Saturday, September 23, 2006
I went to a few bike stores today looking for some heated gloves. But before I got started, dr-bar joined me for a quick lunch stop so we could talk about our upcoming road trip.
sigh.......we still couldn't come to a decision.
The problem is not knowing whether the weather will be condusive to two wheeled traversing of the Rockies. The more we talked about, the more unlikely it is we will be heading east....however....if there is a hot dry spell....
Anyway.....back to the shopping.....
So far, the only shop I have been to that has any electric gloves in stock has been the big Harley dealer. So, given my reluctance to buy clothing over the internet....I dragged dr_bar with me to Trev Deeley's.
Oh, wait.....but that was after I test rode a previously loved Yamaha Roadstar.
I was in Burnaby Kawasaki to see about gloves and my helmet, when I saw a 1999 Roadstar. It has only 27,000km on it and is only 8 grand. I asked B at the dealer,what he would give me for a trade in on my 650.
He came out and had a look at my bike and then went in and checked his little book....
"I'd give you $5,000. for it", he said.
Dr-bar then convinced me to go for a test ride. Well, it was more like badgered...I think I have been afraid to try a big bike like that for fear of not being able to handle the largeness and the weight.
So-o-o-o, I handed over my DL and B went and got the bike. He started it up and gave it a ride around the parking lot to make sure it was ok.
Dr_bar asked me if I wanted him to follow along, but I declined. I got on the bike and tentatively turned the throttle a bit while I slowly released the clutch.
I moved it.....I didn't stall it.
I did that a couple of more times to get the feel of the clutch and the throttle and then I rode around the parking lot a few times. Not only did I not stall it, but I managed to maneuver it in circles (u-turns) and then out to the back alley.
I rode a couple of blocks away and then back. Although I did fine, I'm still not sure I want something that big.
Although I did like the look of it. It is dark blue and cream with whitewall tires. It has a real retro look. It has a windshield and saddle bags too.
(It's blue....I wouldn't have to change my user name.
)
Hmmmm, the fact that I'm still thinking about it makes me think I may go back. If I forget about over the next couple of days, then it means I don't really want it.
So, now to the Harley dealer...
the first thing I see when I go in the door is a beautiful 2 tone blue HD Dyna Low Rider.....I said to dr_bar,
"Would it be ok to sit on it?"
He replied, "You better go and ask first."
Well, everyone was busy or on the phone, so I said ,"never mind. Let's just get my gloves."
The clerk brought out the gloves and I told her I wanted to be sure they were right, so I tried them on again. Then I asked if I could go sit on a bike to make sure the gloves felt right for me when on the grips.
Of course I chose the blue one....
Wow! Wowee! I don't have any $$$, but if I did, I would have signed on the dotted line for that one. It felt good. Gloves? What gloves?
.....and I wouldn't have to change my user name....
OK, in all seriousness, I purchased the gloves. I really didn't want to spend so much, but in the end I guess it will be worth it.
My fingertips get so cold as to be painful. When I was coming back from Princeton when I had that bout of bronchitis....the weather turned nasty and by the time we got to Hope I couldn't feel my hands any more. It had got so cold out that my hands were frozen into place around the grips. I actually had a hard time unrolling my fingers from the throttle.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, breathing that icy air all the way home was what caused my relapse. My chest had not been the same since. I have taken to wearing something over my neck, chin and mouth on my early morning commutes just so that the air I breathe is bit warmer.
I guess I will have to do the same for my early morning power walk to the bus. I had started to walk for 30 minutes in the mornings to a far away bus stop to try to get some exercise and that is probably why I have come down with this cold. The early morning air is cold. Heck...I can't even eat ice cream anymore or it makes me start to cough. It's the cold.
I came home with my handsome new Harley Davidson electric gloves....which I will pay for next month. With the tax they were $248.00.
I could change my name to the eclectic biker. I have hiking boots for riding, and depending on the weather, either a Joe Rockett or a Nitro jacket. I have North Face Gore-Tex ski pants for rainy days. The leather chaps are HD, the gloves rainy day gloves are power trip, the helmet is KBC, and my new gloves are HD.
Nothing coordinates. The boots are brown, the jackets are red or blue and when I get the zipper replaced in one, yellow. I stuck lilttle coloured glittery heart stickers on my balck helmet so it gives me a girly look.
In the end, it's not about making a fashion statement anyway. It's about being comfortable and staying safe.
With that being said, my blue crate is once again going to pressed into service for the road trip. I was going to buy luggage, but the gloves won out.....not to mention that my bike is going in for its service next week.
I'll be heading out on my trip with fresh fluids and steering bearings checked and brakes checked, etc.
And now I must go read the instructions for connecting the wires for the gloves to the battery.
It's as though peopple have a sixth sense when there is a camera on them.
I have heat......the wiring is installed on my bike and the gloves work. 
I will be nice and 
is going to keep me from 