11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
Installing an Engine Guard on a Sportster AND How to Take Care of a Stripped Bolt
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
Cops gone wild - raid wrong house
Read the article here: www.digitaljournal.com/article/327691
Then they didn't want to release a copy of the search warrant, which apparently did not even have the name of a suspect. Once it is executed, it's no longer confidential. There might be certain information they could get away with redacting, but withholding the entire document is likely to get them in further hot water.
You'd think there would be at least a shred of common sense somewhere in a police department that would cause them to put a site under observation and try to learn a little about who is coming and going. Purely from the perspective of self-defense, that would seem to be a good idea.
The article didn't give the age of the elderly grandmother who owned the house. Evansville PD may be getting ready to foot the repair bill.
NOTE: Do you have an unsecured wireless connection in your home? If so, you might just be opening yourself to this kind of exposure.
Pavlins v. MCSD - settled?
Jerome and Carla Pavlin filed the suit after criminal charges against them were dismissed. Felony charges had been lodged against Jerome, then 80, and Carla, then 65, following service of a warrant against their son at their home by numerous deputies of the Sheriff's Department.
After the son was in custody, the Pavlins ordered deputies out of their home. Instead, the deputies refused to leave, some wishing to search the house. Mr. and Mrs. Pavlin were manhandled and injured, and then they were arrested for resisting arrest. That would explain injuries, right? Or so deputies perhaps hoped. The charges were filed on March 15, 2008.
I met the Pavlins in the Fall of 2008. From the beginning I believed in their innocence, but I didn't write about their side of the story until the criminal case was complete.
On July 14, 2009, the charges were dismissed with prejudice. I was in the courtroom when the Assistant State's Attorney explained to Mr. and Mrs. Pavlin that "with prejudice" meant that charges would not be re-filed against them.
It is not known yet what the settlement is. The actions of the deputies involved were so heinous that the award should be high. Hopefully, the public will be informed of the settlement. The public deserves to know what the actions of the deputies that night will cost the taxpayers.
It is also not known whether disciplinary actions, if any, were taken against the deputies.
There was a court ruling previously that the warrant for their son's arrest was improperly served. The deputies were not legally entitled to enter the Pavlin residence. There are deputies at MCSD who still do not understand, or perhaps are unwilling to understand, that the entry into the Pavlin's home was illegal. The necessary training should be provided, so that such an incident does not recur.
The ruling on the illegal entry came too late for the Pavlin's son, who made a "deal" on his case. It would have cost considerable legal fees to hang on and fight. Many people understanding "dealing", because they can't afford the fight.
Mr. and Mrs. Pavlin could.
The court's decision should result in a major shake-up in the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, starting right at the top. They "circled the wagons" fast in 2008 and put together their reports. It was clear within a few months that MCSD did not have a case, but prosecution continued. The Court's decision should result in the departure of several key and line deputies from MCSD, but it probably won't.
The Pavlins left their large, nice home in McHenry County just outside Crystal Lake and moved out of state. It's a real shame when senior citizens are afraid that bullying deputies will return to their home.
Congratulations to the Pavlins for going outside McHenry County for legal advice and an attorney who had no fear of "the law" in McHenry County.
Fine plus 440% for court costs, fees
You don't want your ticket to end up in a courtroom at the McHenry County Courthouse!
Several years ago I began writing about the extortion level of court costs and fees that are added to fines levied by Circuit Court judges in McHenry County. In the beginning just a few judges forewarned defendants about excessive fees and costs and explained that the judges set only the fines, not the court costs and fees.
I remember my first attempt to learn what those extra costs were. A payment-window clerk told me that she couldn't tell me (because she didn't know?) and tried to get me to believe that they were set "by computer" and different for every conviction. After I persisted with my request, a sheet of paper with the list of costs was given to me.
Today's article in the Northwest Herald identifies line-by-line the court costs and fees that are added to a sample fine of $50.00. How much are they?
Try $220.00. That's TWO HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS, on top of a $50.00 fine. Those extra costs are 440% of the fine!
Some of the costs are determined at the county level by the McHenry County Board. Those are your elected officials, folks. The ones whom you elect. Remember this, when you go to the polls in November.
Other costs are set by State Representatives and Senators. Call their offices to express your outrage and remember them in November, too.
The County Board sniffled and postured at a new $2.00 court cost for State's Attorney automation. Their first vote was 11-11. Then they re-considered and voted 21-1. Only John Hammerand stood against the mob.
Where does your $220 go?
