The Summer of T-shirts & Shorts

He passed me when I was in my car. We were on the city ring highway. He was on his cruiser wearing a beanie helmet, t-shirt, light cargo pants and –sandals. He was going about 110 kilometres per hour. His face had a happy freedom expression on it, or perhaps he was stoned because you’d have to be delirious to get on a high-powered motorcycle in rush hour urban traffic dressed like this!

I’ve named this past riding season as the summer of T-SHIRTS & SHORTS.  Sadly, this was the common choice of motorcycle gear among this city's motorcyclists. Actually, I’m going to refer to them as “riders” as these types are not deserving of the prestige title –MOTORCYCLIST.

THE TERM IMPLIES PROFESSIONALISM. Opting not to wear motorcycle gear, a jacket, pants, gloves, boots proper helmet, the whole package is not the act of a pro or anyone serious about long term riding for that fact.

No doubt, this was the one of the hottest summers on record making it often unbearable to ride. Factor in a blazing hot motorcycle on scorching hot roads, often intolerable.
But the weather has never stopped accidents from happening.

Motorcyclists always need to be ready.  This summer Toronto alone had its highest incidents of motorcycle crashes I can ever remember.  Did the heat have something to do with it? When you consider that on average, motorcyclists make up one per cent of traffic but 16 per cent of road fatalities – something’s not working.

In earlier years it seemed motorcycling was taken more seriously. Well, in Europe there’s no discussion – gear is worn. Perhaps in cities such as Milan, Italy where traffic is respectful of scooter and motorcyclists you’ll find slight variations. In most Euro cities, drivers actually look out for the safety of motorcyclists unlike in North America. The training curriculum hasn’t changed and gear actually has become lighter, better qualified for safety with armour, Kevlar’s and available.

GEAR ISN'T JUST IN THE CASE OF MISHAP -  IT'S ALSO FOR YOUR COMFORT. When you’re not comfortable, you’re distracted. Distraction means focus is absent from the road and this equates to error and poor skill execution.
Here’s a question – if you’re in the middle of a long ride say six hours, and within the first hour your boots begin to cause you pain will you enjoy the ride and give full concentration to the road?

Operating a motorcycle is SUPER FUN– it's also very serious business. It requires all your focus, all your skill all of the time- yes, every single minute. It’s for expert minds and coordinated bodies. It’s for the thrill seeker who respects its risks. And when the unexpected happens you’ll be ready. The t-shirt and shorts composition will not ever prepare you.

In my network, we see it this way…THE MOTORCYCLIST IN FULL GEAR ACTUALLY HAS THE MOST FREEDOM to ride and takes motorcycling seriously possessing incredible riding ability and skill. A properly fitted rider is a sign of professionalism.

At the end of the day, it’s the riders’ choice.
And it falls right in the same categories as say,  ….choosing to smoke or not during pregnancy; to drink and drive, or not to; to practise safe sex or not.
Yes, making the choice to wear protective motorcycle gear is really a difficult one to make.

Do visit Brittany's website "ROCK THE GEAR" if doubt remains about wearing proper motorcycle gear.

My Own Piece of Motorcycle History

Any chance the name Treen might be familiar to you? If not, don’t worry because when I mention the word most draw a blank. Then again maybe you ARE one of the few in North America who recognizes the name?  Well, I’ve got one and it still fits and to this day, occasionally, I wear it. It’s a cherished collectible made in Canada by former - Treen Custom Leathers made-to-measure leather motorcycle race suits.

Treen produced excellent high quality leather riding suits which were identified by their gold background embroidered label accented with a bright red maple leaf. It was a name synonymous with an exciting era in Canada’s motorsport history.

I wondered what happened to Treen so went online and found a Treen Custom Leathers in Edmonton. I telephoned the company and the employee I spoke with had no idea of the Treen history but referred me to Lawrence Busenius, pronounced like “business and genius” he told me, an employee who has worked with the company through its change of ownership for over two decades. Indeed Lawrence confirmed I had found the original Treen!

The company was started by Brian Treen’s father Gerald in 1949. During the 70’s and 80’s Brian was the driving force behind the motorsport manufacturing area. The company designed racing suits for flat track, drag and road racing disciplines – and of course for everyday riders such as me. Many a Treen was created for our Canadian (and USA) amateur and professional competitors. They designed suits right up until the mid- 90’s yet, due to the change in race suit materials and dynamics, Treen felt they couldn’t quite keep up. The company was then sold to its current owner Bob Dale Gloves, whose focus is entirely on high quality motorcycle gloves – the very item Treen started with. 

The Edmonton born brand had a few Treen agents across Canada working through motorcycle leather shops. I can’t remember the Toronto address, however I do recall the day I went into the shop to get my first made-to-fit-me motorcycle suit! The sales guy took my measurements and I recall he asked me if I needed the extra knee and elbow protection/reinforcements for racing. My response was no, as I had no plans for racing (it was inevitable I would race!) And really, that was in the 80’s - kudos to this chap for thinking I... a female, was going to need the suit for racing! Treen, of course, provided the whole service, including lettering as I naturally had to have my name added on the jacket, just... “Vicki”.

Since my return to Canada, and perhaps from sheer sentiment of years gone by, my Treen motorcycle suit has become more important to me. I’ve had nine made-to-measure race suits since then. My Treen suit however gets the eternal “first place podium”!