Alternative dress

[Andy M]

The thread about wind chill and a book I was looking at got me thinking about how riding gear has developed. Obviously the really early guys wore basically horse riding and cycling gear, the only new idea probably been helmets and goggles (although race jockies had those too?). Once things get going the basic long coat seems to be the thing. The German army even has a plastic coated one developed when looking at putting whole units out on bikes/outfits. Things then seem to go a bit off as post-war shortges mean everyone wears surplus flying jackets, great coats and so on until leather race type jackets come in. From there we get various impractical garments until hideous orange leather one peice romper suits come in in the 70's-80's. Hein Gereicke/Frank Thomas etc. sort of save the day but i'm not sure, you still end up looking like a refugee from the Paris Dakar with various bits of plastic making you move like an extra in Dr.Who.

Wasn't the German Army coat/Belstaff type thing more practical in the general sense? Sling it on over your normal clothes, be able to walk round the shops, sleep in it if required?

Has anyone tried riding in one of those Drizabone type riding/farming coats? I'm thinking more outfits than solos as obviously these have no armour. I'm wondering if the pockets are better and the design more suitable for off the bike, but am concerned that collars and cuffs won't be happy at 70 mph 

Andy

[guest7]

Interesting thoughts, although several of our senior members may have winced at your swingeing dismissal of their favourite 70s riding gear. Frankly, if Bruce hasn't still got an orange plastic suit stowed away somewhere I'd be amazed 

My ride to the Dragon using 60s gear brought home one salutory clothing fact. Belstaffs were cut to properly fasten OVER ordinary clothing. My stupidly expensive Dainese 3/4 winter jacket, for instance, has a terrible collar that is only comfortable when fastened if you are wearing collarless shirts and/or sweaters.

How many of us have bought oversuits or overtrousers that can't be put on over boots?

The long coat is only a small step away from the riding aprons that our gallic chums use. I can see the advantage.

As for the farmer's coat, I just have an aversion to that type with the silly little bat cape on the back. Also, you might be mistaken for the type of person who thinks that a visit to the garden centre in the Range Rover on Sunday morning requires country clothing (are my petty prejudices showing?).

GC

[guest27]

Ahh but that silly little bat cape covers the shoulder seams and stops them leaking - as I remember they also have leg fastenings to keep the lowers down when riding a horse - sure they would be pretty good on a slowish sit up and beg, not the thing for a arse in the air or low rider mind.

R

[guest18]

Well my barbour international was designed between the wars for the isdt team and it's still made and is still a practical jacket (although you need warm stuff under it at this time of year and it has no armour obviously)
It has a buckle at the neck which I wish the modern stuff did as it stays done up, unlike velcro! (velcro= good for strippers, pretty rubbish for year round bike kit) cuffs will easily fit under normal gloves and best of all the chest pockets are placed low enough that you can get into them whilst wearing the jacket and without breaking your wrists...
As GC has highlighted in previous posts (iirc) a lot of the "old fashioned" kit is actually very practical and in places more useable than modern gear 
I think you may have a point/ idea... but I think the "Gott mit uns" belt buckle and the jackboots might attract a few stares in tescos though 

[SteveC#222]

I have a book of WW2 German motorcycle photos which includes a picture of the 'messengers long coat' . This could be worn either as a conventional long coat or, in adverse weather, the bottom half could be  wrapped around the legs as overtrousers.   Sadly I can't find the same picture on the web, only this really crap one, but you can get the idea!   Now that WOULD get some stares at Tesco's!  (Iron helmet is optional!!)

 

[squirrelciv]

Funny this thread should pop up now as I'm looking into getting new kit for my new job. Upto now I've got away with the synthetic cloth jacket and trousers which I whip off when I get to work and then put on my joggers. However, my new job requires me to wear grown up clothes (including a tie. Yuk!) and be able to pop off to meet suppliers. So now I need waterproof kit that fits over suits. Should I take a look at Belstaff??