$35 for the four-hour traffic school
$35 sheriff’s court supervision fee
$25 court security fee
$15 to help fund the Illinois State Police
$20 traffic conviction surcharge
$15 court document fee
$15 court automation fee
$13 to help fund the Child Advocacy Center
$10 state’s attorney’s fee
$10 circuit clerk fee
$10 to help fund the mental health court
$5 to help fund the drug court
$5 electronic citation fee
$5 court fee
$2 to the state’s attorney automation fund.
One might ask, why $60 on top of every fine for court supervision and security? And $20 for "traffic conviction surcharge"? What a rip-off!
There would probably be a riot in the courthouse, except for all the over-staffing of armed court security officers standing around for hours on the first floor with little to do.
I've often considered conducting a survey of people approaching the courthouse and asking them how much they think their fine and costs will be. And then asking them, on their way out, how much they left in the courthouse!
But then they might be forewarned and express their outrage inside the building, rather than being shell-shocked and recovering only once they exit the building.
Make a difference - today
Jess Fruehe is an employee of the McHenry County Jail. She'd like to be able to go to work every day, but she is home recuperating from a burst appendix and awaiting chemotherapy for recently-diagnosed cancer.
In last week's paper several fundraisers in July were announced for her benefit. The next three are July 14 (Falcons vs. Enforcers charity hockey game in West Dundee), July 17-18 at Papa John's in McHenry, and July 28 (noon-to-midnight) at the Moose Lodge in Johnsburg.
But there is another way. How about just mailing a check or cash to her? Then, rather than receiving perhaps 10% of what you'll spend at the fundraiser, Jess will receive 100%.
If $668,000 can be raised for a bullied school bus monitor, what can we do right here in McHenry County for a Woodstock mother?
Mail your donation to Jess Fruehe, c/o McHenry County Jail, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098. Jail personnel will be sure that she gets it. (Make out your check to Jess Fruehe (not payable to the Jail).
Be sure to include your return address on the envelope. Last Wednesday I emailed Undersheriff Zinke to ask if it was all right for those wishing to donate to mail their checks to Corrections Officer Fruehe at the Jail's address. In the absence of a reply, I am going to assume that it's okay.
Further waste at MCSD - political?
Take a look at the new, new banner now appearing on Sheriff Nygren's official McHenry County Sheriff's Department website. More dollars have been wasted on the banner which, when first published, had smaller pictures of Nygren and Zinke on the right side of the banner.Now both pictures have been enlarged, and Zinke's picture holds the place of prominence in the upper-right corner. Want to see it for yourself? Go to www.mchenrysheriff.org
Who thinks that there is not a political motivation for the re-design (and further re-design) at this time? Form a line to the left. Both of you.
Nygren is trying, unsuccessfully, to push Zinke into the limelight so that, when he bails out of McHenry County, he can turn the reins over to Zinke via the push-over County Board.
Nygren's successor, if he leaves office now (and "now" is now within 28 months of the next General Election, which will be in November 2014), will be pushed forward by the McHenry County Republican Central Committee (state law requires the successor to be in the same political party as the person vacating the office), and then blessed by the County Board Chairman and Board.
Zinke is already raising money for his 2014 campaign. Supposedly, he held a fundraiser on June 30 and moved it at the last minute to a different and commercial location. Did anyone show up? Zinke's website has not been updated to reflect any appreciation to anyone who did happen to show up and part with $30 for the "privilege" of doing so.
Was a little "vote-buying" already getting started, even 2 1/2 years before election time? Republican Precinct Committeemen were to be "Free". Was that because they wouldn't show up if it was going to cost them $30?
I thought about showing up and even forking out $30, just to see how Zinke would try to enforce a "stay away" email he sent me in June. But I wouldn't have gone, anyway, even if it had been free. I just want him to think that I stayed away because of his email. I'll go where I want, when I want.
There are many Republican precincts in McHenry County without party leadership. In June I contacted the party chairman and asked to be appointed to an open committeeman position. I have been a life-long Republican, except for my run as Green Party candidate for Sheriff in 2010 - and a greatly embarrassed Republican Party voter. I had to ask twice and then was told that John Jung, Jr. and Geri Davis make the recommendations. And no further word from anyone, although I'm not surprised.
I guess this is why I hate politics.
Would the McHenry County Board have the guts to appoint an honest person with high integrity to run the Sheriff's Department in a fair and impartial manner, with respect for the citizens and residents of the County? Even if that person didn't have extensive law-enforcement background but could bring in a highly-qualified, experienced, retired Illinois State trooper with command experience (from outside McHenry County)? They'd have to all get dust masks to protect their lungs, once that new Undersheriff and I showed up with our big pushbrooms and started cleaning house.
Isn't the County Board tired yet of high-dollar settlements for lawsuits that never should have been and for outrageous legal bills from outside counsel to defend the Sheriff's Department, when its action were indefensible?
