As a safety nazi, I'm tempted to go on my jaunt in leathers plus some of those fancy sweat-wicking longjohns. Will it be a heat-related disaster? I can understand being a bit hot in towns, but on the faster parts of the journey (i.e. most of it)? My alternatives are HG Tricky II textile jacket (even hotter than leathers IWHT although the lining is removable), and some badly-fitting Draggin' Jeans kevlar jeans. I was looking at http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/shop/product_info.php/cPath/1_15_7/products_id/7626 as an alternative, although as a safety nazi it doesn't really float my boat. Anyone tried one? I'm normally pretty okay in the heat, for an English bloke that is. -- TD 2000 GSX1300RX (red and black) Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, cage - What with the Internet, it doesn't take long to feel like one is an - expert on any subject these days.
I value comfort over any pretension of safety. I use leathers & EDZ wicking long johns. They are okay if you are just riding at reasonable speed. Better with the long johns than without for me in hot conditions as it reduces the chance of prickly heat on the back of my thighs. On days in the mountains I prefer just to wear jeans. Ordinary jeans. They are just more comfortable, especially if you are getting on/off the bike frequently. The only drawback is stones flicked up by the front wheel which hit my shins and hurt as I don't have a lower fairing on my bike. I carry a 2 piece oversuit and use this with either the leathers or jeans & leather jacket if it becomes too wet to carry on riding. I've tried the cordura stuff in the past & just don't like it on long journeys. I have a HG Cruise II jacket. It's great for a 30 mile commute in winter but I wouldn't want to wear it all day.
I'm a safety nazi, but getting too uncomfortable isn't good for concentration levels, etc... I have the EDZ as well. Cost a small fortune but pretty hard-wearing. I'm never sure if wicking is a load of pseudo-science bollocks though. Yes, I was going to pack my waterproofs "just in case". Interesting. I thought you'd definitely tell me that I'd boil in leathers. I can always unzip a little if it gets *really* nasty[1]. [1] Fill your boots. -- TD 2000 GSX1300RX (red and black) Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, cage - What with the Internet, it doesn't take long to feel like one is an - expert on any subject these days.
My leather jacket has 2 poppers at the top so I can undo the main zip to about half way and nothing flaps about. If I lean forward slightly I can get a nice breeze to go down the back of my neck at motorway speeds. I forgot to take some sunscreen on my recent trip. I used a dark visor so my face didn't get burnt but the back of my neck was a bit red. As you are going further south, you really need some factor 30 on the exposed bit between helmet & jacket.
The only time I've worn leathers in hot weather (French Riviera) I took them off for a swim and couldn't get the jeans back on. Had to ride back to the hotel with them balanced on the tank. Now I always wear textiles. The good ones really breath and have vents.
I don't do heat. Not at all, not even slightly. I radiate heat, even when it's cold and I sweat like a mofo as soon as the humidity gets above 40%. I have a whole rail of summer riding gear to this end, with armour, vents and all sorts of hi-tech assistance. When I went to Chimay, I was in all sorts of minds as to what to wear and what to take with me, bearing in mind the luggage limitations. In the end the weather decided for me and I went in full waterproofs and I was damn glad of them in pissing rain and 50mph crosswinds in Essex and Kent. On the return trip it was a different story, as I left in full sun and 30+ degrees. Waterproof jacket (as I had no other and black jeans were the order of the day. At the first fuel stop I arranged the jacket so I could unzip the bloody thing without slowing down and unlaced the boots in order to get a flow of (hot) air down around the lower legs and feets. It worked well - as I cooked, I'd unzip to halfway, then after a few solid insect strikes I'd zip up again for ten minutes, until I started to cook again. Bloody uncomfortable though, even with no lining in the jacket and vents open, over a T-shirt. The jeans allowed enough airflow to keep Betty at bay and due to the high boots there was little road grit impact, although there was an issue with engine heat soaking into the frame and becoming incomfortable on the insides of the knees. This last may well be less of a problem with a water-cooled machine, or one where the knees rest against the tank rather than the frame, however. I still nearly keeled over with heat problems, dehydration and general tiredness coming round the M25, though. I don't do heat.
And another thing: Venice->Igoumenitsa or Brindisi->Igoumenitsa? I think it comes down to whether riding down the Adriatic is actually fun. I understand that the autostrada is not too scenic as it's inland, and the coast road is very slow as it goes through all the towns - plus it's extra busy at this time of year. Not sure if being on a bike mitigates that though. I'm knackered and I haven't left yet - perhaps a day sleeping on a ferry might not be so bad. It must be an extra 600 miles ride via the Adriatic coast - is it actually worth it? -- TD 2000 GSX1300RX (red and black) Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, cage - What with the Internet, it doesn't take long to feel like one is an - expert on any subject these days.
If you want to see Italy, do Brindisi. If you want to get to Greece, do Venice. The Greek mountains, heading from Iggy over to Meteora and the East coast, were bloody fantastic. Great roads, great scenery. I'd spend the time there, and do Italy another time.
If you take leathers, also carry something lighter to wear. I now carry armoured Jeans (hood are my pref) for the heat, and will often have a "mesh" jacket.
Well, that was the plan until I realised that leathers might be bearable. And don't know if I'll have room to carry leathers in rather full luggage... But will check out HG mesh jacket tomorrow, maybe upgrade with some Hiprotec. -- TD 2000 GSX1300RX (red and black) Missing: SOB, Unreliable Italian exotica, cage - What with the Internet, it doesn't take long to feel like one is an - expert on any subject these days.
Ultimtely, all you can do is have a read of what people say they do and decide for yourself. I, like others, have built up my touring choices over the years and what suits one person may not suit another. Because I now pack light, clotheswise, I have room for other stuff to make my life more comfortable on the road. If I am carry leathers and non-leathers then when not wearing the leathers they are just bungied on the back seat with the tent. I can't remember if you are going 2 up or not, if not, then all you will need is a tank bag and a tailpack (IMO) for kit. When going for a UKRM French RUn weekend 2 up on the XJR Jean and I can manage on the contents of the tankbag and the Ventura tail pack. The less you carry the better the trip will be. An oft quoted phrase is "pack your gear, then throw 1/2 of it away". Take the trip as a learning curve, and for each thing that is not right or goes wrong, work out how to get around that next time and for each thing that goes store that memory.
If you can handle the gayness, Dainese body suits are probably the best option for maximum protection with minimum heat. Something like http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=51207 I bought a much older version in the Dainese shop in Andorra many years ago. You can then just use a lightweight jacket with no armour to handle the windchill & rain when needed. And cos it won't have armour, it'll roll up small for strapping on the back when not needed.
I've a mesh jacket and trousers made by Held, which were great for touring in Spain. I even used them over here the other week and they were spot on for that as well. I'd have been toast in my leathers. Got them from GetGeared who were bloody brilliant with their service.
snip> Unless you're going on a winter trip because you'll need all of it and more. I'd always sooner come home with something unused than sit at the side of the road (or on a campsite) wishing I hadn't thrown a certain item out of my panniers.
