Preparedness Pays Off

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The area where I live in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, experienced exceptionally strong storms yesterday. I had no sooner arrived at home when the second wave of the storms struck, dropping hail and lots of rain, sideways. Since the forecast was calling for such storms, I didn’t ride my Harley. There’s no sense in taking chances.

When I got home, I discovered the power was out. I reached in the bottom of our pantry and pulled out our Disaster Supplies Kit. From that I took out two flashlights and inserted fresh batteries. I also got out the battery-powered radio. Since we heard in advance that the storms were coming, we had already taken things like our picnic table umbrella and hanging plants that were outside to the garage, so they would not become missiles in strong winds and damage our house or the neighbor’s.

Then the NOAA Weather Radio began sounding an alert. I listened… a tornado watch was just issued. The radio stores previous alerts in memory, and I scrolled through them… all for severe thunderstorms. The phone rang, and I told the caller that I don’t take calls during storms with lightning, and hung up. Lightning can easily travel through telephone lines and zap someone on the phone, or cause a fire, or worse.

I put our personal disaster plan into action. I drew the blinds and shades, so that if a branch broke off a tree and hit a window, we wouldn’t have glass flying around to hurt us. I turned on the portable radio and tuned it to an all-news station to listen for updates. Because the power was out, I knew that my partner wouldn’t be able to open the garage door with his remote. I kept an eye out for him and then opened the door manually when he arrived.

The rain had stopped, but more storms were coming. We grilled our dinner outside, and only opened the refrigerator once to get everything out that we needed. The news reports were ominous, with stories about funnel cloud sightings, downed trees and power lines. Someone in a neighboring county was killed while driving by a large tree that fell on his car.

Since the news reports indicated that the power outage was very widespread, our experience indicated that we probably would not have power restored for at least a day, if not longer. So we put our “power option” of our disaster plan into action.

Years ago, we bought a generator. I built a special pad for it and protective housing out in our woods, about 100m away from the house. I had a licensed electrician install a transfer switch, which disconnects our household power on four circuits from the main power coming into the house. I connected the wire from the generator to the special outlet for it at the back of the house. I then carefully turned the generator on and followed the instructions to energize the four circuits that are in the subpanel connected to the transfer switch.

Note: unfortunately, a lot of people die from using a generator incorrectly, such as by placing it inside a garage or basement, or outside the house but near an open window. Carbon monoxide from the generator kills silently and quickly. If you use a generator, operate it away from the house in a well-ventilated area. Connect it according to local ordinances and codes. If you want to power circuits in a house, have a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. That’s important to do because power from a generator plugged into household circuits that are not cut off from the main power system can energize (backfeed) electrical lines and hurt repair workers attempting to restore power for everyone.

Our refrigerator, freezers, sump pumps, and other essentials came back to life. We had power for some lighting so we could see after dark. Considering it was so warm out, and since there were still tornado watches in our area, we decided to sleep in our basement, since it is our designated safe place for such storms and was cooler. I brought the flashlights, the portable regular radio, the NOAA Weather Radio (which would sound an alert if a Tornado Warning were issued even in the middle of the night), pillows and blankets, and we were all set.

We slept soundly. The power remained out this morning. Not wanting to leave a generator running completely unattended, I turned it off. My partner went to work and I went to a speaking engagement. When I returned home, the power was still out. Since it had cooled, I refueled it, and turned it back on. Power was restored about 5pm. I turned the generator off to let it cool and put other things away, including taking the batteries out of the flashlights (so they won’t drain when not in use).

We were safe, sound, and okay. Our food didn’t spoil, and water that entered the sump wells drained, so we didn’t have any flooding in our basement.

Preparedness pays. You never know when. Get ready … now… this is your warning time. Be safe!

Get in gear!

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It is not well known, but motorcycle helmets do not have an infinite life. With time, the protective qualities in a helmet degrade with exposure to the elements, sweat, and wear. Helmet manufacturers and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation suggest that helmets must be replaced about every three to five years, depending on use, or immediately if the helmet absorbed the shock of a crash. A helmet will distribute the shock throughout to protect the rider, but then it is non-functional for protection after that.

Something else not well-known: helmet linings and the interior shell are very subject to damage from gasoline fumes. A helmet should not be stored in a garage, nor placed near the gas tank while refueling. I keep my helmets inside the house so gas fumes in the garage, which you really can’t smell but are there, don’t prematurely degrade my helmet.

I had my most recent helmet for five years. With a new bike, it was time to get a new helmet. Here’s my new Shoei full-face, well-ventilated, RF-1000 helmet. The color matches my bike. Pretty cool in function, style, and design. I look forward to wearing it each and every time I ride.

And I also ride with leathers when possible, and always, always, boots designed to provide both comfort and safety while riding. If I’m not in leather, I at least wear long pants. Get in gear, guys! It is the other fools on the road who claim not to see us bikers who can do you great harm, especially if you’re not geared properly.