7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi
Exercises for Riders
Today I’d like to tie together two of my favorite subjects: fitness and riding. I think it’s extremely important to be in good physical condition when you ride. Even if you are not striving towards a particular fitness goal or trying to lose weight, there are things you can do to benefit yourself and make riding a motorcycle more comfortable and enjoyable and to avoid injury while you are riding, especially if you plan on going through areas with rough terrain that can be hard on your back, neck, and shoulders.
First of all I want to mention that any exercises you do should be preceded by a warm-up – generally about 5 minutes of doing some simple cardio such as going for a walk, doing a few jumping jacks, or any other activity that gets your heart rate slightly accelerated, thereby warming up your muscles. You should then stretch whichever muscles you intend to work. A good stretch lasts for a count of 10 to 15 seconds at least.
The areas I think most concern riders include leg strength; back, neck, and arm comfort; and balance. You must have all three to be ready to ride and have an enjoyable riding experience. Here I will introduce a few basic exercises focusing on these areas:
1) Leg strength. This is important simply because when you aren’t moving, you typically have to have at least one leg down to keep your bike upright while you wait to get into motion again. It can also be a factor in keeping yourself astride your bike and being able to cope with issues where leg strength is important, such as a drop or accident situation.
Squats are an excellent overall leg exercise. They especially work your butt and thigh areas. You will generally want to do 15 squats at a time, for a total of 2 sets (30 squats total). This focuses particularly on endurance rather than bulking up; if you are looking to build muscle mass, then 3 sets of 8 squats with weights as heavy as you can manage will do this for you.
A correct squat is done keeping your back isolated and straight. You want to keep your knees and ankles aligned as much as possible. If you have access to an exercise ball, I suggest standing with the ball between your back and the wall and using it to support your weight while making a motion similar to sitting down in a chair. Otherwise you can also counter-balance your weight while standing without support and holding a set of dumbbells out in front of yourself while performing the squat.
Another good leg exercise to consider is working your hip abductor and hip adductor muscles. Remember all those exercise videos from the ‘80’s with the ladies in leg warmers doing leg lifts? That’s what I’m talking about. Do this: lie on your right side with your left leg on top. Do 15 leg lifts with your left leg. Then bend your left leg so it is folded across your right leg. Lift your right leg 15 times. Repeat. Then roll over and do the reverse while lying on your left side. You will notice a difference in the muscles used.
2) Back, neck, and shoulder exercises. These are exceedingly important to a rider. We don’t have the same kind of support on a motorcycle as we do in a car, so it takes some amount of strength to maintain a good riding posture. We also can endure some pretty rough bumps and wind resistance, loaning to some discomfort if we aren’t prepared. A few small stretches and strength exercises can go a long way towards preventing injury and making your ride more comfortable.
Yoga is one of my favorite things to do for this area; it has wonderful stretches and positions you can do that do not put a lot of strain on you but provide beneficial elasticity and strength.
First, the cobra pose; this stretches and strengthens your lower back and is a wonderful stretch for your entire spine, as well as strengthening your shoulders. Lie on your stomach with your hands placed beneath your shoulders. Breathing in, push up with your arms while arching your back – your feet and legs should remain on the ground; you aren’t doing a push-up. Only your upper-body should leave the ground. Look up at the ceiling. Inhale and exhale six times. Exhale out of the pose. Do this two or three times. If you want to check how much you are supporting yourself with your back instead of your arm muscles, lift up your hands for a second or two and see how far down you go.
Second, the toe-touch and roll-up. Start out standing with your feet shoulder-width apart in a neutral position, your arms and shoulders relaxed. Slowly roll down, letting your arms dangle and hang loose, until you are as close to touching your toes as is comfortable. Hang there for a moment. The focus here is not on stretching your calves or legs, but just letting your back hang loose and stretch while you are bent over at the hips. When you are ready, slowly roll up, vertebrae by vertebrae. Take your time – if this takes you shorter than 30 seconds to do, you are going too fast! This is wonderful for re-aligning your spine.
The neck is an area where many people store a lot of their tension. It is important to ensure the muscles here are relaxed, yet strong enough to support your head and keep your spine in alignment. Tilt your head to the right, keeping your eyes focused forward. Raise your right arm and gently pull your neck towards your shoulder – do not over-do it, just apply enough pressure that you feel a stretch. Repeat with the left side of your neck. Another exercise to try is to look over your right shoulder as far as you can. Then look forward and keep your neck straight up and down. Press the right side of your head against your right hand as hard as you can for 10 seconds. Look over you right shoulder again… see the difference in how far you can turn your head?
3) Balance. Balance is important for when you are doing slow-speed riding, because your bike has less momentum to keep itself upright. Most drops occur while you are going slowly.
