Rain, Rain, Go Away.....

Come again some other day.......

Once again, we have weather with temperatures well below normal and rain, rain, rain. Does that keep us from riding.... Heck No!! As witnessed by our Service Dept every day, a majority of our riders are enthusiasts and weather does not stop them. And like Mother Nature, we are a force to be reckoned with....

So how do they ride without being bothered by the weather? Here are a few tips to assist those less apt to ride in the rain.

Tires - Those two pieces of rubber are what provides the traction to the road and keeps you from sliding all over the place. If you are a multi-weather rider, you need tires that have adequate water deflection from the center of the tire. Also, please make sure your tire inflation in correct also. We hear alot of people who over-inflate or under-inflate their tires based on someone elses recommendations for tire longevity. Changing the inflation on your tires may allow for longer tread life, but it also may change the amount of tire making contact with the road, and your traction. While maybe not noticeable on dry, hot pavement.... that may be different when the pavement is cold and wet. Please also only purchase tires with treads/compounds that match! A mixture of compounds and treads is a recipe for disaster in the elements. See Josh, Frank, Gage or Mike in our Parts Dept for any questions you may have about your tires. Also, please remember that CSC discounts the installation when you purchase your tires from them. So the combination of loyalty points and discounted labor makes purchasing your tires from us very cost effective.

Brakes - Brake calipers need to be bled on any motorcycle at least once every two years. Unlike cars, the master cylinder/slave cylinders cannot be put in a location away from heat. This causes the brake fluid to "gel" causing braking problems. To ensure that your bike is ready for inclement weather you should have your brake pads checked with each oil change or twice a year and your brake lines bled every other year. Chicago Sports & Cycle offers a FREE Safety Check. Call Kevin Teague or Joe B and schedule one for your bike.

Gear - Frogg Togs - The best rain gear out there. It is lightweight, folds into a compact ball, breathes so you don't overheat and is water resistant. You can't beat them. Last year, at the Chicago Sports & Cycle Shawnee National Forest weekend ride, when the weather looked like it might turn, we all pulled over and all you saw was Frogg Togs coming out of the luggage. They are made specifically for motorcyclists with more room in the crotch so they don't pull while you are sitting, longer legs so they don't ride up and get your ankle wet, and longer arms to provide a shield even when your arms are stretched out holding the handlebars.

So don't be afraid of the weather. Even if you are a "fair weather" rider, at some point you are going to get caught in the rain. And when that happens, it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

The CSC Stimulus Plan - Ride away your Stress

Today marks the start of the Suzuki Double Header at Road America as well as the Ride for Life in Manteno. For those of you at Road America, I only have two words for you, "Race Gas!" You know exactly what I am talking about. For the rest of you.... Riding season is here! For those die hard riders who ride 10 months of the year, they are going to tell you that riding season started as soon as the weather hit 45 degrees. But for the average rider, the weather is just beginning to announce Spring....

This year has been a little different from the norm. We have the news pounding out to us all the doom and gloom they can muster. We are not saying to ignore the world around us or to go against your instincts on how to handle today's economy, but instead to take each day as it comes, make a difference when you can, and treat others as you would like to be treated. In order to be able to do that in today's world, stress relief is the key. For the motorcyclist, that equates to riding.

There is nothing better than a nice ride to take the edge off of the day. Feeling the wind as you gracefully cut through it. Smelling the corn erupting in the fields, the flora and fauna as you pass the many parks, and the feeling of complete abandonment as it becomes just you and the open road. Many of us can only compare the feeling to flying. It's a way to rejuvenate from the trials and tribulations of life.

But riding is also a lifestyle. It's filled with riding groups like the Shadow Riders (http://www.shadowridersinc.com/) who ride constantly together, have monthly meetings filled with laughter, food and drink (occasionally grog...lol) and they even have their Wii parties together. They share the good times and the bad, and one thing that is the biggest plus... you will never be alone, unless you want it that way.

In celebration of the unofficial beginning of riding season, and the beginning of this blog, Chicago Sports & Cycle is offering a FREE $10.00 CSC Gift Card or a coupon for 10% off a new motorcycle, ATV, scooter, or PWC. All you have to do, is sign up as a follower/member of this blog by July 31, 2009 and we will email you your coupon/gift card.

We are excited about Spring! We are excited about Road America! We are excited about riding. So Start Those Engines Everyone..... Lets Ride!!!

CSC is going green.... digitally!

Hello everyone. Welcome to the new CSC Blogger. This is Chicago Sports & Cycle's way of imparting all of our recent events, rides, rider information, etc without cluttering your mailboxes and landfills. CSC is committed to finding new and innovative ways to keep in touch with our riders and customers with minimal carbon footprints.

I am Kathi Wolfe, the General Manager of Chicago Sports & Cycle. I am excited about CSC's continual efforts toward customer satisfaction, sharing of information, reducing our carbon footprint, and most of all riding. Look here for future blogs about upcoming rides, events, education information, and any other item we feel is newsworthy. If you have a note, an article, or anything else to share, please feel free to leave your comments.

Again, welcome to the CSC Blogger and keep checking for new posts. This is going to be a great year in motorcycling and you don't want to miss a second of it!