Clothing advice please

** (posted first to ukrmc by accident)

End of this month I am riding to Germany with a group and we will be
riding the Nurburgring (exclusive use!)

I have only ever worn my leathers in the dry/mild-warm weather.

On my list to consider:
- Decent, waterproof gloves (I have been thoroughly soaked before on
continental trips and don't fancy soggy gloves ever again!)
- Waterproof oversuit (or separates)
- Fleece of some kind
- Thermal undersuit
- Bumbag for valuables and documents

Really would appreciate comments and any specific product
recommendations.

 

Just pop down to your local HG and ask them to sort you out.

Glove-wise, unless you want something heated then Alpinestars Jet Roads
seem to do the job. Or Alpinestars 365s if you want something leather
and track-friendly (but still goretex-lined).

 

Plus, I think that ensuring that any new jacket/glove combination
allows you to get the cuff of the jacket over the end of the glove as
well as the other way round is a good plan. If it's really pissing
down I prefer the jacket over the gloves.

 

to sort of second this, my waterproof gloves are Alpinestars
/somethings/ and they're seriously truly waterproof.

 

And taking this in a different direction, I've got some cheap shelltex
ones from HG. They've done 8 continuous hours in the rain just fine,
if you're after an occasional use option.

My summer gloves are alpinestars though, and they're fantastic.

 

I'd just wear my normal leathers with a windproof fleece over the top.
Bungee a set of one piece waterproofs on the seat and away you go.

I use an EDZ suit under my leathers but it's only a lightweight one
because it makes it easier to get my leathers off at the end of the
day and if I get cold I can put my waterproofs on to keep the wind
off.

I'd use a small tankbag rather than a bumbag and shove spare gloves in
there where they're easy to get at.

 

Best waterproof gloves I have used are Alpinestars Drystars. Mine are SP1
but I think they are on SP3 now. J&S still have some of the SP1s on their
website, if you don't mind red gloves.

Buy a 2 piece oversuit. I'm still using my original Belstaff Dribika jacket
from 1995, but I'm on about the 4th pair of overtrousers (the crotch seam
always goes first) as I use them with a HG Goretex jacket in winter.

Thermals: get man-made or merino wool. Avoid cotton. EDZ from their own
shop http://www.edz.biz/bike/Product_pages/AllSeasonbaselayer work well. I
use them in summer too, helps wick sweat away and reduce heat rash.

 

yes, a 2nd pair of gloves is nice. I hate putting damp gloves back on after
a fuel stop. Even though the gloves kept your hands "dry" the lining will
be damp from sweat and the outer layer, outside the goretex membrane, will
be soaked. The cold wet lump just sucks the warmth out of your hands as
soon as you put them on. A nice toasty pair from the tank bag means you get
the benefit of the heated grips immediately.

Of course, in reality, for me this doesn't happen in winter because I have
a set of muffs on the bars...

 

Drystars?

That's what I use. So long as you can do the jacket cuff over glove cuff
thing they are fine. Though a bit 'sweaty' and comedic when it's time to
take them off after a long ride. Otherwise Rukka overmits over leather
gloves. Utterly waterproof but a bit slippery on the throttle until the
shine has gone, which mine did long ago (and off the gloves).
--
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| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

See my comment endorsing darsy and wessie recommendation of Alpinestar
Drystar gloves.

My over-trousers are Dainese Gortex - brilliant, but longevity isn't an
issue given the amount of riding I do.

The very thin micro-fleeces are good I have a Campri one which SWMBO the
ex-mountaineer and still high level walker gave me.

I've also still got an ancient set of Damart polojamas for if I was
going to do serious winter riding again. Lately, they only get used as a
base layer when going out in winter to stand by frozen wins swept rally
stages. Rather ragged in the nether regions these days but that aids
ventilation.


--

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Put the oversuit cuffs outside of the gloves YTC.

 

That's exactly why I and Pete F have said it's a good thing to be able
to get the jacket cuff *over* the glove.

 

I always wear silk inners under lined gloves. Makes getting the gloves
on and off a complete doddle and provides an extra layer of insulation.

 

On Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:50:15 +0000 (UTC), wessie

snip>

I'm probably (1) going to fit the bar muffs back on my Tenere today
because it's too chilly to ride without gloves and I can't get a glove
on my right hand at the moment. Heated grips and muffs should keep my
hands warm enough on short trips and that's all I want to be able to
do.

(1) Only probably because the postman has just delivered some maps and
that's distracted me somewhat. Satnavs are great but proper maps on
the living room floor make planning journeys much more fun.

 

Well, you didn't make it nearly clearly enough for me!

 

I used to have some years ago, along with a pure silk balaclava, which I
still have, and a black silk scarf. The latter used to flap jauntily
from beneath my Everoak helmet and above my Pride & Clarke leather
jacket as I blatted around on my Matchless 250 G2. Like a wuss, I
stopped wearing it like that after seeing a documentary about the life,
or rather more relevant to my ramblings, death in a Bugatti, of Isadora
Duncan.


--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

I have HG Lobster Pathans. They are totally waterproof[1], but I could
never get the cuff of the jacket over them.

[1] I know this cos when they filled up, they never leaked out.

--
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Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
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Ha. And they take days to dry out afterwards as a result.

I had Pathans, but replaced them with a range of Alpinestars last year
after they failed miserably to cope with the rain on the way back from
the Alps.

 

True. I lament the demise of the CRT monitor, and poorly ventilated
machine cabinets.

When they give up, they seem to give up all at once. I have two pairs
ATM, the older ones, the lining comes out when I take my hand out. I
should really bin them since I only commute if there's a tube strike and
/ or it's sunny these days.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

All lined gloves are like that. The answer is silk inners.