Drifter0658′s Weblog
Motorcycle leathers for bikers and those who just like the lookAn Effort For A ‘Greener’ Leather tanning process
Leather tanning is one of the oldest crafts known to man. Animal hides have been used for clothing and shelter since we began hunting for survival, which I hazard to guess has been a very long time. A process that started out by rubbing animal fat on the skin to preserve the hide has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry. Leather boots, biker jackets, purses belts, upholstery, the list goes on forever.
Salts and like chemicals were added to the process, around the 11th century A.D., and from there more efforts were made to hasten the process while producing a better product. In the 19th century, chromium was discovered to be the greatest thing for the tanning industry since sliced bread.
Like every other industry that grew exponentially after the Industrial Revolution, the Tanning industry had no time to consider the environmental impact that its facilities had on this planet. The amount of water used in the process is huge. And the exhaust in the form of solids is astounding. One metric ton of raw hide yields 250-300 kg of leather but also leaves 600 kg of solid waste, including sludge.
In 2006, a chemical research team at the Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai, India, announced a new process called ‘Reverse Tanning’. Part of that process is the use of reverse osmosis which reclaims much of what was once waste water for the process. In addition, the new process allows for the reclamation of a large percentage of the chromium used in the process. All the time, the quality of the leather produced remains intact. As a result, most of India’s tanning operations have converted to the new process.
The researchers found that simply reversing the order of the tanning and post-tanning steps can drastically improve the process. By also promoting non-chemical-based pre-tanning methods, they have reduced the amount chemicals released by 82% and made an energy saving of nearly 40%.
Perhaps, with this advancement we will see a regrowth of the tanning industry in the United States, where we have only 40 facilities that perform the complete tanning process. Then again, maybe we have grown bored of yet another opportunity.
From MOOO To MOOOtercycle Jackets
Own The Leathers That Own The Road
The Three Coolest Biker Jackets Of All Time
There are many iconic attributes or items that we see everyday that speak of ‘cool’. Scars, a swagger, the way hats are worn are just a few, but none of them say cool like the leather biker jacket. The wearer of the biker jacket is seen as many things, none of them angelic, and most who wear the coat are never seen as totally evil, although there are few exceptions to this rule, we see those people as mostly those who live on the edge. Our inner selves yearn to be like them, thus the term ‘Weekend Warriors’. And few jackets have left of more lasting impression of the ‘rugged good-guy’ than the jackets worn by Evel Knievel, James Dean, and Marlon Brando.
Those of us who remember the anticipation of waiting to see that red, white and blue (mostly white) jacket and cape fly magically over buses, fountains, cars, and almost anything that would stand still, remember that we also watched to see if they would land unscuffed. We also watched because Evel Knievel dared us to. Evel was daring personified. Famous for his crashes and bravado, Evel was the ultimate showman. The P.T. Barnum of the 1970’s. Here was a man that created his own legend by pretending he was several different members of the press, so that he could get his first Vegas jump. The rest of his career, he body surfed on our need to be thrilled. We would cheer when he landed and gasp when he failed, either result would have us talking for weeks. How many of us built ramps in the allies and streets to jump our banana seated bikes across, because of that leather jacket and the man who wore it?
The jacket that we see James Dean in was the icing on the dark cake that bore the taste of the ‘restless youth of America’. In an era that was the infant stages of the cold war, America’s youth began to take the rebellious nature that comes with youth more seriously, or at least they began to question authority and why do those who have authority have it. Not having the answers to the questions they had, some youth became disenchanted with the American dream. They became rebels. The rebel that Dean represented was one on the edge, but who had a true and honest heart. His is the jacket that makes women swoon at the bad boy image. The guy that races for the sheer excitement, and loves with passion. His jacket is the protector of the rebel spirit.
The granddaddy of all ‘cool’ biker jackets was the one sported by Marlon Brando, a.k.a.
Johnny Strabler, in ‘The Wild One’. The ‘Wild One’ was the original biker film. But, the movie was layered with characters that on the surface were mindless beasts, and under closer examination had very humane qualities. Johnny Strabler being the most human of them all. The wandering rebel, looking for his soul and trying to hide it all in the same snarl. Johnny was the penultimate chaotic good character, never meaning to do much harm and trying to do right as he saw fit. His jacket was well worn and just the look of it said it had many stories to tell, some not too wonderful but not all together hateful. When we see that jacket, we think of how we would ride with Johnny, bit would feel uncomfortable if he came into our café.
