DC, NYC, now Cleveland

It's been a crazy month.  I've never traveled this much before in my life.  I'm kind of enjoying it. Even if my body still thinks I'm on the East Coast. I've met so many interesting, exciting people.  Mingling with the motorcycle industry has been my dream for so long.  My dream would be to work fully in a motorcycle capacity and never go back to a finance/technology/blah blah blah company ever again.

I have 3 shows left, I don't know what I'll do with myself once I'm back at home.  Oh yeah, keep up with my website! With only 2 days home every week, and working nonstop from the minute my plane hits the ground, it's been difficult for me to keep things up to date.  (Big, huge, ginormous apologies to my newsletter subscribers!) I'm truly, truly sorry and will try to at least post some short and sweet updates every week.

I have a few shout-outs, so to speak, on some cool companies that I've met this month. First, in Greenville, I must give a big thanks to Donnie Unger, the Owner of Duc Pond Motorsports in Winchester, VA! I scored the gorgeous Ducati bag above at the Greenville show, and wouldn't be looking as good without it.  Thanks Donnie!!  I've already customized it. :D The DucPond also carries one of my favorite brands, REV'IT, so stop in and see them if you're in the Greenville, SC area.

In NYC, I met Todd McNabney, the founder of Heroic Racing. It's so hard to find one piece suits for women, off the rack.  And it's even harder to find dealers that actually carry them! Gloves are a tough one too, especially real race gloves for those of you who love track days. (Which I fiercely avoid, since I KNOW that I'll become addicted. All I'll want to do is race and I just can't do that right now).

As soon as I passed by the Heroic booth, I had to stop and smell the roses.  I'm a huge fan of black and white when it comes to gear.   The first thing that caught my eye, and I'm sure yours too, especially in the pics above, is the agressive gauntlet.  Most people wouldn't want something that 'crazy'. Even myself, I only wear Racer High End gloves, which I wouldn't wear on the track, but trust on the street.

I hope to get in touch with Todd sometime over the next month or two and do an in depth review and interview about these gloves, as well as the suit.  Unfortunately, by the time I went over to take a pic of the suit, he had the nerve to sell it to a needful woman who needed a suit! I hope she's thrilled with it. If it fits nearly as hot as it looked, she'll be utterly satisifed.

Speaking of suits, I'm going to see Michael, one of the founders of Veloce about the new women's Achillia suit and boots! I can't wait, and hope to post something in 2 weeks.

The other cool thing I saw was a collection of motorcycle inspired tees from Art of the Bike,   Although he doesn't have a lof of "women's tees", I really loved the designs, and especially the use of Alternative Apparel organic tees.  Now, if only I could get a Norton....

I think one of the best things I've been able to see so far, is all the cool women who stop by the Women's Center.  If you're a woman, and you have questions about riding motorcycles, but don't have anyone to talk to except your SO/Husband/Boyfriend/Male Friends, come to the Center!! We're here to talk about Anything related to riding.  The 2 amazing women I've come to know and love have more than a million miles of combined riding experience.  Sue Slate and Gin Shear are the founders of the Women's Motorcyclist Foundation, The work they've done in recent years to help find a cure for Breast Cancer is unbelievable.  We're also giving seminars (not for women only) on everything from taking your first MSF class, to Dual Sport Riding, to Gear (how to shop!), Twisties, choosing the Right Bike, and More.

Of course, I'm going to brag about me too and tell you that if you wish you could have a personal shopper help identify what sizes/fits/cuts work for you, then the IMS is the perfect opportunity!

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.

Busy Busy Busy

I'm on City #2; Greenville, South Carolina. Next stop Washington DC!!

Can I just say I LOVE this city? The show has been busy nonstop, I'm working all day, all night. That's why you haven't seen the January newsletter yet. Wah. I hope to have time when I get back home this week.  It's just been so insane.  If you are planning on attending any of the motorcycle shows between now and February, (Wash DC, NYC, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Chicago), you MUST come by and say hi at the Women's Center!

I know, I know. Women's Center.  It's so, I don't know, woman oriented. Yes and No.  We have local women's motorcycle clubs/groups, women's gear to try on (but not buy!), and seminars.  The seminars are NOT for women only.  They're actually really freaking great; Right Bike for Right Now, Dirt Riding, Picking Up Your Bike, The Right Gear for Right Now, and MORE!

As a female rider, you know how hard it is to find gear. You also know how hard it is to find Information. Especially from your fellow female riders. We're there to give you answers to everything and anything related to riding.  We're not just sportbike riders, not just cruiser riders, not just dirtbike riders.  We're everything riders.  I've been lucky enough to work with Sue Slate and Gin Shear, of the Women's Motorcyclist Foundation. These two women have ridden anything and everything, anywhere and everywhere.  I've learned so much from them and having a couple of travel buddies makes the job that much more FUN.

My role at the women's center is really simple. I'm there to help you FIT.  It's really apparent to me that many women have no idea how to shop for gear.  Real Gear, gear that's protective and fit for riding is such a different type of garment. It takes a lot of work and is not as easy as shopping for jeans and tshirts.   Many times I've had to explain the fact that when you stand up straight and put your shoulders back, the zippers will have a really hard time meeting.  Of course you're going to give up zipping if you don't let them actually touch and say hello to one another.  So what do you do? Well, first of all stop pulling your shoulders back.  Bring your shoulders forward, bend over a little bit and let your torso pull inward so the zippers can actually touch.  I PROMISE you, if the zippers actually touch, then they WILL zip. I repeat, they WILL zip.  You are NOT as large as you think you are.  You are not really an Extra Large or an Extra Extra Large.  Too many women give up as soon as they try to zip the jacket up.

Well ladies, remember that the fantastic jacket you're trying on is made for RIDING your motorcycle, not standing in front of the mirror wearing it!  Of course it's going to be difficult to zip up when you stand up straight with your shoulders back.  Give yourself a chance and remember that these jackets are not cut for relaxing position, sitting on the couch position, or laying around position. They're made for your MOTORCYCLE.

If you haven't already, click on the link on the left of this post and download my Shopping Guide or click here to download this pdf.  Read it, then go shopping. I promise you it'll make the experience even easier.  Or if you have questions and need suggestions for types of gear/brands to try, email me, I'm happy to send you a note back.  Or even better, come to the motorcycle shows so we can get you a fit assessment!

I still need volunteers as well, please Email Me so I can meet you so you can hang out in the center with us, talk to women riders and get in the show for FREE.

SideStandUp Jan 5, 2010

4pm PT/7pm ET http://www.sidestandup.com

Tonight's show is going to be an update from the Int'l Motorcycle Shows 2009-2010, as well as what I'm doing at the shows through the end of February. I'll also be reporting on what I've seen so far and what I think is worth checking out as the shows make it to your city.

http://www.motorcycleshows.com

I'll also be talking a little bit about the new Snell 2010 helmets that are coming out and what it might mean to you.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/snell-2010-standard.htm

And I hope to touch on the subject of body armor and why you need it, some options to consider when purchasing gear.

I hope you have time to tune in!