THANKS FOR STOPPING BY - IF THIS GUIDE IS HELPFUL PLEASE VOTE YES BELOW.

OK - From a Lady rider.  When I do silly things like dropping my bike and hitting my head on the curb - this would be going about 3 mph in a parking lot (not my favorite place to ride), I prefer getting yellow paint on my new helmet from the curb, than a trip to the Emergency Room and/or morgue.  So YES I'm officially switching to the HELMET as necessary gear.

Next item, the jacket - LEATHER preferred, but the textile jackets that are out now are just as protective and much cooler in the incredibly amazing global warming trend - record breaking heat in several US states, although now that it is officially fall, almost winter, the weather is changing to fall-like, leather-necessary temperatures.  I buy a leather jacket one size too big - needs to be roomy so that I can layer up, and layer down as the sun heats me up standing around after a short ride to an event held on a blacktop parking lot - did I mention I don't care for parking lots?

Yes, I've been know to ride mesh textile riding pants ... with the liners believe it or not they are almost as warm as leather chaps.  Either way get those legs warm somehow.  If you have a sport bike, the heat comes from the engine, a cruiser with pipes on both sides, some rises to meet the legs going down the road, but if you have a softail with two pipes on one side, your left side feels left out in the cold literally.  I usually put on all the gear, and if I'm not hot at all when I stand outside completely geared up, then I know going down the road I'll be just right, but that's just me.  The absolute coldest place for me is between the helmet and the collar of my coat - my neck and ears.  I made some real quick knit scarfs that just fit in that space, perfect.  Of course there are neck gators, etc. for this purpose.

I wanted to talk about what ladies wear on a bike.  I wasn't born yesterday.  I know the mental image people have of ladies on bikes, but I've been in a motorcycle accident that really messed up my life for a long time, I ride safe.  I've dropped both of my bikes along the way.  The protection I was wearing saved me much grief.

Oh, and something else I've recently discovered is REI Hiking Socks.  Yep, hiking socks, that also is for all the standing around that we do at Biker Rallies, Runs, Events, etc.  The socks wick away moisture, so keep your feet dry, and they hug your feet, no bunching in the boots.   Did I mention boots that cover my Ankles?

RIDE SAFE - WATCH OUT FOR THOSE PARKING LOTS - no one expects to see a motorcycle.  They're watching for a parking place. (I currently ride an '07 Yamaha FJR1300.)