Riding without leathers-bad idea

Message

MartDude · #16 Post by **MartDude** » Wed May 30, 2012 11:18 pm

Why is this debate so prevalent at the the moment on so many bike forums/groups?

I suspect it's an age-related thing; the demographics imply the biking population is getting older, and recent research (don't ask me to give references - can't remember where I've read this) has shown that neurological changes associated with ageing make us more risk-averse as we age.

My summer biking gear of choice in the '70s was cut-off denim jeans, T-shirt, open-face helmet & shades, & cowboy boots, and f*ck me, wasn't I the coolest dude in Dewsbury on my CB750. Wouldn't dream of going out like that now. Full leathers, back protector, boots, gloves - to the derision of my younger biking friends.

Falcopops · #17 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed May 30, 2012 11:25 pm

My best man was over from London a few weeks back and was horrified to see that I ride around in T-shirt, shorts and deck shoes.

I was a safety Nazi in London and wouldn't go out on the bike without putting leathers on, even for the shortest trips.

Initially it felt a bit exposed and rode conservatively, but after a while you become accustomed and get used to winding up the loud handle. I still feel like I keep a bit more in reserve than when I'm wearing my leathers (which I will do if I'm going for a serious hoon).

I don't advocate this and I know that it's not big and not clever and that I'll come to grief sooner or later, but it's a considered risk that I'm prepared to take.

D-Rider · #18 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu May 31, 2012 7:17 am

I did read an interesting article that suggested in certain situations there are downsides to our protective gear.
The argument was that when it's hot and you are wearing your "protective sweat suit" you can overheat (yes, not often in UK but it happens). When you overheat your reactions and thought processes slow down - therefore increasing the probability that you'll make a mistake and have an accident. The trade off being the better protection you will get once you have fallen off against the better chance of not falling off in the first place.
As has already been hinted at, there is an increased sense of invulnerability within the full protective gear so once again, lightly clad biker may be at less risk of having the accident than his or her armour-clad cousin.

My guess is that the heat related argument is seen more in warm climes like Aus and southern Europe whereas most of the time we're struggling to stay warm and so don't suffer a degradation due to heat.

Probably on hot days, the mesh jacket approach (as Geoff has) is a brilliant solution .... though I hear he hasn't managed to find matching mesh trousers so makes-do with a pair of fish-net tights .....

Sadly, from observation of local roads, the majority of those that I see riding on hot days in what I consider crazy clothes (eg vest, shorts, trainers) tend to appear not to ride with an increased sense of caution but ride like complete tw@ts. In fact I get the feeling that many of them only ever get on the bike when the weather is really nice and have no real concept of many of the issues we face on the bikes as they don't appear to have a great deal of experience on which to draw (other than the ability to perform constant wheelies).

slickliner6 · #19 Post by **slickliner6** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:29 am

Just my opinion...........
I've seen the results of coming off in jeans(not pretty) and just to point out something I was told.
At 30mph it takes 3(three) seconds to get down to the bone,and in "high street" jeans just 4-5 seconds. Yes I know that Kevlar jeans are better but only by a couple of seconds(and a lot of times no padding/protectors).
So for me it's leathers 99% of the time and textile the rest. All with full protectors

snapdragon · #20 Post by **snapdragon** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:58 am

having been pinged off at 60mph and scraping across a junction on my knees with no other padding or protection fitted I can affirm that the kevlar lined jeans work

Samray · #21 Post by **Samray** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:58 am

slickliner6 wrote: better but only by a couple of seconds(and a lot of times no padding/protectors).

Source?

cos I think it's bollocks

slickliner6 · #22 Post by **slickliner6** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:05 am

Samray wrote:
slickliner6 wrote: better but only by a couple of seconds(and a lot of times no padding/protectors).
Source?

cos I think it's bollocks

I've read it somewhere ,but due to my advancing years I can't remember

snapdragon · #23 Post by **snapdragon** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:09 am

Samray wrote:
slickliner6 wrote: better but only by a couple of seconds(and a lot of times no padding/protectors).
Source?

cos I think it's bollocks

Am guessing the source would be HG or other dealer in heavy leather/textiles

D-Rider · #24 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu May 31, 2012 11:02 am

Samray wrote:
slickliner6 wrote: better but only by a couple of seconds(and a lot of times no padding/protectors).
Source?

cos I think it's bollocks

Crikey - you really don't want them being ground down!

..... and on the subject of regular jeans, in all the years I've been riding, the 3 occasions I've been down (2 in the first couple of years and more recently when knocked off) I was wearing jeans and on no occasion did they wear through. I don't think any were above 30mph but low speed offs aren't necessarily going to grind you down to 1/4lb of mince.

BTW I'm not advocating that we ignore the need to protect ourselves but that sometimes we might want to balance a number of factors of which abrasion & breakages in the (unlikely) event of an accident are only part of the mix.

randomsquid · #25 Post by **randomsquid** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:25 pm

I went over the front at about 40 in normal jeans and landed flat on my front. I felt the knees go straight through and had to lift myself up on the toecaps of my Docs to avoid more kneecap shredding annoyance.

Having said that I went up the petrol station the other day without a jacket on. I'd been shopping, was swapping bikes and was a sweaty mess. I thought it's a round trip of about a mile, bollocks to it.

Dusty · #26 Post by **Dusty** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:43 pm

I'm quite squeamish and I know I don't like the sight of my own blood and certainly wouldn't want to see sanded bone showing through so I wear all the gear all the time or as the Yanks(?) say, ATGATT. It is a pain in hot weather but in Scotland that's not a major concern. I do, however, remember almost passing out in a traffic jam in the South of France; one piece leathers unzipped to the crotch and just a tee shirt underneath. But even in hot weather, if you can get going at a decent speed, it's usually bearable and I'd rather feel hot and protected.Maybe I'm just chicken.

Moose · #27 Post by **Moose** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:03 am

I am a firm believer in letting the rider decide.

I am also a father, so gave my son's the freedom of choice.

Wear leathers or you don't ride! ( I am a very reasonable man

)

I cringe when you see riders with no gloves, mainly young kids on scooters, and often feel like following them to explain the error of their ways

, I have so far refrained.

D-Rider · #28 Post by **D-Rider** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:04 am

Yep - gloves (or the lack of) are the thing that bother me most.

Aladinsaneuk · #29 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:53 am

I have assorted images that will put people off taking chances with their gear

And not sure why, but I am still not convinced about Kevlar

Samray · #30 Post by **Samray** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:52 am

Kevlar doesnt vary in quality or with age as leather does.