What is CORDURA?

[Wapping]

Roller coaster riding. Safe, easily available, and you don't need protective clothing. Every now and again you will get a heart in your mouth, or brown bottom breaches, moment - but hey, you won't have a collision, your unlikely ever to have any SMIDSY. Kevlar, cordura, gore-tex irrelelvant.
Ok 1100 for sale, taking up roller coasting.

But watch out though

http://www.rideaccidents.com/

 

[Bigtwin]

If it didn't breathe, a breathable liner wouldn't be much use.

It helps in that the moisture gets trapped between the liner and the cordura, rather than next to your skin.

 

[JohnC]

It’s all a compromise.

Start with the basics. Recognise that, as you are sitting outside and shoving yourself through the air, sometimes you are going to be hot / cold / wet / dry occaisionaly in the space of a few hours.

Try not to fall off. It usually hurts, irrespective of what you are wearing.

Accept that you might fall off, then work out whether you care what damage you may or may not do to yourself. Of course, if you hit the side of an articulated truck whilst ‘making progress’ it may not make much difference whether you are in a kilt or a suite of armour.

Leather. Strong. Good abrasive properties. Lots of styles and colours. Natural. Breathes well but only up to a point. Gets hot when it’s sunny, hence ventilation holes punched all over the place on some kit. Not renowned for its insulation properties (especialy when there are holes punched all over it), so fresh in winter. Not very waterproof. If worried about wet, buy oversuite and maybe worry about sweating. If worried about cold, wear a vest.

Non-leather. Man-made fabrics. Man, because he has evolved above the ape creatures of the isthmus, can engineer out some of the faults in God’s handiwork but cannot fix others without some compromises. Works reasonably well, hot or cold. Can be made totally 100% waterproof in up to monsoon like conditions but this may create breathing problems (no point stopping water getting in if it can’t get out). Having some method of getting the garment on and off, whilst catering for dangly appendages called arms and legs, and having a zip for the fifth appendage, creates its own little challenges. In order to overcome the challenges the clever folk mix and match fabrics, some to keep you warm / cool, some to keep you dry and some to help prevent you ripping too much skin off. Some that can be sown or welded together and some that can be reasonably easily shaped to even fit the fuller figure of the average GSer. Yes, most will melt if you get them hot enough and may even burn you if you generate enough friction but so will the seatbelt in your car. However, it may be worthwhile trading-off a burn to quite a small area, to stay reasonably warm / cool and dry most of the time, compared with boiled, freezing or wet or with road scars that start prevent you from flopping down on your a*rse for several months?

None of the above will stop you breaking your leg however, or turn you into V Rossi or M Coma.

It’s your body, wear whatever you like.

Cracking post

 

[roger06]

If you are sure you'll never gonna hit the tarmac or the gravel when you ride your bike, then you can ride in your underwear.
But most of us are not that sure so we love to wear Cordura trousers, or trousers with a similar protective layer.

Now you got it?
If not, then I have to post a picture of blood and human meat - please tell me you got it now! Please!

Cheers!
Buy good gear and have fun!

Liv.

Hi Liv

Yeah yeah yeah!! I got it!

I've not disputed the need for protective clothing and always wear suitable gear. Even commuting from Surrey to central London in that heat wave of 2003 I wore leather trousers & jacket, boots and gloves. I'd never sweated so much in my life though and had to peel the trousers off!

I'm asking as I want something more practical but still protective.

As has been pointed out by some excellent replies here leather has its pros and cons. I have a faithful pair of leather trousers but there's rarely a perfect time for them; either being too hot in summer, too cold in winter and totally useless in rain any time of year.

My current arrangement is aforementioned trousers with textile jacket with a one piece water proof stashed under the seat.

I guess what I'm looking for, especially this time of year, is a pair of waterproof trousers with good protection that I can slip on OVER normal jeans so I've got protection from the outer layer, and warmth from having both layers.

The trousers could preferably be worn in summer with no other layer underneath so would be waterproof but not too hot.

When I put padded waterproofs over leathers I can barely move and only consider this for very long trips when it's cold.

cheers

Roger

ps - I'd still be interested in the photo you mention ...

 

[Bigtwin]

I guess what I'm looking for, especially this time of year, is a pair of waterproof trousers with good protection that I can slip on OVER normal jeans so I've got protection from the outer layer, and warmth from having both layers.

The trousers could preferably be worn in summer with no other layer underneath so would be waterproof but not too hot.

Rukkas? Goretex, with removable liners. Works for me. No trouser that's waterproof in itself, as opposed to having just a waterproof liner, is going to be that cool in summer, as you need vents for that, and you can't get waterproof vents. But the unlined Rukkas breathe very well in the heat.

 

[roger06]

Thanks all.

I splashed out on some Cordura / GoreTex trousers on Saturday. A lot more money than I wanted to spend but the non GoreTex ones were's guaranteed waterproof, and some of the cheaper ones clearly had more padding so restricted movement somewhat.

I went for a ride in them on Saturday which was pretty cold and legs were really warm - not in a 'snug' way but the trousers are so wind proof they're great. Then had a coffee in a cafe and was really comfortable.

Hopefully they'll last me 10 years or so..

 

[roger06]

non GoreTex ones were's guaranteed waterproof

Oops please excuse sloppy typing ... I'm not a retard, honestly...


I of course meant non GoreTex ones weren't guaranteed waterproof.