2Wheeltips

Now that summer is here, we thought we would offer a few words of advice to those who check in out our site. None of this is really "new", be we all need refreshers to keep us sharp on our toes.

If it is too hot for gear, it's too hot to ride
We know the mercury is rising and it can get stuffy inside your helmet and jacket. But resist the urge to join the t-shirt and short crowd. Ride with protective gear at all times.

Stay hydrated
Nothing good can happen if you ride thirsty, dizzy, hot and weak. On a hot day, plan to stop more often than usual to take a break to cool down and to take a drink.

Blinding Sun
Now that dusk is longer, be mindful of riding when the sun is directly behind you. This will make approaching traffic harder to see you and can make intersections even more dangerous.

Feel free to add more tips to this blog so others can learn.

We forgot to update this, but the "Before the BRC/BRT" videos have been up for a while. Here is the link.

/test_page::before_the_brc.html

At Americade for $10.00 or $20.00 you could have your riding position check for the comfort of your bike. I wanted to know, what could I learn that would help my riding to more comfort and less, "Oh, My God", and rubbing my hind parts after a 120 mile ride without getting off the bike. Well, I had a pressure mapping system check and discovered that certain areas of my body had more pressure on the seat.  Overall after much discussion I was infomed that I needed a back rest and to proper inflate my airhawk to get rid of the tail bone pain, and have a better reach, and to adjust the armor in my knee pads to get rid of the pain that I would feel in my knees.   I went and purchased a back rest (first called the Harely Davidson in Ann Arbor to check their price; and found out it was cheaper at Americade).  Went to the booth where they sold airhawks and received instruction on how to properly inflate.  Well, what I discovered was that the backrest, placed me forward on the bike, which gave me a better reach to the handelbars, and took my tailbone off the padding of the seat. The airhawk properly air adjusted, gave me the rolling feel of a massage and I could do a certain lean on the bike for release of pressure and sit back on the bike and the ride felt great.  Before, I could ride on the airhawk for about 100 miles and my butt would start hurting.  I would get off the bike and when I got back on the bike, my butt felt like I was starting new on the ride.  But, since I did the adjustment, I could change positions while riding the bike and my butt then felt like I was starting new.  My ride home from Americade, 671 miles felt a lot better and less tiring than the 577 miles I did the first day on my way to Maine.  Riding with the backrest, suprisingly placed me in a position that was more comfortable and I was sitting straight-up.  The backrest costed me more than $20.00, I think it was $200.00 or more.  I found myself, after parking the bike, putting my backrest in my touring pack---did not want to walk back to my bike and the $200.00 backrest, not being there.  I got to the point where, I started leaving it on the bike.

I'm finally getting some time to write about my trip to Lake George, NY from central NJ for the Americade rally. It isn't a big ride, about 250 miles, and it's something that can be done in less than 5 hours. I rode up with a group of local friends.
The weather was clear but a little cool and breezy for a summer morning and scattered showers were in the forecast. With that in mind, I decided to pack my waterproof summer gloves, my rainsuit, my windbreaker jacket and a long sleeve compression shirt just it case the temperature dropped.

We started with 4 riders, road up the Garden State Parkway to a rest stop just south of Union, NJ and picked up 8 more riders. By then, it was chilly, so I put on the windbreaker. I got a few cross looks about having on too much clothing, but I always get that. After all, I'm "mr. safety" in these parts of the woods.

After hanging out there for an hour we got on the road. About an hour later we arrived at the first rest stop on the New York thruway. Along the way, the temperature dropped quite a bit. Those who didn't change at the previous stop were now cold and didn't look too happy. The clouds were rolling in and I put on my compression shirt and my raingear. Some did not bring warm shirts, rain gear or waterproof gloves, thinking they would make it to Americade before the rain.

We soon got back on the road and agreed to stop for lunch at a rest area just south of Albany, NY. Along the way, the temperature dropped again and it rained on and off some more. We all made it there in one piece but those who took a chance were now even colder and a little wet.  After a group lunch, we got back on the road for the final 90 minute ride to Lake George and that's when the fun began.

As soon as we got on the road, the sky opened up and it started raining....hard.  Those without rain gear got soaked and those with half helmets had to slow down because the rain hitting their faces was too painful. Still others had no experience riding in the rain and they too had to slow down. I hate passing other riders, but we were getting separated from other riders. At the next tool, I passed all of the ill-prepared riders and caught up with the others who were at least a half a mile ahead.

As we neared Lake George, the rain eased up some and we all made it there in one piece. I was warm, dry and in good spirits. The others were wet, cold and grouchy.

Moral of the story? Be prepared. Better to have it and not need it than to curse yourself for leaving it behind.

Last week, there were several motorcycle fatalities in my area.  One of the accidents was close enough to where I live, and on a road that I travel often, so I was a bit rattled to hear about what happened.

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100522/NEWS/100522009/Piscataway-crash-kills-South-Plainfield-motorcyclist-28

Here is another accident that did not have to happen.  Although I wasn't there, I know that road and the hill over the interstate, and if you go over it too fast, accidents like this can happen. 

Motorcycle season is underway and you need to be careful and put into practice the intersection skills that you find here on 2wheeltips.  Approach and ride through all intersections cautiously and the life you save may be your own.

We just got this from our contact and Snell Foundation, the company that does helmet testing.  Their new motorcycle helment certification M2010, is the highest motorcycle helmet standard in the world. Helmets with this certification are coming to the market now and this site have information on the M2010 testing and other helmet safety info.

http://www.snellm2010.org/

We are going to Americade this year....leaving on Wednesday morning from central NJ. We should be there around 2pm.

On Thursday, we are going to the Woodchuck Cider Mill in Vermont. It is just across the ferry from Ticonderoga....perhaps 20 minutes. If you are free, you are welcome to join us. Just let me know.