March 2023
Hi everyone.
Well, we are starting to get into riding season again…finally. And with that rain and wind season. I am going to post a few videos re riding techniques for rain over the next few days, so check back periodically. First up is this video: youtube.com . Now I do not care for how fast this guy rides in the rain, I always seem to start to lose traction at those speeds in the rain….of course that also depends on how hard it is raining and how quickly it drains off the road, but he made some good comments re riding slower and smoother, and his tip about using the wind to clean off your visor a good one. So, listen to it but take from it what you are comfortable with. Ok, next up is a good video discussing a lot of good tips for riding in the rain: video I actually like this video better than the first. And finally, a video from Europe…England or at least Great Britian I am guessing, where they know a thing or two about rain. It’s kind of long but is a good video, riding along with the rider, with good reminders of riding tips for the rain. video Happy Biking.
February 2023
Hello again everyone. Well, riding season is getting closer for most of us. Time to check over the bike and our safety gear and make sure we are ready for the nicer weather. Going along with getting your bike ready is KEEPING your bike ready. MSF has a handout on something we have all heard of…T-clocs…..here is a link so you can look at and download your own pristine copy: T-clocs MSF also has some motorcycle safety videos, both on their website and on You Tube. Here is one called Staged Motorcycle Traps…..its 9 1/2 minutes long. I recommend we all look at it sometime at least as a reminder of some of the situations we all face from time to time. Since we are not as protected as those in “cages”, our best defense is anticipating a possible problem and trying to be prepared by looking for possible “outs”, slowing down, giving ourselves more time to maneuver, and being alert.
January 2023
Well, it will soon be time to ride, about Mid-February the weather starts offering a few more decent ride days. Now is the time to get your bike and gear ready for the days that are a coming.
Again, borrowing an article from Tim McShane:
Let’s talk more about eye and face protection.
A plastic shatter resistant face shield can help protect your whole face in a crash. It also protects you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insect, and derbies thrown up from cars ahead of you. These problems are distracting and can be painful. If you have to deal with then, you can’t devote your full attention to the road. Goggles protect your eyes, though they will not protect the rest of your face like a face shield does. A windshield is not a substitute for a face shield or goggles. Most windshields will not protect your eyes form the wind. Neither will eyeglasses or sunglasses. Glasses will not keep your eyes form watering and might blow off when your turn your head. To be effective, eye or face shield protection must:
• Be free of scratches.
• Be resistant to penetration.
• Give clear view to either side.
• Fasten securely so it does not blow off.
• Permit air to pass through to reduce fogging.
• Permit enough room for eyeglasses or sunglasses if needed.
Tinted eye protection should not be worn when little light is available.
December 2022
Continuing to “borrow” from Tim McShane’s past articles in our old newsletter, here is his article on helmets:
Well, it’s almost here! springtime! It is time to warm her up and take her out (I am talking about the bike!)
Let’s talk about the head gear you are going to wear. There are two types of primary types of helmets,
providing two different types of coverage: three-quarter and full face.
Whichever style you choose, you can get the best protection by making sure that the helmet is designed to
meet the D.O.T standards. Helmets from the Snell Memorial Foundation also give you an assurance of quality.
Be sure it fits snugly all the way around, it has no obvious defects such as cracks, loose padding, or frayed
straps.
Whatever helmet you decide on, keep it securely fastened on your head when you ride. If not, when you are
involved in a crash it is likely to fly off your head before it gets a chance to protect you.
A plastic shatter resistant face shield can help protect your whole face in a crash. It also protects you from
wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects and pebbles thrown up from cars ahead of you. These issues can be distracting
and can be painful. If you are dealing with these problems, you are not devoting your full attention to the road.
While goggles protect your eyes, they do not protect the rest of your face. The bike windshield is not protection
like a face shield is. Windshields, eyeglasses, or sunglasses do not protect against the wind. These items will
not keep your eyes from watering and they might blow off when turning your head.
To be effective the face shield must be free of scratches, resistant to penetration,
give clear line of sight in either direction, and let the air pass through to prevent
fogging. It also must be fastened securely to prevent it blowing off. Tinted eye
protection should not be worn when little light is available
November 2022
Hi everyone. I’m not sure but I think my “shift” doesn’t start until the new year…nevertheless, I was looking thru past newsletters looking for safety ideas and ran across this article from Tim McShane—I thought it was appropriate not only from a safety standpoint, but also because it is about time to start leaving hints to Santa for gift ideas for Christmas. New chaps, or a jacket with “armor” in it at critical points, or as Tim points out a new helmet. How about high visibility clothing or a mesh woven jacket for those hot humid days next summer? Safety gear isn’t cheap, but if it can save you some pain or time in the Doctor’s office or even the hospital, then it is worth every penny. Here’s that article:
The topic of the day is what gear is the right gear at the right time. It needs to
protect you in a crash. You have a far better chance of surviving a serious injury.
You need to be wearing a DOT compliant helmet, face or eye protection and
protective clothing. Crashes occur at any time or place, new rider or experienced rider. No one plans on crashing. No matter now well trained or aware of the surroundings, something can and usually does go wrong when least expecting it. One in five crashes result in head or neck injuries. Both can be equally severe. Crash analyses show that head and neck injuries account for a majority of serious and fatal situations for
motorcyclist. Some riders don’t wear helmets thinking it would block side vision or
uncomfortable. Believe me, it is more uncomfortable in a head or neck brace for weeks on end (and no taking that off!).
The most important of the safety gear is the helmet. It needs to be DOT (department of transportation) rated. 40% of riders in crashes state the helmet did not block side view or spotting a dangerous situation. Most crashes happen close to home (five-mile range) and about or lower than 30 mph. Helmet wearers are half as likely to have severe head or neck injuries.
Missouri Eagle Wings 