Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/44467
Gearing Up from Head to Toe by JAMES JONES As I write this, I am reminded that I could be dead right now. On my latest adventure, I experienced my first wheelie. This was not a planned event. We were in Utah and I was trying to get up a ledge when I did a backwards 180. My friend Rick Lee just happened to have his camera ready and snapped as I went mid-air and my bike flipped backward down the side of the ledge. I hit the ledge a little too fast and my front tire hit a rock. The bike was loaded with luggage, tools and water making the back very heavy. After becoming airborne, the bike and I flipped and landed upside down. Getting the right helmet was a priority and I kept looking at armored jerseys. The folks there were a big help. They ordered different helmets until I found the one that I thought would work for me. A week before the trip I found an armored jersey that fit me and it was on sale. I was very torn about which protective gear I was going to wear. Due to the route we were traveling, we knew that we were going to experience a wide range of temperatures, various weather conditions and different terrains. We rode up 13,000 foot peaks in Colorado and then to the high desert of Moab. There was snow on the mountains tops, and it was 104 degrees in the desert. We hit rivers, rocks, sand and lots of dirt. At the end of the off-road work we had a 500-mile highway trek back to our vehicles at the start point. Deciding on which gear to take was challenging to me. To be honest, there was no right combination so I looked for an 80 percent solution. I ended up taking an Arai XD3 helmet. The Arai is a great lightweight helmet. It had a clear visor, which was great on the rainy days. I had great air that flowed through this helmet and never felt overheated. Due to the helmet being so lightweight, I never experienced neck fatigue. It was just about perfect for this trip. My jacket decision was very hard, too. I was torn between a heavy, fall mess or an armored jersey. I ended up wearing the EVS GS Ballistic Jersey. I was concerned about the large amount of plastic the jersey has. I was worried that it would hold in the heat. That was never an issue. For the cool mornings and rainy days I took a long sleeved shirt and my rain jacket. One morning it was 40 degrees as we left Lake City, Colo., but the combination was fine. For gloves, I decided on three different pairs: a light weight, a leather pair and a pair of BMW rain gloves. This was a good mix and served me well. A few times my gloves did get wet because I was trying to ride out the storm but ended up changing to rain gloves sooner or later. As for protective pants, I took my Joe Rocket pants. This particular pair is wa- terproof. They have zippered sides that I could unzip to allow for air flow. Also, I did not want to stop and have to put on rain pants every time there was a change in tem- perature or rain (both happened during a day). I added some suspenders to the pants, which was a nice addition. It kept my pants up while keeping my beltline loose around my little round belly. I wore my Alpinestars S-MX R boots. This was not a good selection for adven- ture riding because they are not waterproof. I should have known better but I liked the hard plastic protection they provide. After a little ride up the river, my feet were soaking wet. As the bike was flipping back over me, I didn't really know what was going on. My fate was in the hands of God, my guardian angel and my protective gear. I landed on my back and head and the impact was slowed down because my foot was caught on the bike. My face shield protected me from a rock that my face landed on. My gloves protected my hands. My foot was caught between the frame and luggage rack. My boots kept me from snapping my foot or leg. I did not have a scratch on me. As for my bike, my handlebars were bent a little, and I broke both mirrors. The kill switch was a stuck but after a good hit with a rock by my friend Dale, the bike started right up. Having the right protective equipment for the right conditions is one of the most important pre-ride decisions you will ever make. If you ride long enough and often enough, the chances are high that you will eventu- ally hit the ground. It is only at the moment of impact that you will know whether or not you've made the right decision on which gear to wear. Ride Safe! 22 UCW OCTOBER 12-18, 2011 OCT. 22 • FANTASTIC SAM'S 3RD ANNUAL SAVE THE TA TA'S POKER RUN Registration 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3503 North Main St., Hope Mills, N.C. First rider $15, passengers $10. Proceeds benefit the Karen Chandler Foundation. Contact angelofjustice06@yahoo.com for more info. OCT. 29 • ALL HARLEY'S EVE COSTUME CONTEST at Cape Fear Harley-Davidson. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Costume contest from 2 - 4 p.m. $25 gift cards will be awarded for sexiest costume, scariest costume, best couples costume and best overall costume. Judging will be anonymous and contestants will have to register between 2 - 3:30 p.m. Find out more at http://www.capefearhd.com. OCT. 29 • HALLOWEEN BASH at Legends Pub. 867-2364. NOV. 5 • OYSTER ROAST AND POKER RUN at Legends Pub. 867-2364. NOV. 5 • ALZHEIMERS AWARENESS RIDE Registration begins at 10 a.m., kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. Stops include Bethesda Health Care in Eastover, Cedar Creek Assisted Living in Cedar Creek and Haymount Rehab & Nursing Center in Fayetteville. Free food and music upon return to CFHD. $25/ rider & $15/ passenger includes t-shirt. ALL PROCEEDS to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. www.capefearhd.com. DECEMBER 3 • WINGMEN NC TOY RUN at Cape Fear Harley Davidson. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash to ride. Find out more at www.capefearhd.com PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard.org for more info. HALLOWEEN BASH October 29th For more information call LEGENDS at 4624 BRAGG BLVD. CALLING ALL LOCAL BANDS Fayetteville wants to know you! So here's your opportunity. • E-mail Stephanie@upandcomingweekly. com for our Q&A. • Fill it out and e-mail it back to us. • Send a recent, high-resolution photo of your band. JAMES JONES, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com • Look for your article in an upcoming issue. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM $100 for Best Costume!