Meet Motorcycle Superstore’s Product Specialist, Melody D. She’s arguably the most die-hard rider on our entire team. Scratch that, she IS ABSOLUTELY the most die-hard rider here. Rain, shine, sleet, snow, frost, freezing fog, you name it and you’ll still see her bike in the parking lot every morning.
Do you ride every day, through all four seasons? We’d love to hear your stories as well.
Check out Melody’s latest blog post to see what drives such dedication for two wheeled travel:
First, a little about Melody D:
Growing up in Southern Oregon, the Oregon sand dunes were Melody's introduction to the world of motorcycling. Who knew a mini Honda 50 would fuel what would become a roaring passion for anything with handlebars and a motor? Be it sand, track or street, Melody loves to ride. Day, night, rain or shine, two-wheeled therapy is an everyday thing for this enthusiast.
Her thirst for speed and corners is matched only by her love for the sound of a revving motor and the smell of race fuel. She joined Motorcycle Superstore in 2008 in an effort to help offset the cost of chasing an increasing desire to dabble in every type of motorcycling. Melody is a retired motorcycle safety instructor who continues to encourage new riders and promote a safer environment through constant training, both on and off the street. When she's not saddled up racking up the miles, Melody enjoys camping, fishing, maintaining a fleet of bikes, and spending time with her husband and two dogs. Life on two wheels, what a beautiful thing!
It’s 20 degrees and a freezing fog has settled over the Rogue Valley, again, creating an eerie silence. Condensation in the air crystallizes and forms into a beautiful extension of every surface around as Old Man Winter and Mother Nature collide. The streets are turning white and the world gets that quiet hush as it always does when it snows.
In the pre-dawn hours, I arrive at work and park in my designated space. As I sit at my desk, sipping my coffee, my head is already concocting a list of ill-humored comebacks for those two words that I know I will hear over and over again before the day is over: “Are you crazy, or insane?”
See…I’m an avid motorcyclist and I ride about 350 days here in the Pacific Northwest; rain or shine, whatever. I have outfitted my BMW K1200R with hand mitts, heated grips and an oversized windscreen. I’ve even got carbon fiber spikes for my shoes for when street surfaces get a little slick. I wear a Scorpion EXO-400 Snowmobile Helmet with a dual shield, an Alpinestars Jacket with Gore-Tex and a pair of Joe Rocket Women’s Alter Ego Pants. A cup holder for my java and a heated seat would be enough to ensconce me in a warm cocoon just like the caged commuters surrounding me.
So, I can’t for the life of me figure out why I get that question all the time. I know I’m not the only enthusiast here at Motorcycle Superstore nor even on the planet. Heck, my grandfather would entertain me with stories of his evening commute while pushing Pennsylvania snow with the front tire of his Harley. And YouTube is just full of videos of riders blasting down heavily snow-covered roads on their enduros, sport bikes or cruisers.
I realize our winters are pretty mild in comparison to other parts of the U.S. and I don’t believe any rider should put themselves at risk just for the sake of riding. It’s a personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves. Every day I weigh the benefits I receive from my ride in, versus the 20 pounds of gear I must don for ride, but it’s always the journey that wins.
So, why do I have to be either one? Can’t I simply be someone who is appreciated for their overwhelming desire to ride? Dave Karlotski’s “Season of the Bike” and Graham’s “Why We Ride” speak to me on a level some recreational riders just don’t understand. Motorcycle blogs, such as these, just further spark my passion to climb aboard my motorcycle every morning and brave the elements, despite the cold or the risks. And it creates a bone-wrenching angst that comes on at the mere thought of leaving the bike at home, even for a day.
As the days grow longer, I am looking forward to clear clean pavement and the sun warming my back as my typical commute home grows to more than double the time and distance. But until spring, I’ll take what I can get.
In my humble opinion, one does not have to ride 365 days to be considered a motorcycle nut, but it’s those whose very core is rattled by Dave and Graham’s heartfelt words that are truly the hardcore riders of the motorcycling world. So perhaps, just maybe, everyone’s opinion of me and other like-minded people are a little correct and I, for one, am rather proud of it. ~Melody D.
You can keep up with the Superstore team’s exploits in the Motorcycle Superstore blog section of the website, and even subscribe to the RSS feed to stay up-to-date on everything from musings on motorcycle riding, to industry insiders news, to featured products, to product highlight videos.
Here at Motorcycle Superstore, we’ve got all the gear you need to stay warm and safe, even through a winter on two wheels. Check out our huge selection of heated gear, waterproof gear, heated grips, full-face helmets, balaclavas, and so much more.
Or click here for huge savings on everything you need to extend your riding season:
www.motorcycle-superstore.com/692/MNGR/Extend-Riding-Season-with-Cold-Weather-Riding-Gear-from-Motorcycle-Superstore.aspx
If you do ride through all four seasons, as always, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got plenty of tread left on your motorcycle tires, take advantage of the wind and weather protection offered by a full-face motorcycle helmet, weather-resistant cold-weather motorcycle gear, warm and protective motorcycle jackets and waterproof, insulated motorcycle boots for the winter weather, as well. If you have any trouble finding something you’re looking for, we’ll help you track it down!
