Riding in a Crosswind

Ah Yes, Riding in a Crosswind

My customers ask me all the time about riding in a crosswind. I figured this would be a good way to address the issue. While most of the tips and techniques are intuitive, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First of all, be sure to give yourself room. Ride in the center lane, but if it’s a tight two lane road, ride on the center right portion of your lane to give yourself some breathing room from the oncoming traffic. Calculate how much the wind is pushing you around and make adjustments from there. Look at the tops of trees to try to predict if there are gusts ahead. When you do encounter a gust, don’t slow down immediately, as that makes you more unsteady. Keep that pace, then slow down after the gust if needed. Ride at a speed you are comfortable with.

Be prepared to take a break and get a cup of coffee. Short, powerful gusts tend to be very unpredictable, and the higher the wind speed and stronger the gusts the more dangerous the riding. When it’s too dangerous, take a breather.

Most of the time, when the wind is knocking your bike around people tend to overgrip. Lean a tad forward as well and drop your shoulders slightly, to lessen your profile. Of course, you need to hold on tighter, but not letting the bike get knocked around a little may make you an easier target for the wind, since you are too stiff. On the other hand, you do need to countersteer. It may take a bit of time to find the right balance of relaxation and aggression. 

And finally, wind can make a sunny day very, very cold. We’ve got tons of windproof jackets and gear to not only keep you safe, but warm.

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Blisters Need Not Be Part of Your Ride

This post would like to thank Tip #175 of Mark Lindemann's The Total Motorcycling Manual, a must read for anyone with a motorcycle. Mark is a legend in the industry, once known for outrunning a low-flying aircraft at Bonneville, getting a ticket for hitting 134 mph in a 25-mph zone, and having to be sewed together by a veterinarian after a crash and burn on his streetbike.

Mark’s tip #175 is about not getting blisters. Sure, you have nice tight fitting gloves that you bought from Pete's Cycle--or at least we hope so--but this does not always do the trick. To beat almost any blister, begin by getting a 1.5 inch roll of medical adhesive tape.

Step 1 Ensure that your hands are dry and clean.

Step 2 Use Moleskin generously over the areas where you have blistered before. Cover the problem areas with a patch 2x the size of where you got previous blisters.

Step 3 Create about a 6 inch strip of tape.

Step 4 Using the strip, start at the back of your hand and wrap the tape to your palm. Make sure to apply pressure to the tape so it adheres nicely. Move your hands around to make sure the tape does not inhibit movement, and be sure your gloves till fit.

Step 5 Here’s the secret ingredient—use a dusting of talcum powder in your gloves or on your hands, both to make sure you can still get your gloves on and to reduce moisture, which can be a major cause of blisters. Make sure to bring the materials on your ride.

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Tips to Ride Suzuki Motorcycles in Snow

Riding your atv in the winter can be quite a production. First there are all the extra clothes, finding a place to ride with some decent snowpack, loading up the machines, and so on. And don’t forget keeping it ride-ready during the winter and/or removing the snowplow from its front end. 

But there are a few insider tips to make the winter voyage a bit less toilsome. Aside from the obvious—waterproof gloves, extra socks, etc.—tie something large to your key, since one drop in deep snow means you are walking back in the cold. Factor in cold hands, and big gloves, and it’s a good idea to protect the key.

Usually mid to low tire pressure is recommended for your atv, but not for riding in the snow. When riding on snowpack be sure to keep your tires full of air, around 4.5 to 5 psi. This will ensure the weight is distributed to the parts of the tire that get the most traction. Beware of low lying swampy areas that could be hiding ice under a few inches of powder, and in terms of ice riding, Alaskans say they need 12 inches of ice before they will take their machine across. The same ought to apply here, but crossing any type of water, with the exception of small streams, is always dangerous. It is best to be avoided is possible. 

Don’t forget to bring a space blanket, fire starter kit, shovel and a small saw. The saw always comes in handy to make strong levers should you get stuck. If you do get stuck, you should have a winch, but be sure there is no water in your winch before you ride, since by the time you need a tug the winch will be frozen solid and of no use. Another helpful tip is that once you are dragging snow on the frame, you’re in too deep as they say. Also, remember that you can still get wet even though it is well below freezing. Since your machine will heat up, in combination with your body heat, your seat will always get wet. That much is guaranteed. Waterproof pants are a lifesaver.

We carry all the winter weather gear you need, so pay us a visit.

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Residential Generator-The Lights Never Have to Go Out!

With a Generator, The Lights Never Have to Go Out

 

Just because the power goes out doesn’t mean the power has to go out. Well, not with a generator. With a potentially large storm coming our way yet again this coming weekend, it is always best to be prepared. The mid-Atlantic region is famous for its ice storms that bring down wires, coat our trees and keep the kids out of school. And once you factor in hurricanes, summer storms and tornadoes (ok this last one might be a stretch) you pretty much need a generator.

 

What does a generator buy you? Aside from providing light, heat and allowing you to keep the food in your fridge, it gives you peace of mind that when—not if—the power goes out, life can go on as usual.

 

Any generator worth its salt must be reliable, portable, quiet, easy to start and efficient. At Pete’s Cycle, we carry only the best in stock, which is why we carry the complete line of Honda and Yamaha generators. The Yamaha Inverter series beings at $879, while the Premium Series begins at $949, and those are for entry level generators. Hondas start and $799. The type of machine you need will obviously depend on your specific needs.

Jamey Kramar at Top Generator Reviews described it best when, in reviewing the Yamaha EF2000iS, he wrote “You won’t even know when this puppy is on.” No one, including your neighbors, wants a sputtering motor beside their bedroom. And if you want to step it up a notch, the Yamaha EF6300iSDE was named “Most Powerful Inverter Generator On The Market” (See Jamey’s review here). This machine has all the comforts of home, such as a push-button electric start, wireless remote, and it comes with a wheel-kit for easy portability. We carry both machines at Pete’s Cycles. 

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