Shorty gloves / boots, safe?
Discussion
I wear short gloves in summer and have been off before wearing, they worked fine just like race gauntlet style gloves. So Im not too concerned about being missing the gauntlet bit. I guess it depends on your jacket sleeve really as to whether a 4" gauntlet overlapping your sleeve is needed in dry weather. Even my short gloves overlap an inch or two
Some short boots are very protective too, I know Daytona short boots still have reinforced toes, ankles, shank in sole etc. Obviously the shin protection missing ....are shin injuries common in road accidents ? dunno
I always wear boots with ankle/toe protection, You can lose your toes with a 30mph wack in training shoes...I know someone who did before theyd even passed their test.
I wouldn't have an issue in wearing some quality short boots in the summer either, although not sure what the benefit is supposed to be other than fashion/going into work in them.
Some short boots are very protective too, I know Daytona short boots still have reinforced toes, ankles, shank in sole etc. Obviously the shin protection missing ....are shin injuries common in road accidents ? dunno
I always wear boots with ankle/toe protection, You can lose your toes with a 30mph wack in training shoes...I know someone who did before theyd even passed their test.
I wouldn't have an issue in wearing some quality short boots in the summer either, although not sure what the benefit is supposed to be other than fashion/going into work in them.
bogie said:
You can lose your toes with a 30mph wack in training shoes...I know someone who did before theyd even passed their test.
Urgh... I might reconsider my riding wear. I wear full leathers/boots etc for long rides. But if I hop on my bike around town I just wear normal shoes (I have some comfy alpinestars trainers that are supposed to have some tear protection etc which I thought were better than nothing). I guess it's because everyone whizzes around on scooters in flip flops that I figured alpinestars trainers were at least better than that...
I'm glad I mostly walk everywhere here instead now
I'd assume that in a low speed fall it's usually the heel of hands that takes the beating as you try to stop your face hitting the tarmac while falling forward, in which case shorty gloves should be fine. Its presumably higher speed crashes where you can end up with the glove dragging backwards on the ground which is more likely to pull a short glove off. Personally I'd be happy wearing them at 30mph pootling around town but I wouldn't want to wear them on faster rides. If you like them because gauntlets are too hot take a look at vented gloves, I've got a pair which are too cold to wear unless it's 30 degrees or so.
I'm not a fan of short boots though, I prefer some ankle protection as even in a low speed fall you can easily end up with the bike squashing your ankle.
I'm not a fan of short boots though, I prefer some ankle protection as even in a low speed fall you can easily end up with the bike squashing your ankle.
Yeah, the way I look at it, is all the gear is what stops relatively low speed accidents from becoming life changing. The majority of incidents involving other vehicles are in traffic at "only" city speeds ...so just when you think you might skip the boots/gloves for a quick ride across town, is exactly when you want the gear on.....
RizzoTheRat said:
True, but then again I think nothing of doing 20+ mph around town in fingerless gloves and trainers on my push bike.
Yeah I know, I do the same...and even have bare skin showing...crazy really 
Yet loads more people are commuting by push bike these days ...and so cycling KSI stats keep going up. In the meanwhile motorcycling has never been safer from a statistical perspective. New motorcycle riders get a lot of training, and wear protective kit by default.....
But no-one wants to dress up in safety gear on a push bike, or follow the rules of the road, but its ok on a push bike, the car drivers will watch out for you ...wont they ?
Ive had nurses picking gravel out of my knees before, from riding in regular jeans and dont want a repeat ....
At the end of the day its up to you what you wear and when, and we all learn well from experience
I've been given a pair of the Knox Orsa's by a mate. Very slick they are too, protection (knuckles, scaphoid, fingers, wrist sliders) looks good and they are nice and soft, but I'll be bu$$ered if I can work out how to wear them comfortably with a leather jacket!
They are too short and bulky to go on under the cuff of my jacket and the closure goes all weird and bunched up when putting them on over the gloves. I suspect it is more to do with my jacket style, which is the top half of a suit type.
I don't find it any more of a hassle to wear my gauntlet style Held Phantom 2's.
They are too short and bulky to go on under the cuff of my jacket and the closure goes all weird and bunched up when putting them on over the gloves. I suspect it is more to do with my jacket style, which is the top half of a suit type.
I don't find it any more of a hassle to wear my gauntlet style Held Phantom 2's.
I've read a number of face plant (i.e. crash) reports on websites like Advrider where foot, ankle and lower leg injuries are reported. Therefore I like good boots. Everything is a trade off though so if I know I'm going to be walking around in motorcycle boots, for comfort I'll wear short boots which only cover as far as my ankle. But then my other solution is to wear shin high boots and have a pair of sneakers in my panniers.
