bikeriter

I´ve always said, "No matter what kind of crap day you´ve had, or what kind of crap day you´re about to have, the split second you throw a leg over your bike everything´s good, and by the time you´ve ridden 20 feet you´re a brand new man on a beautiful day." The luggage on the bike stays on the bike all the time. In it I carry rain gear, various cold weather riding gear, cleaning supplies, oil, tools, maps, battery water and a bike cover. There´s plenty of empty space, too, for the periodic trip to the store. During warm weather months I store the cold weather gear, and on a trip I lose most of the cleaning stuff to make room for tent, sleeping bag, mattress, food and clothes. I´m in the process of retiring my old, beat up tank bag in favor of a new one. Two indispensible items shown in the picture are: the big round ´trunk´ which serves as a back rest and storage area, and the thermostat located on the tank just in front of the seat. The thermostat hooks up to my electric gloves and, for long rides in seriously cold weather, my electric pants. The electric gloves alone make a huge difference in cold weather. I´m a strong believer in riding in perfect comfort irrespective of weather. I don´t want the distraction of being uncomfortable. It´s a safety matter as much as anything. I sometimes substitute the backpack on the luggage rack for an ice chest since a cold beer at the end of a long ride is another of life´s great pleasures.