Dress for the ride, not the slide or ATGATT?

[Whysub]

It's usually 36°c during the days here for two months of the year (but hot very early this year). I don't ride the bikes much in those months, just use the scooter to pop the 5 miles into town and back if I need to shop. A bit like how ridrrs use their bikes during winter in the UK.

I don't ride very quickly as there is no need to. Empty lanes to the main road then 40 kph limit on the road through town. Push bikes go faster.

Shorts and tee shirt, plus helmet and gloves which I view as essential. You come off, and the first thing that usually hits the floor are your hands. I learnt that crashing four up on a C90 when I was 14.

Spain were trying to make gloves compulsory (sensible in my mind) but for some reason legislation was not passed

[Druid]

On the basis that airbag vests are now all the rage, I'll never be ATGATT,

Me neither. tbh I didn't get into back protectors either.

I have ridden without a jacket, just a t-shirt, but shorts feel like i'm pushing my luck. Always wear boots and gloves though, and a helmet which is sometimes an open face model. These days I almost always ride for pleasure, and for the fun rides it's always leather or textile jacket and trousers, boots and gloves.

[The Spin Doctor]

Some of the Americans I knew talked about riding across desert areas. Typically, there would be a petrol station / diner every 20 miles or so.

They'd stop, fill their pockets with ice, carry on.

By the next stop, the ice would have evaporated

Every 20 miles?? That wasn't desert, that was downtown!

On a trip from LV to the Rockies with Britta, the longest gap between filling stations in Utah was 120 miles. As I'd filled up just 30 miles earlier, I didn't stop at the next... 100 miles later I was regretting that decision - the tank range was barely 150. When I refuelled the pump delivered about half a gallon more than the tank was supposed to hold.

It was even further between diners!

We were riding in 40+ temps out there, and filling the pocket between the shoulder blades with ice. Lasted about 45 mins. Once we passed the local fire truck out practicing with their hoses (!)... they were delighted to turn them on us and soak us... bliss.

[David]

What does ATGATT stand for?

[Count Steer]

What does ATGATT stand for?

All The Gear All The Time....I think.

[David]

Thanks CS ....

[Horse]

Some of the Americans I knew talked about riding across desert areas. Typically, there would be a petrol station / diner every 20 miles or so.

They'd stop, fill their pockets with ice, carry on.

By the next stop, the ice would have evaporated

Every 20 miles?? That wasn't desert, that was downtown!

On a trip from LV to the Rockies with Britta, the longest gap between filling stations in Utah was 120 miles.

It was even further between diners!

I was told that 30 years ago, so I'll admit to being hazy on details.

If I'd known you needed to know, I'd have made notes

[mangocrazy]

It's all very well saying 'I don't intend to crash today' or 'I've done starship mileages at a squillion mph in just Speedos', but life has a way of making everyone look a bit silly at times. Given that impact with the road at anything much over a brisk jog will turn unprotected skin into strawberry jam, I'd suggest that covering up skin with something vaguely protective can only be a Good Thing.

But it's your life, your rules...

[BBB]

Bullit jeans, leather jacket and boots or full leathers. If it's too hot I won't be riding as it's just unpleasant.
Saying you'll take responsibility for coming off in a t shirt and flip flops and accept the consequences ignores all the all the other people that will be impacted. Ignoring the emergency crews, hospital staff etc what about those people that will have to look after you or Bury you? I've got dependents so not being able to support them because I couldn't be arsed to put the right gear on wouldn't wash.

[ogri]

shorts, jesus boots and a flask of jd

[Yorick]

I'm 66 in 6 weeks and going to Portimao in September and October.
6 days on track, showing 175 on speedo every lap.

That's a bit more dangerous than nipping to shops in t-shirt and shorts.

But IDGAF

[Horse]

I'm 66 in 6 weeks and going to Portimao in September and October.
6 days on track, showing 175 on speedo every lap.

That's a bit more dangerous than nipping to shops in t-shirt and shorts.

But IDGAF

What's the track? About 3 miles? You'll only do a few laps.

Hardly as if you'll do many miles, and well-surfaced corners, one-way traffic, no diesel spills, no junctions ...

Pretty safe, really

[Yorick]

I'm 66 in 6 weeks and going to Portimao in September and October.
6 days on track, showing 175 on speedo every lap.

That's a bit more dangerous than nipping to shops in t-shirt and shorts.

But IDGAF

What's the track? About 3 miles? You'll only do a few laps.

Hardly as if you'll do many miles, and well-surfaced corners, one-way traffic, no diesel spills, no junctions ...

Pretty safe, really

I'll do about 1,000 miles at manic speeds. Knee down every bend. Foot peg down on 2 bends.

Fastest bend 120 mph and can hear and feel my kneepad scraping the track

[MrLongbeard]

And it's still safer than an average bimble to the local cafe

[Horse]

I'll do about 1,000 miles at manic speeds. Knee down every bend. Foot peg down on 2 bends.

Fastest bend 120 mph and can hear and feel my kneepad scraping the track

OK, that was intended to be mildly humorous while making a point. But if you want to take it seriously ...

You're a highly experienced rider. When you were track instructing, how many years of how many days of how many laps?

And how many track day crashes did you have? Guessing, not many.

BTW, I'm not suggesting you nip to the shops in racing leathers and do a track day in flip flops.

And, realistically, road crashes don't happen often either. If you have a licence and are sober, you skew the odds in your favour.

RLAT and you skew them against you.

Biggest concerns about riding in shorts and T shirt might be legs against a hot exhaust or getting hit by insects or loose gravel

[Noggin]

Road crashes aren't always due to lack of experience - you can't account for others

But, when you least expect etc etc

I can't really 'nip to the shops' from here, but if I did have a bike up here and wanted to do the 2km to the nearest shop, it'd still be jeans and an armoured top of some sort (and 100% gloves and decent boots if I don't use the bike boots) - but then I have to be more careful than most so the amour on the shoulders is my main issue !!

[Pirahna]

I'd wear em

[Yorick]

I'd wear em

They need titanium toe sliders

[Horse]

I'd wear em

How absolutely ridiculous.

Who on earth comes up with rubbish products like this?

Surely everyone knows that fluorescent is for daytime!

[fdb]

To keep it short in my case it varies from minimum gloves and full face helmet to full equip (but no airbag), depending on length and riskiness of displacement.
And sometimes i also do retarded stuff, but in the overall i think i'm still alive thanks to skills practice, not gear (congrats captain obvious..)
Biggest concern is about to add or not some neck protector to the minimum kit, any specialist here?