The Protective Gear Poll

[franco]

I have just returned from a 2 week stint in Queensland (holidays). And I couldn't believe the number of motorcyclists over there who ride in singlets, tee shirts, jeans and shorts. A good +80%. And about 99.9% of the pillions (all women btw) were in similar gear or less

I naturally assume it's a climate related thing - the temp was always between 35 - 42 deg, dropping to a chilly 28 deg at nite.

So maybe living in NZ with it's slightly cooler climate has some advantages, like ensuring we mostly don on the protective stuff...

[James Deuce]

uhhh HUH HUH!
HEH! HEH!
Hey Beavis! He said 'biggest organ'!
Yeah! HEH HEH
HUH HUH!

Doh!! I KNEW it. And from the bloke heading to Parachute too!

[Coldkiwi]

Doh!! I KNEW it. And from the bloke heading to Parachute too!

well you DID say don't do it. Never would have thought of it otherwise

[Coldkiwi]

I naturally assume it's a climate related thing - the temp was always between 35 - 42 deg, dropping to a chilly 28 deg at nite.

must be the heat although I can't imagine they have any less accidents so there must be some scraped up bikers over there. You'd think there would be a huge market for perforated leather jackets and suits in hot areas like Qld. But of a shame really because it would probably make it cheaper for us to get them here!

I fully understand being reluctant to wear heavy gear in that heat.. but not when the alternative is getting skin grafts and err... all the other stuff that was kindly detailed before (yummy)

[wkid_one]

Hear Hear!

Its a myth that grazes never killed anyone. You skin is your biggest organ (keep the Beavis and Butthead chuckles to yourselves lads!) and significant damage to large area of your skin is potentially fatal. The body reacts agressively to skin damage to stop you leaking fluids and to prevent wound infections. However excessive damage to a large area of skin, say 30% of your surface area (buttocks, backs of thigh, feet, and forearms - quite easy to do at 100km/h with no protective gear on) would overwhelm the repair response.

The body needs fluid to drive this response so other systems that need fluid have to go without. It can't repair that damage quickly enough so you also lose a lot of fluid while the attempt is made. In the meantime bacteria and dirt is getting in causing infection and interupting the healing process. You go into shock and your eloctrolytes (sodium and potassium) get out of balance so the body's electrochemical processes are compromised. This can lead to heart attacks.

A blood transfusion is necessary to offset the loss of blood and fluid and you can get diseases from unscreened blood. One that isn't screened for is Hepatitis C and this will take 20 years off your life if you catch it.

The damage itself is actually a friction burn and we all know what these look like when they heal. You'll also need skin grafts to fix some of the worst damage, but you have to wait until the burns have healed as much as they will. Then they take skin off some other part your body and stick it over the top fo the exposed flesh and hope it takes. Then you have another part of your body that has to heal.

The best you can hope for is broken bones as these are designed to break to prevent damage to soft tissues. Soft tissue (tendons, ligaments, muscle) doesn't repair itself well where bones do. Even surgical intervention, which is quite successful with boney injuries, isn't a guarantee of a fully functioning repair in the case of soft tissues.

Just put the gear on guys. When you are 20 gathering scars can be shrugged off pretty easily, but by 40 those scars will be painful all the time, and at 70 they'll be debilitating. Break bones (well except your skull and spine if at all possible) by all means, but try to avoid damaging your soft bits.

Jim2

Well - no need to watch discovery channel tonite then

[Hitcher]

Doh!! I KNEW it. And from the bloke heading to Parachute too!

What is this Parachute gig at Mystery Creek anyway??

[Ms Piggy]

"[QUOTE=KATWYN]
My concern is for the younger (or older ) first time bike buyers that by the time they spend all their hard earned money on buying a motorcycle, there is not a lot left over for the real important thing - bike gear - so in turn safety is compromised. (ie) borrowing a "mates" helmet that who
knows if its been dropped etc and wearing jeans instead of protective pants"[\quote]
Indeed! I know that how feels! Being a new, young, fresh rider, when I was first thinking about buying my bike I sorta thought in the back of my mind, "Yeah it'll be sweet having a bike" (which it is!!), but then I hadn't really thought about the cost of helmet, gloves, jacket, pants - not to mention helmet hair - that's a HUGE fashion cost! Oh my gawd!

However - I know that safety should be first and formost in my mind as a rider.

