I almost always have the Canon G15 with me. It does a fine job in all but really low light conditions. Shooting RAW files allows more flexibility in processing and enables squeezing the most from every pixel.

As far as armored clothing goes — you can underestimate how good it is to be wearing until you fall without it.

I’ve been photographing not quite that long (40 years-plus), but that part of my brain is almost always active, to the point that I’m frustrated that I often don’t have a “proper” camera on hand (film or digital), and the camera in my phone, nice as it is, falls short too often. One of my “lesser” pocket-35 cameras is definitely going into the glove box, somehow.

Might take me a bit to get the pans thing totally together, although I’ve actually seen a pair or riding jeans with strategic bits of armor – we’ll see. Getting a proper jacket is a bit more urgent at the moment, but one won’t come far behind the other. 🙂

I need to pay more attention to how my wife feels about my riding. I often venture out without a thought to any concerns she might have regarding weather, or just a bad feeling about the day. Points aside, it’s a good thing to consider those concerns.

Just pulled out the old drywall and looks as if I’m going to have to pull off more at a corner that isn’t square. I’m thinking now of replacing with cement board and putting ceramic tile in that area. I think I remember how to grout tile…

My photographer brain is almost always on. I’ve been making photos for nearly 50 years and the process is like breathing. At times it can screen out more important stuff.

I wore jeans when I started riding but when I dropped the scooter on a snowy road I learned quickly how little protection jeans offer from impact. So I ordered a pair of Tourmaster Overpants that I used for years. Jeans underneath an armored, abrasion resistant, water resistant outer pant. And very nice in cold weather.

Sounds like you have a clear idea of when to ride or not ride. So many things to consider. The big step is willingness to not ride.

Lederhosen. They were so cool too!

I may be a step ahead of you. Finished my bathroom drywall repair last night. ;o) Oh, and if you’re feeling sentimental about lederhosen, I have a pair from the ’70s that might fit……

Jeans are my standard lower-body wear on the Vespa, because…it’s all I have at the moment. My standard jacket is a very good cycling jacket, but not exactly heavily armored. That’ll get taken care of relatively soon, as I’ve just found something reasonably priced that looks the business. (Meanwhile, I finally scored a pair of serious cold-weather gauntlet gloves as of yesterday.)

Beyond hardware/software: the “to ride or not to ride” thing for me is usually hard-edged practical: It’s soaking wet and I don’t have proper wet-weather gear just yet; I’ve got assorted technical headaches that are preoccupying me just this moment (although a quick ride might actually clear my head sufficiently to better tackle said headaches); I’m a bit on-edge about something (hit thumb with hammer/argument with Sig. Other, and so on): this is a time where I put my coat on and take a walk, not ride…even on the bicycle. I never ride anything when I’m upset – and I’m sure I read stat about the percentage of road accidents involving agitated people; And, of course, Distraction. This speaks for itself. I might not want to be operating a blender in that state.

And: lederhosen in Fifth Grade? Ouch. Feel your pain, Steve.

AsJay Leno mused while road-testing a Mazda Miata: it’s generally more fun going fast in (or on) something slow than going slow on/in something fast.

Likewise Michael. Be safe on the road and a Happy New Year!