With the price of fuel still too high a rising number of people will be using motorcycles as their primary mode of economical transportation.  Here are some tips to help make your venture most enjoyable. Basically – HAVE THE PROPER GEAR!

We’ll start with helmets. Snell or DOT approved helmets are a MUST! You might say they’re not macho! Is lying on a slab in the morgue macho? Is being a quadriplegic macho? Riding helmetless is not macho – it’s stupid. Go find great looking DOT approved helmets. Hey – you might even find one that makes you macho.

Be prepared for all types of weather! No reason to honker down because you’re not prepared for cold – wet – hot – humid weather changes. A leather jacket with a zip out lining is your first MUST as it provides you versatility. Add next a good quality leather vest for hot weather and protection. Next add for chaps. Whether you like plain or with fringe; lined for warmth or unlined your choice can be found economically on line. Also, leather shorts and leather 5 pocket jean style pants genuine leather will add to your comfort. You should have at least three pair of gloves being fingerless, full finger, and heavy lined.

Protect your eyes! When riding with open helmets you should consider eyewear that offers you custom designed foam eye pads to fit comfortably, and the CSF: Composite Shock Frames designed to fit snugly and hold their shape despite the abuse of the road. Interchangeable lenses offer you protection regardless of light conditions. Smoke Lenses for True Color Optics on bright Sunny days, Eye Lighter Yellow Lenses for Hazy days and low light conditions, and Crystal Vision Clear Lenses for Dusk to Dawn or overcast days where you still need to shield your eyes from flying debris. Regardless of which lens you have in the frame, you will block out the Full Spectrum of UV Radiation and the eye drying Infrared Radiation.

And where are you going to put all this gear for your fun and adventurous ride? You have a couple options here. Backpack or saddlebags. Over a long haul a back pack is not very comfortable – especially if you’re riding tandem. That leaves you with finding saddlebags the give you flexibility. For ample storage you would want to choose a good quality leather 7 piece luggage set. The other option is a 2 piece tour bag which you can find with unique patches and logos. Whichever you choose you need to make certain it’s quality leather and waterproof.

Get going, be prepared and have a great trip.

With the price of fuel still quite high a rising number of people will be using motorcycles as their primary mode of economical transportation.  Here are some tips to help make your venture most enjoyable. Basically – HAVE THE PROPER GEAR!

Let’s’ll start with helmets. Snell or DOT approved helmets are a MUST! You might say they’re not macho! Is lying on a slab in the morgue macho? Is being a quadriplegic macho? Riding helmetless is not macho – it’s stupid. Go find great looking DOT approved helmets. Hey – you might even find one that makes you macho.

Be prepared for all types of weather! No reason to honker down because you’re not prepared for cold – wet – hot – humid weather changes. A leather jacket with a zip out lining is your first choice as it provides you versatility. Add next a good quality leather vest for hot weather and protection. Next add for chaps. Whether you like plain or with fringe; lined for warmth or unlined your choice can be found economically on line. Also, leather shorts and leather 5 pocket jean style pants genuine leather will add to your comfort. You should have at least three pair of gloves being fingerless, full finger, and heavy lined.

Protect your eyes! When riding with open helmets you should consider eyewear that offers you custom designed foam eye pads to fit comfortably, and the CSF: Composite Shock Frames designed to fit snugly and hold their shape despite the abuse of the road. Interchangeable lenses offer you protection regardless of light conditions. Smoke Lenses for True Color Optics on bright Sunny days, Eye Lighter Yellow Lenses for Hazy days and low light conditions, and Crystal Vision Clear Lenses for Dusk to Dawn or overcast days where you still need to shield your eyes from flying debris. Regardless of which lens you have in the frame, you will block out the Full Spectrum of UV Radiation and the eye drying Infrared Radiation.

And where are you going to put all this gear for your fun and adventurous ride? You have a couple options here. Backpack or saddlebags. Over a long haul a back pack is not very comfortable – especially if you’re riding tandem. That leaves you with finding saddlebags the give you flexibility. For ample storage you would want to choose a good quality leather 7 piece luggage set. The other option is a 2 piece tour bag which you can find with unique patches and logos. Whichever you choose you need to make certain it’s quality leather and waterproof.

Get going, be prepared and have a great trip.

