Essential Desert Gear: Cool-dana

I picked up a Cool-dana over the weekend since we were going to an outdoor festival and it seemed like it might be a nice thing to have.

And it was.

Yesterday was the first time I tried using such a thing on the motorcycle, and I have to say, it's pretty awesome. Of course, it was completely dry by the time I got home, but it was very pleasant for the first half of my ride.

Anything that adds a little comfort to riding in the desert summer is a good thing.

Essential Gear - Every Day Carry Revisited

Back here I talked a bit about the stuff I carry every day, and you folks left some awesome suggestions in the comments. As you might expect, my list of items changes fairly regularly as things occur to me, or as I discover things I don't need to keep lugging around. Usually a purge of my kit happens every two months or so when I get sick of all the crap I've accumulated.

But, starting from the luggage and working my way in, here's what I've been carrying every day lately:

Timbuk2 messenger bag: This thing is huge. On the Vespa, I could conceivably keep a puppy warm under the seat and have a grown beagle enjoying the breeze in my bag. Or, on the Triumph, two grown pugs in the bag. Along with my gear. Seriously, this bag is so big, it's kind of overkill. It's super easy to get on over my jacket, and it's got a cross-strap so it stays put while I'm riding.

I've abused the hell out of this bag, and it's still in great shape. I recently used it on a four mile hike, and carried water for two people, a grotesquely over-packaged lunch, my SLR and other sundries with no problem or discomfort.

Leatherman PST: While a proper, fixed blade knife would be best for survival in the backcountry, here in the urban reality most of us deal with on a day to day basis, a multi-tool is just about the best thing ever. I can't count how many times this thing has come in useful, and I'm tempted to get a collection of other multi-tools just so I can stash them in handy places.

Small flashlight: It's cheap, it's plastic, it's a source of light. I've used it several times. I gotta remember to carry spare batteries, though.

Bic Lighter Wrapped with Duck Tape: Obviously, because some times you need to make sure something stays put and then light it on fire.

...OK. So, actually, it's just a convenient way to carry several feet of duck tape. And sometimes you do need to light things on fire.

Excedrin: Best painkiller ever.

Earbuds: I like music, and when I'm going on a looooong, boring ride (say, to San Diego), it's nice to have headphones that fit under my helmet. I don't use them in traffic. They also come in handy at work when someone starts having a conversation I wish I didn't have to overhear.

Bright orange bandanna: Think about it for a minute, and you'll realize the millions of possible uses for a bandanna. Especially if you're a sweaty biker who thinks bright orange is pretty cool looking. A bandanna is just an awesome thing to have, and if you don't have one, you should really get one. Or five.

Sucrets tin full of goodies: This is an evolving kit. Presently it has a stick of chapstick, a couple bandaids, a box of matches and several safety pins. Eventually I'm going to put a few Immodium AD tablets in there, because you never know when the pizza gods might be vengeful. Future additions include a square of aluminum foil, a ziplock bag or two, moleskin, and some baling wire.

Water Bottle: I've got a bunch of these, and I rotate through them when I think of it.

Thermax thermos: Because I'm not happy if I don't have my coffee in the morning.

Altoids or chewing gum: Cottonmouth sucks, and these keep my helmet smelling minty-fresh. Which is a good thing, because my helmet has been through five summers in the desert and I'm pretty sure it's close to self-awareness.

Pen and paper: Presently a Pilot Precise V5 and a couple hip, black notebooks. I'm not picky about my paper, but I am picky about my pens. The ballpoint is my second choice. My favorites are the Varsity disposable fountain pens. I could write all day with those babies, and they never walk off. Anyway, keeping notes is good, and I can't stand typing into my...

Cell phone: My phone and I have an agreement. I don't like it, and it doesn't like me. That said, I do get a lot of use out of the weather application and the calculator. And I've used it as a flashlight in a pinch. It also does a pretty good job as an mp3 player.

Sunglasses: I do live in the desert, you know.

Tire pressure gauge: Since the ones gas stations will lend you never work anyway...

So, that is my current daily survival kit. It works pretty well for me.

