Someone wrote an email to me to ask what boots I was wearing when I went on a police-escorted motorcycle ride on Sunday. "Must have been hard to choose between your Dehner, Wesco, All American, Enforcer, Chippewa, and Intapol boots," he remarked.
First of all, I am impressed that the writer of the message was thorough enough to have reviewed my website (or this blog) and knows the variety of makers of tall police patrol boots that I own.
But let me burst a bubble: I didn't wear patrol boots on Sunday. Why? I wanted to wear lightweight khaki BDUs, because it was darned hot and humid out. These BDUs wick away sweat and keep me cool. I tucked the BDUs into my Chippewa Firefighter boots, which still remain a frequent choice to wear when riding in hot weather. Great boots: comfortable, durable, and the lug soles provide great traction.
It is very uncomfortable to wear boots that hold breeches close to the legs on a hot day. I don't know how some cops can stand it. Plus, I am sensitive to the fact that cops take a dim view of non-cops who dress like they do -- even if we have no insignia on a shirt or stripes down the leg -- there are some who take second-looks and make judgments. In my civic life, I work with some of the cops who led the ride for us yesterday, and didn't want to have conversations take a diversion to discussions about what I was wearing -- I had other things that I wanted to speak with them about.
Sure, I'll wear breeches and patrol boots when tooling around the 'hood in pleasant weather, and even wear leather breeches and patrol boots when the weather is cold. But I refrain from making a statement around people who are sensitive to fetish issues. Cops, military (including vets) and bikers with whom I ride regularly are generally sensitive about this matter for various reasons, so I don't "push it." Plus, overall, I prefer to be comfortable, particularly on a longer ride. Now 'ya know.
Life is short: be comfortable. (And wear boots when riding a motorcycle!)
While organizing photos on my computer, every now and then I see some pics from the past that for whatever reason, recapture my attention. Here are a few which have appeared on my website and this blog in the past. I am reposting them for no reason other than I like 'em.
My old Wesco Boss Boots that still look and feel great, even after 20 years.
My newest pair of custom Wesco Roughout Harness Boots that are burgundy and brown in color. Very different boots that get many comments when I wear them.
My newest pair of Dehner Field Boots that a buddy thinks are "the bomb." I like them too!
My Dehner patrol boots with Vibram 100 lug soles. While these boots have shafts made of that plastic stuff called "Clarino Leather" (aka "Dehcord"), they still have a classic appearance that I enjoy wearing from time to time.
Stompers Boots of San Francisco is by far the best damn boot shop in the world. While that's the owner's statement, I agree with it (though I prefer not to use profanity.)
I posted about Stompers on this blog often -- in fact, this post is a repeat of one that I posted back in 2008. Stompers has suffered through the global recession with many challenges, yet has remained in business because of the owner, Mike's, dedication and commitment. I am repeating this post because I think it's important that the Bootmen Community support this "Institution of Bootdom."
Over the years, I have purchased about 30 pairs of boots from this fine establishment in San Francisco's SOMA district. While I would like to have purchased all of the boots I got from them in person, since I live 3,000 miles away, most of my purchases have been via the phone, the store's website, and email confirmations.
Why, to me, are they the best? And why do I link from dozens of pages on my website, including my home page, to them?
My website is visited by bikers often. Bikers ought to know where to get decent motorcycle boots and stop wearing sneakers and shorts when riding. But I also have these reasons for endorsing Stompers so strongly:
Stompers has a great selection, particularly of biker boots. Dehner, Wesco, and Chippewa boots that they carry have found their way onto my feet, as well as a pair of Sendras, which Stompers carries too. They usually have most everything in stock, or can get it quickly. That isn't true for many other boot merchants.
Stompers is particularly good about working with customers on custom orders. Most of my tall biker boots are custom, including most of my Dehners and all of my Wesco engineer and harness boots. Chippewa Boots aren't available in custom sizes, but Stompers knows how to get me fitted correctly in Chips.
Mike, Stompers' Owner, offers great personal customer service. He wants his Bootmen customers to be happy. He ensures that the order is right. He also has a wickedly funny sense of humor, and has been fun to talk to and exchange email with. I am honored to enjoy his friendship, and to have thrown hundreds of referrals his way, knowing that many have resulted in sales.
