Hello... my name is vtlion, and I'm a.... a.... a closet road-squid  

As I find myself using my bike as my primary transportation more and more, I am noticing that over time I am becoming more and more confident and riding with less protection on those runs across town.  

I still dress up like a power-ranger when ever I go hit the highways or the twisties, but when I am riding across town at 25 mph the whole way, it just becomes a pain in the neck to gear up.  Am I the only one who occasionally rides with gloves/helmet/jeans/sweatshirt?  I guess my logic here is that bicyclists ride at those speeds in traffic, and I've never seen a bicyclist wearing leathers... and we don't get up in arms when we see a bicyclist wearing jeans and a tee-shirt riding in the road... so what's the deal?  am I missing something?  

I should clarify that I don't ride like a nut-case.  I live in a college town and I see those kids in full tuck going wide-open through downtown intersections, riding wheelies on College Ave and weaving in traffic all the time.  Now that is nuts... that isn't me.  But I sometimes ride downtown at the speed-limit with just my helmet and gloves on... is that REALLY so wrong?!?!?! :dunno:

Yours in squidliness,

the lion

I dress for the weather... I am a commuter, and in the heat of summer...yup... dress shirt and pants, Helmet, gloves and hiking boots.
Cool.
Srinath.

Oh, vtlion, how could you do such a thing?  How could you shatter my image of you, the vtlion, who would never so much as slip one leg over the side of the bike without all of his gear.  Now I discover that in the early morning, or occassionally in the late evening, or sometimes in the mid early afternoon, yo slip out onto the road without all of your gear.  I mean, what next?  Where, oh where does it all end?  Next you'll be ripping down College Avenue in flipflops and your jockeys at something in excess of a hundred miles per hour just because it's only a quick run to McDonalds for some coffee and a hash brown.  Don't do it to me.  It's a slippery slope, and I look up to you.

Okay, I do make one exception myself.  McDonalds is three blocks from school.  If I need a burger, I usually skip the pants, but I still wear the hat, gloves and jacket.

Smooth Dave

I do about the same commuting to school, which is 30mph ride max: helmet, gloves, jeans, and a light jacket (fleece or something).  My MC jacket is way too bulky to carry around all day.  I worry the most about my ankles because all my shoes are low tops, and my MC boots would just be way too uncomfortable to walk around in all day.  Might be time for some hiking or work boots that would protect my ankles a little.

I do about the same. I always wear at least a helmet, gloves, hiking boots, somewhat thick jacket or sweatshirt, and jeans. But I don't always wear a jacket, and I only wear protective pants if I am going on the backroads or highway. If I could find better protective pants I would probably wear them more often.

Laura

could it be true? such a model rider doing such a horrible deed?! I mean come on man have you lost your noggin. sigh and i thought you were the perfect example for me. now you are just tainted goods! :mrgreen:

all the riders i know do the same thing, doesnt make it ok but i dont see the big deal, as long as it doesnt get outta control and you end up like that squid on 340 in maryland, wearing his birthday suit pulling a wheelie and hitting a inanimant(sp?)  object

i guess i'll let it slide this time

Have you crashed before?

The idea is not to crash, but if you do, you'll want to have that protection.

Remember the sticky above that Pantablo posted?

I always wear my jacket, helmet, gloves, boots. I have ridden without a jacket 2 times when I was running a couple mile rides in town. That felt wierd.

Don't you feel relieved!   You are among friends  

The only gear I sometimes don't wear when I go to work (5 mile trip 15 - 40 mph) are mc pants.  This happens about 25% of the time.  I normaly wear Helmet, gloves, boots, and mesh jacket and mesh pants in summer.  I carry my work shoes and pants in my tank bag.  Any spirited riding and I wear it all.   In the winter I wear my winter gear all the time.  


Peace

Im getting my bike next month (having just passed MSF), i plan on riding with full gear (also happens to be comming up on the california winter soon so its kinda chilly in the morning). Im sure at some point ill pull a TONY and come riding to my friends house with shoes, shorts, LEATHER JACKET, GLOVES, AND HELMET (i swear the funniest sight in the world) all because i didnt wanna take the time to put my pants on in front of a girl. I understand. I cant say ill ALWAYS wear my gear (hell there are food places and my bank around the corner from my house, BTW i CANT WAIT TO GO THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH ON MY BIKE!) but i can try to wear it all the time. Just my $.02

-Dan

On little pisser rides through the city I usually just put on the boots and helmet.  Any time I plan on going over 35 mph I am always sure to gear up.  Most of the little rides are to go to buy beer or smokes, etc. I sometimes don't feel like gearing up for 10 min for a 5 min trip.