Essential Motorcycle Gear - Appropriate Clothing for Your Climate

When I rode to Los Alamos back in the end of April, 2008, I made a major mistake in my planning. I forgot to see what the weather was like in New Mexico. Here in Phoenix, it was plenty warm. So, I wore my Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket, and threw a hoodie in my tank bag in case it got cooler at the higher elevations. I only brought my summer gloves.

Man, did I blow it. I was comfortable for about an hour on the way to Payson. Then I put my hoodie on and I was comfortable for maybe another hour.

Then it was 5 hours of Hell to Albuquerque. I was able to hide behind the tank bag a little bit. It blocked some of the wind, but not much. The road to Los Alamos was worse. There was still snow on the ground! On the ride back to Phoenix I stopped to buy a pair of gloves at a gas station because I just couldn't take anymore cold on my hands.

The good news is that I survived, got a story out of it, and learned a valuable lesson: wear/bring climate-appropriate riding clothes.

My current collection of gear is as follows: A leather jacket for the winter. I wear a fleece jacket instead of using the leather jacket's liner in the gold. Fleece, as most of you know, is absolutely awesome and I recommend it to everyone. Sadly, the zipper on my leather broke a couple weeks ago, and I'm going to have to find a seamstress to repair it. Right now I'm wearing my fleece under the Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket during the morning. Once it starts getting warmer, I don't need the fleece.

My Joe Rocket jacket is getting pretty funky, and I might have to replace it soon. I'm not sure what to replace it with, though. The Phoenix feels like you're not even wearing a jacket, so long as you're moving. Here in the desert, stopping during the summer is going to cause suffering no matter what you wear.

I have a small confession to make: I don't have proper riding pants. I would LOVE to get a pair, but I'm seeking protection that I can wear over my work pants without arriving at work a sweaty mess. And, barring that, I have no idea what will provide adequate protection and reasonable comfort during the summer here. If you've got suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

This summer, I plan on getting some of those high-tech polypropylene underwear and t-shirts that supposedly wick moisture away from the skin. Nothing is quite as gross as a clammy t-shirt in air-conditioning after a hot ride. In addition to those luxury items, I've heard good things about cooling vests and bandannas soaked in water and wrapped around one's neck.

Did I miss anything?

Essential Motorcycle Gear: Luggage You Don’t Hate

You might have noticed that motorcycles don’t have a whole lot of storage space. At least, not unless you add it. Most scooters have a puppy warmer to keep your gear under the seat, but usually there’s barely enough room for a half-helmet and a pair of gloves. That’s assuming you keep your registration and insurance paperwork in your pocket.

Motorcycles have a tiny bit of usable space under the seat, but just enough for the owner’s manual and a small tool kit.

So where are you going to keep your lunch, iPod, spare pair of underwear and bottle of water?

Well, if you really like living minimally, you might keep it all in your jacket pockets, or invest in a pair of cargo pants. Hey, then you could bring TWO sandwiches.

Assuming you don’t like all that weight pulling your pants down, however, you’ll probably want a bag of some kind. And there are really only two kinds of bags to consider: bags you strap to yourself, and bags you strap to the bike.

Chances are, you’ve already got a Jansport backpack (or similar) hiding somewhere in your house. I really like mine, actually, except for the small problem of getting it on over the shoulder armor in my Joe Rocket jacket. A small backpack stays out of the way, and can carry a fair amount of stuff in it. Of course, on the downside, during the warmer months a backpack means you’ve got a bunch of weight on your back, keeping you nice and warm and ensuring the back of your shirt is sweaty when you reach your destination.

If you're like me, struggling to get a backpack on over your armor twice a day will get old very quickly. This is when you’ll go get yourself a nice tankbag. You can keep a ton of gear in them, especially handy stuff like the kickstand puck during the warm months, gum, change for tolls, maps, a compass... you know, the usual stuff that makes riding more comfortable and convenient.

But I’ll tell you what, stomping a couple blocks from your parking spot to the office with a tank bag in one hand and your helmet in the other gets old quick.

What’s the solution? I have no idea. What have you guys come up with?