Stompers' prices are competitive, and there is not a shipping charge for domestic U.S. orders. I haven't found the quality boots that I have wanted at a lower cost elsewhere. And Stompers is really good about getting custom orders to me as quickly as possible by working with its suppliers. Price-wise, I have saved about 20% off of MSRP when ordering through Stompers rather than from the manufacturer, such as Wesco, directly. The tall brown Wesco Harness Boots custom-made to my size (calf width being the issue) shown to the right were ordered from Wesco through Stompers, among others. I have gotten a lot of compliments on these boots. They look great! I often wear them proudly with jeans or leathers tucked in when I ride my Harley.
Stompers really knows how to display boots well in excellent photography of the boots the store sells. The boots are not only displayed, but shown on guys wearing them. You can see how a certain pair of boots would look on your own feet through the images offered on the Stompers Boots website.
I was honored to see that, with my permission, Mike has featured one of my photos with my Chippewa Firefighter boots on his website, here and here as well as joining the rotation of photos that appear when the home page is refreshed. Wow! Thanks, Mike!
If you have been thinking about getting some new boots, visit Stompers Boots, either in person while in San Francisco, or on-line. You will be happy that you did.
Life is short: support the "Institution of Bootdom": Stompers Boots!
Regular readers of this blog know that I only wear boots as my choice of footwear, and I am a stickler for "the right boot for the job" -- that is, when I ride my Harley, I insist on good quality, well-fitting, comfortable motorcycle boots, preferably with a big lug sole for best traction.
Yesterday was Labor Day in the United States, a holiday denoting recognizing the contributions of the American worker to society. The day also serves as the unofficial end of summer, as in our area, many outdoor swimming pools close for the season.
I led a motorcycle ride on an absolutely stunning day with spectacular scenery through Maryland's mountains on designated scenic byways. What a blast! And ... I only made one wrong turn, requiring the group turn around ... but all were good sports about it.
The day began cool, so I wore a long-sleeved shirt over a t-shirt, blue jeans, and my biker vest. I debated about wearing more leather, such as a pair of chaps, but as I was preparing to leave, it was warming up nicely. It was 72°F (22°C) when I left home, so more leather wasn't needed. It was 85°F (29°C) by mid-day, so the long-sleeved shirt came off, too.
I debated with myself about what boots to wear on this ride. I first got out my tall, leather-lined Wesco boots, and was pulling them on when I thought, "hmmm, these might get hot." My partner rolled over in bed, looked at me in the boots and said, "don't 'overboot it'." That's his expression for what he thinks my biker friends might think about tall Wesco boots worn with jeans tucked in.
I don't care much about what others think, as I make my safety and comfort top priority. If the day would get as warm as predicted, those Wesco boots would become uncomfortable as the day progressed. So I grabbed my Chippewa Firefighter Boots off the shelf and put them on.
I have raved often that I think Chippewa Firefighter boots are by far the best all-around comfortable boots for motorcycling. Indeed, they proved me correct once again throughout the long, sunny, delightful ride through twisty roads and hills with panoramic vistas.
I wish I could ride and take photos at the same time. Alas, I'm not quite skilled enough to do that. You'll have to take my word for it that it looked like this: (courtesy of the National Park Service)
A buddy of mine took some pictures of me while I was riding my Harley last Saturday. I frequently choose to "ride sweep" which is the last one in the pack. It has a nice view of the bikes ahead. Here is what my view looks like:
And here is how I look when riding:
And again (look closely -- I meant it when I said that Chippewa Firefighter Boots are the most comfortable boots I have worn while riding my Harley, especially on a hot day like it was when this photo was taken.)
And during a riding break:
That thing by my left cheek is a microphone, which is attached to my radio which I use to keep in contact with the ride leaders and other riders.
The other day when I came home, I changed from my work duds to full leather. Naked leather jeans, leather shirt, and an old but favourite leather vest, my "Skyrider" vest that my partner had made for me when we went to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in 1995. It was an unusually cool, clammy, wet day: perfect for leather.
