Caring for Leather Gear

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Lately, I have received several email messages asking about leather care, and wondering how often I care for and treat my leathers.

Generally, I am not one who obsesses about my leather getting mud or dirt on it, or splashed by rain. But I want my investment to last, so I care for it as I use it. This time of year in North America, the temperatures are dropping so it’s time to get the leathers ready for more regular wear. (Yippie!) I remove the gear from my closet and rub a “leather wipe” (described below) over it, re-orient the gear on the hangar, and hang it back up.

Details on care of leather garments is below. I took this from my Complete Guide to Leather Gear that I wrote last year. The most important thing to keep in mind is that leather is a tanned and treated animal skin. Much like our skin, leather is porous and needs to be treated with care.

Condition it when you first get it: The first thing you should do after you purchase any leather garment is to treat it. You can almost always find leather care products where you make your leather purchase, or at any good shoe or western store. What has worked best for me is Lexol Leather Conditioner. This product comes in a bottle. Just put a little bit on a damp sponge and rub it all over your leather gear. Hang the gear to dry away from sunlight and heat sources (like a heat vent.) Do not use spray treatments — these products do not work as well because the oils that are in the product that help the leather have droplets that are too large, and tend not to soak in.

Hang It Up: Just like your momma told you, hang up your clothes! This is really important for leather. When hanging leather gear, remember to keep it cool and dry. Always use broad and padded hangers, as metal wire hangers will distort the shape of leather. Leave some space on each side of each piece of gear while it is hanging so air can circulate around it. Leather gear can stick together if packed too tightly, and cause damage that can’t be fixed. Remember never to store leather gear in plastic bags or containers because they need to breathe. Sunlight can easily cause leather to fade and dry out prematurely. Keep your gear out of direct sunlight when you store it.

Regular Care: Right before you hang up a piece of gear, check it for dirt, stains, or other gunk and clean it off. If it’s generally clean, use something like “Armorall Leather Wipes” or “Lexol Leather Wipes” and give the gear a light going-over, ensuring you cover stress points like knees, crotch, butt, shirt sleeves, and anywhere else that your body moves and causes the gear to crease.

Spot Mud, Dirt, Salt, and Stain Removal: Use a damp sponge moistened with water only — not saddle soap or detergent — and rub it on the gear, particularly heavily soiled spots, in a circular manner. If a stain is stubborn, rub off as much of it as you can from the leather, then use Lexol Conditioner on the spot. You may need to treat the gear several times. Be persistent — it will eventually come off. Be particularly attentive if the gear were exposed to salt applied to roads during the winter. This salt can quickly dry out leather and leave it permanently damaged.

Stain removal from suede: Try this old tried-and-true technique. Remove the crust from a piece of bread and let it dry out until it is hard and stale. Rub the stale bread over the stain to remove it. It really works!

Removal of Mold and Mildew: Mildew is a name for a variety of common molds, which are in the Fungus family. Mold feeds on dead organic substances, including leather. Mold will cause leather to decompose, leaving thin patches which will become holes in short order. Mold propagates by spores, which are omnipresent; you can’t keep the mold spores away from leather, but you can make the environment unsuitable for their growth. Mold will grow when leather is the least bit moist, especially if kept in a dark and warm place, such as a car trunk or storage chest with limited or no air circulation. Thus, the most important thing to do to prevent additional damage is to dry the leather carefully (see below) and then keep it in a dry, well-ventilated place.

If Leather Gets Wet: Drying leather the correct way will lengthen its lifespan. Leather gear should always be air dried in a cool area away from sunlight. Humidity and heat will cause excessive drying and result in the eventual cracking of the leather. Hang the wet gear on a wood hangar. Find a cool, non-sunlit but NOT DARK place to hang it. Wet gear hung in a dark place will get mildew very quickly, and perhaps mold that will ruin it. Make sure air circulates in the room where it is hung. If air doesn’t circulate naturally, use a small fan to keep air moving in the room, but not to blow on the gear.

What to Avoid: Soaps, solvents, silicone, wax, and harsh chemicals are not a good for leather gear. Shoe polish should only be used on boots, but never on leather garments. Avoid spraying hair care or deodorant products while wearing leather gear. Overspray can stain and discolor leather beyond repair.

Professional Cleaning: If you find you cannot clean the item yourself, you can get it done professionally. Look in your local telephone directory for a dry cleaner that specializes in leather items. Some dry cleaners are not familiar with the processes involved in the making of leather and the glues used in the making the garments. It never hurts to make a few phone calls to find someone who is knowledgeable in cleaning leather. It may cost from US$40 – $80 for this service.

