Read my latest interview here.

http://sfurbanmoto.com/currentarticle.cfm?ax=59

As well as a pic of me and my crazy hair. It was awful windy that day on the top of Green Street.

June Urban Moto Is Here~

Run, don't walk to your nearest distributor:

http://www.sfurbanmoto.com/distro.cfm

Find me on Page 24-ish.

Riding, blogging and gear makeovers

These past few days my husband and I have been doing more riding than we've done in the past 6 months. 549 miles in 4 days. 375 of them done in one day! I found that while I'm riding I have a lot of time to think about gear. Am I comfortable? Is the A/C on too high? Do my leathers sweaty? Among other things, I also think about why other people don't wear more than jeans and sneakers while going 75-80mph on the 101, riding into ~40-50 mph winds.

Sometimes I get strange thoughts in my head like "I can't believe I'm going 70mph on a motorcycle right now." I also get ideas for my blog but then I have absolutely no way of writing them down or remembering them later. I also have found that the more I ride, the more I want to write, and the more ideas I'm able to come upwith.

The only one I remembered when arriving to our lovely motel in Cambria was the one I'm going to write for you now. (OT, Big shout out to the Cambria Palms Motel, the Best Deal In Town!. Cheap, clean, easy to find off Hwy 1. Stay here if you need somewhere to crash on the way down from SF or up to SF, especially if you're stopping at Hearst Castle).

So working at Scuderia West, I have the pleasure of meeting many different riders, all shapes, ages, sizes, riding experiences, backgrounds, etc.

Example:

• Female customer, about 5'2", approx. a women's size 8.
• She had trouble finding pants that fit her waist/hips and inseam. She rode a scooter and needed pants to commute in. She already had a jacket (don't know what kind) but wanted overpants as well. She had tried on various other pants but hadn't found anything that fit quite right.
  
• I was going to put her in Olympia Airglides or Pro Pants, but unfortunately the inseams were going to be too long for her.
  
• Gear Solution: REV'IT Zip Pants, Size Small-Short

• The beauty of the Zip Pant is that it has an adjustable waistband. This is particularly useful for women who have hips or a disproportionate waist (ie not an hourglass shape). And you can get a size small in short! Unfortunately you can't get any size smaller than that in short, since they do run down to an XXS.
• One thing that she wasn't sure about was the fact that when she sat on a scooter, there was a little room in the back of the pants, right at the lower back. That's perfectly normal for overpants, as they are meant to be zipped to a jacket, or worn with a longer cut jacket. Zip pants do have a fairly neutral 6 inch zipper which you should be able to find on brands such as Olympia.
  

Working in a place like Scud also has helped me figure out a couple things about customers who come in looking for gear, and complain that they can't find anything in other shops. A couple of observations:

• They have no idea what proper fit is, especially for motorcycle gear, and especially for the type of gear we carry (protective, functional gear).
  
• Most people, especially women, complain that nothing fits them. I'm sure that at least 50% of the time this is probably true.
  
• They probably don't carry the variety of gear that Scud does, with different fits.
• No one ever tries gear on a bike! Fit is never 100% right while standing straight up with your arms at your sides. Not real gear, anyway. Sit on that bike!
  
• Ladies, listen to me when I tell you that gear is supposed to be fitted, close to your body. Not 2 sizes too big because you want to cover up your 'problem areas'. I've seen too many women come in wearing their husband's/boyfriend's gear thinking that it was fine. Newsflash! You have an hourglass figure, hips, boobs, long legs (sometimes), smaller shoulders, a small back, etc., you get the picture. Sometimes women have this notion that in order to 'cover up' these areas that wearing large, oversized clothing is the solution. Not so! Even moreso when it comes to motorcycle gear. Because the added function of gear is to Protect and Function on a motorcycle. If it doesn't fit you right it's not going to work when you crash.
  
• There aren't many 'apparel-only' shops vs. motorcycle dealerships. Most places are dealers like Scud that also carry apparel. But many of these places lack the selection. They could order mounds and mounds of women's gear. But they don't, probably because the majority of their customer base are men, and those that are women usually ride on the back.
  
• The lack of trained apparel employees can also have a huge effect on the way you are shopping for gear. You may not realize that it's supposed to be that snug, that standing up straight with your arms at your side is going to be uncomfortable, that the garments are cut for riding position, I could go on and on. When there is no one there to guide you along the way, how are you supposed to know? Of course you're going to assume nothing fits because you may not know how it is supposed to fit.
  

