Emarald Bay - Lake Tahoe, CA

motorcycle sport touring website
Travel Log: http://canyonchasers.net/travel/

BluepoofBikes Motorcycle Adventures

Trip stats:
1241 total miles
24 hours, 9 minutes moving time
51.3 mph average speed I'm working on the "real" trip report now, but we rode down to Escondido on Saturday. We entered Mexico at Tecate on Sunday, took Hwy 3 to Ensenada, then Hwy 1 up through Tijuana and stayed in San Diego. Yesterday was the 14 hour haul back from San Diego. Hwy 101 is smooth sailing now up from Solvang. I could go longer than
our allotted 60 miles between stops if my knees weren't killing me. I
think I have permanent knee armor-shaped dents in my legs now.

Auburn Loop

Auburn Loop

facesheild

http://motorcyclebloggers.com/author/rhino/
I’ll be devoting this latest episode of “Winter Riding” to only one piece of gear: the facesheild!

Making sure your vision is unobscured is the most significant safety precaution you can take. It is integral to competent riding and anything which restricts this source of invaluable information needs immediate correction. One of the problems with riding when the temperature starts dropping is condensation. Most riders use the term “fogging” and it’s effects can range from annoying to dangerous. It can be particularly bad in humid climates, even at moderate temperatures. Even though it’s virtually impossible to eliminate all the warm moist air you exhale from finding its way to your facesheild, there several techniques that will help mitigate it’s effects.

My HJC CS-12 helmet came with a “real” breath guard that actually seals around my nose and mouth and vents through two snorkels that plug into outside vents. This is the most ffective solution I found to eliminate shield fogging. Don’t count on the standard breath guard on most other helmets, it’s mostly a cosmetic feature which makes only a marginal attempt to deflect your breath from ending up on your sheild . There are several products like the FogCity which apply to the inside of your faceshield and do a remarkable job of minimizing fogging. My chief complaint with these type of products is a tendency to slightly blur your view, especially at night. Many riders notice no effect at all, but you won’t know unless you try it. You might also consider a DOT approved snowmobile helmet which provides excellent protection while incorporating specific cold weather features like special venting and double-paned shields.

A home remedy for fogging I’ve used with great success in the past, is to wear a painter’s paper facemask and cut a quarter sized opening in the bottom (so your breath is directed down and out of the helmet). Some helmets have a small piece of fabric that runs across the bottom of the leading edge of the helmet (these are to reduce noise). You must remove this when using the facemask technique or all that hot moist air will just get redirected back up into the helmet. Another method that works well, but requires constant interaction, is cracking open the faceshield a couple millimeters. This keeps it clear at higher speeds (above 25 MPH). Below that speed a few more millimeters works. At full stop I open my sheild all the way. This method might not suit you, as your face will be pretty cold. As a last resort, try to exhale downward by putting your upper lip forward of your lower lip. I even try to modify my breathing velocity and rate when traveling particularly slow or when stopped (rush hour traffic).

Keeping your sheild clean inside and out is one of the best ways to reduce fogging. You should occassionally clean your sheild inside and out with soap and water. I like to remove my sheild from my helmet and then hand-wash it in the sink about once a week. Not only are your hands the least likely material to scratch your sheild, but you can feel encrusted crud more easily and give it a little more knuckle grease. Make sure not to use any paper products (which contain wood) to clean or dry your sheild, it’s pretty much guaranteed to scratch, if not immediately, then cumulatively. My preferred “rag” is a piece of an old T-shirt that’s been washed many times.

Between thorough cleanings I like to use a product called Plexus which is specifically designed to clean and polish plastic products. Not only can it minimize very light scratches but it causes bug splat to have a much less adhesive quality (kinda like PAM spray for your facesheild). Eventually, over time, your sheild will become scratched to the point where it’s hard to ignore the lack of clear spots and starbursts start to form around the headlights of oncoming vehicles. At this point, there’s no use trying to polish out the imperfections; just bite the bullet and buy a new sheild.

