I fell at about 20-30mph in a mesh jacket and it protected me fine. I slid on my side/shoulder and wore a tiny bit through the shoulder and elbow pads. If I had slid on any of the plain mesh part (without pads) it would have tore right through, but the pads were strategically placed.
I was riding w/ a guy who lowsided at about 40 - 45 in a firstgear (?) mesh jacket - He came out OK, no road rash. The armor is pretty well placed in those things.
I wear an Arlen Ness Mesh jacket. I haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet ...
“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”
- Soren Kierkegaard (19th century Danish philosopher)
I fell and slid at 40 mph in my Joe Rocket Phoenix 2.0 mesh jacket all on one side and nothing happened to the jacket... maybe a few scuff marks but no tears. THe armor in that thing is huge and well i didn't feel a thing after sliding into the curb and flipping over.
Teaches me a lesson on zoning out near a light....
One thing you can count on: You push a man too far, and sooner or later he'll start pushing back.
What I want to know is how you ride in NY city. What part of NY? Usually when I see NY NY I think of Manhattan but alot of people refer to the other boroughs that way also. I use to live in Manhattan and don't want to move back because of housing prices AND I can't see how I could ride there much.
QBE WSH and others = death even in a car can't imagine on a bike. Blind merging sucks on those.
I live on the border of LI and Queens but make frequent trips to school at 59th Street and riding isn't much of a problem you just get annoyed a lot, mostly at taxi drivers. You just gotta be alert and wear the good gear should stuff happen. In fact I've seen more and more bikers each day even on rainy days.
One thing you can count on: You push a man too far, and sooner or later he'll start pushing back.
I wear a first gear mesh and have fallen at about 20MPH sliding mainly on the right sleeve and shoulder. Few scuff marks on sleeve nothing on shoulder.
And yes it did protect me no road rash whatsoever.
You can always go with a perforated leather jacket. It will cost more though.
I'd like to know the what the circumstances of that picture Mintbread posted were. If that guy crashed going 100mph or 30mph. Since a couple of folks have said they've been down at up to 40mph in mesh jackets and have been fine it be interesting to know what speed caused that dudes mesh to wear through.
A dog had his chain reduced one link at a time, every few days, until his chain was so short he could barely move. He never resisted because he was conditioned to the loss of his freedom slowly, over time. Are we in this country becoming like the dog?