Category: Travel

As a woman rider I find there are accessories on the market that present themselves as items for women.  The disappointing thing is that most of these items are really accessories for men but produced in pink – (because we women know we all like pink right?? Insert sarcasm there) then pass the items off as women’s gear. Ugh. Excuse me while I gag. 

Recently I was given the opportunity to be a product tester for a piece of gear from Motochic. It’s called the Lauren bag. As most of my friends know, sometimes I tend to tell people exactly what I think. Often times that might not work out well.  So when I was chosen to put this bag through its paces I was sceptically excited.  I’m a hard customer to please and was expecting to be disappointed.  

The following is my customer review of the Lauren bag:

The bag – she’s here!

One of the first things I noticed was – it wasnt pink.  Developers – give yourself one point!  

And now to the rest of the ‘first impressions’….

Reflective properties of the bag.  Wow. Developers – Give yourself another point. I was under the impression the reflective panel was the smaller center section.  Not so.   

In the dark..

In the daylight 

Quality of the bag:  Sturdy. Sturdy. Sturdy. 

This section i am showing above is where the handles are stashed that turns this backpack into a fashionable tote.  

One of the most impressive things I found with the bag was its ease of access. I was originally going to post videos of different functions of the bag.  Then discovered the video files were monsterous in size.  In the process of the filming I made a delightful discovery – I was able to explore the functionality of this bag with one hand.   Major points in my book on this one.  Again.  Impressed. 

To be continued.  
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If some of you have been reading past entries you will know by now that a great deal of energy, time and excitement has gone in to the planning and executing of our “Celebration Trip”. Well over two years of coordinating schedules and logistics.  

The original plan was for my husband to leave from Vancouver Island and, after a short ride with friends, head East on June 18 (Father’s Day) on his solo ride to Ottawa. I, on the other hand, had booked a flight to Ottawa and shipped my bike due to restrictions for my working schedule.  Retired people have considerably more time off than working people. 

The week prior to the weekend departure, everything was on schedule.  I was able to get my bike down to the dealership that was responsible for shipping the bike.  Confirmation was received that the bike was picked up on Friday.  Everything was a go and the countdown had started.  Until it stopped on Sunday, June 18, at 9:30am.

It was at that time while HB was riding just west of the town of Lumby BC that a car heading east was making a left turn across the highway.  This was not your typical left turning accident.  Although the car had stopped and was legally and respectfully waiting for my husband to ride by before completing their turn, the truck that was coming up behind the car did not.  We think it was a combination of distracted driving, driving over the speed limit and a vehicle with questionable brake for the loaded trailer it was towing.  The truck attempted to brake – and failed.  It hit the car waiting to turn, spinning it into the oncoming traffic resulting in a head on collision with HB.  Lucky for HB the truck that was following him was driven by a first responder with the local fire department.  Within seconds of the accident, HB had medical attention.  

To make a long story short, after suffering a severely broken arm, emergency surgery took place on the sunday night and —-the trip came to an end.  

We spent the week getting him sprung from the hospital and making our way back to our island.  The one statement that kept ringing in my ears was the first responder saying “If he hadn’t been wearing full gear – it would have been a totally different story!”  

Upon arriving home, the next task was trying to get my bike turned around.  It wouldn’t do my being on one side of the country while my bike was on the other and – there was no way HB was going to let me ride home by myself.  Course, would I really be of the mindset to do it? Probably not. 

We set about getting WB turned around and only after two days of the shipping company swearing that they had dropped if off to the return shipper, and the original shipper claiming they didnt have it – to which an ultimatum of “If it’s not found by 4pm Friday, I will be contacting the RCMP and filing a report for a stolen motorcyle.”  Lo and behold, the motorcycle was suddenly found by the trucking company and rolled in to the return shippers location at 3:50pm.  

So – HB is home and unable to use his arm for 3 months. Meaning that his riding season has come to an end for 2017.

As for me?  I’ll be taking short forays in and around my area. As well as being a guinea pig for a woman’s motorcycle travel bag – aka product tester. Not nearly the odessey I was planning.  Am i disappointed that my trip was cancelled? Yes.  Am I thankful it happened in a populated area where medical attention was immediate and a hospital was a short 1/2 hr drive away as opposed to the middle of no where in northern Ontario where there was no one else around for days?  Yes!  And relatively speaking – not to downplay the seriousness of the injury to his arm – for a head on HB was pretty lucky.  

