Check out photos from Sturgis 2010 at the AIRHAWK Facebook page. The AIRHAWK crew was at J&P Cycles and next to Paul Teutel, Jr. at the Biker’s Choice tent.
Steve, the Ass Pad Tycoon, won J&P Cycles’ Salesperson of the Year award. Congrats Steve, APT and the supporting cast members!
The Ass Pad Tycoon has earned his moniker by traveling hundreds of thousands of miles on various motorcycles all over the Earth chasing down Ass Pad sales. Over the years he has learned what’s important, and what’s not so important to carry along with you on extended motorcycle trips. Here’s a list of essentials you should have for your next journey:
• Ass Pad — I won’t use this space as a commercial for my product, but if you’re going to be spending 10 hours in the saddle for multiple days; I’m betting that your stock seat will have you squirming and grimacing. Besides distributing the pressure underneath your sit bones, a pad that will minimize moisture build up is key.
• Rain Suit — This is something that you shouldn’t skimp on! A high quality, breathable rain suit will make your rainy days in the saddle much more tolerable. When I travel, I’m usually on a tight schedule and there is no waiting for the rain to clear out – I just put on the suit and go all day in the rain.
A rain suit over a fleece type shirt works great on those chilly nights — sparing you the bulk of packing a heavy jacket.
• Gore-Tex type boots — I love the Danner TFX military boots. They keep your feet dry even in monsoon conditions, yet allow your feet to breathe. These are the most comfortable walking boots that I’ve ever owned, so forget about the expensive motorcycle-specific boots and check out the Danners.
• Lightweight Jacket — A well-vented jacket will actually keep you cooler on those hot and sunny days while keeping your skin from getting fried, plus it offers protection in the event of an unexpected get-off. Wear moisture-absorbing t-shirts on the really hot days to keep you from getting all clammy.
• Ear Plugs — Long days in the saddle with no protection WILL damage your ears. I use ER6 stereo ear plugs that seal off all the outside noise, while providing great sound from my iPod. I have a “Road” playlist that keeps me going all day long. If you don’t like riding with music, pay a little extra to get the custom molded type — it’s worth it! I use them in the hotels to drown out snoring and all other unwanted noises while I get a good night’s sleep for the next day on the road.
• Bungies/Straps — You never know when you’re going to need to strap something down. ROK straps Rock!
• Moto Tool Kit — Nuff said.
• Sunscreen
• Chapstick with sunscreen — I learned the hard way after many years of riding without it. I’ve had precancerous cells burned off my lip twice in the last few years.
• Maps/GPS — Even though I use a Garmin Zumo; it’s always best to have backup maps. Paper maps never run out of batteries or suffer from jarred hard drives. I photocopy only the states that I’ll need for the trip to minimize the bulk.
• Extra Credit Card — Stash a spare under your seat or in your luggage just in case you leave your wallet on top of your saddlebag after gassing up on the NY Turnpike (like I did). I do the same with a spare key.
• Polarized Shades — Looking into road glare all day is NOT good; pony up and spend the little extra for polarized sunglasses, it makes a huge difference.
• Seamless skivvies — You don’t want your undies digging into your ass all day. Look for riding pants with flat seams as well.
• Keychain Light — You never know when you’re going to need light; a cell phone light will work in a pinch.
• Point and shoot camera with video — they make great shooting cameras that easily fit into your pocket or tank bag; document your journeys!
• Tank Bag — If you don’t have a tour pack/ top case, get a tank bag to hold all of your small stuff that you frequently need while on the road like you phone, camera, sunscreen, earplugs and glasses. I like the ones with a clear plastic top that let’s you position your map for the day’s route. Magnetic is the way to go — just make sure to wipe off the dust and dirt before mounting onto your paint.
• Electric gadget chargers — Don’t forget the chargers for all of your important gadgets including your camera, phone, GPS, etc.