First, a basic balance exercise: stand on one leg, while bending the other and holding your foot in your hand. If you are having a hard time with this, try focusing on one spot in front of you. Concentrate on it; you are basically fooling yourself. When your eyes are in motion and you are looking around, your body thinks it is moving in a certain direction and is trying to adapt. If you focus on one spot, your body is at rest and easier to balance.
Feeling a little more ambitious? Try the headstand pose! Start in a seated position on your knees. Then slide forward so you are resting on your knees and elbows with your fingertips together. Bend down and rest your head between the V created by your hands. Straighten your legs so you are resting on your head, elbows, and toes. Then slowly straighten your back until your legs are elevated off of the ground. Straighten your knees. You’re upside down!
This is a more advanced pose. Don’t get frustrated if you can’t do it right away. Maybe even try it against a wall to start out with. Have some fun!
All of these should be helpful in building strength and balance to make your riding more comfortable and enjoyable. Ride safe!
Bike Review: 2007 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail
I have to confess something: I think I fell in love. I feel exceedingly guilty for cheating on my Sportster this way, and I am sure I will never live it down. I just don’t know how you can say “no” to a wide front tire flattening the road out for you, a lower center of gravity that comforts you during those harder-leaning turns, and handling that essentially lets the bike drive itself.
I honestly felt like riding this bike was like taking all of the good parts of riding and all of the good parts of driving a car and blending the two together. You get the freedom and openness of a motorcycle, but the comfort of a car. The seat was much easier on my tailbone than that Road King – much more supportive and I didn’t feel a distinct ache in my butt after riding it for two days.
What’s with the tiny saddle bags though? It seems like slightly larger ones could be attached without sacrificing much in the way of looks. All Heritages come standard with saddle bags, but if you plan on taking this thing on a road trip, make sure you make good use of the luggage rack on the back.
Also, ladies, you really can’t beat the looks you get while you’re riding around on this thing. Like my experience with the Road King, I got a lot of double-takes. While stopped at a stoplight in the middle of a construction zone, I enjoyed a few hoots and hollers. Can you tell I’m a bit of a show-off?
More and more I’m believing that while these bikes such as the Road King and Heritage are larger and LOOK more intimidating, they are so much easier to handle than the smaller Sportsters or other “beginner” bikes. I’d love to see if someone sitting on a bike for the first time could handle something like this, because I really believe that the size wouldn’t be an issue once they got moving. You barely feel the bike underneath you. Obviously you’d want to mess around on a dirt bike a little first, just so you know how to work a clutch and shift gears before getting on something larger, but after that, I think beginners would find these easier to handle and safer to ride than most of the standard “beginner bikes” out there. Thoughts, anyone?
Bike Review: 2007 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
The first thing I noticed when I sat down on this bike is the handlebars. They sit much wider than any of the other bikes I've ridden so far, and I personally found this very enjoyable. I felt like it was a more natural riding position for me. It felt a bit more like a steering wheel. I think someone with shorter arms might have some trouble with this setup, however, so if you fall into that category, you may want to look into something a bit more brushed back so they are easier to reach.
The second thing I noticed was the seat. Honestly, it was pretty hard, and after riding for a few minutes I felt my back start to fatigue. I think that would be the first modification I'd make if I owned one of these. I also noticed the detachable sissy bar was a bit wobbly - I let my boyfriend take the bike out for a spin with me on the back and while the bike was a bit roomier than I'm used to (he normally takes me out on the back of his Sportster), I didn't like the sensation of sliding around very much. On the plus side, I was elevated pretty far above his head, so I got a good view and could look around at all of the lovely scenery while we were riding!
One of the things I really liked was the height of the windshield. So far, on every bike I've ridden that has a windshield, the edge has always been inconveniently right in the middle of my line of sight. I either had to sit up very straight to see over it, or slouch a bit to look right through it. I find the line distracting. The Fat Boy had a slightly higher windshield compared to where I was on the seat, so I was able to look through it without difficulty. The only issue would be if it got too dirty to see out of, but fortunately I didn't have that problem!
The bike does not handle as well as its Heritage brethren, though the stock pipes had a bit of a nicer sound to them. It is still quite a comfortable ride, it just doesn't seem quite as balanced as others in its genre. It also had a jumpy start, though that might just be the particular bike I was riding.
All-in-all, I'm very impressed with Harley's line of Softails. I think I've become a bit spoiled, as I enjoy having the saddle bags so I can cart all of my stuff around, which is deterring me from branching out a bit to the Dynas. I'm planning on trying out at least a Deluxe before the end of the riding season!
Does anyone else favor a particular make and model of bike they'd be interested in sharing? I'd love to hear about some of the Japanese bikes out there! They've become much more popular recently. Let us hear about your experiences!