[wkid_one]

must be the heat although I can't imagine they have any less accidents so there must be some scraped up bikers over there. You'd think there would be a huge market for perforated leather jackets and suits in hot areas like Qld. But of a shame really because it would probably make it cheaper for us to get them here!

I fully understand being reluctant to wear heavy gear in that heat.. but not when the alternative is getting skin grafts and err... all the other stuff that was kindly detailed before (yummy)

In my old job - one of the girls I knew who was working for the loans centre in OZ was heading home after work, down the m'way. On the way a Police Vehicle had stopped on the side to help a stranded motorist - and u'turned in front of her without any warning and no chance to avoid the vehicle. Needless to say she ploughed (and I mean ploughed) in to the back of the van and ended up a fair distance from the accident scene unconscious. She was extremely lucky to survive - thankfully for leathers she was wearing (mmmm girl in leathers) - but still managed to break both legs, arm and a variety of other contusions and scrapes. Still a nice 3 month stay in hospital recovering and shit load of rehab.

It goes to show you, even the most unlikely vehicles can cause you grief.;

Wrong place wrong time

[Coldkiwi]

What is this Parachute gig at Mystery Creek anyway??

Its a huge outdoor music festival that runs from the friday to the saturday. It has been at Totora Springs (just out of Matatmata) for the last 8 yrs or so but now that it is attracting around 22,000 people in tents (and another 5000 odd people coming in for a day) they needed to shift to a larger site.
About 110 different singers, bands, speakers, cultural groups from every musical genre but they're all christian. Everything from hard house and soul funk to old school gospel style and heavy metal (there's even a southern style barndance that normally involves 1,000 people).
oh yeah., sports competitions, burnout comp, fair ground rides, kids programmes and heaps of good espresso shops

I've been every year since 98 and it rocks.
And in case you were wondering, no there is no jumping out of planes: the company that organises the festival is called Parachute Productions.

A highly recommended way to spend a weekend. pack ya tent and go (the weekend is cheaper than a day at Big Day out too).

[James Deuce]

Well - no need to watch discovery channel tonite then

At least I wrote it myself and didn't post someone elses pdf

Jim2

[jrandom]

old school gospel style

Love it!

southern style barndance that normally involves 1,000 people

Unnnfff run for the hills, Billy-Sue, they evil lahn-dancin' types a-comin' tah get yer

...

At least one can turn up in the sure knowledge that the organisers are not likely to book Marilyn Manson any time soon

[Hitcher]

Love it!

Unnnfff run for the hills, Billy-Sue, they evil lahn-dancin' types a-comin' tah get yer

...

At least one can turn up in the sure knowledge that the organisers are not likely to book Marilyn Manson any time soon

ROTFL

Yee Haa!!

[What?]

Yes - 'tis a scientifically proven fact that wetsutis and motorcycle leathers shrink in the closet over winter...something to do with the cool air....no, that wasn't it...I think it's all the pies and lack of exercise...

That's a releif. I was worried that it might have been the booze

[Coldkiwi]

Love it!

Unnnfff run for the hills, Billy-Sue, they evil lahn-dancin' types a-comin' tah get yer

...

At least one can turn up in the sure knowledge that the organisers are not likely to book Marilyn Manson any time soon

hehe, well, its not a barn dance with cletus and billy may but it is a heck of a lot of fun. The lead singer/banjo player must be a stand up comic the rest of the time!

No, I don't think we'll see dear little marilyn there anytime soon. But there is equally heavy music (I assume the lyrics are less offensive but as with most thrash music I can't figure a single word out either!)

[Racer X]

In my old job - one of the girls I knew who was working for the loans centre in OZ was heading home after work, down the m'way. On the way a Police Vehicle had stopped on the side to help a stranded motorist - and u'turned in front of her without any warning and no chance to avoid the vehicle. Needless to say she ploughed (and I mean ploughed) in to the back of the van and ended up a fair distance from the accident scene unconscious. She was extremely lucky to survive - thankfully for leathers she was wearing (mmmm girl in leathers) - but still managed to break both legs, arm and a variety of other contusions and scrapes. Still a nice 3 month stay in hospital recovering and shit load of rehab.

It goes to show you, even the most unlikely vehicles can cause you grief.;

Wrong place wrong time

Everyone knows a police vehicle is the MOST likely to cause you grief!

I would ride w-out a helmet round town if I could, but on the road, ALWAYS have gloves - saw what happened when my mate fell off. And since I don't own leathers just go for 2 or 3 pairs of jeans on long trips