Don’t Commute … Scoot!

Riding into work today got me thinking about the gloves I wear when I ride. I always wear gloves – partly because that’s how I learned, but also because they give me a better, more consistent feel for the controls. I have four different pairs of riding gloves, which I wear at different times for different reasons.

When the temperature is below 40 degrees (F) I wear regular ski gloves – nothing fancy, but lots of insulation. Nothing is more painful (or dangerous!) than trying to ride with frozen hands. I find that keeping my hands warm makes me willing to ride in cold conditions.

If the temperature is between 35 and 60 I wear a pair of Power Trip Dakota Gloves. These are lined with Thinsulate and have a wiper blade built into the backs of the thumbs. They aren’t as warm as my ski gloves, but they give me a better feel for the controls.

Between 60 and 80 degrees I wear my Hugger Basic Riding Gloves. Like the name suggests, these are simple, unlined gloves (with padded palms). I like them because of the waterproof treatment on the leather – they don’t color my hands when they get wet the way cheaper gloves do.

When it’s really hot (over 80) I still wear gloves, but this time they’re Hugger Summer Riding Gloves. These have nylon mesh backs which wick the sweat away and actually make my hands feel cooler than riding without gloves. Unfortunately the backs of my hands sometimes get sunburned through the mesh.

Do you wear gloves when you ride?

I went out for lunch yesterday, around 2:00 as usual. It’s tough to get away from the store during the middle of the day – that’s when lots of people like to come in and shop. Anyway, I headed towards Home Depot to pick up some things, and tried to decide where to get lunch.

I finally thought about DiBella’s – a sub was SO appealing. I said to myself “Mm mm mm mm mm – tasty!” and just as I said “tasty” there was a loud SMACK as a honeybee hit my face shield. If the plastic hadn’t been there it would have hit square in my open mouth!

When I turned my head most of the carcass slid off in the wind, but there was still a smear that stayed there until I got to Home Depot and could wipe it off. I guess RainX works for bugs almost as well as rain!

I sell 1/2 and 3/4 helmets. I also have face shields that fit the 3/4s. People can buy whichever helmet they choose, but when they ask I always recommend a 3/4 with a face shield as the minimum to get (full faces are even better, if you can find one that fits you well.) That honeybee just drove home the point for me!

Safety first!

With that thought in mind, I’m happy to announce that the first product line we are carrying is AeroLife, a line of “personal illumination” products. Their AeroLight™ Guardian 2™ Belt in particular is a natural fit for scooter riders. It provide both retro-reflective and active illumination across the wearer’s shoulder and back, making him or her much more visible to other motorists at night. When not in use it rolls up and fits easily under your seat.

Ride safe!