atgatt vs skin crayons

[motorbyclist]

what is a reasonable bare minimum for gear?

and why aren't learners (outside the uni club) encouraged to buy the gear before the bike?

[Gremlin]

Well, legal minimum is helmet...

Recommendations depend, but I guess jackets and gloves? Cost v protection factor. Gloves for sure, they protect your little fingers, jacket because they generally take a hard hit in a fall, and the difference in protection vs a hoodie is massive.

Pants, well, vs shorts, yeah, definitely get pants, but say, draggin jeans, well, not a massive difference to jeans? Boots will protect your ankles hopefully... I've attended reasonably simple falls with broken ankles... never a fun experience for the rider

Personally? Bit naughty around town, helmet, jacket, draggins, bike boots. Country, either full cordura or leather, upper body armour is strapped on. Until you've had a bin hitting the road or a fence post etc, you don't have a good idea just how handy the armour is

Learners are always encouraged to buy the gear... well, from what I have seen anyway.

[motorbyclist]

Personally? Bit naughty around town,

same here, often just jeans/sneakers but recently i've gotten out of that habit and gone atgatt.

but there are still those that advocate "freedom" to wear only half a helmet. i see 50% of helmet damage hits the jaw/chin area and my rego is farking expensive. one of those same half-hats also advocates atgatt and even wears a back protector for 5 minute trips. wtf

[Gremlin]

but there are still those that advocate "freedom" to wear only half a helmet. i see 50% of helmet damage hits the jaw/chin area and my rego is farking expensive.

Its all in the education...

If they're on the same ride, you point it out in a friendly fashion, and try to point out/demonstrate, that it will be their chin that will slow their body down when they're sliding...

I was at a traffic light the one day, and an indian fella pulls up next to me, sneakers, normal pants etc, no gloves. I turned and said, you know, you'd be a lot safer if you wore gloves, it would protect you when you come off. He looks, and says: "I have them in my backpack".

So I said: "well, they won't protect you when you're sliding, or in an accident would they?". He agreed, put them on, and I gave a nod of approval.

Hopefully, if he does come off, he's wearing them, and I've helped a person...

[swbarnett]

Well, legal minimum is helmet...

Using a helmet alone is illegal!


You also need at least a pair of shorts (and perhaps a top for the ladies, unless you're in a parrade...)

[CookMySock]

They are. My kids have always been fully atgatt. it's like putting your seatbelt on - you just do it and never question it.

Steve

[ManDownUnder]

Because we each have a different risk appetite. A helmet only is acceptable to some when helmets, gloves, jacket, boots a leather pants is minimum for others.

I used to be an ATGATT "enforcer" but I've modified my views to be more in line with people making an informed decision. It's not realistic for newbies to understand what happens to your face if you hit the deck at 80kph without a helmet.

If someone does understand that (assuming they're old enough to see how serious it is - and they are in fact sober)... and they choose to ride without the helmet, or gloves, or boots... etc... then it's their call.

I think it's dumb - but that only my opinion.

They are. My kids have always been fully atgatt.

Ditto

[RC1]

i have been ATGATT( full leather) since a learner so it just seem natural now, and i dont feel as protected without my leathers,and after a few accidents im greatfull for my choice, but each to there own,

[vifferman]

what is a reasonable bare minimum for gear?

You never know when you're going to bin. I've binned twice on the way to work, and twice on the way to have lunch with my wife. If I hadn't been wearing all the gear on one of those bins, my left leg would be in a very sorry state. Knee armour and good boots saved it from serious damage when it was squashed between the bike and the car that u-turned into me. A back protector in my jacket saved me from injury when I bounced off the car and onto the road.
OTOH, if you're not wearing all the gear, you tend to be a bit more careful. However (but!) the two lunchtime bins were hwen I was only making a very short trip, and was wearing slacks instead of bike trou. Both times, I was taking lots of care, but other people weren't. One was a car driver who changed lanes abruptly without looking, the other was a pedestrian who stepped right in my path, despite me doing everything I possibly could to avoid her.
It's kinda like The Spanish Inquisition, y'know.

[KerrA]

For me its Atgatt always! Ive yet to bin and hopefully I dont, But if I do id rather keep everything in place thanks.

Andrew.

[swbarnett]

While I am an ATGATT person (except over-trousers at times), I think it's a wider issue. The gear you wear is only one part of the story. Thinking of gear in isolation can be very dangerous. You need to consider attitude, bike and gear - in that order. A naked rider with the right mindset is safer than a fully dressed rider on a perfectly maintained bike with no clue what they're doing.

[CookMySock]

I'm always fully atgatt, except for nipping over to the shop for the milk, going three blocks to my mates for coffee or beer, and during those times I don't get to lean the bike fully around my favourite corner.. Basically, I'm in a completely different mode without my full armor.

Last summer on a fookin hot day, I had a breakdown to attend to about 15 mins out on the main highway. Traffic was sparse and the road was wide and smooth, so shorts, tee shirt and sneakers it was (and helmet). That's the only time I have ever done that. I actually got sunburned as the wind pulled my shorts right up.. (sorry about that image..) but it was a fantastic way to cool off. Paranoid? You bet. Careful? Damn straight.


Steve

[3L4NS1R]

Ever since my mate came off at cape reinga and broke his ankle, I've made sure I wear boots when riding. Ever since I came off wearing shorts and tshirt, I make sure I'm wearing at least a jacket and jeans. Ever since a mate got a wasp down his jacket while he was trying to vent it going 100kph, I've always made sure my zips and buttons are all firmly done up

Guess some people (like me) need graphic examples of the 'what ifs'...

Helmet's always been like a safety belt... it's already on before I even think about it...

[Rayray401]

hmm...from an asian background...in taiwan we just wear helmets...but then in nz..from my bin, id say def gloves and boots...and probably a thick jacket/layers(not necessarily a bike jacket but something thick), but if on open roads/motorway...def go for atgatt!

[=cJ=]

It's kinda like The Spanish Inquisition, y'know.

"Nooobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"




I tend to be either full one-piece leathers and back protector out of town, or leather jacket with some (admittedly minimal) back protection, and kevlar jeans if I'm in town.

In-town being in 50 km areas, out of town being anywhere that I need to go over 50.

Helmet, gloves, boots are always on. It feels weird for me to ride a bike without gloves now...