Shifting Gears Episode 10

So Ken, this week on “Winging It” I want to talk about helments because I have found that choosing the right helmet is so important when you’re going on a long ride.

Ken

It is because aside from the safety aspect it has to be comfortable because you’re going to be in it for the long haul.

Dave

Right. So we want to make sure.. we know all the old tips about helmets, you want to make sure that you get a good one, one that fits properly, no pressure points.  You don’t want it loose, you don’t want it rocking on your head but then you also don’t want to have one of those big red marks ever time you take the helmet off.

Ken

I’ve always said to people, if you ever get a lane change check and the world went dark, you know the world was too large.

Dave

So this one, when you talk about touring… this one is a game changer for me because it also has built in sunglasses if you will and the reason it’s a game change is because I don’ have to pack sunglasses, I don’t have to worry about putting them on, taking them off when it gets too sunny.  When the weather changes I can put the sunglasses on or off if that’s what I want to do but it’s just one less thing for me to pack and one less thing for me to break or drop.

Ken

And it’s big.  If anybody on the eastern half of the continent has ever done the blue ridge parkway, you’re in and out of tunnels.  You can’t get glasses off and one fast enough, your eiyes can’t adjust fast enough even if you did and this works and that’s where the biggest key comes in that you can have a change in elevation to make cloudy and warm and change the sun exposure at the same time.

Dave

Right. So no need to stop and pull out the sunglasses or pack them up.  I love that and that’s been a game changer for my touring. What about you, you’ve got the modular helmet.

Ken

Yeah the modular is probably the newest invention of motorcycles apparel in the last few years and for anybody who doesn’t know what it is already is it just allows what appears to be a full faced helmet allows you to take the chin bar right up and this would allow you for… not necessarily for riding around but this is when you make that stop and you need to ask directions or you’re at the gas station and you need to have conversation with anybody.  You want to slip a quick drink to quench your thirst or you want to grab a granola bar you don’ thave to take the helmet off.  Alright so full accsess there allows for easy identification when you go into the store but slams back down and gives you almost the same protection as a full on full helmet.

Dave

Now that may not seem like a big deal to some people at home but for me, if I’m riding and I’m trying to get somewhere by a certain time, you know, I’ve got five hours and I want to get somewhere… if I’m just stopping for fuel and I’m going to grab a quick bottle of water the last thing I want to do is take my helmet off, take my earplugs out do all fo that so that’s what I love aobut that, it allows me to keep moving.

Ken

Yup.  It’s your own little cocoon… it’s become very, very uh custom fit to you and you don’t want to upset the apple cart by having to take it off.  So it allows that flexiblitly that only people  with open faced helmets would know.

Dave

Now you’ve personalized this with a little strip, what’s the deal here?

Ken

Yeah eventually you end up driving a little further then you wanted to during the course of the day  and you don’t have sun visors on a car but this here is s static cling band that’s made some after market company and you just position this on the inside.  IF and when it’s time to move on to the next helmet you just peel that off, it’s static cling and you can put it onto the next visor but it’s for that sun right down there low on the horizon but other than that you wouldn’t have that.  On an open faced helmet you’ll see quite often you’ll have a peak and you’ll do the same thing.  But that’s something I just came up with over there years.  Before I invented that I used duct tape.

Dave

Some more great tips from the old veteran on “Wining It”.  Good stuff.