I heard the mail truck and went out to get the mail. The truck was just pulling up to my box. The postal carrier was busy looking at the mail on his lap, deciding which was mine and which went to the next house. He handed me the mail and then looked at me. Let's say he did a double-take, "leather bounce." That is, he looked up at my face, then down at my boots, then slowly back up again, looking at the leather jeans, then the shirt and vest.
He said, "nice gear! Hey, are you that leather boot dude?"
I didn't quite know what to say. Not knowing if he recognized me from my blog or website, I just played coy, and replied, "thanks for the compliment."
He said, "hey, I recognize you. I was reading your website a few weeks ago and decided to get myself some of those Chippewa fire boots you talked about from that store in San Francisco. See?" Then he pointed to his feet. Darned enough, he had on a pair of Chippewa Firefighter Boots that he had ordered from Stompers Boots. He went on to rave about the comfort of the boots and said that he found my website informational and helpful. Gee, thanks again, man. I'm glad to meet a "happy customer" (LOL, as if I get a commission from Stompers).
He seemed to have all the time in the world, and wanted to know more about my gear that I had on, how comfortable it was, where I got it, how much it cost, how it fit, and so on and so on. I had to bug off because it was damn cold and I didn't have a jacket on. The leather was warm enough for a short trip to the mailbox, but not for standing out in the drizzle and cold shootin' the breeze about boots and leather with the local postal carrier. (Too bad he was a substitute for our regular carrier. I'd like to see him again and continue the conversation.)
Anyway, you never know who you influence or what they think, but it just goes to show that almost anyone can be a boot and leather dude incognito.
Guest blog by J, BHD's twin brother and M, BHD's big brother, the doctor
Our poor ol' brother broke the lower end of his fibula in his right leg, near the ankle. Fortunately, the ankle is fine. Being a complex joint, breaking the ankle itself would probably mean surgical procedures and a very lengthy recovery. A broken fibula is bad, but it will heal by itself and no surgery will be required. (M saw the x-rays through incredible marvels of technology, and confirms BHD's doctor's observations).
He was fortunate to be wearing boots that provided strong ankle protection when he fell. Had he been wearing sneakers or regular shoes, then it is likely that he would have broken his ankle and his life would be changed forever. For us, as his brothers, we are now convinced that his boot-wearing probably saved him months if not years of pain and inconvenience.
For now, while he is uncomfortable when he is waiting for the pain and swelling to subside, he is being well-tended by his partner and the older folks I met when I visited with him over the years. From what we hear, his partner is providing the TLC that our brother requires, including help with bathing and changing clothes.
Our brother's older friends are taking shifts to spend time with him during the week while his partner is at work. Our brother told us both in a rather emotional moment on a recent phone chat that "paying it forward is being paid back." That is, he has put a lot of time and attention into caring for his senior friends, and now they are enjoying being needed, and helping him.
All of us who love him have told him only to say, "thank you" and not say that he is undeserving. If anyone deserves kind, caring attention, it is our brother ("big" to J, "gentle" to M).
He worries that all of the people he cares for will need help that he can't provide during his recovery period. So from afar, we are helping to organize an in-fill capacity to provide his services while he recovers. Our sister will begin to look after our aunt, and a couple nephews will do what is required to care for some of his senior friends who need physical help that our brother, until now, has provided without fanfare or attention. That's just how he is.
Believe me, accepting the role of being helped is not easy for the helper our brother is. Our role, living so far away but being close to him as brothers, is to help him accept that, and to know what he says all the time is true--
Life is short: show those you love that you love them.
I am writing this in response to several Google searches that continue to end up on this blog, on my post about "best motorcycle boots." There is a difference between all the "bests":
Best quality motorcycle boots
Best motorcycle boots for long-day comfort
Best value motorcycle boots
Let me offer some of my opinions for each of these qualifications. Remember, these are my opinions and yours or your Uncle Pete who has been riding since forever may be different. I have been riding a motorcycle for more than 30 years, and have tried and worn probably over 200 pairs of boots while riding during that time. I summarized this experience along with some research in my Guide to Motorcycle Boots that has won rave reviews and upon which this blog post is based.
