Scissoring

Off some excess tags and straps and flaps. The armor rig fits well, feels good (for wearing motorcycle “armor”) and doesn’t need tags and forearm straps.

I’ve been agonizing over “adventure gear” for BDR riding and motocamping. I don’t have waterproof gear, but do I need it? My beloved fluorescent riding suit may be, fortunately I haven’t tested that aspect of it. Why don’t I don that while ADV riding? It’s a little on the overkill side, and silly sounding, a little bright for woods riding. I would run warm in it too, at slower speeds and “working it”.

Part of ADV (adventure) riding is not just sitting there, piloting a bike along smooth surfaces. That’s all well and good, LOVE IT. But once off the asphalt, things change, it’s more engaging, interactive, exertion required. LOVE IT. ADV gear attempts to deal with the dynamic range of weather and riding conditions. Are you dry? Can you vent (fresh air in and spill heat) when it’s hot, the riding is demanding? Are you warm when it cools, during shoulder seasons? Are you protected for “slips trips and falls” (as the Postal Service would call it)?

Since it’s a surging and niche sport, gear is expensive. No, really, a good coat is $1,200. Helmet $800. Boots $400-700. I love the sport, and I love gear, but that’s not only out of budget range, it feels excessive, compulsive, consumeristic and downright luxurious. Would I buy the stuff if I had deep pockets? Not really, I don’t want to be in that club.

I want to be comfortable, protected. Style points? Not so much. Enter the languishing North Face ski/snowboard/extreme winter sport suit from the 90’s. It’s not designed for motorcycling but has the right approach, parts, practice, and will fit the bill. It is useful, cool looking, and I own the thing! I will be washing it in the coming rain, it’s dusty from too much closet time, and can treat the clean fabric to withstand the unavoidable grime of motorcycling, especially off-road.

I’ve removed the shoulder and elbow pads to accommodate the armor rig, cut off the waterproof boot skirts (they’ve been in the way from the get go), trimming off some excessive webbing (it’s designed to incorporate a climbing harness, I sold that decades ago not having use for it). Maybe I’ll even sew on a water bladder pouch/aged bladder pack on the back for on the fly hydration.

Working on making do, utilizing what I have, gearing up for adventure on a budget. It’s money I can invest on the route. BDR is adamant about supporting little rural businesses along the routes for many reasons. I’ll address that separately.

I’ll also address my approach to the hammock tent. I actually bailed on it a few hours into the experiment despite the joy being in the misprint of the frogs. The Purple never felt so good!!!