The winter months are approaching (actually in full swing by the time you read this) and unfortunately for most, the riding season is coming to-or already at-an end. I’m not the biggest fan of winter. I don’t like to be cold. I don’t like that the sun sets earlier. Overall, I start counting the days until March 20, where I daydream about little bunnies frolicking in the pasture, the snowcaps starting to melt, and the birds flying back from wherever the hell it was they went for the winter. South, right?
Living in Southern California, we’re pretty spoiled when the winter months roll around, if you could even call it that. So much so it’s laughable when somebody in, say, Huntington Beach, my hometown, says, “It’s freezing outside!” Them could be fightin’ words to those from Alaska. Shoveling show from our driveways and riding through salt-ridden streets isn’t necessarily the norm. In fact, in Irvine, where our offices are located, it really doesn’t get much colder than about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. And even that’s extreme. I don’t claim to know what winter is really like because I can still comfortably head to the beach no matter the month. Or better yet, ride my bike without obsessing over whether I’ll get drenched and have to ride around with wet clothes all day. Most of the time, those two scenarios don’t usually happen. If by some chance the Baggers editorial offices were relocated somewhere with anything freezing or below … well, then you’d be reading somebody else’s rant.
Now, I do travel a lot. And a lot of the places I travel are included in the list of places I’d never want to live because of their frigid climates. But because I get paid to ride motorcycles, I have to saddle up even when it’s below freezing. Not often, but it has happened. Luckily there are plenty of others out there who hate being cold. In fact, there are folks out there who hate being either wet or cold so much that they’ve made a living out of combatting the elements. And I say kudos to those people. You keep us warm and we thank you for it. Gator Skins (gator-skins.com), for example, manufacturers a type of underwear worn specifically for colder climates or winter activities like skiing, hunting, cold-weather riding, or wherever and whenever you’re exposed to less-than-ideal temps.
Heat Demons (heatdemons.com) is another great one that comes to my mind. They make heated grips and heated grip kits to work with multiple grip applications. They also offer a Heated Vest, which includes a battery pack and charger to reduce the risk of ever being cold again! Talk about loathing the cold so much that you offer electronically controlled clothing to keep you warm. I’m all for that.
Anyways, I just wanted to take the time to thank all those who have made an effort to warm our core body temperatures when we need it most, especially for pansies like me who feel the need to wear a jacket when it gets below 70. Here’s to you. Keep up the great work!
Jordan
Most Active Posts