For the time being, I’ve been carrying my large Timbuk2 courier bag every day. It’s a breeze to get on, leaves my hands free when I’m walking, and keeps me a bit cooler than my Jansport hugging my back. It’s a nice rugged bag and I could, if so inclined, bring enough clothes for a couple days in it - probably a week if I didn't bring extra pants. Stacy has mentioned the possibility of the strap causing severe injury to one's neck in the event of a crash, however. Frankly, I like my head firmly attached, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for another solution.

Essential Motorcycle Gear: A Great Helmet

I might be guilty of talking about helmets too much. I just love my helmet, a Shoei TZ-1. It’s comfy. It’s quiet inside (compared to a half-helmet or not wearing a helmet). It protects my face from those annoying little rocks that trucks kick up off the road, bugs, and rain. It has a few other benefits as well, such as hugging my head exactly the right way when I have a headache.

A decent brain bucket doesn’t have to be expensive. The cheap HJC and similar-brand helmets were actually found to do a darn good job of protecting your delicious brain from trauma, possibly even a better job than SNELL-rated helmets.* The important thing is finding one that fits you well. You’re going to have it on your melon for many, many many hours, so you’d better darn well like it. My Shoei seems to be shaped perfectly for my head, and even when it was brand new it was very comfortable. HJC helmets, in my particular case, press in exactly the wrong way in exactly the wrong spots.

I have heard that a white helmet is more visible to traffic. I don’t know if that’s true. My helmet is white because that’s what the store had and it fit so nice that I wasn’t going to leave without it. I have to admit it’s sorely lacking in style. I’ve considered getting an eye painted on to the back of it (I’m looking at YOU, buddy), but never got around to it.

Now, as much as I like my full face helmet, I have to admit I’d really like to get a 3/4 helmet, a pair of aviator goggles, and a selection of bandannas to cover my nose and mouth. One of these days I might break down and do just that. After all, I am about due for a new lid.

Anyway, a good helmet is a good friend. Get one, wear it.

What are your thoughts?


*Check this article comparing DOT-only and SNELL certified helmets.

Essential Motorcycle Gear: Decent Rain Gear

No matter where you live, if you ride a motorcycle regularly you are eventually going to be caught in the rain. Decent rain gear is worth the investment.

I do not have decent rain gear. Today marks one of maybe ten times I've had the gear on in the rain. I stayed mostly dry, except for the parts of me that didn't, which were in very odd places. My rain gear is restrictive, stuffy, and really goofy looking. The zippers don't work. And, somehow, it usually stops any rain from falling, thus negating the need to struggle into it.

Ah, the struggle into my gear. I bought gear two sizes too big, so it ought to fit easily over my clothes and riding jacket. And it does, kind of. However, the rubberized interior catches leather, cotton, and pretty much any other material I try to slide it over. By the time I've got my rain gear on, I'm soaked from perspiration.

Luckily for me, I don't need my gear that often. What do you guys use and recommend?

Essential Motorcycle Gear - Every Day Carry

As motorcyclists, there is gear we all have in common. Boots. Helmets. Armor. Gloves.

Then there’s the stuff that’s a little more personal, stuff that makes riding a little easier, or a little more comfortable. The stuff most people don't see unless we point it out.

Here’s the stuff I carry every day.

#1. Ziploc bag with insurance and registration information in my jacket pocket. I also kept a card with vital information such as who the hell I am and who to contact in case I can’t talk. That card wore out, but I’m working on a new one.

#2. Tools. When I rode the VX800 every day, I carried a lot more tools. I generally carried a few wrenches in sizes I knew I would need, a pair of vise grips, a box-cutter, a flat head screwdriver and a phillips head screwdriver. On the Triumph, I carry the factory toolkit, and a tire plug kit with a C02 inflator. Those are both kept under the seat. I also carry my trusty Leatherman PST on my belt or in a pocket, because it’s saved my butt many times. I keep a flashlight and a tire gauge in my courier bag. When it’s hot out, or if I know I’m going to park on something soft, I also carry a plastic puck to keep the kickstand from sinking in to the ground.