So for those of you that still have trouble shopping for gear, or are in need of a gear makeover, I'd like to propose the following:

• Send me your gear wants/needs. (jacket, pants, gloves, boots?)
  
• Send me a photo of yourself from head to toe, preferably wearing something semi fitted (jeans, tshirt) so I can see your body type.
• Tell me what size you wear in regular jackets and pants (in numerical US size)
  
• If you already have gear, send me a picture of you wearing it.

If you send me an email with the above criteria, I'll send you my gear recommendation based on what you send!

Or if you live in the Bay Area and would like a gear makeover in person, let me know. I would be your personal shopper for Free, if you let me write it up on my blog. We'll hit up all the shops that carry women's gear and help you find gear that fits. Only flattering photos will be taken by me, I promise! We'll take some before and after pics and show the world how to find that perfect outfit for riding. The first 3 people who email me will get a free GearChic Tshirt!

For the Boys.

Men always ask me why I don't do review for men. Well, ALL the sites are for men! That's why I started mine. But, most of the fitment articles I write do apply to men and women, so for that kind of gender neutral advice I hope you'll find it useful. But, seeing as how many of my readers are men (thank you!), I felt that a quick review was in order.

I will make a gear recommendation for the boys based on the outfit that my husband just got for the long ride we did yesterday to SoCal. The jacket is also a top seller at Scuderia West as well. For reference, here he is, Mr.GearChic.

My husband is 5'11", ~190lbs, has broad shoulders, a long torso and a 33" inseam. These fit him him perfectly. The pants do come in short and long, depending on the size. But he was fine with a standard 52 for the pants and a 52 for the jacket. These are pants, not overpants. They also come with a windproof/waterproof liner which he didn't need to wear for this ride, since the weather was mostly 70s along Hwy 1. Before acquiring these 2 items, he was wearing a Dainese leather jacket and Olympia Pro Textile Pants. He definitely prefers this outfit and finds the cut on the REV'IT gear to be perfectly suited to his body type.

Because he has broad shoulders, he thought the 52 would be a little too small, but after sitting on the bike (of course!), it felt fine in riding position (on a Standard). It was just a little uncomfortable standing up straight with the jacket zipped up (as it should, since it's cut for riding not standing!) And he had no problems breaking it in on the ride down, since we got it for him the day before we left. The arms are nice and long, which is definitely a problem for him when shopping for regular clothes and jackets.

Since it's a combination of textile and leather, it wasn't so bad wearing for the first time on a long ride. If he wear in a one piece or two piece leathers, he probably would've been a little uncomfortable after the first hundred miles. Overall, he is very happy with this combination and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good all around 2 piece for city, urban and long distance riding. So get thee to Scuderia West, or if you can't drive to San Francisco, order a set from Revzilla and try it out for yourself!

1) REV'IT Ignition Jacket.
$429.99

2) REV'IT Gear Pants
$379.99

















3) Dainese Torque In Boots
$299.00

Racer High End Gloves

Racer High End Ladies Gloves
MSRP $199.99

If it's possible to be in love with your gear, well then I'm proud to say that I am in love with these gloves! I was worried they wouldn't be warm enough for my always cold hands, but I have to say that so far, they're performing better than I expected! They fit my short fingers perfectly. Look for a full review soon, hopefully after this week from hell is over. My real job is kicking my ass this week, so I hope to dig up more content for the next newsletter (sign up if you haven't already!) this weekend. Overall, I would highly recommend these gloves for everyday riding. I don't know how they'll do in colder weather (below 60 degrees), but in 60s-70s they're perfect. They have just enough ventilation but not too much. And they have much better dexterity than my Multitops do.

My husband and I are going to be riding down to Ventura, CA this weekend for an extended stay visiting his family. Although we've been to Ventura many times before, this will be the first ride on Minnie. My wonderful friend Leyla was so generous as to lend me her gel seat for the weekend, so I hope that makes for a more pleasant ride. After riding ~170 miles this weekend, my butt was screaming at me to never do that again without a better seat. But it was definitely happier with new tires! Nothing like the feeling of smoooooth acceleration out of a satisfying sharp left turn. (I still hate left turns, still working on that).


