News
Ride On newsletter - April 2017
By Mario
Air-conditioned helmets, Avalon Biddle update, and indicating motorcycle gloves, plus lots more!
News
By Mario
Air-conditioned helmets, Avalon Biddle update, and indicating motorcycle gloves, plus lots more!
Downpours and cyclones aside, there has still been plenty of great riding weather this Autumn. Plus, of course, the international race season has started, including for our own Avalon Biddle in WSS 300. We have an update on her progress below, as well as stories about air conditioned helmets, gloves with in-built direction indicators plus an exclusive offer from Saint Apparel for you as a Ride On reader!
If you missed the Steve Feher piece on Stuff its worth having a read. The story is about an American inventor, Steve Feher, and his design for an air-conditioned helmet. Encouragingly, Steve is a rider himself and the helmet has already passed safety certification. Could be just the job on a hot summers day:
'Finally, a way to keep a cool head on a motorcycle'Steve Feher article on Stuff
Steve Feher, inventor of the air-conditioned helmet.
Hows this for a cool deal? The folk at Saint Apparel have an exclusive offer of $50 off their normal prices on any purchase of motorcycle jeans, available to Ride On subscribers until the 9th August 2017. Just go to Saint website and enter the code NEWRIDERS when purchasing:
Saint website
Saint's Unbreakable denim range.
Things didn't work out so well for Avalon Biddle in round one of the World Supersport 300 Championship at Aragon. A crash in Superpole meant a grid position of 28, but it turned out to be immaterial when a technical problem led to a DNF (did not finish) in the race. The next round, at Assen, is imminent, so well bring you an update post-race or you can check out Avs Facebook page:
Avalon Biddle Racing on Facebook
Go Av!
The author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig, passed away on ANZAC day aged 88. The Minneapolis native struck a chord in many riders over the years, particularly those who started riding in the 1960s and 70s. Although the book is about many things, it is at least in part a homage to the unique joys of motorcycling.
Robert doing what he knew bestmotorcycle maintenance.
We spotted a story on the technology website New Atlas about SignalWear who've developed smart motorcycle gloves that help indicate your direction. Could be handy for turning or moving to the left, but were not so sure about the left-hand-pointing-right, behind-your-head technique shown in the video. As it says, though, a pillion can indicate both ways. The company, SignalWear, is looking for funding via Kickstarter to put the gloves into production.
New Atlas article 'Smart motorcycle gloves promise better visibility for riders'
See the SignalWear gloves in action on YouTube
SignalWear indicating gloves in action.
This coming Queens Birthday weekend3rd and 4th of Junemarks the 37th running of Central Otagos Brass Monkey Rally. Held at Idaburn Dam, Oturehua, its an iconic Kiwi motorcycling event that should be on any riders bucket list. Although aptly named, there's a huge bonfire to warm you up (and free soup), live music and loads of events and displays to take in. Check it all out on the Brass Monkey website and start searching for your warmest riding gear in the cupboard:
37th Annual Brass Monkey Rally 2017
Get your mum to sew on your Brass Monkey patch ready for the rally.
Thats all for this edition of Ride On. If you have any news youd like to share, contact us. Be sure to visit for more news, articles and reviews as well as details on the Ride Forever on-road coaching programme. Until next time, stay warm, dry and shiny side up!
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