Bye Minneapolis

Minneapolis has been great. I've met a lot of women who need gear that works in the ridiculous heat and humidity. Here are a couple of options for those of you looking for summer and/or 4 season gear. 1. Olympia Airglide 3 ($249) Jacket and Pants ($199).

Revzilla is also clearing out the previous version (Airglide 2) for less than $150 each! What I love about these 2 pieces is the removable waterproof, windproof, Insulated liner.  It'll take you between all 4 (reasonable) seasons.  I'm not sure about subzero temps, (for that I'd go with BMG), but certainly for those of you who ride in decent temperatures, it's definitely an outfit to consider.  The fit is also fairly generous, in terms of sizing. I wouldn't call it a European fit, but more in between a Cortech/Tourmaster (generous) cut and a REV'IT/BMW narrow cut.  They even come in silver, so if you're going to ride in the heat, it's a nice alternative to black.

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2. REV'IT Turbine Jacket ($359) and Pants($329)

This 2 piece set is ideal for extreme heat. If you do a LOT of desert riding, or riding in extremely warm temps and want something to outperform, this would be a great option.  The fit is also totally different than Olympia, because of the narrower, petite cut. Especially if you have long torso, long arms, long legs.  I am hoping to get my hands on this set for the Bay Area riding this summer that I plan to dive into.

T.A.D. Gear

If you are having trouble shopping for the perfect gift for your dual sport riding, adventure loving man/woman, then you may want to try and take a field trip down to T.A.D. Gear in San Francisco, down in the neighborhood known as the Dogpatch.

"It is T.A.D. Gear's objective to design and produce the world's finest apparel and equipment for the wilderness, travel, exploration, professional field applications, or whatever challenging context the user chooses. "

The jacket on the left is actually made for women, known as the "TAD Gear Stealth Hoodie". It's a very fitted, narrow cut, perfect for women looking for more than just your ordinary hoodie.

Features : Our award winning Shark Skin Classic Soft Shell for cooler-cold temperatures is now available for women. Made in smaller, controlled qty, custom quality batches in the USA. 4 panel construction alpine cut for superior fit. Signature Low Profile AERO Hood with HRUF stowing system. Full venting pit zips. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 8 total pockets: 2 large chest pockets. 2 interior stash pockets inside main chest pockets. Lower back dual zippered "Duck Pocket". 2 upper sleeve pockets w/ 4"x4" Velcro loop swatches for Moral Patches. 1 smaller ID pocket on lower left sleeve. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: YKK Covert Zippers. Double reinforced elbows with internally access pad slots for our TPro pads (*Cut down to fit). Die cut YKK Velcro cuff adjustment tabs with half elastic cuffs. New double needle stitched sleeve pocket construction. Bias cut hem. Draw cord bottom hem. Optional Pen Tube, removable w/ Velcro hook back & pull tab. Colors: Black. Sizes: S, M, L, XL. Price: $182

If you go to your nearest NorthFace, you can buy something like the Women's Apex Paradigm Jacket for $199. And you only get 2 pockets! The Stealth Hoodie even has pockets for you to put in TPro armor. Not that I'm advocating riding with just this jacket and nothing else, but certainly it would go well under a jacket that has no armor.

They also sell an array of outdoor necessities such as survival knives, waterproof otter boxes, titanium sporks, SureFire flashlights and anything/everything you can think of to survive in a post apocalyptic world.  I'd say it's more of a disneyland for boys. I do love a good gadget, and I think for a habitual offroad, dual sport motorcycle adventure rider, T.A.D. Gear is a must before setting off for your next Dakar Rally, Baja 1000 or Cabo 1000.

Think of it as an REI on steroids, with even more than you could ever imagine for the crazy adventure you're about to take on, whether it's on 2 wheels or 2 feet.

Plus Size Gear

Real Curves.Real Women. Real Gear.™ I've been neglecting the 'Real Curves' aspect of my website and hope that this post gives women who are looking for something beyond a size 8-10 when it comes to the real protective motorcycle gear that you need.

So on my final day at Long Beach, I decided to swing by the British Motorcycle Gear booth.  I found a couple of great options for women that I think would benefit my plus sized readers:.

1. British Motorcycle Gear - Mercury Jacket $249.00 XS-4XL I've always been curious about the fit of BMG motorcycle gear.  I know they make an amazing textile jacket, but I wasn't sure who I could recommend their jackets to. Now I know.  The Mercury is ideal for those of you who have short torsos and broader arms/shoulders.  Although I found the fit (XS) to be decent in the waist/body, the arms/shoulders were too large for me, as I'm a little narrower than this jacket wants me to be.  It's also one of the warmest jackets you'll ever find.  If you've ever shopped for a ski or snowboarding jacket, you'll notice that many of them have a 'skirt' that sits at the waist, to keep snow and wind out should you fall or crash on the slopes.  They've incorporated this wonderful feature into the Mercury (as well as most of their jackets), and it definitely makes for a snug fit around the hips.  Which would definitely come in handy on those cold winter commutes.  The silver piping is reflective around the front and back of the jacket.  At this price point, you can't beat the features that the Mercury offers you.

2. British Motorcycle Gear - Discovery Jacket $379.00 XS-4XL I tried on an XS in this model as well. It was a little too big for me, but if you're looking for a 3/4 length winter jacket, this is another great option.  The cut is generous across the shoulders and through the arms.  The lining is ridiculously warm and will provide you a really comfortable fit.

3. Tourmaster Trinity 2 $157.49 (From Revzilla.  MSRP is $174.99) XS-LPL (See the size charts on Revzilla) The sizing on the Trinity 2 is one of the most generous in all of women's gear.  Beyond an XL, it goes even higher to Sizes 16-20. The XL is ~14, and seems true to size, at least with the women that I helped in the women's center.  The fit is generous for those of you who need a little more room in the chest, shoulders and arms.  I highly recommend this jacket as a 4 season option (removable insulated liner), with the venting up the arms and on the back.

4. Cortech LRX2 $159.99 MSRP, $143.99, Revzilla XS-LPL (See the size charts on Revzilla) The LRX is another great 4 season jacket.  But this one has a fully ventilated, mesh outer shell. If you need something that will work in the hottest of summers, this would be a better option than the Trinity.  There are two full sleeve, removable liners; waterproof/windproof liner and an insulated liner. The arms are also adjustable, with adjustable snaps at the bicep and the forearm.

And if you haven't downloaded  a copy of my GearChic Guide filled with shopping tips, make sure you download it here. Happy Shopping!

Jacket with Airbags

Yep, you heard that right.  A women's motorcycle jacket, protective and with Airbags! I emailed briefly with the sole US distributor (SaferMoto.com) for this Japanese brand.  He only has a Medium in stock right now, but is trying to generate interest to more women riders.  I hope to look at it in person soon. SaferMoto Hit-Air Lady's Jacket $399.00

http://safermoto.com/products/fr/index.html

They also have an air vest that inflates on impact! how awesome is that?

Hit-Air MV-2 $339.00 http://safermoto.com/products/vest_mv2/