Gear

I arrived home late last night, after two weeks out of town.

The 65 mile ride home, through VA countryside at sunset, whet my appetite for what is ahead. As far as heads, Chelsea, lovely owner of the Scoot Richmond empire, graciously donated a helmet. I’m now riding with a Z1R stance helmet. Noticeable differences already are cushion, comfort and noise reduction. It’s also just a wee bit bigger and can not tuck away under the seat. Bit bummed about that but really grateful to have better head protection. She also threw in a monkey keychain, of which there are yet no pics, but keep your eyes out for it. This monkey, as my co-pilot, needs a good name.

The bike just zipped home. Her weeks at the spa were needed, after last years 11,000 mile ride. Scoot Richmond was very kind to help out so much-they have been an important part of the pit crew. The bike is staying stock which meant no performance pipe for me. The lovely, eccentric and talented mechanic Dave changed the roller weights, front/back brakes, belt, oil, filter, clutch spring, horn, tires, and fuel filter. Isn’t it quite amazing that my front tire was JUST changed? This is probably due to all the weight going on the back of the bike. Which reminds me of all the things I need to start packing.

There were several great packages waiting to be ripped open! Tourmaster donated a women’s Sentinel jacket/pants. This suit is a crucial component in endurance riding and worth the tenacious pursuit I put into it. Last year I bought a $10 rain suit through Campmor, and well, it was barely worth that much. Plus there was nothing breathable nor reflective about the fabric.

This jacket by Helmet House is designed, patterned and styled specifically for women. I’m wearing a size small in both pants and jacket and they fit perfectly over my riding pants/jacket. It features an Aqua-Barrier under-the-helmet hood to eliminate seepage in the collar area and reflective piping for visibility. The hood easily stows in a hidden collar pocket and the pants zip to the jacket. A pouch for storing them is included, allowing more cargo room for all the other stuff I’ll have. Thanks Helmet House and Tourmaster!
I finally located some good pants, a purchase I had hoped not to make. A company had approached me, touting fancy, strong riding pants, but then they dropped off the face of the Earth. Last minute I bought some Carhartts. They are great jeans but I’m also wearing nice Alpinestar knee armor that will go underneath. Those knee pads are provided by Linda, aka TurtleVespa, who contacted me through scooterdiva.com. You never know when an accident could happen, so it’s best to be prepared. I did a test run under the jeans last night and found them comfortable. They will probably get a bit sweaty, but safety is a priority.

Right now I’m looking at heaps of stuff and deliberating my organizing process. Will film this as I’m doing it-for future reference anyone else might need.