Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
- Taipan
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Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
In later years I've worn a mesh jacket in the hot weather, but today I rode in linen clothing as I was nearly passing out with the heat in london grid locked traffic last week. I saw a guy in full textiles today, crash helmet off, jacket hanging open and he was leaning forward pouring water over his head, I suspect in a drastic measure to cool himself down before he passed out?
There is a surprising amount of people riding in shorts and t-shirts in london now and i dont blame them. I see it in Europe too, but it does seem us Brits favour the ATGATT approach? You?
There is a surprising amount of people riding in shorts and t-shirts in london now and i dont blame them. I see it in Europe too, but it does seem us Brits favour the ATGATT approach? You?
- dern
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
If I can’t wear the kit, I won’t ride it. Do what you like though, it’s your skin.
- Yorick
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I'm safer in t-shirt and shorts. I ride carefully.
In full leathers IRLAC.
In full leathers IRLAC.
- Noggin
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I've always ridden in jeans on the road - but mostly because bike trousers are not made in my shape
But, always helmet, gloves and boots, (despite French friends and english froncophiles saying ankle type boots are fine - if I'd worn those when I had my crash, I suspect my right foot/ankle would be worse than my shoulder !!). And I do like a decent jacket - but for heat sake I did end up in a hoody with a kevlar lining and armour - less boil in the bag, but TBH I doubt it would be as much use as I'd like in a crash
For when I get back on full time, I would like a mesh jacket (with the 'soft' armour, not solid) and an airbag thingy.
Shorts n T-shirt scare me, lack of gloves or decent boots too.
Absolutely no idea why I feel ok in jeans

But, always helmet, gloves and boots, (despite French friends and english froncophiles saying ankle type boots are fine - if I'd worn those when I had my crash, I suspect my right foot/ankle would be worse than my shoulder !!). And I do like a decent jacket - but for heat sake I did end up in a hoody with a kevlar lining and armour - less boil in the bag, but TBH I doubt it would be as much use as I'd like in a crash
For when I get back on full time, I would like a mesh jacket (with the 'soft' armour, not solid) and an airbag thingy.
Shorts n T-shirt scare me, lack of gloves or decent boots too.
Absolutely no idea why I feel ok in jeans
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!! 
- Yorick
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
Ed Zackerlycrust wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:17 pm Off road - body armour + knee pads
If the road bike was on the road it would be jeans and a tee shirt.
- mangocrazy
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
If it's too hot to ride in my ventilated, armoured jacket and jeans then I don't ride.
There is no cloud, just somebody else's computer.
- Yorick
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
Some folk ride as though they're gonna crash every ride
I calculated I've done 150 about 30,000 times. I didn't die. I've done 150 on road in t-shirt and shorts a few times, just for the buzz
Just do what you want. I certainly will.
I calculated I've done 150 about 30,000 times. I didn't die. I've done 150 on road in t-shirt and shorts a few times, just for the buzz
Just do what you want. I certainly will.
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v8-powered
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I followed a guy yesterday evening on his motor bike through Colchester - nothing on his torso apart from what looked like the elbow and shoulder protectors I owned as a kid for riding a BMX.
Appreciate each to their own, but appeared to be a bit of a twat
Appreciate each to their own, but appeared to be a bit of a twat
- KungFooBob
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
What you're wearing only becomes an issue if you fall off.
Regardless of what I'm wearing, I put a reasonable mount of effort into not falling off.
Regardless of what I'm wearing, I put a reasonable mount of effort into not falling off.
- Taipan
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I always said make speedos compulsory for summer rides and that woudl slow the FWBs down!Yorick wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:35 pm I'm safer in t-shirt and shorts. I ride carefully.
In full leathers IRLAC.
- ChrisW
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I did t-shirt’n’shorts last week for a slow coffee trip when it was very hot; today I left just my gloves off for a 5 minute stint between stops & it felt odd.
- Skub
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
It's never been too warm here. Ever.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
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- Noggin
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I think this is why I ride in jeans, anything else is not comfortable which is more distracting so more likely to cause an off?KungFooBob wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:21 pm What you're wearing only becomes an issue if you fall off.
Regardless of what I'm wearing, I put a reasonable mount of effort into not falling off.
I am a bit more wary now but I have reason I think
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!! 
- MrLongbeard
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
Shorts n T-Shirt for a local bimble, mesh jacket or leather jackets for more distant jaunts depedning on the weather.
- Dodgy69
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
Bumble bees can hurt. Yep, wear what you want, your choice. 
Yamaha rocket 3
- Ian
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I helped a kid pick his bike up when he came off in trainers and no gloves. His hands looked awful and his ankles weren't very clever. That's always at the back of my mind.
I'll wear a vented leather jacket and Kevlar lined jeans tomorrow.
I'll wear a vented leather jacket and Kevlar lined jeans tomorrow.
- KungFooBob
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
I think legally you have to have a helmet to ride on the road, unless you're a Sikh.wheelnut wrote: Tue Jul 01, 2025 9:36 pm I think the only thing I view as compulsory is wearing gloves. The rest is a moveable feast.
- MingtheMerciless
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Re: Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?
Always helmet, gloves, boots and airbag with a choice of hood jeans or held leather trousers and either my mesh jacket with armour or my Alpinestars GoreTex jacket (which whilst not cheap is the best bit of kit for ventilation choices I’ve ever had).
"Of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?"
"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
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"My dear Doctor, they're all true."
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"Especially the lies."
