I'd agreed to meet my mate Lucinda, who I haven't seen in ages and it was really great to sit down over a coffee and catch up as bikes of all shapes and sizes rolled past.
Last Saturday I had to pop over to Smart Riders in Christchurch to try on a pair of replacement Alpinestar GP Pro gloves, before ordering them in the colour scheme that I was after. A little vain maybe, but I didn't fancy a pair of jet black gloves, preferring a dash of colour to make them a little more visually interesting. The team in store were really helpful and friendly and made me feel really welcome. Highly recommended.
I was hoping that my current pair would last out the season, but when the stitching on one of the fingers started to go, I knew it was time for a replacement. Readers may remember that back during last summer I had bought a new pair, but these turned out to be fakes. That transaction taught me a valuable lesson and now for safety equipment, I'd rather pay, what appears to be a little more, for the peace of mind of knowing the garment will do its job as designed when I need it to.
Speaking of garments, I had the central zip on my two piece suit repaired by the Zip Yard in Winton last week and they did a great job. With a reinforced zip in place, its much easier to tie the jacket and trousers together and it feels really secure. They even extended it a fraction, which has helped. The biggest problem is, well, I'm fatter than I was when I last wore them. They still fit, but only just, so I've got to cut down on the doughnuts. I said down, not out. I love my bikes, but I'd rather buy new leather track pants than cut out the treats in my life.