In my post on "best motorcycle boots," I commented on the durability, sole, comfort, fit, and value of Chippewa Firefighter Boots. I still believe that Chippewa Firefighter Boots fit all of those criteria exceptionally well. Some guys, though, do not like their style. However, with the ongoing sale at Stompers Boots of San Francisco at US$184, that's a bargain considering the quality of these boots.
But in the three categories listed above, here are some more of my opinions.
Best quality motorcycle boots: By far, the best quality motorcycle boots must be Wesco Boots. Currently I have 11 pairs of Wesco Boots and I find that their quality and durability is second-to-none. You can tell that by the construction and attention to detail, as each pair of boots is "built" individually by skilled bootmakers working at their facility in Scappoose, Oregon. Their "Boss" and harness motorcycle boots are of exceptional quality, and will last well beyond the lifetime of the wearer.
Features of quality in a motorcycle boot that I look for include:
All leather construction (no plastic anywhere)
true Vibram soles (not cheap rubber, "nitrile," or similar knock-offs).
stitched, not glued, soles. Boots with stitched soles can be resoled if necessary.
leather lined boot shafts.
Materials and craftsmanship that shows in every detail of construction. There are no blemishes in the leather, and all stress points are double-stitched.
By all means, Wesco Boots are the best quality, but they are about the most expensive of the "biker boot" variety (motorcycle police patrol boots can be equally as costly, but that's for another blog post.) However, Wesco boots are also the heaviest of all biker boots, and boots that are heavy to lug around on the feet can become uncomfortable on a long day's ride.
Most comfortable motorcycle boots: Face it, a long day in the saddle means that you have to accommodate anything that can cause discomfort on a ride. The feet that begin to hurt if the boots you're wearing are too tight, too loose, flimsy, or heavy. You can't count the number of times that you have to bend and flex your knees and put your boot down on pavement while stopped. You put pressure on your feet when operating a motorcycle and when taking breaks, and certainly when you arrive at your destination by walking around. Sometimes destinations involve hiking or walking on rocky terrain, so a comfortable motorcycle boot will do double-duty, serving both to provide protection to a motorcyclist, but also as a hiking boot.
A comfortable motorcycle boot will have built-in high-quality insoles, and the boot will be lined with leather or specialized fabrics (like Cambrelle). The boot can be short or tall, but no taller than the back of the knee while seated. (If the boot is taller than that, it will grind against the back of the knee and cause sores.)
Also, a comfortable motorcycle boot will "break well" at the ankle. What I mean by this is that the bend of the boot in the back where the shaft meets the foot -- often right at the height of the soft tissue at the back of the ankle -- is straight across and doesn't bend sideways. A "bad break" is all too easily felt when the inside of the boot rubs against the ankle and causes blisters or bleeding sores. Good "shortie" boots have a padded ankle collar which prevents this problem from happening. Good tall boots perhaps need some "training" at the ankle before wearing them regularly.
Personally, I have found that Chippewa oil-tanned Engineer Boots are about the most comfortable of the traditional "biker boots" I have worn. They are well-constructed, have replaceable soles, and are durable. I have had one pair of these boots for over 20 years and they are holding up fine, even when they have tromped through mud or water.
Best value motorcycle boots: So this brings me to what I think are the best value today in motorcycle boots. Sometimes it is easier to say what is NOT the best value: Boots that cost less than US$100. There is a reason for that -- poor quality materials (including blemished leather or leather feet and plastic shafts), workmanship that may include child labor in poorer countries, glued soles, and soles made of soft material that will leave black melt-marks on hot motorcycle pipes. Unfortunately, most "Harley-Davidson" and "X-element" brand boots fall into this category.
What, to me, composes good value for an investment are boots that will be able to withstand the typical uses that a motorcyclist will subject them to: lots of flexing at the ankles and a need for "grip" by the sole on pavement when stopping and starting a bike. The soles should be replaceable, so they should not be glued on. That's why the cheaper boots referenced above are not a good value, because they have glued soles. Also, often cheap boots are unlined, which actually makes them hotter on the feet, and less comfortable.
