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Bikers Are About More Than Just Leather Jackets and Loud Pipes

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Ride Easy Leather

Santa's Helpers Ride Motorcycles Too

Posted Thursday, October 23, 2008 (1 year 32 days ago.) Viewed 178 times.

For most all 'bikers' the time for giving is all year long. Bikers all across the nation gather to ride for many charitable causes. The Christmas season is here and bikers are gathering from coast to coast to help Santa by riding for the needy children across our nation. They put on their leather jackets and chaps, buckle their protective DOT certified helmets, attach a toy(s) for a needy child and head out to a designated location to ride a slow and sometimes tedious ride all for the purpose of bringing gifts and attention to the need of our children across our country.

Bikers are the most charitable group of people I know. I love to ride. No question about that. Many people who do not ride a motorcycle find it difficult to understand the lure of the open road and the pleasure a biker receives from the ride. Not all understand that the leather jackets and chaps are worn for protection from wind blast and debris found on our highways and for the protection good leather apparel provides when a biker goes down and not just for a certain desired look. But just as Santa wears his famous red suit to deliver toys to children everywhere, bikers wear their protective leather motorcycle jackets, leather vests & chaps to deliver the toys and gifts for those that may not receive a Christmas without the love and efforts of charitable people.

When Santa rides a motorcycle, he doesn't have to be clad in a red suit and hat. His hat is usually a quality DOT Certified full face or open face helmet or maybe one of those great DOT shorty series helmets. His jacket may not be red! A leather motorcycle jacket can be black, brown or even pink! Many of Santa's helpers are lady bikers. Lady bikers can express their individuality in the colors and styles of chaps, vests, leather halter tops and helmets available today in the wide range of quality motorcycle apparel and accessories.

I have ridden many times myself in Miami as one of Santa's helpers. Each year across our great nation there are huge gatherings of bikers riding for the needy kids and helping Santa with his task. The big toy run I enjoyed most, usually has thousands of Santa's helpers gathered together all loaded with great toys and gifts for our kids and ready to ride through the streets in an effort to bring attention to the great need while delivering toys and gifts for distribution.

When you see a biker riding our streets and highways remember, that biker very well could be one of Santa's busiest helpers. That biker may be a doctor, a lawyer, a plumber or an electrician. He could be my Mom's nurse at her Dialysis clinic (Tom does ride his motorcycle to the clinic)! The biker you see on the road could be your neighbor or your News Anchor! But chances are the biker you see on our streets and highways is someone's loved one and probably Santa's helper.

When you are searching for great Christmas gift ideas, try to remember the needy children of our nation and the biker in your family or biker friend you know. There are so many different and great biker products loved and desired by bikers everywhere to choose from. While you are searching for that special gift, be sure to check out the high quality leather fashion apparel such as leather bustiers, halter tops, shorts, leather pants, skirts & leather shirts manufactured by the same manufacturers of the high quality leather bikers need.

About the author: Ruth Ray is a motorcycle enthusiast. Ruth is a professional garment designer and also customizes, and/or recovers motorcycle seats as one of her favorite hobbies. Ruth understands and knows leather and textiles. The best protective clothing a biker can acquire is need for riding. Ruth owns and operates the web-store: RideEasyLeather.com and specializes in high quality leather apparel and accessories for the biker and fashion apparel.

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Great New Ways To Make Wearing A Motorcycle Helmet More Fun

Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 (1 year 96 days ago.) Viewed 561 times.

Many bikers are finding great new ways to make wearing a helmet more fun and personal! Quality helmets can be purchased in many exciting colors and styles including shiny solid or flat color finishes. Helmets can be found in multi-color or graphic designs as well as artistic designs to suit the rider. But, to make wearing your protective helmet more personal and fun, bikers are finding many new helmet accessories to choose from and making their helmets much more fun and exciting to wear..