Onward and upward.  

Yesterday made the upcoming trip a reality. I rode WB to the bike dealership to drop her off for crating.  I have now entrusted her into the hands of the dealerships and the shipping company.  Wow. Big step for me. Not a comfy one either.  

The other big step was thinking logically on what needs to be in the saddlebags. The original plan was to put all my riding gear in the saddlebags and ship it with the bike – much more cost effective than mailing it separately or putting it in checked baggage for the plane to lose.  The morning I was to ride down dawned overcast and grey with 60% chance of rain.  Ick! I couldn’t very well pack a wet leather jacket in my saddle bags and hope it arrived in Ottawa without mold. Drat!   So I decided to ride down to the dealership and keep my fingers crossed. 

Sure enough, just before I threw my leg over, it started sprinkling, but luckily that’s all it did until I left the valley.   After that, the 2 hour ride allowed me to dry out enough that the jacket, boots and chaps went with the bike.  

The next quandary was how to remember what gear was in the bike.   After 14 days, I knew I’d never remember. So out came the camera.  I spread everything out on the asphalt – which proved to be an irresistible sight for some people – and took pictures of what was in the bags so I didn’t forget what was in them. And stopped me from stomping around the house hours before my departure muttering and swearing at myself for putting things in a safe place – AGAIN!  Woohoo.  I’m smart me.  

So now the lists start.  And the lists of lists. 

Still in double digits – but the countdown has started 

Prairie storm
Although it looks cool – it would suck to ride in it. 

Have you ever noticed when reading the blogs of other riders how, although we are so ready to share our love of riding and our favourite (yes I spelled that correctly) roads – we are so hesitant to share what we look like?  

I mean really – count how many blogs you read where fellow riders display a picture of themselves in a helmet (displaying only the helmet) or in full riding gear only showing their gear/bike/helmet.  What’s with that anyway s?

I mentioned this to a friend of mine whose immediate response was “well?!?!? You tell me why YOU don’t put yourself out there, Marg?”  Ha! Touché!  I often wondered why but only by turning inward did I realize that by not showing my face, I was hoping to connect with riders.  Not specific riders.  Not just female riders.  Not just female riders over 50.  Not just female riders over 50 who live in small urban areas in Canada.  Etc etc.  I could drill it down ad nauseom. Would it matter?  The point is – when we riders take to the net, we hope to connect with fellow riders.  Those other people out there who get excited when they hear the sound of a set of pipes.  Those who, when they see a bike ride by – regardless of what they ride – get jealous because they, themselves aren’t out there as well.

So I guess my point is – regardless of what you ride, or where you are from,take the time to reach out to fellow riders around the globe.  You are not alone  and there are other motorcycle freaks (in a good way) who embrace the world of two wheels and want to connect with others of the same passion.

And in the interim – I’m going to go out on a limb and post a picture of myself NOT in gear.  

Onward and upward.  Into a brave new world:

Police throws an object at a motorcyclist causing him to crash
Almost looks like a clipboard to me. It pegs the rider in the head. 

Only 22 more days.  I could not believe my eyes when I was looking at the calendar this morning and realized how close things were!  

Here I was thinking I’d have “…..plenty of time….” only to look at the calendar and realize in 22 days I will be flying out. I realize I am only going to the middle of the country but when you factor in arranging for the dog, getting the house ready for the house sitter, getting the business ready for a prolonged absence, finalizing arramgements for cargoing the motorcycle and the service it needs when it gets there…….. suddenly it doesn’t seem to be any time left. 

I’m excited/apprehensive/flustered/rushed and everything in between. I keep wondering what I’m going to forget along the way. 

Also, as part of the trip I will have the opportunity to product test a piece of gear called the Lauren Bag by moto chic gear.   I have a week to put it through its paces!  It’s going to be a blast!!   On top of that – if I get enough ‘likes’ I have a chance of winning said bag.  All part of the adventure!   

Anyways – onwards and upwards

Keep the shiny side up, fellow roadies.