Waterproof Riding Boots are ideal for the novice or experienced rider. Dry feet will not only improve the comfort level, but it will also make the longer rides much more enjoyable. It is surprising that not many motorcycle owners have waterproof boots. This is because most riders do not know how useful these boots can be. If your friend is one of them, then giving him a pair could be a welcome way to dispel the ignorance. The waterproof leather boots can be stylish, light, protective and comfortable as well. They keep the feet dry and cozy, and make biking in wet weather a very comfortable experience.

Soft Saddlebags are ideal for carrying that extra gear that is so often needed on your bike trips. If your friend like to travel, a soft saddlebags is a perfect gift to give. They are not as costly as the leather ones, and are easy to lubber around. You can get imitation leather or genuine leather saddle bags. Another important advantage of a soft saddle bag is that it can be quite covering and hold large volumes simply by expanding. In fact, you cannot go wrong with a soft saddle bag.

Mesh Riding Jacket is an ideal jacket for those warm blustery days. It will provide protection, yet it won’t roast the rider. If your friend doesn’t have one yet, change the situation. A mesh jacket provides comfort likewise as protection during warm weather, when leather jackets become unthinkable. Most bike manufacturers are now also making mesh jackets and so many attractive options available in the market.

Cold-Weather Gloves are necessary for the chilly days. Cold-weather leather gloves are a great buy as they provide not only warmth but protection. They’re always welcome in chilly weather. For they come in a range of thickness, even if your friend has one, chances are he will have matchless of a different weights and warmth values.

Electric Vest or Jacket Liner is an essential gift for the hardy motorcycle rider. This is quite literally a memorable gift for any motorcyclist. There’s nothing like an electric vest to warm up the cockles on a bleak cold day. It does not only holds the body’s warmth but also adds to it. Warmer bodies can warm extremities, because the blood circulation improves. An electric vest can therefore not only warm your friend’s body but his nose, fingers and toes too.

Windshield is another essential accessory for the ardent cycle enthusiast. A full windshield is a great way to make your friend’s rides less fatiguing. Windshields reduce the wind blast hitting the rider. But do involve your friend in the selection process because the rider is the best person to decide the best in terms of height, aesthetics, compatibility with bikes etc.

Leather craftsman and Author Ethan O. Tanner explains the different types of Cycle gear the checklist for motorcycle accessories and adventures.

categories: Cycle gear,saddlebags,cycle gloves,cycle clothing,motorcycle accessories,hobbies,travel and leisure,fashion clothing,hobbies,clothing,travel and leisure,fashion

If you are a first time bike owner you probably didn’t understand the deep love you’d have your bike. Although, undoubtedly it was love at first sight, it wasn’t quite apparent to you just how much you cared. It wasn’t even the moment you first straddled your bike that you truly comprehended the shear awe you’d have for your bike. Not until you rode it around the block for the first time did you realize just how important the piece of machinery that is between your legs is to you. It wasn’t until then that it became clear to you that you had found your first true love. And from that moment on you vowed to protect and care for your bike like you have never protected or cared for anything else in your entire life. As soon as you got home from your first 500 mile road trip, you came home, you cleaned your bike, and you immediately went online to look at motorcycle covers.

You also realized right then you were never going to separate from your bike for more time that was necessary, and daydreamed about taking trips with just you and your bike. Knowing that you are going to do everything but shower and sleep on your bike you also decide you are going to need some motorcycle saddlebags for your bike. You want to make your adventures as easy as possible, and let’s face it, the prospect of having to ride with a heavy back pack on doesn’t sound too fun. In your search for quality, yet affordable gear for your bike, you should take a moment and visit leatherup.com. At leatherup.com you will find all the stuff you need to fill your saddlebags. For long trips it is always wise to bring along rain gear, and of course extra clothing. If you pack right, you can be on the road for days at a time with not a care in the world except for where you going to stop to use the restroom.

Of course now that you’ve found all the gear for road trips, you may find it wise to have a tank bag so you have convenient and easy access to things you use most often for when you are just heading to work or out for an afternoon ride. Tank bags come in handy when you don’t want your pockets encumbered with little things that jab your legs.