Biker Glossary of Terms
Motorcycle enthusiasts tend to have their own language. This can be confusing for a beginner, so here’s some help in translating just what everyone is talking about! This list is by no means definitive, and I’d love it if people would post additions and keep the list going!
Bagger: Refers to touring-style bikes, which have extra luggage capacity; examples: Honda Goldwing, Harley Classic; luggage can include saddle bags, luggage racks, sissy-bar mounted bags, etc.
Carb: Short for carburetor. This is what blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. Most bikes have these, although newer ones are using fuel injection now instead.
Chopper: Refers to a special type of cruiser in which the bike has been heavily modified from its stock origins. Usually involves having raked out forks, custom paint, an unusually-shaped gas tank, a wide back tire, and any other modifications you can possibly dream of.
Crash bar: another word for an engine guard; an attachment that can be added to the front of the frame of your motorcycle that protects the bike and the rider’s legs if the bike should tip over.
Crotch-rocket: Another term for sport bikes. Typically Japanese in make, these include Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. Sport bikes are typically lighter with a smaller weight-to-frame ratio, and are popular racing bikes. They are characterized by their notable riding position, with the rider sitting leaned forward towards the hand controls and the feet in a mid or back position, as well as their plastic farings.
Cruiser: Another term for so-called American-style motorcycles, made popular by Harley-Davidson. Characterized by a “cruising” position – a comfortable, upright way to ride. Bikes are often more customized than sport bikes, with chrome or custom paint available.
Dirt bikes: Smaller, more rugged motorcycles. Typically have a smaller, two-stroke engine.
DOT: Department of Transportation. Helmets must have a sticker with the letters DOT on them to be legally considered appropriate head gear in states requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
Faring: Non-clear pieces on a motorcycle that act to block the wind. A front faring is usually attached to the handlebars in some way, and may or may not have a windshield attached. Farings can also be positioned in front of the legs (popular on sport bikes, also can be seen on Honda Goldwings and Harley UltraClassics).
Forks: Refers to the front part of the bike that holds the front wheel in place. If a bike has “raked out” forks, it means the forks are extended and the angle between the frame of the bike and the forks is larger than usual.
Forward controls: referring to the position of the feet on the motorcycle.
Full Dresser: See “bagger”
H.O.G.: Harley Owner’s Group. A club you can join for a fee associated with Harley-Davidson. The national organization offers discounts to members at the various dealership locations, as well as patches, pins, and magazine subscriptions. The local chapters act as social gatherings for its members – they organize rides, help out at the Harley dealership they are affiliated with, and participate in other events.
Kawa: Short for Kawasaki.
Mid controls: referring to the position of the feet on the motorcycle. If the foot pegs sit so that your feet are beneath your hips and your legs are bent at an approximately 90 degree angle, these are mid controls.
One-up: Refers to a style of seat or riding in which there is only room for the driver, no passengers. Sometimes people have been known to sit on the back fender of a bike equipped with a one-up style seat. This is dangerous.
Poker Run: A biker activity. All the participants will usually gather at one starting point, then travel to 5 different points within a reasonable distance throughout the day, collecting cards or tokens as they go. At the end of the poker run, the person with the best poker hand wins – usually a raffle prize of some sort. Often used in conjunction with raising money for charities or other general promotions.
Saddle bags: Luggage that attaches to your bike much in the same way bags do on horses – by the saddle. Can either be mounted on special attachments on the sides of your bike, OR you can get different kinds where you remove your seat, sling the saddlebags over the frame, then re-attach the seat over the top.
Sissy-bar: The passenger’s backrest on a motorcycle. Makes for a safer, more comfortable ride.
Two-Stroke: Refers to a type of engine. Have a simpler design than a four-stroke engine and have a higher power-to-weight ratio. Popular in dirt bikes. The process mixes the fuel and engine oil.
Two-up: Can refer to either a style of seat in which there is room for the driver and a passenger, or to the style of riding two-up.
Appropriate Motorcycle Gear
It’s important to wear appropriate riding gear whenever you decide to go out on your motorcycle. Specially designed clothing can provide you with protection from both the elements and severe injury if worn consistently and correctly. I’d like to present a series of short articles over the next couple of weeks covering these items. We will start with head gear.
The most important item to wear while riding is a helmet. Many states have laws requiring riders to wear helmets, however several do not. Many feel that helmets are a personal choice. Regardless of how you feel about helmets, the proof is there: they greatly reduce the chance of severe injury or death from a riding accident. If you decide to wear one, make sure it is DOT (Department of Transportation) approved. There will be a sticker on the helmet indicating such.
