Shifting Gears Episode 2 Riding in the Rain

Dave

Be sure to tune in next week and continue to follow along as Norm and I explore one of the most beautiful regions of Canada. Meanwhile, speaking of touring, it’s time now to catch up with our riding expert Ken Edick. This week he wants to talk about something we’ve been struggling with down here in Savannah, riding in the rain.

So Ken, this week on Winging-It, you want to talk about rain and rain riding and I knowbwhen you’re out on the open road unfortunately some day you’re going to get caught in the rain. I know myself I’ve had entire days of riding in the rain while on the road, um but I wear all the new gortex, the latest stuff in terms of textiles thanks to Joe Rocket. I see you’ve brought some of the old school rain gear right?

Ken

Well sure, it’s a big investment to get up to today’s technology and some people may have convinced them selves that they may not have evolved that far so far but there are other gears that they can wear, not motorcycle specific so this is something that I got at a variety of other stores not motorcycle geared.

Dave

Okay, do you put on anything else before you put on the rain suit?

Ken

Aside from any of the riding gear that I normally have, I’m going to suspect that when I run into rain the temperature’s going to drop a bit so I’m going to start by adding an extra sweatshirt. If’ I’m wrong I an take it off later but it’s better than to get a chill once I’m all suited up.

Dave

Alright, so you throw on the sweatshirt then you put this gear on?

Ken

No, you still put the rest of your complete riding gear, whatever that might be, jacket, pants or whatever, then this is your outside layer. So it takes a little bit of doing, make sure you allow for a lot of time at the side of the road, it is rubber, but again, because it’s not a fashion statement and it has to go over your worst case scenario of gear make sure you buy extra extra large.

Dave

Right, oaky what about this… I’m a little surprised. What’s the deal on this?

Ken

Again, unless you get into the newest state of the art gloves with gortex and stuff whatever you have may not sustain you once you’re out in the ride. So I just went to a garden shop and they just had these sitting there for people who were messing around in the garden. There’s a shorter one with vulcanized rubber with uh, it just looks like liquid rubber was dipped in over top of these gloves – they’re very very supple. These ones are larger, same thing, completely rubberized, same thing they’re no seams, no nothing and a nice big gauntlet to come up so that the rain doesn’t come in the inside. However I can’t put a lot of warmth underneath them because I need the dexterity for the controls on the bike so this is it, if I can keep myself dry I’ve won the battle.

Dave

Okay so you’re not putting these over your gloves, these become your gloves.

Ken

That is correct.
Dave

What about this, holy smokes… Totes!

Ken

They’re kind of hard to find. Totes is a brand name that makes, I guess they call it intermittent footwear. Again, this is one piece of moulding, there’s no stitching, there’s no zippers, there’s no nothing, it’s very forgiving. It has a good grip on the bottom for when you put your foot down and you put your foot inside of that, tuck it all in, there’s no way rain’s going to get inside the foot.

Dave

And just to be clear, you pull these over your riding boot.

Ken

Yeah, that’s right, and again, buy extra, extra large. Fashion is not your concern for rain gear

Dave

Wow this is fantastic, Mr. Rubber. So essentially, when you’re fully encased in all of this, you’re able to stay dry all day?

Ken

It’s got to be pretty bad if I start getting wet after that point, maybe it’s time to pull it in for a while and wait it out.

Dave

Right, nice job. Good stuff.