure bike:

  1. Increased Suspension

Kawasaki KLR 650 frontAs a motorcyclist that covers around 14,000 miles annually, comfort in the saddle is obviously a concern of mine. From what I can tell, the average cruiser typically brings about three and half inches of suspension travel to the table; while that’s more than the depth of most pot holes found in the early spring, that’s still not saying much, especially when you’re riding two-up. Most adventure bikes are sporting at least seven inches in the rear; even the “adventure-esque” bikes have at least five (i.e. Yamaha FJ-09). More suspension travel means more cushion to take the punishment of off-road conditions, let alone the decrepit roadways. I understand there are aftermarket suspension options available for other bikes, and that may be enough for most people, but this isn’t the only reason to buy an adventure bike.

 

  1. Taller Seat height

20140913_192732More suspension travel often translates into taller seat heights. This is typically a deal breaker for a lot of people; if they’re not flat footed at a standstill, it’s a no-go. There are “low” seat options available from most manufacturers, but I won’t argue with the concern about flat footing at a stop light. That being said, there are advantages of the taller seat height; namely the ability to see over cars, and increasing the likelihood of being seen on your motorcycle. If you can see over the cars in front of you, there’s potential to spot hazards earlier, which makes me feel safer. Being taller may also help draw attention to you as a rider, hopefully that puts your hi-vis gear up at eye level so the SUVs can see you.

 

  1. Utility

20150131_153146This is arguably my number one reason; I see the “adventure” bike as the jeep of motorcycles. There are unquestionably better off-road vehicles and better touring machines, but the adventure bike is the blend of both worlds. The adventure bike is “no frills” with blacked out motors and the almost nonexistence of chrome. Their trellis frame is designed to have gear slung off the sides and virtually every part of the rear end of the bike; the photos on ADVrider.com are incredible with hard cases, dry bags, stacks of tires, and the occasional teddy bear.

 

  1. Ruggedness

Icon-Raiden Tiger 800Again, an adventure bike IS NOT a dirt bike, but it they’re undoubtedly related. Beyond the increased suspension, some adventure bikes are already fitted with the necessary off-road kit right off the showroom floor (i.e. BMW 800 GS Adventure), but typically with a few bolt on parts you can be ready to tackle some serious back country adventures. For those of you not familiar, the average “off the shelf” options include sump bash plate, knobby tires, hand guards or “bark busters”, engine guards or crash bars, bolt on fog lights, headlight protectors, aluminum panniers, folding gear shift lever, just to mention a few.

 

  1. Versatility

20140201_130611I consider the adventure bike to be the “all-a-rounder” not necessarily the best at any one thing, but the flexibility to do a little of everything. Taking into consideration my annual mileage, moreover the frequency of two-up riding, I began debating about getting a touring motorcycle. Shortly after I realized that I could get all the best parts of touring bikes with less chrome or less plastic molding if I purchased an Adventure bike, and at less cost. Triumph’s Trophy and Tiger Explorer essentially share the same power plant, shaft drive, and throttle by wire electronics; yet the Tiger is over $3500 cheaper. If you don’t need the “dressing” (or stereo system), the adventure bike can do what the other bikes do; moreover it can typically cross over into other types of riding; some riders take their adventure bike to track days, other riders wander through the dirt when the asphalt ends.

 

  1. Ergonomics

Riding through the city I often feel like there are essentially two bikes, big displacement V-twins, and Asian sport bikes. Certainly this is an exaggeration, but I wonder what happened to the “standard” bike; did it evolved into the “adventure bike”? For sport riders looking for more upright seating, or cruiser riders who can no longer tolerate the impact shock directly to their spine from the recumbent position, the adventure bike offers neutral seating. I find a lot of riders like to “stretch out” when they’re on long freeway stints and therefore cannot fathom the tight seating of sport bike. While I agree, at no point can I truly get the pressure off my tailbone when riding a cruiser; the adventure bike may cause increased knee bend angle over a cruiser, but the adventure bike offers what the cruiser cannot, the ability to stand up and ride; stretching out doesn’t get much better than that.

 

  1. Thirst for Adventure

20140201_132416Tavern to Tavern is as good as it gets for some folks; more power to them. However, the limited few thirst for the rarest forms of adventure, completely leaving society behind. For those folks, the right tools are needed; in my case, there’s a lot of freeway between me and the expanse of the “great west”, riding a 250 Dual Sport might be possible, but far from comfortable, the adventure bike bridges that gap.  While I have aspirations of traversing the nation, the immediate use of the adventure bike is to take a motorcycle where normal street bikes don’t typically venture; from there who knows?

Adventure bikes aren’t for everyone, but for riders that value utility over vanity they’re often the right tool for the job. While searching for “pros and cons” of owning an adventure bike, I also found these articles:

What is an Adventure Motorcycle

Why Adventure-Touring Bikes Are So Popular

Choosing An Adventure Bike

Eight Adventure Bikes You Can Actually Take Off-Road

Posted in Bikes, Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

If it aint raining we aint training: first wet ride of the season

Posted on April 17, 2015 by MotoADVR

“If it aint raining, we aint training” is a common military expression I’m all too familiar with.MotoADVRaprilRain While I’m a believer that nearly everyone has the physical capability to become a solider, what excludes most people is the mental fortitude to do things that aren’t “normal” by modern standards. The Army is an all-weather sport; the elements are to be combatted just like the enemy. In a way, riding a motorcycle is no different.

Last night was a meetup with a bunch of the guys I ride with; knowing full well it was going to rain, I rode anyway. Truth be told, I hate washing motorcycles (I’ve covered this before), but at some point, you’re going to get wet, might as well be prepared. After my exciting return trip from Tennessee last weekend, the bike was already dirty; that and the fact I figured it would be relatively light rain, it seemed as good a time as any to prove if the new FirstGear kit was actually waterproof.

As luck would have it, the meeting ran long enough that the rain had nearly stopped by the time I rode home. This actually made me feel somewhat better because riding in the rain is inherently dangerous, riding in the rain after dark even more so. After a half hour commute back to the house, the FirstGear Rainier Jacket and Escape pants appear to be waterproof, at least in light rain. While I had hoped for slightly heavier rain, this first test was a good way to stick my toe in the water.

So, if I may get on my soap box for a moment: as I said, riding in the rain is inevitable; far better to expose yourself to the conditions in a familiar, expected environment, than to be caught unexpectedly, white knuckled, and completely unprepared for the conditions. While I would by no means consider myself an expert, you would be surprised by how much grip your tires still have on wet roads. Certainly I don’t condone pushing the envelope on purpose, but trust your bike, slow down, don’t lean so hard, be visible, and dress for the conditions. Riding in the rain does suck, but with the right gear, and most importantly, the right frame of mind, it can be done, and it certainly extends your riding season. Drawing on my military experience, I force myself to do it (despite how I detest cleaning up afterward), knowing that with experience brings confidence to overcome the fear of mother nature.

Posted in Gear - Maintenance - Safety, Opinion | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments