Why Levi's are not "gear"

[peteGS]

I'll have to keep an eye out for you in the new year, I use Waterworks Rd too around that time (the yellow naked will be a black naked by then I hope).  Today we finished early and I had the Bandit, so it was the long way home over Nebo, back to Samford, Mailmans, Bunya and Jinker Track.  Only trouble is it rained on all the twistie bits so it was slow going.

Cool, will keep my eye out too! Let me know when the colour change happens...

I've yet to have time in the avo' to do that detoure but I'll be hitting Bunya Rd and Clear Mountain Rd this morning on the way to join the Kat boys.

I'm hoping we have another ride in the New Year too while I'm on holidays.

If we do I'll stick details up for the rest of us locals too...

[burning1]

I have 5 crashes under my belt now, including a track get off at 80MPH. I can show you a bunch of ruined gloves, torn leather, and tossed textiles. I don't have a spot of road rash to show for it, however.

[mustangGT90210]

We get it a lot in Queensland.Aus, much like Florida's weather I imagine, hot and muggy. The only time I really dislike ATGATT is when commuting and sitting still, when you're moving if you have the right gear its not actually that bad.  Even full leathers are okay if you keep moving enough and they are vented properly.

Hot and muggy real bad. Like 90 degrees and 150% humidity for 8 months out of the year! I didn't even wear a jacket until 3 months ago because I would have gotten heat stroke. I've got a nice Vanson leather jacket, no pads though. I do have a summer jacket now so I'll be alright! I want to get a better one in the "off "season (Florida doesn't have one of those either lol) but I do have something at least right now

[SAFE-T]

That is exactly my point ~ unless you are riding somewhere worth riding to in the first place, getting all your gear on so you can be uncomfortable takes a great deal of the enjoyment out of riding.

[ThatOtherGuy]

That is exactly my point ~ unless you are riding somewhere worth riding to in the first place, getting all your gear on so you can be uncomfortable takes a great deal of the enjoyment out of riding.

so make every ride worthwhile

[weedahoe]

Maybe its just me but then only thing that gets hot on me when Im done riding is my boots. My kevlar pants are bad. My jacket has vents and I take it off when Im done riding anyway. My helmet has vents and even it that isnt enough, i crack the visor. Im in south GA and its always blazin hot here in the summer. I might pick up a lighter jacket but then again I can just pull out the lining in the one I have now.

[mustangGT90210]

That is exactly my point ~ unless you are riding somewhere worth riding to in the first place, getting all your gear on so you can be uncomfortable takes a great deal of the enjoyment out of riding.

so make every ride worthwhile

Kind of a pain when you're just going to work and coming home. I work at a bamboo nursery and a drag strip 8-12 miles into the country from my house. I throw a jacket on and that's about it. It's a real pain to spend the extra time to gear up everything, to get off the bike 10-15 minutes later to take it all off again, go to work, leave sweaty as hell, put it all back on and go home 10 minutes away.

But when I ride to my 3rd job at the pier 25 miles west of here on the gulf, it's all the gear I have, all the time. That's a lot of city driving! Same with going to class, 20 miles to the west of home, again through the city.

I wear it all when I feel it will be worth it. I just can't bring myself to do it for evey

[Watevaman]

 Man I need to find some pants somewhere in between my leather race pants and the jeans (yeah, like this guy was wearing) I wear when I ride to work.

[ThatOtherGuy]

That is exactly my point ~ unless you are riding somewhere worth riding to in the first place, getting all your gear on so you can be uncomfortable takes a great deal of the enjoyment out of riding.

so make every ride worthwhile

Kind of a pain when you're just going to work and coming home. I work at a bamboo nursery and a drag strip 8-12 miles into the country from my house. I throw a jacket on and that's about it. It's a real pain to spend the extra time to gear up everything, to get off the bike 10-15 minutes later to take it all off again, go to work, leave sweaty as hell, put it all back on and go home 10 minutes away.

But when I ride to my 3rd job at the pier 25 miles west of here on the gulf, it's all the gear I have, all the time. That's a lot of city driving! Same with going to class, 20 miles to the west of home, again through the city.

I wear it all when I feel it will be worth it. I just can't bring myself to do it for evey

That's why I have a variety of gear, for instance today just did a nice 250kms twistie ride, so it was leathers.  riding to work is a 20 minute ride at best, I have to wear pants, so may as well be crappy kevlar jeans (always wear a jacket).  Always wear shoes, so may as well don the boots, though I am going to get some nice casual riding boots.  Long social rides I wear either the textiles or the Redmax Kevlar Jeans.  Like I said earlier a fashion tragic.  If I came of without the gear I would regret it, so best to wear it.  Oh yeah I always wear a helmet and gloves.

[mustangGT90210]

I'm working on getting some armored gloves, as I always wear gloves. Have an Icon Alliance helmet. Vanson leather jacket, and that about does it for real gear. Got that summer jacket but it's too chilly for it right now.

I'm just kind of curious what the world of overpants looks like? 'Cause then I can wear my shorts but still be protected

[ThatOtherGuy]

...