Boots with good value will last for years of typical regular use. That's why I continue to go back to Chippewa Boots for both value as well as comfort. You can get them short or tall, and know they will last a long time. They are not expensive when you consider that you are making a long-term investment. Think of it this way: spend US$89 on a pair of boots and wear them for a couple years, then they fall apart or you need to replace the soles and you can't because they are glued, not stitched. So in one or two years, you have to buy another pair. Alternatively, spend US$200 on a pair of Chippewa boots, and they will last ten or more years even with heavy use. Annualizing the cost, the Chippewas "cost less than half" as much as the cheaper boots cost. That is how you compute value. Don't go for cheap -- go for "relative expense" compared with "a boot's lifetime."
I am an avid motorcyclist. I have been riding motorcycles regularly for 32 years. Currently, I have a Harley-Davidson Road King Classic, which I bought new last year (2008). I had the handlebars replaced so the bike fits me better. I also had the instrumentation changed to have a combined speedometer/tach. Otherwise, the bike is stock.
When it comes to boots for the bike, my three favourite pairs of biker boots are:
stock Chippewa Firefighter boots
custom tall Wesco Harness boots
stock Chippewa oil-tanned Engineer boots
Tall boots usually need to be made custom to fit my muscular calfs. However, tall Chippewa Engineer boots are made with a rather wide calf, so no further adjustment is necessary. (That's good, since you can't get them made custom, anyway.)
Wesco Boots are by far the most durable boots I have ever worn while motorcycling. The only challenge I have with them is that they are very heavy, and sometimes get hot out in the sun when riding all day on big Harley with an air-cooled engine. On those days, in particular, I prefer to wear my Chippewa Firefighter boots, which are durable and exceptionally comfortable.
I got all of my pairs of these boots from Stompers Boots of San Francisco, which is having a great sale right now -- 20% off all boots (even custom orders). Check 'em out!
Meanwhile, enjoy the video titled, "It's All About the Boots Part 2: Biker Boots" to see these boots closer up and in action.
Everything came together today, including time for a long motorcycle ride with some buddies. The temperature was perfect -- low 80s (27°C) with a very low dew point, so it did not feel sticky. And it finally stopped raining! The work on our home renovation needed to take a pause. My aunt and a few others I check on regularly are doing well, so it's time to RIDE!
We rode on Maryland's twisty and hilly byways through three counties (though it seemed like more) to the Antietam Battlefield. The scenery was spectacular, with the sun filtering through the tall trees, and (most) all you heard was the thundering roar of the Harleys in front of you. I rode mid-pack, which is a comfortable place to be. Not in charge out front, not in the rear safety position -- just out for a ride with fellow safe riders as we prepare to lead this ride again for visitors to a rally in a few weeks.
For visitors to this blog from outside the U.S., Antietam is an historic location, now turned into a national park. The battle that occurred here on September 17, 1862, was the first on "northern" soil in the U.S. Civil War, and was the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history, ever. It is located near the town of Sharpsburg.
I so much enjoyed getting out and shaking the dust off my Chippewa Firefighter boots (which are my most favourite to wear on a long ride when the weather is warm). I got a little sun (though sunscreen blocked the burn) and put 160 miles on my trusty Road King. It truly was a very special day.
It's funny, but when I wrote a blog post last week about the best motorcycle patrol boots, I have discovered that people searching for the general term "Best Motorcycle Boots" end up right here, on this blog. Update: See a newer, related post about "Best Value Motorcycle Boots" (click here)
Sooooo.... let me tell you about what I think are the "Best Motorcycle Boots" for all-around wear on a street motorcycle. (That is, not a dirt bike).
They are (drumroll...) Chippewa Firefighter Boots (model number 27422). Why boots made for firefighters? Why not engineer or harness boots, such as those made by Wesco, Double H, Red Wing, Chippewa, or others?
The reason why I make this statement are as follows:
Comfort: Hands down (or should I say, "feet down,") these boots are the most comfortable motorcycle boots I have worn while riding, and I have ridden hundreds of thousands of miles for more than 30 years.
Durability: These boots have a steel toe and are double-stitched at all major points throughout the boot. If it's made for wildland firefighters, it can endure the gaff of motorcycling.
Vibram® 100 sole: This thick, durable, "big lug" sole is like a snow tire on the bottom of my feet. It provides superior traction.
Flexibility: What adds to the comfort of the boot is that it is flexible at the ankle and the foot.
