What's in your tailbag?

I love my Kriega gear.........love it.

I've been using the Kreiga US-30 tailbag for well over 4 years on two different bikes. Great mounting options really make this a universal tailbag.

During that time the Kriega has seen a multitude of conditions: Hot, Cold, Wet, Dry - dusty, muddy and anything else - except snow......I don't do snow.

I use the bag every single day on the commute and it easily holds a laptop/tablet, change of clothes, lunch, miscellaneous work items etc.

When touring the bag can swallow quite a lot of gear......a few years back I did a multi day ride and only took the Kreiga - that's it. One bag. It was capable of holding  just what I needed.

Day to day items carried change - obviously so.
However there are a few thing which stay in/on the bag at all times:

Coded Helmet-Lock 

Various bike related promo gear

A "bandolier" of charity ride badges

The essentials: 

Pocket torch

Spare UglyFish glasses lenses 

"Wets" - overpants and spray jacket

Puncture kit and basic tools

Earplugs - thanks Akra's 

So......what's in your tailbag?

\BitSar

--the packhorse. 

Helmet Comms

I've been using the Scala Rider G4 for quite a while now........been meaning to put a post up. 
Here it is:
______________________________________ 

 After much consideration of cheaping out for the BT set and looking at high end gear I settled on the "upper-middle" in the Cardo Scala Rider G4 

INSTALLATION 

The PowerSet ships with two units - one for me, one for my buddy.

I have a Shoei XR-1100, I removed the left hand check pad 

 Mounting bracket and boom-mic installed into space between shell and inner-foam

Really pays to remove the check pad (also this exposes the ear piece recesses.) 

 Ear piece in recess in helmet - mounted using stick on velcro pad (included)

 Fully Installed 

 Installation took about 35-40 mins - I like things to be neat - you could probably stuff it all in the lid in about 15 mins at a push. 

 I used the FM radio on the way to work this morning and had the missus call about 10 mins into the journey. Phone call came through no problem (from a Bluetooth paired Android phone). The other half says sound quality was better than hands free in the car - I tried with visor up and visor down.

Bluetooth paring with Android was quick and painless and the headset and phone recognize each other immediately without a problem. 

 Sound quality from the speakers is good - nice and loud. Don't expect Hi-Fi but the quality keeps me happy.

EDIT:
As one of my readers pointed out (thanks Chiller tek) - I don't ride and take/make phone calls.
Part of riding is to get away from things.....listening to music or gps nav points is the primary use for the Scala Rider.
For completeness I did take a call to test the functionality.

\BitSar

That was tough.......

I've ridden King Lake, Lake Mountain, the Reefton and Black Spurs many times - all great roads.

I've ridden these roads in Summer and Winter with varying degrees of seasonal difficulty........I rode them this Saturday...........it was hard work.

Saturday was the first properly warm, dry day we've had in a while. A buddy and I decided to "Hit the Hills" out East - we should have waited a little longer for Winter to pass.

Coming into King Lake from Kangaroo Ground our spirits were high. The road was dry and clean - the air was a comfortable 23C, we hit the throttle with gusto, stringing together a lovely run into King Lake junction.

The burnt vegetation you see along the road is due to the intense Black Saturday fires of 2009, this area was hit hard and is still recovering.



From King Lake we headed through Healesville out to Marysville - this leg was again fun and fast - no problem with road condition. Usually we would stop to take some caffeine on board at the Marysville bakehouse, for some reason today we decided to push on.

We took off over Lake Mountain in the general direction of the Reefton Spur.

As we continuing to climb into the Sub-Alpine region, the indicated temperature on the dash started to drop - eventually bottoming out at 11C. All of a sudden it felt very much like Winter again.

The road condition was becoming increasingly treacherous. Leaf litter, stringy bark, clay, loose gravel and potholes were the name of the game. Staying upright became a bit of a challenge. Both myself and my riding buddy had a few "moments".......we promptly decided to back off.

Unfortunately we were not clear of the bad conditions.

Reefton Spur was also covered in a loose top-layer of debris and detritus. The front end did not want to stay on line through corners and the rear was more than happy to spin up on nearly every exit.......this was fun for a while - it became not so fun pretty quickly.


By the time we reached Reefton Hotel we were more than happy to get off the bikes for a while, have a cold drink and sit in the sun - we were absolutely shagged.

I looked at my buddy and said - "mate, that was tough" - his face said it all. No. Reply. Required.

A couple of riders showed up who had come from the Warburton side - they asked how the Reefton was - we told them - they went back the way they came..........which lucky for us, was our way home.



\BitSar
--had a ball - just trying to stay upright.

