Full gear all the time?

[skippa1]

Interestingly ... I live in an area where summer temperatures get over 35degree temp's ... and wearing Cordua gear is actually cooler than black leather.

If you live in Auckland ... 50 km's wouldn't get you out of the city. Even on a motorway ...

50km/h not 50km radius

[Banditbandit]

Funnily enough, the last off I had on the road (120ish kmh) the only part that didn't really get rashed was where the jeans cover. Not fancy kevlar one's either...

Yeah .. my last big off I was wearing ordinary denim jeans ... dropped the bike at around 110klicks ... didn't even rip the jeans .. (I was wearing a leather jacket, full face, boots and gloves) ... that was around 1998 ... Not a shining example ... now I never wear denim jeans ... only Draggin jeans or leathers ..

[sootie]

Interestingly ... I live in an area where summer temperatures get over 35degree temp's ... and wearing Cordua gear is actually cooler than black leather.

Come on now FJR - I was born down your way. When the tempearture gets to 35 deg the humidity goes to around 10%, (keeping cool is not that difficult) and a lot of the time, you are known to ride in shall we say "somewhat cooler conditions"?

[G4L4XY]

One longer rides I will wear full gear mostly.
Commuting to and from work I wont
Last weekend I rode down to Hamilton in jeans and my jacket, weather was beautiful.
Came back up on the sunday, jeans got soaked Though they almost dried out by the time I got back up to Auckland haha

[GrayWolf]

Who out there wears their full gear every time they get on the bike? Proper rides are different and no brainers but things like running down to the shops? And yes, I'm aware that its your own body on the line so the decision is yours at the end of the day..

if it is local shops only (50kph) then jacket, jeans (or kevlar lined) gloves, good strong boots.... any chance of going into an over 50kph, zone? ATGATT

[wysper]

any chance of going into an over 50kph, zone? ATGATT

Not getting at you GrayWolf.
But this has always puzzled me, would it be true that most accidents/offs are in town?
So ATGATT would be as crucial there.

Sure the offs on the open road have a much greater potential for injury but also a smaller chance of happening.

So if you are playing the numbers, and had to pick one, wouldn't you be better off picking in town?

Unless you are choosing the option that would hurt you more...so wear the gear when you are on a 'ride'.

Me, I am most of the gear most of the time, all of the gear some of the time, none of the gear none of the time kind of guy.

[sootie]

Me, I am most of the gear most of the time, all of the gear some of the time, none of the gear none of the time kind of guy.

I guess that would come out as MMTASTNNT. Do you think this could get a bit confusing guys??

[GrayWolf]

Not getting at you GrayWolf.
But this has always puzzled me, would it be true that most accidents/offs are in town?
So ATGATT would be as crucial there.

Sure the offs on the open road have a much greater potential for injury but also a smaller chance of happening.

So if you are playing the numbers, and had to pick one, wouldn't you be better off picking in town?

Unless you are choosing the option that would hurt you more...so wear the gear when you are on a 'ride'.

Me, I am most of the gear most of the time, all of the gear some of the time, none of the gear none of the time kind of guy.

Understand its looks confusing, so here's the 'logic'..... ATGATT..... lets be realistic, even the most expensive gear will not prevent broken bones. Realistically, the 'gear' will only prevent/mitigate gravel rash. Armour reduces impact, it still leaves you vulnerable to impact breaks or joints being bent the wrong way... Back protectors?? If you read the research most back injuries are not caused by 'direct impact' but due to a rotational impact.. no armour will 'proof' against rotational fractures.
So wearing jacket. boots, gloves is most of the gear, the denim jeans or kevlar lined pants are as good as anything in a 50kph zone for reducing gravel rash.

[p.dath]

Understand its looks confusing, so here's the 'logic'..... ATGATT..... lets be realistic, even the most expensive gear will not prevent broken bones...

If you used that logic you might as well say why bother with a helmet? Do you use a helmet only to prevent a bit of gravel rash on your head?

Anything with a hard shell around it can dissipate energy around the impact point. The less energy transmitted into your body during an accident the better. Body armour will most definitely help dissipate impact energy. Will it be enough to prevent bones breaking? There are no guarantees that it wont prevent bones from being broken.

And the end of the day, it's about what you personally consider to be a risk. If you think the risk of your bones being broken is low, you'll wear gear appropriate to the risk you feel your exposed to. If you are concerned about bones being broken you'll wear gear appropriate to the risk you feel you are exposed to. Neither view is right or wrong - it's a personal choice.

[GrayWolf]

If you used that logic you might as well say why bother with a helmet? Do you use a helmet only to prevent a bit of gravel rash on your head?

Anything with a hard shell around it can dissipate energy around the impact point. The less energy transmitted into your body during an accident the better.
Body armour will most definitely help dissipate impact energy. Will it be enough to prevent bones breaking? There are no guarantees that it wont prevent bones from being broken.
I think I said that.... " Armour reduces impact, it still leaves you vulnerable to impact breaks or joints being bent the wrong way"
Neither view is right or wrong - it's a personal choice.

As for a helmet, that IS the one piece of protective gear that can and does prevent breakages, because it is a solid 'hard shell' with an impact dissipating inner liner,,, cant exactly wear a 'solid' tube on the body.... and think a 'suit of armour' would be highly restrictive neer to say impracticable.

[PeloNZ]

I rode with no helmet, tshirt and sneakers today - what a badass!

I moved the bike about 30 metres, from the road to my driveway

[Akzle]

just wondering. it might have been covered, but cbf read whole thread.

how much armour, do people rock out the road with?
...personally i have back plate... no elbows, knees or shoulders

[McFatty1000]

just wondering. it might have been covered, but cbf read whole thread.

how much armour, do people rock out the road with?
...personally i have back plate... no elbows, knees or shoulders

I have hard armour in the shoulders, elbows and padding on the back in my jacket, boots with soft armour in them, only leather gloves and knee and some hip padding when I wear my proper pants. Thats about it, assuming a helmet is taken for granted as always worn.

My textile jacket only has soft armour in at the same points.

So, in reality, not much at all.

[madandy]

I like putting my gears on... makes me feel like Iron Man. Here's a picture of me with full gear on:
Attachment 269968

just wondering. it might have been covered, but cbf read whole thread.

how much armour, do people rock out the road with?
...personally i have back plate... no elbows, knees or shoulders

For a careful nip down the shops I throw on my helmet, jacket, boots, Drgn jeans and gloves.
The jacket is a Quasimoto with extensive armour onthe shoulders, elbows, forearms and a large back protector. Any farther than the local shops and the back brace and leather pants(full hip 'n front thigh padding) with knee and shin armour.
Boots are fancy Oxtar race type with titanium and plastic reinforcing and a hinged heel that squeaks when I walk. It all looks greatand I feel like Ironman.

[p.dath]

just wondering. it might have been covered, but cbf read whole thread.

how much armour, do people rock out the road with?
...personally i have back plate... no elbows, knees or shoulders

Two piece leathers with knee and elbow armour. And if I know I am going on 100Km/h roads, a back protector.