I really hate letting this blog go sallow. Here it is July 2024, and the last time I posted was in April.
So where have I been?
Contrary to perceptions you may have that I have fallen off the planet, I have just been busy doing other things.
In May I traveled to Hawaii for 10 days (for an advisory committee meeting!) I just returned home after almost a month in Canada (for play!)
I do appreciate receiving messages from people who have read deep within this blog where I …
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My Booted Harleydude website has been around since 2005. The screen name was selected because:
a) I own and wear a lot of boots. This website was created primarily to catalog my extensive collection of cowboy, dress, motorcycle, and work boots.
b) I was (note past tense) a biker and owned and rode a Harley. I am also an old-school gay Leatherman, so I cataloged my motorcycle gear and fetish leather gear. Over time, I built quite the collection.
Well, come March 2024, I have made a hard decision to sell my Harley, hang up my helmet, and stop riding motorcycles. Long ago, I decided not to attend any Gay Leather events. I don’t have the interest, stamina, or desire to attend those types of events.
Why?
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Over the years, I have written posts on this blog expressing my opinion about wearing cowboy boots while operating a motorcycle.
Like other guys, I like to wear cowboy boots. I began wearing them at age 10 and didn’t stop. Over many years, I developed quite a large cowboy boot collection.
Most traditional, dress western, and older cowboy boots have smooth leather soles. Such soles are a bad choice to wear while riding a motorcycle because the soles provide no traction at all. The slightest amount of water or oil on the road makes these boots slide on those soles.
Back in 2013 or so, more boot manufacturers began applying rubber soles, Vibram soles, and/or lug soles on cowboy boots. I bought my first pair of Chippewa cowboy boots with a Vibram sole that were perfect for using on my Harley.
Nowadays, many boot manufacturers offer a cowboy boot / work boot with rugged rubber soles.
As an experienced rider, I choose …
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For many years on this blog and on my website, I have been very enthusiastic about the quality, durability, and function of Chippewa Harness Boots. Boots of this style are classic and ageless. Bikers have been wearing harness boots for decades.
Unfortunately, Chippewa brand harness boots were discontinued a few years ago, and it seems as if the company (Justin Brands, the owner of the Chippewa label) will not bring them back. Such a pity and a loss…
There are literally dozens of makers of harness boots out there, and I have tried and worn many of them over the years.
What I liked most about Chippewa harness boots included…
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For many years, I have been a fan of Chippewa Firefighter Boots (model 27422 aka “Ruttman”) as my favorite “go-to” boots to wear when riding my Harley.
These boots are very comfortable, durable, and have a “big lug” Vibram 100 sole that provides terrific traction while operating a heavyweight motorcycle.
They are lightweight, flexible, and look great with whatever I choose to wear (denim, leather, or BDUs.) What I like most about these boots (besides safety) is that the boots are great for riding, but also great for walking.
Often on a motorcycle ride, I would arrive at a destination that required walking around. Big heavy boots (such as Wescos) made walking hard because the boot soles were not very flexible, and the boots were really heavy. These 9-inch boots solved the problem.
I was sorely disappointed when…
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I had a great time on my favorite island. However, it was time to come back to my home in Maryland. My return flights were delayed but made it, so I have no complaints.
However, it is a hell of a lot warmer on the mainland than in Puerto Rico!
I have caught up on lost sleep, and today I pulled on a favorite pair of motorcycle boots — Chippewa Harness — and before it got too hot, I…
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I mentioned on this blog that I am downsizing my leather and boots collections. I have made more adjustments to the BHD Gear Sales Site in response to some visitor feedback, as well as listed more items.
What changes have been made to my sales site? Why am I selling my gear & boots? Why am I doing this via my own site instead of existing merchandise sale sites? If you see some of my boots or gear not shown on the sales site, is it available? Will you sell boots or gear beyond the U.S. or Canada? Read on…
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I have ridden motorcycles for more than four decades, and enjoy it. Over the years, I have acquired, tested, and worn many different motorcycle gear products designed for wear for rider protection and comfort.
“Back in the day” like all Model T Fords, I could have any color of gear I wanted as long as it was black. Black leather. Denim & leather jeans. Black boots. Black gloves. And that was about it–though even back when I first started riding, I could choose a helmet color that was brighter and more visible than black.
Technology innovations and fabric improvements nowadays affect my choices of what to wear when I ride, as well as my level of tolerance of heat, cold, and humidity.
I always wear motorcycle boots, but above my feet, what I wear varies based on the ambient air temperatures and humidity for safe, protective, riding gear.
Here are my current choices of what I wear and why–
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For decades, the Chippewa brand of boots were THE boots to have and wear when riding a motorcycle, hanging out with bikers, or at leather fetish bars & events.
Who else besides me noticed the tough-looking tall Chippewa engineer boots on other guys? The oil-tanned tough-biker looking style, or the patrol boot style on a motorcycle police officer?
For us regular bikers, two serious choices of Chippewa motorcycle boots included…
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Hey there… long time no see! I am doing well, though tolerating the below freezing weather here in the Mid-Atlantic has not been that easy after spending a month in Puerto Rico from mid-December through January.
With it being so darn cold, full leather (shirt, jeans, boots, and even a leather tie for closing the gap at my neck) and my favorite Schott or Langlitz jackets are keeping me warm. Also helps to allow me to turn the heat in my house down a bit to save on home heating costs.
While I was in Puerto Rico, I totally “reset myself” and feel much more positive moving forward in my new life. Mind you, I still miss my husband; the grief is less acute, but still there.
For my “2022 reset,” I made plans related to my boots and leather gear. Interested?
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