The Difference of Cold and Wet

Some of my friends don't understand the allure of riding and questions arise about riding in the cold and the rain. Well, as my friend David puts it "It's all about the right gear". He is SOOOOO right.

This morning, I set off to meet up with the Long Riders in Brooksville for a ride to Daytona and Bike Week. I geared up with all my rain gear: rain suit, rain gators (booties that keep the boots totally dry), helmet, gloves and headed out.

As I rode down to the meet spot I hit some light drizzle and then some heavier rain. Now at this point you are asking yourself "so what? You are totally covered for rain, so it couldn't be that big of a deal?" Well wait a minute there my friend. I forgot to add it was about 41 degrees. So now the picture is fully explained.

When riding in the rain, about the only thing that really gets wet on your body through your gear is your hands. No glove known to man...except rubber gloves, will keep the water out of your gloves, just ask most riders. So here I am, riding down the road with wet hands in the wind, 41 degrees and I'm feeling miserable about riding. I don't ever feel miserable riding my bike, never, ever...today was a different story.

So this afternoon we went shopping for replacement gloves, searching for something that may keep my hands dry and warm for the coming Legends Ride. I hope I found that magic glove that will do the job. Keeping my fingers crossed that they work and I don't end up with icicle hands next time.

The moral to the story: Riding in cold is ok, layering is your friend; riding in the rain is ok, just have your rain suit; riding in the cold AND rain, you best have all the right gear cause this is the most miserable of all conditions you can ride in...period.

Legends Saddle Sore 1000

The first big ride of the year is coming up this week, the Legends Saddle Sore 1000. This ride is sponsored by the Iron Butt Association as part of their IBA Bike Week festivities. It is a 1,000 mile ride in 24 hours, your basic saddle sore ride that the IBA sanctions. The twist to this one is that it has two things: the entire trip is completely on Florida roads and at every check point of the trip there will be a legend of the Iron Butt Rally that will be signing our log book.

For those that don't know what the Iron Butt Rally is, you can go to and read about the history of the rally. In brief, it is a 11 day, 11,000 mile scavenger hunt on a motorcycle. The men and women that have done this are extraordinary riders. It will be a pleasure and honor to meet these IBR champions.

I will be riding with some of my good riding friends in addition to about 90 or so other riders. Mike, Jim, Leanne and I will be riding as a group and my friends David and Ray will be riding together but separate from us during the ride, if that makes sense.

We just got our ride map, instructions, GPS coordinates and some basic information about what to expect. We will get more information Wednesday night when we go to the pre-ride meeting at the hotel.

I'm stoked for this ride. I just hate one section of the road we have to take but that is the way it goes...take the good with the bad. At least we won't be going to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale during the ride.

Aaaargh!

I AM SO READY FOR A RIDE!

Haven't been out on the bike for a couple weeks because of commitments on the weekends for wrestling and the crappy weather we've been having. It is either way too cold or way too rainy to go out on the bike. It is one thing to be either cold or wet but a totally different thing to be cold AND wet! That my friends, is a crappy combination on a motorcycle.

I'm wondering if the bike is getting lonely out in the garage. I haven't been out to visit it in a few days. I hear it calling me but haven't had the time to get on and ride.

Maybe tomorrow will be the day we can get back on the bike for a short ride...if it isn't too freakin' cold!