When you purchase a motorcycle, chances are you are going to get the basic product with no additional customization unless you buy from a private seller who has already decked out their motorcycle with lots of extras.  There are hundreds of items that can be purchased to customize your ride just the way you like it.  The sky is the limit when it comes to motorcycle customization, you just have to pick and choose what you want based on your preferences and your budget.

The front fender of your motorcycle can be customized in a number of different ways.  It can be custom painted to look the way you want.  You can also purchase chrome trim to give it a little extra chrome flash.  The front rims can also be customized with chrome trim to match the front fender.

The headlights are one of the more important pieces of equipment on your motorcycle.  Nobody has ever said less light is better, so one option you have is adding more light units to your headlight system.  Headlight mount kits can be purchased for just about any motorcycle and can be easily attached to your motorcycle to add an extra light on either side of your original headlight.  This gives you twice the seeing power at night, and a little extra notice ability during the day which increases your safety level.  

When it comes to the engine there are a number of possibilities for customization.  You can purchase chrome rivets, caps, and covers for just about any part of the engine that you can see.  Instead of having the dull metal coloring that usually comes stock on bikes straight out of the factory, you can now add chrome covering to give it more flash and appeal.  The gas tank can also be custom painted to match the front fender if you had it painted.  For a little added convenience, you can throw on some highway bars to give your bike a little extra character.

If you’re not satisfied with the way the stock exhaust sounds on your motorcycle, then there is always the option of throwing on some custom exhaust to give your bike a better, louder sound and in most cases, a little more efficiency.  Since custom exhaust systems are typically lighter and tuned better than the stock factory exhaust systems that are installed, they often contribute to better gas mileage and fuel efficiency.  

There are a number of different options available for the back end of the motorcycle.  If you’re looking to add luggage space, you can install saddle bags of any size to fit your needs.  Saddlebags can be purchased in leather or in hard case, often fiberglass or plastic, to give it a more structured feel.  The hard saddlebags can be painted if you’ve got a certain color in mind.  You can also install a luggage rack on the back to provide more storage space if that is what you need.

When it comes to customizing your motorcycle there are hundreds of possibilities and if you have the resources to do so, you can customize just about every external part you can find to give your motorcycle that custom look and feel.

Saddle bags are a great addition to your saddle. From its original leather material, saddle bags are now made out of synthetic material. There are different kinds of Saddle bags that can fit your needs.

An important part of the equine track, since the first saddle was invented, is a saddle bag. It is a great addition to your saddle. Since there are things that a person likes to carry with him, saddle bags are good for:
? water bottles
? rain coat
? cell phones and others

Saddle bags are originally made from leather. At current, equine saddle bags are made out of synthetic material. Examples of these synthetic materials include:
? Condura Nylon
? Canvas

Some nice-looking saddle bags available have soft linings on the backside. An example of a soft-lining saddle bag is the Fleece. Soft lining bags are used in order to prevent the bag from chaffing your horse. With this, you can consider how much load you want to take before choosing a saddle bag for your horse or mule. Of course, choose the one that best fit your needs.
Trailmax Saddle Bag System also offers a removable cantle bag. This is very easy to pack and load. It is even lined with removable foam insuliners. This helps protect delicate baggage. When properly and securely attached, this bag will not slap against the horse’s flanks.

Aside from this, it is made from 1,000 denier nylon with two sizes and six colors. The western saddlebags of TrailMax are also durable. You can use machine wash on it.

For the trail rider, a Synergist Saddles’ saddle bag is appropriate for the conventional look. It comes in large or small sizes. It can fit with any Western or endurance saddles made by any manufacturer.

Large Saddle Bag
Measurement: 11″ across with 5″ gusset
Small Saddle Bag
Measurement: 8.5″ across with a 3″ gusset
Colors:
- Black
- Brown
- Mahogany
- Saddle Tan and
- Natural

It is important to load your horse saddle bags on your saddle so as to be:
? equal in size
? equal in weight and
? equal in weight distribution

Your horse saddle bags can have a heavy weight. Hence, it cannot adjust in the saddle like a rider.

Equal Size
TrailMax Horse Saddle Bags have equal sizes in their models. TrailMax Saddle Bags are of the same size on each side, regardless of the design or material.

Equal Weight
When loaded, make sure that each side of your horse saddle bags is within a few ounces of each other.