• Extra clothes — As far as clothes go, I normally pack 4 or 5 sets of lightweight clothes and wash them as needed after that. Everybody is different regarding their tolerance for wearing “stale” road clothes; I personally like to wear a fresh set each day. I grab the plastic dry cleaning bag from the hotel each night and stuff my dirties in there, that way there is no cross-pollination going on in my saddle bags…but that’s just me.
Anything else you’re thinking about bringing is just bulk, but some people don’t mind bringing the kitchen sink along for the ride…that’s your call. There are a few items I bring if the weather might turn cold; waterproof gloves if it looks like lots of cold rain — I’ve stopped at Wal-Mart and picked up big latex gloves and thin cotton work gloves and it worked in a pinch. Neck gaiters also go a long way in keeping the cold air off your neck and going down into your jacket — it’s better than packing a bulky jacket.
Don’t EVER underestimate the power of altitude and latitude! Even in the dead of summer, if you’re going far north or high in the mountains; you better make sure that you have more than flip-flops and t-shirts. The mountains above the desert and high plains can get really cold, causing dramatic temperature changes — again, the rain suit and sweatshirt combo works in a pinch.
There you have it — 33 years of road trip wisdom rolled into a few pages of text. I’m sure that I left something off – just like I do when I pack for my trips. Maybe I’ll follow my own advice and use the same packing list for every trip.
Steve Peyton
Ass Pad Tycoon
You don’t have to be a motorcycle enthusiast to know about the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This year’s rally marks the 70th anniversary of the event held August 9-15, with pre-rally events beginning on the 6th. The events won’t fall short for the anniversary, whether it’s the Guitar Hero contest, the World Pickle Lickin’ Federations World Championships, the Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant or the extreme motorcycle stunts.
AIRHAWK will be next to Biker’s Choice where Paul Teutul Jr. will debut the first bike from the new TLC series American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior. Biker’s Choice and AIRHAWK will both be in front of J&P Cycles (1650 Lazelle Street). After you check out the new bike, stop by the AIRHAWK booth.
As a part of AIRHAWK’s 14th year at Sturgis, KSQY radio station will also be broadcasting live from the AIRHAWK tent. There will also be a sneak peak of the AIRHAWK R™ made of neoprene rubber and features a new ergonomic design. The original AIRHAWK neoprene cushion comes in five different sizes that come with a 2-year warranty and are backed with a 60-day “You Bet Your Ass 60-day “You Bet Your AssSM” money-back guarantee. AIRHAWK2 comes in 3 sizes with a 1-year limited warranty and the same money-back guarantee.
How did this legendary event begin? The Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club began back in 1936. In 1938, the original line-up only included nine racers for a one-day event. In 1963 the event became a multi-day event. More than 400,000 people attended the rally in 2008 and 66 marriage licenses were issued and it had sales of 10.45 million.
Remember to use your AIRHAWK cushion to save your butt on the way to Sturgis. Stop by the AIRHAWK booth to test out the products. You can also visit the AIRHAWK Facebook page to see the latest updates. Follow our check-ins on Foursquare to know our latest location.
The 31th annual J&P Cycles Open House begins June 26. Join the AIRHAWK team members for some fun, sun, motorcycles and more. The Open House events inlcude a motorcycle rodeo, the Teresi Dyno Drag Semi, the Daytona Harley-Davidson Drill Team, a silent auction benefiting the National Motorcycle Museum and more. Join more than 65 motorcycle manufacturers on hand with their products. More than 22,000 people attended the event last year.
Stop by the AIRHAWK tent and say hello to Steve Peyton and Steve Faist.
Today kicks off the 14th Annual Arizona Bike Week events with lots of exciting shows and concerts including Vince Neil in Concert at the HandleBar Saloon, Riding for Kids charity ride, the Miss Arizona Bike Week Pageant and much more. You can find a complete list of events at the Arizona Bike Week Web site. Remember to take your AIRHAWK cushion with you to prevent numb butt during the festivities. Stop by the AIRHAWK tent and say hi to Steve, Cindy and Becca. You can also watch videos of last year’s Bike Week on YouTube.
The Pre-rally events begin on April 9th and the rally officially kicks off April 14th.”Cyclefest” will be held at WestWorld.
