Buying gear today

[Katharine]

What about adult diapers like Depends? Am I the only rider that wears them or is it that many other people also wear them but are too ashamed to admit it?

Well, I could try it, but the plastic would make my head sweat and I think it would be overkill for cushioning the piercings.

[Gummiente]

Well, I could try it, but the plastic would make my head sweat and I think it would be overkill for cushioning the piercings.

You're going to fit in just fine around here.

[Brackstone]

Is there any reason not to buy a mesh jacket/ventilated other stuff if you're ONLY going to be riding in summer? I could always put a sweatshirt underneath if really needed, right?

Mesh jackets usually provide less protection so and obviously they would not keep you as warm in a winter month. Some Mesh jackets have a liner so you don't even have to worry about putting your sweat shirt on underneath.

[Wrider]

Well, I could try it, but the plastic would make my head sweat and I think it would be overkill for cushioning the piercings.

And if you buy a well vented regular jacket, toss on a wet t-shirt underneath, it acts like a swamp cooler. At higher than legal speeds it can even cause you to have to slow down because it's a bit chilly.

[JVRR]

I don't want to get into a lengthy debate about this since it defeats the purpose of the thread but just putting material between yourself and the pavement is not going to help. I could strap cinder blocks to my head that would put much greater distance between my head and the pavement but would provide a lot less protection.

Okay, your right, I meant within logic and reason . Obviously I would rather go down in jeans than sweats, despite sweats being twice as thick. My point was that safety is not rocket science. Sure a perfectly sculpted $800 leather suit is going to provide the best protection, but when we are talking the real and reasonable world there is not a whole lot to it.

[Katharine]

Well, I could try it, but the plastic would make my head sweat and I think it would be overkill for cushioning the piercings.

And if you buy a well vented regular jacket, toss on a wet t-shirt underneath, it acts like a swamp cooler. At higher than legal speeds it can even cause you to have to slow down because it's a bit chilly.

And if i get pulled over I can just take the jacket off...

Is there any reason not to buy a mesh jacket/ventilated other stuff if you're ONLY going to be riding in summer? I could always put a sweatshirt underneath if really needed, right?

Mesh jackets usually provide less protection so and obviously they would not keep you as warm in a winter month. Some Mesh jackets have a liner so you don't even have to worry about putting your sweat shirt on underneath.

Oh, heh. I wouldn't be riding in winter. Besides the fact that I'm always freezing... winter in MI is a cluster. I'd never get through the ice and snow. Not to mention the fact that I'm still white-knuckling it a bit on bad days in a car after my little black-ice adventure (nothing cuts down on your confidence on an icy day like the fact that you spectacularly wrecked a car on a road that looked completely dry). So no worries there. Summer riding only for me.

[Grey Thumper]

Well, I could try it, but the plastic would make my head sweat and I think it would be overkill for cushioning the piercings.

And if you buy a well vented regular jacket, toss on a wet t-shirt underneath, it acts like a swamp cooler. At higher than legal speeds it can even cause you to have to slow down because it's a bit chilly.

And if i get pulled over I can just take the jacket off...

Well, Gummiente already said it, but it bears repeating; "You're going to fit in just fine around here."



Seriously though, not riding in winter is perfectly understandable, but what about spring and fall? Mesh jackets are a necessity for me because summer in the tropics gets insane, but as soon as the temperatures drop even a bit, on go the leathers. Because you just never know.

[capena91]

Oh, heh. I wouldn't be riding in winter. Besides the fact that I'm always freezing... winter in MI is a cluster. I'd never get through the ice and snow. Not to mention the fact that I'm still white-knuckling it a bit on bad days in a car after my little black-ice adventure (nothing cuts down on your confidence on an icy day like the fact that you spectacularly wrecked a car on a road that looked completely dry). So no worries there. Summer riding only for me.

I spun out on black ice before in my car, one of the scariest things i been through. My parents are cross country truck drivers and that's what they fear the most out of all the elements.

[Katharine]

Seriously though, not riding in winter is perfectly understandable, but what about spring and fall? Mesh jackets are a necessity for me because summer in the tropics gets insane, but as soon as the temperatures drop even a bit, on go the leathers. Because you just never know.

I did wonder about that, given my propensity for cold... Do the vented full jackets really... vent?

I spun out on black ice before in my car, one of the scariest things i been through. My parents are cross country truck drivers and that's what they fear the most out of all the elements.

Not that scary at the time since I was unconscious after the first impact and hadn't a clue what all happened until the cop told me later, but certainly later it freaked me out. I could deal with it if I'd spun out on ice, but then again, if there'd been visible ice/snow, I would've been going slow. I was nervous every time the road conditions were the same--dry with just a few tiny swirls of snow dancing across. Couple more years and I'll be fine, no doubt, but definitely something to think about, that you never REALLY know. Cautionary tale for the rest of you, I suppose... never ASSUME it's dry, and slow it down anyway. (I don't remember if I ever saw ice or not...I don't remember anything for the several minutes right before until my car started sliding and the adrenaline kicked in, so it's possible I saw it right before I hit it but I don't think so; I think it just came out of left field.) Be careful, guys. Considering everything that happened in that accident (it was a doozy involving several cars and crossing the median; I hear the freeway got shut down), I am very lucky I'm not dead and didn't get seriously injured...it just so happened that my car got hit JUST the right way that the driver's seat (and ONLY the driver's seat) was safe.

[Grey Thumper]

Seriously though, not riding in winter is perfectly understandable, but what about spring and fall? Mesh jackets are a necessity for me because summer in the tropics gets insane, but as soon as the temperatures drop even a bit, on go the leathers. Because you just never know.

I did wonder about that, given my propensity for cold... Do the vented full jackets really... vent?

I got a perforated leather jacket, a Teknic Chicane, since I figured the holes would flow more air all over than a vented jacket. Of course, the advantage of a vented jacket is vents can be closed if it's really cold, but I don't need this feature.