Daylight becomes pretty scarce commodity about the time Halloween rolls around. Inevitably you’ll get caught out after dark. If you like to wear a tinted shield (like I do), it’s imperative you carry a clear shield with you everywhere you go. Believe me when I say you will go out during broad daylight with the intent of returning before sundown, and at some point your plan will go awry. If you don’t have someplace on your bike to put that extra sheild, I recommend putting it inside your jacket under your arm, surrounding your rib cage. It’s out of the way and almost unnoticeable, but it’s there when you need it! Always protect your spare sheild from scratches by putting it in some type of soft-material sleeve; old socks work great.

Just like darkness, wetness will eventually catch up with you at some point in your riding career. In areas where you’ll be following a lot of traffic, the spray thrown up by the 4-or-more-wheelers is usually so fine it sticks to even the newest,cleanest sheild. I purchased a thumb squeege which slip over the gloved thumb of your left hand and does an excellent job of wiping away this particularly persistent mist. Well there you have it, keep that thin piece of plastic between your eyes and the rest of the world as clean, clear, smooth and moisture-free as possible and you’ll eliminate one more risk factor. Now that I’ve covered most of the major cold weather gear, it’s time mention some of the minor but nonetheless significant items that will make a dent in your cold weather riding.

A simple cotton bandana is a wonderful device at any temperature. It’s great at fending off flying debris and slowing dehydration in the summer, but at temperatures below about 70 degrees the insulation of your carotid arteries (they run up your neck on either side of your windpipe) which supplies warm blood to your brain, makes a noticable difference! This simple piece of fabric can make a chilly ride much more comfortable and can make a miserably cold ride bearable. I like to fold it in half and tie it. Once you step outside at any temperature below your skin temperature (around 86 degree F), you start losing the battle with the elements. The greater the temperature difference, the faster you go into debt. Add windchill on top of that and you start getting your thermodynamic ass kicked rather quickly. My first line of defense against the hypothermic effects of temperature and windchill is an Aerostitch one-piece riding suit. A one-piece suit has the advantage of allowing the air around the warmer parts of your body to move to areas that might not be so toasty. With nothing but street cloths on underneath, it’s good down to about 60 degrees. Adding more layers underneath, specifically a down vest from Cabela’s (polar fleece also works fairly well) and I can handle down to about 45. When the mercury really starts dipping, my next line of defense is auxiliary heat in the form of an electric vest and gloves from Widder. Any system which adds heat back to your biological system is a deposit in the bank! This supplemental heat will get me well down into the 20s.



The Cliche of Layering Really Works - Electricity, Insulation and Weatherproofing

Maintaining dexterity in your hands is a major safety concern as “feel for the controls” plays a huge part in the smooth throttle, clutch and especially braking finesse needed in the lower traction situations that are more likely in winter. After experiencing the wonders of heated grips for the first time, thanks to AngryBob’s trusty ole Cup o’ Nards, I installed them on every bike I’m likely to ride this time of year (I highly recommend the brand Dual Star). From actual experience, I’m know this will get me all the way down into the teens in relative comfort. Heated grips are also a great addition for day to day riding year-round, especially when you get caught out after the sun goes down with only some light fair weather gear. Since there’s nothing to remember to take with you, these can turn a bone chilling ride after dark into a survivable experience.

My feet are usually the final victim in the comfort war, but I haven’t found a great solution for that extremity just yet. Most of the heated stuff, like socks are too bulky or require too much effort to operate. So I mainly concentrate on keeping out wind and moisture with good waterproof riding boots and add a thick pair of motocross socks to minimize heat loss. The fact that these socks are usually tall enough to reach up to your knee makes a noticable difference. I’ve also had success with thin polypropelene undersocks as they are good at wicking heat-robbing moisture away from your skin. You have to be careful with bulky items as they have a ability to actually make things feel colder by reducing circulation. Always make sure your top layer has enough room for any layers you’ll be adding underneath. It doesn’t do any good to be well insulatated if you can’t move (anybody remember Randy in A Christmas Story? …. “I can’t put my arms down”). Your range of motion will be reduced a bit as you add layers, but make sure you can still control your bike.