Life is short: enjoy your leather gear!

Leather Intimidator

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Public and private schools in the DC Metro area have all opened. Many kids who attend the DC public school system ride the Metro. I see them on my way home from work. They often complain about not being respected, but they deserve no respect by the way they behave on the train. They yell, run around, use profanity (including cracks about “gays,”), make obscene gestures, eat, and drink — and get by with it for two reasons: 1) there are no Metro Police on the train car on which they are carrying on their antics (the cops can’t be everywhere); and 2) most regular passengers are afraid or intimidated by them. One regular rider on my train is an older woman, who looked like she was very afraid on Monday afternoon when the kids were behaving so abominably.

Yesterday afternoon, I turned the tables. As I was leaving the office, I stepped into the restroom and put on a pair of leather jeans tucked into a pair of tall patrol boots (H-D Police Enforcer Boots), a leather shirt, dark sunglasses, and a cop ball cap. (I had no insignia on my leather shirt; I’m not so stupid as to try to impersonate a law enforcement officer.) I was dressed as a complete leatherman.

I walked to the Metro station near my office, and was not surprised that nobody on the street said anything. I noticed a few people glancing at me, but there were no comments.

I got on the train just as a herd (or should I say a shrewdness of teenaged apes) boarded it. They began their usual routine of running around and acting out. While there were seats available, I chose to stand, holding a rail in the middle of their mob. I just glared at them. I didn’t say a thing. But I gave them the hardest, most stern look I possibly could give.

The kids looked up at me and gave me a quizzical look. I continued to glower. Amazingly, the kids settled down. Each took a seat, and began talking with his or her seatmate in normal voices. They put their food and drinks into their backpacks. They actually behaved like calm subway riders.

As the train continued on its route, and more seats became available at each stop along the way, I continued to stand — as if I were standing guard. A cop in full uniform boarded the train at one stop and got off two stops later. I laughed (to myself) as he gave me a salute upon his exit from the train, and I tipped my cap at him. The kids noticed that (evil grin). The kids remained calm and quiet.

The kids got off the train at the stop before mine. I guess they were on their way to terrorize the local mall which has developed a reputation for large groups of wild kids running around on weekday afternoons.

When the train approached my station, I walked toward the exit door. The old woman who was so afraid yesterday began to clap. Then the rest of the passengers did, too.

The power of leather is amazing. I just might continue to wear leather on my ride home every day… until the kids choose to ride another train or go somewhere else.

The leather and boots felt so good and the coolish, sunny weather was so fantastic that when I got on my Harley at the Metro station, I decided to take off for a nice ride. I rode 50 miles (80km) and still got home in time to prepare a nice dinner for my partner and me.

As leathermen say, “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!” It works!

Why Bikers Wear Chaps

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Over the 33 years I have been riding a motorcycle, I have acquired a number of pairs of chaps to use while riding. Chaps perform a great function, of keeping the legs warm on cool days, as well as are easy to put on over street clothes and quick to remove when one arrives at his or her destination.

While chaps do not provide the fullest protection as a pair of leather breeches may offer, nonetheless, well-fitted, quality chaps are often chosen by bikers like me who commute on their bikes to get to work. Seldom can someone who works in a regular job wear leathers all day. Leather jeans or breeches are not acceptable at my place of employment.

However, on mornings when it’s cool out — as it has been the past couple of mornings lately with temperatures about 60°F (15.5°C) — a biker needs something additional on his legs to keep warm. Dress pants that I wear to work aren’t nearly warm enough. Plus, I don’t want my pants to get dirty.

Some bikers I have met or know have “gone on the cheap” and buy inexpensive leather chaps from on-line retailers that cater to straight bikers. Cheap chaps are thin (usually 4 to 5oz weight leather), sometimes made of cowhide splits (not top grain leather), and often are pieced together rather than being made of one solid hide. Cheap chaps (US$100 or less) are pretty much worthless.

Good chaps usually cost in the range of about US$200. They are fairly functional and usually have a snap or belted front closure with rawhide strings in the back for adjustment. They generally are sold in sizes S-M-X-XL and thus may not fit the wearer well. You may notice puckering at the crotch area and the chaps will feel loose or baggy in the seat and thigh. Often those chaps will have a zipper closure down to about the mid-calf, then snaps to close down to the foot. They usually are made to one length, and the seller says “all you have to do is cut or hem them to the desired length.” The snap leg closure is functional, but often the snaps oxidize during use by getting wet with road spray or exposure to the elements, and become unusable.