Do you ride every day, through all four seasons? We’d love to hear your stories as well.
Check out Melody’s latest blog post to see what drives such dedication for two wheeled travel:
First, a little about Melody D:
Growing up in Southern Oregon, the Oregon sand dunes were Melody's introduction to the world of motorcycling. Who knew a mini Honda 50 would fuel what would become a roaring passion for anything with handlebars and a motor? Be it sand, track or street, Melody loves to ride. Day, night, rain or shine, two-wheeled therapy is an everyday thing for this enthusiast.
Her thirst for speed and corners is matched only by her love for the sound of a revving motor and the smell of race fuel. She joined Motorcycle Superstore in 2008 in an effort to help offset the cost of chasing an increasing desire to dabble in every type of motorcycling. Melody is a retired motorcycle safety instructor who continues to encourage new riders and promote a safer environment through constant training, both on and off the street. When she's not saddled up racking up the miles, Melody enjoys camping, fishing, maintaining a fleet of bikes, and spending time with her husband and two dogs. Life on two wheels, what a beautiful thing!
Crazy or Insane?
It’s 20 degrees and a freezing fog has settled over the Rogue Valley, again, creating an eerie silence. Condensation in the air crystallizes and forms into a beautiful extension of every surface around as Old Man Winter and Mother Nature collide. The streets are turning white and the world gets that quiet hush as it always does when it snows.
In the pre-dawn hours, I arrive at work and park in my designated space. As I sit at my desk, sipping my coffee, my head is already concocting a list of ill-humored comebacks for those two words that I know I will hear over and over again before the day is over: “Are you crazy, or insane?”
See…I’m an avid motorcyclist and I ride about 350 days here in the Pacific Northwest; rain or shine, whatever. I have outfitted my BMW K1200R with hand mitts, heated grips and an oversized windscreen. I’ve even got carbon fiber spikes for my shoes for when street surfaces get a little slick. I wear a Scorpion EXO-400 Snowmobile Helmet with a dual shield, an Alpinestars Jacket with Gore-Tex and a pair of Joe Rocket Women’s Alter Ego Pants. A cup holder for my java and a heated seat would be enough to ensconce me in a warm cocoon just like the caged commuters surrounding me.
So, I can’t for the life of me figure out why I get that question all the time. I know I’m not the only enthusiast here at Motorcycle Superstore nor even on the planet. Heck, my grandfather would entertain me with stories of his evening commute while pushing Pennsylvania snow with the front tire of his Harley. And YouTube is just full of videos of riders blasting down heavily snow-covered roads on their enduros, sport bikes or cruisers.
I realize our winters are pretty mild in comparison to other parts of the U.S. and I don’t believe any rider should put themselves at risk just for the sake of riding. It’s a personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves. Every day I weigh the benefits I receive from my ride in, versus the 20 pounds of gear I must don for ride, but it’s always the journey that wins.
So, why do I have to be either one? Can’t I simply be someone who is appreciated for their overwhelming desire to ride? Dave Karlotski’s “Season of the Bike” and Graham’s “Why We Ride” speak to me on a level some recreational riders just don’t understand. Motorcycle blogs, such as these, just further spark my passion to climb aboard my motorcycle every morning and brave the elements, despite the cold or the risks. And it creates a bone-wrenching angst that comes on at the mere thought of leaving the bike at home, even for a day.
As the days grow longer, I am looking forward to clear clean pavement and the sun warming my back as my typical commute home grows to more than double the time and distance. But until spring, I’ll take what I can get.
In my humble opinion, one does not have to ride 365 days to be considered a motorcycle nut, but it’s those whose very core is rattled by Dave and Graham’s heartfelt words that are truly the hardcore riders of the motorcycling world. So perhaps, just maybe, everyone’s opinion of me and other like-minded people are a little correct and I, for one, am rather proud of it. ~Melody D.
You can keep up with the Superstore team’s exploits in the Motorcycle Superstore blog section of the website, and even subscribe to the RSS feed to stay up-to-date on everything from musings on motorcycle riding, to industry insiders news, to featured products, to product highlight videos.
Here at Motorcycle Superstore, we’ve got all the gear you need to stay warm and safe, even through a winter on two wheels. Check out our huge selection of heated gear, waterproof gear, heated grips, full-face helmets, balaclavas, and so much more.
Or click here for huge savings on everything you need to extend your riding season:
www.motorcycle-superstore.com/692/MNGR/Extend-Riding-Season-with-Cold-Weather-Riding-Gear-from-Motorcycle-Superstore.aspx
If you do ride through all four seasons, as always, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got plenty of tread left on your motorcycle tires, take advantage of the wind and weather protection offered by a full-face motorcycle helmet, weather-resistant cold-weather motorcycle gear, warm and protective motorcycle jackets and waterproof, insulated motorcycle boots for the winter weather, as well. If you have any trouble finding something you’re looking for, we’ll help you track it down!
Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145441&goto=newpost
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