Cooler Weather

I tried out my new gloves on a recent morning.

I also installed one of the two liners in my jacket.

September in Kansas can seem like two different seasons sometimes. Average high temperatures around 80, but it seems that we never hit exactly on the averages. In some years summer seems to hang on and we get highs around 90, while in other years it feels a lot more like fall.

This year, August was unseasonably cool and rainy, and I was afraid that September would turn out to be hot. It doesn't seem right to go to a Friday night football game when it is 90 degrees outside. But, it has been very pleasant this year.

Fall is my favorite time of year. Cooler weather, leaves turning color, football games and relaxing on our screened in back porch (keeps the bugs out) are just some of the things I enjoy.

I remember how surprised I am about riding in cooler weather, that the wind chill seems to increase exponentially as the temperature drops. Even at 60 degrees, it can be brisk when riding at 30 mph. At 50 degrees it is much, much cooler, etc. We have had some recent morning lows around 40 degrees.

I remember last winter that I sometimes had 6 or 7 layers of clothing on. I wear my gear over my work clothing when I commute. My legs don't seem to get as cold as my chest and arms, so don't wear as many layers on my legs, but do have long underwear if needed.

It sure seems like the summer has passed by quickly. But I sure do like the cooler weather that comes in the fall. It means bundling up a little more on the scooter, but I don't mind. In fact, I find it invigorating.

I am not a fan of really hot weather. The way I figure it, you can always put on more clothes If it is cold, but you can only go so far in shedding clothes If it is really hot. That is, of course, unless I lived on one of those nude beaches that are so famous in Key West. Other people, I know, prefer hot weather to cold, but it is not for me.

I have ridden for many months now exclusively with my Aerostich Hot Weather Vegan gloves. They are fantastic and I would recommend them to anybody. They are perforated and have been nice even on the hottest of days. They have been used in over 100 degree weather. But as it gets cooler, they will not serve the purpose of warmth. I bought some Tourmaster Winter gloves for rain and colder temperatures. They should be an improvement over what I used last winter because they have the proper motorcycle padding and a better grip on the controls. I doubt that they will be any warmer than what I used last year. Cold is cold and no glove is perfect in really cold weather without heated grips, which I do not have. I do use silk liners at times and that will probably suffice.

Kansas has a wide variety of weather as the seasons change. I like it that way.

As the seasons change for people like me that ride year round, the gear and apparel must change as well.

Ask me again in January, but for right now I am not complaining about the change in seasons.

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