By short gloves I don't know if you mean gloves with the fingertips missing or gloves which end near your wrist. I don't have a problem with gloves that end near the wrist but I'd never wear fingerless gloves or no gloves. There isn't any need either; just buy some summer gloves.
It's not comfortable walking around in bike gear. I'd recommend wearing full gear and having spare street clothes with you. It doesn't take long to get changed and then you have safety and comfort.
By short gloves I don't know if you mean gloves with the fingertips missing or gloves which end near your wrist. I don't have a problem with gloves that end near the wrist but I'd never wear fingerless gloves or no gloves. There isn't any need either; just buy some summer gloves.
It's not comfortable walking around in bike gear. I'd recommend wearing full gear and having spare street clothes with you. It doesn't take long to get changed and then you have safety and comfort.
creampuff said:
But then my other solution is to wear shin high boots and have a pair of sneakers in my panniers.
That's my approach too. If I know I'm going to be wandering about for a while I either take full luggage or a Pacsafe (padlockable wire mesh bag, they're great) and shove all my kit in there and lock it to the bike. Easier to do when wearing textiles than leather obviously.Everything you do is a risk. If you want to minimize all risk, don't ride a bike. Buy a roll cage, 4 point harnesses and wear our helmet in the car. Otherwise take the risk you are happy with. I wear short gloves and a softer touring boot most of the time as they are far more comfortable. I feel I am far safer than many riders in one piece leathers, race gloves, hard boots etc, because I ride safely and sensibly.
bogie said:
But no-one wants to dress up in safety gear on a push bike
Well, my leathers and full face helmet tend to make peddling a little hard...bogie said:
or follow the rules of the road
Because no motorcyclist ever filters inappropriately or speeds and obeys every road law, and I didn't see a guy nearly go in to the side of a lorry filtering through traffic doing 50 on the M25 last Sunday.This is all about your views on personal risk. For me I would rather spend 2 mins changing into something comfortable off bike than 2 months + recovering from an injury that I received by not wearing the best protection,particularly on my feet and hands.
Nobody sets out to have an accident!
Nobody sets out to have an accident!
SteveSteveson said:
Everything you do is a risk. If you want to minimize all risk, don't ride a bike. Buy a roll cage, 4 point harnesses and wear our helmet in the car. Otherwise take the risk you are happy with. I wear short gloves and a softer touring boot most of the time as they are far more comfortable. I feel I am far safer than many riders in one piece leathers, race gloves, hard boots etc, because I ride safely and sensibly.
Exactly...my sarcasm obviously is not coming across bogie said:
But no-one wants to dress up in safety gear on a push bike
Well, my leathers and full face helmet tend to make peddling a little hard...bogie said:
or follow the rules of the road
Because no motorcyclist ever filters inappropriately or speeds and obeys every road law, and I didn't see a guy nearly go in to the side of a lorry filtering through traffic doing 50 on the M25 last Sunday.The perception of risk is different from cycle to motorcycle mostly down to perceived speed of travel, yet the damage to the body with no protection is pretty similar at city speeds.
I too get on my push bike often with no protection...at best, I might wear a helmet/gloves...Yet I wont get on a motorcycle without all the gear.....
So whilst motorcyclists debate wearing gloves with a couple of inches more cuff, we are all happy to do 20mph through traffic in shorts on a push bike
The perception of risk is different in everyone....
CAPP0 said:
bogie said:
...and so cycling KSI stats keep going up.
Ohhh, you can't say KSI, Loon will have an apoplectic fit when he sees that.http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/pedal-cycl...
bogie said:
CAPP0 said:
bogie said:
...and so cycling KSI stats keep going up.
Ohhh, you can't say KSI, Loon will have an apoplectic fit when he sees that.http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/pedal-cycl...
I'm happy with short stuff for how I ride (within the speed limits).
I have some full length boots which I wear if just out for a ride, but if I'm going somewhere to spend the day or do any real amount of walking I wear short boots.
Summer gloves fit nicely inside the sleeves of my jacket.
I have some full length boots which I wear if just out for a ride, but if I'm going somewhere to spend the day or do any real amount of walking I wear short boots.
Summer gloves fit nicely inside the sleeves of my jacket.
I wear shorties and hiking boots for commuting duties. Looking into some gauntlet gloves for winter and some thicker socks.
Have got Power Ranger boots as well but only really use them if I'm specifically going out for a ride. A stupid way of doing it but my hiking boots are far comfier, far more waterproof and have a little ankle support for my leg which is constantly dropping for every set of lights.
Have got Power Ranger boots as well but only really use them if I'm specifically going out for a ride. A stupid way of doing it but my hiking boots are far comfier, far more waterproof and have a little ankle support for my leg which is constantly dropping for every set of lights.
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