After 10 hours of actual time in the air yesterday, I arrived home from nine days of travelling. This morning, I rode to College Coffeehouse to meet with whomever chooses to show up. In addition to George Rahn and Sandra, about half a dozen of the other regulars were there. As would be expected, the Ural was the only bike out front.
Yesterday, while sitting in DFW (Dallas Fort Worth), I got a call from Gerbings asking for payment for repairs and shipping. Both connectors and internal wiring on the gloves needed to be replaced as well as the connectors on the jacket. About $70 including shipping but it'll be nice to get them back. With the heated grips, bar-end mitts (or whatever the HippoHand like things are called) and new winter riding gloves, I'm plenty warm for running around town for now.
Speaking of new winter riding gloves, based on reviews, I had ordered a pair of
insulated gloves from Aerostitch. When I was there last year, I tried on a bunch to see what size I would get if I had ever decided to get a pair. I've been using them ever since the Gerbings gloves were sent in for repair and I must admit that I like them. Initially a little stiff but easy to put on/off, they seem sturdy, and with the heated grips, more than warm enough at sub-freezing temperatures. Plus they were on sale last month with $5 shipping. The website didn't come up with the $5 shipping option but I received an email a couple of days later that my order was shipped via USPS and they refunded the difference. Pretty good customer service.
I am not surprise that at these temperatures you were the only one showing up on a bike. Tough guy!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile we had some weird weather pattern in the past few days. After the morning fog had given way to sun and blue skies, we got temperatures around 70F.
No, I wasn't too surprised though I was curious who else would come out on a Saturday morning. George is there just about every morning but others less often.
DeleteSunny and 70°F, almost like summer!
Welcome home! And it's just the way you like it!
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty nice to get on the bike again. The cool temperatures felt pretty nice!
DeleteGeorge didn't ride his rig? I've looked at those gloves before, will be interested to see how they do this coming winter season. I wonder if they're the same ones used by ski patrol guys to keep their hands warm while out on snow all day?
ReplyDeleteGeorge rarely rides his rig in the mornings to coffee as he usually has Sandra and two dogs with him.
DeleteI have an older pair of deerskin insulated gauntlet gloves (non-Aerostitch) and they are were my favorite. These are much warmer with more insulation. I still haven't done anything to waterproof them but that won't be an issue for quite a while. Maybe May?
Good luck with the new gloves, they look a bit stiff in the promo photo but I'm sure they will soften up quickly. Hope they are warm.
ReplyDeleteActually, they feel pretty nice but for now they do take a little effort to close your fist. But I like the wool lining instead of the normal fleece. They are warm enough though not as warm as the Gerbings with the heat turned on.
DeleteHooray for being home, brrrr that is cold. Just a walk in the park for you though.
ReplyDeleteHow old were the Gerbings gloves that they needed work? I know people have had issues with them before, but I wasn't sure how much use you'd gotten out of them before they needed service.
It was actually a bit colder -4°F, when I first went into town but by mid-afternoon it was a balmy 19°F.
DeleteThe Gerbings gloves are only about 1½ years old. The liner about 2½ years old. I really don't think that the gear is designed for the type of use I'm asking of it as the plastic wire insulation will get brittle in the cold which is probably why the connectors are failing. Other than that, it seems to be working fine. Last winter, the gear was used almost every day between October 1 and May 1. So it gets pretty regular use.
Richard, Gerbing should be paying you to be field-testing their gear they way you are doing!
DeleteRight... As if that'll ever happen.
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