Cross Country Movie Night: Idaho Back Country Discovery Route

As winter is hopefully coming to a close, Cross Country Cycle hosted yet another movie night featuring the fifth installment of the Backcountry Discovery Route organization series that covers a route put together for dual sport and adventure bike travel exploring Idaho.  Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments were served including the well renowned Cross Country dirty water hot dogs and freshly popped popcorn.  If you're interested in the movie, check out the trailer after the jump. Further information can be found at the IDBDR homepage.

Railroad Hopping

“Some people will tell you that slow is good – but I’m here to tell you that fast is better. I’ve always believed this, in spite of the trouble it’s caused me. Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba…” - Hunter S. Thompson.

Product Review: Gerbings Coreheat7 Softshell Jacket

From internet connections to even cell phone chargers, it would seem that everything technological today is going the way of wireless so it should be no surprise that battery powered heated gear is starting to become more and more popular.  There are many people out there who feel uncomfortable with the idea of being wired into their bike and now there is an option for those with this sentiment, but are still looking for a little help with the elements during cold weather riding.  I've pretty much been living in this jacket for the last couple months and have put it to the test in various conditions and would have to say I'm pretty happy with it.

The true beauty of this jacket lies in its versatility.  Not having to be tethered to your motorcycle in order to work the heating elements means you can use this jacket for when you're tailgating, sitting on a ski lift, or for those first few minutes of driving before the heat in your car starts working.  Gerbings does boast a "wind blocking and water resistant outer shell" and after putting it to the test, I found that this jacket definitely does a good job of blocking out the elements.

Surviving the Winter Grind

Getting through the winter months as a rider is always difficult.  Some riders brave the elements and push it all the way through until the snow falls and even then some trudge on through the white stuff.  However, as a few brave souls have come to realize, motorcycles aren't designed to handle the snow particularly well despite the great strides made in tire and suspension technology. There's always the option of getting studded tires or retrofitting tire chains to work with your bike, but the current options available aren't very practical for anyone besides the extremely hardcore and none of this makes any account for the damage caused by exposure to the elements and the salt.  And no, salt isn't only hazardous to chrome, but it wreaks havoc on driveline components like your chain, braking hardware, seals and painted parts.  So outside of buying a second beater bike with studded tires that we don't care about rotting away from rust and oxidization, what is there for a rider to do during these bleak months?

Chucky's Chili Cook-Off With Michael Ornstein

Michael Ornstein poses next to a fan (Mark Pastva) as
Cross Country Cycles parts adviser Ben Archer snaps a picture.

With the first couple storms of 2015 hitting the tri-state area, the winter season seems to have finally materialized as the roads are awash with salt and snow banks litter the landscape. Despite the snow and the freezing rain, things were heating up this past Saturday inside the Cross Country Cycles/Powersports building where Michael Ornstein (Chucky from Sons of Anarchy) was helping host a chili cook-off as well as signing autographs and chatting with fans.