What's up with no safety gear in the southeast US?

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#1 Unread post by **cb360** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:24 am

I was born in Alabama and lived in Fla for a while but have spent the last 13 years in Seattle, WA. Anyway, I just visited my family back home and saw plenty of people on cycles. I'm going to say that 80% were in short sleeves and at least 50% were wearing short pants and I know I didn't see ten full-face helmets the whole trip. Was I just looking at the wrong times? I know it's hot down there - I grew up in that heat and I did a couple of years just south of the Sahara desert... but is that how cyclists dress down there in general? I see the occasional t-shirt rider up here in WA, but by and large I see mostly folks with leather jackets and real helmets and at least jeans when they are riding. I've got no qualms with how people dress - to each his own... I'm not complaining, just noticing. I was just kinda shocked at how few folks I saw wearing safety gear down there. Comfort is nice, but going 80 down the interstate with short pants and no jacket? I saw dozens of them...

Gummiente · #2 Unread post by **Gummiente** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:29 am

We have riders like that up here in Ontario, too. You only see them on the VERY hot days, zipping about in their shorts and t-shirts. They are the part time, fair weather riders who always underdress for riding. Helmets are the law here, so at least their skulls would be safe in an accident.

-Holiday · #3 Unread post by **-Holiday** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:40 am

I see it here in Pennsylvania ALL THE TIME. Harley riders in t shirts, sport bikers in shorts and muscle shirts, i see them all.

I think logic and reason escapes the bulk of the general public, and motorcycle riders are no exception.

Psycluded · #4 Unread post by **Psycluded** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:41 am

Here in Montgomery, Flip-flops, wife-beaters and shorts seem to be the sportsbike "uniform" for squids.

We've got a LOT of kids around here with brand-new bikes, doing awfully dumb things with them and getting themselves killed...

On the other hand, finding parts for Gixxers is bloody easy and if you want to build a track bike from an engine/frame/swingarm, then there are lots of salvage oppourtunities... dumb squids.

#5 Unread post by **cb360** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:43 am

I was just reading Tarzan's thread about his first accident - can you imagine how much worse his injuries would have been if he hadn't had his riding gear on? OUCH!

AmericanWeiner · Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:52 am

I'm in Georgia, and I'm planning on wearing full gear. The way I see it, it can't be much worse than getting in my car w/no AC after a full day of 90F sun.

Psycluded · #7 Unread post by **Psycluded** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:55 am

AmericanWeiner wrote:I'm in Georgia, and I'm planning on wearing full gear. The way I see it, it can't be much worse than getting in my car w/no AC after a full day of 90F sun.

Whole lot better, actually, especially if you wear mesh armor. Nothing in the world like 60-70mph in the wind, nothing tying you down. Stop & go traffic sucks, but then again, it does in a car, too.

#8 Unread post by **cb360** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:27 am

Amen Psycluded. I was just down there and tooled around on my brother in-law's vulcan 750. It was low 90's. I wore a full-face, chaps and a jacket. It simply wasn't that bad at all - in fact it was a lot of fun even woth gear on in the blazing heat. Would it be a bit worse if it were 100? Sure it would. Riding in shorts would be fun as hell, I admit it. But it's just not gonna happen with me. I'm extremely allergic to road-rash.

earwig · #9 Unread post by **earwig** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:52 am

I am one of the stupid people, its too damn hot to wear a jacket and full face helmet when its in the 90s. I want to enjoy myself and I dress for comfort... if i die or get hurt at least it's doing something I love.

ronboskz650sr · Tue Jun 28, 2005 11:13 am

I admit, I take short rides on select routes in just helmet and gloves...and recon jeans/boots. When it's 95 degree or above, I just want to ride, and sometimes I take a quick spin on some back streets that way. Low speeds, though. I rode tens of thousands of miles in lycra shorts and polyester shirts..and helmet, on my racing bike. Yes, I've had road rash, and yes I hated it. Mostly, though i wear my joe rocket jacket (now that I have it). I've worn it in 96 degrees... and on the highway, it's great! In town, less great. Tarzan's post is a good reminder of high speed risks. He is fine, thanks to his gear.