{"id":858,"date":"2012-08-11T08:25:47","date_gmt":"2012-08-11T07:25:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/samjwatkins.com\/blog\/?p=858"},"modified":"2012-08-11T11:36:24","modified_gmt":"2012-08-11T10:36:24","slug":"theres-something-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samjwatkins.com\/blog\/?p=858","title":{"rendered":"There’s something in the air…"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"From<\/a>

my bikes and look how the kit has changed!<\/p><\/div>\n

I don’t quite know what’s going on, but I have been asked by a number of friends recently about how to get in (or return) to biking: the major question has been kit.\u00a0 What do you need and what’s worth spending money on?<\/p>\n

Learning to ride a motorcycle is amazing and when I did my first CBT, I had to borrow everything.\u00a0 This is not a bad first approach if you’re learning but not so good if you are returning after a break.\u00a0 So what do you need?<\/p>\n

The legal bit – the head<\/h1>\n

Rightly (or wrongly) the only bit you are legally required to wear is the helmet.\u00a0 Forget reading reviews, if it doesn’t fit you won’t use it.\u00a0 You need something that fits your head and something that’s legal, thankfully that’s all that’s sold from motorcycle shops and they will give advice.\u00a0 I’d love a Schuberth but until they make one that fits my head I might as well have a solid gold Hayabusa for all the good owning one would do me.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

If you go to a motorcycle shop they will help you get that fit and something that serves your purpose.\u00a0 Try it on for at least 15 minutes if it passes the basic fit test (i.e. your head doesn’t move if someone else holds the helmet).\u00a0 For comfort and practicality I enjoy using a flip-front and my latest one finally has a flip down sun visor.\u00a0 For protection, it has the full face functionality with the ability to talk properly to people.\u00a0 (I don’t wear the flip-front when racing, they are great but not above 100mph in the event of a crash).<\/p>\n

No helmet is completely quiet.\u00a0 Earplugs are a great idea as for a fiver they protect your hearing and allow you to ride for longer with total focus.<\/p>\n

I tend to get white or silver or patterns with those colours (not road coloured) as that’s an easy way of being noticed.<\/p>\n

Cost of helmet<\/h2>\n

Budget for \u00a3180 to \u00a3400 – that way you get the protection and the comfort.\u00a0 Look at ear protection too – to start, the roll in the ear plugs are good and only a few pounds.<\/p>\n

If not a dual screen – get a sun visor bundled.\u00a0 Consider a pin-lock for anti-fog (all helmets claim to be fog resistant but a pin-lock system is really effective to the extent some manufactures include them).<\/p>\n

If you wear glasses, get your optician to straighten the arms so they fit easily with your helmet.\u00a0 The trick is put the helmet on and then your glasses.\u00a0 Glasses do fog when the conditions are right, so during the summer I wear contacts.<\/p>\n

The bear essentials – gloves and boots<\/h1>\n

Gloves and boots are the next piece to consider.\u00a0 Both your hands and your feet are exposed to the elements and controlling the bike.\u00a0 I like leather gloves and they all tend to claim to be waterproof.\u00a0 Thinner gloves in the summer stop your hands from cooking and gives you feedback.\u00a0 Fit is essential.<\/p>\n

The boots are fantastic – goretex has made a big difference here and the styles provide good protection\u00a0\u00a0 Again, the fit is important – nothing is going to cause problems more than uncomfortable or painful feet.<\/p>\n

Spend time ensuring there are no pinch points and with the gloves, that you can reach the levers.\u00a0 If you spend time learning without boots the change to proper armoured boots can be a shock – it took me around four hours to get use to it.<\/p>\n

Cost of boots and gloves<\/h2>\n

Gloves – typically \u00a340 to \u00a3150<\/p>\n

Boots – around \u00a3150.<\/p>\n

The best of the rest<\/h1>\n

I love leather but if commuting or touring are likely to come quickly, look to textile suits.\u00a0 A matching suit should mean the pieces zip together but all should be supplied with zips.<\/p>\n

New textile suits are waterproof and often come with different liners (the import one being the waterproof one).\u00a0 Fit wise, the length should cover the boots and gloves even when sitting on a bike.<\/p>\n

Try the kit on – and while doing so, sit on a bike.\u00a0 You are looking for pinch points and tightness: bear in mind you need to be able to do a shoulder check (look right behind you) while keeping both hands on the handle bars.\u00a0 The armour should fit on the knees and elbows – if it doesn’t, that set doesn’t fit so look for another set.<\/p>\n

If you are likely to ride when it’s colder think about layers.<\/p>\n

During the summer I use motorcycle jeans – armoured but allow more air through.\u00a0 I live in England – waterproofs matter.<\/p>\n

Cost of leather<\/h2>\n

Around \u00a3300 for trousers and jacket for a lady but you need waterproofs as well so factor in \u00a360 on top.<\/p>\n

Cost of textile<\/h2>\n

\u00a3300 to \u00a3600.<\/p>\n

Cost of a Viz-jacket<\/h2>\n

These do make a huge difference, especially at rush hour.\u00a0 I love the Motrax Visilite bright top hi viz vest as the diagonal zip doesn’t scratch your tank and it covers the major body seems while it’s raining.\u00a0 \u00a38 or thereabouts.<\/p>\n

The snood<\/h1>\n

There is always a gap between your jacket neck and the chin bar of the helmet and a circular snood stops bugs hitting your neck while doing 30mph.\u00a0 Do bike safe and you get a great one for free or reuse ski wear.\u00a0 A bike one is around \u00a35-15.<\/p>\n

Luggage<\/h1>\n

While you are learning, this is not an issue but in the real world where are you putting your belongings?\u00a0 Ruck sacks and tank bags are great short term solutions and I would check out sailing gear for waterproof options.<\/p>\n

Priorities<\/h1>\n

If that all seems a bit much in one hit the priorities should be:<\/p>\n

helmet, gloves, boots, the rest.<\/p>\n

Everyone gets a jacket early \ud83d\ude42 When it comes to waterproofs, when you are riding a bike your legs get wet, your top less so in my experience but then the viz-jackets tend to be waterproof providing that extra layer of rain protection \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Motorcycling is a non-contact sport but if you are in an accident, armour helps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I don’t quite know what’s going on, but I have been asked by a number of friends recently about how to get in (or return) to biking: the major question has been kit.\u00a0 What do you need and what’s worth spending money on? 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