a nice pair of overpants can be very handy.
i wear the joe rocket phx pants over shorts, over jeans, over slacks or whatever i want to be wearing when i get to my destination (though i can't figure out how to get them on over my kilt).

cheers,
will

I know that most bicyclists don't wear much gear... but they would wear more if they could (actually, we're starting to see armor on cyclists in some races).  And even in a residential neighborhood, I'm riding at 30-35mph, while as a bicycle commuter, I was typically going less than 20mph.  That's a big difference.  Another big difference is stopping distance.  With good braking techniques, a bicycle can pop up from a lean and almost stop on a dime... there just isn't much mass to haul-down.  A motorcycle can take a full second to stand-up, and another to stop.  It kind-of reminds me of when I rode a bicycle with a table-vise attached to the rear rack (don't ask ) .

I've settled on wearing gear which is easy enough to get into and out-of that there's less temptation to skip it.  I call it my "disability insurance", since it's important to me to be able to go back to work, even after a potential low-speed fall. I wear an Aerostich, and comfy touring boots. When I get where I'm going, I:

• pop the seat
  
• remove gloves and stuff under the seat
  
• unzip the suit, and step out of the legs
  
• stuff one arm sleeve into one pant leg, and remove the suit
  
• run a cable through the sleeve&leg, and loop the cable ends over the GS helmet lock
  
• put my helmet d-rings on the helmet lock (which also holds the cable on)
  
• replace the seat
  
• walk away, forgetting my keys in the seat-lock (doh!)
  [/list:u]
  
  I'd guess that this takes about 30 seconds, and lets me walk around without the suit.
  
  If I'm just running into a store for a few items, then I'll unzip the jacket and pants, but leave the pant legs snapped at the ankles.  This lets me walk around, with plenty of air to cool off, without removing the suit.
  
  If the ride is 6 blocks or so, then I just take the bicycle instead.  The GS deserves better than only going 6 blocks .

i just ride it like a bicycle around campus...no helmet nothing...but always wear gear any time i hit the road

vtlion, your "confessions of a closet squid" made me think of the 1976 hit song "Junk Food Junkie".  I need to find that track somewhere...

In the daytime I'm Mr Natural
Just as healthy as I can be
But at night I'm a junk food junkie
Good lord have pity on me[/list:u]

YOU, MY FRIEND, ARE INSANE!!!!!!!

I NEVER ride without gloves, helmet, kevlar reinforced jeans, knee pads (lets face it, kevlar is WAY too thin), lumberjack boots, padded jacket, back armor, wrist guards and a cod-piece, form fitted of course.

And THAT my friend, is just for a quick jaunt around town. Don't even get me started about highway ridin'.

:mrgreen:

Quotei wear the joe rocket phx pants over shorts, over jeans, over slacks or whatever i want to be wearing when i get to my destination (though i can't figure out how to get them on over my kilt).

It would be pretty cute if you put the pants on underneath the kilt.

Laura

Quote from: scratchHave you crashed before?

The idea is not to crash, but if you do, you'll want to have that protection.

Remember the sticky above that Pantablo posted?

Oh yes I have always crashed only when wearing all or most or atleast plenty adequate gear. But that might be summer winter difference, cos all of my crashes are winter crashes... And BTW I ride too slow... feel free to chime in here with stories to prove that werase...
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: LauraIt would be pretty cute if you put the pants on underneath the kilt.

Post pics!   :mrgreen:

Quote from: Kerryvtlion, your "confessions of a closet squid" made me think of the 1976 hit song "Junk Food Junkie".  I need to find that track somewhere...

I have it on tape, from a Midnight Special broadcast.  Also "I'm a chocaholic..."

Oh, I'm a chocoholic
I don't need whisky or wine
Gimmie a double Godiva
or a tall Ghiradelli
or a Fannie May I can call mine...

I need to digitze those old tapes.  

Anhoo, I always wear my boots, jacket, helmet and gloves.  I do sometimes do jeans instead of full leather for commuting, though.

I find the motorcycle boots comfier than most shoes; I was born flat-footed, though.

Quote from: Kerryvtlion, your "confessions of a closet squid" made me think of the 1976 hit song "Junk Food Junkie".  I need to find that track somewhere...

In the daytime I'm Mr Natural
Just as healthy as I can be
But at night I'm a junk food junkie
Good lord have pity on me[/list:u]

five days a week my body is a temple.....
the other two it is an amusement park