Great chaps are fitted to the man wearing them, and may cost in the range of US$350 – $400. Measurements provided to a leather crafter are used to make chaps that fit well in the seat, thigh, and lower legs. The legs are long enough to go down to the boot and have double-stitched hemmed ends. Zippers for motorcycle chaps usually are sewn on the outside of the leg, to prevent scratching a motorcycle’s paint. Great chaps usually have pockets on the front, are made of thick 8oz top-grain leather. There is usually one solid band of leather across the back, or if rawhide strings holding grommeted ends together are used, the ends are spaced close together. The front of great chaps usually closes with a five-snap fitting (or a belt; your choice).

You can get more information about choosing chaps and where to buy them from my website in the Guide to Leather Gear.

Real bikers wear chaps (and boots) often.

Life is short: leather up and ride!

Two Headed Shower

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A great thing about being handy with construction is that when I finished our basement, I built a full bath with a large shower that’s quite interesting in design and function.

The rear wall is made of glass blocks. I built a light box behind it and installed fluorescent tubes. I covered them with studio gels that give color to the lighting. It really is quite stunning when you look at it.

I installed two shower heads, so the spray comes from both sides. The shower is quite large, enough to accommodate my partner and me when we need to clean up after a hard day’s work, or just… well, “for fun”.

What a pleasure… and let me tell ‘ya, we definitely enjoy it.

Life is short: have fun!

Witnessing History

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Yesterday began in its usual way with a gentle snuggle with my partner at dawn, then rising to prepare a nice big breakfast, then caring for my aunt for a while. At noon, I went to a park where my bike club was having its annual picnic. Despite dire forecasts, it didn’t rain. I chatted with my buddies, had a little bit to eat, then left.

When I got home, my partner told me that “somebody” came by and left a message. It turned out to be someone I grew up with. I called her on the phone, and she asked me to go with her into downtown DC to watch Senator Ted Kennedy’s funeral procession and prayer service at the U.S. Capitol building.

Ordinarily, I try to avoid these types of things due to the crowds, dealing with the heat, and challenges with getting anywhere with a view. Usually, you can see things like that on TV better than in person.

But my friend really wanted me to go with her, and gave me an ultimatum: “you be ready because I’ll be there in five minutes.” I didn’t even change out of my jeans and Chippewa Firefighter boots … I just followed orders.

We had a long talk while driving there, about what the Senator meant to her, what she learned by working for one of his colleagues and working with his staff, and what he meant to me, too, and our country.

My friend had a place to park waiting for her. We were able to stand right on the street and watch for the motorcade.

The motorcade was about an hour and a half late, and in that heat and humidity, it was a bit of a struggle to wait for it. Thank goodness those boots are so comfortable. We sat on the curb for a while, and my friend found a street vendor who sold her some cold sodas and a couple hot dogs.

The spirit of the crowd was palpable. Lots of people had many stories to share — my friend included. We talked with a lot of people around us, each of whom had an interesting anecdote, humorous remembrance, or tale of the late Senator’s legendary accomplishments and how he did his work. I remember meeting him once when he came to the office where my mother worked when I happened to be there, but that was a long, long time ago.

Soon I heard the rumble of some police Harleys, and then the hearse drove by with the Kennedy family in limos behind it. I was seeing history in the making. It was fascinating to watch. The crowd broke out into spontaneous applause as Mrs. Kennedy got out and greeted a bunch of people across from where I was standing. Her family also briefly visited with his staff who were waiting there. A priest said a few prayers, one of the Senator’s children thanked the staff, and then they left to go to Arlington National Cemetery where the Senator will be buried with the Late President J. F. Kennedy and the late Senator and Attorney General, R. F. Kennedy — his brothers.

Surprisingly, it didn’t take us much time to get home.

I am glad my friend asked me to go with her. So many things happen in DC that are history-making. I’m close, but I do not live in the city, and avoid going into Washington on evenings and weekends if I can avoid it due to the noise, crowds, and hassles with security (and simply the fact that I am not an urban guy). But as I think about it, I realize that I am among very few who can witness history in person — events like this one or daily history of just what happens in Washington DC — and how fortunate I am to live near our country’s capital, and work right in its heart. Kinda amazing, when you think about it.

Life is short: work toward your goals and never give up, as Mr. Kennedy did. May he rest in peace, and God bless his soul.