Helmets come in many shapes and sizes. First you must decide if you want a half-helmet, a ¾ helmet, or a full-face helmet. Half-helmets cover the top of your head, but leave your eyes and ears uncovered. ¾ helmets come down to the base of your skull but leave your face exposed. Full-face helmets have visors and chin protection.
Many people feel that the full-face and ¾ helmets detract from their ability to hear while on the road. Regardless, they are still very popular, especially with people who ride sport bikes. The full-face helmets become especially useful during colder weather – they provide more protection from the elements and keep your face warmer while you’re riding. Many styles, colors, and sizes are available, so take the time to pick a helmet that fits and is comfortable for you. A correctly fitted helmet should sit firmly on the head and should not wiggle around. If you are able to slide the helmet back and forth on your head easily, the helmet is too big.
Eye protection is required when riding a motorcycle. Not only is it required legally, but anyone who’s ever tried to ride down the road at more than 25 MPH can tell you it’s impossible to see when the wind gets in your eyes. That and the possible road hazards – bugs, gravel, and other debris – that might damage your eyes are reason enough to always wear eye protection.
The options available for eye protection have greatly increased over the years. Ladies, you know those sunglasses with the giant frames and lenses that are so hip now? Well, if you can find a pair that wrap fairly closely to your head (just so they don’t get whipped off by the wind), those will usually do just fine! There are also many sleek and stylish options for goggles – either with stems that loop over the ears or with elastic to wrap all around the head. Some feel goggles provide more protection from the wind than regular large sunglasses. Fortunately you aren’t restricted to the giant nerdy goggles of days past!
You don’t want to wear your regular eyeglasses while riding – the frames of today are far too small to provide any real protection. I strongly suggest getting eye protection that has transition or removable lenses so that you can swap between dark lenses for those sunny days and clear lenses for riding at night. If you’re caught wearing sunglasses at night on a motorcycle, you could get ticketed or arrested.
Best of all, you really have so many options for stylish biker wear these days, you are sure to find something both fun and functional to wear while you’re out on the saddle!
5 Temmuz 2012 Perşembe
Appropriate Motorcycle Gear 2
Aside from the necessary head and eye gear, two other items you will want to invest in are a good riding jacket and a pair of sturdy gloves.
A riding jacket is made of some solid, sturdy material, usually leather, though other synthetic fabrics are available as well. Not only will these jackets protect you from the elements, but they also provide additional protection in case of an accident. Working at a dealership, I can tell you we get a lot of people in here who were in minor accidents but suffered an injury called "road rash" - sort of like carpet burn, but it involves asphalt instead of carpet. A proper jacket will easily protect you from this! While not particularly severe in most cases, it can be quite painful, and it is so easy to prevent!
There are also jackets that have built-in body armor to protect against injury from more severe accidents. With all of the options available, it should be easy to find a jacket that is affordable and gives you all of the protection you want, plus still looks great! The nice thing about leather is that you can customize your jacket with stitching and patches if you find a leather expert near you!
Gloves are another important thing to add to your riding wardrobe. Most people decide to ride without them, especially on hot days, but if you are a beginner, it's important to have all of the protection you possibly can! A good set of sturdy, full-fingered gloves can protect your fingers if you tip over and you can't get your hand out of the way in time. They do not have to be especially padded, as long as the leather is still a little bit stiff. For early spring/late fall riding, I strongly suggest investing in a pair of large, insulated leather gloves, called gauntlets. They provide the most protection against the elements. Think about it: on a bike, your hands need to be on the controls at all time, away from the warmth of your body. You want them fully functional, which means keeping them warm! Good gauntlets will extend past your wrists and you will be able to tighten them a bit to keep the draft out. They will also have grips on the fingers and palms.
Many people will opt for fingerless gloves. These are more decorative rather than functional. I suggest having two sets of gloves when you first start riding: thin, sturdy, full-fingered gloves for general riding; and a set of padded gauntlets for riding in the elements.
Remember to ride safe!
Appropriate Riding Gear 3
Well, so far we've covered heads and eyes, body and hands, and finally we'll discuss legs and feet! Anyone up for a round of "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes"?
When generally cruising around town at speeds of 55 MPH or lower in 75+ degree weather, you usually do not need to wear more than a good, sturdy pair of jeans. You definitely never want to wear a pair of shorts while riding. There are too many parts on the bike that get heated up while riding around for your legs to be safe, plus the possibility of "road rash" on your legs when you get into an accident. Just make sure you put on a pair of pants with thick, sturdy fabric - nothing light, or you'll find out quickly how hot chrome feels on your shins! Not that I've ever done that before or anything...