Blow down

I hate seeing a bike down. Hate it. 

Today walking through Melbourne CBD during my lunch break the weather was becoming increasingly hostile. Cold. Wet. Extremely windy.


You can see from the doppler radar the wind hammering across Melbourne from the West.......very strong with sustained gusts.


On days like this you really need to think about how and where to park if leaving the bike outdoors.

Unfortunately as I was heading back to the office I came across this

This poor Ninja had been blown off its' kick stand and was resting propped up by the BMW scooter. Had the scooter not been on its' centre stand it would more than likely have been knocked over too. 

Everything in my body wanted to pick up the Ninja - I decided it was best to leave it where it was in case there was any damage and the owner needs photographs for their insurance. 

Poor Ninja.

\BitSar

A riders' guide

Here it is.

1 – Think before you ride.

Every single morning before the commute, and for that matter any weekend blat too, I employ a process of getting myself and the bike ready. 

It is the same ritual every time and it centres me – I engage with what I am about to do.

This is a common training technique which shifts focus and consciousness to the task at hand.

2 – Take command

You are riding a motorcycle – you are exposed, you are at risk. Be proactive and choose your risk as much as possible. 

Don't be complacent and let the risk choose you.

3 – Have “brain space”

If you set off and identify that you are not riding well, not seeing things play out like usual or think there is something “not right with the bike”......chances are something is not right with you.

The bike is very likely to be behaving exactly the same as yesterday – but if it feels different today then something is different – that something is more than likely you.

Learn to identify these “yips” and counter them accordingly. This may mean stopping.

NB** baring mental "yips" check the basics like tyre pressure, chain tension, throttle and clutch lines/cables. 

4- Radar and intuition

To be proficient you need to be able NOT to think about what the bike is doing and how you are controlling it.

The bike should be controlled via telepathy. You think, the bike does.

Believe me after years of MTB and Road race cycling – the bike is an extension of the body.

Control leads to having ample capacity to scan the environment for cagers, pedestrians, cyclists and other riders alike. 

Being in control of your bike is relatively easy.

Contemplating the actions of others and reacting appropriately is a skill unto its' own.

5 – Don't

Don't be timid.

Don't allow yourself to hesitate – indecision takes time, when you need to make a choice time is not always on your side.

Most of all – don't be a victim.

6 – Everything else

Filtering, splitting, cagers and traffic.

Weekend blats, touring, overnighters and tomfoolery.

Everything else is the reason to ride all the time – do it safely.

Be engaged in the process and enjoy.

Footnote:

If you are not a target – you will less likely become a victim.

This does not mean be aggressive – it means be in control – as much as possible.

\BitSar
--getting on with it and "riding" it out

RST - new leather

For the last couple of years I've been meaning to get a leather riding jacket.........I've constantly put it off.

About 6 weeks ago I came across an RST Pro-Series leather jacket with some very good features.....the price was right too - bugger it......I took the plunge.

I've been riding with the jacket everyday since....commuting, longer weekend stints.....VERY cold conditions. The leather is supple and took no time to break in.....the helmet hump on the back took a little getting used to - now I don't even notice it.

With the versatile configuration and the different layering options, the jacket has proven itself to be very comfortable, very warm......

The thermal liner (pulled back in the photo) is keeping my core warm in these 2C mornings.....

You can also see the high level of protection on offer - the CE back protector came with the jacket - it fits so well you can't even feel it......doesn't restrict movement or mobility on or off the bike....

Another great "bonus" feature is this wind stopper vest.



This comes as a free genuine RST accessory and can be used under any jacket.....you could even use it for other outdoor activities like cycling or hiking...



I've been using this, along with the thermal liner for the cold morning commute....the jacket is an all season setup with perforated leather for summer conditions......without this wind stopper layer underneath my core temperature would plummet rather quickly.

As you can see - it is a sport cut which can be zipped to leather pants at the waist.


Although you can't see in this photo - along the length of both arms and around the chest and back is a light reflective strip making me very visible at night....

I must say - I don't know why it took me so bloody long to get a leather jacket.......now I've ridden with one, the comfort, the way it holds your body position on the bike, the added safety....I don't think I could ride in a textile jacket again....unless of course it's raining.....then back to the trusty old RST Touring gear......





\BitSar

Slack........again

Life has been busy of late......

Other than commuting and weekend errands I've had no time for real weekend blats......it is getting to me.

I do have a post about the Kriega gear in the pipes.....I've had a tailbag for over 4 years and it's still going strong. 

I need to get out for a decent ride soon.......I can tell..........I'm riding everywhere like my head is on fire....

\BitSar

--needs release........