Dehners are Dehners Not Dehner’s

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Dehner (dāy-nur) Boots are very popular. I own eight pairs of these boots. I bought my first pair of Dehner Motorcycle Patrol Boots over 20 years ago, and acquired my more recent additions of Dehner Patrol Boots to my boot collection from some motor officers I know. (Please don’t ask me if they have more boots to sell or give away — they do not.)

This is a bit of a rant, once again, about apostrophe abuse. Just like I wrote once before, one does not add an apostrophe to make a word plural, particularly of a brand of boots.

If you have a pair of Dehner Boots, the short-hand reference is “Dehners.” NOT “Dehner’s.” Period, end-of-story. I am amazed that college-educated adults continue to add an apostrophe everywhere one does not belong. But then again, after reviewing hundreds of résumés from job applicants for an entry-level position, all of whom claimed to have graduated with a four-year degree from an accredited institution of higher education, I no longer anticipate that any younger person can spel or writ wurth a lik. They r so used 2 texting dat they hav forgotten hw 2 write a complete sentence wit appropriate spelling, grammar, nd punctuation.

If you would not write boot’s then you would not write Dehner’s or Wesco’s. The correct plural in English of these boot brands is Dehners or Wescos. Period, final end-of-story.

Life is short: spell it right!

Sexual Identity, Sexuality, and Sex

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Let me share some of my thoughts on this subject, which include reflections from a fellow gay man who reviewed this post for me and shared great insights. I preface this post a statement that I have no professional, medical, or academic background on sex, sexuality, or sexual identity. My background is from these sources:

  • personal experience in living as an open gay man in a committed relationship
  • having loving, caring, and supportive family and friends who helped me along the way to become a well-adjusted and socially responsible man
  • knowing gay men who have shared their experiences and outlooks. Much of how we view ourselves is compared and contrasted with the viewpoints of others. Even the things we might flatly reject leave an impression on our outlooks.

I realize that if my family were not supportive during my “coming out” process, or if my friends abandoned me, or if I were in an environment at home, school, or work that was restrictive, demeaning, or socially isolated, then things would have turned out much differently. If, for example, my father were a James Dobson-esque closed-mind religious zealot filled with hate, or my mother a Regina Griggs-like ultraconservative bigot, then I probably would have become a nutcase suitable for long-term lockup.

I have stated in previous blog posts that I was born gay, but didn’t know it. I think that’s fairly true of most gay men. Males behave as they are expected to behave by society: that is, go out on dates with girls, have sex with women, talk and think about women sexually, and things of that nature. Men who possess feminine qualities, whether gay or straight, have a much more difficult time in society than the stereotypically butch male.

The problem is that a guy usually goes through puberty and is able to be sexually active before he comes to terms with his sexual identity. I don’t think I am any different from a lot of others — I experimented sexually (with females, males, myself, and fetish interests) long before I accepted the fact that I was gay.

When attempting to think of women sexually doesn’t work, as with me when I realized that I was looking more at the guys than the girls and discovered that my plumbing worked in a particular way… then a guy figures out he is gay and works through a whole lot of “attitude adjustments” both internally and with those around him. That process, often called “coming out” is, to me, a process of coming to terms with one’s sexual identity.

My family always loved me, even if they didn’t understand what “gay” meant. That love was the foundation that made my “coming out” process easier since it lead to my family’s support. Coming out wasn’t easy, and took many years. In many ways, given the closeness of my family, my coming out process couldn’t have occurred in any other way since my family’s love for me wasn’t contingent upon my compliance with a certain set of imposed rules and obligations.

It all boils down to the fact that yeah, I like guys. However, I have to say that sex is not the driving factor for my being gay. Sure, I enjoy sex like any other guy. But there’s more to my sexuality and my gay identity than sex. It’s how I look at and think about my partner. It has a lot to do with love.

Sex is about biology and mechanics. Sexual organs respond favorably in certain conditions whether or not the same or opposite sex pushes those buttons physically. Self-identification as gay, straight, or somewhere in between is more than just who one sexually responds to…it involves the total package of feelings and other issues that attracts us to each other as human beings.

I am so in love with my partner, that being intimate with him is one way that I can demonstrate to him that I love him. Intimacy is a private thing, but an important factor for an ongoing, long-term relationship. But it’s not all sex. There are other things that my partner knows about me that no one else knows. There are fundamental things that we agree on without even having to talk about it. That’s part of intimacy. It’s a deep, abiding bond that holds us together.

