Start the week topic, 10th Nov.

[guest7]

I'm a bit pushed for time today, can anyone else contribute a theme for us to explore/debate/dissemble/row about?

Cheers
GC

[guest7]

So... nobody man enough to take on the challenge eh? 
 
I love my Dainese Goretex clothing, but two issues make even these top-of-the-range items a pain in the a***:
Wicking
Collars

Why do they insist on putting oh-so-warm linings right down into the cuff where the smallest ingress of moisture leads to the arm of the jacket getting wet from the wrist up?

And as for collars... why don't modern bike clothing designers allow for things like the bloody clothes you might already be wearing before donning a waterproof jacket? When I do a long winter's run, I have to make sure that none of my under and mid layers have any collars of their own, otherwise I will never be able to fasten the collar on the jacket, thereby rendering it less than waterproof.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that bike clothing designers may not actually ride motorcycles?

GC

[Andy M]

I've given up on the whole lot. The whole issue with Goretex not working once the outer cotton was soaked or dirty finished it off for me. Then of course there is the fact you can ruin a three hundred quid jacket on one touch of the exhaust or when the glue holding the popers fails. Over priced and under developed.

I am now wearing a set of overalls designed for tank crews, an Australian horse riders coat (waxed cotton) and a pair of the worlds most basic plastic trousers when the rain's too heavy for the coat and tank top apron.

Only issue to date is that the pockets on the coat are so waterproof they fill up 

Wouldn't work for solo riders as there is no armour, but the military and horse people seem to be able to get the basics right.

Andy

[robG]

I really don't know what to do .Went down to Minehead the other week . Rubbish weather the whole way , reminded me a lot of the run to Dent in 2007 , though without the tidal waves from passing artics .
Any way, got wet despite wearing Gortex Dainese overtrousers and associated jacket .First time I've had wet nether regions . { moisture coming from outside as opposed to from within ! } .On top of that , wet wicked down inside jacket from chin via open face lid .

We've already had some suggestions from previous weeks topic . As an update , trousers were returned to Gore in Scotland . They 're fine apparently . Now I know they leaked , but have lost confidence in them . I did the same trip today but didn't trust the kit so took Arthur astra instead . I know Jules suggested an all in one , but I like the two piece .

Ideas ?

[Richard]

I have a problem with wet nether regions too - nothing to do with riding the bike though.

[bullet350]

my jacket got a good soaking on saturday including the lining of the sleeves from wicking.
i hung it up to dry at about 5pm, and it was still wet inside (outside was dry) at 2pm on sunday.
Fantastic.

the blokes i know who do all weather riding have resorted to a gore-tex like outer shell (a posh anorak) over a textile jacket.
so your £300 jacket needs another £60 layer to make it fully waterproof, and stop it holding water for several months after a drop of rain.

Also put your wet jacket in a tent for a nights camping and you wake up with everything soaked.
with another gore-type layer you can shake most of the rain off it before getting into your tent.

For all day soakings i've got a frank thomas over suit that cost me £60, and stays very dry. an all day wet ride only results in a small bit of wicking around the wrists.

not only is this clothing a bit crap but it costs the earth.

bullet350

[squirrelciv]

I've long since come to the conclusion of separate layers to do separate jobs. So I have fleeces to keep warm, kevlar jackets to stop abrasion and waterproof outers to keep dry. Tend to have trousers and jackets rather than all in ones as it's easier to pee and you can sit in a cafe in comfort easily by just taking off the jacket combo and leaving the trouser set on.

As to wicking down the neck, it's a pain but I've been looking at the Army gortex outer jacket and that comes up very high around the neck. Only downside is looking like Comando Joe and becoming invisible when riding past high hedges
Can't win 'em all

[Andy M]

. Only downside is looking like Comando Joe and becoming invisible when riding past high hedges
Can't win 'em all

Stopped worrying about that. Good job really. Jack boots plus long coat plus various scarves etc. equals Biggles on a bad bad! 

Andy

[robG]

Sounds more like a scene from Stalingrad !

[guest288]

I have Gortex clothing- the jacket is so damn heavy, and the trousers make me look like a mitchelin man.
The main thing that annoys me is they see fit to hold the collar in by velcro- if it isn't lined up exactly right, it ends up scratching all my neck, which isn't pleasant.
Just have to finish the bike then I can write some more up to date revues of my clothing... 

[squirrelciv]

Isn't velcro the bain of your life!! Bloody stuff will grip anything and turn it into a fluff ball. Then when it's filled with fluff it won't stick to anything!

Hate is a strong word, but it might just fit

[Andy M]

Never found out why Nasa supported development of the stuff. Doesn't seem to do anything a zip or press studs couldn't. Is it just lighter?

I know why the bike clothing people love it. Every three years when the velcro stops sticking it's new jacket or new boots time.

Now I did once talk to a guy who'd worked at Nasa and knew all about the Fisher Space Pen, Russian pencil thing. It's not as daft as people think. The pencil is fine until the point breaks and floats off into one of your curcuit breakers.

Andy

[johny C]

andy, speaking of stray conductors and the like. I read once of a chap who never knew what pain was, until the left ht lead on his enfield meteor came away from the plug cap and went down his wet welly boot. Should have worn the mighty Belstaff trouser, OUTside the wellies.

[guest18]

Bike clothing imho is good for abrasion and (with armour) impact, but lousy in the main for weather protection.
My ballistic nylon jacket(s) are a fair compromise but why can they only do a couple of hours even new before letting the water in? You can buy sailing waterproofs that will keep you dry for an eight hour watch, a diving drysuit that will keep the wet out even when immersed in sea water... Oh and yes properly waterproof will let sweat/condensation gather on the inside but when it's raining few of us are sweating much...
Like brakes which will last a winter or bikes that will beat 50mpg I suspect that unless there is a demand the salesmen will continue to sell "stylish" gear to "recreational" riders who don't realise that they're buying poor quality crap...

[robG]

Probably the best bit of kit I have used is the old Rukka waterproofs . Okay not protective , but it kept you dry and warm with no wicking . Worn over the top of leathers it was great , did many miles like that . Yes a bit bulky , but a  lot less hassle than the Dainese stuff I have now.

Dent last year , memsahib travelled up in leathers and Rukka type kit and was dry . Only bit of her that got wet was via the vents in her Dainese lid . Is there a pattern emerging here?

Rob