Thursday, August 21, 2008

Avoid the Wet Head

I got only one fewer comment on my second post than my first. I guess the excitement is leveling off.

With the concern over "Hurricane" Fay fading and the excitement over TS Fay building, I thought I would comment on the multi-purpose helmet cover.
I bought my first one when I was heading into cold weather riding a couple of years ago. It was a good purchase and it made a world of difference in my body comfort level. Because it covers the vent holes in the helmet, it not only keeps the cold air from massaging this old bald head, but it keeps the body heat from escaping as quickly and most of your body heat escapes through the top of your head.
The helmet cover is like the cheap shower caps that are found in motels. It's a piece of fabric that has elastic around the edges that hold it on the helmet when it's stretched over the top. Because it stretches and takes the shape of the helmet it has a cool look to it, providing your helmet has a cool shape. Maybe it's not cool like Hanna Montana, but it's better than riding around with one of those motel shower caps on you helmet. It does work like a shower cap, however, so it keeps the rain from running into your eyes. For $15 or $20 you get something to keep you warmer in the cooler weather, then when it rains, it keeps the rain from running down into your face.
I learned to keep the sweat from running into my eyes during my first summer of hot weather riding by wearing a Headsweat. That made riding in the heat a lot more tolerable, like maybe 10 or 15 degrees cooler. I don't like riding in the rain but when I have to the helmet cover makes the unplanned event a lot easier to put up with. With the trunk rack and bag keeping the muddy stripe off my back and the helmet cover keeping the rain out of my face I just have to keep the front wheel straight so the water hits the down tube and not my cool yellow shirt.
It would be nice if the company would spring for the attachable mud guard that fits on the down tube but I can understand how it is necessary to not buy frivolous things. The people in charge of deciding what to purchase have bonuses to consider.

I have a lot to say about riding in the heat. I should get it posted by the time cool weather rolls around.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Where am I going?

Well, that went better that expected. Thank you Digger, at least I know I got out.
Now that I know what the "labels" are for maybe I'll get double the comments this time.

I believe that when people come together for a common good it works much better for the group than when a bunch of individuals are looking out for themselves. I guess that would be dependent on who the "individual" is, and if their is a perceived need for a "common good". I do remember somewhere in history, something about "united we stand". I know the company likes it when we act as individuals because they can ignore us when it's in their interest, or just when they don't want to bother with our concerns. Once again, I assume someone has concerns.
I'm getting too close to "bitching" and I didn't want to generate negative energy here so I'll use this as a turning point and move in a more positive, self serving, direction.

I will put my thoughts into this blog and in the process expect to be able to sort them out a bit. I fully expect to get some clarification and/or understanding of myself as a result. I'll start out with putting the lessons, and questions resulting from my experiences in written form. If someone would like to add to, or question what is written, feel free. Topics I intend to cover are things like "clothing for when the humidity is higher than the temperature", "tips for not running over paying guests", equipment, what to look for and where to get it", "attitude: if it isn't everything, it's one of the top 5," "is being a wrench a want or a need"? and others that will unfold as time moves along. I will attempt two or three entries a week but if I do one I will be at peace with myself.

Peace

Monday, August 11, 2008

What's this about?

I've been looking for a way to gather and share information between a small, but growing, group of Security "Hosts" who work in and around resorts. I have no experience with "blogging" and I'm not interested in being identified as a "blogger". If this achieves the goal of making me and other people who ride bikes in a security oriented environment, a little more skilled, a little more comfortable, or just a little less stupid, then a "blogger" I will become.

Who is the intended audiant? (If "audiant" isn't a real word it should be. It's my blog).
We are not typical "Bike Patrol" as we aren't restricted to parking lots, nor do we have enforcement duties. A "Rover" who works during the day has experiences and priorities that are different than the "Rover" who works afternoons or nights. We see our duties differently, however, we all get sore butts, chaffing, banged up knees and sweaty pitts. We have all done things that we made a mental note to never do again. Good experience is often a result of a bad experience. We've had "Ah Ha" moments and done things that we feel really good about. We've done things that were so cool that we wish somebody had been around to witness it, and we've been grateful at times, when nobody was around to observe our blunders.
It is intended that this be a positive outlet for sharing our individual wealth of knowledge and experience so that we might be able to get the benefit of "good experience" without having to go through the "bad experience" part. I don't think identifying our specific work location or employer will serve any purpose other than getting the company legal department excited. I also don't want to see this become a place to bitch about what terrible employers we work for. (If you don't like where your at, move. Changing locations may be scary but it is far easier than trying to change the world to your liking. Wayne Dyer, who I respect and admire, said "If you don't like the way things look, change the way you look at things". It takes very little effort, it works, and it puts you in control of your situation. Best of all, your friends and family don't have to listen to you complain). If someone is able to identify, and relocate to a place they would rather be as a result of what they read here, then we all will be better off and being better is what this is supposed to be about.

Your input and/or response is welcomed at this point.

RR Ryder