Johnny Strabler, James Dean, and Evel Knievel all would still have been memorable without their jackets, but the biker leathers help promote their everlasting personalities. Personalities that we have daydreamed to emulate from time to time
Big Hearted Bikers And The Surreal Ride
Let there be no doubt, when it comes to charity, you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger heart than what lurks under the shroud of a faded leather biker jacket. I’ve ridden in dozens of charity poker runs for all kinds of charitable causes and every time I am amazed at the generosity and camaraderie of the one time menace to society, the demon on two wheels.
This past weekend there was a short notice benefit run, but the organization time allowed was the only aspect lacking. Members of Bikers For Christ organized, routed, and held the run in under two weeks. During the preparation for the ride, two nieces of the ride’s namesake gathered donations and contributions from 85 businesses. Amazing. Burnouts for all the efforts.
As for the ride, which started with temperatures that hovered in the upper 40′s, thank god for the leather biker apparel, and an invocation from, here’s where the surrealism begins, the Chaplain of the Dayton Satans MC. Apparently, the Chaplain has bible readings once a week at the clubhouse.
We were about 10 minutes into the ride and I got smacked in the lip by what I first assumed was a random bug. But after a few seconds I realized that I had ran into the backside of a bee at 50 mph. By the time we made the first stop, my lip could have eclipsed the Hindenburg.
Now, I really didn’t feel the need to draw any attention to my new facial feature, apparently it was doing a fine job all on its own, solely because I had no desire for one of the born again Satans to ‘lay hands’ on my lip in an attempt to faith heal it. I had visions of The Brass Knuckles Of God with the testimony of, “Get thee from this man’s lip, demon venom of the Devil’s Bee.”
Well, that didn’t happen, but plenty of good natured ribbing was hurled my way. On top of the beer dribbling down my chin, all in all it was fun.
The benefit ride netted nearly $100 per bike in charity from the bikers. Money that will go along way to help pay medical bills. And this is ALWAYS the case with every benefit run. So, next time you get a chance to thank a biker, do so with a big belch and a hell yeah.
A Great Day To Climb A Hill
Looks like another pleasant day is in store for the Hill Climbs. The famed Devil’s Starecase in Orgonia Ohio has been the home for some fun times for longer than I can remember. Literally.
This year will mark the 58th time those daring folks try to beat the Devil, and I can remember watching the broadcast from the competition on Wide World of Sports. I recall that there was a rider who was missing a leg and attached a leg shaped weight on his bike to provide the ever needed balance required to dance up the hill.
I really never bounce in on the big party in town, held at the River’s Edge bar and grill. I just have a blast at the climbs. Whether it’s on the opposing hill, drinking beer from a gallon jug or just watching the other drunks trying to navigate themselves down the hill to the bathroom.
But, the big thrill is standing near(not behind, unless you don’t mind dodging the super sonic rocks, dirt, mud, or general debris) the launching pad.
And the forecast this year looks like mid 70′s and dry. Looks like it’s a day for safety glasses and stuffing the motorcycle jacket in the motorcycle saddlebag. A great time indeed. Make it there, Oct 12, 2008 and I’ll buy ya beer.
Biker Jacket Evolution
Those guys up there (in the header of my Blog) are the members of the Portsmouth, Ohio motorcycle club. That picture was taken in 1913 and the club was already 20 years old. Kinda hard to tell in this digital rendering, but I don’t think any of them were wearing ‘leathers’. Although, it wasn’t long afterward that motorcyclists were seen in leather jackets.
The first ‘biker jackets‘ were actually jackets worn by tank crews and aviators from WWI. These jackets were in abundance due to the war machine economy. Farmers sold horse hide by the tons to the manufacturers of military clothing.
It wasn’t until 1928, when the Schott Brothers opened thier clothing factory, that true “double pattern” biker jackets were available. The leather was heavier as the jackets were worn for protection above all else.
In the mid-1950′s two things happened to the motorcycle jacket that vaulted the biker look into stratospheric heights. Brando and Dean. Marlon Brando’s portrayal of Johnny Strabler, the leader of a racous motorcyle club in 1953′s ‘The Wild One’ brought the image of the 1%er to the attention of the world, and James Dean wore the jacket, well, because he was James Dean. Dean’s fashion statement of the disenchanted youth was the catalyst of the movement for another rebelious group to wear the biker jacket. Rockers in the 50′s through today wear them as part of their image.
Naturally, when items become a fad, the original intent of their use becomes watered down. But, even today, leather biker jackets still are looked at as protection. Many come with Kevlar armor sewn in to protect vital areas of the rider’s upper torso. The Leather is still heavy and provides ample protection against the elements.
Remember, when you put your leathers on, that even though you may see them as a fashion statement, they still are highly functional, just as their ancestors were on the backs of aviators and tanker crews.
Put ‘Em To Work
Think back to the time(s) that your biker jacket pockets were filled with the stuff to insignificant to stow away in the storage compartments of your saddlebags, yet too valuable not to have with you for brief stops. Hairbrush, wallet, cigarettes, etc.