#3. Cell phone. I’ve come to realize I don’t hate cell phones, I hate rude assholes. I go out of my way to avoid talking on my phone in public, because I don’t want to be one of those assholes you see talking on their cellphone about nothing important. That said, I really like being able to check the current temperature (do I need all my layers?), being able to search for directions, and I’ve even got a flashlight app, in case I get caught in the dark with no light... I don’t rely on the phone in the least - I always keep a couple of quarters on my person for a payphone, and a winning smile in case I need to ask to use someone’s land line.

#4 Pen and paper. Apart from being able to jot down notes when I have a brilliant idea, sometimes it’s good to be able to make notes for driving directions, appointments, phone numbers, you get the idea.

So, that about sums up the stuff I always have with me. Any essentials I’m missing?

Essential Motorcycle Gear - Great Big Stompy Boots

Having an excuse to wear excessive amounts of rugged clothing is one of the perks of motorcycling on a daily basis. Every day, we get to pull on our armor and go out into that post-apocalyptic biker world, ready for anything and everything that comes our way.

Great big stompy boots are probably one of the most important items we wear as far as staying comfortable is concerned when dealing with anything and everything that comes our way. Don’t believe me? Ride 6 hours on a bike with footpegs (floorboards do not count) in a pair of Chuck Taylor’s and let me know how your feet feel.

Great big stompy boots make feet happy. They’re stompy because the soles are far from soft or flexible. Maybe bad for stealthy walking, but great for keeping your entire foot supported on a peg that’s less than two inches wide. And great big means you’ve got 12 or more eyelets for your laces, which means you can snug them up good and tight around your ankles, providing a ton of support, which means more comfort.

It doesn’t hurt that in case of an unexpected get-off, the boots will keep your feet and ankles protected from the cruel, hard ground, hot exhaust components, and Kathy Bates. Barring that, if you stub your toe wandering around the office or warehouse in your great big stompy boots, you won’t even notice. Can you say that about loafers?

And, hey, it feels great stomping around town and the office in black boots that are just this side of respectable. Even better if you can get away with wearing truly righteous boots suitable for raiding bartertown.

Verdict? Great Big Stompy Boots: Required.

What boots do you guys like?

Better Tires for Better Riding

I gotta say, I absolutely love my Pilot Road 2 tires.

Tire quality makes a huge difference in the overall motorcycle riding experience. My experience with the previous incarnation of Pilot Roads was that they had no grip (leading to a lot of scary moments) and they caused sluggish handling.

Not so with the Pilot Road 2 tires. I feel like I could drag my knee all day with these tires. I'm going to have to see how tight I can get my figure-eights one of these days...

In the parking garage at my office, there is a turn where the floor is painted all the way through. I have NO idea why they did that, but it resulted in a slick, low-visibility nightmare. On the old tires, that turn was usually the scariest part of my ride.

But the new tires stick like velcro. I no longer feel like I'm suddenly going to lose traction and eat pavement in every curve. It's nice. In fact, it's made a huge difference in how much I enjoy riding.

So, if you're buying tires, spring for the good ones. It's completely worth it.

New Tires Are Warm and Fuzzy

Don't you love the little fuzzies sticking out on new tires? They're like bubble-wrap, I just can't wait to get rid of all of them. So satisfying.

So last night I picked up the Triumph from Phoenix International Motorsports. I am very impressed with the service I got over there. When they encountered a small problem, they called to let me know rather than waiting until I showed up to pick up my bike. They actually called me to let me know my bike was ready. Nice!

The old tires were Pilot Roads. I hated them with a passion after the first week. They weren't sticky enough in curves, and it took too much muscle to move the bike around. They were a detriment to my riding confidence. On the upside, they lasted darn near forever.

The new tires are Pilot Road 2s. They've got a new multi-compound makeup which means they're hard in the middle and soft and sticky on the edges. Frankly, I was a little nervous about them, but the parts manager told me that even guys on all-out supersport bikes like them.

I have to say, the Triumph is a whole new machine. I'm so tickled. In curves, I start to lean a bit, and then hit the sticky part of the tire and the bike just dives into the turn and spits me out, confident and happy, on the other side.

It was rainy today, and I didn't want to test the traction of brand new tires in the rain, so I took the Vespa to work. I'm very much looking forward to getting out and wearing down the chicken strips on my new tires, though.