I'm just kind of curious what the world of overpants looks like? 'Cause then I can wear my shorts but still be protected

the overpants I have are a textile construction that are basically baggy in most places except the waist and have velcro at the ankles to make them tight around your footwear, assuming you wear boots.  brand is Thor.

[weedahoe]

Yeah, overpants I have but never wear. They are nice and waterproof but very baggy and useless in most cases. If I HAD to go somewhere and KNEW I was going to get rained on or IF it were extremely cold outside I would wear them.

[mustangGT90210]

Do they look or feel overly bulky? And do they offer good protection in case of a crash?

Aside from that concern, they seem like the best option for me. I need to be in my work clothes when I get there. My jobs are kind of like the "You're here.... why aren't you working" kind of deals. Starting time is just a suggestion lol

[weedahoe]

Mince are FirstGear HT 2.0 overpants. They are very nice, heavy heavy, waterproof although breathable and very durable. They also have an inner liner you can pull out

But they are very baggy. You can wear nice clothes under them and easily unzip down the legs and get in and out with ease

[SAFE-T]

Mine are FirstGear HT 2.0 overpants.

Cant find it at the moment, but there was some information that I thought was on the Aerostich website that talked about durability of textile gear ~ the basic point being that less than 500Denier was pretty much useless at any speed.

The FirstGear HT 2.0 Overpant is 330Denier, so pretty lightweight construction although it probably feels substantial with the weight of the liner.

Various anecdotal evidence about gear like this either says it worked great for some people and shredded like paper towel for others ~ my guess is that at speeds under 40km/h it would help a bit ~ kinda like an extra pair of jeans ~ but above that speed they would not hold together for very long.

Years ago before I knew this stuff I had a First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket (300Denier) that I went skidding off the road at 100km/h in after hitting a deer that had ran directly in front of me from down in a ditch. It lasted about 10 ft, and thankfully I skidded off the road into the gravel/grass. I still have an abrasion mark on my right shoulder that is about the size of my hand.  The Kilimanjaro pants didn't take much abuse, but were still finished.

So it's either wear heavier (ie. hotter and/or more restrictive) gear all the time , or ride less and save the proper gear for the days when you can actually ride for a couple of hours and have fun, rather than going 20min to work in a straight line stopping for traffic lights, making (dangerous) left turns and otherwise watching for vehicles that might completely ruin my day.

By the way, no amount of gear will guarantee your protection in a collision with something solid at road speed. Most fatalities are the result of internal injury and trauma, not road rash. This is as good as a reason to pick when and where you ride carefully as any other. 

LinkyDinks: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199209

[SAFE-T]

I wear it all when I feel it will be worth it.

That is why I love my car  , and when I'm not in a hurry or have far to go I love to ride my bicycle.

[RossLH]

I wear jeans when I ride. I also wear armored shorts and knee/shin armor under said jeans. Walked away from a ~30mph lowside with a few holes in my jeans, but not a scratch on me.

[Tombstones81]

Link posted is exactly what got me to grab these.
http://www.leatherup.com/p/Xelement-Mens-Pants-and-Chaps/Xelement-Mens-Armored-Cowhide-Leather-Racing-Pants/96085.html

First time seeing what happens to the rider in jeans, even at Slow speeds!
I didnt think it would be That bad.
Also never bothered to look it up before.

So im guilty of Always wearing jeans since day 1 of riding until these arrive 

Been somewhat planning on getting padded riding pants sometime but never got around to it until now.

Come summer I'll just grab a pair of armored mesh pants to go over jeans.

[weedahoe]

IDK about the 330 denier but their website says 600

http://www.firstgear-usa.com/ht_overpants.html

HT OVERPANTS
$249.95
• Includes a removable, zip-out    liner that is a standalone pant.    Sized to fit over your clothes;    simply buy the size you normally    wear.
• Hypertex™ waterproof/    breathable 600-denier polyester    outer shell
• Adjustable CE armor in the knees
• Padded hip protectors
• Articulated knee and seat for    maximum riding comfort
• 2 front thigh air intake vents    with YKK® rubberized zippers to    keep moisture out
• 2 front pass-through pocket    openings for gaining access to    internal pockets with hook-and-    loop closure
• Right thigh patch pocket with    YKK® rubberized zipper closure    for your stuff
• 2/3 length side zip for easy    on/off; protected by exterior    double storm flap to keep out    the elements
• Internal storm cuff with silicone    grip and elasticized for a snug fit    to seal out moisture
• Adjustable side waist tabs for a    custom fit
• 10" conjunction zipper for jacket    connection
• 2-year limited warranty
• Inner Pant: A standalone pant    that can be worn as a
   destination pant
• Made of water-resistant taffeta
• 2/3 length side zip for easy    on/off
• Adjustable waist using hook-and-    loop tab
• Articulated knee and seat for    maximum comfort
• Insulated from the cold with 2-    ounce fiberfill
• Easily connect to the outer pant    by a full circumference waist    zipper and leg snaps

[weedahoe]

Plus, from what I remember when I bought them, if you do go down in them and file a police/insurance report, send them the report and the pants and they will replace them