Helmet strips have become very popular! They come in several different styles such as spikes and saw blades to suit your own unique personality and can be easily mounted on a flat black or shiny black helmet. The latest in fun and exciting helmet strips are the HOT NEW Mohawks for helmets. Mohawk helmet strips are found in several great colors and can be used on multiple types of high-gloss finish helmets such as Motorcycle Helmets, Snowmobile Helmets, Snowcross Helmets, ATV Helmets, Quad Helmets, fourwheeler Helmets, BMX Helmets, and Bike Helmets. Workers put them on their hard hats for fun and character! Parents can finally be able to see their kids! It's a hot-new item and a way to ‘stand out' from others, gain attention, and bring more fun into the sport.

Maybe the helmet spike strips aren't your style or personality. There are many helmet accessories new to the market to choose from. Bikers are having great fun with the fantastic new and EXCITING Pony Tail and Pig Tail Sets for helmets! They are fantastic conversation pieces and everyone wants to know how your hair is sticking out of your helmet! They are fun, exciting and highly visible, especially in the neon colors.

Another popular and fun helmet accessory is the popular Rhinestone Helmet Patch. These Rhinestone Helmet Patches are available in several different styles and can be used on shiny or flat black helmets. Many bikers are finding more fun in wearing their helmet by adding one of these unique rhinestone designs to their helmet.

Motorcycling is about fun and excitement. Bikers are adding more fun by adding personality, attitude, and unique individuality to their protective helmets.

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How To Find Affordable Quality Leather Apparel And Accessories

Posted Tuesday, July 08, 2008 (1 year 138 days ago.) Viewed 26 times.

The timeless class and richness of quality leather apparel has endured through the ages. Today's market place offers a vast selection of sources for any leather product we seek. The many shopping malls and high-end retail stores along with discount markets and on-line resources offer countless high fashion styles and designs of leather products. You will find items constructed of leathers that run the gauntlet from the lowest to the highest of quality in the lightest to the heaviest of leather weights available. The quality of any leather garment or product begins with the quality of the leather itself.

It is not easy to determine the quality of the leather just by looking. Style and/or fashion are secondary to a biker because the heavy, thicker leather is wanted and needed for the protection it offers and not the thinner lighter weight leather. Only cowhide or buffalo is adequate for protective leather apparel even though you will find motorcycle leather apparel made of hides such as lambskin and other lighter weight hides. If the type of skin and leather grade is not known, then one should be sure to ask.

If your budget can't afford a high end brand name or logoed product, affordable high quality leather fashion and/or motorcycle apparel and accessories can be found. There are well known, reputable manufacturers of quality leather products. What if you aren't familiar with the brand names of these affordable quality products? Some basic knowledge is needed to help in making your choice for purchase. Shopping on line offers many advantages such as convenience, time saving and more importantly, it usually offers a great deal of information. Great buys can be found on-line because many on-line stores do not have a retail store front and therefore can usually offer their products at much lower prices.

When seeing the term 'Imported' it is important to know that even though there are some biker leather products made in the USA, most are very expensive as the US companies simply cannot compete with the low overseas labor costs. Most of the quality Motorcycle Leather Apparel and Automobile Leather is imported from Pakistan. Pakistan is the number 1 supplier of imported quality leather! There are only a few companies that make Custom biker leather apparel. These companies sew the Custom Brand labels into their high quality leathers and some have allegedly sewn "Made in USA" into imported garments. History tells us that the art of tanning leather was developed and being perfected in these areas long before many other countries were developed. The centuries of knowledge and experience reveals its rewards in the high quality leather products produced and exported. Many (if not most) well known, licensed and/or name brand high quality leather apparel and accessories are imported leathers.

Italy produces beautiful fashion-grade apparel mostly of Deer, Goat or Lambskin which is suitable for light use only and not for motorcycle leather apparel and other protective leathers. Less expensive imported leathers are imported from China and India and are mostly Pigskin or Buffalo.

The hide or skin type, weight, grade and manufacturing process used are important factors that can affect the quality of leather and some basic knowledge is very helpful to the consumer.

Determining your choice of skin type should be based on many factors. The application of the product should be considered when choosing the skin type as different skin types are more durable and have higher sheer strengths than others.

