riding gear

[Dick Dastardly]

What's your preferences??

Is it the leather clad look, or do you prefer textiles??

Currently weighing up the idea of made to measure leathers, or the route of Rallye 2, aerostitch, rukka, yoko.....etc.

Choices, choices........

 

[Paul Young]

I like the textile jacket/leather pants combo. I've found that I get a numb bum after a few hours wearing cordura pants but I've never suffered it when wearing leathers.

 

[oblertone]

Should have been a poll !

I have to agree with Paul, leather pants/textile jacket, currently the jacket is a Revit which was a freebie, however it's so good I tend to use it all the time. If the weather is really shite, I use a Volvo V70 !

 

[Schtum]

I have fairly wide-ranging tastes in bike clothing.....

 

[Tarka]

I gave up on leathers some years ago.

The main reason was that I ride almost every day,all year round,regardless of the weather,and got sick of carrying 'waterproofs' ,and the associated faffing about changing into them,plus the sauna effect once in them over leathers.

Once I moved over to 'textiles',there was no looking back......superb comfort,
lots of pockets,useability over all temperature ranges due to removeable lining and no arseing about wriggling into a plastic skin when it starts raining.

Additionally,leathers just don`t look right on a dual purpose bike.......

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

I agree with Tarka, I used to use Alpinestars leathers all of the time but it became a pain in the arse wrestling into the black romper suit at the roadside.

Got the BM Rallye 2 stuff now, the jacket has been fantastic so far this year!

 

[Mel]

Gotta be textiles - I've an aerostich Roadcrafter which is my backstop for all bad weathers - fully loaded with protection where you would expect it which it works - I tried it twice!!

It is waterproof if you maintain it and is the easiest suit I know to get in and out of - 2 zips and it's off. You can't quite gete away with a dinner jacket under it but I do wear normal casual clothes underneath with perhaps an aerostich fleece in the cold weather and an aerostich electric vest when the ice starts to show.

I think it looks serious and the service from aerostich is first class.

But for those IwannabeEwan days I have the Rallye II in red which is a bit bright on the eyes but in combination with a red 1200 causes drivers to shift from lane 3 to 2 long before you need to hit the brake! It's a very comfortable suit too and works for me - in the summer without the lining and in winter with.

FYI it was BMW Park Lane who sent me to Aerostich 6 years ago when I asked for advice on the best suit for all year round long distance commuting.

I can get the Rallye II trousers inside the GS1 boots which looks better than outside I think. Loads of pockets (aerostich too) and over the top versatility - with or without sleeves - detachable bum bag - more vents than you could ever need - v. comfy around the neck - bla bla bla...

I did have a QA problem with the RII jacket - zip pulls coming away and poppers that hold the lining in place failed but NOG replaced the jacket without question.

Years ago I used a Segura leather one piece but oh when it was wet it was a nightmare and I agree with Tarka - GS and textiles - slightley loose fitting - look the boll**ks.

 

[Hector]

What Riding gear

Bought at horrendous price,a Rukka Air Power for recent 3000ml Continental trip. With inner jacket liner,it was first class in the intitial Belgian downpour and the later sunshine in Italy and France. Best kit I've ever had,but will need to keep touring to get the value for the outlay!