View Larger Map

Although I didn't celebrate Ride to Work Day yesterday, I rode today instead and it was fantastic. Riding the dirty streets of San Francisco makes you remember not to be so complacent with your reaction time, ability to predict people's movements and remaining vigilent. I learned how to ride here, so it's all I know. When people ask me if it's scary, or how I do it, I simply tell them that it's just like riding anywhere else, only much worse, busier and a little rougher on the tires (so many potholes). I think I'd have more fun on a DRZ! I also love the small streets, sharp corners and beautiful scenery that we're so lucky to have. Today was particularly fun as I rode down Powell Street along the cable car lines to courier a package to Union Square.

If you ever come to San Francisco, I highly recommend renting bikes (maybe a KLR from my friend Glenn?) and riding around the city. If you're not used to riding in the city, it'll definitely give you some riding experience to take back with you to the 'burbs!

Gear Fit Assessment

Just wanted to share a quick question from someone who is wearing leather for the first time:

Question:
Just ordered and rcvd a leather Joe Rocket coat-- jet set. Love it!! Size small- I am tall but quite thin. Sleeves are just long enough; body fits snug and well... my question is, the armpit seams pull just a bit-- literally-- the seams that run from collarbone to armpit are tight on me. Will this stretch out over time? Have ordered the size Medium just to compare, an extra inch across the back might make a ton of difference, but I think the coat is liable to be too big all over... By the way-- I tried the small on with a heavy sweater, and the seams were still tight in the armpit but ok everywhere else. Have never had leathers before, and am unsure how much it will stretch, or where. Any input welcome.

My answer:

Hmm.. without seeing you wearing it, I can only put my best guess forward. Leathers will definitely stretch and break in over time. The question is, when you're sitting On your bike, how tight are the seams? I mean, so tight that your arms can't comfortable stay in riding position for more than a minute? Generally it should be snug to begin with so it'll stretch when it breaks in.

As far as the seams from collarbone to armpit, they're going to be snug, but again, as long as they're not pinching in riding position, it should be good.

It's hard for me to make an informed decision without seeing you, but I hope this helps. Feel free to send me pics of you in the jacket, fully zipped, in riding position on the bike and then with the jacket unzipped standing up straight, arms at your sides.

And, if it's your first time wearing leathers, it might just take you awhile to get used to the snug fit compared to textiles.

-GC

new partnership!

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Anthony, one of the founders of Revzilla.

I'll be referring all my readers to buy online from Revzilla (if they don't live in San Francisco of course!) whenever possible. Revzilla has a fantastic return policy and excellent customer service. I highly recommend checking them out for Dainese, Sidi and REV'IT products.

Side Stand Up Tonight!

It's that time again, I'll be calling in for another SSU podcast, all about helmets.

Please join in if you can:

http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=64458&cmd=tc

GoMoto Riders today

I'll be at the GoMoto Riders store in Sacramento today from 12:30-3:00.

If you're in the area come by for a BBQ to celebrate the 3year
anniversary party!

5739 Auburn Boulevard
Sacramento, CA

Http://www.gomotoriders.com

Catch up on interviews/podcasts!

If you haven't had a chance to listen to any of the Side Stand Up shows, or my latest interview, I've collected the links here for you to check out! I'll also post these on my website on my links page.

1. Just Gotta Scoot. David and I had a great conversation about why wearing gear on a scooter is important, as well as what other considerations you need to take when gearing up. Thanks Dave!

May 21, 2009
Episode 97
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=16296&cmd=tc

2. Side Stand Up
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=64458&cmd=tc

May 5, 2009
Episode 83
My segment starts at about 00:15:00. (15 minutes in)
On this episode, I give my tips for buying gear if you don't have the luxury of having
a local apparel shop that's knowledgeable about gear, or you just don't know where to start
in terms of finding gear.

May 12, 2009
Episode 84
My segment starts at about 1:00:27 (1 hr, 27 minutes. towards the end of the show)
This is the Mother's Day special where all the guests featured were
interesting and cool women sharing lots of different perspectives on riding.

April 7, 2009
Episode 79
Segment starting at about 00:34:00. (34 minutes in)
My first segment on SSU all about the Daytona Ladystar boots

March 10, 2009
Episode 101
Segment starts in at 00:20:00 (20 minutes)
This is the first episode that I make my appearance on SideStandUp, being interviewed by Denise Maple of VaVaVroom.