If you are riding all the way into the single digits, well, you get what you deserve.

Keep in mind, I’m a pretty hearty fellow, so if you are particularly susceptible to cold temperatures ,because you live somewhere like Phoenix OR you have circulation problems OR you have low body fat; add 10 or 20 degrees to my numbers.

Also know that as you age (you know who you are), your body isn’t as good at producing, distributing or retaining heat, so you will need to be more mindful even in what seems like reasonable temperatures. Just because it feels comfortable in a T-shirt standing in the midday sun on your deck doesn’t mean it will be comfortable on a bike at sunset with your self-created 60 MPH breeze.

I find black is my preferred color for winter gear. While it might be harder for drivers to see, especially after dark, when the sun is shinning, it acts a bit like a solar panel, sucking up just a bit of extra thermal energy over other colors. Besides, you should be using gear with retro-reflective highlights anyway.

Some additional advice on using heated items: because most if not all of these items run directly off the bikes battery, so I like to turn things off or down if I know I’m going to be stopped for more than a minute or so. Even though these items don’t put a heavy drain on the charging system, when the bike is idling you’re losing the charging war (many bikes can’t actually re-charge the battery until they are turning several thousand RPMs). It’s my little way to insure I have enough juice, not only to get home but be able to start the bike the next morning. Besides, when you’re not moving, windchill tends to be a non-issue. If possible your heated clothing should have some type of variable heat adjustability. You’ll want that adjustibility, especially if you are changing speeds frequently. Also, be careful about turning up the heat too high, you want just enough to take the chill off. If you start sweating, you body will quickly turn into an evaporative cooler and you’ll feel even colder.
Heated grips http://www.dual-star.com/
Rhino

Wind is your enemy!

To read the article, go to
http://www.OpenRoadJourney.com/articles/103.asp

Welcome

Live to Ride

Texas Canyonlands I: Heaven

Riding Two Wheels Blog


When I try to describe or explain some of the places I've visited, ridden and hiked, words are inadequate; some places are just inexplicable.

I've been to Europe, around the US and Canada mutliple times. But nothing captivates as much as the canyons on this continent. If finances were not an issue, I think I could dedicate the rest of my life riding to the canyonlands in North America, attempting to capture the flavors, mystery, intrigue, wonder, and realities that exist in and around them. Both in words and in photograhic images. Both might express the imagery that I see and feel.

Although sometimes I'm just speechless; I can only stand and stare, soak it in and feel it. It's the same as riding the bike. I can't explain that, either. But I know what it feels like. I open my mouth and nothing comes out. There are no adequate words to express it. Other times it pours out from my fingers during a moment of inspiration, or I relive it through photographs.

Some people have their churches, holy structures, places of sanctuary and solace. Mine are on the bike and in the canyons.

Christine's Corner

Christine's Corner

Rider of a Harley Davidson Fatboy and Yamaha V-Star 1100. Can the sport of motorcycling be any more fun--especially in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado? Read on and find out! Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my motorcycle misadventures. It may not always be fun, but it sure will be interesting!

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Revolutionary 3D Motorcycle GPS

http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/02222007150936MWEJM3.htm
http://www.sundaymorningrides.com/articles/article1.shtml

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Categories: Entertainment Funny


Garpis has done it again, they have invented a revolutionary new 3D-based GPS system designed specially for motorcycles. Thanks to magnetic holders, the GPS device can be fitted to any motorcycle, and the mapping is for the whole world, not just one continent.

The zoom mode can be amplified with the optional magnifying glass. This model has been designed specifically for RTW riders.

Price: US$ 25.00 at any good bookstore.

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Take the power of Google Maps with you on your mobile phone.