The oldest grandson just turn 14, so the reason that I put the rear seat back on Traveller was to share the wind with him. I figure that I only have a couple of more years that it will still be "cool" to ride on the back of Paw-Paw's bike. Well, my back to back is still waiting for a visa in Africa and I have some extra time at home, so I figured what better time than now to get him on the road for a weekend and see how he likes 500-600 miles on a bike - an overnighter.
He is still using my wife's helmet, but didnt have any riding gear. Well, it was a PROUD MOMENT IN MY LIFE - taking my 14 year old grandson to get geared up! Since this was a spur of the moment thing, I didnt have time to order stuff for him, but there is a Cycle Gear shop here in town. The BiLT stuff is good. Before we went there, I got him alone and checked if he wanted to do it - YOU BETCHA (perhaps he has been talking to TP and Nancy too much.)
Checked with his mom to make sure it was cool with her -- You betcha! (Hmmmm, maybe I need to check her facebook friends as well).
Well, down to the store to dress the young lad out.
It is wicked hot here right now, so I wanted to go with some mesh gear for him. First came a jacket (with removable quilted liner). With liner out, yep, should be cool enough.
The guy there was a HUGE HELP. Same guy that helped me with the tires before Inzane.
Checked the jacket out - good jacket - just needed a bit better armor in the back - so for $20, got an updated rear insert. Ok, cool - now some breathable pants that he can wear alone or over shorts. Looked at the Kevlar jeans, but none his size or inseam, so we opted for breathable mesh and they had good knee protection.
Some boots with water protection - Ok....now this was the surprise - found a clearance pair that sold for $156 that was on sale for $15 - yep, that is right - $15 for boots - zip up sides and waterproof.
Well, good pair of inexpensive mesh gloves with adequate knuckle protection and a cool head helmet liner and he was ready to go.
So he should be ready to ride. Man, he was so pumped getting geared up and appreciated it. I think he is looking forward to a couple of days of riding - I KNOW I AM!!!!!
It was a proud moment in the life of a motorcycle enthusiast paw-paw - getting the grand lad geared up! WHOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOO! Let a new chapter of riding open up for us!!!! I can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!!!
