Bike Clothing - advise please
Discussion
Hi all.
Just passed my CBT and bought a 125 Varadeo. Looking to buy some leathers but don't want to spend silly money. Any advise where to look - have been around the local bike shops but not a lot of choice. Am 6 foot 4 ie very long legs! I live in the Staines area. Well, someone has to.
Cheers,
Simon.
Just passed my CBT and bought a 125 Varadeo. Looking to buy some leathers but don't want to spend silly money. Any advise where to look - have been around the local bike shops but not a lot of choice. Am 6 foot 4 ie very long legs! I live in the Staines area. Well, someone has to.
Cheers,
Simon.
Don't worry too much about getting leathers that go right down to your ankles as per normal slacks - as long as no skin is exposed when you have boots on you should be fine - just wear longer socks. I'm 6'5" (and a bit) and effectively wear leather shorts (not in a kinky or Germanic way though).
Where you may have problems is dependant upon your build, you may struggle to find thin chested (i.e. under 46" chest) with anything like long enough legs, even in the cheap suits end of the market. If you are a large chap, you probably won't have too much difficulty.
However, I am presuming that you're just looking at leather slacks rather than a race suit? If you look in the back of the bike mags, there are companies who custom make leather slacks for not too much cash (around 150 from memory) - you may want to give them a go. All this assumes your local Hein Gericke shop can't kit you out.
Where you may have problems is dependant upon your build, you may struggle to find thin chested (i.e. under 46" chest) with anything like long enough legs, even in the cheap suits end of the market. If you are a large chap, you probably won't have too much difficulty.
However, I am presuming that you're just looking at leather slacks rather than a race suit? If you look in the back of the bike mags, there are companies who custom make leather slacks for not too much cash (around 150 from memory) - you may want to give them a go. All this assumes your local Hein Gericke shop can't kit you out.
some things to look for, or consider as an extra to the gear..
tight. you don't want it moving as you slide down the road after mrs miggins pulls out on you in the 1974 metro. the friction burns from loose clothing is as nasty as tarmac surfing naked...
padding. get knee pads, ankle protection in your boots, back protector (available as an extra, but quicker to "get dressed" if its inclusive in your suit.
some suits have a "place" to insert one, check when buying and buy one as well.
elbow pads, collar padding is nice too.
decent helmet, most are anyway.
decent gloves with kevlar knuckles, and a decent palm padding. (guess which part of your body you try and put down when you get thrown over a bonnet? yup your palms..)
tight. you don't want it moving as you slide down the road after mrs miggins pulls out on you in the 1974 metro. the friction burns from loose clothing is as nasty as tarmac surfing naked...
padding. get knee pads, ankle protection in your boots, back protector (available as an extra, but quicker to "get dressed" if its inclusive in your suit.
some suits have a "place" to insert one, check when buying and buy one as well.
elbow pads, collar padding is nice too.
decent helmet, most are anyway.
decent gloves with kevlar knuckles, and a decent palm padding. (guess which part of your body you try and put down when you get thrown over a bonnet? yup your palms..)
fergus said:I got a pair of Pure-pro S4s they're not overly expensive (£35) and have a semisolid carbon fibre kncuckle protector (and on the finger knucles) , a good compromise I think
the solid protection over the knuckles is a matter of preference. In a hard smash, they can sometimes transfer the shock through to the knuckles, and cheap ones will potentially crack. Handy when you need to punch someone though!
Also good ventilatoin under these and a decent padding on the palm, check them out
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