Dutch Treat 2013

In 2011, I rode to 162 Dutch Bros coffee locations as a fundraiser for Shelly’s House of Salem, Oregon.  Last year, I rode to several more DB locations that weren’t open in 2011.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get them all as I just couldn’t fit a ride back to Phoenix, Arizona into my schedule.  I have no such excuse this year.

Tomorrow I head out to visit all the stores I haven’t been to yet.  Beginning Tuesday afternoon, I’ll start a four day sweep of 27 DB locations.  My route will take me through Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.  The total ride (minus the 1300 miles to get to Phoenix) will be around 2700 miles in 80 hours or so.

You can follow me via the internet here:

http://paulpeloquin.blogspot.com/

and here:

https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=6dce51ae86aa3044b

No hacking required

Here's a follow up on my iPhone mount post.  What you see is one of those model-specific parts I mentioned a couple of days ago.  No hacking required.  The Ram-Bone is has a RAM ball mount on a five inch aluminum shaft.  Its designed specifically for the Yamaha FJR, and utilizes the front fuel tank bolts located just aft of the steering yoke. 

I'm going to try this location for the iPhone. It's a lot lower and out of my field of view than most of my equipment, but as I said, I'm running short on dash space.  We'll see how it works out.

Glove up

It rained like crazy the first 30 hours of the 2007 Iron Butt Rally.  I did an audio blog that rally and made a couple of entries about how soaking wet I was and how it took three times longer to do anything in the rain than in the dry.  Matt Watkins later nick-named it the Blog of Despair.  But I learned a valuable lesson that rally.

Gear that claims to be waterproof, isn’t.  The gloves on the far right of the photo will not be making the trip to Pittsburgh with me.  The work fine if you never take them off.  Once your hands are just a little bit damp, the Gore-Tex liner wants to come out with your hand as you take the glove off.  Once that happens it’s all but impossible to put the gloves back on.  The lining binds and digits just don’t fit back into the fingers as they should.  It’s an absolute nightmare.

The mid-weight Olympia gloves on the second to the right make no claim to be waterproof.  In fact, they soak right through.  They do, however, keep your hands pretty warm even when sopping wet and go on and off just as easily wet or dry.  These gloves never leave my right saddlebag unless I’m wearing them.

The two other pair of gloves are Held brand. The Steve Classic (far left) isn’t quite as comfy as the original Steve model and getting them on and off is a bit of a hassle.  I don’t remember the name of the model second from the left. I got a screaming deal on close out, and it offers fantastic protection in the event of a fall.  It’s just too slow going on and off to work as an LD glove for me.

None of these are my favorite glove.  That distinction goes to the Held Steve model that is no longer produced.  I still have a pair that might have one IBR in them.  I think they and the Olys will be what I take.

p.s. The new Held Nambi model looks like it has potential.  The shorter cuff might be an advantage.   I should check them out.

Phone Hack

I’m not the handiest guy in the world, more of a hack, which is why I prefer my motorcycle modifications to be off-the-shelf whenever possible.  Unfortunately, my recent experience adding an iPhone to my rally resources is more typical than not.

• I  want a smart phone
• Brother Daryl has an iPhone with Lifeproof case he really likes
• Lifeproof has a slick GoPro mount system that I really like
• By the time I get around to purchasing the phone and case, Lifeproof doesn’t offer the GoPro mount any longer
• The Lifeproof handlebar mount won’t fit the FJR because I don’t have tubular handle bars
• RAM doesn’t make a dedicated mount for Lifeproof cases
• I don’t like or trust the non-locking, universal mount from RAM
• I buy the Lifeproof locking belt clip and hack it up with a RAM ball mount

Actually, things went better that I expected.  I think I'll have a secure mount when all is said and done.  I haven’t decided where the iPhone is going to be mounted.  I'm strongly considering putting it in between the handle bars as dash space is getting slim.   More to follow.