Although there are many different hides used in the leather manufacturing industry, Cowhide is the most preferred leather even as it is the most expensive leather to produce. It has an average thickness of 5mm before it is split and covers a wide spectrum of textures and qualities. The availability of cowhide, since it is a by-product of the beef industry in the United States and Western Europe, helps to make cowhide leather more affordable than some of the rarer and exotic hides. Cowhide is durable, easy to care for, resistant to water and dirt and maintains its integrity while taking on the shape of the wearer.

Buffalo hide is made from Water Buffalo and not from American Bison. It is one of the most common types of leather and is used in the small leather goods. Buffalo leather has a unique grain character and is valued for its long-lasting durability. Buffalo hide is a high quality leather that can be tanned as top-grain or naked leather and is second only to cowhide as a choice for motorcycle leather apparel and other protective leather products.

Deerskin is considered the best leather because it can be wet and dried repeatedly and will always conform back to its original condition and is comfortable for any temperature. Because of its soft supple qualities, high sheer strength and resistance to abrasion, it can be used for almost any garment. However, deer, lamb and goat skins are thinner and will come apart easier than heavier weight skins, they are only adequate for use in lighter weight garments such as halter tops, skirts, shorts and vests. Deerskin is still relatively rare therefore less commonly used and commands a higher price than cowhide even though it is no longer obtained from the wild. Deer farms in New Zealand and Australia now supply these farm-deer skins that are prized for their use in such items as jackets, overcoats and personal high quality accessories.

Pigskin is very versatile leather and is easily transformed into many of today's fashions. Its natural lightweight grain produces a distinctive pattern.

Leather Weights;

The application of the product should also be a consideration when making weight choices of leather. The weight of the leather chosen for motorcycle boots should be different from that chosen for dress shoes. Having the leather soft and supple might be of more importance than the weight of the leather when choosing high quality leather for fashion apparel. However, the weight of the leather used should be of greater importance in the construction in a leather garment such as a motorcycle jacket or chaps and other protective leather products where heavier leather is preferred for more protection.

Some weights by application:

* Fashion Leather Apparel usually ranges from between 1.5 oz. and 2.5 oz. or 1.0mm and less

* Motorcycle Jacket Leather usually ranges between 3 oz. to 6 oz. or 1.1mm to 1.3mm most common for general riding protection...1.3mm & up only used in Naked Leather!

* Motorcycle Vest Leather ranges between 3 oz to 6 oz. or (same as jackets)

* Glove leather can range from 1.5 oz. to 6 oz.

* Work glove leather usually ranges between 2.5 oz. to 6 oz.

Some leather terms and definitions:

* Naked Leather: When only the best will do! Naked leather has little to no imperfections. Because of the lack of imperfections, the natural grain has not been sanded away and an artificial grain was not embossed (pressed) into the surface. No coating or other finishes are applied allowing it to retain its full "breathability", strength and supple qualities. Only about 5% of the hides can be finished as Naked Leather.

* Full-Grain Leather is made from clean natural hides which have not been sanded to remove imperfections. The grain remains in its natural state allowing natural breathability, greater durability and fiber strength. Rather than wearing out, the natural Full-Grain surface will grow more beautiful as it develops a natural "patina".

* Top-Grain Leather (also known as Corrected-Grain Leather) is made by sanding the natural grain from the surface to remove the scars and imperfections and pressing (embossing) an artificial grain onto the surface. Top-Grain leather is fuzzy on one side and smooth on the other. It is usually heavily painted to cover up the sanding and embossing process. Top-Grain is a common leather quality found in motorcycle leathers and is considered to be a strong, tough riding gear even as it is not the best leather available. It has a medium price range and a thickness of 1mm to 1.2mm.

About The Author:

The author is a motorcycle enthusiast and a Master Tailor by profession. She has spent many years as a Master Tailor where she has worked with all grades and types of leather used in the garment industry. As a motorcycle enthusiast, she also customizes motorcycle seats and has an on-line store specializing in affordable high quality motorcycle leather and fashion leather apparel and accessories.

To see quality motorcycle leather apparel & accessories along with quality fashion leather items visit: http://www.RideEasyLeather.com

Ruth Ray grants free reprint rights to anyone wishing to reprint this article so long as it is printed exactly as written in it's entirity and recommended website is encluded.

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