Hard time puttin' on the gear

 I'm beginning to hate putting on my gear.  I'm just going to the store
for beer, right?  Overpants, boots, jacket, earplugs, gloves, helmet,
sunglasses.  I have to buy gas on the way.  Take off the gloves and
sunglasses and  unzip the overpants because I forgot to take my wallet
out before putting them on.  Put in the gas.  Do everything in reverse
and go to the store.  Take off the sunglasses, helmet, jacket, gloves,
take out the earplugs (leave the overpants on) and go in.  Buy the beer
and come out, then strap the beer to the seat and put everything back
on again.  Come home and take everything off and hang up the jacket and
pants.  Oh, wait, I forgot the ice!

Lately for short trips like this it's just helmet, gloves, and
sometimes jacket.  I try to live by ATGATT, but the more I ride lately
and the longer it's been since I've been down, the stronger the urge to
nix the gear or take the car on short trips.

--
Lew

 Lew wrote:

Most of the body gear is to protect you from road rash.  If you are
going to the store for beer, chances are you aren't going to be going
fast, overcooking corners and sliding across asphalt for extended
periods of time.

If you T-bone a car along the way, the body suit will be of limited use
anyway.  A helmet is always a good idea.  A broken arm will mend.  A
broken skull, maybe not.

Life is a gamble.  For some the hassle is worth the perceived risk
always.  For me, if I'm going to play hard I dress up.  If not I
don't...unless it's cold or rainy.  Goretex and insulation rule in
inclement weather.

 Lew wrote:


You ask no question there, Lew, but it appears that you are seeking
validation for your desire to not wear ATGATT.  If this is correct, I
encourage you to make your own decisions in that regard.  Only you can
(and should!) decide what is an appropriate balance of risks and benefits
for you.

--
========================================================================
          Michael Kesti            |  "And like, one and one don't make
                                   |   two, one and one make one."
    mrkesti at hotmail dot com     |          - The Who, Bargain

 On 21 Mar 2008, Michael R. Kesti wrote in


I almost asked something like, "has anybody else struggled with
this?", but decided just to rant.  I know it's my decision.  More and
more, I just wear a helmet, gloves and jacket around town and full
gear on the highway, in the mountains, or on a long ride.

--
Lew

 

I struggle with it, 'cause putting on the gear is a pain in the ass.  I skip
the pants when going to the store, no biggie and its only 4 miles away, but
I always wear my jacket and helmet.  Gloves are really optional, but it sure
would suck to scrape my palms across the pavement for 100 ft - like a friend
of mine did when he got vaulted over the hood of another car on his bicycle.

The gear is the biggest pain factor of riding a motorcycle.  I wear shorts
year round, even in the winter, but that just won't do on a bike.  So if I
know I'm going out I have to put on pants, or wear my riding pants over my
shorts - but that also means putting on boots.  Hell you can drive a car in
slippers, I wouldn't dare on a bike.  Riding a bike means you got to plan
ahead to some degree - either that or be one of those people who wear pants
and boots all the time and hope your jacket doesn't get ripped off when you
store it in your tail pack - or wherever it is you put it when its 90 out
and you want to go walk around.