sweerhe
Pack Dog
1. Commute. Keep a weather radio in your bathroom. Install an
indoor/outdoor thermometer in the bedroom. Leave a cover or lock at your
job's parking place. Carry a garage door opener or parking ramp card
that's usable without dismounting. Arrange security in advance and be
willing to pay for it. Once a week take a longer than necessary route to
work.
2. Arrange your gear by the door or garage. Separate out your trip and
camping stuff. Have your gloves and boots setup for selecting, depending
on the days destination and weather conditions.
3. Get a smaller size motorcycle. Modern small bikes can do what old big
ones did, easier cheaper and more fun to ride. Just like cars.
4. Ride in the rain. Go on purpose when nobody else is outdoors. Ride
around for a look. If you get wet you won't drown.
5. Ride at night. If you don't have to get up for work the next morning
there is nothing like enjoying a two am stop at a lonely all-night
coffee shop, after a hundred miles of scary back roads. Full moons are
best. Watch for deer and small animals.
6. Always have a way to haul stuff. Wear a Courier bag or backpack.
Carry a bungee net, bungee buddy, an empty tank bag or some bungee
cords. As a last resort, leave saddlebags on all the time.
7. Get a 'beater' motorcycle. Or make your bike into one. True beaters
can be interesting and fun to ride and don't attract vandals or thiefs.
TT500's, Ascot's, Sabres, Interceptors, Titans, GS's, /5's, etc... Like
blue jeans, most cycles are better when they show some wear. (Too much
bike polishing leads to idolatry. Moses shatters the original 10
commandments...)
8. Have two or three different helmets at the ready. An expensive full
coverage one for serious rides and an easy to use open or hinged chinbar
type for everyday urban riding or use on super-hot days. Having several
types of gloves, boots, jackets, etc...for different situations is also
good.
9. Plan rides. One Sunday a month do an all-day local ride or an
overnight. Invent some game of it. In cities, try riding only alleys or
only to overlooks or only across all the bridges. What is the longest
continuous street in your city? Have you ever ridden it end to end? Put
a marked map or list on the tankbag or in your pocket, and carry a
compass. Out on the road, go to the smallest roads, to the small places.
10. Ride very early in the morning. Dawn rides can be the best hour of
your day. No traffic, clean air, good sights and sensations. A shower
and breakfast after a sunrise ride are wonderful. This is best done when
the days are the longest in June and July. It does not apply if your
bike has open pipes, especially if you ride an H2 with chambers. Then,
stay in bed.
10. Philosophy bonus A: Ignore what everyone else thinks. Riding is a
better way to get around. Ride paranoid and keep your skills sharp
10. Philosophy bonus B: Ride with somebody who's better than you. You
will pick up a handy trick or new skill just about every time you are
out.
indoor/outdoor thermometer in the bedroom. Leave a cover or lock at your
job's parking place. Carry a garage door opener or parking ramp card
that's usable without dismounting. Arrange security in advance and be
willing to pay for it. Once a week take a longer than necessary route to
work.
2. Arrange your gear by the door or garage. Separate out your trip and
camping stuff. Have your gloves and boots setup for selecting, depending
on the days destination and weather conditions.
3. Get a smaller size motorcycle. Modern small bikes can do what old big
ones did, easier cheaper and more fun to ride. Just like cars.
4. Ride in the rain. Go on purpose when nobody else is outdoors. Ride
around for a look. If you get wet you won't drown.
5. Ride at night. If you don't have to get up for work the next morning
there is nothing like enjoying a two am stop at a lonely all-night
coffee shop, after a hundred miles of scary back roads. Full moons are
best. Watch for deer and small animals.
6. Always have a way to haul stuff. Wear a Courier bag or backpack.
Carry a bungee net, bungee buddy, an empty tank bag or some bungee
cords. As a last resort, leave saddlebags on all the time.
7. Get a 'beater' motorcycle. Or make your bike into one. True beaters
can be interesting and fun to ride and don't attract vandals or thiefs.
TT500's, Ascot's, Sabres, Interceptors, Titans, GS's, /5's, etc... Like
blue jeans, most cycles are better when they show some wear. (Too much
bike polishing leads to idolatry. Moses shatters the original 10
commandments...)
8. Have two or three different helmets at the ready. An expensive full
coverage one for serious rides and an easy to use open or hinged chinbar
type for everyday urban riding or use on super-hot days. Having several
types of gloves, boots, jackets, etc...for different situations is also
good.
9. Plan rides. One Sunday a month do an all-day local ride or an
overnight. Invent some game of it. In cities, try riding only alleys or
only to overlooks or only across all the bridges. What is the longest
continuous street in your city? Have you ever ridden it end to end? Put
a marked map or list on the tankbag or in your pocket, and carry a
compass. Out on the road, go to the smallest roads, to the small places.
10. Ride very early in the morning. Dawn rides can be the best hour of
your day. No traffic, clean air, good sights and sensations. A shower
and breakfast after a sunrise ride are wonderful. This is best done when
the days are the longest in June and July. It does not apply if your
bike has open pipes, especially if you ride an H2 with chambers. Then,
stay in bed.
10. Philosophy bonus A: Ignore what everyone else thinks. Riding is a
better way to get around. Ride paranoid and keep your skills sharp
10. Philosophy bonus B: Ride with somebody who's better than you. You
will pick up a handy trick or new skill just about every time you are
out.
