This weekend it will be too hot to drive a motorcycle. If you dress responsibly, you will die of the heat. In a T-shirt and shorts you are guaranteed to get second degree burns. But the day before yesterday it was still manageable.
When rolling out to a red light, I was passed by someone who I think could be a new motorcyclist. I made that assessment - possibly completely unjustified - because he appeared to be carefully, tough yet casual - dressed in a T-shirt, tattoos, cycling gloves, glasses with titanium-coated glasses and a helmet that had been thought about.
He was significantly younger than the average motorcyclist I know and is now a healthy 50+, because he had a full beard with no gray in it. He stopped in front of me and fell over.
All that stuff about protective motorcycle gear has passed me a bit. But what I once learned is that it is less convenient to get on the bike while wearing kek-kewle mountain shoes or 'working man's boots' with laces. The loop of such a lace has the innate tendency to slide over shift or brake pedals. And if you want to put your foot on the ground? Then you come a few centimeters from your steppie with that foot and you fall over.
Then your foot will hit the ground anyway, just in a way that you hadn't planned. Strappy sandals tend to fool their owners in the same way. So footwear is a thing. Friends Theo and Jan saw something like this in Italy. A beautiful, effect-packed rider of a Harley Sportster drove with stylishly matching 'stilettos' on her, without a doubt, beautiful feet. The 10+ centimeter high heel of her left shoe broke when she got off. "BOMB!' A fallen woman ...
In the meantime, my predecessor was stuck between his urban scrambler and the asphalt. I put my moped across the lane and with the good lifting technique - just look at Youtube - lifted the scrambler so far that the fallen knight could get out. Modern motorcycles, by the way, are very heavy.
The fallen man was first attached to his lace, but had enough idea to release it. Together we put the bike on its feet. My find muttered, “God, how stupid that I haven't thought about it. I'm ashamed! ” That could become a very good motorcyclist. Because thinking is a point for us, as an endangered species.
We decided to evaluate the case a hundred meters further on a terrace. My new friend had some water. I have been diving for years and I know what fish do underwater. Catching a lager is safer. My table companion turned out to be a nice guy.
He was just the age I say it is such a shame that youth is wasted on young people. Mike turned out to be very interested in old stuff. But he was afraid that as a non-technical person such a thing was not a given. I told him that for less than half the price of his scrambler, he could choose from rows of classics that could take him anywhere without any problem.
He immediately started dreaming about an old Harley, about a WL. Not a 'liberator'. Because he was a pacifist. In itself a good approach. But if you are so straight into the leather, you cannot drive a German or Japanese motorcycle. And to buy an Italian or British classic as a non-technical motorcyclist? Mike promised me a subscription Auto Motor Klassiek and start reading.
I gave him the names of key guru Erik van Lent and Ms. Davidson, a lady who teaches key courses at Harleys. His eyes lit up with the combination of 'lady' and 'Harley-Davidson'.
Motorcycling is about emotions. Mike crippled a bit as he said goodbye. Pain is also an emotion.
But this weekend it is too hot to drive
this morning with a few friends and a friend we drove 185 km between Maas and Waal. Fortunately it was warm because there were hardly any other motorcycles on the dike roads. Drove past a gas station where the thermometer showed 35 degrees at half past twelve. Driving was still fun but standing still was still warm even though all the zippers in my jacket were open. Then a terrace with shade is nice to cool off. And after a fresh shower at home my temperature was also adjusted a lot downwards. I must admit, the last part of Werkendam home it was very hot and the heat radiated from the asphalt, the sun and my motorcycle.
Sometimes the weather is TOO good to ride a motorcycle
Time for cold beer!
Normally I always drive 'in full dress'. But at these kinds of 'übertropic' temperatures it is, as you write Dolf, even seriously dangerous.
But when the weather returns to normal and is feasible in full regalia, another phenomenon emerges. The choice between which motorcycle pants I will wear. That goes over the boots or that goes in the boots. I was never good at gambling. So 'the pants in the boots' went on and in the afternoon it started to rain. After previous wet experiences, because all the rainwater ran down the pipes, a roll wide cello tape proved to be the solution this time. Just tap that trade. It worked and everything stayed dry. Since then such a role has been standard in my suitcases. The pants over the shoes are preferred. With my judgment it will never work. Cello tape is the invention of the century….
The next step is to seal! Drive carefully there in the Limburg Alps
Well.
Footwear.
I often wear the well-known work shoes and put the laces in the shoe.
I already had the same thing as a 7-year-old with the cross bike, that my foot did not want to go to the ground, because the lace had started a relationship with the pedal.
My mate almost always wears Swedish clogs.
Those Strofels things.
Wooden bottom, leather top.
He slumped too, not even very hard, but his clogs were good before hitting the asphalt, and his socks really served to hold the skins together. . . .
The importance of sturdy socks is often underestimated!
Ever drove to work in linen sneakers because it would stay dry anyway, not so and to prevent my sneakers from getting wet, a few KOMO garbage bags were tied around it. And they are smooth! Unfortunately I only noticed this at the first traffic light. The leftover oil on the road didn't really help either ...
All learning moments count! But don't underestimate Komo bags: you can improvise rain suits very well!
One of the reasons that I usually wear (garden) clogs on the bike is (besides being lazy, doing something else on my feet and I also missed the movie “always wearing motorcycle clothes” ..) above mentioned scenario.
A WL (A, because there are many of them) now costs serious knots, half heppie a really nice British shaker iron .. also nice and kewl.
Clogs work great with heel-toe switching. And for half of what an old Briton costs you now also have the best things (spoke the Ural driver)
Hilarious story again Dolf. Just like your reactions.
As a classic lover you will keep smiling!