Dress for the slide, not the ride!

[Taipan]

This popped up on FB. Bit gruesome but would it change your mind about what you wear when you ride?

[Yorick]

No. I ride carefully in t-shirt n shorts.
I ride like a twat in full leathers.

[cheb]

It's the rhyming that puts me off, it sounds like something you'd half sing to primary school children or toddlers.

[Horse]

How about BikerTek products?

[MrLongbeard]

Nope, I wear what I want when I want, and if shit happens then shit happens

[Whysub]

If you want to ride like a twat, or ride fast, then yes, wear leathers or protective gear.

I ride down to my local town wearing t-shirt and shorts, but only on my scooter. Don't do so on my bikes, which I tend to use for much longer, much faster trips. However, I always wear gloves, never forgetting an off I had when I was 14. No gloves, hands full of gravel for weeks.

Wonder what the circumstances of the slide that the rider in that gear were.

[Supermofo]

Only ride in bike jacket, riding jeans, bike boots and gloves (plus lid obviously) so not really applicable to me. But I'm happy that people can wear what they like.

[ChrisW]

A couple of weeks ago I'd not long got back home before I realised I'd forgotten one thing I needed from town - literally a mile. So I went nuts and rode in without gloves or jacket & it was actually really pleasant. Problem is that I've got kids and it would really impact their lives if I hurt myself, soooo I'm back to proper jeans/jacket/gloves even when it's hot. I've got vented gear after all.

[wull]

My opinion is you can wear what you want etc, it’s your life, you can do what you want, but it still makes you a complete and utter Fanny if you ride without the full shebang on when out for spirited ride, you’ll soon change your mind if you come off.

[Mr. Dazzle]

The worst biking injury I've suffered was as a result of coming off an e scooter at 9mph I'm not convinced by the "riding carefully" argument TBH.

[Rockburner]

The worst biking injury I've suffered was as a result of coming off an e scooter at 9mph I'm not convinced by the "riding carefully" argument TBH.

The thing is, an "incident "can happen when you least expect it.

The crash when i nearly lost my right leg was at 15mph, at home.
My Mum's worst crash was riding the scooter home from work.

[Yorick]

I've probably had 15 crashes above 100 MPH.

I'm rather glad I was wearing levvers.

But being near home going slow is far more dangerous apparently.

[Rockburner]

I've probably had 15 crashes above 100 MPH.

I'm rather glad I was wearing levvers.

But being near home going slow is far more dangerous apparently.

I'm just saying that you can crash at any speed. (Not you personally Yoz... )

[Horse]

I've probably had 15 crashes above 100 MPH.

I'm rather glad I was wearing levvers.

But being near home going slow is far more dangerous apparently.

I've often said: choose what crash you're going to have, then dress accordingly

[Supermofo]

My opinion is you can wear what you want etc, it’s your life, you can do what you want, but it still makes you a complete and utter Fanny if you ride without the full shebang on when out for spirited ride, you’ll soon change your mind if you come off.

Yeah that's the point isn't it. You make a choice you take the consequences. I don't see a huge amount wrong in riding into town like some people here do, it's no worse than the hundreds of cyclists I see on the country roads doing 30 mph who are gonna get gravel rashed if they crash.

However, to matey I saw the other day it probably wouldn't go so well. I was going south on the A10, he was going North. When he saw me he popped a really nice wheelie in the outside lane at probably about 80 odd mph. Then I noticed he was in t-shirt and shorts. I'm fine for him to do it but yeah, fuck that.

[Dickyboy]

Quite often hit 50mph when out cycling, so these "promotional crusades" don't really cut it with me, quite happy to ride in normal jeans & DMs but always wear jacket & gloves, mostly coz it's uncomfortable not to.

[Demannu]

Helmets and ce approved gloves are the law here. Which is ironic as theres no MOT for bikes.
Having looped a ts125 in trackies, and walked away from ton plus slides on track, I now own a selection of kit which hopefully is speed/weather appropriate.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Quite often hit 50mph when out cycling, so these "promotional crusades" don't really cut it with me, quite happy to ride in normal jeans & DMs but always wear jacket & gloves, mostly coz it's uncomfortable not to.

I've said to people loads of times something along the lines of "if you crash at 50mph it doesn't matter how you got to 50mph, it's the stopping which hurts". It's funny how we have different attitudes to push bikes, scooters, "proper" motorbikes etc innit? Same way as how gravel rash picked up outside the corner shop hurts exactly the same amount as that obtained on a race track.

[Mr Moofo]

Having been down the road in a T-shirt and some very lightweight Aussie cotton trackers, I can tell you it hurts.
Mainly I will wear CE rated jeans and a jacket with helmet and gloves - very occasionally non CE jeans.
But as people can put out to sea with no training or safety gear , biking is about choices and freedoms

[Skub]

I can understand how the bloodied up dummy is seen by the emergency services as 'education',I get why they would do that. My perspective is similar to many on this thread,in that individual choice is a good thing.

Personally,I started riding before the helmet law came into force in 1973 and I did occasionally ride without a helmet,but in all honesty,not very often. Flies and stones hitting me about the face wasn't a great feeling.

I'm too old now to relish the thought of skin grafts etc,and I mostly wear some sort of ATGATT. I don't really use the bike for 'nipping to the shops',or any other errands,but if I did,I'd probably still be inclined to clack on a helmet and go in whatever I'm wearing.

Bottom line,I'm glad folk have the choice to wear whatever they want.