TrailMax Packers Scale is easy to:
? read
? lightweight and
? designed to allow one person to weigh items without assistance

Equal Weight Distribution
It is important to balance your heavy stuff on both sides evenly. Riding saddles can make you slip to the heavier side if it is not evenly placed. Aside from this, it is uncomfortable and hazardous riding down the trail with a heavy saddle on one side.

Some horses can carry more than others can. Consider the following:
? The size of the horse.
? The conditioning of the horse.
? The build of the horse.
? The attitude of the horse.
? The age of the horse.
? The size, fit, and weight of saddle.
? The ability of a saddle to distribute weight.
? The weight of the rider.
? The design of the horse saddle bags
? The distance of the ride
? The weather

The horse can carry load better over the front quarters as compared to behind the saddle. You can use horn bags for heavier gear like:
- Water
- Camera
- binoculars and others

The Cavalry Style Western Saddlebags
These saddlebags are handcrafted. It can outlast any other saddlebag available. Cavalry Style Western Saddlebags are available in two styles:
? Three-buckle full size or
? Two-buckle ¾ size

The TrailMax Pommel Pocket
This little gear bag is good for those little things you need closer to you. It will fit over your horn bags as well.

The Economy Western Saddlebags
It is made from the same 1,000 denier nylon with a Velcro flap closure. These saddle bags are simple but heavy duty. It is machine washable. It has removable foam insuliners that protect your baggage. It is attached to the saddle’s front rigging, along with leather tie straps. Thus, it also has grommets for saddle string attachment.

Sport Bike Saddle Bags

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I have been a personal trainer for three years now and the most common area woman want to tone or fix is the butt and hamstring area. It does not matter age, fitness level, ethnicity, or body type, I always hear clients asking how they can decrease cellulite and lift the bottom. A common terminology for this type of the body is known as the saddlebag. I have created a saddlebag busting workout to really tone the gluteus maximus as well as the hamstrings.  Why is this a problem area for women? And how can one maximize results? To answer these common questions it is important to understand that region of the body. The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the body while the hamstrings also a large muscle group are often underdeveloped because the quadriceps are overdeveloped. If the quadriceps are super strong and the hamstrings whenever you are performing an exercise that works both muscle groups the quads will work harder to help the hamstrings and the hamstrings will lose benefit of the exercise.

One of the greatest misconceptions is that small isolating movements such as being on hands and knees and doing leg lifts will spot reduce or tone the muscles. Because the muscle groups are so large in order to see any results will require using heavy challenging weights. Most clients look at me like I have four heads when I tell them this. They emphasize they do not want to bulk up. I always counter and ask them if they have ever seen a woman with a muscular behind that was too bulky or hamstrings that were too defined. Muscle development must happen to reduce the appearance of cellulite as well as to produce muscle definition. I have compiled four exercises to incorporate into your workout today if this is a trouble place for you. I will not list weights or reps because there is no one size fits all work-out routine. If you are a beginner I recommend starting with 10lbs. If you can finish your sets easily it is time to up that weight. If you have been doing the exercises and are not seeing results by 4 weeks then you should REALLY be upping that weight.

1. 1.)    CURTSY SQUAT

Beginner weight for this exercise is ten pounds. Start with feet shoulder width apart, squat down on the up movement lift right leg off the ground and circle behind the left performing a curtsy. Repeat on left leg.

1. 2.)    COMBO LUNGE

The combo lunge is my favorite. Beginning weight 10 pounds. Perform a lunge with the right leg. Lift the back (left) leg forward and step out to the side performing a squat. Repeat on other side. This exercise can be done walking or stationary.

1. 3.)    ONE LEGGED DEAD LIFT

I reccomend using at least ten pounds as a starting weight. Standing on one leg with weights at hips tilt forward causing the leg to go backwards and the upper body slowly lower forwards with a flat back. Return to standing and repeat all reps before switching legs.

1. 4.)    REVERSE CURLS WITH STABILITY BALL

Using a large stability ball lay on your back with heels on stability ball. squeezing glutes lift lower back and butt off the ground. Pull heels toward bottom causing hamstrings to contract. This is a body weight exercise and does not require additional weight.

For a comprehensive full body workout with guaranteed results check out the Art of Weightlifting today. You will have acces to videos of how to perform these exercises correctly and how incorporate them into your fitness routine! Banish those saddlebags TODAY!

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