Some new accessories

[houltmac]

So I went on a bit of a spending spree today to make myself feel better after the drop yesterday.

I got:

Liner gloves - I don't know if they make a difference but I was very chilly yesterday going to work at 7AM.

Mud stand thingy - The garage floot is crap and totally uneven the only place I can put the stand down. A new plastic cup should help create a flatter surface for the stand and also stop it slipping. *HOPES*

Cover - Went for the cheapest cover in the shop (£20). Haven't tried it yet but the guy said he used one and it was fine. Oxford made it and it's for use just in the car park at work.

Backpack - I was toying with tankbags, tailpacks, saddlebags and all sorts but at the end of the day I think the backpack is cheap and practical. I need to carry laptops and keyboards and stuff for work (I'm an IT consultant/technician/engineer/cleaner/coffee boy/thingy) so it makes more sense to carry stuff in a backpack I think. Plus it's way cheaper. Getting the pack on is a laugh, but it's good and secure with waist and chest straps. It's supposed to carry a helmet in the webbing on the back too but I can't see how it's possible.

Next up I think are a stand (perhaps the abba?), a GPS (TomTom Rider) and then a new exhaust I think.

[2fast2soon]

Not sure about some of the other stuff but the liner gloves do help but can't do the impossible, I ride for about an hour on A roads and my hands are still cold at the end with silk liners (plush) and alpinestars goretex gloves. I'm gonna get some heated grips.

I'm still undecided on luggage, I have a rucksack but think I'd prefer a tank bag to prevent load on my back and shoulders, but then again I don't travel with my laptop normally. I think I probably would put the laptop in the rucksack as I have no idea how powerful those tank bag magnets are.

[Guest]

I'm toying with getting a tank bag, I find if I put too much in a backpack it gives me a gammy back on the 45 min commute! I wanted a bag to attach to the rear seat but then I realised I wouldn't be able to get my leg over and get on the bike!

I have liner gloves and their crap but could just be mine?

[Guest]

Just remembered as well that when I did my CBT the instructer said you could never cary a packpack because it could do more damage in a crash? I suppose it would if you landed on it especially with something hard in there and it could snag on something as you slide along the floor??

[Hoody]

Use a cargo net to keep rucksack on pillion seat or rack.

Covenience of having rucksack without danger of straining back carrying it or worse case scenario breaking back in a spill.

We wear body armour back protectors then put a rucksack on?!!?!

Back injuries are usually from twists and placing a solid lump on your back will magnify or cause this in a crash.

[houltmac]

All good points about the backpack. In terms of back pain... well, I'm already there from work. I don't find a backpack uncomfortable or heavy or annoying since I am used to wearing one everywhere anyway. In terms of crashing though it's a definite point taken. I'll look into saddlebags or the like again at Christmas, but for now it's all I can afford.

I have the stand by the way, and I am looking at getting a GPS sooner rather than later.

[Ben]

My friends, friend had a crash with a backpack on. He broke a leg in the accident, and the nurse said that if he wasn't wearing the backpack, he would have had a broken back!

[Guest]

Ben, Was your mate wearing a back protector? if not that might be why, the back pack acted as a protector......

[Ben]

I'm not sure. That's what I meant, the backpack saved his back