The Zipsicle

It was 16 degrees F outside when I jumped on the Bulgesicle (my new pet name for the Wing) to head off to work this morning. The coldest in a week of cold days, so far, and I’m sure I got some real funny looks as I motored up the freeway towards Bellingham. Since I was quite warm and toasty and since I’m also quite used to getting funny looks (sometimes they’re even undeserved) I didn’t let it bother me. “It’s 16 degrees outside and you’re riding down the freeway warm and toasty?” you say, “What’re you, nuts?” Yes, well, let me explain…

Last Thursday, after riding the Zipsicle in the low 20s to work and back, I decided I’d had enough of freezing my cute little tush off so I jumped onto the web and navigated to WarmnSafe to buy some heated clothing (with the express, written permission, of my lovely and talented financial secretary).

I quickly decided upon and purchased a jacket liner, gloves, and a dual, mounted heat controller and paid for 2nd day shipping. Imagine my suprise when the very next day my new heated gear showed up at my door! Terrific service from this company. On Saturday, I spent a few hours mounting the controller into our comfotable Bulgesicle. As many of you with Goldwings know, even removing the seat can be a hassle. I finally managed to get the new controller mounted and it looks pretty good considering that I did it myowndamnself! Here’a picture of it mounted in the lower left side panel:

After successfully mounting the controller I figured I might as well take the Bulgesicle for a ride. The sky was clear and the sun was shining, the temp was in the high 20s, and the Snow Geese were feeding and flocking (so to speak) on the Skagit Flats. What better day to go for a ride? I backed the Bulgesicle out of the garage (love that reverse gear!) plugged in my helmet and heated gear and took off for Snow Goose country. 60 miles of back roads later I was parked and looking at a flock of geese. Unfortunately, while I was plenty warm enough in just the new gloves, a t-shirt and jacket liner, and Tourmaster coat, I realized that my new heated gear wasn’t actually heating. Oh, well. I figured, since I wasn’t freezing, that I’d just check it out when I got home and deal with it there. Here’s a picture of some of the SnowGeese:

After tooling around the back roads of Skagit Valley checking out the geese for a while, I headed over to Sedro Woolley and turned north on Highway 9. I rode north to just past the Park Road where there’s a turnout and a magnificent view of the Twin Sisters mountains. Forgot to upload the image so no picture to show you but it was very pretty. From there I turned around and headed home after logging around 120 miles for the day. On another note, I didn’t see one other bike the whole trip. Wimps!

Once home I went in and read the directions for my heated gear again but didn’t learn anything new and helpful. Back out to the bike idling in the driveway and I plugged back into the controller; which is when I realized that I had a “Dual” controller and had plugged my gear into one outlet of the controller but had turned the other outlet on with the knob. I turned off the unused portin and turned on the section I was actually plugged into and, moments later, felt the delicious heat spreading throughout my gloves and jacket. Wow! What a difference.

If you’re like me and enjoy riding whether it’s cold or not (provided the roads aren’t icy and slick!) then you might consider getting yourself some heated gear from WarmnSafe. You’ll be toasty warm and enjoying the ride while others are looking at their bikes in their garages and wishing they were out riding!

Ride safe,
Zippo and Jax