[Blindstitch]

Dakota,

I've been cold on a bike and I've been cold on a bike. About a year and a half ago I headed up to the appleton area in the morning when it was warm but got convinced to stay a bit longer when I should have. This was in April I think. On the way back I got cold and then colder. I needed gas so I filled up at a station about 40 miles from my place. I warmed up too and drank something hot which I don't do. Leaving the gas station i must have shook my share of rust free in the tank while filling and it wasn't long before the bike was bogging. I couldn't break 55mph. In the chance I did I usually used up all the fuel between the carbs and the tank and the bike choked to the side of the road. At 45/50 I was ok but the speed limit was 65 and I was short of getting my ass ran over and the bike limped along and I got colder and colder. I ended up seeing wisconsincx's exit and took it



When I made it to his place which was only 10 miles down the road from the gas station I was shivering so bad that I couldn't just sit there in his kitchen with a cup of coffee. Must have sat there for an hour chattering teeth and all. Barry was going to help me fix the problem but decided just to give me his truck keys so I could go home and warm up. I swear I wasn't warm till I got home and took a shower.



Ever since that I won't go out without my heated vest when it's cold or I know it will get cold. I just pack the vest away in my saddlebags in case I need it.



Yesterday it was a bit chilly/windy at 50 degrees so I threw it on and set it to low. It made for a good ride till it warmed up and I could shut it off.



The $125 for the Tourmaster heated vest was well worth it and extended my riding by at least 2 months. It usually only gets use in April, May, October, November and the beginning of December. It's a thought you may want to think over. I don't think I ever use it on High as I would be way to hot. But low and medium are fine.



42F right now and i'm getting ready for a run. Vest on till it needs to be off.

 

[Blindstitch]

Gotta love those smiles.



I only put on 40 miles doing slower roads and a run to harbor freight. The reason I gave up and came in was there were a ton of cops out and someone pulled over every other light. Before I left the neighbor said watch out for those idiot drivers. I followed two different cars at the end that either had one hell of a conversation going on with a cell phone or they were drunk.



The last one veered all the way over to the right getting close to the other cars just to wander all the way back over to the left close enough to rub the tires on the median 5 times in a row. And that's when I packed it in.



I did some more thinking on my trailer/hitch rig and soldered longer coiled wires to my heated vest making it easier to plug in without having to stay put.

 

[Blindstitch]

I am going to ride tomorrow. Today to keep the wife happy, I went to see a movie and then I had to pass out candy to the kids.



I want to see the Salmon swim upstream if they are still doing that this late and watch the DNR collect the eggs for the WI hatcheries. It will be about a 200 mile ride ... hopefully.

Dave where ya going Marinette? I saw plenty of fishermen today over in South Milwaukee fishing from a river that goes into Lake Michigan.