Shorts and a Shirt

**Sycophant** · 17th December 2003, 23:25

So, as it's been getting warmer I've been spending a lot of time stopped at traffic lights, sweltering in the heat only to see someone shoot past in shorts and a shirt looking cool and refeshed.

Normally, there's a moment of jelousy as I imagine how nice that airflow would be, and then the memories of how it feels, even in jacket and jeans to make contact with the road.

Anyone here putting aside sense in favour of comfort?

**wari** · 17th December 2003, 23:40

Not me mate ... but then I avoid the traffic.

**Firefight** · 18th December 2003, 06:16

Originally Posted by Sycophant

So, as it's been getting warmer I've been spending a lot of time stopped at traffic lights, sweltering in the heat only to see someone shoot past in shorts and a shirt looking cool and refeshed.

Normally, there's a moment of jelousy as I imagine how nice that airflow would be, and then the memories of how it feels, even in jacket and jeans to make contact with the road.

Anyone here putting aside sense in favour of comfort?

Hopefully not, if the rider I was with yesterday had been, they would have been in ICU for weeks !

firefight

**Antallica** · 18th December 2003, 07:12

I confess, I had no Jeans last week so I HAD to wear my long shorts (or are they short longs?) Got my Jeans back now and damn it feels good to be in them again

I was scared shitless each time I went out in my shorts, but nothing happened so *phew*

**James Deuce** · 18th December 2003, 07:38

Was sitting in the FIAT (it's Italian so it's an honourary bike OK!!) and a dude lane splits up past me at the Korokoro lights on a Honda custom/cruiser of some desciption. He's wearing a singlet, shorts and running shoes with one lace undone.

I will ALWAYS remember what happened to a mate's girlfriend who binned a scooter wearing a mini skirt and pantyhose. The pantyhose melted from the friction on the road, balled up and was pushed under the top layers of skin - where it proceeded to cook the surrounding flesh. She ended up with a most unattractive crater on one thigh where the surgeon had to extract all the melted nylon and flesh that was intermingled.

Yukky.

**Jackrat** · 18th December 2003, 07:47

Got,a admit sometimes I,m tempted to leave me jacket off or wear a light weight instead,BUT Nah,I don,t look good in scars.Funny I never envy folks I see riding in shorts ect,Pity em, really

**marty** · 18th December 2003, 08:55

i ride my push bike (carbon fibre peugeot...mmmmm)/mountain bike at ridiculous speed (110kmh down the kaimais is my best), wearing feck all.

i ride and jump my bmx bike on the track at up to 50kmh - sometimes in long shorts and tshirts (but admittedley usually fully cammed up)

i sometimes even cross the road without looking properly

when i go running, i don't even look up driveways to check if cars are backing out, and i almost always run in the country, on the road (no footpaths there). once i nearly got run down by a milk tanker, but that's another story

it's simply about minimising the risk. i often go pottering abound town on the RS in boardies and t-shirt. it definately keeps my speed down around town - i wouldn't do it on the open road - bumble bees just hurt too much. i even bought an open face helmet for doing round town jobs. don't forget though i live in a small country town with no traffic lights.......

in contrast, when i went out for a fang the other day, i wore full leather, kevlar gloves etc etc, as i knew i'd be riding fast.

how many of you do a quick trip to the shop and 'forget' to put your seatbelt on?

come on guys and gals. we're all big people, and we ride powerful machines. riding is inherently safe, it's just that mistakes are punished heavily. a bit like flying really, but you don't wear a parachute when you get into an airliner, you weigh up and justify the risk.

wearing shorts and t-shirts on your bike is no different.

**Lou Girardin** · 18th December 2003, 09:01

I just got a Dririder mesh jacket for my birthday, it's the dogs nuts for riding in town. It's got elbow and shoulder armour and feels like having air con.
Lou

**jrandom** · 18th December 2003, 10:03

Originally Posted by marty

we ride powerful machines

Humph.

**Jackrat** · 18th December 2003, 11:27

Marty,your right we are big boys an girls,an thats why I take due care.
No I never drive without my seat belt,It,s on before the wagon is started.
We all take our own risks in what ever we do,But riding in shorts an such just strikes me as asking for it.Your choise of course.
Good luck.

**GPz** · 18th December 2003, 11:42

i,ve been driving around Tauranga this morning and seen 3-4 youngsters riding step-thrus and the like and they all were wearing shorts etc. While the two young women were nice to look at, i wouldn't like thier chances in an accident. The point is with these young riders (they all looked under 18) is who is teaching them basic safety skills, like wearing protective clothing. They are young so i would assume thier parents know they are riding. If the parents do know, they should be aware as to the risks, and advise their offspring correctly. or else who else will teach them the rights and wrongs. If they are taught and then decide not to wear protective gear then its their own fault.

**Sharkey** · 18th December 2003, 12:23

Originally Posted by marty

i ride my push bike (carbon fibre peugeot...mmmmm)/mountain bike at ridiculous speed (110kmh down the kaimais is my best), wearing feck all.

Last time I rode a pushbike I almost wet myself because of the lack of PPE. I just felt naked. s a result I now feel sorry for all pushbikers as well as underdressed motorcyclists.

**Nouseforaname** · 18th December 2003, 15:59

Me and my mates all have shitty ass scooters that we take to the local bmx track and race them, it's like a 50cc minture version of moto-x

... we ride up to the track in shorts and thats all, the last time i rode up i was wearing a WWII german soldiers helmet

... for some reason i think if im on a lil piece of shit i wont get hurt, but on my road bike i always wear full gear. I dunno, i guess it's just my mentallity. stupid i know.

**Andrew** · 18th December 2003, 16:41

Originally Posted by Sycophant

Anyone here putting aside sense in favour of comfort?

Dude, do you want to be nick named dumbass? You had your accident in jeans first time round and that was bad enough. If you plan to ride around in shorts you may aswell ride wearing a hawiian shirt, thong and jandals.

Buy yourself some leather pants, and just bear the heat. If you don't you'll only regret it and perhaps you should just ride a push bike instead.