Monday, April 28, 2008

'Tis the (Riding) Season

Thankfully, a motorcycle ride is a more common occurrence these days. Saturday was windy, but warm enough. Where did my travels take me? First, to Fox Valley Cycles in Aurora to have Throttlemeister cruise control installed on my BMW R1200GS. The folks at Fox Valley Cycles are super nice and Mark took care of me in no time. I also talked to Chell about their upcoming open house on May 17, 2008. My company, VaVaVroom - Motorcycle Clothing and Gear for Her, will be there to show everyone all of our available styles. Chell also gave me some feedback on a riding jacket that I am working on. I've received excellent feedback so far from my customers. I've attached a picture of the first protoype.








There is a lot of reflective piping on it, so it looks like there are a lot of white lines on the jacket. That is just from the flash. The reflective piping is black. The only real white stripe is the double, vertical stripe on the front. My biggest concern with the jacket is figuring out how to secure the hood so it does not become a drag from the wind while riding. Other features of the jacket include removable armor, an inside pocket, two zip pockets in the front, and adjustable waist and cuffs. In this picture below you can see the hood and the VaVaVroom patches.

From Fox Valley Cycles, I rode to the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet to watch some friends participate in a track day. It was inspiring and I can't wait for my first one in June! We had friends at all levels (novice, intermediate, and advanced) and they all did fantastic. Rob and Eric from Racer Cafe in St. Charles really know what they are doing. They get all of the bikes ready and hauled them out there for Patrick, Ingrid and Sandra, in addition to their own!

From Joliet, I headed to Chicago to check out the Evil Kitty trunk show at Vicious Cycle on Clark St (north of Belmont). Not biker-wear, but trendy, fun, good quality stuff at a reasonable price. I met Lidia, the Evil Kitty designer, and Rhianna, the owner of Vicious Cycle. Both helped me pick out a fab dress and a cute hoodie. I almost didn't get the hoodie until I saw the purple leopard print E on the back (with horns). Too cute to pass up!

With all of this riding and shopping, I was famished, so I ducked into Shiroi Hana just south of Vicious Cycle for a quick dragon roll. Yummmmm. Happily full, I hopped on the BMW and headed home. By the time I got there, I was wiped out, but satisfied with this ride called life....

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Finally writing about the Dealer Expo!


VaVaVroom participated in the February 2008 Dealer Expo in Indianapolis. It was a great show for us. We met so many new people. We received great feedback on our products from customers and prospective customers. The biggest hit was our "Those Girls" Sportbike tee. The phrase "I'm one of 'those' girls", the shapely tee, and the vibrant colors draw the eye right to them. Since it was our first time doing the show, I was very nervous, but all went well (except for leaving the bowling alley Saturday night with our bowling shoes still on!) and we had a blast. Many thanks to Sandra Heise, Shelly Reiner and George Vuckovich for their onsite help at the show. I could not have pulled it off without them! I've included some pics of us from the show!














Monday, March 17, 2008

My Review of Kenyon Polarskins Long Underwear Shirt - Heavyweight Zip Neck, Long Sleeve (For Women)

Originally submitted at Sierra Trading Post

Closeouts . Kenyon's Polarskins heavyweight zip neck long underwear shirt is made of all-in-one (AOI) performance yarns, engineered to channel moisture faster than you can create it and equipped with four-way stretch, aggressive odor control (making garments last longer), and inherent soil release ...



Functional, but not fashionable

By VaVaVroom from Chicago, IL on 3/17/2008

2out of 5

Fit: Feels too big

Pros: Moisture Wicking, Warm, Comfortable

Cons: Material seems cheap, Poor Fit

Best Uses: Cold Weather, Snow Sports, Running

Describe Yourself: Gym Rat

I returned this product because it did not look of high quality based on the fit and the material. I am 5'10" and have a slim build. This item was loose fitting and had no shape.

(legalese)

My Review of Terramar Long Underwear Silk Bottoms - with EC2 Thermal Regulation (For Women)

Originally submitted at Sierra Trading Post

2nds. Experience silk's warmth, lightness, natural wicking action and luxurious comfort of silk in these long underwear bottoms from Terramar. EC2 technology provides excellent thermal regulation as well. Can be worn as active underwear or pajamas Machine wash gentle Trim Fit 2nds . China. ...



Great product. I have several pairs.

By VaVaVroom from Chicago, IL on 3/17/2008

4out of 5

Fit: Feels true to size

Pros: Comfortable, Lightweight, Warm

Cons: slightly baggy on me

Best Uses: Cold Weather

Describe Yourself: Gym Rat

I wear these under my clothes on days that are below freezing temperatures. It adds a layer of protection from the wind and cold without being bulky or too hot when I am indoors. I am tall (5'10") and the pants are just long enough to fit under my boots.

(legalese)

Monday, January 28, 2008

Just tried out the UnWind Thermal Pants that are on the VaVaVroom website. This time in skis in Winter Park, Colorado. It was very windy and cold today up-top and I did not feel a thing on my bottom half! Now if it would just warm up enough to get out on the bike for a bit. From February 8-10, I will be making the rounds at the International Motorcycle Show in Rosemont, Illinois. I'll be helping out at the Open Road Radio booth and the Chicago Region BMW Owners Group area as well. I am looking forward to seeing what's new in the two-wheeled world.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Winter Riding

I had to test out some new products, so I thought I better get on the bike before the storm hits. I went out on the bike on Friday. It was 34 degrees F. The coldest I ever rode in. With my Gerbings heated liner, heated grips and windproof long underwear (and other layers of course!), it wasn't too bad. I've decided to add the windproof long undies to my site. Just working out details with the manufacturer. They really worked! I also found out that my bike shows a little snowflake on the screen if you ride in less than 37 degree temperature. It's like saying "hey dummy, it's cold out here. What are you doing?". I usually keep my bike out through December. I'm hoping for a few more rides this month if the weather gods cooperate!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Re-launch of VaVaVroom website

I'm so excited! Today, the VaVaVroom website is being re-launched! It is easier to navigate, has more helpful content and is much, much prettier. :)