So I recently became a 3 1/2 hour a day commuter on my GS and I have been working through what gear to wear and need some advice from those experienced commuters and especially those that are military and wear a uniform to work. Let me set the scenario: 08' GS, middle Georgia (USA), 72 mile commute (one way), small roads/highways, typically wear Vanson leathers (perf'ed and moto pants) with back protector. My current gear is not all weather/season riding gear. The weather here has extreme temps/humidity and constant rain showers that pop up during the day most of the year. I am thinking more toward a one piece like the Olympia but am worried about the heat. Looking for some suggestions and TTPs (Tactics/Techniques/Procedures) for commuting gear. Thanks in advance!
I would get a gortex 1 or 2 piece suit. Aerostich or Klim and change when I got to work. Not to be an asshole, but I would also try to do something to unfuck a 3.5 hr commute. Life's to short for that.
Yeah, that's BS. Can't you move on base or something? Or did you move AWAY from base and screw YOURSELF? :) You're going to burn through dual sport tires at an alarming rate that way. ******** Right, onto the question at hand. I have a Tourmaster mesh jacket now that I just love. Not enough hardcore riders seriously consider them. You've got the mesh shell with the armor for warm and hot weather. The included liner that zips in is waterproof and windproof. Install that when it gets cool or rainy. There's room underneath for a thin fleece sweater, which will have you covered down to the 50s. I'm sure they sell matching pants. I haven't bought pants yet; I just keep some cheap Walmart Frogg Togg rain pants under the seat.
I am at the end of my 28 year career so it's a choice to live that far from Fort Benning. Bought a retirement home and got the family settled in a permanent home after many 18+ moves. I have looked through many reviews and sites about different gear and I made up my mind to go with an Aerostich. The opinions were all excellent on quality, workmanship, and customer support (minus a few complaints about discontinued colors, etc.). So I perused their site and almost had a heart attack at the costs!! But as luck would have it, found my size in a R-3 Light on the sale page, with a military discount, $743 and change delivered! Definitely a score at 30% off original price! It wasn't High-Viz like I originally wanted but it will do.
3.5 hour commute sucks. Did similar (not that far), just packed uniform stuff to last the week, and changed at work. Good luck and thank you for your service, congrats on the retirement!
screw them (the 3 1/2 hour naysayers), enjoy the ride. I once had a 2 hour commute (each way) and it was always looked forward to. (then again my marriage to the ex was pretty horrible at that time... so maybe it was an escape) I commute daily by bike, and while I no longer wear "the uniform" I now have a civilian dress expectation (not much difference). I bring pants to work on Monday in a pannier, The shirts I just wear in. Mornings are normally cool enough that with the right jacket i arrive in good condition. I leave a pair of shoes and belt at work in my office. Gear is everything, areostich makes GREAT commuter gear but for some people the ventilation is not enough. Do the commute and adapt as it fits your needs. Only you will know what is working and what/where you need to adjust. I have been doing it a LONG time and i still make an occasional change to my system... sometimes it works and sometimes not so much. That's how we learn. Just remember, you are on the bike... have fun with it.
Sir, Just find yourself a small, clean, safe house down around Victory Drive and stay there a few nights a week for the 5 minute commute. Then when property values go up (they will go up forever evidently) you can sell at a nice profit and buy another GS. No way this can fail. sarc, sarc and sarc.
A five minute commute wouldn't even be worth getting gear on! It's a long commute but once I have the right combo of gear it will be much more enjoyable. Clean and safe on Victory...that's funny!
As someone who was at Benning for AIT, Airborne school and RIP, I'd live 72 miles away from it as well! Turn it into a fun ride and enjoy.
I think you got it right with the Stich. I had two pair of coveralls that I would wear when I had to be in greens (these days I guess it is blues). One set was insulated and the other not. I also got a heel-toe shifter so I wouldn't mess up the shine on the shoes. :) But, that long a commute and they'd be covered in bug guts and mud anyway. :) And, yes, retirement is nice :)
Georgia and a Stitch to me with a military uniform to me, doesn't work well. Everything I've heard about a Stich is they don't have the ventilation you'll need, especially when it gets hot and humid. I'd look for a quality mesh jacket like the Olympia Dakar to supplement the Stitch in the warmer weather. (Equivalent pants too.) You get the mesh jacket for airflow. Good quality armor in the shoulders, elbows and back. The rain liner can be worn inside the jacket or over the jacket and looks good enough to wear off the bike. There's also a quilted liner for cold mornings. One thing to note on "water-proof" liners. Some breathe like Goretex. Others, don't breathe. You'll get soaked on the inside of the liner if you get a cheap one. I hope your retirement comes soon. Till then, enjoy the ride. Chris
Retired military myself and still commute daily to work on base as a contractor. I use an Aerostich Roadcrafter R3 and love it. Rain is of no concern since the suit is quite waterproof. In fact I stay drier than the folks trying to use umbrellas crossing the parking lot. Heat in the 90s is no problem if I'm moving. Of course, anything sucks when stuck in traffic! When I get to work its just 2 zippers and I step out of the suit ready to go to work. It also works great as my long-distance suit for cross-country rides. The one place I don't like it is off pavement. It sucks trying to pick my GSA up or pull it out of the creek I'm stuck in while wearing a 'stich and taking it off gets to be a pain. I wear an Olympia 2-piece for that kind of work.
Received my R3 on Friday. Can't wait to try it out for tomorrows commute. Going to be a warm one. I also used a suede/fabric waterproofing on my OCP boots. We will see how they hold up, if not I'll wear my touring boots.
I used to commute to Ft. Bliss in far west Texas. Very very hot. Mornings I would wear PTs and motorcycle boots under an Olympia Adventure suit. Not as good as the stich but it was what I had. On arrival I would swap the boots for running shoes. After PT and a shower I would change into the uniform of the day. At the end of the day I would strip down to docs, pants and t-shirt, throw on the Adventure suit and motorcycle boots for the ride home. Then shower, change, wash clothes, and reset/repack for the next day. I did that for a year. Hope you got the chance to meet and work with BG Pete Jones before he retired.
Definitely some longer wearing street tires. I won't be off road much. Picked up a Schuberth E1, realized that my Arai was made in 05'. Way overdue for a change. I waterproofed my boots and I wear the Stich daily. Perfect in the mornings but a bit warm in the afternoons, temps have been in the upper 90s.
I'd be getting Space A some nights. Between fuel and maintenance costs, doubt there'd be much diff in cost. Use the extra time to rest.
My military wife commuted an hour each way for five years. Luckily, our base had a commuter-van-sharing-stipend, so six or seven members in our town who also commuted to the base pooled their stipends and rented a Transverse. Took turns driving. It saved us a lot of money on fuel and maintenance costs, and it forced my wife to get in early (and out early). If I were in your shoes, I'd take a good hard look at this option. Good choice, it's the only the convenient 1-pc I've found. Back when I did commute, the 'stich was perfect. Granted, this was in MN; it does get hot and humid in the summers but not like GA. However, mornings are still cool in GA so the OP will prolly arrive fresh at work... the rides home in the afternoon will suck but at least there's a shower at home. At least the R3 isn't lined and wears cooler than the Classic RC's.