[SteveC#222]

If you're talking about waxed cotton Belstaff's, Yes, they can be very waterproof if you keep them well proofed. However, being waxed all the dirt and crap from the Road soon gets ground into them (especially this time of year) and they soon get filthy.  They are also rather cold and so you need plenty of warm layers underneath.  I too need to wear shirt & tie for work, and I've found a decent synthetic jacket & trousers ( in my case Akito Python) work very well with a fleecy underneath and a neck tube.  I ride all year around apart from the really bad days and the only bit that gets cold is my finger tips (The bikes fitted with handlebar muffs).  The posh alternative is something like the Aerostich Roadcrafter suit. This is a one piece padded oversuit which unzips down the front and right down one leg, so you climb into it - www.Aerostitch.com -  They are supposed to be very good and you could wear them straight over a suit, trouble is they are hideously expensive even with the current pound/dollar rate.

[Bruce]

Here you go 1973/4 Dragon Rally firemans coat and boots early full face helmet and note the cravat.

[002]

I remember when I was a lad my Father used to wear a WW2 surplus coat on his old Panther,well it wasnt that old at the time !
It was a proper DR Coat.
Not unlike a horse riders coat.
Very long,could be laced or strapped to the legs.So no need for over trousers.
Very waterproof as it was made from rubberised canvas.
I can remember the ads for these in The Exchange And Mart....what ever happened to this publication ?
It was crammed full of all sorts of stuff,Ebay of the time I suppose.

Jethro

[Steffan]

Bruce mate,
you haven't aged a day!!

S

[Steve Lake]

The first decent coat I had was given to me by my Father in 1962, when it was then 10 years old at least, was a barbour long coat, black, buckle at the neck, belt buckle at the waist, thigh and calf loops inside.....It literally wore out in the late 70's.....the only problem i found with it, was, you had to have it tucked round your legs and knees and if you didn't keep your knees clamped firmly against the tank the bluddy thing would catch the wind and the whole plot would billow out like a parachute!
I remember religeously treating it with barbours wax supplement twice a year.....it was a great bit of kit, far better than the belstaff suit that replaced it....I could even get my folding 410 shotgun in the voluminous inside pocket when i went poaching  ,
Sadly missed......but......still in use!.....the back panel and the coat tails were cut off and waterproof coats made for our 2 lurchers....very posh....all i need now is the range rover and some green wellies!

pip pip
happy christmas to all our bleeders sorry readers

[guest27]

Mmm a cold wet lurcher is a thing of utmost pity!  - What flavour are yours Steve?

R

[guest18]

Funny this thread should pop up now as I'm looking into getting new kit for my new job. Upto now I've got away with the synthetic cloth jacket and trousers which I whip off when I get to work and then put on my joggers. However, my new job requires me to wear grown up clothes (including a tie. Yuk!) and be able to pop off to meet suppliers. So now I need waterproof kit that fits over suits. Should I take a look at Belstaff??

Possibly a quilted undersuit like you wear under a drysuit and a set of belstaffs/Barbours over the top?

[Steve Lake]

Mmm a cold wet lurcher is a thing of utmost pity!  - What flavour are yours Steve?

R

Well, the 2 we had at the time were both 'norfolk' lurchers basically the size and shape of a medium sized greyhound with a rough coat, a greyhound probably crossed with a bedlington terrier.....not sure of their parentage as they were from a rescue center.....but wonderful dogs.....loyal...obedient (until a rabbit, hare, pheasant, rat etc took off...we really did eat well when we had those 2)...but you do need the countryside and wide open fens that we have here to do these dogs justice.....since those 2 we have had 2 border collies, and lost them both this year.....now got a lurcher puppy....16 weeks....from  the rescue center again.....he's a whippet/greyhound/german shepheard cross.....I can taste the rabbit pie already 

[guest27]

 

Had a Greyhound X Deerhound (not technically a lurcher I know) years back - was a wonderful dog.  Keep looking at our Border Wally and thinking how is shap and temperament just need to be added to a deerhound, or todays inspiration - a borzoi.

R