And let me make a special shout-out to my dear friend AZ, who lives in a state where helmets are not required. He went on a ride with a buddy and insisted that both he and his buddy wear a helmet while riding. He went to a motorcycle shop with his friend to have him buy a new helmet. Way to go, AZ! You’re the man! Your caring concern shows in all that you do. As I’ve often said, he’s like my eighth brother. Luv ‘ya, bro’!

Wesco Boots on the Harley

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I didn’t have to leave this morning at my usual early hour because I was going to a meeting that started later, but I arose at my usual 4:30am. Fixed my partner lunch, then kissed him goodbye, wishing him a good day. Turned around and leathered up, including my tall Wesco Harness Boots.

I sat on my bike, contemplating what type of shot would look good. I took several. However, after looking at them just now, I realized how much junk I have in the garage! Political campaign signs, gardening stuff, trash and recycling containers, motorcycle gear, etc., etc. It was all in the background of all the photos I took, and was very distracting. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my good friend Bamaboy who is an excellent photographer, it’s to ensure the subject of your photo is the only thing your eye will focus on. So this cropped image is about the best I can do, for now.

Actually, I’m “boot-ticipating” again. Bama has sent me a pair of his boots to wear while riding my Harley. He offered me “first dibs” on boots he is thinning from his collection. I really like the Wesco Harness Boots, especially to have some fun in ’em akin’ to Bama. The boots will arrive soon, and I’ll wear ’em with pride on this bike. Photos to follow. Stay tuned…

Going leather-less on the new bike?

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My new Harley Road King comes with a rather large windscreen. My old bike didn’t have one, so I was accustomed riding full-bore into the wind. Even on a warm day, I could wear a leather vest and full-face helmet and everything would feel just fine.

When I took my first real long ride yesterday, it was about 84°F (29°C), which is comfortably warm. As I was riding, I found that I was getting uncomfortably hot while wearing my thick leather vest over my t-shirt. I had to ditch the vest or sweat to death. (I tend to sweat a great deal when even slightly overheated.)

Hmmm… I wonder… now that I have this windscreen, I may have to ride “leather-less” when it’s warm out. I am as comfortable in leather as my own skin. I have always worn some leather while riding my old bike. I guess this is another adjustment I will need to make. Well, perhaps just wear the vest and no shirt. That would be a hoot. But for now, I guess I’ll just be well-booted and wear a t-shirt. No gloves, either. They make me sweat like crazy, which is a clammy feeling I detest. I’ll just have to be extra careful and be comfortable.

Dehner Booted Ride!

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Saturday was a washout with chores to do around the house and some strong thunderstorms punctuating the afternoon with heavy rain and winds. Fortunately, there was no damage around our place, but it confined my activities to indoor stuff. I spent several hours doing genealogy work for my huge family, and updating our family website.

Sunday was another story. We awoke to a bright and sunny morning, and a warm one at that. I pulled on my CHP breeches and tall Dress instep calf leather custom Dehner Boots. I especially like the big Vibram soles, which give me good traction. After preparing home-made waffles for Sunday breakfast for my partner and me, I set off to break in my new Harley-Davidson Road King.

Man, that machine is big, and heavy. It’s quite a bit of work to maneuver at slow speeds and around corners. I’m sure I’ll get used to it. I rode on backroads and byways of my beautiful home State of Maryland. I saw a lot of other bikers out there. And a state cop directing traffic at an intersection where the stoplights were out looked at me, then at the boots and breeches, then back up at my face and gave me a salute! He was cute, and the gesture was unexpected.

I stopped along the way to have some water and just take a break. A Harley group was on a ride, and they stopped at the same place I did. I had a nice conversation with those guys. Several asked me about my boots, where I got them (through Stompers, of course), and how they felt on the bike. If these guys weren’t just beginning their ride, planning to ride for many more hours, I might have joined them. But I was getting tired and a bit sunburned (I forgot the sunscreen). I shook hands goodbye and took a gentle ride home.

I put on about 100 miles on the new bike, learning how it operates and handles. It practically rides itself when on the open road. It is very comfortable. I look forward to many more rides on this beautiful machine, booted all the way. (Hmmm, what boots will be next? Stay tuned…).

No More Shifter Scuffing of my Boots

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My new Harley-Davidson Road King has a classic heel-toe shifter and foot boards, rather than foot pegs and a single foot-controlled peg shifter that was on my Low Rider.

Having a single peg shifter definitely influenced the choice of boots that I chose to wear on the Low Rider. The shifting pattern was one press down on the shifter for first, then four upward motions on the shifter for the remaining four gears. Because you had to put the toe of your boot under the shifter to get into higher gears, boots would have to be able to withstand the pressure and regular scraping against the shifter. I could not wear cowboy boots, for example, because the left boot would be badly scuffed from shifting gears.

