[vtbme]

Just returned from my first mc trip...okay, it was only about 220 miles round trip (Charlotte to Gville SC), but I'm counting it..especially since it was solo, I'm female and it was on a '99 Virago 250. Obviously no interstate for me, so with backroads and thaw/stretch breaks it was about 4 hours one way.

Was a bit colder than I would have liked (45-50), bit I'm still working out the kinks and looking for the "perfect" gear...whose search of course will never end. So now I know that my Joe Rocket Cleo 2 supplemented with thermal shirt, long sleeve t, Nike AGC vest and North Face Apex Bionic softshell is NOT adequate for several hours on the road. (Note: liner in Cleo does nothing to stop wind as advertised - I quickly replaced it with my Nike Dry Fit Golf Windbreaker...which I neglected to take...and learned to always pack from now on.) WebBikeWorld really likes the Jett Battery heated vest, so...

Also learned that Olympia Airglide 2 pants with insulated thermal liner AND therms under the liner is also not sufficient. Guess I should save up for the solid version.

Will remember to always pack "hotties" from now on so I can tuck them in my pants and jacket pockets...maybe even in the boots.

The Sidi Jasmines did well with Smartwool socks. Feet did get a little chilly, but nothing like the rest of me.

Revit insulated gloves (I forget which model) are disappointing on windblocking ability for the $$. Bought them last year, so I knew it before the trip, but my sweetie gave me Symtec Grip Heaters for Xmas, so I manged. I've pretty much decided I need to invest in battery heated gloves and/or the National Cycle Plexistar 2. I currently have no windshield and this would give the added benefit on blocking wind from hands...or so it appears. Of course I'm in the market for a bigger bike, so I don't really want to do anything bike specific to the 250 beyond those grip heaters.

The show was cool - but Suzuki had ZERO demos there, which I could not believe. I was really hoping to try the M50. Only OEMs offering demos were KTM, Kawi, Star, and Ducati. I'd already ridden the Vulcan 900 Custom and Vstar 950...probably should have ridden them again, but I didn't get there early enough for sign ups. Oh well...it was my first show, now I know the deal.

It was also good to try on some jackets...often a difficult thing for women as stores generally stock very few. No major purchases though...I was really tempted by the Tourmaster Transition 2 in HI-Viz yellow b/c it was at a great show price, but they said you couldn't return it unless the tags were still on it. That's crap because you really don't know how a jacket will work for you until you ride with it...found that out the hard way with my Olympia AST. Maybe I'll order some things from our local Cycle Gear - I hear they'll take it back if it doesn't work for ya. I wonder if they charge you shipping though?

I did get Kuryakyn Universal Throttle Boss. It's much smaller than my CrampBuster which I removed half way through the trip down because it was blocking too much of the heat from the grips. Throttle Boss performed adaquately and best off let more of the heat through.

Kuryakyn Grandtour Bag did well also. Of course I've been using that for several months around town as my "trunk." Works great - I specifically wanted something that would give me back support and did not require a sissy bar (since I don't have one). And of course I had the trusty zip off map pocket from my Cargo Endurance Sport Tank Bag.

So that's about it. I definitely have the "trip bug," so I'll have to rally some friends and make a plan!