Handy Tips

1.Side stand pucks for stability of parking your motorbike on soft ground are really useful but retrieving them can be awkward.
Tie a piece of elastic to the puck and make a loop on the other end then  loop over the left hand grip. Next time you set off pull up your sidestand  and then pull up the puck using the elastic, remove the other end from the hand grip and put in your pocket.  Don't over stretch the elastic or the puck it might fly up and hit you!!

2. Don't have a puck...then squash a drinks can...remember to recycle when you have finished with it.

3. Most of my minor injuries I have incurred when falling off  my bike have involved footpegs digging into the side of my leg above my boot and below my knee guards.  I found motocross leg guards solved that problem, they strap around the lower leg from the boot to over the knee.  I use them with integral knee armour that is hinged.  This help covers the area most at risk from minor injuries from brake/gear/footpegs.

Protective clothing part 1

Protective clothing is vitally important and part of the fun of motorcycling is getting kitted out. Now being female…motorcycle clothing shops seem to think we only like pale pink or black…..yep that’s about it!

And interestingly the size  guides which we use ( in the UK at least) are thrown out of the window when it comes to leathers and different manufacturers…..so…. Don’t just pick up and buy your normal size try it on.    Try everything on and don’t pay any attention to the labels.

This is especially true in Alpine Star trousers which as I found out are a bit smaller than usual… I was trying on a pair that were  really cool in a Heine Gerrick store. This particular Heine Gerick changing room had cubicles with stable doors…  located in the middle of the shop.  I was keen to buy my first leathers and grabbed a stylish pair of trousers in my usual size….I went in the cubicle and attempted to slide them on but ended up hopping around as they were tighter than expected, being difficult and putting up a fight to get on …needless to say I lent back to yank them up and lent on the stable door and toppled back through the doors and rolled back onto the floor,  into the rather busy shop with my legs in the air and the leathers still putting up a fight around my thighs much to everyones amusement!!

 A great start to my "Cool" biking experience.

…and no I hadn’t eaten too many pies over the winter festivities.  Female sizing I have since discovered is notoriously hit and miss !!

Protective clothing is vital in this day and age. If buying clothing second hand a handy tip is to try out in a shop first to check sizes before buying over the internet auction sites or free ads. 

Please don't buy helmets 2nd hand as you never know if they have been dropped.  Look for the CE symbols All British helmets must comply with British Standard BS 6658 and have the BS Kitemark.  You will need a helmet by law (unless you are a Sikh wearing a turban). Goggles and visors have to compley with BS 4110  tinted visors are not allowed at night.....I have found they are great during the daytime and do prevent that sun glaring in your eyes.

Get your helmet fitted at a supplier. All heads are different shapes and its interesting to see which ones fit comfortably, are easy to buckle, easy to open the visors, have air vents and have the best protection. 

If you have long hair a plait is far more comfortable to wear than a ponytail as a hair bobble can be really irratating and uncomfortable.  If you are wearing sun /glasses make sure they have short arms, or they poke out at the front of your face uncomfortably and wobble on your nose. (The main reason I now have a tinted visor). ....and ladies beware of purchasing gimmicky helmets...you will hopefully be wearing the same helmet for a long time...and for a while I was quite recognisible riding around with a big dandylion on my head.