Leather lining: the lining adds to the strength of the boot's construction, as well as its comfort. One would think that a leather-lined boot would get hot. But let me tell 'ya, I have worn these boots on exceptionally hot and humid days that the DC area is known for in summertime. These boots just don't get hot. Unfortunately, tall leather-lined boots such as Wesco Harness or Boss boots do.
Fit Technique: These boots have a unique fitting. A boot zipper is laced into the boot's ten eyelets. There are various ways to do that, which can accommodate a wide variety of foot widths. Once the zipper is laced in properly, all you need to do from then on is close the zipper after pulling them on, and open it to take 'em off. (Note, it takes a while for the fitting to break in, but once it does, these boots are very easy to pull on and remove.)
Value: These boots are an excellent value for the price. And the best place to buy these boots at the most affordable price is Stompers Boots of San Francisco.
I own more than 80 pairs of motorcycle boots. I have ridden with 'em all. When it comes time to choosing a good quality boot that's comfortable, durable, and suitable for a long, all-day ride with my club on my Harley, this is the boot that I choose.
It is nice to have friends in the boot world. BootGuyOH and WescoBear did me a big favor and reviewed the latest tutorial that I wrote, a Guide to Motorcycle Boots. These guys are fellow booted bikers, and know their boots like I do. I give each of them a very warm and public "THANK YOU" for their help, which improved this Guide.
What inspired me to create this Guide? I was noticing that a number of people were entering keywords into internet search engines looking for "best motorcycle boots" or "motorcycle boot reviews" and things like that. Some would end up on my website. Then one guy a few weeks ago sent me a question about motorcycle boots and which ones were "best." I gave him a rather long answer, then thought to myself, "that information should be retained on my website so I won't have to repeat it again if someone else asks, and perhaps it would be helpful to others." Thus, once more, was borne a "Guide." I have a half-dozen of these types of Guides on my website now. I will wait a few weeks to see if search engines do a better job of directing people who have questions about motorcycle boots, their style, comfort, design, durability, and cost to my website.
Stompers Boots of San Francisco is by far the best darn boot shop in the world. While that's the owner's statement, I agree with it. Over the years, I have purchased about 20 pairs of boots from this fine establishment in San Francisco's SOMA district. While I would like to have purchased all of the boots I got from them in person, since I live 3,000 miles away, most of my purchases have been via the phone, the store's website, and email confirmations. Why, to me, are they the best? And why do I link from dozens of pages on my website, including my home page, to them?
My website is visited by bikers often. Bikers ought to know where to get decent motorcycle boots and stop wearing sneakers and shorts when riding. But I also have these reasons for endorsing Stompers so strongly:
Stompers has a great selection, particularly of biker boots. Dehner, Wesco, and Chippewa boots that they carry have found their way onto my feet, as well as a pair of Sendras, which Stompers carries too. They usually have most everything in stock, or can get it quickly. That isn't true for many other boot merchants.
Stompers is particularly good about working with customers on custom orders. Most of my tall biker boots are custom, including most of my Dehners and all of my Wesco engineer and harness boots. Chippewa Boots aren't available in custom sizes, but Stompers knows how to get me fitted correctly in Chips.
Mike, Stompers' Owner, offers great personal customer service. He wants his Bootmen customers to be happy. He ensures that the order is right. He also has a wickedly funny sense of humor, and has been fun to talk to and exchange email with. I am honored to enjoy his friendship, and to have thrown hundreds of referrals his way, knowing that many have resulted in sales.
Stompers' prices are competitive, and there is not a shipping charge for domestic U.S. orders. I haven't found the quality boots that I have wanted at a lower cost elsewhere. And Stompers is really good about getting custom orders to me as quickly as possible by working with its suppliers. Price-wise, I have saved about 20% off of MSRP when ordering through Stompers rather than from the manufacturer, such as Wesco, directly. The tall brown Wesco Harness Boots custom-made to my size (calf width being the issue) shown to the right were ordered from Wesco through Stompers, among others. I have gotten a lot of compliments on these boots. They look great! I often wear them proudly with jeans or leathers tucked in when I ride my Harley.