A heel-toe shifter allows you to shift down for first gear with your toe, but then the upward shifts through the range to sixth gear can be done with the heel of the boot. So I no longer will encounter the “shifter scuffing” problem.

Will that change the choices of boots that I will wear on my new bike? Probably not. I still will choose boots that have a lug or rubber sole, because of the traction such soles provide when the bike is stopped. Also, non-bikers do not realize how much a biker has to move a bike by “walking it” while seated on it, such as into a parking space, or getting into a riding formation when riding with a group.

Well, I do not really think I’ll have a problem having enough boots to wear on the new bike. And since I’m not a fashionista, I will continue to choose boots that feel good, are practical, and are comfortable for a long day’s ride. It’s not the looks or (heaven forbid) color-matching the bike’s deep red color — it is the practicality and comfort that matter most to me on the boots that I choose to wear both on and off the bike.

Lined or Unlined Boots?

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One major area of concern about choices of motor officer (bike cop) boots that I haven’t yet discussed in this blog, but I did discuss with motor officers who I am advising on choices of boots they are making is the advantages and disadvantages of getting lined or unlined boots.

Tall boots are sometimes lined with leather. A leather lining, such as shown my Chippewa Hi-Shine Boots makes a boot more sturdy and durable. Lined boots will stand upright when you take them off. Leather is often selected for the lining because it will breathe, thus ensuring the boots do not feel too hot on the feet. A leather lining will expand and contract with changes in temperature the same as the leather used for the shaft. If, for example, cloth or other fabric were used, it would stretch and quickly lose its firmness, thus not doing much for the boot.

Unlined boots, such as my Chippewa Oil-Tanned Engineer Boots, have a rough leather interior of the shaft. They are durable boots on the outside. However, they do not stand up well on their own when removed. But because there is no lining, they do not get hot, even when worn in warm weather. Unlined boots tend to sag or crease more at the ankle simply because there is not much there but soft leather.

Tall motorcycle boots come both ways, lined or unlined. Some unlined tall cop boots are made of stiffer leather, or leather look-alike plastic products such as Dehcord used on stock Dehner patrol boots. I definitely don’t recommend boots made with such a product, because while they are less expensive (but still overpriced) than an all-leather Dehner boot, you get what you pay for: crap that will not hold up while in regular use.

Other unlined boots, like my very comfortable Harley-Davidson Police Enforcer Boots, are made of all leather. The leather selected for these boots, though, is treated to be very stiff, so they stand up well and don’t crease badly at the ankle.

Well-made boots from reputable manufacturers like Wesco may be purchased with or without a leather lining. I have a number of pairs of Wesco Boots, and have them both lined and unlined. I definitely prefer the lined boots, because they hold up better and don’t sag as much.

How does this matter affect the choices that the motor officers I am working with will make? I did not mention it in my previous blog post, but I know that they definitely prefer a boot with a leather lining, but haven’t ruled out unlined, stiffer all-leather boots such as are made by Intapol. Check back with this blog in the future to find out what they decide. I will be meeting with them again in a couple weeks for a demonstration from a couple manufacturers and more discussion.

What One Does for Love

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Here in the U.S., we are enjoying a three-day weekend for Memorial Day. However, it’s really not as much joy for me as it is just doing things for others out of love.

The story begins on the morning of Friday, May 23, when my Harley dealer called to say that my new bike was ready to pick up. The boss even let us off work a couple hours early.

I rushed home with the intent to change from my dress clothes to biker duds and go get my new bike! Woo-ee! However, when I got home, personal plans were immediately set aside because my partner wasn’t doing very well. He had pulled a muscle in his back a couple weeks ago, and the pain had flared up. Plus, he had promised his mother that we would visit her over the long weekend, which meant that things we had to do around our house before leaving the next day became the priority, and I had to do them. Mow the lawn, do our weekly grocery shopping, and get groceries for my elderly aunt as well. By the time all those chores were completed, it was too late to go to the dealership to get my new bike.

Saturday morning, I drove both of us on the five-hour trip in my truck to my partner’s mother’s home, instead of my partner driving in his sedan. I drove to relieve my partner of the duty. He was on a muscle relaxant, which means he shouldn’t drive. Personally, I hate to drive, especially long distances, but we do what we have to do. Also, since we were going to have my truck available, my partner decided to buy a new mattress to replace the old one on which I slept at his Mom’s house. That old mattress caused me to have back spasms. But out of love for me, my partner resolved the problem (though I did most of the heavy lifting.)

My mother-in-law is not the easiest woman to be around. She constantly complains about everything and anything. But we managed to do what had to be done, with me doing all the heavy lifting, gardening, and other manual labor that had to be done. From a positive perspective, I could use the exercise [smile].