Those who are feeling more adventurous may want to invest in a good pair of leather chaps. They aren't just for cowboys and strippers anymore! Chaps provide extra protection at higher speeds - both in case of an accident as well as if you run into inclement weather. Chaps, or at least leather pants, are a must when riding in the cold. Just a side note for all of the leather items I'm suggesting: good black leather works well because it doesn't show dirt as much and is very protective without being too heavy. Note that if your leather isn't well-treated or if you run into especially bad weather, your leather can "bleed", leaving black streaks on your skin where it touches. This is especially true of brand new, unlined gloves.
Covering your feet, you want a pair of boots that goes over your ankles. Something with support. Seriously, these can save you from getting a broken foot if you should tip over. I made sure to wear my big black army surplus boots during my rider training class - when I tipped my bike over, I tripped a bit and twisted my ankle, but because I had those boots laced up almost to the middle of my shin, only my pride suffered in the fall. You do not need to spend $300 on your boots (although you can if you want - there are some pretty awesome-looking ones out there) - a good pair from any army surplus store will run you about $100 or so. Also make sure they are not fashion shoes with high heels. Heels can get caught on debris and other items on the road, or get you stuck on your foot peg while you're riding. It'd be pretty embarrassing to pull up next to a car at a red light, looking incredibly competent and fashionable, only to tip over because your foot got stuck.
Check back next time for Optional Riding Gear: those little extras that make all the difference.
Optional Riding Gear
Before getting into this week's topic, I just wanted to mention for anyone interested and living in the Chicagoland area, Woodstock Harley-Davidson is having a special event called "Ladies... So You Want to Ride?" on October 20th starting at 12 PM, CST. It's an opportunity for any woman who is interested in riding but is just now starting out or wants more information before giving it a try to come in, ask questions in a casual environment, and learn a bit more about finding a motorcycle, taking a class, etc. If you're interested, check out their website, which is listed to the right!
If you're looking for some little extras to add to your riding wardrobe, there are lots of neat things that can add some style and functionality for special situations. One thing most riders learn never to leave home without is the all-important rain gear. Let's face it: you head out on a long trip, and no matter what the weather man says, chances are you will run into some inclement weather. Stuffing a set of rain gear in your saddlebags as an extra precaution never hurt anyone. Good rain gear does not really have to be expensive. It should consist of rain-proof material and can be worn OVER your leathers! So if you go and try some one, and it seems a bit big, keep in mind that the extra room is so you can wear something warm underneath it.
Good rain gear will also have leather sewn into the inner legs of the pants. This is to prevent melting if you have to put your foot down and your leg is close to your exhaust pipes. Remember to add a set of rain-resistant gloves to top off the outfit! I purchased mine at a Farm & Fleet for just over $80 - I haven't really had to use it yet, thank goodness!
A step up from the rain gear would be heated riding gear. Yes, it does come with special heating technology! You can get everything from heated gloves and boots, to pants and jackets! The pants and jackets I have seen actually connect to your motorcycle's battery through special wiring - read the instructions before attempting use. Boots and gloves are typically battery operated and need to be recharged regularly. If you plan on heading out when there's snow on the ground, you DEFINITELY don't want to leave home without this stuff!
Another item you may want to consider is a skullcap, especially if you ride without a helmet. Wind can be damaging to hair, and even the most adventurous of us would like to keep ours around for as long as possible! Skullcaps come in both cloth and leather varieties. They can also be worn under your helmet - if you had a hard time finding a helmet to fit your head, you can often wear a skullcap underneath to help fit it more snugly to your skull.
These are just a few functional items to supplement your riding gear. Does anyone else have any useful suggestions? Leave a comment and share with the rest of us!
Winterizing Your Motorcycle
It's starting to get chilly out, but that doesn't mean you can't still spend some quality time with your ride! Fall and Winter are great times to do modifications and general maintenance on your motorcycle that you don't want to do during the summer because you'd rather be out riding it!
Before going into that, however, you want to make sure that your bike is ready for winter storage. It will not be on very much during the winter, and you want to make sure it doesn't suffer any damage from stagnant fluids or lack of use during those cold months.
First of all, make sure your bike is in a safe corner of your garage. This may seem obvious, but keep in mind that if you live in a cold climate, chances are you're going to have salt on the roads, and that can be harmful to your paint job if it comes in contact with your motorcycle. Keeping your bike away from airborne transfers can help keep its appearance up longer and keep you from having to replace cosmetic parts later. If you have a cluttered garage, consider getting a bike cover.
Second of all, always store your bike with clean fluids, especially gas and oil. Give your bike an oil change before it goes into storage - I will post a how-to on this in a future article. Get a stabilizer for your gas tank. You can find a bottle of stabilizer fluid at any dealership and at many hardware stores. This will keep the gas fresh and keep it from gunking up while it's not being used.