Stompers really knows how to display boots well in both excellent photography as well as "bootcam" videos that Mike has made. The boots are not only displayed, but shown on guys wearing them. You can see how a certain pair of boots would look on your own feet through the images and videos offered on the Stompers Boots website.
Update: I was honored to see that, with my permission, Mike has featured one of my photos with my Chippewa Firefighter boots on his website, here and here as well as joining the rotation of photos that appear when the home page is refreshed. Wow! Thanks, Mike!
If you have been thinking about getting some new boots, visit Stompers, either in person or on-line. You will be happy that you did.
I have ridden my new Road King over 2,000 miles since I got it at the end of May. During that time, I have found that my back ached after riding, even for fairly short distances, and especially after a long ride. I was having to hunch over and lean forward when I rode with the stock handlebars. My wrists ached also, and my hands went numb due to the position my hands were in on the stock bars. The residual soreness in my back and my wrists lasted for days. Aspirin was becoming my "best friend."
Working closely with the outstanding Parts Manager at my local Harley dealer, he measured my reach, height, and looked carefully at my body position on the bike. Using those measurements, he found some bars in an after-market catalog that he thought might be better. He placed the order for me. When the bars came in, he had the service department clamp them onto my bike so he could make sure the bars were right for me. They seemed to fit well. But the Service Manager at my Harley dealer said they wouldn't install the bars because the bars were not made by the Motor Company. (Grumble, grumble... but the service dept. at my Harley dealer is known to be rather poor, anyway.) Moving on, the Parts Manager went with me to a custom motorcycle shop up the street to introduce me to them, and to discuss how to make these bars work with the "fly-by-wire" electronic throttle.
The new bars have a 1" (2.5cm) higher "rise" and a 3-1/2" (8.9cm) longer pull-back. I picked up the bike yesterday after the installation was complete, and rode 80 miles. I led a ride today and rode about another 80 miles. Tonight, I have a huge smile on my face because I am not sore in the least bit! I knew the fit could be made better. I now sit up straight with my arms slightly bent. My wrist angle is perfect, too. No soreness or numbness. Terrific!
You also see me in this pic with yet another new helmet. It was made by Seer, which is the helmet worn by CHP officers. It was painted to match the color of my Harley. It is a 3/4 helmet, giving me an open face, but full protection around my head. Worn with protective eyewear, this helmet works great, especially on hot days. It is cooler than a full-face helmet, which I will wear when it is colder.
I'm a happy Booted Harleydude, and much more comfortable on my bike while riding, due to the new bars, new helmet, and am always really comfortable in my Chippewa Firefighter Boots.
Life is short! Wear your boots! (and be comfortable, too!)
"Let's Get Lost!" -- my plan on how to spend Thursday with my twin brother.
He is home briefly from Europe to attend some meetings in Washington, DC. He took a few extra days to show his wife around his former stomping grounds, and planned some time to spend with me. His wife and my sister went shopping on Thursday, while my brother and I became "biker dudes." Man, I love that big lug of a guy -- he is my soulmate and even though he is four minutes younger than I am, he is my "big bro" (because he is six inches taller!)
I wore my Chippewa Firefighter Boots... okay (AZ), I admit it, I really DO have "favorite" boots that I wear more often than others, especially for riding my Harley on a hot day. These boots are super-dooper comfortable and don't get hot, even though they are leather-lined. I got my brother into a similar-looking pair of boots, my Milwaukee Motor Clothing Trooper Boots, which he said were comfortable, even though he seldom, if ever, wears boots. But he did for me (even though I refused to wear plastic rental shoes when I was his best man at his wedding last year).
While it was a hot and humid day, reaching the peak of 97°F (36°C), nothing could be more enjoyable than tooling around 178 miles with my life-long best friend. Man, what a great day.
When we got home, we laughed and retold our stories, which of course became more like tall tales by the time we made them up (I mean, relayed them again). My partner smiled, laughed, and was heartened to enjoy happiness with us as I grilled a steak dinner with all the trimmings to enjoy eating on our deck.
Live and love life! Wear your boots! Love those you love hard, each and every day, and show them how much you love 'em. Life is short. Keep love and a smile handy, and all else will be grand.