Because my partner still was in agony, we left Sunday afternoon and I drove us back. We got home last night, unpacked, did laundry, unwound a little bit, and then went to bed.

Today, Monday, it is bright, warm, and sunny. And I’m still “bike-less.” My dealership is closed for the holiday. Today I have the fun of going to get some planting soil and a few other things at the local gardening center, cleaning over 900 square feet of outdoor deck space, and then helping to set up our outdoor deck garden. We can’t plant vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini in a regular garden due to the proliferation of deer in our yard which would destroy vegetable plants. So we plant them in containers and put them on the decks that I built ten years ago. This planting routine is usually my partner’s activity, as he gets tremendous joy from gardening. However, due to his condition, he can’t do it and unless I do it for him. Oh well, being bike-less, I will focus on getting these chores done. My partner will be happy, and when the love of my life is happy, then that’s what it’s all about.

I hope the weather forecast is wrong, where rain and thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow (Tuesday). If that happens, I won’t be able to pick up my new Harley. Worse, I will have to wait until Saturday, because I am in charge of a major event for work which begins on Wednesday and runs through late Friday, and will be held on the other side of the Potomac River in Virginia. Because of the far-away location, I will not be able to get home during the week while the event is going on to get my bike.

They say that sacrifice is good for the soul. I hope it’s good for something, ’cause I’m not among the happiest guys while I am still Harley-ticipating and my partner is grouchy and irritable because he’s in pain. He can’t think straight and it just makes things uncomfortable for me. And to think, it’s going to be warm and sunny all day today, and I could have been out riding…. sigh. I’ll manage. Meanwhile, off to care for my partner and prevent him from trying to over-do it so he can heal.

Bike Cop Boot Advising

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UPDATE: I see that this blog post is the most popular one on my website. If you found it from a search engine while seeking information about motorcycle police patrol boots, see my Guide to Motorcycle Police Patrol Boots by clicking here.

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I met a motor officer while I was at Law Ride on May 11 who said that his agency was reviewing the uniform policy, particularly the boots to specify with a motor officer’s uniform. The current boots that they all wear are Dehner patrol boots with a dress instep and Vibram lug sole. They are very nice-looking boots, but also very expensive. Since each officer receives a fixed amount of money for his/her uniform allowance, they are finding that the allowance isn’t covering the cost of the boots and all the components of their uniforms (shirts, breeches, outerwear, belts, etc.) as often as they have to replace them due to job-related wear-and-tear.

The motor officers in this agency met with management to consider changes to make to the boot specs in the uniform policy, and they invited me to participate in the meeting as well. They all agree that tall, black boots are what they want. They won’t deviate wildly like going with some sort of short tech boot or a color of leather other than black.

They also like having the Vibram lug sole. It gives great traction while operating the motorcycle, and also wears far longer than any other sole.

What they don’t like is the cost and the materials from which their current boots are made. Stock Dehner patrol boots with a lug sole can cost around $400 per pair (with their discount). Unfortunately, stock Dehners are made with a synthetic (plastic) product made by Clarino®, which the Dehner Boot Company calls “Dehcord.” This stuff cracks easily and is hard to maintain. It keeps a nice shine, but once cracked, it can’t be fixed. (Personally, I don’t recommend boots made with this product. It’s crap.)

Their next option are Dehner patrol boots made of Voyager or imported calf leather. These options are more expensive, with calf leather being $300 more. While these leathers will hold up much better and for longer on a boot worn for rough duty, the cost is a major concern.

They are also looking at alternative manufacturers of boots that I showed them from my collection. Intapol makes a nice patrol boot, and even comes with a zipper which makes them easy to put on and take off. However, they were concerned how long the zipper would hold up in actual usage conditions.

They looked at my Harley-Davidson Police Enforcer Boots, which look really nice and are the most comfortable of all of the various tall bike cop boots I own. Unfortunately, these boots are not made with a dress instep. They’re only bal-laced. They don’t want laces on their boots. There is also some question about availability of these boots from the manufacturer, Wolverine, and the fact that these boots are made in China, which runs some degree of risk on dependability of shipments as well as sometimes questionable quality.

Then they looked at the Chippewa “Hi-Shine” Engineer Boots. Because these boots are a fairly major departure from what they are accustomed to wearing, they were initially hesitant. But they saw so many other officers at Law Ride (and other events) who wear these boots and like them a lot for their good looks, comfort, appearance, and value (they cost about $190/pair). The unfortunate thing is that in order to get a Vibram sole on the boots, a cobbler would have to add the sole. The manufacturer does not make the boots with a lug sole.

Anyway, they’re mulling over their options. I was honored to be asked for my opinions during this meeting, and pleased that I had a variety of boots from my collection to demonstrate and aid them in their discussions. They are a great group of men to work with, and I look forward to our ongoing discussions.