I've updated my directory with companies that offer a variety of custom motorcycle gear options. Everything from Kevlar pants to racing suits, to touring suits. Check it out! http://gearchic.com/geardirectory/1-and-2-piece-suits/
Breaking in new Motorcycle Boots
I recently acquired these cute TCX X-Street Waterproof Motorcycle Shoes so I could have something stylish in this horrible snowy, cold winter we've been having.
I don't plan to ride in them, they're definitely a casual shoe for me. But, I wanted to share my experience breaking these in! It wasn't easy and definitely a little painful along the way. I tried them on and they felt pretty good. A little pressure across the toebox (width wise) but not too bad. I only wore them in the store for a few minutes. But as soon as I put them on the next day to wear to work, I completely forgot about this whole break in thing. (It's been a couple years since I've had to go through this).
And my feet were SCREAMING at me the whole time. 'WHY DID YOU BUY THESE? YOU'RE KILLING US?!' I was worried, a little worried. Okay, *really* worried. But, I knew I had to stick it out. The pressure wasn't so bad that I got bunions or anything, but they were just uncomfortable after 2-3 hours of wearing them. I just assumed that I wouldn't be able to wear them all day and would have to use them as cute, going out shoes. A dinner... a movie.. maybe some shopping.
But after a few weeks (not wearing them every day to work, but at least every couple), they fully broke in and I realized one day that my feet weren't killing me like they used to. These particular shoes were also very very wide in the heel and ran a full size large. I'm normally a Euro 37, US 6.5 but I had to go down to a Euro 36. With such a loose ankle, I realized that I needed to lace them very snug around the ankles. Otherwise my feet would slide forward and smush my foot into the toe box.
As soon as I laced them up nice and tight, it made a Huge difference because my ankles were sitting right where they should be so my feet weren't moving back and forth inside the boots. Remember, you don't want any forward and backward movement of your foot when it's inside the boot. And it's totally normal for your toe to be close to the edge of the toebox as long as it's not pushing forward into the very end as you walk.
I know breaking in gear is a b*tch, but it's SO worth it in the end. Try not to size yourself in the store (when it comes to leather), but size yourself the way you want it to fit a month from now.
Lightweight, waterproof motorcycle gloves for women.
My friend Sharon asked me for recommendations for a lightweight, waterproof, motorcycle glove for a slender hand. Here are two fantastic options.
Revit Summit H2O
The first glove pictured above, is the Revit Summit H2O. Fully waterproof, and not very warm. Just a waterproof membrane. They're a really great all around glove and are one of the best women's priced at $134.99. It has a non waterproof version, but unfortunately they're going away so size/quantities are limited. You can check out my review of them here.
Rukka Vilma Gore-Tex
The second glove is the Rukka Vilma. I love the Vilma because it's a Gore-Tex Xtrafit glove. That means the membrane is bonded to the leather shell. Feels just like a lightweight, leather glove. Hard to tell it's even there!
Turn AnyGlove touchscreen friendly?
Supposedly, that's what this product says it can do for your textile, fleece, fabric or synthetic leather glove. There are two options, the Original formula above, and the green formula for Leather.
I haven't tried it yet, but my friend says it worked for him..... If you've used it, what's been your experience?