I took the day off from work today and rode 212 miles with some cop buddies of mine. We had planned this ride for several months. We got people to pledge an amount of money (ranged from US$0.05 to US$1.00) per mile that we rode. My haul in pledges (computed for all the miles ridden today) was $2,819.60. Once collected, that will be donated to a charity that supports families of officers killed in the line of duty.
While riding across our beautiful State of Maryland, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and almost to what we call mountains way west of the bay, we observed a lot of people on the road, including other guys on motorcycles. I really can't call some of them "bikers" because they weren't. Dumb-dumbs wearing shorts and sneakers on a motorcycle are, well, dumb. Then there were the ding-dongs on bikes wearing (off all things), flip-flops. For a short jaunt into Pennsylvania to have lunch in Gettysburg, there were the [deleted] not wearing any helmet at all, since Pennsylvania repealed its mandatory helmet law. My jaw just dropped when I saw a guy on a big Harley like mine with his woman on the back seat riding happy-as-you-please way above the speed limit in shorts, sandals, no shirt, and no helmets. Oh my gosh. What stupidity.
Then I can't begin to say what I think about the dumb-dumb drivers yakking away on hand-held cell phones, not looking where the heck they're going. I really wish my state would adopt the cell phone laws that were enacted and took effect in California and Washington on July 1, which ban the use of anything but hands-free cell phones while operating a vehicle, and ban them completely for drivers who are under 18. Eventually... but our part-time legislature that looooooves to yak on their cell phones are hard to convince. I'll keep workin' at it. I was booted as shown, in my Chippewa Firefighter Boots which are sooooo comfortable and they don't get hot at all. I didn't wear leather; it was above 90°F (32°C). Long jeans, shirt, and my full-face helmet, which is well vented and quite comfortable.
Not all the motorcyclists on the road were dumb-dumbs. Many wore boots, long pants, a shirt, and a helmet. But there were far too many in sneakers, shorts, and helmet-less. Uggggghhh... sorry, guys, I just can't abide by the fact that even though the law permits it, some people have to be so thoughtless. Their medical bills cost all of us in higher insurance premiums and tax dollars spent at public hospitals to care for those who are injured and uninsured.
Winter never seems to be lacking the ability to surprise. Late yesterday afternoon, the temperatures were just below freezing and it began to rain. Thus, every drop that fell froze. That made for treacherous conditions on walkways and roads. Because of that, they suspended the operations to pick up seniors to bring them to vote, because nobody wants anyone to suffer a fall.
After spending a few more hours countering the nit-wit homophobes who were spreading misinformation and lies in order to scare seniors into signing a petition to bring a transgendered anti-discrimination bill to a referendum (promoting the "Decline to Sign" efforts), I went home, had a late dinner, and called it a night.
This morning, the ice build-up had caused intermittent power outages, the schools and federal government were on a two-hour delay, and I thought we'd have a heck of a commute. But we left at our usual oh-dark-30 time and it was no problem getting to Metro. Unfortunately, the power was out at the Metro garage, but I always carry a flashlight in my briefcase, so I was all set. Beats the yuppies trying to use their cell phones as mini-flashlights. Metro ran on time and I was at work early!
Boots I've got on today? Chippewa Firefighter Boots are very comfortable, look good (especially since I gave 'em a shine yesterday), and have a great tread sole to provide traction in wet and slick weather. They also look good with dressier clothes that I wear to work.
Today I have been given the day off work to volunteer during our state's primary elections. I pick up seniors and drive them to the voting polls, and then bring them home. I have 100 people on my list throughout the day for whom I will be providing transportation.
How am I dressed? Jeans, parka (it's cold!), and my Chippewa Firefighter Boots. Comfortable boots with a great Vibram sole will get a workout today.
While I won't be electioneering (persuading for a particular candidate), I will be advocating for the "decline to sign" campaign. Homophobic jerks in our county are attempting to scare senior citizens into signing a petition to bring a transgendered bill that was passed by our county to referendum in November. If these backwards-thinking ding-dongs have their way, they will collect enough signatures to require voters to affirm or deny our county's anti-bias bill that was passed unanimously, and cause a big civil rights fight this November. These thoughtless dumb-dumbs should fail in their quest to acquire enough signatures, and I'll do my best to educate my friends to decline to sign.
