Sunday, May 27, 2012

Where Would You Be?

It's 90F/32C outside. We've yet to turn on the air conditioner. We do have the ceiling fans going. If you are a cat where do you choose to hang out?

Leo making sure he doesn't catch a chill.
Undercover, of course.

And, if you are a motorcycle rider where would you be?

I may have trouble getting out of the metro sprawl, but I know one or two interesting roads.

On the road, of course.

What to wear? I saw a guy on a cruiser wearing a full face helmet, tank top, cut-offs, and flip-flops. I made some other choices.

Dri-plus tight fitting shirt and well vented pants worn over knee guards and a good pair of wicking briefs.
A mesh FirstGear Venture AT Jacket and an O'Neal Series-5 Motocross helmet. Also, I wore a buff to keep the sun off my neck and help minimize dehydration. Oh, I wore goggles, too.
I rode for close to a hundred miles, which was over three hours seat time. I got warm only once.

That train wasn't there the last time I came this way.
It's all about the gear, and......

the lack of humidity doesn't hurt either.

16 comments:

  1. Good job on keeping all the gear on! People sometimes make poor choices by not using common sense, but it is their lives, so let Darwin sort them out.

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    1. Sonja,
      It is sad when there is gear available that works at keeping a person feeling comfortable and minimizing dehydration. Of course, when you realize there are folks out there who've been riding for years and years who don't know about counter-steering, I guess thinking about gear wouldn't be much of a priority. Oh well. As you say, let Darwin sort them out.
      ~k

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  2. That definitely looks like a warm, country road. Not that we have very many of them around here. Great commentary on wearing the right gear and that there is gear available even for hot weather riding.

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    1. Wearing gear in hot weather is important, not only for protection, but to minimize dehydration. I look at the folks riding in sleeveless t-shirts and brain beannies and hope they aren't going far. Dehydration can be a killer. Luckily it hasn't gotten humid yet. Then? It is hot no matter the gear.
      ~k

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  3. Keith:

    I don't envy you with your hot weather. Ours is more bearable and it cools down at night. That looks like an inviting road

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    1. We had four days of record high temperatures in May. If the humidity stays down I'm quite comfortable up to 95F/35C for sure, and perhaps warmer. Add humidity and that's another story. Then survival is more the goal than comfort. We still haven't turned on the a/c which is a testimony again to the low humidity. Ah, I wonder what June will bring. This has been a May like no other.
      ~k

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  4. I am glad you could get out of the city a bit and it looks like it was much cooler in the shade.

    Your kitty looks all tuckered out. I am amazed at how warm they like to be. Warm outside and in and they snuggle under the covers, go figure.

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    1. My daughter reminded me cats body temperature is 104F. They definitely handle the heat differently.

      Cooler in the shade, next to the water, by a hidden spring, etc. One of the reasons I ride with a moto-X helmet is to experience all those shades of temperature difference. It is amazing.
      ~k

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  5. Well where else would you look for a cat on a bloomin hot day? Leo is just hiding in the last place that you would look.

    Glad you are finding the gear for you. I'm still trying to get the mix between hot and humid and comfortable. ;)

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    1. Lori,
      I'm not sure "humid and comfortable" can be used in the same sentence. I'm sill looking. I'm glad to have gear for very hot weather w/o humidity that protects me from dehydrating. Hot and humid? My quest continues. Stay tuned and be sure and share any successes you have. Hot and humid is difficult. In some ways more difficult that cold.
      ~k

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  6. I shake my head in disbelief when I see the gearless riders on both bike and scooter. I just do not understand their logic or lack thereof. I ride with gear even in hot temps, but I am going to have to look at a mesh jacket, mine is good, but even with venting it doesn't stay cool enough. So as with everything motorcycle related different gear for different seasons.

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    1. Dar,
      I've become a strong believer in layering. I don't like the zip in linings. I'd rather put a layer on or over. I find myself wearing the mesh jacket as armor and wearing layers under it and a windbreaker layer over it. It has to get rather cold before I bring out my "Winter" jacket.
      ~k

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  7. Dear Keith:

    I don't care if there is no humidity... 90º (F) is hot. It was 90º (F) here in New Jersey yesterday, and we've had the air conditioning on for three days... With the fans going. I'm stuck in the house, and I'm not complaining.

    As far as the guy with full helmet and not much of anything else goes, the helmet is a start. Brain trauma still beats a skin graft.

    Neat pictures... Cute cat.

    Fondest regards,
    Jack/reep

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    1. Jack,
      We have a helmet law in Missouri. Illinois doesn't. I see very few riders wearing helmets when I'm in Illinois. As one who has suffered the aftermath of brain trauma, it amazes me.

      I passed your comment on to the cat.

      Glad you like the photos.
      ~k

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  8. Good gear is definitely the hidden cost of riding. I now have two jackets, and with a little luck will soon have three. I am now wanting summer mesh riding pants... and oooh, a nice new Shoei Multitec or Schuberth C3 helmet with bluetooth... Oh dear, there goes another $1K. Nice gear you have there, Keith, enjoy it, and forget all those people who are like vegetables sliding down a high end mandolin, good luck to them.

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    1. Oy vey! The money I've spent on gear. Yes, it is definitely a hidden cost. I have gear that I'm mostly happy with, but I know I see something and be smittened and out will come the credit card.

      I don't give much thought to what gear others chose to wear other than to be amazed at some of their choices. I can live with my choices....or, at least improve my odds :)
      ~k

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