Most of us 99% ers have someone on the back, when we ride, whether or not we try to entice them back there. Furthermore, those passengers are regular occupants of the sight seer’s post. I say let those stowaways serve a useful purpose. Let them carry the items used for the in ride stops.
Really, a way cool way to do this is by using a leather backpack. Some are small enough to look chic AND be functional. Besides, if the pilot is the one accessing the bag, an opportunity arises where he/she can throw an unsuspected Bronx Cheer at the rider. Unless the operator is stupid enough to do this in front of a gas station window, which could bring about an uneasy silence for the remainder of the ride.
Make the dead weight pay their way for the ride by carrying some of the burden.
The Joy Of Chaps
Chaps. What a wonderful idea. If it weren’t for leather chaps, I’d not ride as often as I get too. They really do come in handy on those spring or Autumn days when the early day temps give way to warmer afternoons, and then back to crisp evenings. And I always keep a pair rolled up in my saddlebags.
My only problem with chaps is, I own 5 pairs and I have a time of it trying to figure which one I’ll wear. Other that that, they help in so many ways. Not just to ward off the chill, but also to help keep me dry.
When I get caught in a rainstorm and it’s impractical to stop (say, northbound I-75 between Georgetown Kentucky and Critendon Kentucky, where all the overpasses ar 3 miles up and 2 laned), I’m glad I wear my chaps. Because, when I dismount and get in somewhere dry, most of my pants legs are dey, not just the back.
Not only do they look good, but biker chaps are very functional. Coupled with a good leather motorcycle jacket, chaps are much easier for me to don, than any raingear I’ve tried to put on.
Gloves Can Be More Than Hand Warmers
Okay. So most of us grab our fingerless leather gloves during the riding season, not to keep our hands warm, but to just plain look cool. And on either end of the season we wear full fingered gloves to keep our hands warm. But, the right gloves can do more for us bikers than keep our hands defended against the assailing cold air.
Recently, I purchased a pair of leather riding gloves that are not only lined, but also have gauntlets. I quickly fell in love after wearing them on the way to work during a sub-50 degree morning. The full fingered construction is wonderful, as well as the lining, but the best features are the gauntlets. They keep the wind from rushing up the jacket sleeves, allowing the jacket lining to insulate to its fullest ability.
Remember that your hands are the first part of your body that meets the elements, and the right glove can go a long way towards a comfortable ride.
What I Look For In Saddlebags
What is it I look for in saddlebags? Well, besides a large sum of missing cash, the search usually starts with functionality. This translates into size. And size DOES matter.
I ride in most weather conditions, and usually will make a few overnighters and some long weekend trips through the season. So my saddlebags need to be roomy enough to accomodate my bulky gear (leather jackets are hard to make compact). On the otherhand, I don’t want them to detract from the overall look of the bike. So, I approach the purchase of my leather saddlebags knowing that I’ll also buy a sissy bar bag to augment the saddlebags. What this means is, if I can get two leather jackets and two sets of chaps in the bags, then it’s time to start narrowing the field based on construction followed by asthetics.
Bags that are rubber lined and hve the fold over flaps will win the day with me. In addition, leather that is not so stiff that it won’t argue too much about giving that extra inch. This usually means cowhide. The hardware must be stout and easy to employ.
After that, asthetics seals the deal. The color, any designs, and slanted vs. non-slanted are all attributes that should be considered by the bike owner. I could say, for instance, “Wow. Those are some crappy looking bags.”, only to have some rider ready to fight because I insulted his or her sense of taste.
Size first, constuction, and then my bad taste. That’s how I shop for saddlebags.
Ike The Blowhard
Wow! The area I live in, actually most of of Ohio, hasn’t experienced anything like it did Sunday September 14, 2008. 65 mph sustained winds for at least 5 hours in my neighborhood. Even greater in other areas near me. The last gasps of Ike were mighty indeed.
To top it off, we were riding in the pre-blow for a couple of hours. The winds then were somewhere around 35-40 mph sustained. I got struck by a pine cone and decided enough of was enough and tacked the bike home as if it were a sailboat., dodging aluminum siding, trees branches, and all sorts of debris.
Fortunately I had been wearing my vented biker jacket. The Temperature was 85 degrees and the open vents allowed the air to flow through the jacket instead of puffing the jacket like a hot air balloon.
No matter what fun I thought all the hard work was, it was still dangerous. And the danger is probably what most of the fun was about. On the otherhand, as I look back at those two hours, I feel rather stupid. Two riders were killed that day as they rode through Huston Woods State Park, when a tree came crashing down on them.