Finally, make sure you don't drain your battery. If your bike has a security system or computerized monitoring system, look in your manual for how to disable it so that it is not draining the battery all winter while your bike isn't in use. If you can afford it, purchasing a battery tender is not a bad idea - you can hook it up to your battery periodically during the winter to make sure your battery is fresh when you start out next season.
As a little side note, it also is not a bad idea to give your bike a pre-storage detailing, something I will also cover in a future article. Detailing your bike removes substances that may otherwise stay on all winter and corrode your paint and chrome. While you'll just end up having to clean your bike again in the spring, storing a clean bike is much better than storing a dirty one.
Anyone else have any pre-winter rituals they go through with their motorcycles? Feel free to share!
Women Only Events
Harley has recently come out with a new program known as the Garage Party. It is encouraging all of its dealerships to participate, in the hopes of further educating women about motorcycles and the motorcycle industry.
This week, I wanted to know if any of you have participated in any of these events! You can reply using the "comment" feature and share your experience - did you enjoy it? Would you recommend it to others? What was the best part? Was there anything that could be improved? Does anyone know if any metric dealerships have the same sorts of programs, like Honda or Kawasaki? Do you feel encouraged at the thought of going to an event just for women, or do you find it unappealing to segregate by gender?
Let us all know so your fellow Lady Riders can decide if it's something they'd like to do, too! If you haven't gone, let us know your impressions of these kinds of events - would you want to go to one? Share your opinions with us!
4 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
Mark's Duck House - Falls Church, VA
Located in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking, but it can get crowded.
This place is smaller than other restaurants that offer dim sum, so it was PACKED! We took a number when we got through the crowd waiting by the door.
They offered many of the same dishes I'm used to seeing as well as some different items. Sorry guys, but I don't have prices for any of these items because they were in Chinese. All dishes are between $2.50 - $7.50 though.
1. Pan-Fried Chives Dumpling - Out of all the dumplings, this was my favorite.
2. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling (Shiu Mai)
3. Shrimp and Pork Dumpling
4. Shrimp Dumpling (Har Gao)
5. Fried Taro Dumpling - One of my favorite dishes when I have dim sum.
6. Shrimp Noodle Crepe - Best noodle crepe I've tried.
7. Lemongrass and Ginger Oyster - Oyster by itself was the size of my palm.
8. Stuffed Crab Claw - I broke my chopstick trying to cut this. It was massive!
Service was very fast with the carts, they constantly filled our water glasses, replaced my broken chopstick and reminded me that I forgot my leftovers. I thought they were great! Food was on point. Now I just need more dim sum buddies!6184 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
(703) 532-2125
marksduckhouse.com
Nava Thai - Wheaton, MD
There's street parking and a small lot 1/2 block down. The closest metro stop is Wheaton on the red line.
The interior looks like a converted house, which gives it a relaxed vibe, but the ornate Thai decorations make it look much nicer.
Even though I'm trying to cut back on sugar (it never happens), I ordered a Thai Iced Tea ($2.50) and the bf ordered a Thai Iced Coffee ($2.50). Look at the cute cups they used! The server said they are from Thailand. They were delicious and a great price.
They have a huge menu! They have 80 Thai dishes and 91 Japanese items (includes rolls). Good luck deciding what to eat! They all sound awesome. I came with a group of 7, but I'm only documenting items the bf, cousin and I ordered. They all happen to be very popular noodle dishes and a dessert.1. Pad See Ew (ผัดซีิ้à¸ิ้ว) Stir fried rice noodle w/ Chinese broccoli in bean sauce and choice of meat ($9.95). I ordered it with beef, and I'm salivating as I type. The noodles had so much flavor! Plus the char from cooking added a nice smoky flavor.
2. Drunken Noodles – Pad Kee Mao (เà¸�ี๋ยวเตี๋ยวขี้เมา) Stir fried rice noodle w/ veggies & hot pepper, and choice of meat ($9.95). The bf ordered beef and found the two chili pepper symbol not too spicy. He thought it was good, but liked my Pad See Ew a little better.
3. Pad Thai (ผัดไทย) - Famous Thai noodles w/ egg, shrimp, bean sprouts, green onions & crushed peanuts ($9.95). The cousin ordered this, and though it had more of a fish sauce flavor rather than peanuts, it was still very yummy.
4. Mango and Sticky Rice ($4.50). The rice was sweet and the mangoes were ripe. Great way to end a meal.
I actually can't wait to go back and try other dishes. I was able to sample my other friends' and everything was flavorful. The service was great! They were so friendly. helpful and attentive. I found the prices to be very reasonable too.11301 Fern St
Wheaton, MD 20902
(240) 430-0495
navathai.food.officelive.com
