Gear Review - Bobster Photochromic Sunglasses

Well, the quick review...  I couldn't be more dissatisfied with these glasses.  These are supposed to be the perfect sunglasses, darkening in the day and lightening at night.  So they are intended to fill the role of one pair of glasses for all occasions.  Do they darken in the sunlight, sure, but not near enough.  They are clear enough for nighttime riding, but I have quickly stopped using them when I will be daytime riding only.  Aside from the lenses they seem to be of sturdy construction yet they still feel cheap.  The frames are made of a fairly soft plastic which probably makes them more durable, but makes them feel like a cheap pair of childrens sunglasses.  They are thick frames too designed to keep the air out, however, I have not really noticed any less air than my plain aviator sunglasses.  And with them being so thick I don't like the way they look.  In the end, I will continue using these glasses for night riding but will revert to my aviator sunglasses for daytime riding.  The picture shows the maximum darkness I have observed in the lenses lookind directly towards the mid-day Arizona sun.  When not looking directly towards the sun they lighten. 

The Big Ego Booster...

     I love my TU, and I'll tell you why.  She's always fun to ride, get's great gas mileage, and is cheap to maintain.  But one of her best attributes is that she is small, light, and handles well.  What that adds up to is that when you ride her hard through the mountains and the 600 classers and open classers can't hang with you, that is a huge boost to the ego. 

     Now granted, it isn't all the bike.  The bike has the attributes needed to ride fast, and I myself like to push my limits further and further out.  But when you and your machine can keep the big bikes at bay throught the twisties, and even leave them behind when you get to that level, it makes for a huge ego boost when they catch up to you at the rest stop and realize that you are rolling on a 250.  :-)

     So enjoy that ego boost, just don't go challenging them at the traffic light.  ;-)

Gear Review - Bell Custom 500

     The Bell Custom 500 is a helmet designed to look and feel like the original Bell 500 helmet in an up to date safety package.  And it does just that.  It is a classic helmet shape and design that harkens back to 1954 when the original Bell 500 came out, and @ $99 for the cheapest colors it is a steal.  It comes in many sparkly colors as well as black, flat black, and custom painted models.  It also has a beautiful quilted lining.  The lining does not come out so you will have to wash it in the helmet.  I preferred the flat black and ordered one.  I was excited the second I pulled it out of the box.  The fit and finish were beautiful.  I tried it on and immediately there was a problem. 

     More with me than the helmet, but if you are like me you will notice it too.  My head appears to be longer front and rear in proportion to it's width.  A common problem for me with all hats, ballcaps, cowboy hats, etc.  This put a headache inducing pressure point right dead center on my forehead.  My first 20 mile ride I was feeling it at the end and was worried I would need to return it.  Luckily after a couple of days it started breaking in and I could feel the helmet releasing it's grip.  I have worn it daily and after the few short weeks I have had it, it seems to be breaking in nicely.

     Other than the initial break in I love how this helmet looks and feels.  It is light, doesn't fly when riding at high speeds, and doesn't get in you vision at all.  The only thing to watch out for are the 3 snaps (this is a model based on the original 500 so 3 snaps are all you get).  I noticed after installing my face shield and removing it that the snaps were loose.  So it is worth while just to tighten those up immediately out of the box. 

     This helmet really has that classic look, low price, and up to date safety standards to boot.  I believe it is a hands down winner!

Rides - Tortilla Flats (AZ SR88)

Road Type: Mountainous, curvy.

Road Condition: West of Tortilla Flats, asphalt is in poor condition, very choppy.  East of Tortilla Flats, asphalt in good condition reasonably smooth all of the way until it turns to dirt.

Best Time To Go: Sunrise.  Later and you will invariably get caught up in recreational boat traffic.

     This is one of my favorite rides if you live in the East Valley area of Phoenix, Az.  True, the road conditions west of Tortilla Flats are horrible.  Very choppy, but if you are like me this just presents a challenge to running fast.

     To get there take US60 out of Phoenix to Apache Junction and the Idaho Rd./SR88 exit.  I generally stop for fuel at the station immediately on the right.  Continue north up Idaho Rd. for 3 miles or so to the SR88 turn off.  From here just stay on SR88.  After 9 miles you will start hitting the twisties, and that is where the fun begins.

     As mentioned before, the road here is in very rough condition, so it is challenging to ride fast.  I find it a fun prelude to whats to come, but I have heard riders that are less than thrilled with the road conditions in this section.  None the less, the road is twisty and challenging.  This is the section that will be congested if you arrive too late.  I like to arrive before sunrise.  After sunrise you will have to watch for a lot of bicycle traffic, and while I respect their right to the road, I tend to find that they like to ride in the middle of the lane and don't always move if they hear you coming.  So be safe and aware of their traffic if you head up the road after sunrise.

     After 5 miles you will come to the first single lane bridge.  I refer to this one as the "Cheese Grater" as it is an open mesh bridge.  At this point you need to be extremely cautious.  I tend to ride up to this point at near the limits of my abilities, but once you hit this bridge it is time to take a break.  This is where all of the boat ramps and recreation areas are and you never know when someone will shoot out a side road.  Also, while the road has smoothed out a bit, it is also substantially dirty compared to the rest of the road with a lot of gravel in many of the corner entries.  I have had some moments in the braking zones here even at reduced speeds.

     After 4 miles you pass the local Tortilla Flats watering hole get what you came for.  The road here is smooth and curvy.  And since it basically goes from nowhere to nowhere, traffic is light.  You start immediately with some tight twists.  I love pounding the bike through here and flicking it back and forth.  The scenery is beautiful too if you have the time to look at it as you climb out of Tortilla Flats.  A little over a mile the road will straighten out and you will hit some high speed sweepers.  The speed limit is 45 here so watch out for Johnny Law if you decide to push it.  I haven't seen him yet, but other riders have informed me of his prescence.  After 2 more miles you will come to what I refer to as "The Block House".  It is a concrete structure on the west side of the road.  Here is where the final 2 miles, and the best part of the road starts.  There are some extremly tight corners here, and some nice full throttle rhythm sections as well.  If this is your first time you might want to familiarize yourself with the road as a few corners will draw you in and cause you to overdrive them.  Towards the end there is a swollen spot on the right side of the road where the bikers will congregate.  If there are some there I generally stop and talk, otherwise I usually make 3 laps between the end and "The Block House" and then pull off there and rest myself and my bike while I wait for others to arrive. 

     A great Arizona ride, I hope to see you out there.