I like guys, but since I have been in a monogamous relationship for so long, I’m not interested in sex with anyone else. I might find some guy attractive – after all, just because I am monogamous doesn’t mean that I am blind. Straight guys who I see socially or at the office or around my community or with whom I interact on-line have nothing to fear by interacting with me as a gay guy — I’m not interested in having sex with them. I am interested in what they have to say as a person, and how we might share something together, like go on a motorcycle ride, craft testimony for a public hearing, repair something in an older person’s home, or talk about boots and leather. It is my commitment to my man that that prevents me from having sex with anyone else. It’s no different than any other couple who makes that vow and truly honors it.

In summary, to me, sex, sexuality, and sexual identity are different things. They are related, but not one and the same. I’ll always be more attracted to men than women, but I’ll only have sex with one guy. Does that make any sense?

Life is short: be who you are.

Thanks to “K” for his invaluable insights and ongoing friendship

When Do You Blog?

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Someone asked me, “do you really get up at 4:00 in the morning to write a blog post every day?”

… no. I schedule my blog posts to appear each day at that time. I write my blog posts often days or weeks in advance. Currently, I have about 30 blog posts that are completed or mostly done in the queue, for publication once each day for days and weeks to come.

When do I write blog posts?

I write them at home, usually either in the very early morning before I go to work, or perhaps in the evening after dinner if I have time. I do not spend time blogging at work. Blogging is personal, and I don’t waste work time doing personal stuff.

How do I come up with ideas to blog about?

I have three sources:

  • What I see when I travel on public transit, on my Harley, or when I walk around the streets of DC where I work or my community where I live.
  • What I observe people look for when they search the Internet and end up on this blog.
  • Occasionally, what some people write to me about in an email message.

I avoid writing about things that are better suited elsewhere, such as about politics. I try to keep this blog focused on my passions for boots, leather, community, and my man. However, I have on occasion been known to wander off topic.

I never quite know where I will be when something strikes me to blog about. And being a rather old-fashioned type of guy, when I get such a thought and I am in a place that I can write (that is, not on my Harley), I will whip out a trusty small notepad and jot the idea down. Then later when I am at my computer, I pull the notepad out of my shirt pocket and compose the post. It’s that simple.

I am having a lot of fun with this blog, and appreciate your visits!

Irresistibly Arrestable

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Here is how I was dressed last night while waiting for my partner to arrive home from work. I was wearing my clandestine uniform (that is, a uniform shirt unadorned with patches, as the agency I represented is not on any official log book), Duty Belt with “appropriate” gear, and motorcop uniform breeches tucked into tall Dehner Patrol Boots.

My partner has been irresistibly arrestable. The offense? Well, he committed many “arrestable offenses” over the last week when my brother was visiting. He put clean linens on his bed every day, did laundry for us both, did the grocery shopping so I could spend more time with my brother and our family, and carried out a whole host of other things to free up my time.

He smiled, he laughed, and he had great conversations with my brother on a variety of topics. He made my birthday and the week following a great treat, just by being the man he his — thoughtful, caring, kind, considerate, and quietly doing things that kept our household a warm and inviting place for my brother to enjoy.

His most egregious offense? He did everything he possibly could do to make me happy. To bring broad smiles to my face. To love me and care for me.

My man, my sweet wonderful man, was arrested last night. I charged him with being just too good, too wonderful, too kind… and then when he took his shirt off: just too darned studly!

Life is short: show those you love that you love them! Whew!

It’s All About the Boots Part 2: Biker Boots

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I am an avid motorcyclist. I have been riding motorcycles regularly for 32 years. Currently, I have a Harley-Davidson Road King Classic, which I bought new last year (2008). I had the handlebars replaced so the bike fits me better. I also had the instrumentation changed to have a combined speedometer/tach. Otherwise, the bike is stock.

When it comes to boots for the bike, my three favourite pairs of biker boots are:

  • stock Chippewa Firefighter boots
  • custom tall Wesco Harness boots
  • stock Chippewa oil-tanned Engineer boots

Tall boots usually need to be made custom to fit my muscular calfs. However, tall Chippewa Engineer boots are made with a rather wide calf, so no further adjustment is necessary. (That’s good, since you can’t get them made custom, anyway.)

Wesco Boots are by far the most durable boots I have ever worn while motorcycling. The only challenge I have with them is that they are very heavy, and sometimes get hot out in the sun when riding all day on big Harley with an air-cooled engine. On those days, in particular, I prefer to wear my Chippewa Firefighter boots, which are durable and exceptionally comfortable.

Meanwhile, enjoy the video titled, “It’s All About the Boots Part 2: Biker Boots” to see these boots closer up and in action.